Chapter 86 The Eve of Unavoidable Separation
The bright moon hung high in the night sky, its silvery light cascading over the land, gentle and tranquil.
After the hospital confirmed that all students and teachers were physically well.
The teachers organized everyone to gather, preparing to take the bus back to the hotel halfway up the mountain.
“Konagi!” Dressed in his student uniform, Kanade immediately spotted Nagi at the gathering point.
Overcome with excitement, he rushed over without hesitation and hugged Nagi tightly.
“Wah!? Kanade-kun!?” Nagi was caught off guard by the sudden embrace, her cheeks instantly flushing red.
From the strength of Kanade’s hug, Nagi felt his concern for her, and a warm current flowed through her heart.
Having broken free from the influence of starlight and confronting her own feelings.
Facing the childhood friend who had accompanied her for a decade.
She gently returned the embrace.
As if to feel more of the warmth radiating from him, or to listen to the rhythmic beating of his heart.
Nagi pressed her skin closely against Kanade’s body.
The feeling of being worried about by someone she cared about was unexpectedly not unpleasant… a smile crept onto Nagi’s face.
But, Kanade-kun, hugging so tightly in public like this… you’ll be seen as a lecherous monkey, you know~
To maintain her long-held “pure and innocent” persona.
At this moment, she naturally had to pretend to be blissfully ignorant, as if she felt at ease hugging Kanade back.
In this embrace that seemed to express affection, it was Kanade who first reacted and felt embarrassed.
As his worries about Nagi slowly faded, what followed was the incredibly soft sensation of the girl in his arms and her fragrant aroma.
It was at this moment that Kanade realized he was holding the beautiful girl he had secretly admired for so long.
And that he had actually taken the initiative to hug her in front of the entire class and teachers?
“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
Just as Kanade was realizing this and wanted to let go, he felt Nagi hug him even tighter.
The bust that was completely mismatched with her age pressed against Kanade’s abdomen due to their position.
And Nagi’s adorable face leaned against Kanade’s chest.
The overly comfortable and soft feeling left Kanade momentarily at a loss.
At that moment, Nagi caught a glimpse of Yako standing at the hospital entrance in her peripheral vision.
Images of her interaction with Kanade in the hospital room flashed unconsciously through her mind.
For some unknown reason, Nagi suddenly felt a surge of competitiveness—
“Kanade-kun… don’t you want to hug me?” she deliberately used an ambiguous phrasing.
In order for Yako at the hospital entrance to hear it, Nagi spoke a little louder.
“Pfft—cough, d-do you even realize what you’re saying?” Kanade almost choked upon hearing this.
“Because, it’s very comfortable when you hug me, Kanade-kun~”
“L-Little Nagi, w-what are you…”
Of course, Nagi and Kanade’s flirtatious dialogue was overheard by the students and teachers nearby.
“(As expected, Tsuki’s already made a move on Hoshimiya-chan…)”
“(So, that kind of thing really feels good…)”
“(I never expected Tsuki-kun, who usually seems so gentle and weak, to actually be such a carnivore…)”
…
The nearby students couldn’t help but start whispering among themselves.
Seeing the intimate and oblivious couple’s candid exchange, Yako couldn’t help but shyly cover her slightly flushed cheeks.
Seeing this, Nagi decided to press the advantage.
After all, since she was the one notifying Kanade and Mana, it indicated that she would also be staying beside Kanade as a student in the future.
She had to make it clear what her relationship with Kanade was—
Nagi didn’t care that there were so many classmates and teachers around.
Even if it could lead to misunderstandings, she needed to use a phrase that could easily be misconstrued as “cooking rice with raw ingredients”—
“Because, Kanade-kun’s (chest) is really big, (cheeks) are very comfortable to rub against~”
“Pfft—” Kanade immediately spat out what he just drank, his cheeks burned as if steam was rising from them, and his eyes became spiraled.
Tsuki-kun… could it be that you were talking about that time with Nagi-chan…? Mana’s cold gaze and voice came from behind Kanade.
“N-No! It’s a misunderstanding! It’s Little Nagi’s phrasing that’s problematic—!”
“(So, Tsuki-kun’s is that big…)”
“(Damn it! That guy Tsuki has already climbed the ladder to adulthood with Hoshimiya—!)”
…
Kanade felt like he had socially died in front of the whole class.
At that moment.
Kanade suddenly felt a large, heavy hand resting on his shoulder.
He slowly turned his head, only to see the grinning face of the gym teacher wearing sportswear.
“Tsuki-kun, Hoshimiya-chan, could you come over and talk with the teacher about what you just said?” The burly gym teacher squinted his eyes into a line, smiling with a lack of sincerity.
