Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 32 - Chapter 2

The Club Obstacle Marathon

Monday, May 2nd

As the calendar turned to May, things began heating up around Kisshouharukaze High School. The sports festival was right around the corner, after all. Set to take place in the middle of May, it was a big event for all of Harukaze High. There was already excitement in the air as students bustled all over campus with various preparations. Things were just as lively as they were before the cultural festival in the fall.

“What’s a sports festival?”

There was one student, however, who didn’t seem to understand what all the fuss was about. It was the new transfer student from Forthorthe, Nalfa Laren. She was currently on her way to the photography club and had noticed a sports festival poster on the bulletin board in the hallway. Since she was unfamiliar with the concept, she turned to her friend Kotori for an explanation.

“Well, let’s see... Simply put, it’s a day for everyone to get outside and play.”

“What do you play?”

“First, everyone splits into teams. It seems this year there are going to be two teams school-wide: the red team and the white team. Those two teams will compete through various games and events that get everyone moving around. It’s like a field day.”

“That sounds like fun! I would love to participate!”

As she gleaned the nature of the sports festival from Kotori’s explanation, Nalfa’s eyes sparkled with delight. Forthorthian schools practiced something similar, though the Forthorthian version tended to focus purely on athletics. The idea of incorporating games and special events into it captivated Nalfa, and she saw ahead of her a golden opportunity for getting some choice coverage.

“So, Kotori, what’s the most popular event?”

Not one to let a golden opportunity slip past her, Nalfa got to work right away. She pulled out her camera and began rolling as she asked Kotori more about the sports festival.

“Nii-san said that it’s the club obstacle marathon.”

Kotori had gotten used to Nalfa filming her like this, so she was now comfortable in front of the camera and could answer Nalfa’s questions calmly. Incidentally, although completely unbeknownst to her, Kotori was steadily gaining popularity in Forthorthe. That was in part due to her cute face and warm personality, but it was also because she was Koutarou’s childhood friend. Her talk of “Kou-niisan” was a valuable source of biographical information on the Blue Knight.

“And what kind of event is that?”

“You know that clubs are a big deal at this school, right?”

“Yes. I often see them working hard around campus.”

There, Nalfa turned her camera to the window. Just outside were several different sports teams in the middle of their respective practices.

“Well, the obstacle marathon is a chance for the clubs to compete against one another. As the name suggests, it’s a marathon that’s dotted with obstacles along the way. The obstacles are challenges the competitors have to complete, like solving math problems or walking on stilts.”

“So it won’t be a competition between the red and white teams you mentioned earlier?”

“That’s right. The club obstacle marathon is special because it’s the only event where those teams don’t matter. It’s sort of like a way for the clubs to drum up support and hopefully get some new members. That’s why standing out is everyone’s main goal—there are even clubs that compete without any intention of winning.”

“Do you think it’s going to be a fierce fight between the clubs this year?”

“I think so. I hear the spotlight will be on the liberal arts clubs and societies for the first half, and on the athletic clubs and sports teams for the second half.”

“By the way, will Koutarou-sama be participating?”

“Probably. Two years ago, the knitting society that Kou-niisan belongs to won the marathon.”

“That’s wonderful!”

Now that she had more details on the event, Nalfa excitedly began photographing sports festival posters and materials. She wouldn’t include them in her video, but they would be useful for reference.

“Oh? What are you two doing over here?”

While Nalfa was wrapping up her impromptu photoshoot, Sanae came strolling by. Seeing Nalfa and Kotori standing around in the hall caught her attention, so she approached the two girls to see what they were up to.

“Hello, Sanae-sama.”

“Oh, we were just looking at the bulletin board.”

“The bulletin board, huh? What do we have here?”

Sanae peered over and looked at the poster Kotori was pointing to. When she saw what it was for, her eyes began sparkling.

“Wow, the sports festival? I can’t believe it’s already that time of year again!”

As a fan of all things fun, Sanae adored the sports festival. Realizing it was soon upon them, she was instantly beaming and full of energy. She whipped right around and wildly waved her hand.

“Koutarou, Koutarou! Come over here!”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Beckoned by Sanae, Koutarou walked over with the other girls in tow. They’d actually been called to the school office and were on their way there, but figured a little detour wouldn’t hurt.

“Check it out!”

“The sports festival, huh? So much has happened that I had completely forgotten about it...”

“This takes me back,” added Theia. “I still remember the obstacle marathon like it was yesterday.”

“That was back when I was helping Koutarou as his guardian angel!” shouted Sanae.

“Kiriha and I had a fierce battle that day. What an uproar it caused.”

“That’s because you planted a bunch of landmines!”

“Youthful indiscretion! There’s no reason to dredge that up now!”

“Yes, yes. Of course, Your Highness.”

“Not so fast!” interjected Shizuka. “Those landmines gave me the worst hair day ever! It was horrible!”

“It’s already been two years, Theia-dono...” mused Kiriha. “Thanks to all our scheming, we both ended up collapsing, which allowed Yurika and Harumi to take the win.”

“I still see Yurika-sama polishing her trophy from time to time,” added Ruth.

“It’s the only trophy I have!”

With all this talk of the sports festival, Koutarou and the girls began waxing nostalgic. Two years ago, the invaders had only just arrived in room 106. They still considered each other adversaries and used the obstacle marathon as a way to compete for ownership of the apartment. Memories of that time were fresh in their minds even now. They all felt silly looking back on it, but there was no doubt that it had strengthened the bonds between them.

“May, huh? That was before I came here...”

“That’s right, Maki,” said Clan. “You showed up not long after I did, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Just after the first play.”

“A whole half a year passed by without us...”

Clan and Maki were the only two that found themselves isolated from the conversation. Since they hadn’t arrived until after the sports festival, they hadn’t participated in it with everyone else. The same was true for Kotori and Nalfa, but Clan and Maki had been with the group for so long that it made them feel rather left out not to be able to reminisce with everyone.

I see that look on Clan and Maki’s faces every now and then... I guess their late arrivals and their pasts still bother them.

After thinking things over for a moment, Koutarou loudly declared...

“Let’s all take part this year too!”

