Don't Chase Me!

Once he actually started, he deeply understood how difficult it was to make the drugs.

The entire process was divided into ten steps, each with another three or four substeps.

It wasn't just about measuring out the ingredients. He also had to control the temperature and timing.

He even saw some things he'd never encountered before, such as beast-activation factors.

Things like erythropoietin, growth hormone, caffeine...

There were only four primary ingredients, but as many as seven supplementary ones.

The seven supplementary ingredients mainly made the medicinal effects of the primary ingredients more compatible with the human body.

He wasn't making just one kind of enhancement drug, but two: one to strengthen the body and one to strengthen the nerves.

Since both had to be injected at the same time, and injecting only one wasn't an option, he had no choice but to make them both together.

Three hours later, Yagami Shizuka nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

[Production successful. Adjust your condition as soon as possible and use within half an hour. Inject the body-enhancement drug first.]

After getting up, Yagami Shizuka went to wash his face and tried to steady his heart rate.

A few minutes later, on the bed, he finally steeled himself to stick the needle into his chest.

The syringe was filled with dark yellow liquid.

Pssht!

There was no way it wouldn't hurt. He could only grit his teeth and bear it.

As the liquid flowed through his body, he felt all his blood boiling. It was as if something were scouring his body, and his veins were about to burst out of him.

He could see yellow blood flowing through his body.

[Use the other syringe as soon as possible. Aim for your temple.]

That was right—the second one was even more dangerous. He had to inject it into his temple.

He had no time to think it over. He picked up the blue drug from the table.

Pssht!

As the drug entered his brain, his thoughts became incredibly clear. It was as if he could see every detail of the changes taking place inside his body.

His cells were being restructured and transformed. His brain's neural network lit up neuron by neuron.

He felt feverish all over, unbearably hot.

Once he couldn't take it anymore, he rushed to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and let cold water pour over him.

After ten minutes under the water, his body temperature finally came down. Only his abdomen and chest still burned.

[Want the drugs to fully integrate? Get moving, young man.]

"Ahhh! I can't take it anymore!"

He got dressed and ran downstairs.

Once he reached the track, Yagami Shizuka gradually accelerated from a slow jog to a sprint.

It was already evening.

Only a few people passed by the track, and hardly anyone was running on it.

He ran faster and faster, passing one student after another.

As he passed someone, that person looked a little surprised. It was the second time he'd seen Yagami Shizuka go by.

That meant that in less than three minutes, Yagami Shizuka had run a full lap more than him.

This was a four-hundred-meter track, and he was running too.

Unless he was seeing things, that was simply impossible.

"Ha ha ha!" He laughed and strode after Yagami Shizuka. As he picked up speed, he soon caught up from behind.

"Koenji?" Yagami Shizuka glanced back and saw Koenji. His face fell.

"Ha! You know me? Who are you?" Koenji Rokusuke grew even more excited and ran faster.

"I don't have time for you. Don't chase me!"

"Tell me your name!"

Yagami Shizuka ignored him. He didn't want to reveal his identity yet.

His fight with Koenji was supposed to happen in their second year. Facing him now would put him at a serious disadvantage.

Yagami Shizuka sped up again and opened some distance, but Koenji soon caught up once more.

The chase didn't last long.

Koenji's stamina had its limits, while the drug in Yagami Shizuka's body hadn't fully taken effect yet.

When Koenji realized he wouldn't catch up, he stopped, intending to wait for Yagami Shizuka there.

Yagami Shizuka noticed what was happening as he ran.

[You have entered Koenji Rokusuke's line of sight. He is waiting for you up ahead. You have received a prompt.]

[1. Keep running. What awaits you is a deep friendship. Koenji will show his full strength in D, all for the sake of fighting you.]

[2. Go around Koenji and play a game of cat and mouse. You will attract attention from multiple parties.]

[3. Go back. The pain your body is enduring is still better than the possibility of exposing yourself.]

What a joke. Of course it seemed like no big deal when you weren't the one in pain.

It really hurt.

Only exercise made him feel better. He couldn't stand it if he stopped moving.

"Activate! Total Concentration!"

[Huh? What's going on? Do you have hidden abilities beyond what I calculated?]

[You have entered a state of intense concentration. Your mental strength and focus have greatly increased. A new escape plan is being prepared for you. You have received a prompt.]

[1. You have awakened your potential and gained reflexes and judgment beyond what ordinary people can achieve. Follow my instructions to avoid all surveillance. No one will be able to see your face, either.]

[Choose this option to receive further prompts.]

[2. Become the talk of the campus. Tomorrow, you'll definitely be having tea in the Student Council president's office.]

Yagami Shizuka chose the first option without a second thought. He wanted to avoid the cameras while getting around Koenji.

And so, under the dark night sky, a monster appeared.

At the center of the grounds was a regulation soccer field, where the soccer club members were intently chasing the ball.

Suddenly, a figure rushed onto the field. Someone immediately shouted, "Hey, we're playing soccer! It's dangerous! Don't run in here!"

The ball soon rolled to Yagami Shizuka's feet. With a few feints and sidesteps, he weaved around everyone like a snake. No one could take the ball from him.

The ten players on the field wondered if they were seeing a ghost. How could ten of them fail to stop one person?

While everyone was still baffled, he lifted his foot and kicked the ball.

The ball sailed through the air across half the field in an astonishing arc and went into the net. It spun around on the netting, leaving the goalkeeper drenched in a cold sweat.

"This..."

Everyone on the field was stunned.

"What was that just now? A Deep-fried Meatball?"

"What was that footwork? Have any of you seen anything like it?"

When they turned around, Yagami Shizuka had already run off.

"Who was that guy? Is he in our club?" someone shouted excitedly.

They'd all been focused on the ball just now. No one had gotten a clear look at the runner's face.

"Right! We have to get him to join the club!" The soccer club members charged after him.

But there was no way they could catch him.

The person chasing Yagami Shizuka was none other than the Student Council vice president, Miyabi Nagumo—a handsome, capable second-year who ruled his grade.

He'd taken control of his entire year group in just one year.

He was convinced he couldn't lose to anyone, but at that moment, he felt a little shaken.

To avoid the cameras, Yagami Shizuka ran with remarkable finesse.

When he realized someone was following him, Yagami Shizuka began darting all over the place.