Chapter 77

"Kim, have you decided who you're going to sit with?"

A familiar voice rings in my ear.

It's Yuji Kurosawa.

His gaze is directed at me.

"Ah, that..."

After the mid-term exams, life at the academy proceeded smoothly.

Except for the constant bickering among the four heroines, now including Makoto.

My head hurts, it really does.

As May, the month of families, passed and early summer in June arrived.

When classes ended.

[Announcement. All exchange match participants, please gather in the principal's office immediately.]

The school announcement echoed.

The Kyoto Exchange Match.

The pivotal storyline from Volume 4 of the original work was finally about to begin.

‘The prologue of Volume 4 started with the exchange match participants gathering in the principal’s office.’

Creak.

I stood up and headed for the principal's office.

While walking down the corridor, I recalled the original story.

As the name suggests, the exchange match in Kyoto is essentially a formality, with two-thirds of the content being a tour of Kyoto.

Visiting famous tourist spots like Honno-ji, Kitano Tenmangu, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace, or touring Kinkaku-ji and drawing fortunes—these are the everyday events.

‘While enjoying the Kyoto tour, Kasumi-senpai receives a betrayal order from the League, and the atmosphere changes abruptly.’

Kasumi, after receiving the betrayal order, hesitates and feels uneasy, but gradually becomes moved by the protagonist's kindness and begins to hesitate about betraying him.

Indeed, kindness is undoubtedly the ultimate weapon in the light novel world.

‘Kasumi-senpai, after hesitating, ultimately succumbs to the League's threat of taking her friend Rena hostage and ambushes the Shuei Academy group on the day of the exchange match, along with the student council president of Meijin Academy, who is a League pawn.’

After that, it's a predictable melodramatic sequence.

The protagonist shouting, "Kasumi-senpai, you can't be doing this!"

Kasumi-senpai crying while betraying.

The protagonist answering that Kasumi-senpai is not ugly but beautiful when she reveals her Chimera form and asks if she is ugly.

Kasumi-senpai, moved by the protagonist's answer, confesses the truth.

The protagonist, after hearing the truth, heads to the secret laboratory hidden in the basement of Meijin Academy to save Rena.

A smile forms on my lips as I recall the content of Volume 4 in my mind.

‘This time, I can coast through it smoothly.’

With Makoto here, unlike in the original, I won't have to suffer this time.

I can leave the ‘rescue’ to the protagonist and the heroines and just enjoy the Kyoto tour.

This time, I'll really have it easy.

I mean it.

Kyoto has so many tourist spots.

Lost in thoughts of the tour, I soon reached my destination.

I seemed to be the last one, as all the first and second-year exchange match participants were already gathered in the principal's office.

But wait.

There's someone who shouldn't be here.

The silver-haired girl standing next to the principal, the student council president, Arisu Saijou.

‘Why is Arisu here?’

The exchange match is an event only for first and second-year students.

Third-year students, who mainly go on field training and missions, are excluded from the exchange match.

In other words, Arisu Saijou is not part of the selected team.

Why are you here?

I feel uneasy.

"The last one is here. Everyone is gathered."

Principal Yoshizaki Seira puts on a serious expression.

"I've called you all here urgently because there's an important announcement."

An important announcement?

Her red gaze sweeps over the exchange match participants, including me.

Seira slowly begins to speak.

"Today, Meijin Hero Academy has unilaterally canceled the exchange match."

What?

I try to hide my shock.

Meijin Hero Academy canceled the exchange match?

Even if the butterfly effect from the altered original story is to blame, isn't this over the line?

The entire episode of Volume 4 is gone.

I was supposed to enjoy Kyoto.

My mind is in turmoil.

‘What about Kasumi-senpai? And how will Rena be saved?’

Sato Rena is being held captive in the secret laboratory under Meijin Hero Academy, where she is subjected to horrific human experiments and abuse.

The New World League is using her as a lab rat without Kasumi's knowledge to manipulate her.

In other words, to liberate Kasumi-senpai, we must go to Meijin Academy.

‘Stay calm.’

I cool my heated mind.

Recalling the original story.

Meijin Hero Academy appears to be a normal academy but is actually a subordinate organization of the New World League.

The proposal for the exchange match was a plot to eliminate the protagonist, Yuji, the son of the Sword Saint.

‘If Meijin Academy suddenly canceled the exchange match unilaterally, it means their intentions have changed.’

