Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Class 1-A.
When Morishita Ran and Amasawa Reigetsu returned to Class A, they found that the class atmosphere had changed considerably. However—
Sakayanagi, why did you leave so quickly?! Why are you always ahead of us in the story?! Is your wheelchair a stun baton? Charge! Charge!
Sakayanagi Arisu: I can teleport, I just keep quiet about it and make a fortune in silence, okay? Besides, haven't you noticed we're already at Chapter Six? I mastered teleportation ages ago. You're the ones who insisted on walking back, okay?
Amasawa Reigetsu: Morishita Ran, Sakayanagi Arisu has blinked away. Chapter Seven.
Morishita Ran: Roger. Once I've looted the blue zone, I'll come get you.
Back to Class 1-A.
While Amasawa Reigetsu was away, the class had already split into two factions, one led by Katsuragi Kohei and the other by Sakayanagi Arisu. Each had their lackeys standing by their side.
"Sakayanagi, I recognize your abilities, but I can't agree with your attitude toward the class and your classmates. So I won't betray the trust and expectations they've placed in me. I won't give up on anyone."
Katsuragi Kohei looked resolute, with the word "reliable" practically written all over his face.
"But that's the mindset of a loser."
It seemed Sakayanagi Arisu watched Sorcery Battle, too.
As Amasawa Reigetsu and Morishita Ran entered the classroom looking as if they were close, everyone turned to look at them—
Except for Sakayanagi Arisu, no one had noticed the two were gone. They'd all been too focused on the argument between Sakayanagi and Katsuragi Kohei.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Amasawa Reigetsu." His self-introduction was utterly ordinary. Amasawa Reigetsu didn't like being around large groups of people, so he usually left this sort of thing to someone else.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Amasawa Reigetsu's mo—his mother's good friend's daughter, Morishita Ran!"
Damn, not again! This was the second time in his life that Amasawa Reigetsu had used his full-power mental Induction. The emergency was comparable to Gojo Satoru using Unlimited Void for 0.2 seconds in Shinjuku.
Under the effects of Unlimited Void, no one in the class sensed that anything was amiss. After the two took their seats, Mashima Tomoya, the homeroom teacher of Class A, came in and led Class 1-A to the gymnasium for the opening ceremony.
Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, gymnasium.
The huge indoor gymnasium buzzed with voices. First-year students in their brand-new uniforms were packed shoulder to shoulder. The air was charged with excitement and curiosity. Groups of students chatted and laughed, their voices echoing beneath the vaulted ceiling.
Chairman Sakayanagi Narimori made his way to the stage. The middle-aged man, around fifty years old, had a steady, dignified air, and his every gesture conveyed the composure of someone long accustomed to authority. Smiling warmly, he surveyed the crowd. His gaze seemed to sweep casually across the class sections, but as it passed Class 1-D, it paused for the briefest moment, a flicker of meaning appearing in his eyes.
Amasawa Reigetsu noticed the chairman's gaze, but he'd expected it. After all, he'd met Sakayanagi Narimori back in the White Room. As for what they were planning regarding Ayanokoji... Well, it was probably just a dispute over educational philosophies. Amasawa Reigetsu didn't care about any of that.
But when Sakayanagi Narimori's gaze reached Class A, he nearly lost his composure. Why was his daughter sitting next to Amasawa Reigetsu like a shy girlfriend, gazing at him with such a lovestruck look? Even worse, that brat Amasawa was looking at him instead of his precious daughter!?
Sakayanagi Narimori felt himself blushing. He forced himself not to look toward Class A so he wouldn't think about the boy, then continued with his speech.
Sakayanagi Narimori gave a brief address, then stepped down from the stage amid applause.
A tall, slender figure then walked slowly up to the podium. Through his plain-framed glasses, one could glimpse an exceptionally sharp pair of eyes. He stood there silently, yet exuded an oppressive presence that made it hard to breathe.
"I am the student representative, Student Council President Horikita Manabu." His voice was steady.
"Our school fully upholds the principle of meritocracy. I ask you all to remember that."
After delivering that emphatic closing statement, he wrapped up his speech with effortless grace and turned to leave.
Amasawa Reigetsu: Damn, what a show-off.
Sakayanagi Arisu was sitting beside Amasawa Reigetsu. She saw his clouded eyes suddenly brighten, as if someone had turned an explosive's detonator up to full power. His breathing grew ragged, and his naturally weak heart began to struggle under the strain.
"It's coming... That 'Zero' ability from that day—"
"Because I want to do it, I can."
Ever since that day, when Rei-kun used his Induction ability on me, those words had remained in my mind.
Perhaps this was what being in love felt like?
Ayanokoji Kiyoko had shattered the ideal I'd just embraced, but then I'd seen that ideal made real.
Maybe it was a little different. This feeling was like—
A believer?
Ah, yes. Rei-kun, I think I've become your believer, completely and utterly...
More... I want to see more ♡
Meanwhile, Horikita Manabu was in for it, too:
Under Amasawa Reigetsu's subtle suggestion, Horikita Manabu happily waved to the applauding crowd. The new students might have seen it as a sign that he was approachable, but if Miyabi Nagumo had been there, he would have burst out laughing—he'd have paid any number of points to get his hands on that video!
What a shame he couldn't. Our dear vice president hadn't made his entrance yet.
Just as Amasawa Reigetsu withdrew his gaze with satisfaction, ending his little prank, he realized that a small, cold hand had clutched his tightly.
Amasawa Reigetsu looked to his right and saw Sakayanagi Arisu panting hard. Even the hair at the nape of her neck was damp with sweat and sticking to her skin. Hidden from everyone else's view, she was gripping his hand tightly.
From Amasawa's perspective, her grip was actually quite weak, but this was probably all the strength Sakayanagi could muster. He couldn't help finding it odd. Why did Sakayanagi always seem so... lovesick around him?
Amasawa didn't understand, but he knew that if he didn't help the frail little princess beside him bring her heart rate back down soon, she'd probably faint.
"Sakayanagi, calm down."
Even without eye contact, Amasawa could use mental Induction through his voice alone.
The words gently soothed Sakayanagi Arisu's hurried, uneven breathing. Her chest gradually stopped heaving, and the violet eyes that had grown unfocused from lack of oxygen and overwhelming excitement slowly regained their usual clarity.
She gradually loosened her fingertips from around Amasawa's hand, her desperate grip receding like the tide. Sakayanagi lowered her eyes slightly and raised a hand to smooth the pale-purple strands at the nape of her neck, damp with cold sweat and clinging rather messily to her fair skin. As her heartbeat settled, the unnatural flush on her face quickly faded.
"Thank you, Rei-kun."
"It's nothing."
"Would you do me the honor of having lunch with me later?"
"It would be my pleasure, Princess."