The Sensation of First Year (Part 2)

"That felt great. Even though we only played for two hours, it was enough to scratch the itch. How about you guys?" After finishing, Kitahara Seiichi stretched his back and spoke to Kamuro and the others beside him.

Slumped over the table, Kamuro said with a look of utter despair:

"If I had known, I never would have agreed to join this club of yours."

"I didn't expect this. I thought we were just playing games casually, but I've been tortured for two whole hours."

Kanzaki, sitting on the other side, didn't say anything, but his lusterless eyes spoke volumes of his traumatic experience.

In his mind, the image of his own execution played on a loop, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of Kaidō.

The scattered weapons lying before the throne in Extreme Emperor City were a testament to the intensity of the struggle.

"Ahem, it's nothing. You guys are just beginners, after all. You'll get better with more practice," Kitahara said, trying to offer some comfort.

"..." Kamuro and Kanzaki were speechless. Was that really the point?

"But the weather is so bad right now, it's hard to head back. Did any of you bring an umbrella?" Kitahara looked outside at the pouring rain and asked.

"No," the two replied, shaking their heads in unison.

"Then how about we play a few more rounds? Since we can't leave anyway, what do you think—" Before Kitahara could finish, the classroom door was pushed open.

Ichinose walked in carrying three umbrellas. She smiled and said to us, "I was worried you hadn't brought umbrellas, so I brought a few over."

"Are you guys not finished yet?"

"No... no, we're finished! Thank you so much, Ichinose. You came at the perfect time," Kamuro said, walking forward happily.

"Really?" Ichinose asked, looking at Kitahara.

Though he felt a little sad about Kamuro's reaction, Kitahara replied, "We really are finished. We were just wondering how to get back, and you arrived right on time."

Ichinose handed them the umbrellas and smiled, "That's good. Hurry back; it doesn't look like the rain is going to stop anytime soon."

Kitahara took the umbrella, feeling a touch of gratitude. Ichinose really was incredibly thoughtful.

Kamuro and Kanzaki also hurriedly took their umbrellas, eager to escape this "gaming hell."

Meanwhile, behind the special building, Ryuen looked down at the three people kneeling on the ground and said:

"Without my permission, who took it upon themselves to withdraw the complaint?"

"It... it was the three of us," Ishizaki answered nervously from the ground.

"Albert," Ryuen said to the man beside him.

"This is the boss's order. Don't hold a grudge against me."

"Ah... ah!"

After Albert finished his work, Ryuen stepped on his back and continued:

"I intended to crush Class D to test the school's reaction and that guy's capabilities. Now, it's all gone to waste."

"A bunch of useless trash. So, it's only fair you get a little lesson."

"Tell me, who exactly set you up? Was it that guy Kitahara or someone else?"

"It was..."

After not getting the answer he wanted, Ryuen said, "Get lost, you bunch of losers."

"I didn't expect that besides that guy Kitahara, Class D had people like this. It seems I'll have to..."

"Thump... thump."

As footsteps sounded from behind, Ryuen turned to look at the newcomer and said:

"It's Sakayanagi Arisu, isn't it?"

"I remember you are from Class C..." Sakayanagi Arisu replied.

"Pretending to be a queen the moment you enter school? How arrogant," Ryuen said, seeing the people around her shielding her.

"I have no such intention," Sakayanagi said with a smile.

"I will crush Class D, then Class B, and finally, it will be Class A's turn to be crushed by me," Ryuen stared at Sakayanagi and declared.

"Do you really think you can do it?"

Two voices spoke at once.

Noticing who had arrived, Sakayanagi smiled and said:

"Kitahara-kun, it's been a long time."

Hearing how Sakayanagi addressed him, Ryuen shifted his gaze toward him and said:

"You must be Kitahara Seiichi from Class D."

"Sigh, I didn't expect that despite my fame, even you, the leader of Class C, Ryuen, wouldn't recognize me."

Kitahara teased slightly.

"It seems this meeting is quite unexpected. I didn't think the representatives of every class would be here," Ryuen said, looking at Ichinose standing next to Kitahara.

"Then let me say it again: whether it's the Class D you belong to or their classes, all of you will be crushed by me."

"After all, in this school, there only needs to be one king."

"That is true," Sakayanagi replied, not showing any weakness.

Watching the childish remarks of the two before him, Kitahara could only respond helplessly, "I have no interest in being some so-called king, and besides, I am not the representative of Class D."

"The representative of Class D is the one who made you suffer a loss this time, isn't she?"

Hearing Kitahara bring up that matter again, Ryuen said:

"Horikita, huh? I won't let her off easily. Once I'm done with her, you're next."

"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it," Kitahara replied with a smile.

"..."

Just as Kitahara was about to leave, he realized that Kamuro, who had been standing to the side just a moment ago, had suddenly appeared right next to Sakayanagi.

Seeing this, Kitahara could only silently feel pity for her.

"Well then, I shall take my leave." After saying this, Kitahara left with Ichinose.

"It's a good thing the operation went so smoothly," Ayanokoji said to Horikita, whose mood seemed off.

"You used me, didn't you?" After a long silence, Horikita spoke up.

"What are you talking about?"

"You were the one who pointed out that there were no surveillance cameras in the special building and induced me to commit perjury," Horikita said slowly.

"You're overthinking it."

"You promised to help me get promoted to Class A, didn't you?"

"That was mostly because you forced me to." Having said that, Ayanokoji prepared to leave, but was held back by Horikita.

"I want to know what you are actually thinking."

Looking into Horikita's eyes and realizing she might have figured something out, Ayanokoji replied:

"I just want to live a peaceful life, that is all."

"If you really didn't want to, you wouldn't have helped at all."

"I suppose I just wanted to help a friend," Ayanokoji said, offering an excuse.

"Liar. You haven't considered anyone a friend at all."

"So, what exactly are you?"

Repeatedly questioned by Horikita, Ayanokoji paused to reflect for a moment before speaking:

"I will help you reach Class A, but..."

"But?"

"Stop trying to probe into me."

When the next day arrived, Ichinose stood at the podium in Class B, explaining Kitahara's intentions from the previous day to the rest of the class.

Upon hearing Ichinose's explanation, everyone realized that Kitahara wanted to join Class B, but it would require nearly 4 million points. Faced with such a massive sum, everyone fell into silence.

Just then, Shiranami raised her hand and asked Ichinose, "What about you, Ichinose? I'll follow your lead."

As her voice faded, most of the others also voiced their support for Ichinose, saying, "We support your decision."

Seeing the trust everyone placed in her, Ichinose was happy, but she still explained the stakes involved.

She expressed that if Kitahara were to join, Class B would become much stronger, but they would also lose the majority of the points they had saved up for so long.

"So, please make your decision carefully."

As Ichinose finished speaking, everyone began to think it over again. After a brief period of reflection, Kanzaki stood up and said, "Let's put it to a vote by a show of hands."

"Yeah, that works. It's fairer that way," Shibata, sitting nearby, agreed.

"Alright then, let's begin the vote," Ichinose decided, looking at them.