NOVEL NEXT The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 149
149: 2nd Year, Class Competition Begins
May 12th, Friday.
And so, the day of the 2nd-year class competition has finally arrived. Today, there are no classes for 1st and 3rd years, but we have to attend HR. If we don’t, it’ll be considered an absence――
I think students who want to skip class are annoying, but fortunately, everyone seems to be motivated. As I glance around at the familiar faces gathered in the classroom, I listen to the morning explanation from Kageyama.
Well, it’s not much different from the 1st-year competition. This time, we’re just spectators.
…In the end, the duel with Oudou was cancelled. I couldn’t persuade Shirona-nee.
I think it’s pointless to say anything more. It’s up to the person involved to decide, and it’s not right for outsiders to interfere.
All I can do is pray for Shirona-nee’s success.
The rest is up to my future self to think about.
“Alright, that’s all. Dismissed, everyone.”
After finishing the administrative announcement, Kageyama exits the D-class classroom. The remaining students seem to be gathering in their respective groups.
――Well, I’ll go too.
Since I don’t have any close friends, I’ll just leave the classroom alone. It’s nothing out of the ordinary, and I’m actually feeling quite refreshed.
As I put my hands in my pockets, I try to leave the classroom, but just then, I hear a voice calling out to me from behind. “Shoma!”
…What is it, annoying?
I reluctantly turn around, and there stand Kouu and Mushakouji. …That’s an unusual combination, isn’t it? I can’t help but look at them with a puzzled expression.
“Shoma! If you’re going to the competition venue, would you like to come with us?”
“What? Why?”
I didn’t understand the meaning of the proposal.
I asked Mushanokouji again.
“Why is that…?”
“Mushanokouji wants to hear your explanation! And besides, the girl is inviting you, so just say ‘yes’ normally!”
“Isn’t that a sudden and unreasonable demand? Does the girl include herself…?”
“What’s with that, you’re talking like a elementary school boy! You’re not popular because of that!!”
“Is that so, Mushanokouji, who’s being skillfully played by an older guy? It’s like you’re being deceived by a kid, you’re a love novice and a flirtatious woman! You don’t have the right to criticize others, so just realize that already!!”
“What, what’s going on…?!”
“Wait, wait, you two…!!”
Mushanokouji, who was about to get into a fight with me, intervened and stopped us. …I didn’t want to bother her either. Kouu probably felt the same way. We both shut up.
“…If you don’t like it, that’s fine. Shouma likes to watch alone anyway…”
“…”
Mushanokouji proposed with a hesitant attitude. Behind her, Kouu was glaring at me with an intense gaze, as if saying “You know, don’t you?!”
I was annoyed by her attitude, but I didn’t want to make Mushanokouji sad either.
However, watching the competition alone was also not an option I wanted to give up.
As I wandered around, lost in thought, my eyes met those of the two people behind me. There, Suzuki, Utsugi, and Banma were standing still, looking at us. Depending on my answer, they might intervene. Suzuki’s stance, ready to steal, was proof of that.
――What’s going on, wasn’t I not given a choice from the start?
My reaction after realizing that was quick.
“…Got it. Let’s go together.”
“!”
Mushanokouji was delighted by my words.
Did she really want to hear the explanation of the competition? That’s so like Mushanokouji. She’s really ambitious.
“…It seems like the conversation has been settled.”
“We’ll come together too!”
“Kanzaki, and Touka as well…”
…It’s not like it matters, but if you guys come, Akiha will be left alone, won’t she?
My concern reached Kanzaki, who turned around and called out to Akiha, who was standing in the back.
“…Souji, you come too.”
“W-wait, I…”
“You know you’re trying to do things on your own. You want to train yourself in a different environment, don’t you? But you don’t need to bring that to the competition. Ishiru’s explanation will be useful for you now.――Is that wrong?”
“It’s not wrong…”
“Then come. You don’t want to fight alone, do you? Don’t get your pride mixed up.”
“…Sorry, Souji.”
Kanzaki smiled at Akiha’s apology.
What can I say… Kanzaki is really a great person. He doesn’t say unnecessary things. He only says what’s needed, and at the best timing.
