You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 54: Shiori "-----"

“Good morning, Hiroki-kun.”

“…Good morning.”

A sense of deja vu…

(Somehow, the image of Shiori from just a bit ago and the principal now standing before me seemed to blend.)

The place is the entrance to the apartment where Hiroki lives. Hearing the intercom ring at 8 AM, he opened the door to find the principal, his hair interspersed with white, standing there.

“I have something to talk about. May I come in?”

“Yes, please do.”

Though slightly bewildered, Hiroki let the principal into his home.

“Ah, Canon, huh? You listen to wonderful music.”

“Yes, well…”

What the principal heard was Pachelbel’s “Canon.”

The music flowed throughout the house from the stereo placed in the living room.

“It’s soundproofed… If it’s a problem, I can turn off the music.”

“No, it’s fine. It makes it easier to talk.”

“Is that so? Ah, please have a seat on the sofa.”

While responding, Hiroki invites the principal to sit on the sofa, and the principal nods lightly and sits down.

“I’ll get you something now.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Hiroki said this and stood in the kitchen.

(It’s definitely… about that matter…)

He was naturally trembling inside. The reason was, of course, because of a previous mission.

Without stopping his thoughts, he skillfully put coffee grounds (powder type) into a cup and poured hot water from the electric kettle.

He took sugar and milk from the shelf and, carrying the small plate with the cup, turned towards the sofa where the principal was sitting.

“Thank you.”

Taking the cup, the principal expressed his gratitude.

“So, what brings you here today…”

“First, I want to say thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“Yes.”

It was natural to voice such a question. Hiroki didn’t remember doing anything that warranted gratitude.

But the principal looked straight at Hiroki and bowed his head.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done this time.”

“Wait, principal, I haven’t done anything to deserve thanks… I failed…”

“What are you talking about? You did well.”

“No, I didn’t do anything, rather…!?”

“If you say any more, I’ll give you another chop.”

The principal’s chop cut off the words Hiroki struggled to say.

“Let’s end this topic. You don’t need to think about anything more. Understand?”

“……..Yes, I understand.”

It was deja vu.

The figure of Shiori, who comforted him when leaving the hotel, overlapped with that of the principal.

Though confused, Hiroki accepted the words with his heart and mind and stopped his weary thoughts.

“Anyway, there’s a main topic!”

The principal raised his voice firmly. The gloomy face Hiroki showed made him do so.

“Hiroki-kun’s class is currently closed, right? Along with that, there was a miscommunication in conveying information. You didn’t receive the notice about the event.”

“An event…?”

Seeing Hiroki’s reaction, the principal smiled.

“Yes, it’s called ‘Promotion.’ Let me explain…”

A new student welcome event will be held in late May. A joint exercise involving students who have just entered the junior high section.

The participants are from both the junior and senior high sections. Participation is voluntary.

Each will conduct exercises that utilize their combat abilities.

It’s a team battle, with the junior section teams consisting of six to eight members and the senior section teams having two to three members.

“–And that was the story up until last year, but this year, there’s an additional rule.”

“Additional Rule.”

This year, the use of equipment such as firearms is allowed to aim for improvement in skills other than combat ability.

Equipment must pass inspection, and only those that pass are permitted for use. Ammunition will be distributed exclusively for the exercise.

“–There are still more additional rules, but to put it simply, that’s the gist of it.”

“Is that so… Since it’s voluntary participation,”

“Ah, I understand what you’re trying to say.”

The principal looked at Hiroki with a knowing gaze.

“You’ve just come to the combat school. So, you wouldn’t want to participate all of a sudden.”

“…Yes, well.”

There was a real reason… but neither of them touched upon it.

(The fear of my lack of combat skills being exposed…)

(If Hiroki-kun participates, my sanity will crumble…)

By coincidence, their thoughts led to a miraculous consensus.

Thus, both found a satisfying resolution.

“So, Hiroki-kun won’t be participating, right?”

“Yes, I’ll just watch this time… Are there seats for spectators?”

“Ah, there are. And there’s also live commentary. It’s to help the audience understand the situation better.”

“Then I’ll be watching.”

“Understood. …Just to make sure, though, the registration deadline is in a few days… You won’t be participating, right?”

He asked cautiously, just to make sure there were no mistakes.

“Yes. I probably won’t participate even if asked.”

That was naturally Hiroki’s answer. Hearing this, the principal showed a relieved expression.

“Then I should be going back. Thanks for the coffee.”

“No, thank you for coming.”

The door closes.

The music that had been filling his ears fades away, and the principal begins to walk down the hallway.

And then…

“Hiroki-kun’s concerns about participating are no more.”

“—–“

“Now then, Shiori-kun. I’m about to give you a mission.”

Standing before the principal, who now carried a dark and heavy atmosphere, was Himeji Shiori.

“In this promotion event, holding the position of the tenth rank, you are to oversee all participants–“