You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 74: It's Okay. Because I'm Here

Why

Even though I’m also a ranked member

Why does Hiroki praise Shiori-Ale?

────I understand

It’s my fault

I did nothing to change in the gloomy room

I’m the one who lied to myself

────How nice

What is that Shiori-Ale praised by Hiroki?

What made that smile on Shiori-Ale?

────Ah, I was below her, wasn’t I

Yes

Ranked members are strong and cool

Everyone admires them

And that makes Hiroki smile

────Kindness? Taught various things? Spent time? Devoted?

What are you doing?

Where do you find such time?

What about the job I turned down?

Wasn’t there a job to monitor someone?

What are you doing abandoning your job?

You might as well be with that someone

“As expected of Himeji Shiori, the tenth ranked pride of Combat College, admired by everyone”

Everyone admires…

As expected of the tenth-ranked pride of Combat College…

────Ah, okay. I understand.

I had it too

Yes, I haven’t told Hiroki yet

Alright, I understand, I’ll tell you here

If you need proof, I have it

I’ll prepare it from now on, so watch

I’ll use Shiori-Ale as evidence

Let’s tell Shiori-Ale to devote herself to her job

Instead of spending time on Hiroki, let’s have her focus on monitoring someone requested by the school

Now, Hiroki has “Rank Nine Me”

Stronger than “Shiori-Ale,” there’s “Suzuko Me”

So, you see────

────Praise me

The stadium was enveloped in turmoil.

“Eh, Ah, Amano-san!?”

“What is it, Moriko-chan?”

In the commentary booth, Amano was showing a smile, along with a girl called Moriko.

With a disturbed expression, Moriko faced Amano, trying to grasp the situation with her question.

“Um, that is, what exactly…”

“Moriko-chan, let’s calm down first.”

Amano, with a slight smile, spoke to Moriko, who was sweating lightly on her cheeks.

But, becoming calm in the current situation would be difficult, as anyone would think.

Below them, visible was the spectacle displayed on monitors everywhere.

In the center of the stadium, where participants gather.

The “Rank Nine” and an “Outlier” being together.

It was a scene no one could have ever predicted.

“But, like this…”

“It’s my job to entertain the audience.”

Amano declared with a smile, disturbing Moriko’s breathing, and then shifted his gaze from the girl to the stadium.

“Now! With all participants gathered, we’ll be moving to the battlefield stage! …is what I’d like to say, but”

From the commentary booth high in the stadium, overlooking the space filled with disturbance, Amano was bustling to create more excitement.

“Since it’s the last entrance, maybe we should get a comment!”

Then, Amano quietly murmured “Touka-chan.”

“Uh… a microphone?”

Suddenly, a microphone materializes faintly in front of me. As I blink in surprise, the microphone continues to sway up and down in the air, as if urging me to take it.

“Please, go ahead…”

A quiet voice reaches my ears. It was the voice of the black-haired girl I had been with until just moments ago.

Confused by the invisible presence, my thoughts freeze amidst the surrounding silence. Unsure of what to do, I eventually take the microphone.

And then,

“Suzuko…”

I glance sideways, intending to pass the microphone.

But Suzuko, seemingly lost in her own world, shows no reaction to my voice.

Reluctantly, I lift the microphone to my chest.

“……..”

“…….”

“…….”

……..Sorry, what should I really say?

An odd silence had filled the space since the commentator Amano prompted for a comment.

As if time had stopped.

And then, the good-natured young man sitting in the commentary booth shatters it.

With a wry smile, Amano tries to coax some words out.

“Then! How about your determination or the reason for participating this time? Just a word, please!”

Hearing Amano’s words, I take a deep breath and grip the microphone tighter.

“……”

Trying not to show my embarrassment, I keep my face as expressionless as possible, aiming for a flat tone.

The first thing to say is…

“……Koala”

(Koala!?)

Almost everyone’s thoughts align. That single word brings a certain animal to everyone’s minds.

Sorry! I really can’t think of anything!

Eh, what should I say!

Why did I say “koala”?

Why did Suzuko’s reason for “wanting to go to Australia” come to mind!

“Do you, like them?”

“……..”

“……..”

The embarrassment was so intense I wished I could die.

Just focusing on erasing my emotions to prevent an explosion was all I could manage.

The stadium falls silent.

Forgetting how many seconds had passed since my murmur, a slender arm raises among the densely packed participants.

“I, I like them…”

A girl responds with a trembling voice, her short hair tied in a ponytail. Her face was so red it seemed like it could explode at any moment, and it was mysterious why she even responded.

And Hiroki,

“……They are cute, aren’t they.”

“Yes.”

“That’s all.”

“Eh? …Ah, yes.”

(Eh!?)

Though disturbed expressions were visible everywhere, none of that mattered now. I just wanted to close the curtain on this.

The girl who participated in the exchange, shyly agreeing, then disappears into the crowd of participants.

That’s enough, right?

This should be fine.

Because it’s embarrassing.

So, it’s over. It’s all over. Nothing but an end will be accepted.

“……Alright! Let’s start moving to the battlefield stage!”

(Eh!?)

With Amano’s closing, the hearts of the audience unite once again.

────That was supposed to be my spot.