Kanade and Nagi could only obediently nod in response.
…
After Kanade and Nagi finally clarified the misunderstanding with the intimidating gym teacher.
The students at the hospital entrance were able to board the bus back to the hotel.
And following that misunderstanding.
Kanade was assigned a seat far away from Nagi by the teachers, likely to avoid any further trouble.
Regaining his composure, Kanade reflected on Nagi’s recent behavior, feeling that she had reverted to the naive girl who didn’t understand the distance between boys and girls.
It seemed what Yako had told him was true; Nagi had truly regained her memories.
This made Kanade feel a quiet sense of relief in his heart.
…
…
Meanwhile, sitting in the back row of the bus, Nagi took the opportunity to contemplate the current situation and future plans.
Artificial Learning Island – Ark Academy.
In the original work of “Star Draw 2,” it was merely a background institution mentioned occasionally.
It is independent of the three major academies and was funded and established by the Special Organization SEMA. Unlike the three major academies, which are all for superpowered individuals, Ark Academy is an elite high school that ordinary people can also attend.
It is divided into “General Studies,” “Elite Studies,” and “Special Studies.” Most students in the General and Elite programs are ordinary people, while students in the Special Studies program are those affected by extraordinary powers, potential superpowered individuals.
This kind of “Artificial Learning Island” would not disclose the existence of extraordinary powers to ordinary people, but they also nurture those deemed to have potential, striving to develop them into elite talents in various fields.
These schools are renowned for their high acceptance rates, with almost all students entering top universities around the world, subsequently landing core positions in industries like technology, healthcare, finance, and politics.
One could say that the “Artificial Learning Island” is one of the important means through which Special Organization SEMA infiltrates and secretly controls various industries.
Special Organization SEMA and the three major academies adhere to a common principle: never allow minors under 18 to participate in battles involving fantasy creatures.
To enforce this, they created the “Artificial Learning Island” to provide a similar environment to “preschool” and “preliminary screening” for future superpowered individuals.
Those students with potential receive training in junior and senior high school. Once evaluated as competent, they can choose to join Special Organization SEMA directly or continue their studies at the three major academies.
The recent incident on Nanase Island was first discovered and reported by the vigilant SEMA member Yusa.
Kanade and Mana being arranged to transfer to “Artificial Learning Island” was something Nagi had already anticipated.
Although Kanade had not yet awakened his powers, Yako’s appearance meant that the core leadership of Special Organization SEMA had deeply intervened in the events involving the “End.”
As such, Kanade would clearly be treated as a “potential superpowered individual” and sent to “Special Studies” alongside Mana.
“This is going to be troublesome…” Nagi thought to herself, stealing glances at Mana beside her on the bus, her mind churning.
Because Nagi had no reason to transfer to Ark Academy.
Even if she wanted to enroll in Ark Academy, it could only be in the General or Elite programs, and the soonest would be after high school.
“Not intervening in Kanade’s matters and letting Special Organization SEMA cultivate him into a top-notch savior” — that option had never existed from the start.
Except for “outsiders” like Nagi.
Neither Special Organization SEMA nor the three major academies understood the conditions for superpower “awakening,” nor how to make those powers stronger.
This was to be expected.
As long as one understands the conditions for “awakening,” it becomes clear.
“Obsession and hatred towards the world morphing into power.”
This is Pandora’s Box.
Even if such information was accidentally acquired by high-ranking personnel, it wouldn’t be made public or shared.
However, that doesn’t mean that Special Organization SEMA and the academies wouldn’t deduce certain patterns from a large amount of data.
For example—“having a lover” makes it easier to awaken superpowers.
That’s why the primary stage is in schools and encourages students to fall in love at the “Artificial Learning Island.”
“Over a year’s time…” Nagi rubbed her temples, feeling troubled, as she stole a glance at Kanade’s seat in front of her.
Special Organization SEMA would certainly arrange many beautiful girls of similar ages around Kanade based on this pattern.
During the time she wouldn’t be by Kanade’s side, was she going to let that kind-hearted and gentle guy interact with those beautiful girls?!
Thinking of this made Nagi’s head spin.
Should she establish a romantic relationship with Kanade before his transfer? But that would mean having to endure over a year of long-distance love.
Long-distance love—that’s a synonym for failure!
After going through over a year of long-distance love, could it really leave him with regrets for a lifetime?
She also couldn’t transfer with Kanade…
It seemed she could only leave enough traces in his heart before he transferred.
Or perhaps ask Mana to keep an eye on Kanade for her?
But would that make her seem a bit too heavy… and it doesn’t really match her long-held persona… Speaking of which, what kind of image do I have in the eyes of Mana and the others now?
