It was an ugly jealousy.
Something Kurotsuki had experienced no small number of times before.
But this time was different.
Receiving greater hatred than anyone else from a best friend he truly trusted.
It was an emotion too heavy for his second year of middle school self.
“…………”
There was a crisp, strange sound.
Something important of Kurotsuki kanade’s broke.
When he realized it, Kurotsuki was running.
Itsuki’s voice calling out to stop echoes from behind.
Saying ‘Sorry’ ‘Went too far’ ‘Please, listen to what I have to say’
Ignoring all those words, Kurotsuki ran.
Ran and ran.
Straight home, he shut himself in his room.
From that day, Kurotsuki never left the house.
Nearly every day, Itsuki and kanae came to Kurotsuki’s room.
Voices apologizing could be heard, the mood of someone crying.
There were two sincerely worrying about him.
But the door never opened again.
The room door remained closed shut.
Kurotsuki would never show his face to the two again.
Before long, time passed and it was spring of their third year of middle school.
I heard a rumor that Kurotsuki was in a different class than those two for the first time.
☆☆☆
“What are you living for?”
I ask Kurotsuki.
At my words, he trembles and lowers his face.
“…I don’t really understand what you mean but,”
“Let me rephrase it. Why are you hiding your talent?”
At my words, he raises his face.
In his eyes is a black light like he had lost something.
Rather than something, it may have been ‘someone’ though.
…Yeah, his eyes really resemble mine after all.
Kurotsuki looking down at me also seems to have noticed something.
“Y-You, could it be…”
“Hey, Kurotsuki kanade. What do you think about that?”
I turn my gaze toward the battle between Netsuhara and Sakuma.
Sakuma’s special power is [Lava King].
A cheat ability to almost completely nullify flame-type powers, and freely summon, control, and manipulate things like lava and flames. It’s a special power that would normally be impossible to match.
But looking at that, Netsuhara’s power is probably…
“…Sakuma-kun looks to be at a disadvantage.”
Currently, the center of the battle is wrapped in crimson flames.
Lava flows across the ground, intense red flames push back the air. Just being in that spot would burn your feet and sear your lungs… A normal person probably couldn’t survive even a few minutes.
Yet amidst that, Netsuhara Eien is laughing.
“…The flames, lava, heat…it’s all being nullified. Netsuhara-kun’s power is likely a complete upgrade of Sakuma-kun’s.”
“…The highest tier of heat abilities–a [Blessing] power.”
In other words, equal to Asahina-san and Kurotsuki’s level.
With compatibility and all, it doesn’t look like Sakuma has a chance.
Rather, the other students probably can’t do anything either.
I briefly glance over and see Asahina looking like she’s about to die as she watches Sakuma.
“…This battle will likely end in Class C’s defeat.”
Kurotsuki voices a weak opinion.
But looking at the situation objectively, I can’t deny his statement.
The problem is, if we lose with just this, Asahina-san might say something like ‘I’ll take responsibility and withdraw.’
There are still things I need her to do.
She has to survive this and grow.
…And I’m low on cash so I can’t pay the 200,000 yen if we lose either.
That’s why I need you this time, Kurotsuki.
“If there’s anyone who can beat Netsuhara, it’s you, Kurotsuki…no one else.”
“…………”
Kurotsuki silently responds to my words.
I don’t know what happened in the past.
Nor what he’s thinking about as he lives now. Or why he came to this school.
I don’t know anything, and have no interest. –But I’m convinced of this much.
You’re intentionally suppressing your own talent.
“Guhaah…!?”
“Hmmm? I haven’t used my power yet thoo?”
Netsuhara’s fist stabs into Sakuma’s gut.
His body bends like a bow from the immense force, Sakuma staggers back panting.
Netsuhara who had cornered the King’s power without using his ability even once.
…He seems much stronger than I assumed.
“I…I’m a genius. I’ve known that for a long time now.”
Suddenly, I hear Kurotsuki’s voice. Looking over, he’s hugging his shoulders and trembling.
He must have had tremendous trauma.
With him quivering like this, I’m sure nothing I say would reach him.
“That’s why I hate this talent. Think about it. Think…why did I make him cry. What did I do wrong. I pondered it forever. And realized. Surely Itsuki was corrupted by my talent.”
Itsuki? I couldn’t ask who that is based on the mood.
“In middle school…I had publicly flaunted my talent without really thinking. If I can help someone, I thought. But the result was…jealousy, resentment, anger from my best friend. It’s laughable, right Amamori-kun? I…was hated by my best friend and ran far away.”
He seems frightened. But not of his own talent…
He’s afraid that his talent will end up hurting someone again.
