Hundred - Volume 11 - Chapter 3.1

The melancholy of the Queen Claire Harvey 

A competition was held by all the students of the Martial Arts Department twice a year in Little Garden, from June to July and from November to December. 

*TN: Competition is the furigana reading for competition tournament. 

The purpose of it was for the students of the Martial Arts Department to compete with each other and to develop their strength. 

By the way, this situation, that is, this open combat training, was exhibited to the whole world via cybernet to show the ability of Little Garden outside of it. 

Today was last Sunday in June. The finals of the spring competition between Claire and Erika took place at 3:00 pm. 

The result: Claire won. 

Because of that, she was surrounded by many reporters in the basement of the stadium and gave interviews. 

Related to this, the spring competition was only for second and third-year students, the first-year students would held a tournament privately at a later date. 

Because there were many freshmen who weren’t capable of fighting with their upperclassmen. 

While Selections (Hayato included) had the strength for that, they weren’t the exception, so they would be moved to the tournament of the first-years students. 

Hayato should have been watching the finals in the guest seating together with the members of Selections Emile Crossford, Latia Saint-Émillion and Fritz Grantz, ??aside from Kirishima Sakura who came today to Little Garden using her days off and his little sister Kisaragi Karen, but??. 

– … Huh? If the President is giving an interview over there, then it means that the finals has ended? 

Hayato, who saw Claire surrounded by reporters, stopped his feet. 

– Eh? Then being asked to show the way to Hayato has no point anymore? 

The one who said, so sounding dissatisfied, was Kirishima Sakura standing next to Hayato with an ice cream in hand. She was wearing sunglasses to hide her identity, but it was obvious to Claire. 

– Now that you say it like that, then I should have been guided by Emile or Latia, don’t you think? 

– How can you say that when you’re finally alone with a world-famous Idol? 

The two started to quarrel. Just like a lover’s quarrel. 

Claire, who couldn’t help but look at the turbulence, stopped the group of reporters and called out to Hayato and Sakura. 

– Err, what are you doing here masuno? This area is off-limits except for staff desuwayo. 

– Oh, President. I’m sorry. Because I went to meet Sakura who was late at the airport, I ended up getting lost…. I feel that the President won the competition, is that right? 

– … Does that mean that you didn’t watch me and Erika’s finals desu? 

Claire was taken aback when she heard Hayato’s reply. 

Even though I gave him a special seat because I wanted him to see it in a good place, in the end, he got lost…. 

– You guys are, unbelievable… 

Claire was exasperated, and sighed. 

– The thing is, in the first place, Sakura said “We can take a shortcut if we use the underground passage, no?”… 

– Ah, are you saying it’s my fault, Hayato-kun? 

Sakura showed a sullen facial expression. 

Immediately after that. 

– Hmm? Isn’t that Kirishima Sakura? 

One of the reporters raised their voice all of a sudden. 

Beginning with that, the gazes of the reporters and the cameras were directed towards Sakura one after another. 

– You serious!? 

– Who’s the man next to her? 

– It’s true, she’s Kirishima Sakura! 

– Oh, this is bad. They’ve found me. This is going to become a trouble, so let’s run away. 

Sakura took the hand of the flustered Hayato and began to run. 

– Hey, Sakura. We haven’t asked the President about the way to go to the audience sea?? 

– That’s irrelevant now, don’t you think? If they get us, this will absolutely be a problem! 

– No, we’re in trouble already, and I feel that I was dragged into this trouble even if we escape… 

– They escaped! This has the smell of a scandal! 

– Run after them! 

– Wait! Listen to what I have to say! 

The reporters began to run after Hayato and Emile. 

– … Everyone ended up leaving. 

Chris muttered. 

The situation was exactly as he stated. 

Only Claire and Chris remained in that place. 

– … We can’t do anything without an interviewer, so, we should say the interview is over, isn’t it? 

– Y-you are right desuwane… 

Claire returned to the waiting room and headed to the shower room. 

To wash off her sweat sticking to her body. 

What crossed her mind during that were the figures of Kisaragi Hayato and Kirishima Sakura that she had come across moments ago. 

