The score on the scoreboard was climbing rapidly.
"Amazing," Shizuku Kitayama remarked.
"Mayumi Kusa's 'Magic Bullet Rate of Fire' is even faster than last year," Miyuki Shiba remarked as well.
Tatsuya Shiba suddenly noticed that something seemed off about Baifeng Uesugi's expression, so he asked him about it.
"Bai Feng, what's wrong?"
"Bai Feng?" Shizuku Kitayama turned to Baifeng Uesugi.
"I'm fine." Baifeng Uesugi gave Shizuku Kitayama a smile, then looked at Tatsuya Shiba.
"I don't know why, but I've been feeling uneasy for no reason since today, as though something bad is going to happen."
"What kind of thing?" Miyuki Shiba asked.
"I don't know," Baifeng Uesugi said, shaking his head.
"Could it be that you're too nervous because the competition has started, Bai Feng?" Honoka Mitsui ventured.
"Maybe, but I'm fine. Let's get back to watching the match."
Baifeng Uesugi forced a smile as he spoke.
Suddenly, he felt a small hand wrap around his own. He looked down and saw that it was Shizuku Kitayama beside him.
He smiled inwardly. I didn't expect Shizuku Kitayama, who seems so indifferent on the outside, to have such a heartwarming side.
"Cheers!" In a hotel room, Miyuki Shiba and the others were celebrating Mayumi Kusa's victory in the competition.
"President, congratulations on winning the Speed Shooting championship," Honoka Mitsui said.
"Thank you. Mari also made it safely into the Surfing Race semifinals," Mayumi Saegusa said.
"Our results are as expected so far. It looks like we won the men's Speed Shooting too, but the Surfing Race is a little uncertain. I wonder if Hattori can manage it," Mari Watanabe said.
"It seems the CAD isn't tuned to suit him," Honoka Mitsui said.
"Apparently he spent all day tuning it with Kinoshita from the technical staff," Rin-chan said.
"Fortunately, Hattori doesn't have a match tomorrow. He can keep tuning it until he's satisfied," Mayumi Saegusa said.
"But doesn't Kinoshita have the women's Monolith Code tomorrow?"
"He's an assistant engineer, so it won't be a problem if he's not there," Rin-chan said.
"Wouldn't it be a little risky to leave Izumi to do it alone?" Mari Watanabe asked.
"Then how about having Bai Feng take the job?"
"Mm, that should be the best solution. I'll go talk to Bai Feng about it in a little while," Mayumi Saegusa said.
"President Saegusa, I'll go with you. Bai Feng didn't seem to be feeling very well today when we were watching your match."
Miyuki Shiba spoke.
"Is Bai Feng sick? If he gets sick at a time like this, tuning the first-years' CADs will be a problem," Mari Watanabe said anxiously.
"Mari, he isn't sick. I'm not sure exactly what's wrong either, but Bai Feng seemed out of sorts all day," Miyuki Shiba explained.
"Oh, in that case, it's time for our president to make an appearance and go check on our dear Bai Feng," Mari Watanabe teased.
"Mari, if you keep talking, I might get angry."
Although Mayumi Saegusa said she would get angry, the smile on her face showed no sign of it. Instead, she seemed rather eager.
Miyuki Shiba also noticed Mayumi Saegusa's expression. She found it somewhat difficult to control her emotions, and the atmosphere around her gradually began to cool.
"Miyuki, what's wrong? Why did your psions suddenly go out of control?" Mari Watanabe asked.
"Ah, n-nothing. I'm very sorry."
Miyuki Shiba hurriedly brought her psions back under control, apologizing repeatedly.
On the hotel rooftop...
Tatsuya Shiba and Baifeng Uesugi stood side by side, gazing at the scenery in the distance.
"Elder brother, what did you mean by what you said today?" Tatsuya Shiba asked.
"What did I say?" Caught off guard by Tatsuya Shiba's sudden question, Baifeng Uesugi was a little puzzled. He had said quite a lot that day, after all, and didn't know which remark Tatsuya meant.
"During President Saegusa's match, you said you felt uneasy. Is there a specific reason, elder brother?" Tatsuya Shiba asked.
"Well, how should I put it? I just have a feeling this Nine Schools Competition won't go smoothly all the way to the end."
Baifeng Uesugi spoke.
"Will someone interfere along the way?" Tatsuya Shiba asked.
"Who knows? We'll take it one step at a time," Baifeng Uesugi said with a smile.
"Yes, elder brother," Tatsuya Shiba replied.
"All right, we've been out here a long time. We should head back," Baifeng Uesugi said.
When Baifeng Uesugi returned to his room, he found Mayumi Saegusa and Miyuki Shiba already inside.
"What are you doing here?" Baifeng Uesugi asked, puzzled.
"Bai Feng, can't we come here?" Mayumi Saegusa pouted.
"You came to see me because you need something, right?" Baifeng Uesugi said as he sat on the bed.
"Bai Feng, you knew that already?" Miyuki Shiba said with a smile.
"It's so late, and both of you came to see me at the same time. You must need me for something. Go on, what is it?" Bai Feng Ueyama said.
"Hehe, here's the thing. Hattori's CAD still isn't quite suited to him, but Izumikawa has a match tomorrow. So I wanted to ask you to help Hattori tune his CAD tomorrow, Bai Feng."
Mayumi Saegusa spoke.
"Oh, you came all this way in person just for that?"
Baifeng Uesugi looked at the two of them uncertainly.
"And I heard from Miyuki that you didn't seem very well today."
Mayumi Saegusa looked at Baifeng Uesugi with concern.
"So that's it. Don't worry, I'm fine now. Maybe it was because there were too many people around during the day."
Knowing the two had come because they were concerned about him, Baifeng Uesugi felt a warmth in his heart.
"Are you really all right now?"
Mayumi Saegusa still seemed a little worried and asked him again.
"Really, I'm fine now. All right, it's so late. It's a little unsafe for you two girls to be here with me."
Seeing that the two still seemed unconvinced, Baifeng Uesugi spoke with a joking smile.
"Looks like you really are fine, Bai Feng. You can even joke around," Miyuki Shiba said, covering her mouth as she laughed.
"All right, I'll walk you back."
After escorting each of them to her room, Baifeng Uesugi returned to his own.
(P.S. Keep the "power" coming, and the happiness won't stop! As a new author, thank you all for your support. I hope you'll tap the button to request more chapters and send some "power."
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