Koutarou wasn’t the type to look the other way. If Clan and Maki weren’t part of the memories they all shared together, they’d just have to make more. And the fastest way to do that right now was to jump into the sports festival again.

“Really, Satomi-kun?!” Maki exclaimed, her eyes alight.

She figured Koutarou wanted to participate both because of his love for athletics and out of consideration for her and Clan. And that made her happy.

“Why not? I think it’s good to have a few playdays every now and then.”

“I can’t wait!”

Maki was now beaming so brightly that her dark and gloomy expression from just moments ago was nowhere to be seen. She swore to herself that she’d do her best for the festival so that, in a few years, she’d be able to reminisce with everyone.

“You’re taking part too, Clan.”

“I-I’m not really... any good at sports...”

Clan’s personality kept her from rejoicing the same way Maki did. She stubbornly wanted to maintain the appearance that she wasn’t lonely, so she pretended not to be interested in participating with everyone.

“You don’t say... Well, Nalfa-san, it looks like Princess Clariossa won’t be participating.”

“That’s too bad. I was looking forward to filming everyone running.”

“It really is too bad. Especially for the poor citizens that won’t get to see and celebrate their princess. What a shame.”

“Okay, okay, I get it! I just have to play along, right?!”

In the end, however, she was cajoled into participating by Koutarou.

“You really are a handful,” Koutarou leaned over and whispered so that only Clan could hear him.

He’d only brought up the citizens because he knew that was what it would take to get her to participate, and he knew that she really did want to. She’d regret it later if she didn’t.

“If you know that, then go a little easier on me,” Clan whispered back as she lightly kicked him in the shin.

Clan considered herself the Blue Knight’s partner, but at the same time, she was still a normal girl who wanted to get closer with Koutarou. As such, she couldn’t help wishing he’d be more gentle with her.

“Listen, as a man—”

“I don’t care about that! You sourpuss!”

“Like you’re one to talk!”

“Teeheehee...”

Before they knew it, their whispered argument had escalated into a shouting match, which was interrupted by a cute giggle coming from the girl next to them. It was Nalfa.

“Koutarou-sama, Clan-sama, you two get along so well.”

That’s how she felt as she watched the odd couple. After almost a month of filming them, she had a good grasp on Koutarou and Clan’s twisted relationship. She now knew that this was simply how they showed their affection for one another.

“Hardly! This sourpuss is always teasing me!”

“I wouldn’t dare. I always treat Your Highness with the utmost—”

“You barefaced liar!”

“It’s true, Nalfa-san,” interjected Maki. “Satomi-kun never really teases me, so I think Clan-san is special to him.”

“But you get the most special treatment of all, Maki!” Clan objected.

“Anyway, that’s that! So we’ll all be taking part in the obstacle marathon during the sports festival.”

Now that Koutarou had convinced Clan to participate—or rather, now that he’d gotten her to admit that she wanted to—there was no further dissension.

“All right! I could only cheer for everyone two years ago, but this time I’m going to win!” shouted Sanae.

“This year I’ll defeat Shizuka and carve my name into the annals of Kisshouharukaze High School!”

“I won’t lose to you, Theia-chan! And no mines this time!”

“Maki-chan, I’m thinking I should just sit this one out and cling to my former glory...”

“That’s rather sad... Don’t you have any desire to win?”

“Sakuraba-senpai’s not here this year, so I don’t think I can.”

“I suspect Kii will take the win this year.”

“I think so too, Clan-sama. In terms of overall capabilities, Kiriha-sama is a cut above.”

“The favorite isn’t always the winner, you two. That’s what makes competitions fun.”

Everyone, except for possibly Yurika, was starting to get fired up. Unlike the first time they participated in the obstacle marathon two years ago, however, there was nothing at stake this time. They were only competing to have fun and make memories. It was sure to be an exciting day.

Koutarou and the girls made it to the school office about ten minutes after they’d left their classroom. Their encounter with Nalfa and Kotori had taken up some time, but they’d also been on class cleaning duty this afternoon. All in all, they made it to the office sooner than expected.

“Matsuzaka-sensei!” Koutarou called as soon as he saw Kenichi of the Sun Rangers.

“Ah, you’re here, Satomi-kun. Then let’s get started right away,” Kenichi replied, getting up from his seat and heading for the door.

Koutarou and the girls did the same, following Kenichi into the conference room they usually used.

“Satomi-kun!”

Harumi, who was no longer a student at Harukaze High, was already sitting in the conference room waiting for them. When she saw Koutarou, however, she quickly got up to greet him.

“Even you’re here, Sakuraba-senpai?”

“Yes, I got a call from Megumi-san about the meeting.”

“Then, though it’s clearly not an emergency, whatever this is must be a pretty big deal...”

Harumi had been advising the Sun Rangers on matters regarding magic. Shizuka and Maki also helped out from time to time, but Harumi had taken the lead on the job. There was no one more patient and kind, and she had a personality naturally suited for such diplomatic tasks. Since the Sun Rangers had called her to this meeting, Koutarou knew immediately that it must be about something important. Most likely, it had something to do with Forthorthe, the underground, and the magic world.

“Unfortunately, yes. I’m afraid it is. I’m sorry to summon you all on such short notice.”

Once he closed the door to the conference room—which acted as a secret Sun Ranger base—Kenichi’s tone became much more gracious and polite now that he wasn’t pretending to be a teacher. He and the other Sun Rangers had always respected Koutarou, but as of late, they were especially grateful toward him.

In essence, once it was discovered how active the remnants of Vandarion’s faction were, Empress Elfaria had requested the Blue Knight’s help in handling the matter. Koutarou agreed and was now officially acting on behalf of Forthorthe.

As far as he was concerned, he had no choice in the matter. This wouldn’t just affect Forthorthe, but also the underground, Folsaria, and even Earth as well. Really, he was fighting for everything Alaia had so desperately tried to protect two thousand years ago. But most importantly, he was fighting to protect his home... And the homes of the girls he loved.

“I can’t say I’m all too thrilled that things are going exactly like Elle planned. She must be loving this...”

“I assure you, Veltlion, not even Elfaria-san is celebrating the resurgence of Vandarion’s faction.”