“I…don’t want to use this kind of talent anymore…”
Kurotsuki kanade says in a mosquito-like voice.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
“Rather than losing something, I don’t need talent. It’s fine even if I can’t do anything! Because I lost everything wishing selfishly… This talent drove Itsuki mad… Something like this, something like this…!”
He trembles his shoulders, holding back tears. He is afraid like the adolescent boy he is.
It’s a side far different from the [Lone Genius] he shows in Class 1-C.
Now that I think about it, he probably maintained that attitude so as to not hurt anyone anymore. Killing himself, succumbing to kindness, donning the pelt of a lone wolf.
That was the surface image we saw of Kurotsuki kanade.
“Those eyes…j-just imagining them, I’m…scared…”
I don’t need to imagine what happened in his past, I have no intention of finding out.
I avert my gaze from him and look at the battlefield.
“It seems…the match is over.”
Before my eyes, Netsuhara’s fist stabs into Sakuma’s gut.
Yet another direct hit, the past his limit Sakuma drops to his knees and sinks down.
However, before the judge can announce Sakuma’s defeat.
…Netsuhara tramples and laughs on Sakuma’s head.
“It’s over! Sakuma-kun who’s been acting like Kirido’s successor couldn’t make me use my power even once and was defeated! Good work~”
Despair spills from the classmates at that scene.
Of course, Sakuma was one of the top combatants in Class C.
That even he couldn’t get Netsuhara to use his power.
…Frankly, this is bad. What the hell, aren’t this guy’s combat parameters bugged?
I have to fight someone like this next?
“O-Oi, Sakuma! You alright!?”
Karasuma shouts in frustration. But such screams are sweet nectar to Netsuhara.
He distorts his expression in delight and kicks Sakuma’s body toward Class C’s side.
Asahina-san hurriedly moves and catches Sakuma’s body but… Sakuma is completely unconscious. From here it looks like quite serious injuries.
“Class A, Netsuhara Eien. Excessive violence that defies common sense cannot be permitted… If you continue showing immoral conduct, you will be declared the loser.”
“Huh? Don’t remember any kinda rule like that but…fine, I get it. With this, two people I wanted to crush are out. The rest are small fries not even worth provoking. I’ll crush you in an instant–Now then, who’s next!?”
Netsuhara’s loud voice echoes, and I step forward.
Kurotsuki kanade looks at me with widened eyes.
“Kurotsuki. You were saying something about talent but… In short, you mean ‘Because I’m superior to anyone else, I don’t want to get serious’ right?”
“Y-Yeah…I guess, but–“
His words grow disjointed.
Looking back, he’s trembling as he looks at me.
“Then good. –You pass, Kurotsuki kanade.”
If I can say that much then there’s no problem. I’ll take you as having the qualifications to stand beside me.
Though you were saying complicated stuff, the gist is you just need someone stronger than you to appear right?
If you go all out, use up all your power, yet still face an insurmountable wall.
If there’s a man walking ahead of you, then you can fight seriously. That’s what you mean right?
Hey, Kurotsuki.
You’re certainly a genius.
But you know too little of the world.
I know plenty of geniuses at your level.
I even know geniuses so great you look like an infant before them.
…Though unfortunately, I’m not a genius or anything.
At the very least, I’m–much stronger than you.
“Now then, it’s my turn.”
I start walking toward Netsuhara.
I see Kurashiki open her eyes wide.
But the greater surprise seems to be from my classmates.
“A-Amamori-kun…!”
“Oi Amamori! Weren’t you watching!? Sakuma didn’t stand a chance…!”
Asahina-san strongly grasps my hand as I walk. Karasuma who was examining Sakuma yells, and I nod.
“I don’t know if even Kurotsuki can win, so come at me with as little strength as possible.”
Saying that, I shake off their restraints and step forward.
Seeing my face, Netsuhara looks a little surprised.
He probably investigated me too when searching for the ‘one who got Kirido expelled.’
With the weakest ability, and thoroughly ordinary academic and physical abilities, seemingly talentless. That’s probably the impression he has of me.
“Oi oi, for real…? You sane?”
“If I’m not sane, would I be insane?”
When I say that, Netsuhara laughs happily.
Like a carefree child given a new toy.
But that innocence changes to madness in light of the current situation.
“This is great, a new duck’s come with its neck presented! You were Asahina’s favorite right? How’s she gonna cry when I crush you right before her eyes?”
“Amamori-kun! P-Please…! I’ll take responsibility so please surrender…! Netsuhara-kun is much more–than Kirido-kun…!”
Hearing Asahina-san’s scream, Netsuhara’s smile deepens further.
Uh oh, he’s raring to hunt huh.
But well, I have things to do too. Normally I’d surrender and say ‘I lost’ but just this once, I can’t withdraw so simply.
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