The midday sun lingered high, and the energy from the field session slowly diffused as students gathered to hear the results of their endurance run. The air buzzed with chatter as the group assembled, some visibly weary from their efforts, others standing tall with quiet pride.
I sat on the field alongside Chris and Alysha, my breathing calm after the exhausting run. It wasn't long before Chris turned to me with his usual curious expression.
"I heard bits from Alysha," he began, tilting his head. "What really happened back there with the girl you carried?"
I glanced at Alysha, who met my gaze with a knowing smile. Of course, she had pieced it together and quickly grasped my situation. Her perceptiveness always seemed otherworldly. However, for ordinary people, such understanding might be excessive.
Chris, on the other hand, still looked puzzled, clearly missing key details. It looked like Alysha had only told him a little and was interrupted when I arrived.
I had no intention of hiding it since he already knew a lot about me, so I told him. Unlike the previous school nurse, I told him everything.
Chris nodded slowly, absorbing the details. "I see... But this might be a bigger deal than you think."
His words gave me pause. "What do you mean? She's healed now, isn't she?"
"That's the issue," he said firmly. "Of course, this is good for her, but this situation is not good for you. The person you healed is someone very difficult for me to heal."
"What do you mean," I ask confused.
"You know my power's limitations, right?"
"Of course," I replied. Chris's
"She's... unique," Chris continued, choosing his words carefully. "I've encountered difficult cases before, but hers was particularly tricky. Multiple diseases at once—and not just that—they seem to generate others."
I blinked, surprised. "Like a self-perpetuating condition?"
"Exactly," he confirmed, his tone grave. "It's not like AIDS, where the immune system collapses. This disease actively produces other illnesses. It's unprecedented, at least from what I've seen."
The weight of his words settled over me. Despite my indifference to the consequences of using my power, hearing the severity of the fainted girl's condition made me realize just how dire her situation had been.
Now I understood what Chris meant by the problem. My power, compared to Chris's, is a bit similar, but my ability could remove Chris's limiter.
If someone like Chris couldn't do it, then it would create another buzz because someone healed her.
"Well, she's okay now," I said, brushing it off. "That's what matters."
Chris frowned at my response but didn't press further. "Typical Naozumi. Always detached."
It wasn't detachment, not really. Dwelling on what had already happened wouldn't change anything, and I had no patience for endless speculation. As far as I was concerned, the problem had been solved—for now.
Their conversation paused as Mr. Alan's voice boomed across the field, calling everyone's attention. "Alright, students! Gather up!"
The scattered groups assembled in front of him. Some students looked visibly drained, while others seemed frustrated at their performance. Mr. Alan stood with his usual commanding presence, clipboard in hand.
"First, I want to say I'm impressed by some of you. Others…" He paused, glancing at a few students who avoided his gaze. "…let's just say there's room for improvement."
Alysha, standing near Naozumi, gave him a subtle nod, signaling she was ready for whatever came next.
"Now, I'll announce the endurance rankings based on the results of this session," Mr. Alan declared.
I tensed slightly, not from worry but from the inevitable reactions his name would provoke.
"First place is Ishimaru Naozumi," after a short pause, he continued. "He was the first to complete the lap, even while carrying Lulu here without losing his breath."
Now I remember her name. It is not really good to always call her the fainted girl.
Well, when it comes to stamina, I don't feel like I'll lose to them. Even before I got my power, I had been adventuring around the world. Of course, I feel I have an advantage. Even until a few years ago, I still trained.
After my name was announced, there were many whispers from the other students. I don't care if you talk about me, but still, could you at least not talk about it when I'm right here?
Whispers broke out immediately. My presence in the class had already drawn attention, and now, this achievement only amplified the scrutiny.
"First place?"
"That's crazy..."
"Carried someone and still finished first?"
"Isn't he new here? How did he pull that off?"
"He probably cheated…"
Chris chuckled beside me, unbothered by the murmurs. Alysha, however, maintained her composed demeanor, ready to intervene if necessary.
"If anyone has doubts, speak up," Mr. Alan said, inviting the group to voice their concerns.
Predictably, a boy stepped forward. His sharp eyes fixed on me, and his tone dripped with skepticism.
"Are you sure about this, sir? It's hard to believe he didn't use his power," Brant said, crossing his arms.