“Indeed, but Mother will find a way to use this to her advantage. She’ll undoubtedly play the remnants of Vandarion’s faction as a way to keep you tied to Forthorthe. Doing so will put the citizens at ease and make them happy at the same time. You know, like getting three birds with one stone.”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I can’t even argue with what she’s doing, and that’s the most frustrating part.”

“Her Majesty always entrusts the most important things to you, Master. Like this case or Her Highness two years ago. She must truly be anxious right now.”

“Besides, Satomi Koutarou... You know you can’t abandon Forthorthe, or Folsaria for that matter. And I certainly won’t let you abandon the People of the Earth after all you’ve done for us. Giving in is your only option.”

“I know, I know... If I say no now, it’ll only make me the bad guy here.”

Like Theia and Clan, Koutarou was deeply involved in diplomatic matters between Forthorthe and Earth. Carefully situated between the two planets politically, he wanted to be on good terms with the Sun Rangers. Whatever was ahead of them, things would work out better if they worked together.

“So, what exactly has happened?”

Koutarou cut straight to the chase as he took a seat in the conference room. Knowing this was serious business, he wasn’t about to spend all afternoon joking around.

“I wanted to share with you some leads on the missing parts,” reported Kenichi.

As it turned out, the cause of their conference today concerned a problem that had cropped up after their run-in with some of Vandarion’s remaining forces the other day. The conclusion to the fight had involved Vandarion’s forces blowing up one of their own remote-controlled ships, presumably for the explicit purpose of spreading its parts far and wide. Their intent was to land as many parts as possible in the hands of Earthlings, creating a nightmare for Forthorthe. Their endgame, however, was identifying the Blue Knight’s secret powers.

Roughly 80 percent of the ship’s parts were recovered on the spot; the problem was the remaining 20 percent. The missing parts were believed to have been collected by an unidentified number of third parties. The Sun Rangers had summoned Koutarou and the girls today to fill them in on the progress that had been made in regards to locating them.

“Did you figure something out?”

“Yes. Japan has done a lot of overseas aid and knows a good deal about how to handle pilfered supplies and technology. Using that know-how, we’ve managed to track down and recover some of the parts.”

Japan was using the foreign currency in its possession—currency too difficult to convert to yen based on fluctuating exchange rates—for financial and technological support. Said support was mostly used properly, but there were cases of supplies and technology being embezzled. Learning from such cases, the Sun Rangers were quickly able to track down some of the missing ship parts.

“That’s amazing, Sun Rangers! How’d you do it?!”

“We started by laying a trap through the black market.”

Most ill-gotten goods were sold through illegal channels. By keeping an eye on those, chances were high that the Sun Rangers would find at least some of the missing parts. And so the Sun Rangers recruited other departments to monitor the black market. Since any Forthorthian technology would be selling for outrageous sums, all they had to do was follow the money. From there, it was simply a matter of locating the seller, locking down the area, and confiscating the goods. Rinse, repeat.

“These people may have gotten their hands on parts, but the fact that they’re selling them indicates they didn’t know what else to do with them,” said Kiriha.

“It’s just as you say, Black Rose-san. We even found some cases of people trying to auction the parts online, completely unaware that they were even Forthorthian technology,” confirmed Kenichi.

“I’m sure that’s the most extreme case,” Kiriha replied with a dry smile.

For anyone who’d managed to get their hands on a piece of Forthorthian technology but didn’t know what it was or didn’t have the tools necessary to handle it, they’d have no choice but to sell it. It would be a waste just to hold on to it. Kiriha considered that much a foregone conclusion.

“But what about the people who are holding on to the parts they collected? How are you handling those cases?” she asked.

“We’ve already taken several precautions,” Kenichi replied. “We’ve instructed customs and the coast guard to exercise extra scrutiny and vigilance to keep any from leaving the country. We also know it takes powerful technology to analyze Forthorthian tech, so we’re keeping a watchful eye on any groups or businesses that are either known to have such technology at their disposal or are currently trying to buy it. We also know they’d need some of the top minds in science and engineering to do anything with the contraband tech, so we’re keeping an eye on key figures in the field as well.”

Thanks to the special laws regarding Forthorthe that had been passed the other day, exporting alien technology had significantly increased in difficulty. That meant whoever had their hands on it would have to analyze it inside the country, which required exceptional equipment and brilliant minds. The Sun Rangers believed they’d be able to track the technology down by monitoring those two things.

“What do you think, Kiriha-san?” Koutarou asked, turning to her for her opinion.

He felt the Sun Rangers were on the right track, but Kiriha sometimes had insight beyond all others. It was best to consult her at times like this.

“The plan is quite reasonable. It would be impossible to restrict the movement of the parts within the country, so targeting the analysis process is the right choice.”

Checking every single person and inspecting every single car was unrealistic. That meant that, rather than focusing on the parts themselves, it made more sense to focus on the resources someone would need to do anything with the parts. Kiriha saw the logic in that and agreed with the Sun Rangers’ plan.

“Thank you, Black Rose-san. In fact, we’ve already tracked down the whereabouts of several parts.”

“That’s great news. My biggest concern, however, involves the players that are calm and collected enough to lay low for now. But as long as you exercise due vigilance and persistence, I’m sure you’ll be able to keep them from getting away with anything.”

Though Kiriha approved of the Sun Rangers’ plan, she was instantly able to spot its flaws and potential shortcomings. If, for example, someone who’d obtained parts quietly sat on them for the time being, they could later acquire the technology and personnel needed to analyze them under the pretense, say, of a legitimate business expansion. Moreover, if someone slowly amassed the technology and personnel they needed piecemeal, it was much less likely to register on the Sun Rangers’ radar.

And thus Kiriha methodically went through her laundry list of concerns with the Sun Rangers, addressing one item at a time. Clan and Ruth had occasional contributions to make thanks to their technological expertise, but Kiriha’s conversation with the Sun Rangers mostly left everyone else in the dust.

“I can’t keep up with what they’re saying at all...” moaned Yurika.

“Koutarou, Koutarou! What’s ‘defects of crystallization’ mean?”

