Ever since I confessed, she has been acting strange. - CHAPTER 3: THE LADY WHO COMMUNICATES AND THE SONG ARC

Episode 14: Wrath

The first match of the girls’ side was about to end.

I wanted to cheer for Ojou, but unfortunately, she had warned me in advance, saying, “There’s no need to cheer. Just enjoy the results. So, I had no choice but to give up.

Ojou being Ojou, she probably won her first match without any problems.

She had practiced so much after school, and although I feel a little sorry for the opposing team, the difference in skill level makes it impossible for her to lose.

“Oh, Eito! So, this is where you were. I’ve been looking for you.”

“Yukimichi… Is it almost time for the match?”

“Exactly. I know you’re always on time, so I’m not too worried, but just in case. If you were to be late, even accidentally, it would affect the morale of the team.”

“It’s not just Ojou and the others-you’re excited about this sports tournament, too, right?”

“Huh. Of course, I am. A true high school boy should dedicate himself not only to academics, but also to sports, working up an honest sweat and embracing a healthy, fulfilling youth-”

“And your real reason?”

“I want to win the grand prize – a special invitation to Wonder Festival Land – and become ridiculously popular.”

“Honestly. I like that.”

The championship prize for the Sports Tournament varies by grade.

For first graders, it’s a special invitation to Wonder Festival Land, the incredibly popular amusement park that’s currently the talk of the town. These tickets are being resold online at high prices, making them difficult to obtain.

Wonder Festival Land is operated by a Tendou Group company, and several of its attractions have been improved based on Ojou’s advice. As a result, both sales and customer satisfaction have skyrocketed.

“Aside from you, I’m amazed that the guys in our class get so excited about a single theme park ticket.”

“The special invitation to Wonder Festival Land is basically a magic ticket that makes girls flock to you. Just having one gets you tons of attention. Of course, everyone gets excited… But

Hey, listen. It’s okay to say that in front of me, but don’t you dare say it in front of the other guys.”

“It’s not like I planned to announce it, but… why?”

“No reason. Just keep your mouth shut if you value your life.”

I do value my life – because if I die, I won’t be able to serve Ojou anymore.

“That first year’s Class A girls’ basketball game was crazy.”

“Yes. Honestly, it freaked me out.”

As I left, I overheard a group of male students talking nearby.

“They totally crushed Class D.”

“At this rate, they might even take down Class C, which everyone thought was guaranteed to win.”

As expected from Ojou. It sounds like they won the match without any trouble.

“Hey, hey, you guys. Why are you seriously watching the basketball game? That’s not what you should be focusing on.”

A large male student joined the conversation, grinning in a way that made my skin crawl.

“Then what are you looking at?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Tendou’s ridiculously hot body.”

“Man, it sucks that the boys and girls are in separate tournaments. We should invite them to play basketball after school and, you know, ‘accidentally’ get a feel of those massive tits.”

“Dude, that was disgusting. Seriously.”

“Oh, don’t get all high and mighty. You want to join in? Who knows, you might get lucky and get a feel.”

“Yeah, no. That’s not going to happen. You’re an idiot.”

The dirty laughter of the big student faded away as he walked away.

Until his voice disappeared completely, I-Kazami Yukimichi couldn’t bring himself to look Eito in the face.

Eito himself stood as still as a stone, his body rigid and unmoving.

If he didn’t, he knew that he would let his killing intent slip in the end. And he was fully aware of it.

Eito had always striven to be a person worthy of serving his master, Tendou Hoshine.

As an abandoned child taken in, he could not allow himself to become a blot on her name. He could not burden them in any way.

That’s why he worked so hard to be a good person – a person worthy of a great master.

…Well, because of that mindset, he ended up unintentionally building flags all over the place.

Tendou-san himself probably has some complicated feelings about it.

Anyway, that’s why he’s holding back now – so as not to cause his master any unnecessary trouble.

…Though, yes, the sheer aura of rage radiating from him is impossible to ignore.

“…Yukimichi. That guy just now – he was from Class 1-E, right?”

“Uh, y-yeah… that’s right. Wait, how did you even know that?”

“This is Ojou’s school. I’ve memorized the face, name, and class of every student here.”

“Okay, that’s crazy. But, uh, why?”

“What sport does their team play in the tournament?”

“Pretty sure it’s soccer. They’re actually the next team we’ll be playing.”

“I see. Well, that’s perfect.”

Eito’s face wore a bright, cheerful smile.

But to my eyes, the dark, threatening aura emanating from him was painfully obvious.

It was so terrifying that I was truly grateful that he wasn’t my enemy.

“A true high school boy should dedicate himself not only to academics, but also to sports – working up an honest sweat and embracing a wholesome, fulfilling youth…

…until the vermin crawling around are beaten so badly, they won’t have time to think about stupid sh1t.”

To be honest, I thought that our next match against Class 1-E would be our biggest challenge.

After all, their team – including that big idiot who not only stepped on Eito’s last nerve, but also completely destroyed it – was made up of some of the best soccer players in the freshman class.

…But now? I wasn’t worried about the game anymore.

Eito’s motivation had skyrocketed beyond anyone else on our team.

If anything, I should be worried about the other side.

After all, this was just a school sports tournament.

Just an ordinary soccer game.

As long as we played by the rules, there wouldn’t be any problems.

For example…

Even if the pride of the soccer club members was completely shattered, and they lost so badly that they had no energy left to do anything after school…

It would still be within the rules.

“I guess all that’s left is to pray for them. Rest in peace.”

I clasped my hands in my heart for this big football player-not that I really knew him.

For the record, our Class 1-A won an unprecedented landslide victory and secured the special invitation to Wonder Festival Land.