You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 73: ...I understand

In a soundproofed preparation room for competitors,

“…”

“…”

From beneath half-lowered eyelids, a glaring gaze is visible. It was an action uncharacteristic of the girl.

The one being glared at made a complicated expression, letting their gaze swim aimlessly.

“Um…is there something?”

“…I have a question.”

The girl with wandering eyes asked, her short black hair swaying. The girl who had been staring intensely responded with measured words.

“Why…is Hiroki in uniform too?”

“Hm, is that weird, Suzuko?”

Suzuko, the girl called by Hiroki, continued to fix her gaze on the girl with black hair without lending her ears to Hiroki’s words. And,

(I’m scared! Why is it always me!)

Touka, under Suzuko’s intense gaze, was shaking her spirit to its limit from fear and stress. Remembering the master who had forced this troublesome task upon her, Touka managed to stitch a desperate, made-up smile on her face despite her boiling blood.

“This uniform is specially made.”

It wasn’t a lie. That was the truth, the actual fact.

“He is a transfer student, so participating in an event suddenly is dangerous. Therefore, by the organizer’s decision, wearing this sturdy uniform was allowed specially. It’s closer to everyday wear, so it’s very easy to move in.”

“…”

“Indeed, it’s more proper than the uniform I usually wear. Yet, it’s still easy to move in.”

Hiroki, beside the silent Suzuko, checked the uniform he was wearing. The uniform itself, of course, was made of reinforced material, equipped with black elbow and knee pads, and under the clothing was a thin layer of special protective gear.

“It gives a sense of security. What are you so worried about?”

“…”

While Hiroki smiled lightly, Suzuko still hadn’t cleared her doubts.

“…It’s nothing.”

After a long silence, Suzuko tilted her gaze downwards, looking at her hands before speaking.

“No…it’s all just…something I must do.”

“!”

“All just something I must do? What do you mean?”

“It means…Hiroki doesn’t have to do anything…”

Suzuko, resolved to some purpose, divided the reactions with her words and expressions. Naturally, Hiroki, who knew nothing, was just slightly puzzled.

And the girl who knew everything…

(I’m so sorry, participants! I’m so sorry, organizing committee! I’m so sorry, faculty and staff! Principal! I truly am sorry!!)

Deep in her heart, deeply and sincerely, Touka repeated apologies. Anticipating the events that would unfold, her thoughts of the earnestness of the competitors and a part of Suzuko Uchimoriya’s power led her to apologize to everyone.

(That Amano idiot will definitely be punished later! I’ll hang him upside down and make him apologize to everyone! So, please forgive the pitiful me!)

After continuous apologies, Touka hid her fear and turned a smile towards the two participants before her.

“The entrance ceremony is about to begin, but…a little problem has occurred.”

“Problem?”

“What do you mean?”

Hiroki questioned, puzzled by Touka’s hesitant words, and Suzuko did the same.

“Well, you see…due to a registration error by the organizing side, your team’s entrance ceremony has been…excluded from the normal schedule…”

It was all Amano’s doing. Not a mistake, but hidden intentionally.

If the presence of Suzuko and Touka were known, the organizing committee, including the principal, would surely act. They would either call for withdrawal from the event or impose appropriate restrictions on participation.

But Amano wouldn’t allow it.

Amano wanted to see “an event that excites him.” For that, he would deceive adults and disregard others’ circumstances.

Amano, with his self-prioritizing philosophy, had told Touka, “This is the stage of dreams! Nothing should interfere!”

The stage of dreams? In a sense, “a stage for execution” was more apt.

Imagining “the execution of the participants” and “Amano’s execution,” Touka continued, sweating slightly as she spoke to Hiroki and the others.

“So, as a special measure…your entrance will be after the oath-taking…”

“That is…”

“…”

Hiroki, feeling complex emotions, contrasted with Suzuko, who, while silent, let a suspicious light shine in her eyes.

“A mistake on the organizer’s side…what’s the compensation?”

“!?”

“Entering after the oath-taking induces mental stress…that’s a disadvantage in the event…is there no special measure?”

Suzuko’s words were convincing even to Hiroki. Indeed, stepping into the venue after the oath-taking requires courage. It means walking in front of the audience, including the already gathered participants. That imposes a significant mental burden.

“…Isn’t there anything?”

“…”

Facing the inquiry, Touka frowned. What Suzuko had said was indeed correct, and Touka herself understood that. However, if she had the right to decide,

“I’ll contact the organizing side for a moment.”

After excusing herself, Touka took out a device from her pocket to make a call. The recipient was the master whom she was still directing her anger towards.

“What is it, Touka-chan? I have ‘something to tell you.'”

Interrupting Amano’s words, Touka explained the situation in detail. And Amano came up with a measure that could be taken now.

“Alright, then…”

Hearing the details, Touka sighed lightly and turned back to Suzuko.

“The organizing side proposes, ‘You can decide your starting point,’ how does that sound?”

The upcoming event was a battle using a vast area. The starting points for each team were supposed to be randomly assigned, but now they could freely choose their starting point.

“…That’s fine.”

