Two weeks later, Monday.
Despite it being afterschool time, there were no usual cheers from the basketball club members. In fact, the entire school was, much like the atmosphere inside the library, serene.
The orange sunset entered the windows of the library, where Takumi and Jun were reviewing the material of the past semester together. Suddenly, Jun’s writing hand stopped. Perhaps not suited to stay silent for so long, he opened his mouth.
“Say…Takumi.”
“Hm?”
Takumi, who sat across from him on the table and was diligently copying the textbook in front of him, answered with a hum without raising his head.
“Well, somehow, isn’t it a bit too peaceful lately?”
“Peaceful?”
“Yeah. I mean, when we started Omega Fighter last month, we had our hands full preparing the fight against Daniel, right? And immediately after that, there’s Saki-chan’s stalker incident that gets resolved by Momo-senpai, and then the Eagle Rider filming with Redhawk. It felt like so many things happened in just two weeks.”
“I guess so.”
Responded Takumi off-handedly. Jun continued talking.
“Compared to that, the two weeks after that feel so slow, don’t you think? It’s like, there’s nothing happening at all, just your usual everyday life from before.”
“Isn’t it good that it’s peaceful? Besides, It’s not that nothing happened, I had two more Battles after that.”
After Takumi’s appearance in Eagler Rider, offers of Battle had flooded him like crazy. Many of them came from smaller, less known Fighters who wanted to jump on the fame wagon.
At first Saki and Jun told Takumi to take every offer that came their way, but Shizuka stopped them.
“Takumi-san, remember your promise.”
When she said that, Takumi seemed to recall something and complied with his mother. In the end, he ended up only picking two Battle offers, which resulted with one loss and one draw.
One was a Battle against an esper with Strengthening ability. The simple yet extremely effective psychic ability that he possessed drove Takumi into a corner, and once Takumi realized he couldn’t win because anything he threw at the hulk of a man had no effect, he immediately gave up.
The other was a Battle against an esper with Cloning ability. The moment the Battle started, Takumi’s opponent started to duplicate herself. Her clone also possessed her Cloning ability, and so, in no time at all, half of the arena was filled with her clones.
Takumi didn’t back down and produced his own holoclones as well. Similarly, right out of the gate, he produced a mass amount of holoclones that he filled the other half of the arena.
What happened next was less of a fight and more of a brawl — or perhaps, a warzone, with an endless amount of Takumi fighting an endless amount of the female esper.
In the end, they tired themselves out and the Battle ended with a draw.
“That’s true, but…aren't two a bit too little? Also, ever since you changed training place, your training schedule becomes once a week, right? I feel like we’re not really doing any Omega activities lately.”
“That’s because, Jun, we have midterms coming up next week. We have no time for Omega.”
“Don’t mention it! I’m chatting with you because I don’t want to think about it!”
Jun held his head in agony. Looking at him, Takumi let out a sigh and returned to his book.
Friday, 5th of June. A lot of things happened that day. The Battle rehearsal with Akabane Hayao, the Redhawk. The stalking incident where Kobayashi Saki almost got kidnapped. And then, the mysterious disappearance of Takumi’s coach, Hajime Adam.
Ever since that day, Adam had gone completely radio silent. There was no clue as to his whereabouts, and the only person who seemed to know anything, Momoka Momo, refused to say anything.
Thinking back, Takumi and co. knew nothing about the half-Arabic man.
Right when Takumi was troubled about his future training, Hayao threw him a life-saving buoy and introduced him to the EXP zone that his agency often went to —though he called it an ESP dojo— that was located in Nerima City.
Unlike Sago House EXP zone, the ESP dojo in Nerima was rather popular with at least 10 espers training there at any given time. It was a rather energetic place.
However, espers were basically all content creators, so in the two times Takumi had gone there, he met a few people who talked to a camera on a stick both times. They were, as Saki called them, vloggers. This was also where Takumi’s third, unofficial appearance in public as Kou the Fighter was recorded.
An esper with the name Aoisaka Manami, a cheerful girl with long, blue hair challenged him to a mock Battle, and Takumi agreed. This mock Battle was recorded and then uploaded on YouTube by some other espers.
“I hope midterms end soon~”
Spoke Jun carefreely as he stretched his arms.
“It’s not even started yet.”
