The chime rings.

Even though it’s an elite school, the chime sounded the same as outside the Special Zone.

Then class begins.

That said, today every subject is on break and just like yesterday, they do orientation.

Apparently, there will be explanations of the school’s facilities, cautions for school life and introductions to clubs as well.

Real studying starts tomorrow.

First period is watching a simple campus guide video and from second period onward, they split up by groups and explore the school.

Groups are formed as one group of six with the people seated nearby and it seems they’ll be acting in these groups often going forward.

So the members who ended up in the same group immediately introduced themselves.

Along with Nishikaze-san, Wakaba-san and Honda-san, there was Hayashi-san (different person from earlier one) who had been shaking with fear of men and Shirai-san who still wasn’t hiding her spaced-out expression.

After repeating the self-introductions they had already done yesterday, they moved on to talking about everyone’s previous schools and hobbies.

The first to raise her hand and charge ahead was Wakaba-san.

“My hobbies are cameras and reporting! If I have beautiful scenery and delicious scoops, I can live!”

“Yeah, I already understand your character perfectly.”

Honda-san fires back at Wakaba-san’s joke.

For all they say, you can feel they’re becoming closer.

Nishikaze-san and Wakaba-san and also the earlier Tsurumi-san are from the same elementary school and it seems Hayashi-san, Shirai-san and Honda-san are from the same one.

To take the entrance exam for this Sakurajō Academy, you need a certain level of academic ability, so it’s common for famous private elementary schools to apply in clusters.

Because of that, a complete outsider student like Kurato is rare and in Kurato’s case it’s even more so because he really did come from outside.

“It happens sometimes with girls, but boys coming from outside is pretty much unheard of, so you’re a super rare existence.”

That’s Wakaba-san’s take.

‘I get that I’m rare, so please stop persistently pointing the camera at me.’

The school exploration, or rather, the meeting where you stare at the facilities and get shocked, ended safely.

Everything from scale to grade was so different that Kurato felt like his head was going to go crazy.

He could tell from the outside that there were multiple school buildings, but there were three or four music rooms and audiovisual rooms and the athletic field was big and well-equipped enough to hold a track meet, so just thinking about how much money it would take to build this school was terrifying.

After the terrifying tour ended, they were told the school rules by their homeroom teacher.

Obvious compliance like not being late and not damaging school property was brushed past lightly and instead they were told there would be monthly quizzes, end-of-term exams at the end of the term and something like an ability test ‘a ranking match’ would also be held in the second semester and the results of the tests and ranking matches would be combined and used to give them report cards at the end of the school year.

Then depending on performance over the three years, even C-rank students can receive a school recommendation and especially if your results in ranking matches are good, you can be nominated for a recommendation slot into the high school division.

They showed without hiding it that this was meritocracy and it’s a system that forces a competitive mindset to sprout whether you like it or not.

By the way, about yesterday’s commotion with the in-school brawl, the thing Kurato cared about most, it didn’t appear even in the gaps of the talk.

Maybe it got covered up by some kind of dark power.

Otherwise, unauthorized combat using abilities isn’t permitted and if it’s malicious, the two words ‘expulsion’ start to come into view.

‘Not even getting a warning, let alone expulsion… is that A-rank power? Or the Kujo family’s?’

For lunch, they decided to eat together as a group, since through the campus tour and everything else, the six of them had gotten close enough to talk pretty comfortably.

As always, Hayashi-san still wouldn’t even try to make eye contact with Kurato, but she had become able to have normal conversations with the other girls.

But a problem came up right when they gathered and were about to open their lunches.

Some people had brought bento and some hadn’t.

For the record, Kurato hadn’t brought one.

He was completely aiming for the cafeteria.

“Then let’s go to the cafeteria! The bento group can bring theirs too and we’ll eat at the same table!”

“No way. If you don’t go right when lunch starts, the cafeteria gets insanely crowded, they say you can’t even sit now.”

Honda-san stops Nishikaze-san’s enthusiastic proposal.

Apparently, Honda-san’s older sister is a graduate from here, so she knows the situation inside Sakurajō to some extent.

‘Sure enough, Honda-san had barely been surprised during the campus tour, so that was the trick. I’d been wondering if her house was just as extravagant. According to Honda-san, the luxury restaurant called the cafeteria isn’t available.’

In that case—

“Then how about the school store?”

Kurato suggested.

This school has a school store too.

On the first day of the entrance exam, Kurato bought a bento there, so he remembered the route.

Or rather than a store, it was like some huge shopping mall, a general department store that sold stationery and food of course and also sports equipment and furniture and appliances.

