Chapter 61

---

"Your arm has improved, Tatsuhiko!"

"Ugh! I understood there was a gap between me and Mr. Kenjirou, but I didn't expect it to be this much!"

"You are impressive! After all, you've managed to keep up with me, who has trained and grown more than anyone since entering this military academy!"

"Mr. Kenjirou, you are a genius who works hard! But this Tatsuhiko will not lose so easily!"

"That's the spirit, my subordinate! Come on! I'll show you the full power of your master!"

"Uuuuuuuu!"

"Haahaaaaa!!"

---

What is this farce?

After the cultural festival began, the individual matches for the first-year students started, and I entered the booth where the faculty members were waiting from the garage to watch my classmates' matches... but what is this overwhelming sense of a morning anime?

"Haa!"

"Too sweet!"

Currently, the large display shows Koyabata-kun, who is continuously launching large, sweeping attacks without any strategy, and Kasahara-kun, who is not exploiting the openings created by these attacks but is instead deliberately making a tough fight by either taking them head-on or barely avoiding them.

Even with my limited experience in combat, I can tell that Kasahara-kun is the stronger of the two.

That said, Kasahara-kun's skills are not particularly high. Probably about the same level as me on a Kusanagi-type.

The level of Koyabata-kun, who can't even reach Kasahara-kun, is probably obvious.

Yeah. When Itoh-san complained that "he used his faction's power to get into Class A, which made her friend go to Class B," I thought she was exaggerating, but now that I've experienced mock battles with Itoh-san and Tago-san, I understand.

As a mech pilot, Koyabata-kun does not meet the standards for Class A. Actually, I wonder if Kasahara-kun is also borderline.

Well, that's for the school to decide, not me. If the boss hasn't said anything, it's not my place to comment.

(First of all, I haven't been inconvenienced by them being in Class A.)

Putting aside their abilities, let's get back to the match.

Currently, Koyabata-kun has scored 2 points by landing effective hits on Kasahara-kun's right leg and torso, while Kasahara-kun has scored 1 point by shallowly slashing Koyabata-kun's torso.

It looks like a pro wrestling match, but the fact that Koyabata-kun seems to be giving it his all makes it rather comical. What adds to the comedy is the dialogue they are having during the battle.

"Phew. Tatsuhiko, you've fought well so far. But any more will affect the next match... I'll go all out soon!"

If it were just the words, it would sound like something from an AUO.

"Are you already thinking you've won? You're underestimating me. This unworthy Kasahara Tatsuhiko will withstand your full power, Mr. Kenjirou!"

No, why do you need to withstand his full power in the first place?

"Good shout! Then receive my ultimate technique!"

"Is that stance... the legendary technique passed down only to the direct lineage of the Murakuchi family?"

What legend?

"Uoooooo!"

Koyabata-kun launched what looked like a simple overhead slash, and Kasahara-kun took it head-on.

Well, if you swing with all your might from an overhead position without considering any follow-up or recovery, it will be powerful.

"Ugh! What power! My mech can't take it!"

Of course. If you take a full-force overhead slash from an opponent of the same weight head-on, your mech won't hold up. Plus, Kasahara-kun slightly relaxed his force to prevent the impact from transferring to Koyabata-kun's mech.

When the receiving side relaxes their force in a balanced situation, it naturally results in the receiving mech being overwhelmed, and Koyabata-kun's slash reaches Kasahara-kun's mech.

"Ugh!"

[Clean hit. 4 points]

"Hahaha! Did you see that? This is the legendary sword technique, the First Blade, created by the sword saint!"

That's not a technique passed down only to the direct lineage of the Murakuchi family, is it? Koyabata-kun, you should apologize to Sohaya Bokuden.

[Match situation ended. First round, second match winner: Koyabata Kenjirou]

"...Well done."

"You too. Be proud that you made me use my ultimate technique!"

Ah, yeah. At least I understand that Koyabata-kun's mental state is impressive for calling such a full-of-gaps attack an ultimate technique.

And the general audience is happy with the obvious big moves, so it's a success as an entertainment event.

I heard someone say, "That's just clowning around," but I have no idea what they meant.

All I can say is, "I hope the next match, Aya will take it head-on."

In any case, the second match, which was full of things to nitpick, came to an end...

"Well."

After enjoying the farce, I had a question. Is this the tradition of individual matches in military school?

If so, I'll need to read the room quite carefully during the exhibition match after all the individual matches are over.

"..."

Looking around, everyone except me seemed speechless.

From their expressions, it was clear that the "battle"... was it even a battle? ...was not to their liking.

That means I don't have to read the room and take the "ultimate technique of the Murakuchi family."

(Good. I'm glad I didn't get involved in that farce.)

I let out a sigh of relief and noticed someone trembling beside me. It was the boss.

"Hey."

"Don't say it."

"But..."

"I know. I know."

The boss, probably embarrassed, was hiding his face.

I understand. After all, the cold gazes from the audience were directed at the two who had been fighting evenly and their homeroom teacher, the boss.

This is like, "Why couldn't you do something about this before it got this far?" I completely agree with that sentiment.

"Wasn't there anything that could have been done about that?"

The fighting style, while it can be excused as entertainment for the audience, the dialogue during the battle is questionable. Especially with Kasahara-kun, it was just constant praise.

"...It couldn't be done."

The boss, who tried to correct it but failed, was looking into the distance. His eyes reflected either his past self or the present... Koyabata-kun, who was raising a victory cry in front of the display.

"Is that so?"

In any case, I decided to keep my distance from this problem, convinced that it was not something I should get deeply involved in.

---

"That was a terrible battle."

"Yeah."

"I don't want people to think this year's Class A is like that."

"Yeah."

"I have a reason not to lose easily. You must have one too?"

"Yeah."

"...I'll win."

"Do you really think you can?"

"It's not about whether I can. I will."

"Alright. I'll show you."

"What will you show me?"

"Reality."

"..."

First round, third match.

Sixth place, Tago Nana vs. Seventh place, Hashimoto Natsuki.

Even though the Third Division faction intervened in the entrance exam results, the two who were ranked lower than a classmate who had just disgraced themselves in the previous match decided to crush their opponent in front of them to defend their honor. The author, thinking about shining in the class, felt something was off and tilted their head.

Thank you for reading.