“I know, but like events like the Culture Festival, the days leading up to that also count, you know? It’s like, anticipation? Preparation? That kind of thing makes the ordinary days no longer feel ordinary. You know what I mean, right Takumi?”
“Hm.”
Takumi brushed Jun’s words aside with a hum. Jun continued anyway.
“Once the midterms end, you’re free to take more Battle offers, right? So we’re going to get busy again…but, aah, right, the Inter-High. It’s the last tournament for Nowara-senpai and co. so I don’t want to miss it too. I don’t know what to do.”
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Nowara was the name of Jun’s senior in the soccer club. It was the person who dragged him by the cuff of his shirt.
“Takumi, I know I’m the one who said you should expand your avenues and all that, but now that I’m double booked, can I retract my words? I’m torn between Omega and Inter-high.”
“Just do what you want, Jun. I don’t mind it even if you don’t choose me.”
“What’s with that sentence that sounds like a resentful girlfriend who found out her lover is two-timing her.”
“?”
Takumi tilted his neck 45 degrees, not understanding Jun’s joke. Jun let out a sigh.
“If only there were a memorable Omega event after the midterms, I’d be satisfied and could go to the tournament.”
“…actually.”
Leaving his words hanging, Takumi reached into his bag and pulled out a flier. After handing it to Jun, Jun opened the flier and read its content.
“Let’s see… Omega Stage Play in Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. Stage Play is that 2.5D thing, right? When an anime or a manga gets adapted as a play, acted by real people. Heeh, I didn’t know there’s an EXP zone in Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. A recreation of an anime with real-life psychic power, huh? That sounds amazing.”
“Look at the list of guests.”
“Hmm… Oh, Momo-senpai and Akabane-san!”
“Yup. I’m also invited as a special guest. I planned to bring along you, Saki, and Imai-san.”
“That’s nice. And it’s 7th of July, that’s tanabata right? It looks like a good time to unwind after midterms.”
Jun nodded approvingly.
“We need to go through the midterm exam first, though.”
“…I know. That’s why I’m asking you to help me study. If I fail even a single subject, I can’t go to the Inter-High after all.”
Jun pouted at Takumi’s comment. Then, whilst looking at the ceiling of the library, he blurted out; “Stage Play, huh? I hope we can see something good,” before returning to his textbook.
♤♠♤♠♤
Kurosaki Zero — Today at
I’m going back home
I don’t like it here it’s not the Japan I know
Otaku King — Today at
Yeah, and do what?
Are you going to crawl back to your mommy and her lover, begging them to take your fat ass back?
Back to your little dirty mancave, are you?
Kurosaki Zero — Today at
shut up
Otaku King — Today at
Face it, you can’t live without me.
You’re useless, you’re dumb, your only worth is your talent with ESP, that you can’t use anyway since you can’t enter the zone without my help.
Otaku King — Today at
If I didn’t find you, you’d be the same loser pig who dropped out from highschool forever.
I made you big.
Me.
I give you your worth.
Things always go smoothly when you follow what I say. When it didn’t, it was you who messed it up.
I told you to back down when that red monkey showed up, but you fought him anyway.
I told you to crush Kou thoroughly, instead you got scared and bawled like a baby.
And that pin girl too. You refused to help, that’s why Kou showed up once again, trampling you all over again.
Otaku King — Today at
He’s plagiarizing your sword.
You lost to him, but he lost to some nobody, as if saying you’re worth even less than some nobody.
Don’t you see? He’s mocking you.
Kurosaki Zero — Today at
WHAT THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO
NOTHING I DID HAD AN EFFECT ON HIM
MY MASAMUNE IS USELESS AGAINST HIM
Otaku King — Today at
Then get a better weapon idiot.
A weapon that makes sure he can never get back up.
Lucky for you, I know where to find it.
—What Otaku King sent afterwards was an image of a certain flier.
♤♠♤♠♤
July.
In a certain family restaurant, the four of Saki, Takumi, Jun, and Asa were sitting around after school, still wearing their uniform.
“Are you guys ready?”
Asked Saki, holding a single strip of paper. There was a tray with plates and food wrappers on top being set aside on the table.
“Saki, is there a reason for doing this?”
“What is it, Asa-chan? Are you afraid to show us your bad grades?”
