You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!!

Hiroki, now in his gym clothes, was astounded by the sight in front of him.

(What’s this?)

A gym was prepared inside the college building. But it was vastly different from any gym Hiroki knew.

There was expensive-looking equipment everywhere you looked.

There were bench presses and treadmills for weight training, unidentifiable large monitors, large human-like figures, uneven walls for bouldering, and a machine that blew strong winds from the ground for skydiving training.

(How luxurious is this? Learning about combat…)

His knowledge from when he was a regular citizen was no longer applicable. His concept of a gym was completely shattered.

“Alright! Everyone, start your routines! Ready, go!”

Amakusa-sensei, who seemed to have made “Ready, go!” her catchphrase, casually gave the signal, and the students began heading towards various equipment.

(I guess I’ll just do whatever.)

The first period of weight training was akin to self-study.

Choose your training content and strengthen yourself in the class.

And a little walk later, Hiroki found a mechanical bed.

“This is…”

“It’s a simulation training machine.”

(Why is she behind me, the pomegranate production machine…)

Since when was Shiori behind Hiroki?

She quickly answered Hiroki’s question.

“This allows you to enter a virtual reality and gain real experience.”

“Is it like moving your body in a dream?”

“Pretty much. But you feel pain too, so it’s different from a dream.”

“I see.”

(Alright! Let’s do this!)

While maintaining his composure, Hiroki was excited to try the game he wanted to play, his eyes sparkling.

“Then, I’ll train with this.”

“I’ll join you then.”

Why?

That was Hiroki’s immediate thought.

“I’ll teach you since it’s your first time.”

“…Okay, thanks.”

Her follow-up convinced him. Surely, there would be things he wouldn’t understand the first time. Shiori thought of that and decided to accompany him.

“So,

Put on the helmet attached to the bed. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Okay.”

Following Shiori’s instructions, Hiroki wore a white helmet with flashing lights. It covered his entire head, plunging his vision into darkness.

“Now, close your eyes. You’ll enter virtual reality in about twenty seconds.”

He nodded in agreement and responded. Soon, he felt his consciousness lighten and his body overtaken by a strange sensation.

“You can open your eyes now.”

When he opened his eyes, he saw a scene completely different from the gym he was in before.

“An abandoned building?”

“Yes. We chose an abandoned building that’s been unused for several years.”

The broken windows, cracked walls and pillars, and dust swirling on the ground all suggested a building slated for demolition.

“We need weapons for combat training. Do you have any requests?”

“Huh? Combat training? Weapons?”

“Yes, you can create any weapon from the data in this virtual reality.”

Saying so, Shiori operated a light display that appeared in front of her.

With a thud, a gun materialized in her hand. But Hiroki had a question.

(What is combat training?… Ah, a military game. I thought we’d be doing an obstacle course, but this seems more interesting.)

Hiroki still needed to grasp the concept of combat studies fully.

The reason for weight training in the gym was to increase the success rate of dangerous missions.

But in his mind, the purpose of strength training was to control the enhancement of combat abilities in the human body. He thought missions were just part of community service.

“So, for combat training, we’re fighting something?”

Having convinced himself it was a military game, Hiroki asked.

“We haven’t decided yet, but what do you want to do? Should we prepare NPCs?”

Then, Hiroki had an idea born from his hatred.

“How about Zak… I mean, Shiori and I fight each other?”

“…What?”

The sudden proposal took Shiori aback. Her breathing became erratic as she processed the thought.

(Fighting Hiroki all of a sudden? But this is an opportunity…)

Shiori wanted Hiroki to acknowledge her skills and redeem herself for the mishap at the bank.

“Okay. You can choose any weapon you like from the display of available weapons,” she agreed.

A light display with a list of weapons appeared in front of Hiroki. The interface was user-friendly.

“We’ll start in five minutes. We’ll be transported to different random locations in the abandoned building, and that’s where we’ll start. Remember, you can’t leave the building.”

“Understood.”

Shiori, after explaining, returned her gaze to the display.

The display indicated that the chosen weapons would appear in hand immediately after being transported. Shiori had set this up.

Moreover, the display kept adding more information.

One-on-one, person-to-person combat, ending as soon as a death is confirmed.

In other words, the simulation would end once either ‘died’ in the virtual reality.

“Almost five minutes now. Are you ready?”

“Yeah. I’ve finished choosing.”

“Then, let’s meet again.”

As she finished her sentence, Hiroki’s surroundings changed.

Hiroki, realizing he’d been transported elsewhere, noticed his attire had changed to a black military outfit with multiple pouches.

He was on the first floor. The view beyond the open glass doors confirmed that.

Then, with a distinctive thud, weapons appeared at Hiroki’s hands and feet.

AK-74, CZ805 Bren, Scorpion EVO 3, PP-2000…

Hiroki did not know about guns. He had chosen them almost randomly based on their appearance.