The problem is that I can't predict what the final boss is thinking.

Has something more important than getting rid of Yuji Kurosawa, who is a thorn in his side, come up?

My head is a mess.

I lift my head.

Principal Seira is in view.

Unlike her usual playful demeanor when we're alone, she looks serious.

At 15, it's a bit strange, but she definitely didn't gather the exchange match participants just to announce the cancellation.

The fact that she called Arisu, who doesn't appear in Volume 4, is also telling.

On either side of Arisu are the vice president, Mihoto Morishita, and the secretary, Reiji Nagamine.

"I've had my suspicions about Meijin Hero Academy recently, and now the sudden cancellation of the exchange match. This has never happened before..."

Seira speaks with a serious expression.

"Therefore, I've decided to send all of you, under the supervision of the student council, on a training trip to Kyoto to investigate the situation at Meijin Hero Academy."

A training trip to Kyoto.

Not a bad idea.

Typical of Seira, who is known as the ‘Ramen Principal’ for her cunning mind.

It's good for me, as I need to go to Kyoto regardless.

With the addition of Makoto, Arisu, and the student council members, who don't appear in the original, this setup is overpowered by the original standards.

The villains from Volume 4, like the Meijin student council president and the secret lab director, should be easy to handle.

‘But what if the other side is also overpowered?’

Like how Mad Hatter appeared in the model gate training, and Makoto and Ritsuko appeared in Volume 3, which is a blank in the original.

It's impossible to predict what variables might be lurking at Meijin Hero Academy.

‘Still, a student council president should be manageable, right?’

It's unlikely that one of the four EX-rank villains from the 13 Apostles will appear.

Lower S-rank villains can be handled by the student council president.

Arisu is a genuine powerhouse, having achieved true liberation.

You only worry about variables when you're weak.

"Principal. Here's your matcha."

Click.

Ritsuko, a mint-haired beauty in a black suit with a blindfold, enters and places a teacup on the principal's desk.

Seira takes a sip of the tea.

"Hmm."

She opens her eyes and puts down the teacup.

"It's terrible. Ritsuko, your skills are lacking."

"B, but... I did my best!"

Ritsuko's Kansai accent slips out.

Seira shakes her head firmly.

"I don't want to hear excuses. Make it again."

"Ugh... You old hag..."

Ritsuko grumbles.

Seira's red eyes turn cold at the insult.

"Your mouth is still as foul as ever, Ritsuko. Do I need to educate you again?"

"Y-yes... I understand..."

"Bring some yokan next time."

"B, but... I bought it for myself..."

"Tsk. Who asked you to contradict me? You've only picked up bad habits, Ritsuko."

"Y-yes... I'll bring it..."

Who says this isn't a light novel?

Look at her taking snacks from us.

What a petty old woman.

She's like a flea sucking blood.

Even in a serious situation, they exchange pointless banter.

Ritsuko leaves with the teacup.

Seira clears her throat.

"Anyway, since I've made this decision, any students who want to skip the Kyoto training trip, please raise your hands."

No one raises their hand in response to Seira's words.

She smiles.

"Good. That's what I expect from my students. Enjoy your trip to Kyoto."

Clap.

Seira claps her hands.

Thus, a Kyoto trip that is the same but different from the original begins.

*

Tokyo Station.

The platform where the Shinkansen to Kyoto is stopping.

The station, befitting a major city like Tokyo, is bustling with people.

In the center, the students of Shuei Hero Academy, including me, are gathered.

At the front of the group, the olive-haired girl, Vice President Mihoto Morishita, holds a megaphone and shouts.

"Everyone in the training group, please follow the student council's instructions! If you don't, you'll be left behind☆"

"Form a line."

The bowl-cut glasses boy, Secretary Reiji Nagamine, adds in a small voice.

Behind the two student council members, the silver-haired girl, President Arisu Saijou, stands.

Despite the student council's efforts, the excitement of the training group doesn't easily subside.

The prospect of a trip to Kyoto has the students' hearts racing.

I'm a bit excited too.

Kyoto is a popular destination for school trips in Japanese works.

Most importantly, it's one of the most famous tourist spots in Japan.

"Kim. Have you decided who you're going to sit with?"

A familiar voice rings in my ear.

It's Yuji Kurosawa.

His gaze is directed at me.

"Ah, that..."