How much have I waited for this moment……!
A Test of Courage alone with Hoshina-san.
Hoshina-san clinging to me while saying ‘Kyaa’.
It’s okay, I’ll protect you, says I.
Her cheeks blushing, looking downward.
But the strength gripping my arm only grows stronger…… hey!
I’ve been expecting this for so loooooooong!
Ever since Kurashiki said we were doing a Test of Courage!
To ruin that…… Makibi! I will absolutely never forgive you!
If you had just disliked me a little more moderately, I wouldn’t have had to come up with this operation, and I could have been having a lovey-dovey time with Hoshina-san!
On the paper posted on the bulletin board, my name was clearly written.
[Team 3: Amamori + Komori + Makibi]
Yes, the same group as Makibi.
By the way, Komori-san is a very quiet girl who sits next to me.
Also known as just making up the numbers. Since it’s groups of three, I chose a girl who seemed harmless to humans and animals.
……Ah, come to think of it, she is also one of the people who didn’t laugh when I introduced myself saying, “My power is making eyesiIiIght baaaad.” By the way, the others who didn’t laugh were Kurashiki, Kurotsuki, and Karasuma. It’s unclear why Karasuma didn’t laugh…… but Komori-san is expressionless. Like me, I assume she’s a girl whose emotions don’t show on the surface even if she’s thinking them.
Eh, there was one more person who didn’t laugh?
Who was it, I don’t remember. I think it probably wasn’t a decent woman anyway.
“Ehh!? This is the worst!”
Without regard for the public eye, and without even considering my feelings, Makibi shouted her true thoughts.
“The worst” is my line!
I shout that back as if returning the favor. Only in my heart, though.
Looking over there, my eyes met with Makibi who was also looking at me, and she glared at me with full force.
I immediately averted my gaze…… and suddenly, I made eye contact with the other person, Komori-san.
This time, before I could avert my eyes, she averted hers. Does she hate me?
“Oh! We’re in the same squad!”
Suddenly, hearing such a voice from nearby, I followed their gaze.
[Team 4: Ishino + Hoshina + Higarashi]
[Team 8: Kurotsuki + Tendou + Nishikimachi]
[Team 10: Asahina + Kurashiki + Manabe]
Looking down the list at the other squads, I become anxious about various things.
Uh, Team 4 is, well, fine.
It’s essentially three girls, and Higarashi-san is there.
……Eh? Ishino is a boy?
No, he’s of the ‘otokonoko’ variety, right? Looks like a girl no matter how you look at it, so it’s fine.
And, Team 8, Tendou-san.
……Somehow, come back alive.
The silent Kurotsuki and the loud monster Nishikimachi.
I think it will be quite the chaotic journey, but hang in there! I’m rooting for you!
Looking at Tendou-san turning pale, I thought that as if it were someone else’s problem.
And Manabe-kun.
I tapped his shoulder and gifted him a smile from the bottom of my heart.
“As expected of Manabe-kun. I’m envious to no end, being together with those two (disappointing) beauties.”
“You sound so fake. Even I can tell that was a lie.”
What are you saying? Look at me, see, don’t I have clear, sincere eyes?
Why would you think someone like me would tell a lie?
It’s unexpected; I haven’t told a lie even once since I was born.
So, these are words from my true heart, Manabe-kun.
I am unbearably envious of your team.
I’d almost want to switch places with you.
Well, if I were to switch with you, I’d rather switch with Ishino though!
“But, well…… it’s reasonable, I guess.”
“Reasonable!? Is this combination reasonable!? With Kurotsuki-shi and Nishikimachi-shi of all people, I can see nothing but a future where I am killed by silence and loud voices!”
“Amamori is…… oof, good luck. I’m rooting for ya.”
Tendou-san shouted, and from Higarashi-san came words of support tinged with resignation.
When I gave a small nod back, the first team immediately began preparing noisily.
“I’ll explain the rules again! This forest is…… well, since it’s property owned by the academy, as you can guess! It’s a forest rumored to have real bizarre phenomena! The clear condition is just one! Place the wooden charm we distribute at the shrine located halfway through, go around, and just come out the exit on the other side! For now, it’s arranged so that a signal goes out when the previous team reaches the shrine, so once the signal is out, the next team departs, something like that!”
Kurashiki smoothly proceeded with the explanation.
……Wait, did she just say real bizarre phenomena?
Eh, is it okay to do a Test of Courage in a forest like that?
Actually, is the operation going to be okay?
Kurashiki, completely unaware of my doubts.