“Don’t ask me that, Sanae. Ask Clan.”

“Simply put, it’s why solids don’t reach their theoretical strength.”

“Yeah... I still don’t get it, Glasses.”

“Sanae-sama, metal is a very strong material. In practice, however, it is never quite as strong as it should be. There’s a great deal of research as to why, but trying to figure out the exact strength of Forthorthian metals is one of the ways the Sun Rangers are trying to track down the people who have any.”

“Oh, I see. So that’s what they’re talking about, huh?”

“Thank god Kiriha-san is here. Clan-san and Ruth-san too...” Maki muttered as she looked at Kiriha and the Sun Rangers.

Knowing this was something she would never be able to handle on her own, she smiled bitterly.

“Yeah. Without those three, we’d just be normal high school students,” added Koutarou.

“Hey, I’m a princess, you know?”

“Yes, yes, Theia. I know.”

Theia’s wisecrack helped lighten the mood, but Koutarou took Maki’s words to heart.

Without the three of them with us, we’d lose sight of the path we need to follow. That would be awful. I’m glad we caught on early...

Yurika could use powerful magic and Theia’s combat prowess was second to none. But, as a group, they were only able to shine because Kiriha, Clan, and Ruth were always showing them the way. Without the three of them, they’d be lost. Strength was meaningless if your enemy always eluded you. Koutarou felt that now more than ever.

“Clan, Ruth-san...”

“What’s the matter, Veltlion?”

“What is it, Master?”

“If the two of you and Kiriha-san were to fall, the rest of us would surely follow. So make sure you don’t push yourselves too hard.”

“I... I know full well the position I’m in.”

“You may count on me, Master.”

“You’re the one I’m most worried about, Ruth-san. You’re a guardian knight, after all.”

Ruth held the title of Nye, a guardian knight. When push came to shove, she would use her own body to shield Theia and Koutarou if she had to. But that would inadvertently put them all in danger, and that’s precisely what Koutarou wanted to avoid.

“Please don’t worry. I won’t leave you alone, Master. I’ll always be at your side. I know what you fear the most,” Ruth said with a smile.

Ruth was intent on protecting Koutarou, but Koutarou feared solitude more than anything. So rather than throwing her life away, Ruth was determined to keep a situation where she would have to do so from ever arising in the first place. That way she could protect Koutarou and his heart. And with that resolution, she turned a warm smile on the boy she loved. Seeing it and knowing what it meant, Koutarou bashfully looked away.

“Th-Then that’s fine...”

“Heehee...”

Koutarou and Ruth’s discussion ended there, but Kiriha’s discussion with the Sun Rangers was far from over. It would continue for some time yet.

The nature of the fight is clearly changing...

Listening in on both conversations, however, Harumi noticed a similarity between them. It was only necessary to have such talks because the nature of their fight had changed.

Thinking back on it, the war had started with individual skirmishes. They’d gained allies and friends who were willing to work together with them, and gradually things grew in scale until they escalated into a full-on war. But even so, there’d always been a goal in sight. Whether it was defeating a specific enemy or defending a certain location, there had always been an achievable objective that would bring an end to the fighting. But things were different now. They were fighting multiple uncertain enemies, and defeating them might not even make a difference. Taking out the remnants of Vandarion’s faction wasn’t necessarily going to be the end of the fight. There was no clear goal in sight that would spell peace. It was all they could do now to gather information and plan accordingly, which was why Koutarou was so worried for Kiriha and the other girls who played an integral role in that process.

I just hope that nothing happens...

They were up against an invisible enemy in an uncertain fight with no discernible end. It cast a dark shadow on their lives, which worried Harumi immensely. The fear that a sudden ambush could steal their future was seizing her heart.

Once their meeting with the Sun Rangers was over, Koutarou and the girls left the conference room and headed for their various clubs. Since the situation was still developing and hadn’t escalated to emergency levels as of yet, Koutarou and company were simply going about their business for now. And as far as their daily lives were concerned at the moment, the upcoming club obstacle marathon was the most urgent business they had.

“...”

Harumi sat staring out of the knitting society’s club room window. Now that it was May, the early summer sun was shining brilliantly outside. But you would never know it looking at Harumi’s gloomy expression.

“What’s the matter, Sakuraba-senpai?” Yurika asked.

Koutarou was there as well, but it was Yurika who approached Harumi first. Harumi was a precious friend to her, and she couldn’t stand to see her looking so down.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Then why the long face?”

“It’s nothing much. I’m just still thinking about our earlier discussion, and I confess it has me a little worried. There’s no clear goal in sight this time, you know?”

“Really? I can never see the goal anyway, so I guess it feels the same way it always does to me.”

“So how do you fight your anxiety, Yurika-san?”

“I don’t.”

“What?”

“I’m stupid, so I can never come up with answers. So all that I can do is believe in Satomi-san and the others.”

“Believe in Satomi-kun and the others... You really are strong, Yurika-san.”

“I am a magical girl of love and courage, after all.”

“That’s true. Then I’ll follow your example, Yurika-san.”

“That’s the spirit!”

Koutarou secretly listened in on the girls’ conversation while pretending to read a pamphlet on the obstacle marathon.

Yurika’s not the same girl she was two years ago...

He too had picked up on Harumi’s melancholy, so he was planning on stepping in if Yurika wasn’t able to lift her spirits... But it now seemed there would be no need for that.

Heh, looks like I didn’t need to worry.

Koutarou was both happy and a little sad when he realized that things were fine left to Yurika. Really, he was realizing that his handful of a little sister had grown up before he even knew it. And with that thought, he started to read the pamphlet that he’d merely been pretending to read so far. Only two members from each club were allowed to participate in the marathon. That meant, with Harumi’s graduation, it would have to be him and Yurika on the team.

“By the way, Sakuraba-senpai, Satomi-san’s only pretending not to notice, but he knew you were feeling down too.”

“You think so?”

“I saw him sneak a glance over here, so I’m sure of it. You could probably get anything you wanted out of him right now.”

“Heehee, then maybe I’ll see what I can do.”