I resisted the urge to sigh. Doubt was inevitable, but his accusatory tone is making me uncomfortable. Before I could respond, Mr. Alan addressed the challenge.
"I monitored everything via security cameras," he said firmly. "No powers were used."
Brant opened his mouth to argue, but Mr. Alan cut him off. "Additionally, Alysha vouched for him. I trust her judgment completely."
Hearing Alysha's name silenced Brant. Her influence within the school was undeniable, and even a skeptic like Brant had to concede.
Alysha? And since when did she discuss this? Alysha wouldn't talk about something like this.
I glanced at Alysha, who gave me a small, reassuring smile. Her subtle intervention hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Second place goes to Alysha Ishimaru," Mr. Alan continued. "Despite starting last, her performance remains exemplary."
This time, the murmurs shifted to admiration. Alysha's reputation preceded her, and the praise flowed naturally. I couldn't help but envy how seamlessly she earned respect.
So at that time, she was talking to Mr. Alan. I still don't know if Alysha or Mr. Alan spoke first, but I'm grateful it happened. I'll thank Alysha.
When I glanced at her, she smiled at me. She probably knew I wanted to thank her.
"Third place is Chris Westwood. Fourth is Brant," Mr. Alan finished.
That's the boy who protested earlier. So his name is Brant. When he doubted me earlier, he actually just didn't want to lose. His confidence came from here apparently.
Brant's expression soured slightly, but he said nothing more. The rankings continued until everyone was accounted for.
"That's all. That's it for this sports session. For now, you can rest."
Finally, a break. Now I need to change clothes.
Oh right, I also memorized the names of my classmates during the ranking earlier. I hope I have time to socialize with my classmates later.
We were given one hour to rest. Quite a long time to regain energy after running half a marathon.
Alysha, Chris, and I just rested on the field before we went to our respective changing rooms.
---
"By the way," I asked Chris, "what's the next lesson?"
He grinned. "Power test. Maybe a sparring match."
I groaned inwardly. Of course. Just the kind of activity that would demand everything from me—physically, mentally, and from my power. "A sparring match, huh? Huh~." My sigh was heavy, even though I tried to mask my reluctance.
Chris, as usual, didn't catch the nuance. "Why? Didn't you say you like this kind of thing?" he asked, his cheerful tone paired with a big, happy smile.
I couldn't help but marvel at how utterly dense he could be. You know my situation, right? It's hard to make this kid understand sensitive matters. Your words sting a lot, Chris.
I'm very interested in power. Without a doubt. Unfortunately, I have my limitations, making it hard to enjoy. Let alone enjoy it, just using it is already tough. I want to know how to remove these limitations.
Still, his enthusiasm was oddly infectious, and I couldn't let him down completely. Forcing a smile, I raised a thumbs-up. "Alright, let's enjoy this together."
"OK!" he replied, mirroring my gesture with both thumbs up, his energy unwavering.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of our break, we made our way to the classroom. Girls in the hallway shot glances at Chris, their focus entirely on the school's "Prince." I shook my head, amused by his unawareness.
I sat down at my desk. Everyone else seemed to be in class as well.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the lesson.
"Everyone, sit in your seats."
A familiar voice came from a man entering the classroom.
"Mr. Alan?" someone asked aloud in shock.
He strode to the front with his usual confident gait, arms crossed as he surveyed the class. "Some of you might be wondering why I'm here again," he began, his tone commanding attention. "Well, today, I'm not just your P.E. teacher—I'm also your Power Test instructor."
Yup, their shock was justified. This is an elite school. Not many can fill in for two people. This probably hadn't happened before. Even so, given the situation, it would be easier for me if Mr. Alan was also a Power test teacher.
Alysha didn't seem surprised. His versatility as a teacher was already evident, and his role as a power user made him uniquely qualified for this task.
"Not many teachers have powers. I'm one of the few with powers, making me the most suitable to teach this. So, no problem, right?" he said with a confident laugh.
No one dared to challenge him. His confidence and authority were undeniable.
"Alright, change into your gear and head to Arena 1," he instructed before leaving the classroom.
As the others hurried to the changing rooms, I took my time. The events of the day had already taken a toll, and I wasn't eager to rush into the next challenge.