At the start of the first round, the character controlled by Eriri launched a fierce assault, and the fight looked almost completely one-sided. (Continued)

"Just now, the long-awaited battle!"

"The climactic showdown between Hasegawa-kun and Busujima Senpai has finally reached its conclusion."

"And today's victor is—"

"Hasegawa!"

Shuchiin was in an uproar once more!

56 The Ultimate Showdown!

"Hasegawa-kun, what did you think of that match?"

"Senpai was a worthy opponent. I probably won't forget her for the rest of my life."

"Then what would you like to say to your next opponent, Shinomiya-san?"

"If I remember correctly, Shinomiya-san has been winning national tournaments since middle school, right? Well, in our upcoming challenge, I'll tell her... that's only because I wasn't competing."

"Uh, hahaha... Then everyone, be sure to tune in on Wednesday for 'The Ultimate Showdown'! Will the newly crowned king, once an unknown who's now famous to everyone, emerge victorious? Or will it be the young lady of the Shinomiya family, who reached the pinnacle long ago? Stay tuned!"

Everyone was already nearly immune to the familiar trash talk, and couldn't help smiling.

But for the people involved, it was another matter entirely.

That evening.

"That bastard...!"

In her bedroom, Shinomiya Kaguya sat on her bed, punching her pillow with her little fists as she gritted her teeth, thoroughly worked up.

Watching someone else get mocked and being mocked herself were two completely different things.

After all, she had put her heart and soul into kyudo, and to have all that effort dismissed as worthless was more than even a girl who prided herself on being composed could bear.

"Hasegawa-kun really is an interesting person."

Standing nearby, Hayasaka Ai wore a faint smile on her otherwise cool, butler-like face.

She hadn't seen Kaguya-sama this worked up in a long time.

"Heh heh heh...! That Hasegawa guy is way too cocky! I can't take it anymore! In the challenge the day after tomorrow, I'm going to beat him, then taunt that loser to his face!"

An unprecedented competitive fire burned in Shinomiya Kaguya's wine-red eyes.

"Lady Kaguya, Hasegawa-kun was kind enough to leave you a day to prepare. What do you plan to do? Use other means?"

Hayasaka Ai lowered her head and quietly asked by her young lady's ear.

"Do you think I'll lose? Don't be ridiculous! Tomorrow, we're having a special training session! I'll show him just how untouchable I am when I give it my all."

"Understood."

Tuesday.

It was an ordinary day, but everyone at Shuchiin knew it was the calm before the storm.

The Shinomiya Family, the de facto rulers of Shuuchuin Academy, had long held unchallenged authority over the school.

Now, the strength the Shinomiya Family had spent so long cultivating seemed on the verge of collapse.

Though this was only a struggle within the academy, a battle among children, that was enough.

By now, nearly everyone believed Hasegawa Izumi had saved the Kyudo Club for last so he could topple the Shinomiya Family from its throne on the grandest stage of all.

In truth, he'd simply judged Shinomiya Kaguya's challenge to be the hardest, and naturally, he wanted to save the best for last.

"This is a huge slap in the face! Doesn't the Shinomiya Family have anything to say?"

At the same time, people who knew about the dark side of the great families had another question on their minds.

Then, a rumor began to spread: apparently, that man was childhood friends with Miss Sawamura of the Spencer family.

No wonder those families hadn't resorted to other means to deal with him. There was that connection.

Everyone suddenly understood.

"So it's out! It's all that idiot's fault, always wanting to make a big scene..."

Eriri only learned that the secret was out when someone asked her about it.

By then, the persona she'd built had already taken hold. Rather than blaming her for having a "crazy" childhood friend, people thought she was kindhearted.

"Even in those circumstances, she didn't leave him. She just quietly protected him. That's so touching! I ship it!"

A lovestruck girl gushed theatrically.

"Ding~"

When the end-of-class bell rang, Nibuya Morika lingered in the classroom for a while before getting up to leave.

That afternoon, she'd received a message from that guy saying they were holding a club activity today.

She was a wandering ghost at Shuchiin anyway, so she figured she might as well go take a look.

"I'm only going because I have to. It's not like I want to hang out with a bunch of chuunibyou!"

She tried to convince herself as she headed out.

"Nibuya-san, could you wait a moment? There's something I'd like to ask you about."

The voice was so pleasant and melodious that it struck right to the heart.

"Natsukawa-san...?"

She turned around, surprised.