Koutarou heard that part too, but simply kept reading. He didn’t know what to say, and moreover, he was far too embarrassed to join the conversation now. He kept his face buried in the pamphlet, but that didn’t block out the sound of footsteps and the creak of the folding chair immediately to his right as someone sat down.

“I’m sorry, Satomi-kun... Would you mind for a little while?”

Suddenly, Harumi leaned over and rested her head on Koutarou’s shoulder. She also reached out and put her right hand on his knee, a blue and white ribbon dangling from her wrist.

No...

Koutarou had to pull himself together. His first reaction was to push Harumi away—an old bad habit he hadn’t quite shaken—but he quickly purged the thought from his mind and began considering what he should do instead. After almost an entire minute of asking himself if it was really all right, he gently placed his hand over Harumi’s. She entwined her fingers with his and squeezed his hand.

“Heehee, you made the right call—for both of you. Heeheehee...” Yurika giggled.

“Idiot...” Koutarou scolded.

“I may be an idiot, but I’m a praiseworthy idiot.”

“Yeah... I guess you are, Yurika.”

“Eeheehee.”

With his free hand, Koutarou patted Yurika on the head. While the knitting society wouldn’t get around to discussing the obstacle marathon today, they were still working on their team dynamic in their own way.

Normally there were two additional members present for knitting society activities: Nalfa and Kotori. Since they knew Koutarou and the other girls were headed to a meeting, however, they went to visit the other club they’d both joined—the photography club.

“That’s fine. The two of you have my permission to participate.”

Really, Nalfa and Kotori had come to beg the club president to let them be on the team for the club obstacle marathon. As first-years, however, they knew there was a high chance they’d be turned down. But contrary to their expectations, the club president readily gave them his approval. Doubting her ears, Nalfa excitedly leaned forward and questioned the president.

“Are you sure?!”

“Yeah, I don’t mind. We’re the photography club, so we’re usually on the sidelines recording the event rather than participating. It’s actually been several years since we even entered a team. Everyone wants to be taking pictures instead.”

“Now that you mention it... I’d love to photograph it too.”

The photography club, of course, was naturally more interested in taking pictures than participating. They’d tried entering members just for the sake of publicity before, but it hadn’t exactly gotten any new members to join the club. Ever since, the photography club had been absent from the race. And because their team slots were vacant anyway, the club president had no objection to letting Nalfa and Kotori participate.

“Besides, this year is special. If we show off the fact that Nalfa-san joined the photography club, we might actually rope in some new blood. So I think having the two of you participate while the rest of us record the event like usual would be the best of both worlds.”

Much like the knitting society, the photography club had a hard time getting new members to join up. In the age of smartphones and instant photography, traditional photography and cameras were on the decline. There was less and less interest in the photography club every passing year as a result. The club could see the writing on the wall, so they’d branched out into filming too, but even that hadn’t been enough to slow the club’s waning. That’s why, if they had a golden opportunity to pump some life into the club now, the president was going to take it. And that golden opportunity was Nalfa.

“Do you really think people are going to join just because of me?”

“Now’s our best chance to find out. Come fall, we’ll get more Forthorthian transfer students who’ll be joining all kinds of clubs. But right now, all eyes are on you. And all press is good press, you know? It’s not like it’s going to hurt to have you participate.”

“It won’t hurt... Yes, I suppose that’s true.”

Nalfa didn’t think she was anything special. She certainly didn’t compare to Theia or Koutarou; she was just a normal civilian. That’s why she was doubtful that she could be of any help to the photography club. But the spots for the obstacle marathon team were open, and like the president said, Nalfa joining in wouldn’t hurt... So in the end, Nalfa didn’t have any qualms about participating.

“I’ll do my best with Kotori for the club’s sake!”

“Y-Yeah, I’ll do my best too.”

There, Kotori finally joined the discussion. She was naturally shy even with the other members of the photography club, so she’d happily left the talking to Nalfa. She would’ve been much happier escaping into virtual reality on her smartphone, but that would have been rude in front of the president. She did her best to follow Nalfa’s lead.

“You don’t have to win. Just do your best to stand out,” the president advised.

“I think that’s smart. Even if we tried to win, we’d only get fourth or fifth place at best,” Nalfa replied.

“That’s a pretty specific prediction.”

“I don’t think we could beat Theia-sama and the others.”

“She’s special, after all... I’ve even heard she’s looking to secure the Triple Crown in the sports festival.”

“Heehee, that sounds just like her.”

Rumors of Theia being Forthorthian royalty were gradually spreading through the school. After all Theia had done for and with the students of Harukaze High over the last two years, however, it would take more than a couple of rumors to change what everyone thought of her. Theia’s big, well-known personality was partially to thank for that.

“Kotori, let’s do our best together!”

“Okay, but I’m not really the sporty type...”

“And I won’t be any good at the challenges. We’ll make a great team, so have a little more confidence!”

“You’re right, Nalfa-chan. Thank you. I’ll give it my best shot!”

Nalfa was relatively athletic, but she was careless. She was also completely unfamiliar with the challenges that would dot the marathon. Meanwhile, Kotori was shy and sluggish, but she was reliable and clever. If they could each help make up for what the other was lacking, they could do well for themselves. At least, that’s what the club president was thinking as he watched them now.

Now that Yurika had taken up the mantle of presidency for the knitting society, the cosclub was left to grieve the loss of their prime candidate to take over for them. At some point, however, they became convinced that Yurika wouldn’t have been quite up to the task of leading the cosclub. She’d need to manage events, keep the other members on track for their costume deadlines, handle the budget, negotiate with the student council... And that was just the tip of the iceberg. So the realization finally hit them: wouldn’t that all be too much for Yurika? Soon after, the vice president—acknowledged for her years of hard work and dedication to the club—was elected to be the new president. Thus the cosclub learned there was more to leadership than enthusiasm and talent.

“But I think that enthusiasm and talent will decide the winner of the obstacle marathon!”

The reforged cosclub quickly hit another bump in the road—they didn’t have anyone to participate in the interclub obstacle marathon. More specifically, they didn’t have anyone to be Maki’s partner. They’d long decided Maki would be participating, but the second spot on the team was still open. They’d need to find a star cosplayer to fill Yurika’s shoes. Much like the photography club, the cosclub was entering the marathon because they wanted to find new members, and they’d have to put their best foot forward to get attention on themselves. It was times like this they needed Yurika’s flair and charisma the most, but she’d left them to become the knitting society president. Allowing her to be part of another club had totally backfired.