“Now then! Let’s get going! Starting with Team 1!”
Thus, the anxiety-filled Test of Courage raised its curtain.
☆☆☆
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“IngyaaaaaaaaAAAAAA!?”
A scream echoed.
How many screams does this make?
“That was…… Karasuma’s scream.”
“……Wasn’t that guy on the Test of Courage management side with Kurashiki?”
Manabe-kun muttered in exasperation.
However, if you look closely, his knees are shaking uncontrollably; a Test of Courage that even that Manabe-kun is afraid of. I truly think she created something dangerous.
Happening to glance over, I made eye contact with Kurashiki, who was puffing out her chest in full confidence.
A sense of superiority was clearly oozing from her eyes.
[Can you maintain that rotten poker face of yours just this once?]
At her smug face that seemed to say as much, I let out a sigh unbeknownst to others.
“A-Amamori……? Hey, wait a sec, I’m starting to get scared too. Can we make a direct appeal even now to group up together? Amamori, you’re fine with this stuff, right?”
“Sorry, but I hate breaking rules.”
“Uwah! That line doesn’t suit you at all, Amamori!”
Saying that, Higarashi-san shook my shoulder.
While my head was being wobbled back and forth, somehow or other, my turn seemed to have arrived.
“The three from Team 3, you’re up!”
“……Well then everyone, I’m going on ahead.”
“Wait, Amamori!?”
A voice flew from Asahina, and I left Higarashi-san and the others to step forward.
Looking…… Makibi, who had stepped forward, was perhaps bad at this; she was pale and trembling. Komori-san also seemed to have gotten scared, as fear was visible within her expressionlessness. ……Heh, I won. It seems the battle of poker faces is my victory. Like I’d lose yet!
“Ooh, next is Kana-chan! Are you okay? Kana-chan, you’re bad at this stuff, right? I put some real effort into making this Test of Courage, so it’s going to be tough, you know? It’s okay if we just have Amamori-kun go alone……”
“H-Haaah!? I-It’s totally fine! In the first place, why would there be something he can do that I can’t! I’ll do ten laps or a hundred laps!”
“Heeeh! Hmmm! I’ve taken your word for it, Kana-chaaan?”
Makibi’s eyes widened with a [Hah!?], and Kurashiki was laughing.
That smile felt less like the Class Rep and more close to her [Dark] side. Kurashiki…… perhaps, she really is close with Kana-chan. To the point where she thinks of her as a friend, regardless of her two-faced nature.
……Well, I think it’s just my imagination though.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t do something like selling her friend out to me.
“Alright then, Amamori-kun. Here, this is the charm. Offer this to the shrine at the very back, and come out the exit on the other side, okay—”
“……The exit on the other side.”
At the same time I looked over there, a familiar classmate appeared from that exit. He looked completely different from the excited state at departure. It was Karasuma, whose complexion looked like a zombie in the middle of weight loss who had then been hit by a life-drain touch.
“H-Hiii!?”
Makibi hid behind my back as if instinctively.
Seeing that state, Kurashiki narrowed her eyes, and I nodded.
“Now, then—Team Kana-chan! Let’s go!”
Thus, our Test of Courage raises its curtain.
The lead is, for some reason, me.
And sticking tightly to my back as if using me as a shield is Makibi.
Diagonally behind us to the right, Komori-san follows with her face looking down.
Ignoring the Literature Club members chuckling at our state, we step into the forest.
……Or so it was supposed to be.
“……Tsk.”
Immediately after stepping into the forest.
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
Involuntarily, my feet stopped.
My instincts rang alarm bells, warning me not to step any further.
This emotion is repulsion…… no, is calling it fear correct?
“Hi, iii…… W-What is it, don’t stop all of a sudden……!”
Because I stopped suddenly, Makibi, who bumped into my back, raised a complaint.
……Looking at them, Makibi and Komori-san don’t seem to feel anything.
Then, is it just me? Having such a terrible premonition.
“……No, my bad.”
—Real spiritual phenomena, Kurashiki had said so.
Could it be, is she serious? Is there really something in this forest?
I recalled Karasuma’s state from earlier and shook my head to drive away the bad feeling.
This is bad…… if it were an opponent I could punch physically, that would be one thing, but can attacks hit a ghost?
Even now, the alarm bells continue to ring loudly in my head.
It’s been a long time since I felt this. Me, feeling [Fear]?
One could say it’s the real thrill of a Test of Courage but…… feeling a sense of incongruity at this fear that felt almost artificially grafted on, I decided to move forward.
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