He had requested an overwhelming amount of ammunition and spare magazines.

“This will do…”

(Like a real pomegranate…)

Internally, he was making a declaration of slaughter against Shiori. Hiroki planned to take revenge on Shiori for all the resentment he had accumulated.

But…

(Huh? The trigger…)

No matter how much he tried, the trigger wouldn’t budge.

This was the case for all the guns he had prepared.

(What’s going on?!)

Convinced he had been given defective weapons in the virtual reality, Hiroki’s silent scream expressed his frustration.

Of course. Hiroki, lacking knowledge of firearms, couldn’t use the guns.

The safety was engaged, preventing the trigger from moving.

(Damn it!… So, what can I use…)

Discarding all the guns, bullets, and spare magazines, he focused on the remaining weapons.

Their metallic surfaces mirrored his face.

(A Japanese sword…)

Visible from its black sheath was a broad blade with a sharp edge. Hiroki had chosen one sword, eight grenades, three smoke grenades, and three flashbangs, more for fashion than function.

(The grenades… You pull the pin out in movies, right?)

His movie knowledge proved useful, and he increased his usable arsenal.

(It is it.)

He attached the weapons to the hooks and pouches provided in his gear.

(Alright, let’s go.)

He walked through the dust-filled space, passing a reception counter, a broken elevator, and a halted escalator.

Hiroki was experiencing a sensation he had never felt before.

(So this is what an abandoned building is like. The ceiling has collapsed, and there are holes too.)

Such an opportunity to enter an abandoned building was rare.

He appreciated this unique experience.

(The walls and pillars are full of cracks. Was there an earthquake?)

Hiroki ascended the stopped escalator to the second floor.

From his conversation with Shiori and the view outside, he guessed the building was at least eight stories high. Assuming it was unlikely to encounter Shiori so soon in the expansive building, he explored with a light heart.

(She’s not here, right?)

Walking relaxed, Hiroki reached a crossroads and took a smoke grenade from his chest pouch.

(Better to test it just in case.)

Concerned about the possibility of another defective item like before, he decided to use what seemed like the safest option – the smoke grenade.

(Here goes.)

As he mentally prepared himself, Hiroki pulled the pin and tossed the smoke grenade down the corridor he had come from. The smoke that started billowing a few seconds later reassured him that it wasn’t defective. And then…

(This is somewhat fun.)

His eyes gleamed like a child who had found a new toy as he looked at the remaining smoke grenades.

(Well, smoke grenades won’t take down Zakuro, but… it’s fine, right?)

He pulled the pin on another grenade and threw it. This time, smoke started billowing from the right corridor.

(Last one!)

Next, he aimed for the corridor straight ahead, throwing the last grenade with all his might, but it bounced off the wall and disappeared from view. A few seconds later, as smoke filled the area, he knew it had landed there.

(Flashbangs won’t take her down either…)

Hiroki, reverting to a childlike mindset in various ways, held a flashbang in his hand, justifying his actions with strange logic.

His target was the right corridor, where he had thrown the second smoke grenade. He prepared his pitcher’s form to throw into the still smoke-filled space.

(Flashbang means it must emit a blinding light… Perfect with the smoke.)

He hoped the spreading smoke would serve as a barrier against the flash.

(My killer flashball!)

As he mentally shouted a silly attack name, the flashbang, thrown with even more force than before, disappeared into the wall of smoke.

But there was no flash, no change.

(Must be a dud.)

Deeming the flashbang defective, Hiroki, with newfound hope in his eyes, reached for the last type of grenade he had: the explosive kind.

(It’s scary, but I want to throw it. I wouldn’t be a man if I didn’t!)

Channeling an enthusiastic baseball player, Hiroki pulled the pin and pitched the black object down the right corridor again.

(Hit the dud flashbang!)

Hoping the explosive grenade would trigger the unexploded flashbang, resulting in a combined explosion.

The grenade disappeared into the smoke.

He heard it bounce, but no sound of it hitting the ground.

Suspicious, Hiroki was about to step forward when…

BOOM! An explosion rocked the first floor, its vibrations reaching him.

Why was there an explosion on the first floor when he was on the second? Hiroki set out to investigate, heading towards the smoke-filled right corridor.

But before he could take a step, a glowing display reading “Victory” appeared before him.

“…Huh?”

Confused, Hiroki couldn’t comprehend this sudden outcome.

Then, Hiroki vanished from space.

Ten minutes before, Hiroki saw the “Victory” display.

(We’re on the sixth floor.)

Shiori, determining her location from the view outside, began her move. In her hand was a Desert Eagle, capable of firing high-powered bullets.

For this battle, she planned to use her enhanced speed and the agility of the automatic handgun to defeat Hiroki.

(Now, where are you?)