(Kisaragi Hayato… how can it be that not only you’re flirting with that childhood friend, but also with that Diva, with Kirishima Sakura…?!) 

The next thing that crossed her mind was the day after she sortied to the Zwei Islands with Kisaragi Hayato. 

Although it was an accident, she ended up kissing Kisaragi Hayato at the student’s men’s dorm of the Martial Arts Department after she came chasing Emile Crossford aka Emilia Hermit. 

This was the first kiss in her life with a partner she recognized as the opposite sex. 

When she realized, the index finger of her right hand stretched to her lips. 

Her heartbeats rose, her chest hurt. 

(What are you thinking, Kisaragi Hayato? He kissed Emilia Hermit and he also did the same to Kirishima Sakura… don’t tell me that he went even further with those two…) 

And then, the heartbeats stopped. 

(That’s way too fast for us who are students masuwa! Besides, if he’s doing things with other women, or even doing something like kissing me, these things must mean nothing to Kisaragi Hayato…) 

Strangely, she ended up feeling depressed. 

Her chest tightened. 

(Enough of that….. What am I thinking…?) 

She shook her head, trying to shake off the unnecessary emotions. 

(I’m Claire Harvey, the Queen??and the Student Council President of Little Garden. This is not the moment to be thinking about love affairs or anything like that masenwa!) 

Yes. 

She tried sweeping all the unnecessary emotions under the carpet. 

She had to let them flow. 

After she took a shower for a few minutes. 

Claire, who turned off the water, left the shower while combing her hair upwards with both hands. 

After she changed into her red uniform made for the President, Claire left the school with Liddy, Erika and Chris Steinbelt, a middle school student and her retainer, and headed to Central to have dinner by foot. 

– Today is Claire-sama’s victory. Since it’s also Erika-sama’s runner up celebration, should we have the French course at the usual restaurant? 

Chris said the moment they arrived at Central. 

Immediately after, the eyes of Claire crossed the figures of Kisaragi Hayato and Kirishima Sakura disguised with a cap and sunglasses. 

They were walking with their arms crossed. 

However, it didn’t mean they were all lovey-dovey. 

She saw that Hayato tried to separate from her, but Sakura didn’t seem to allow so. 

She felt it was against his will. 

(Good grief, that Diva is…) 

It didn’t matter how much she made advances to Kisaragi Hayato, he would never fell to her. 

The feelings Hayato had towards her were of respect and admiration. 

Claire felt those were his feelings towards her attitude as a Diva. 

(But, that’s the same for me too desuwane…) 

When she thought so, her chest hurt. 

If that was the case, then what was Kisaragi Hayato’s attitude towards Emilia? 

When she was wondering so, she could confirm that Sakura and Hayato entered a hamburger restaurant called?King Burger?. 

Because of that, Claire stopped her feet, 

– ??Let’s have dinner in that restaurant. 

– Eh, King Burger? Isn’t that unusual for Claire-sama? 

Erika said, looking amazed. Because Claire wouldn’t generally take the initiative to choose a fast food restaurant. 

– Even I feel like wanting to eat an ordinary hamburger every here and then masuwayo. It’s not a problem if we don’t have a reservation in this restaurant. 

– If Claire-sama says so, then I don’t have any issues… 

Erika agreed even if she was confused. 

– I don’t see the problem either. 

– I’m okay with it. 

Liddy and Chris also agreed. 

In this way, Claire and the others stepped in King Burger. 

King Burger’s interior was quite spacious, it wasn’t a restaurant where Slayers and ordinary people were separated. While they simply attract attention, Claire and company ordered a set of cheeseburgers and took a seat. 

– It seems you haven’t been able to calm down for a while now, did something happen, Claire-sama? 

Liddy said moments after they started eating. 

Then, Erika asked. 

– Claire-sama isn’t calm because we attract attention? 

– No, that’s not it masen. I have no problems arimasenwa. 

Claire, who replied being flustered, extended her hand to a paper cup with orange juice in it. 

Still, her eyes ended up going towards Hayato and Sakura. 

– Here, Hayato-kun. Can you “uuum” for me? 

– “Uuum”…? 

– Come on, do it, “uuum”. 

Sakura held out a fried potato in front of Hayato’s face. 