Suzuko showed satisfaction with the proposal. The measure was sufficient for the girl.

“Then, we will inform the transportation personnel on our side, so please tell them your destination when boarding.”

With Touka’s additional explanation, the discussion came to an end. Soon, music flowed from a speaker in the corner of the ceiling, and the voices of the commentators began to be heard.

“The entrance ceremony has started. We will be moving shortly, so please, do your best.”

Yes, Suzuko has changed.

It would have been perfect if not for her legs trembling minutely.

Touka, who was close to Suzuko, didn’t notice, but Hiroki, observing from a distance, had a firm grasp on Suzuko’s inner feelings.

“As everyone knows, the team that will be making their appearance now includes a certain person! The winner of the last time and a being with a rank! Now, what kind of battle will they show us this time!”

The voice echoing through the corridor belonged to a girl seated at the commentator’s desk. Under Touka’s guidance, Hiroki and Suzuko were standing in front of the closed entrance gate, merely waiting for it to open. Touka was no longer in sight.

“Shiori…”

A name leaked out at the mention of the girl’s name by the commentator.

That leaked name was of a person towards whom Hiroki harbored complicated feelings, mingled with fear.

If possible, he wished to conclude the event without encountering her. That was Hiroki’s earnest desire.

“Shiori is…what?”

While thinking so, Suzuko, who was next to him, turned her gaze towards Hiroki. The voice Hiroki had let slip had reached Suzuko’s ears.

“Do you know her?”

“Well, a bit.”

“…What kind of relationship?”

“Hmm, let’s see…”

Hiroki supported his chin with his hand, slowly looking up at the ceiling as he pondered.

It was truly complex. What was Shiori to him? A neighbor living in the same apartment and the first girl he had met among those involved in Combat College.

Until now, she was nothing but an object of fear, but after being comforted, different feelings had sprouted.

There was a part of him that felt saved, yet he still harbored fear.

Shiori, who had chased him running on walls, was scary.

Shiori, who had chased him at the speed of a motorcycle, was scary.

The actions of her he recalled were nothing but nightmares for him.

…Why did she chase after me?

Why did Shiori chase after me? Even in my previous school, and when I was with Haruna, why was Shiori so desperate in chasing me?

…What was the reason she chased me?

Was there something about me?

Was there a definite reason she had to chase me?

Did I possess something?

Why was Shiori near me?

…Exactly “What kind of relationship?”

At the moment of realizing something, a voice echoed. Before he knew it, Suzuko was standing in front of him.

“What kind of relationship?”

The same question was asked.

Ah, Shiori is a ranked person. Hiroki knew about Shiori’s high recognition, but it seemed that it had reached even Suzuko, a truant student.

And, the fact that Suzuko was pushing this much meant she had a strong interest in Shiori.

He couldn’t shatter the ideal image of Shiori that Suzuko held. Locking away the bad history of Shiori he knew deep within his heart, he swallowed hard, contemplating the response to bring.

“She was kind to me.”

“…”

“She taught me various things when I had just transferred.”

“…”

“Despite her busy status. To think she would make time for someone like me.”

“…”

“I don’t think there are many girls who would be so devoted.”

“…”

“Truly, she is Shiori Himeji, the tenth-ranked pride of Combat College, admired by everyone.”

“…”

“…”

Hmm? Did I say something wrong?

He realized after finishing speaking about Shiori, Suzuko hadn’t interjected even once. She just silently listened and remained silent even after he had finished speaking.

“Suzuko?”

“…”

Uh, Suzuko-san?

Where did those beautiful eyes that used to be go?

Are those naturally overflowing colored eyes absent?

“Suzuko~?”

“…”

Silent. There were times when Suzuko would become like she was frozen.

However, this time was a bit strange. It had never lasted this long before.

Noticing another sense of discomfort, his attention was drawn to her hands.

Her shoulders were trembling slightly. And within her hands was a “twisted space.”

“Suzuko?”

His breath halted for a moment, and he let out a disturbed voice.

What he saw was a space where the background and skin color twisted. It was something he had never seen in his life before.

While Suzuko remained silent, a heavy sound echoed nearby. Before they knew it, the entrance gate had begun to open. From the single beam of light stretching from the door, numerous cheers flew in.

Facing it, the girl began to walk with an unchanged face.

“Sorry…”

A few steps ahead, Suzuko quietly murmured.

It was unclear to whom the apology was directed.

“I’ve calmed down… It’s okay.”

In front of the door, which hadn’t fully opened yet, Suzuko continued without showing her face.

But her voice was cold, carrying a sense of darkness.

“…It’s okay.”

The girl who knew herself was now calm.

“…It was a backlash, wasn’t it?”

The “twist” that had been in her hand had disappeared, leaving behind nothing but empty space.

“…It’s my own fault.”

The girl tainted with self-deprecation turned around and declared at last.

“Yeah… I understand.”

Her expression was invisible against the backlight. Yet, her voice sounded clear and bright.

But there was something he didn’t understand.

“What did you understand?”

To that question, the girl, after a considerable pause, finally spoke.

“It’s about myself.”

Saying so, she stood beside Hiroki, as if inviting him to walk together.