She activated her enhanced hearing, now tens of times more precise than normal.

(Something metallic falling on the first floor… That’s a gun… Hiroki is on the first floor.)

She smoothly descended to the lower floors.

(Found him!)

On the second floor, she saw Hiroki emerge from the halted escalator without using the normal routes; instead, she used a broken hole to reach the second floor.

(He’s entering the hallway.)

Hiroki entered the narrow hallway from the spacious area near the escalator. Shiori silently followed and paused at the entrance to the hallway.

(A trap? He’s full of openings. What is that!?)

Noticing Hiroki’s relaxed demeanor, Shiori’s eyes caught sight of his armament.

(A Japanese sword!? And no guns!? What’s going on!?)

Shiori was once again surprised by Hiroki’s actions.

(He’s prepared for close combat. Choosing a narrow hallway makes sense.)

In the hallway, Hiroki stood in the middle of the crossroads, surrounded by overturned trolleys and large decorative potted plants, forming a makeshift stronghold.

He could hide behind a trolley or dive into another passage if shot at. It was clear he had set up his position here.

(Is he waiting for me to come out?… One missed shot, and he’ll know where I am and hide.)

It was a strategy to exhaust her ammunition. If she wasted bullets, all that would be left would be their enhanced abilities and physical strength.

(I can’t just attack with abilities… If he’s that confident, he must have a plan.)

His confident stance, not drawing his sword, spoke of a strategy. Just one wrong move could lead to defeat.

Shiori stepped back from the hallway, leaning against the corner wall, pondering her next move.

(What should I do? This is just like at the bank… Again, I’m being lured into his trap… But)

Memories of the past surfaced, bringing a smile to Shiori’s face.

(To think I can redeem my mistake at the bank like this…)

A fierce determination rose within her. It was a rematch under similar circumstances, an opportunity she couldn’t be happier about.

Shiori then activated her body enhancement, maximizing her physical abilities.

(It’s time to fight!)

As she mentally declared her resolve, she heard the sound of a heavy object flying through the hallway. That sound was…

(A grenade!?)

Realizing her position was compromised, Shiori leaped to the right with enhanced agility and lay flat on the ground.

(It didn’t explode?… Is it smoke?)

She had been fooled. But she couldn’t stop. Predicting Hiroki’s next move, she decided to move ahead of him, straining her mind to its limits.

(If I shoot in the smoke, I’ll likely waste bullets! Staying here would allow him to flank me!)

Confident in her decision, Shiori sprinted down the right passage, heading towards the entrance that led to Hiroki’s location. But…

(More smoke here!?)

She was astonished to find her actions anticipated yet again. Nevertheless, Shiori didn’t stop, moving to the next calculated location, but…

(He’s predicted me too much!?)

That area was also filled with smoke. Disappointed in her predictability, Shiori decided to abandon her plan and retrace her steps. If Hiroki had predicted her every move, she would fight him on the opposite terms.

Returning to the starting point, she discarded all predictions and strategies, ready to face Hiroki anew.

(Hiroki! I will win against you!)

For Shiori, defeating Hiroki was the only thing that mattered now. She abandoned all strategies, focusing solely on her formidable opponent.

But in doing so, she lost awareness of her surroundings.

Thud.

From the smoke-filled hallway, an object flew out, striking Shiori in the head.

Reeling from the impact,

Shiori stumbled and fell into the broken hole she had used to come down to the second floor.

The next thing to hit her was the impact of the ground as she landed.

“Ah! What’s… happening!?”

Dazed and struggling to regain her senses, Shiori forced her eyes open, only to be blinded by a bright light.

“Ahh!”

Her voice was a mix of pain and confusion.

Overwhelmed by the shock and unable to see clearly, she lay on the ground, disoriented. Yet her fighting spirit remained.

(Even if I can’t see…!)

She reactivated her enhanced hearing, focusing all her senses on listening. Above her, she heard the sound of a heavy object bouncing.

(This time it’s a grenade!)

Without hesitation, Shiori pushed off the ground with her right leg, moving away from where she predicted the grenade would land. In her blinded state, escaping the blast radius was her only option.

(I avoided the grenade! What’s next?)

Bracing herself for the next challenge, she activated her body enhancement. But then…

BOOM!

“…Eh?”

Shiori felt a multitude of pains assaulting her body. Trembling, she opened her crushed eyes to see her blurred surroundings.

“What’s… this?”

Her body was riddled with countless bullet wounds. Not just her but everything in the space was marked with bullet impacts.

“…Ah… I see…”

With faltering words, Shiori looked at the spot where the grenade had exploded, understanding the outcome.

Scattered around were the remains of firearms and magazines, empty shell casings everywhere.

Hiroki had calculated it all: her falling here, the grenade causing the ammunition to detonate, setting off a storm of bullets.

“…I guess… I couldn’t win…”