The food section was rich and they even sold local gourmet bento from different regions.

But—

“The school store is far. Round trip from here is like twenty minutes, I think?”

Just like Wakaba-san says, the school store is in a slightly separated area, so it’s a bit far from this classroom building.

Including shopping time, even if you hurry it would take thirty minutes.

Lunch is one hour from 12 to 1, so you can make it, but it means making the bento group wait a lot.

By the way, besides Kurato, the no-bento group is Nishikaze-san and Shirai-san.

Nishikaze-san, like Kurato, had been thinking of the cafeteria and Shirai-san…

‘Did she bring too little?’

Like just one sandwich, then yeah, that wouldn’t be enough.

So what do they do?

Simple.

Just don’t walk normally.

“Then I’ll go buy stuff at top speed. I’ll be back in ten minutes. Nishikaze-san, Shirai-san, what do you want to eat?”

As Kurato stands up, he asks the two without bento.

“Eh, really? Then I want meat! Something with lots of volume!”

Nishikaze-san’s chestnut-colored ponytail bounces cheerfully as she beams.

“I want fish.”

Shirai-san raises her small hand and says it with little expression.

She’s expressionless, but her tone is slightly higher and there’s a shine deep in her eyes.

She must be looking forward to it in her own way.

Then she continues.

“And fried food.”

“Huh? Fried fish?”

‘Fried fish… do they have that?’

As Kurato thinks it over, Shirai-san shakes her head and says something surprising.

“No. Fish and fried food. Two bento.”

“……”

‘Where does it even fit in that small body?’

Kurato looks back at Shirai-san with a shocked expression and notices a proper bento box in her hands, freezing for a moment in even greater surprise.

‘…Oops, no, no. That’s personal freedom.’

As Kurato shakes off his stray thoughts, Honda-san waves her hand to stop the two.

“Hey, you two, why are you trying to use Makishima-kun like it’s normal? I’ve never heard of using a boy as a runner, okay? Makishima-kun, don’t take them seriously either, this is just those two messing arou—”

But when Honda-san turned back to apologize to Kurato, Kurato was already standing on his shield and had finished building a fully prepared skateboard style stance.

“Huh? M-Makishima-kun… what are you doing?”

“Alright then, I’m off.”

Kurato left those words and went out.

From the third floor classroom window.

“W-whaaaat!?!?”

With Honda-san’s scream behind him, Kurato slid down through the air, cutting the wind.

If he did it this way, getting to the school store would be instant.

‘There’s no school rule restricting movement using abilities. As long as it’s not fighting with abilities, this world is lax about that stuff.’

* * *

Ten minutes later…

Just like he declared, Kurato rushed into the school store at top speed and returned triumphantly holding four bento.

“Makishima-kun, you just flew through the sky… no, never mind.”

When he came back, it was memorable how Honda-san looked at Kurato with an exasperated, tired face.

After eating lunch, they kept chatting as a group for the remaining time.

Maybe because of what Kurato did earlier, the atmosphere within the group softened a lot.

Especially Shirai-san, who hadn’t talked much until now, started joining the conversation.

“Next time, I want Hokkaido salmon.”

Shirai-san looks up at Kurato with sparkling eyes and immediately makes a reservation for the next day.

It seems Shirai-san liked the fish from the school store.

By the way, she paid him afterward.

Shirai-san and the others tried to give extra, but you have to keep those lines clear.

Borrowing and lending money can break friendships.

Kurato lets out a small groan as he thinks back to today’s prepared food section.

“Mmm… did they have salmon? They did have trout, so should we go with that instead?”

“That’s good.”

When Kurato suggests it, Shirai-san answers with a thumbs up.

“No, just buy it in advance.”

Honda-san cuts in.

Yeah, she’s completely right.

But Shirai-san shakes her head.

“I want to see you jump out the window again.”

“That’s the real reason!?”

The two fool around happily.

After that calm early afternoon, recreation continues.

Next is the club introductions, held with all first-years gathered in the First Culture Club Building.

At Sakurajō, you have to join some club and being in the ‘go-home club’ isn’t allowed.

That said, there are not only sports clubs but cultural clubs too, so kids who aren’t good at physical activity can choose a club with peace of mind.

Some clubs practice late almost every day while others are relaxed clubs that meet only two or three days a week, so kids busy with lessons and such can smile too.

The first floor of the First Culture Club Building, apparently used by the drama club, had a structure like an opera house.

Kurato and the others sat in the second-tier seats, looking down as a single female student leapt out onto the vast stage.