(I can’t believe it, that Diva truly is…!) 

Claire exerted her strenght so much that she ended up crushing the paper cup with her hand. Because of that, the orange juice burst in her mouth in one go from the straw. 

Claire coughed, and coughed, and coughed. 

– … Err, Claire-sama? Are you okay… eh… 

What met Erika’s eyes, who stood up to look after Claire, were Hayato and Sakura. 

With that, Erika understood everything. 

– … Claire-sama…. Is there any chance that Claire-sama said she wanted to enter this restaurant because of Kirishima Sakura and Kisaragi Hayato? 

– Ah! Eh, err, you see… 

Claire averted her eyes, trying to dodge the question. 

But Erika kept aiming suspicious eyes at Claire. 

Those same eyes were aimed at her by Liddy and Chris. 

– Well, umm… that desuwa. The truth is I didn’t know that K-Kirishima Sakura was in this place. Unless I was monitoring her, you know!!? 

Claire was so flustered that she didn’t even know what she was saying. 

And then, *Beep*, *Beep*, the PDAs of Claire and the Student Council Members suddenly began to sound. 

– What happened? 

Liddy took out the PDA from the pocket. 

The sound was heard by Hayato and the others, of course. 

– This sound is… 

– An emergency. 

Sakura answered. 

Both of them understood so immediately. 

– But, it’s not like mine is sounding… 

Hayato took out the PDA from his pocket, but it was unresponsive. 

Naturally, the eyes of the customers in the hamburger restaurant were aimed at Claire and company who were the source of the sounds. 

And as a matter of course, the eyes of Hayato and Sakura were also turned towards them. 

– … eh, President? The President and the others were also eating here? 

– T-that’s right desuwayo. I-it’s nothing more than a coincidence that you are also here desuwa! 

Sakura said, looking at Claire who answered. 

– Hey, Hayato-kun. Isn’t the President flustered? 

Sakura whispered close to the ear of Hayato. 

Hayato thought that it was certainly like that. 

– I wonder if it’s because an Ojou-sama like her is embarrassed of being seen eating hamburgers in a place like this. 

– Oh, you may be right. 

– … What are you talking so stealthily masuno!? 

Claire continued asking to try avoiding a strange questioning towards herself. 

– M-more importantly, why are just the two of you eating here masuno? 

It was Sakura who answered the question. 

– After that, we got lost again, you know? 

Hayato answered next. 

– The audience seats were already closed, so we talked about where to gather with Emile and the others so we decided on this place. 

– … Eh, Prez? 

The voice of Emile resounded in the restaurant. 

They turned their eyes to Karen on a wheelchair pushed by Emile. 

And the figures of Fritz and Latia who stepped in. 

They had left the crowded stadium and finally arrived at Central. 

– Even the vice-presidents are here. Why are you in a place like this? 

When Emile turned her eyes to the President and the others. 

The PDA of Claire sounded once again. 

A line was opened, even when it wasn’t in call mode. 

My bad for doing this while you’re having a funny conversation, but you haven’t forgotten about the emergency call, have you?? 

The voice she heard was from Charlotte Dimandius, the main technologist of Little Garden. Claire was surprised. 

– Of course not desuwayo, Charlotte. What is the important matter desuno? 

It seems that Savages have appeared in the northern hilly area of the Kingdom of Formosa, located around 20 kilometers to the west of Little Garden’s current position. A support request has arrived from them. The Savages appear to be normal type, so I thought of sortieing 5 second-year who have fought with Savages already. Do you agree to that?? 

– … No, I’ll go today masuwa. 

This scale done by Queen-sama herself only? But your body??even your energy are drained due to the fight of the finals of the competition, no?? 

For that reason, the answer from?LIZA?and Charlotte was that second-years would be sortied. However, Claire didn’t back down. 

– That’s why I think I can still manage a scale like that desuwa. Charlotte. Even you shouldn’t have any issues with it, am I correct? 

– Certainly, I think that’s true. 

There was a reason why Claire was so eager to go. She thought that if she battled the Savage, she would blow away the irritation and the gloominess in her head all at once. 

– If so, I’ll go masu. 

