Chapter: 108. Simulation Combat
“Today’s contest is crucial.” Kurokawa, now dressed in sportswear, quietly approached Kanade and reminded him in a low voice.
The key he referred to was whether Kanade could conceal his true strength.
After a week of preparation and planning by Kurokawa, the matter of Kanade personally saving the Ark Academy had become a big question mark in the eyes of both students and teachers.
The story had shifted from “Kanade struck down the traitors and the fantasy monsters they summoned” to “Kanade protected a girl affected by infantilism from the traitors and fantasy monsters.”
This explanation was better in every aspect; it not only concealed the truth of Kanade awakening a powerful ability but also mitigated his image as a “creepy lolicon” in people’s eyes, effectively killing two birds with one stone.
“I will arrange for you to compete against a student of average strength. At that time, you just need to act as if both sides are evenly matched and last until the end of the time,” Kurokawa reiterated his plan in a low voice.
This was also why Ark Academy had gathered special students from all grades at the training ground today.
As long as Kanade completed this contest under everyone’s gaze, he could, to some extent, clear his suspicions and conceal his uniqueness.
Kurokawa had fully grasped Kanade’s current strength based on the checks he had previously conducted.
Given that Kanade’s ability, while somewhat unique, did not provide him with high overall combat power at this stage, arranging a contest between peers wouldn’t be difficult. It could even be said that he hadn’t touched the threshold of an A-level ability user.
Kanade nodded slightly upon hearing this.
“I understand.”
As Kurokawa turned to leave and prepare for the upcoming contest, students from various classes gathered together, waiting for the simulation battle segment.
This was both to showcase what “ability combat” was to the new special students and to test whether the abilities or magical powers of the students had changed after experiencing that extraordinary disaster.
At that moment, Manami, who should have been in the next class, quietly approached Kanade.
Now, Manami was wearing a white sports outfit, her waist-length platinum hair tied into a lively ponytail, making her look full of energy.
“Tsukimi-kun, do you have any plans for what comes next? Should I proactively ask to compete against you later?” Manami asked in a low voice, at a volume only Kanade could hear.
Being one of the few who knew the truth about Kanade’s abilities, she naturally understood that his powers were not suitable for public exposure.
As the vice president of the student council and Kanade’s childhood friend, if she actively requested to compete, no teacher would likely refuse, which was a result of the good impressions she had left in the past.
“If anything unusual happens, I can use my ability to explain,” Manami added.
Her ability, “Fictional Royalty,” could serve as a good cover in various ways.
Especially concerning the “copying aspect,” Manami possessed an ability akin to “the Nameless Beast” called “White Spirit Shrine Maiden.” By slightly combining it with the control of flames, she could simulate the same external manifestation of Kanade’s “Nameless Beast,” thereby increasing credibility.
“…..Thank you, but let me handle this,” Kanade replied after some thought, politely rejecting Manami’s suggestion.
“After all… competing against Shou would mean that regardless of winning or losing, it wouldn’t really indicate anything…” Kanade scratched his head awkwardly.
“Indeed…”
Keeping a low profile was one of the common understandings between her and Kanade at present.
Any actions that might attract others’ attention needed to be avoided as much as possible.
However, this also led to another topic:
“By the way… have you decided about the academy league? I heard that a decision on whether to sign up and form teams is to be made today.”
“I… still don’t know…”
If Kanade participated in the academy league representing Ark Academy, the longer he stayed on the field, the greater the chance of exposing his unique abilities.
But the truth Ayako had mentioned lingered in his mind, especially after Funko transferred away from Ark Academy; the only clue he had about the “Protagonist Project” lay with the academy league.
“This time the academy league venue is—”
“—not at Ark Academy; this year’s hosts are the ‘Infinite Academy’ near Hokkaido,” Manami immediately answered.
The previous year’s academy league was held at Ark Academy.
Thus, according to tradition, the next one would be hosted by another academy city.
If Kanade chose not to participate this time, he could only stay at Ark Academy, wandering through the campus festival while watching the academy league live.
In that case, he would miss the opportunity to communicate with the higher-ups of the special region SEMA.
This was one of the reasons for his worries.
Just then, a voice from the front interrupted Kanade’s thoughts.
Several teachers in sportswear had arrived at the contest venue, holding tablet terminals. They pressed a few buttons on the tablets, causing three- to four-meter-high white pillars to rise from the ground, with translucent azure light emanating from their sides and connecting with each other, forming azure shields between the pillars—
That was the arena for the simulated battle.
Such arenas continued to rise from the ground.
The spacious training ground had been divided into exactly five contest arenas.
“Next, we will enter the simulated contest segment,” Kurokawa’s voice, although not amplified by a microphone or speaker, rang clear in every student’s ears: “I will randomly match students who have awakened their abilities to showcase their skills through simulated battles.”
This magical experience excited some students.
Because standing before them were genuine ACE-level ability users, the apex among ability users, and could be seen as the goal of each of them.
“I wonder if the teachers will have exhibition matches later…”
“Ah, even just once, I’d really like to see what a battle between ACE-level ability users looks like~”
…
Students in the audience couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
“Nagi-chan, are you going to compete too?” Yukino, upon hearing this, curiously looked at Nagi, who was sitting beside her.
She already knew that Nagi had awakened her ability.
Moreover, according to Teacher Leia, it was a very rare “healing-type” ability.
“Is, is that so?” Nagi feigned ignorance and replied, “As for battles, I’m not sure if I can…”
Logically speaking, her ability should have already been confirmed as “Co-Shared Feather;” such a precious ability, even in a contest, would likely only involve a brief demonstration of its healing qualities before stepping down.
“That’s so great… Nagi-chan actually has an ability, and it’s a healing-type that matches the healing aspect~” Yukino displayed a look of admiration regarding this.
“Matches? Is that so?” Nagi, upon hearing this, recalled her use of the Flame of Rebirth… which seemed to have no connection with healing in any respect, likely skewing more toward horror.
If we were to consider the genuinely healing-type abilities in the original “Star Draw 2,” Yukino Tsukimi’s ability would surely be on the list, as it’s powerful and convenient from both a narrative and gameplay perspective.
Unfortunately, in the first playthrough, apart from Tsukimi Yukino’s personal route, she had no opportunity to showcase it.
Thinking of this, Nagi couldn’t help but glance at Yukino’s profile from the corner of her eye.
“Ah~ it’s Onii-chan’s turn to compete~”
Yukino’s face lit up with excitement and joy, radiating a bright smile as she watched Kanade slowly walk toward the contest arena, her brown twin-tails bouncing with the exuberance typical of girls her age.
This was a scene that could hardly be seen in the original “Star Draw.”
No longer was it a hypocritical mask on the face but a genuinely heartfelt smile.
“Mm? Nagi-chan? What are you looking at?” Yukino, noticing Nagi’s gaze, turned her head in curiosity.
“……I just think that Yukino-chan really likes Tsukimi-kun~” Nagi returned with a sincere smile.
Tsukimi Kanade had awakened.
And Tsukimi Yukino was still alive.
The influence of the False God White Spirit was no longer present.
The girl before her was proof that the bitter endings of “Star Draw” could be changed.
Nagi vaguely felt she had found one of her motivations for fighting for this world once again.
“Is my reason for coming to this world to change these cruel endings?” Nagi silently asked in her heart, but unfortunately, she received no response.
