“You were saved by the skull mask I gave you.”

“Yes…………”

Just before the hit, she utilized her enhanced motor functions to twist her upper body away. Shiori managed to avoid a defeat judgment thanks to the reinforced material of the skull mask.

Relief and concern were mixed in Haruna’s heart as a result.

“Shiori……”

“It seems she’s regrouped with her companions and is focusing on recovery.”

On some monitors, she stopped to regroup with her companions, taking a cautious stance.

“No matter how much it’s a Fake Mass, you can’t completely nullify the impact. I had applied special particles to the skull mask as well……”

“But it couldn’t completely negate the impact and was damaged. She must have suffered significant damage to her head.”

“It must have been quite painful. The impact was far beyond the anticipated pain feedback.”

I, who developed the Pseudo Mass, understood the magnitude of the pain more than anyone. That’s why I was worried about Shiori.

“But”

Along with the worry, there was something else. Because it was me, I could read Shiori’s current thoughts.

“Neither holding back nor the mission matters anymore.”

Shiori won’t stop now. My prediction, knowing her humanity, was correct.

“She’s started moving. The direction is, as expected,”

“She can only see those two now.”

Shiori began walking towards Hiroki and his group.

………….

………….

………….

…………Switching the topic,

(So! Why are you here!?)

(That’s what I want to know.)

Their consciousness, exchanging faint and hazy voices, was directed towards a girl sitting a short distance away.

(It’s the first time I’ve seen her directly! She’s ranked number one! The top of the Japan branch!)

(I’ve seen her a few times before but never had a conversation with her.)

(Really, why is she here of all places!?)

The visit of Shirahime Hazuki, a phantom presence seen only in missions and research.

Her presence was shocking not only to the professor and Haruna but to everyone in the room.

And then, in the girl’s line of sight,

(She’s staring at the monitor showing Hiroki and the ninth-ranked… What’s going on!?)

(Observing Hiroki-kun… that’s impossible to guess from her thoughts.)

(She’s an unfathomable being. I thought she would never take an interest in others.)

(What could her purpose be…)

No one could predict the girl’s thoughts. Yet, she was staring at that monitor, sipping through a straw.

“Hazuki,”

Sayaka whispers in Hazuki’s ear.

“As for why you’re with Uchimoriya Suzuko, we couldn’t find anything conclusive from our investigation.”

“……Is that so.”

“It’s unlikely, but just in case, don’t act rashly……”

The girl remained silent, her thoughts focused solely on one scene.

“……Why?”

Hazuki murmured.

“……Why am I here?”

“Hazuki……”

Her expression was as emotionless as ever. Sayaka felt something dark in the girl’s tone.

“There’s no need to worry. After all, that girl.”

“……”

“Has issues, be it in terms of her humanity, femininity, or sociality.”

“……”

“The things Hazuki fears will never happen.”

Sayaka harshly criticized Suzuko, feeling resistant to speaking ill of someone but compelled by her concern for her mistress to share her thoughts.

Suzuko lacks in many areas. The only thing she possesses is talent.

The worries Hazuki harbors should never come to pass.

And Hazuki, exposing her true──

“Amano-san, the ranked ones are truly incredible, aren’t they? Suzuko-san shot accurately at the head from that distance, and Shiori-san took evasive action at the last moment! The process and results beyond expectation are astounding!”

“Both are beyond human, indeed.”

The moment before the bullet hit Shiori, the sequence of events was replayed in slow motion on some monitors.

The moment she saw the bullet, Shiori used her enhanced physical abilities to bend her upper body quickly. The strength of the skull mask also played a role, resulting in her being hit but not defeated.

Shiori survived the battlefield.

“After recovering, Shiori and her companions have started moving! Naturally, in the direction of…”

“They can only have their eyes on them now.”

She directed her steps towards Suzuko and Hiroki. Her target was clear.

“It’s starting to get interesting. Everyone must be looking forward to it.”

Broadcasted live from the commentary seat during the Combat College.

The smile on Amano’s face was like that of a child who had just received a box of toys.

“In less than thirty minutes, the extraordinary ones will unleash everything they have.”

“Unleash…”

“The dice have been thrown. That’s the phrase used for situations like this. The dice keep rolling until the result shows.”

At Amano’s words, everyone’s anticipation grew.

With the genuine battle between ranked individuals guaranteed, no one could ignore it.

“Moriko-chan must be looking forward to the battles that will happen.”

“Eh, yes, I’m looking forward to it!”

Amano’s meaningful words. Moriko gave a wry smile at the weight behind them.

“But, what should we do now? The battle at the building has ended, and the song of joy has long since finished! For some reason, a sad song started playing midway.”

“Ah, that one. I thought it matched the moment when the rooftop became the stage.”

The duration of the song of joy could not surpass the events at the building. Therefore, as Koalako and the others began discussing on the rooftop, the music changed to a different song.

“It was a song I’d heard somewhere before. Kind of like… saying farewell to a friend with tears… huh?”

“And then, it talked about wanting to meet again. Didn’t that song lyric touch your tear glands with the girls’ battle?”

“It did! You aimed for that, didn’t you, Amano-san!”

“It was a touching battle. I was a bit teary-eyed myself.”

The battle in the hall was enveloped in a heavy and intense atmosphere thanks to the “Song of Joy.”

And the battle on the rooftop was turned into a moment of emotion by a song “that even a kindergartener could sing.”

Amano’s role as the BGM coordinator added a thrilling edge to the combat scenes.

“Back to our discussion, the intense battle has ended. And now, the battlefield remains quiet.”

“Indeed, it does.”

“And now, there’s something I’m curious about!”

Moriko’s gaze was fixed on some monitors.

“Shall we pick up the conversation between those two? They’re the highlight of this event! Everyone must be curious!”

“Oh, oh, oh~! Indeed, they must be! Definitely curious!”

Amano’s enthusiasm accelerated.

The series of fears and surprises had ended, and the audience wondered what to enjoy next.

After witnessing the battle of the ranked individuals, I realized that other fights displayed on different monitors might not be as compelling.

Then! Amano’s thoughts concluded.

“Let’s increase the volume just for those two!”

“Let’s do that! Perhaps it will reveal their relationship!”

“It’s a mystery to me too! He just transferred here, so he wouldn’t have had a chance to meet her normally!”

“That’s what draws us in, wanting to listen~!”

“Everyone’s feelings have been heard loud and clear!”

Moriko spoke on behalf of the audience, and Amano made it happen.

He operated the keyboard, adjusting the settings of the drones’ sound collection devices.

“Alright! Let’s make it audible throughout Combat College!”

And then, the conversation between the two spread everywhere.

It happened just as Hiroki said to Suzuko, “Look into my eyes.”

“Because of you staying up last night, Sakuya, I’ve got bags under my eyes.”

………………………………………………..

(Eh…)

“Eh…”

Hiroki’s words, directed at Suzuko, caused the entire Combat College to leak the same thought, the same word.

Among them, the girl sitting in the commentary booth, her youthful face rapidly turning red. The commentator, Moriko, trembled. Her mature mouth took in a deep breath and roared with heated emotion.

“Fu-, illicit heterosexual interactions uncovered!”