Erika stood up quickly, but Claire shook her head to the left and right. 

– You can’t masenwa. You must have consumed a lot of energy and vital in the fight against me. Stand by here. 

– … 

Erika showed disappointment. 

Certainly, it was as she said, but because she couldn’t mobilize together with Claire, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated. 

Claire continued. 

– Naturally, not even the first-years can come with me because the first-year-only competition is close masenwa. 

– In that case, I shall go. 

The one who stood up next was Liddy. 

She had no matches today. In the semifinal of the other day, she fell into Erika’s trap and ended up losing and consuming a lot of energy, but now she was in perfect condition. 

– … You are right desuwane. I will ask Liddy to accompany me in case something were to happen. Let’s go to the Terminal Division together. Erika and Chris, go to the briefing room. Understood desuwane? 

Geez, as expected of you. Alright, you’re authorized to sortie. Even if I stop you, you’ll go anyways, no?? 

Charlotte, who said so mixed with amazement, allowed Claire’s sortie. 

– Please do your best, President. 

Hayato gave a shout to Claire’s back as she walked towards the exit. 

– Of course desuwayo. 

Claire replied without looking back and left the restaurant together with Liddy. 

– I-I’ll go again… 

The brown-haired bobcat girl muttered after the long black-haired girl. 

– A-alright…. It’ll be all for nothing if we don’t protect this island! 

She said so, but their bodies were trembling with fear. 

They were in the northern hilly area of the Kingdom of Formosa. 

The two girls were slashing at two Savages with Chevalier-Type Hundred in hand, but they couldn’t even damage their steel shells, to not mention the barrier protecting their cores. 

That alone was enough for them to be frightened. 

At any rate, it was their first time fighting the Savages. 

– Still, we have to do it…. Because we’re the only Slayers in this place. 

– Yeah, we’ve trained to protect this island?? 

A Savage raised the pincer of its arm overhead and took an offensive stance as it roared loudly, facing the long black-haired girl. 

The girls moved to dodge it. 

And, at that moment. 

– … Eh? 

A single beam was released from the sky and stopped the movement of the Savage that had raised its arm overhead. What was that? The Savage looked up at the sky. 

The two girls had the same reaction. 

Claire, a Slayer clad in red armor and who flew down from the sky??deployed her Dragoon-type Hundred Alisterion. 

She fired 6 floating batteries that floated around her own body and disturbed the other Savage. 

She took advantage of the gap she made and landed on the head of the Savage. 

– One down desuwa. 

A beam was fired from the gun in her right hand, aiming at the core. 

It was powerful enough that penetrated the head all the way to the core, the Savage sank into the ground instantly. 

– Amazing… 

That word was spilled from the mouth of the long black-haired girl. 

The brown-haired bobcat girl also muttered. 

– That person, she’s Little Garden’s… 

– Yeah… 

Rose Guardian. 

Perfect Queen. 

Claire said to the two girls who had such aliases floating in their minds. 

– Are you alright desuno? 

– Ah, yes! 

– Thank you very much for helping us! 

The two girls bowed their heads in panic. 

– It seems that you don’t have much experience fighting Savages yet desuwane. You can learn by seeing my fight desuwa. 

Immediately after Claire said so. 

The other Savage yelled sonorously and began to collect light in its mouth. 

That was the signal of a bombardment. 

– I may look cheerful, but I’m in a very bad mood right now desuwa. I will not go easy on you masenwayo! 

She returned the Buster Cannon to 6 floating batteries. Claire, who jumped using sense energy, fired beams aiming at the head of the Savage as she somersaulted. 

That stopped the bombardment of the Savage and Claire began to pursue it. 

– Petals! 

Together with that shout, a total of 12 small floating batteries were emitted from the 6 floating batteries. 

They fired beams in an intermittent manner as they danced in the air, damaging the Savage. 

– This is the end desuwa!

Once all the petals disappeared, Claire gathered the 6 floating batteries on her hand and created Buster Cannon again. 

To penetrate the core of the Savage that crumbled down from its feet. 

The charge of energy was completed at once. 

– Take this! 

The tick and massive beam fired together with that shout shoot out the head of the Savage as she expected and destroyed it. 