“In that case, I guess the president and I have to do it,” said Maki.

Since she wanted to participate and the spots were open, no one in the cosclub objected to Maki entering the marathon on behalf of the club. In fact, they were excited about it. She had enough individuality that when people looked at her, they saw her and not just a costume. Unlike the happy-go-lucky Yurika, however, Maki was a rather cool girl. She looked best in outfits that suited her personality, so it went without saying that would be what she wore for the event.

“I’m the problem, Aika-san! I don’t have the brightness or energy to compete with you...”

But Maki was such a striking cosplayer that it was a bit of an issue for the other girls—the new president especially. Stamina-wise, she was a perfect candidate for the marathon. She was part of the rhythmic gymnastics club and worked hard to train her body. In that sense, she was a far superior choice to Yurika. The problem was her cosplay style. She was a serious, hard-working girl that had the same type of cool and stoic aura that Maki did. And because they shared a style, it would make it hard for them to cosplay in a way that allowed them to play off of each other as partners. There was no way she could be bright and sunny Yurika’s replacement.

“Then should I wear something brighter?” asked Maki.

“I don’t think that’s the way to go about this,” the new president replied.

“Then we do have a problem on our hands, don’t we?”

“If only someone as radiant as Yurika would fall out of the sky...”

A brilliant star like Yurika was a hard act to follow. Using her polar opposite, Maki, was a good approach, but it would also make Yurika’s absence more apparent. The dilemma troubled the cosclub greatly, but...

Bam!

“I overheard everything!”

All of a sudden, the door to the club room burst open with so much force that it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if it had flown right off the hinges—an immediate clue as to the thoughtless nature of the person responsible.

“And you can leave it all to me!”

There, Sanae burst through the open door. Normally, taking part in the club obstacle marathon required that participants be members of the club or society they represented. Sanae had first been interested in the knitting club, but they already had two participants in the race. And so her eyes turned to the cosclub, who she knew would be down Yurika. Since their primary club activities involved wearing cute clothes, she wouldn’t even mind joining if she had to.

“The magical girl knight of love and courage, Higashihongan Sanae, makes her appearance!”

Upon bursting into the club room, Sanae struck a pose. She was only wearing her school uniform and her winged backpack, but she posed with all the confidence of a cosplayer in full gear. The aura she expelled for no reason in that moment was enough to dazzle even those without the ability to sense it.

“Higashihongan-san?!”

“Someone really fell from the sky?!”

Sanae’s brazenness and her overflowing confidence were something... And they were exactly what the cosclub needed right now. She easily had a presence strong enough to rival Yurika’s. Upon realizing that, the new president cried out...

“You’re hired!”

“Wise choice! Everyone, just follow after me!”

The president was exalted, but she was also speaking on behalf of all the other club members. Though they didn’t say it out loud, they too felt like their savior had arrived.

Is this really going to be okay...?

Only one person appeared to be anxious about the whole ordeal, and that was Maki. She had a good idea of what Sanae was thinking.

It does seem it’ll be fun... So why not?

Maki, however, knew she had a bad habit of being pessimistic. So for once, she decided to trust in her friends and go with the flow.

The home ec club’s biggest dilemma regarding the obstacle marathon wasn’t who’d be participating, but rather what refreshments they’d be serving at the rest stations. They knew right off the bat that they’d be entering powerhouse Shizuka, and they’d chosen a confident first-year student to be her partner. As such, they quickly moved on to other business and were presently discussing what they’d be serving on the day of the race.

“The student council president said that there are currently forty teams registered, but they’re expecting more than last year. That being the case, we’re going to need to make more bread for the speed eating challenge.”

Having taken over as president of the home ec club this year, Shizuka was leading the discussion as she briskly whisked together a dish. She was worried about the role at first, but she’d since gotten used to her responsibilities. Being able to confide in Harumi and hear her advice on the subject had gone a long way in that regard.

“I wonder why more people are signing up this year...” one of the club members mused aloud upon hearing Shizuka’s report.

The vice president, who’d attended the student council meeting alongside Shizuka, shrugged and said, “We’ve got transfer students coming this fall, right? Everyone’s busting their butts to prepare for that.”

“I see, I see. So this is kind of like a turf war between the clubs,” replied the curious student with a sage nod.

Clubs were traditionally held in high esteem at Kisshouharukaze High School. And while they didn’t let it show, the clubs were always locked in secret rivalries with one another. It made for a lot of friendly competition, but there was really something at stake this time. With more Forthorthian transfer students coming in the fall, the smoldering rivalries between clubs were fanned into full-on flames.

Every club in school would love to have a transfer student join, and they were all hoping that would be the real prize to winning the marathon this year. They knew Nalfa was actively sending footage of her school life back home to Forthorthe, so anyone coming to Harukaze High in the fall would know about the upcoming obstacle marathon. And if the clubs could get just one transfer student to join up, it would be a newsworthy event. Their club would be known nationwide, which would surely bring in even more local members. So while it was but a single event of the sports festival, every club was getting fired up about the obstacle marathon.

I’m still sure the new kids will flock to the drama club, the knitting society, and the baseball team though...

Shizuka smiled wryly to herself as she listened to her fellow club members talking. Knowing the truth about the Blue Knight, she could easily predict which clubs the Forthorthian transfer students would be drawn to. There was the legendary drama club that had helped create and train the Blue Knight; the knitting society that the Blue Knight, who’d taught Alaia how to knit, belonged to; and finally the baseball team that the Blue Knight himself adored. Those three clubs would inevitably snag the most interest, but bringing that up and bursting everyone’s bubble now would only sap their motivation. Shizuka thus decided to keep quiet.

“President, aren’t we going to try to appeal to future transfer students too?”

“Heehee, you don’t have to worry about that. Nalfa-chan will come to interview our club later. It seems the Forthorthians are plenty interested in the cuisine here.”