He’s really a great guy.
◆
But… what kind of situation is this?
We bought tickets at the reception and entered the venue, but the problem was the seating arrangement. In general seating at the special competition venue, there were no assigned seats. After deciding on a rough block to watch from, individuals could choose their own seats.
So, this is impossible, right?!
Surrounded by the group of students from Class D, I let out a shout in my mind.
“Hey, isn’t this positioning weird…?”
“What’s wrong? Don’t you think so?”
“Hey, Touko-san! You’re getting a bit too close to Shouma, aren’t you?”
“There’s nothing going on, okay? Shouma-kun?”
“You…”
Just as I was about to pay attention, Touko, who was sitting to my right, leaned in and whispered to me.
“…Shouma-kun, you’re going back to calling me by my surname, aren’t you? I told you I prefer being called by my name, didn’t I?”
“Ah, yeah… I mean…?”
“Hey, stop flirting on the field!”
“…Suzuki, this isn’t the field, is it?”
Suzuki retorted with a “similar thing, right?” to Banma’s teasing, and in the blink of an eye, Touko – or rather, Kanae – had returned to her usual self.
To my left was Mushakouji, to my right was Touko, below me was Kanzaki, and above me was Kouu… I was completely surrounded. By the way, the other faces were also gathered nearby. Aiba was next to Touko, Suzuki and Banma were next to Kanzaki, and the remaining Utsusemi was sitting next to Kouu, of course.
What a pain.
I wish I could just sit in a corner somewhere…
But I had no choice but to blow all that away…
I took a deep breath, munched on the churros in my hand, and observed the 2nd-year students lining up.
Among them, my attention was drawn to 2-A…
“It’s Ido Ryuko, right?”
“The vice president of the student council. Of course, Shouma-kun is also interested in her, isn’t he?”
“There’s no way he wouldn’t be, right? She’s the top candidate for the championship.”
I responded to Touko’s words with a “naturally”.
“…By the way, I don’t really know, but how is Ido-senpai so strong? She’s only a 2nd-year student, but she’s surpassed the 3rd-year students and is the strongest… What’s her secret?”
“…I don’t know the secret to her strength, but Ido-senpai is the winner of the ‘Tenbu Festival’, a martial arts tournament organized by the student council. The Tenbu Festival is a competition where students compete against each other in a ranking system, and it’s held every day.”
Utsusemi, from the journalism club, answered Kouu’s question instead. The Tenbu Festival, huh? In other words, it’s an “arena”. In the original story, this is where players can interact and test their skills… I’ve never used it, though.
“A battlefield…?”
“Hey, it’s that rectangular building in the corner of the sports area. It’s smaller than the special competition arena, but the seniors use it to compete against each other.”
“There’s such a facility, you say…?”
Banma muttered, looking interested.
“Anyone can participate, you know? If you enter, you can start from the bottom and work your way up. You can win prizes if you win, too. It’s not a big deal, though.”
“That means it’s a real battle test, huh…?”
Suzuki looked disappointed.
The Tenbu Festival is only for battle junkies, and there’s no point in participating, anyway…
“Well, but maybe someone like Aiba-kun might be interested?”
“…I don’t know…”
“But if we get stronger, it might not be a bad idea to give it a try, right?”
Oh, oh, oh… You’re really getting worked up, aren’t you?
Utsusemi might be trying to stir things up, but the Tenbu Festival isn’t that easy. There’s no division by grade level, either! If we’re pitted against 2nd- and 3rd-year students, it’ll be even more brutal than a class competition!
――Anyway, the time for the class competition finally arrived.
The one giving the signal is the homeroom teacher of 2-A.
……I and my sister, or so I thought��―
I recalled the class rankings I had checked on my magical crystal terminal (Portal) beforehand.
1.[2-A][Mushin] LV.43 Wado Ryūko [38F]
3.[2-B][Brave] LV.30 Ishirō Rina [29F]
……The gap had certainly narrowed compared to before, but it was still not enough.
To defeat Wado, I still――
Regardless of my concerns, the class competition continued. As I gazed down at the structure below, I watched the battle unfold among the second-year students.