Before her stood a silver-haired beauty with delicate features, like an elf. Her skin was as white as snow, and her lips were red as cherries. Her beauty was almost unbelievable; even a carefully crafted doll couldn't compare.

Of course she knew her. Natsukawa Masuzu, the young lady of the Natsukawa Family. Someone with such an illustrious background and outstanding qualities was rare even at Shuchuin Academy.

"What did you want to ask me?"

Nibuya Morika asked.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you about someone—the now-famous Hasegawa-kun. You seem to know him quite well."

Natsukawa Masuzu gave her a warm, amiable smile that inspired affection.

"Huh!?"

Nibuya froze on the spot.

Far East Magic Society.

"It looks like it's gotten a little dusty in here."

After entering, Hasegawa Izumi looked around at the room's setup, his expression stiff.

He'd been busy making a name for himself lately and had forgotten the state of the base he'd built with his own hands.

"Leave it to me! I'll just use Cleaner Warrior No. 3..."

Takanashi Rikka volunteered.

Then she started up the automatic cleaning machine the club had left behind. As for the rest of the room, she'd have to clean it herself.

Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Hasegawa Izumi had expected the ever-eager Dekumori, but to his surprise, it was Nibuya—and a new face had appeared alongside her.

"Natsukawa-san?"

"Mm, that's right~ I'm Natsukawa Masuzu. I hope Hasegawa-kun will remember that name."

"So, what brings you here?"

"I've admired Hasegawa-kun for a very, very long time, so I wanted to join the Far East Magic Society, too. At last, I've worked up the courage to take this little step..."

Natsukawa Masuzu gazed steadily at him, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her voice full of longing.

A ten-year fan, showing up uninvited!

57 Rikka, when are we gonna be number one at Shuchiin?

"Natsukawa-san, please tell us the real reason you want to join. Otherwise..."

Hasegawa Izumi wasn't fooled by the girl's act. Instead, he gave her a doubtful look.

Nibuya Morika and Dekomori Sanae had been able to join easily because they had someone to vouch for them.

The society didn't just accept any old person. Applicants needed sufficient aptitude or ability, and had to pass the "screening" process, too.

"Why? I sincerely want to join the Far East Magic Society. Hasegawa-kun, are you really going to turn me away so coldly?"

Natsukawa Masuzu hadn't expected to be rejected. Her expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly resumed her pitiful look.

"Sincere? You're obviously up to no good, death!"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.

"Here comes the idiot."

Nibuya Morika's heart stirred.

Dekomori Sanae came around from behind Natsukawa Masuzu and stepped forward. Their eyes met briefly, as if they were engaged in some sort of contest.

"Heh heh heh, no demon or monster can escape me, Dekumori! Let me guess what you're really after!"

Dekomori Sanae pointed at her.

"Oh?"

Natsukawa Masuzu's expression settled into a calm one as she waited to see what the other girl would do.

"You're actually a spy sent by the Management Bureau, death! You want to bring down the Far East Magic Society from within. After all, with Lord Sage's power, all you can do is resort to these despicable tactics, death."

Dekomori Sanae was convinced she'd uncovered the truth.

"Pfft... Hahahaha..."

Natsukawa Masuzu suddenly burst out laughing, as if she couldn't hold it in any longer.

"The Management Bureau? A spy? An idiot's imagination really is something else!"

After coolly mocking her, she turned to look at someone.

"Fine. The truth is, I'm after Hasegawa-kun. I like you, and I want to go out with you."

"Still too fake... Even if I assumed it were true, so what? Plenty of people like me."

Hasegawa Izumi still wasn't buying it.

"You're really difficult, Hasegawa-kun. How mean~ A man this perceptive isn't very popular, you know."

A sharp glint appeared in Natsukawa Masuzu's eyes as her demeanor naturally shifted into something entirely different.

"I really don't have any ulterior motives. My reason for joining the Far East Magic Society is simple: I want to become someone everyone avoids..."

"Why?"

Nibuya Morika couldn't understand.

Wasn't being popular a good thing?

"Nibuya-san, we're classmates, so you should know, right? How many confessions have I received in the month since school started... They're a bunch of rutting animals! What makes them think they're good enough to talk to me? And those girls, whispering rumors about me behind my back—as if I don't know!"

Natsukawa Masuzu let loose with a stream of curses, her expression full of contempt.

Nibuya Morika was deeply shocked.

Compared to the way Natsukawa Masuzu put on an act, Nibuya's own act was child's play!

"But what does that have to do with wanting to join us? Joining the Far East Magic Society would only make you more popular."

Hasegawa Izumi raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?"