Apparently she was a student council officer.

“Now then, we will begin the club briefing by representatives of each club! First-year students, please find a club you’re interested in and later participate in club visits. Listen carefully here, then go observe later and find the club you think ‘this is it!’ Alright, first up is the Ability Phalanx Club!”

“Yes! Our Phalanx Club practices every day toward the summer big game! In the past we’ve even competed in the national tournament and this year…”

When the student council girl stepped back, multiple people who seemed to be female students ran onto the stage.

The reason it’s ‘seemed’ and not certain is because they were wearing white armor and their faces couldn’t be seen.

The only one showing her face was the girl standing in the center.

A black-haired upperclassman lit by a spotlight explained the good points of the club with all her might.

Not just words, the silver knights behind her formed ranks and even showed a demonstration of their activities.

‘It’s pretty serious. As expected, clubs at a prestigious school are on another level.’

“Thank you very much! Next is the introduction of the boys’ basketball club! Club members, please take it away!”

“Our club is, as the name says, a club with only boys! Boys who feel cramped and out of place! Come to us! This is the only place of rest for boys at Sakurajō!”

“There are fewer girls than the brass band club! It’s heaven!”

“If you like basketball, come too! We even practice!”

The boys who came out next… is this really a club introduction?

They’re just standing there, yelling what they want to say.

And what they’re yelling is pretty weird.

‘We even practice! isn’t it obvious you practice?’

Seems Kurato is the only one thinking that.

“Basketball, huh… can even a short guy like me do it?”

Sato-kun mutters anxiously, but his eyes are full of expectation.

Even though he hadn’t cared at all about the clubs introduced up until now.

“I was originally thinking of joining the basketball club. Sato-kun, you should do it too.”

Suzuki-kun is the same.

Every club had been desperately wanting male managers and he’d been snorting and laughing like ‘like I’d do that’ but it seems he’s thinking positively about their invitation.

There seem to be quite a few boys who feel drawn to the boys’ basketball club like the two of them.

Whispers among the boys in each class grow louder.

“I’m good. I want to use my head more than my body.”

Yoshitome-kun doesn’t feel the appeal.

Before he knew it, Watanabe-kun nearby is nodding too.

Seems there are quite a few indoor-type boys like that.

He even spots boys in each class shaking their heads.

‘To each their own.’

Of course, Kurato plans to choose something sports-related, preferably a club directly tied to abilities.

And what caught his eye were three clubs: the Ability Single Club, the Team Club and the Section Club.

Each aims to win in their divisions of ability battles.

You can do multiple, but because practice is harsh, they explained they don’t recommend it.

Also, because they’re popular clubs, they said there’s a strong possibility of being cut depending on ability type and rank.

The Single Club declared that most of their slots are filled by sports recommendations, so the only positions they’re recruiting are supporters and managers.

Those three clubs don’t seem to be actively recruiting, so unlike the Phalanx Club, there was no demonstration.

A person who seemed like the club captain just stated cautions and left, which made Kurato feel a bit disappointed.

But on the other hand, it probably means they’re that confident in attracting people.

In fact, among the girls around him, there were some who clearly wanted to enter an ability club no matter what.

“The Single Club is best. Just getting in gives you prestige.”

“The Team Club is a powerhouse too, they made it to the Kantō tournament the year before last, right? If we’re talking about chances of getting in, the team one is the sweet spot.”

“I want to join. My soil kinesis is more defense-oriented, so I think I can shine more there.”

It’s getting pretty hyped.

Just listening makes Kurato excited.

Other strong candidates include the 13 vs 13 large-scale ability battle Phalanx Club that was explained first and various martial arts clubs like karate, judo and aikido also sound interesting.

Ball sports like soccer and baseball also seem to be competitions that use abilities, so they sound fun too, but they’re far from Kurato’s goal.

It’s not mainly about improving stamina or building friendships, he wants power to fight when it counts.

Thinking that way, there’s no room to consider cultural clubs at all.

Even if he’s called reckless and foolhardy, he wants to join an ability battle-related club.

First choice… the Single Club.

They said it’s filled by recommendations, but he’ll ask anyway.

If that fails, then the Team Club.

Forming a team with Keita and Raito would be nice too.

There’s also a dream of inviting Wakaba-san and Honda-san and joining the Section Club together.

Kurato started looking forward to after school when club visits would be unlocked.

* * *

Memo

Shirai Yukino… big eater.

Hayashi Emi… did her shaking stop?

Honda Ayaka… straight-man role.