Shizuka had already taken the necessary measures to ensure the home ec club got its time in the spotlight. Really, it had been an easy agreement. Nalfa wanted to cover Japanese food, and her first thought had been of Shizuka. She’d come to her about it right around the time she was thinking of how to drum up some interest from future transfer students. And so they’d decided Nalfa would come to check out the home ec club before the race—an arrangement that was mutually beneficial.

“So you made a deal behind closed doors, huh, President?”

“That’s right, so let’s focus on getting our work done for now. Let’s all do our best, okay?”

“Yes!” the club members all answered in harmony.

The home ec club had been getting just as worked up as the other clubs, but Shizuka’s clever move got them what they wanted while giving them a reason and the opportunity to focus on the task ahead of them. Her kind, nurturing nature would take her a long way as president.

Kiriha still took it upon herself to play the role of a perfect honor student while at school. Part of that was diligently attending track and field team practices. As such, she’d significantly built up her strength and stamina over the last two years in addition to getting smarter. She was excelling in academics and athletics simultaneously.

“Heya, Kiri-chan!”

“It’s been a while, Kurano-san.”

“Takahashi-senpai?! Kawashima-senpai?!”

Today, two unexpected guests decided to pay her a visit. They were her seniors who’d graduated in March of last year. They’d lovingly watched over her when she first joined the team, and she felt she could largely be herself around them.

“What brings you two here?” Kiriha asked.

“We wanted to see how much our little Kiri-chan had grown,” Takahashi replied.

“She’s just pulling your leg. We heard that this year’s obstacle marathon was going to be interesting, so we came to check things out,” Kawashima clarified.

“I see you have sharp ears,” Kiriha teased.

“Why didn’t you tell us, Kiri-chan?!” Takahashi wailed.

“Ignore Takahashi. We just came to visit the club and see how things were coming along. Really, we’re just here for fun,” Kawashima admitted.

“For fun, hmm? I see you’re becoming a bit more like Takahashi-senpai as a university student, Kawashima-senpai,” Kiriha continued to tease.

“Stop! I don’t want to hear that! I guess I just kind of caught Forthorthe fever.”

“It looks like the entire school has.”

The two alumni had decided to pay their alma mater a visit after hearing how bustling things had gotten. The club obstacle marathon was a heated affair every year, but things were off the charts this year with visitors from Forthorthe getting involved. And so Takahashi and Kawashima had come by to lend a hand, partly out of goodwill and partly out of curiosity.

“So how’s the marathon team coming along, Kiri-chan?”

“I’m sure you’re one of the two runners, Kurano-san.”

“We’ve been discussing whether we should stick to the club’s usual strategy or not.”

With her excellent grades and skill as a runner, the club swiftly decided that Kiriha would be the track and field team’s first entry into the marathon. The issue was her partner. Their traditional strategy was to pick the fastest runner and the smartest person on the team. Kiriha fulfilled the latter role, so by those guidelines, they simply needed to supplement her speed. Kiriha was an extremely competent runner on her own, however, and the track and field team was really itching for a win this year. They were considering abandoning their usual plan and picking another smart runner instead of just a fast one.

“Whaaat?! You’re putting an end to the storied tradition of the musclebrain strategy?!”

Takahashi was deeply disappointed to hear this news. The entire idea behind the strategy was to have the faster runner run their heart out to impress people, while the smarter runner methodically worked through the challenges as they paced themselves towards the goal. The strategy had given Takahashi—a fast runner—a chance to shine in her time, so she was sorry to see it go.

“I see, Kurano-san. You’re giving up an extra chance to make an impression for an extra chance to go for the win... It’s not a bad idea.”

Kawashima, on the other hand, nodded in approval. There was a high chance that their usual strategy wouldn’t be as effective this year. When it came to making an impression, the track and field team wouldn’t stand out as much with every club at school trying their hardest. They couldn’t just dash out in front to outshine everyone like usual. That was why the team members had started considering a strategy that would be more likely to land them a win. They could get their time in the spotlight on the podium.

“But you’ll still need someone who’s fast in order to make it work.”

“That’s what the current debate is about. Please take a look at this, Kawashima-senpai.”

There, Kiriha handed Kawashima a piece of paper.

“Let’s see here...”

“Lemme see!”

Takahashi crowded in so they could read it together. The paper appeared to be a list of times and grades for each of the track and field team members.

“I see... This is a problem.”

“How so, Kawa-chan?”

“Simply put, there’s nobody else who has both brains and brawn.”

“You mean they’ve only got stupid people and slow people?”

“It’s not that bad, but that’s more or less the problem.”

“Then what are they supposed to do?!”

The current girls’ track and field club members were a bit too lopsided in terms of abilities. They were looking for a student who was at least average at both academics and athletics, but most of the team members were good at one and not the other.

“This means you’ll have to make a choice favoring one over the other eventually. What are you going to do, Kurano-san?”

“At the moment, we’re making full use of the team’s connections to figure out what strategies the other teams are using. We’ll make our decision based on that information.”

Since every club, team, and society in school was looking to score a win this year, the track team could make an informed decision about their strategy if they knew what everyone else was doing. Reconnaissance was an important part of warfare, and Kiriha’s battle had already begun.

“That’s our Kiri-chan for you! You think of everything!”

“Heh, I guess you guys didn’t need our help after all... I’m not sure if I should be happy or sad...”

Both Takahashi and Kawashima broke out into smiles again. They were happy that their juniors were able to handle themselves on their own, but they were also a little sorry that they weren’t needed. They wanted their cute little juniors to stay their cute little juniors forever. But this was their time to shine. Sensing that, Takahashi and Kawashima decided to trust and cheer on Kiriha and the others from the sidelines.

Nalfa wasn’t the only intergalactic transfer student at Harukaze High. With their identities now exposed, everyone around school knew that Theia and Ruth were also Forthorthians. Of course, the club they were both a part of wanted to make full use of that.

“All right! You’re safe in my hands!” roared Theia.

“I’ll gladly accept the honor,” said Ruth.

“We’re counting on you two! This is our chance to really get the drama club out there!” cheered the president.