“Th-that’s not it!”
Teased by Jun, Asa lashed out.
“Well, let’s do this.”
“Ah, wait, Takumi-kun, you’re the last.”
“Yeah, Takumi. If you show yours first, the rest of us will feel sorry for ourselves.”
Takumi was about to show the strip of paper he was holding, but Saki and Jun stopped him.
“Okay then, I’m first okay?”
Saying so, Saki put the paper she was holding on the table. Written on it was a table with the subject of the exam and the score under it. Saki’s score was as such.
Japanese Language: 79
Mathematics: 64
English: 75
Science: 70
Social Studies: 82
“Ooh, that’s not bad, Saki-chan.”
“Ehehe.”
Commented Jun, inviting a bashful laugh from Saki.
“My grade has been improving lately, you see. I feel like I can memorize things better now. Maybe it’s because I’ve awakened to my eidetic power~ Kidding.”
“ESP can’t be used outside EXP zone, Saki.”
“I know that. It’s a figure of speech.”
Saki responded to Takumi’s retort.
“Okay then, I’m next.”
Saying that, Jun placed his paper on the table.
Japanese Language: 82
Mathematics: 85
English: 67
Science: 81
Social Studies: 78
Seeing Jun’s overall high score, Asa opened her mouth in surprise.
“Wait, Jun, you’re actually good at studying? That’s surprising.”
“What the hell, is that what you said to someone who did his best?! Just so you know, I had Takumi teach me all the way until the day before the exam!”
“…and you take pride in that?”
“If anything, it’s Takumi-kun who’s commendable.”
Being attacked from two directions, Jun immediately pointed at Asa to transfer the heat to her.
“What about you, Asa-chan! Show us your result!”
“Eh?! W-well…sure, but, promise me you won’t laugh, okay?”
When the three of them nodded, Asa hesitantly put her paper on the table.
Japanese Language: 56
Mathematics: 87
English: 95
Science: 85
Social Studies: 73
“B-Before you ask me why my Japanese Language is so low, just so you know I joined the literature club because I like light novels and such. I prefer contemporary stories compared to classic literature, okay?!”
Asa explained in a fast talk before anyone said anything. After a minute of suffocating silence, Saki opened her mouth.
“Well…Oreki-sensei also likes to put trick questions in the exam, after all. Yeah, it’s okay, Asa-chan.”
“The failing grade is 50 points, right? Besides, you scored high in other subjects. You’ll be fine, Asa-chan.”
“…somehow being consoled like this feels more humiliating, but thanks, you two.” Spoke Asa before letting out a sigh. “I guess next is Takumi.”
With eyes turned to him, Takumi readily put his paper on the table and showed it for everyone to see.
Japanese Language: 100
Mathematics: 98
English: 100
Science: 100
Social Studies: 95
“““Ooh!”””
Saki, Jun, and Asa let out an awed exclamation.
“That’s three full scores! That’s amazing, Takumi-kun.”
“You had to tutor me, and yet you still scored so high. How does your brain even work?”
“That’s Takumi for you, I guess. I thought you’d tank some scores down since you’re busy with Omega activities. How did you find the time to study”
“Well, somehow. I already promised my mom that it wouldn’t let Omega affect my academic scores, after all. That’s why I did my best studying hard three weeks before midterms.”
Answered Takumi. It’d be lying to say that he wasn’t a little bit proudful of this result. Strangely enough, before Omega, Takumi usually thought nothing of scoring so high since it was the obvious result, but having his friends praising him for it made him a bit bashful but happy.
Looking at Takumi like that, Asa let out a small joke.
“Since you’re such an honor student, Takumi, you should help me with the summer vacation homework. It’s close to summer vacation, after all.”
“Yup, sure thing.”
Answered Takumi readily, much to Asa’s surprise.
“Eh, really? I was just joking, you know.”
“Yup. You’ve been a huge help, Imai-san.”
“…just call me Asa, it feels weird that I’m the only one you’re addressing with the surname. I’m also calling you Takumi this whole time, after all.”
“Okay, Asa-san.”
Responded Takumi with a smile.
“That’s not fair! Takumi, do my homework too!”
“No, you do it yourself.”
Jun chimed in, and Asa retorted.
And thus, the four high school students were enjoying their youth.