Mission completed. 

Hey hey, Claire. You went a bit overkill, you know? It got so destroyed that it will be difficult to recover the core? 

What was heard from the vital ring of Claire who took a breath once she landed on the ground was the amazed voice of Charlotte. 

Claire was surprised at this. 

Certainly, the core of the Savage broke into fragments, scattering on the ground. 

– I am so sorry masenwa. I unintentionally went… 

… Well, let’s leave the recovery of the cores to the Slayers of the Kingdom of Formosa. I hope you return to Little Garden right away. And how was it? Did your rage and irritation go away?? 

Claire showed a sullen facial expression on her face and inflated her slightly dyed red cheeks. 

– Charlotte Dimandius. Shut up, that’s none of your business desuwayo. 

What met the eyes of Claire dressed in her Variable Suit and who descended from the transport aircraft that returned to Little Garden was Kisaragi Hayato, the cause of her irritation. Behind him were all the members who were at the hamburger restaurant, including Erika and Chris, the only exception was Karen. 

– Why are you here…? 

Hayato answered that question. 

– After the President left, Karen returned to the hospital and we went to the briefing room. 

He said so, then continued. 

– We watched President’s battle. It was truly amazing! 

– T-that’s something natural for me desuwayo. I’m Perfect Queen after all! 

She became embarrassed when she was praised by Hayato. 

And Claire, turned her face away abruptly. 

Hayato saw that and said. 

– Err, President… why is your face red? Is it possible that you got tired of the series of battles and you don’t feel great…? 

– Wha! 

Hayato touched Claire’s forehead with his extended right hand. 

Claire’s face spouted roaring flames. 

– See, President? Your forehead is getting hot just like I thought. 

– Eh… ah, that…. Uu… certainly, I do feel a bit tired masuwane. 

Claire, who hung her bright red face down, muttered. 

However, she seemed to come to her senses with that. 

– B-besides, the temperature difference between the wilderness and Little Garden is extreme and after the finals I took a shower arimasu. I sweated a lot, so it wouldn’t be strange to catch a cold, don’t you agree!? 

She yelled, shook off Hayato’s hand and turned around suddenly. 

– I’ll take a shower and change my clothes after this arimasu. Now, if you excuse me masuwa! 

Claire got in the arranged car right away. 

– Claire-sama!! 

– Please wait!! 

Liddy and Erika got in the same car in panic. 

Hayato muttered as he saw off the car that started to move. 

– The President was weird, did something happen…? 

– Hayato is really a blockhead, huh…. 

Emile muttered as if she was amazed. 

– Huh? 

– Forget it. 

Emile sighed deeply, looking at Hayato who had a question mark in his face. 

Then, Sakura said. 

– But I think that part of Hayato-kun is cute ?. 

Sakura showed an impure smile together with an *Ufufu* and took Hayato’s arm. 

– That’s right, Hayato-kun. Why don’t we go to a karaoke now? I’ll give a special concert just for Hayato-kun ?. 

– Wait a second! 

Emile raised a voice of protest and took the arm Sakura didn’t take. 

– Hayato is going to return to the dorm now and train with me. The first-years’ competition is starting next week, so we have to be able to control our energy properly by then! 

– But, today is Sunday. It’s a day off, no? He must rest. And Hayato-kun also wants to do so, right? It’s said that Sunday is the day when God takes a rest after all. 

– … Err, umm… that’s right! Actually, I also felt a bit of cold, so I’ll pass for today. I’ll go back to the dorm now. Why don’t you go to a karaoke together? 

Hayato thought that it would be troublesome to choose either and started running as if escaping. 

– Wait a minute, Hayato! 

– Yeah, wait! How is Hayato-kun running if you have a cold!? 

However, Hayato didn’t reply to their hopes of stopping him. 

He continued running towards the dorm. 

Charlotte, who was watching the whole story through the surveillance cameras installed in Little Garden, asked unintentionally. 

– Good grief…. Emilia, Kirishima Sakura and even your Onee-san have it difficult when Kisaragi Hayato acts like that, huh. Even you think the same, right, ?LIZA?? 

The three-character response that emerged on the monitor exclusive to?LIZA? was ???YES?.