Indeed, Theia and Ruth were both part of the drama club. They were also technically part of the cheerleading squad, but that was in name only now. They had been fully devoted to the drama club ever since Theia’s plays, so they were happy to represent it as part of the interclub obstacle marathon this year. It was what they wanted, and the drama club was happy to hear their offer. There’d been a bit of a quandary about who should participate. Everything thus seemed to be in order, but there was still something on Theia’s mind.

“What about Mackenzie? Are you sure he shouldn’t be participating too?”

Kenji was also a star of the drama club. He was athletic and smart, which made him an ideal pick for the marathon. Theia found it strange that the club hadn’t volunteered him for the job already.

“Oh, Kenji-kun’s currently out on loan.”

“Out on loan? What does that mean?”

“You know we work together with lots of other clubs, right?”

“That’s true. The cosclub and the handicrafts club are always helping out with costumes, and I recall the newspaper club and the music club pitching in for us too.”

There was a limit to how much the drama club could do on their own, so they were constantly requesting help from other clubs in their areas of expertise. By working together, they could accomplish great things. The Blue Knight plays were just one such example.

“Lots of the other liberal arts clubs don’t have any athletic members. Some of them are just too small, too.”

“I see. So that’s why Mackenzie’s on loan.”

“Yup. We’ve let another club borrow him, and we’ll be lending out a few more members too since we have you and Ruth-san to count on for the marathon.”

“Does this mean Mackenzie-sama is currently trying out new outfits for the handicraft club?”

“That’s right, Ruth-san. We’ll loan out the more attractive members to clubs that are looking for, well, looks.”

The drama club was relatively big in terms of members, and their roster had skyrocketed after the success of Theia’s plays. As a result, they had plenty of members to spare for the marathon. That’s why they were readily loaned to clubs that had helped out with plays and such in the past. All in all, it was a very symbiotic, welcome relationship.

“So I’m glad to have you two participating. You’re more than fit for the job. And besides, your plays were based on a legend from Forthorthe, right? If anything, it’d be a shame not to show you off at a time like this.”

The drama club president thought it would make the strongest impression to send Theia and Ruth out together. Having two Forthorthian transfer students in the club was sure to get plenty of attention, both from current students and from incoming transfer students in the fall. Moreover, the drama club president had heard the rumors about Theia being a princess. Having her participate would be a win-win.

“Understood! You’ve convinced me, President! I’ll do everything in my power to ensure our mutual prosperity!” Theia loudly declared after hearing the president out.

Out of consideration for the other club members, Theia had been a bit hesitant to accept her role in the race so readily. But now that she knew she had their full blessing, she was ready to fight to her heart’s content.

“I will do what I can to help as well.”

Though Ruth spoke more modestly than Theia, that wasn’t a reflection of her motivation. She personally hadn’t taken part in the obstacle marathon two years ago, so she was looking forward to running with everyone. She was still keeping up her sword training, but she’d started adding in extra jogging sessions to train her stamina and prepare for the race too. So despite her calm demeanor, she was getting rather fired up.

“I’m counting on you two!”

This was a crucial contest for the drama club president as well. If the club made a good impression by showing off Theia and Ruth, they could get even more members before fall. They’d be having a new performance for the cultural festival, which would be right around the time the new students showed up. It was a big opportunity—one they couldn’t afford to miss.

The science club didn’t have much to do with the obstacle marathon. It wasn’t anything that showed off any of their strengths, even if they would have an edge in the math and science related challenges. They’d never even once entered a team, instead choosing to keep their distance. It would just be a waste of time, which was better spent on their research anyway. In short, the science club was a standout exception when all the other clubs were kicking into high gear for the race.

So when the not-so-sociable Clan mustered what courage she had and asked the president to let her take part, he responded with a dubious look.

“I don’t really mind, but why?”

The president had simply assumed this year would be like any other with the science club sitting things out on the sidelines. He was curious as to Clan’s motivations.

“B-Because... all of my friends were talking about doing it...”

Clan wasn’t very good at talking to people she wasn’t close with. She hadn’t always been that way, but her time-traveling adventures had seriously humbled her. She no longer had the unbridled confidence she used to. Gone were the days that she ignored how other people thought and felt. She was much more sensitive now, and it made her all the more desperate.

“Ah, I recall that it was Satomi-kun who brought you here.”

“What?! No, um, I mean... It’s not just him...”

“That’s fine. We normally don’t take part, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to put you out there this year.”

Koutarou had introduced Clan to the science club in April, which had caused something of a stir in the club. The president was hoping something similar might happen externally if the science club introduced her to the whole school. It was only logical. And the obstacle marathon would be a good way to do precisely that.

“That said, there’s no guarantee that anyone else in the club will join you. That would mean I’d have to do it myself, but as you can see, I might not even finish the race. In short, don’t count on me.”

The science club president was a rather tubby boy. He’d long neglected his health in favor of his research, and the rest of the science club was in much the same condition. Everyone was either gaunt or chubby, neither of which boded well for their performance in the marathon. Though he didn’t admit it out loud, the president was planning to drop out of the race shortly after it started if he had to participate himself. Two club members were required to enter the race, but only the better of their results counted towards the rankings. That meant that Clan’s performance would be unaffected by his, so he wasn’t worried about it.

“That’s just fine. As thanks, I’ll do what I can to bring some attention to this club.”

“If you really want to thank me, I’d prefer it if you taught me about Forthorthian technology.”

“I’d love to, but...”

“I know. A sudden advance in technology without the maturity to handle it will lead to the collapse of society. All I’m expecting from Forthorthe is your help in speeding up our advancement.”

“...Were you perhaps joking when you said you wanted technology?”

“I was.”

“Heh, this nation’s sense of humor is hard to understand sometimes.”

“I bet that causes Satomi-kun a good bit of trouble.”

“Agh, I wasn’t talking about him!”

“Really? It sure sounded like it to me.”

There, the science club president finally smiled. Unlike Clan, he wasn’t bad at dealing with people; he just thought it was a pain. But even to him, Clan’s awkward and honest reactions were adorable. In the name of scientific development, he secretly hoped deep down that all Forthorthians were as open-minded and as kind as she was.