Marika was advancing toward Shibaryuu
Academy, hiding behind obstacles as discussed with her companions.
『Hazuki-senpai. Shirosaki Madoka of
[Crane (Shibatsuru)] and the five members of [Dragon (Shibaryuu)] have made
contact. It appears they're negotiating without engaging in battle』
『Okay. Thank you』
Marika hears Maria's report and
decides to listen in.
――In this competition where it's best
to fire immediately upon finding the enemy and to think about the details after
shooting, what is negotiation supposed to mean?
In a situation where two schools are
gathered, a bad move would be counterproductive, so she decided to wait and
see.
「So, an alliance...?」
「Yes. I think it is mutually
beneficial for both parties if the other two schools, especially Shibahou
Academy, fall. Why don't we work together to get rid of the obstacles and then
we'll have another showdown?」
「...I see. Not a bad idea」
**a
Alliance.
It seems that Shibatsuru Academy is
planning to join forces with Shibaryuu Academy to destroy the other two
schools. Indeed, the number of wins is currently tied at one except for
Shibatsuru Academy. They want to win and do not want to lose at this point.
What will the Shibaryuu Academy side
do?
「What do you think?」
A student who seemed to be the leader
was asked.
Then, the opinions of the members
were divided. Some of them want to go along, and some want to shoot Madoka who
is unarmed and unprotected.
It is not surprising. If they are
aiming for victory, there are merits to both proposals...
『Fukami-san. What about the other two
[Crane (Shibatsuru)]?』
『Iwaki Tsukasa is a little ways off,
keeping an eye on the perimeter. Ibusuki Kaname is approaching Shibaryuu
Academy's position from the rear』
Maria's report sounded a little
panicked, even though it was from her heart.
According to Maria's detailed
observation, Kaname is gradually approaching the enemy position while becoming
invisible.
『Her [Terminal] can use other people's
abilities at C-rank. She is probably using Shirahama Saki's invisibility
ability』
She seems to be able to become
invisible "only while standing still" as a result of the effect being
degraded.
But since Shibaryuu Academy is also
negotiating with her team, she is not completely blind to the surroundings, so
she is approaching the area unnoticed as if she were "Daruma-san
tripped".
And what does she want?
It's obvious. It's a surprise attack.
Whether it's "when negotiations break down" or "during a
conversation made to look like negotiations" is not clear.
If possible, Shibaryuu should be
warned.
But Marika, on the other hand, has no
way to give a loud warning. Besides, it is too risky for her if Shibatsuru
Academy find her. So, what should she do?
――This reminds me of the mini live
performance before the third event.
At that time, Marika's [Telepathy]
reached the students of other schools. If the sympathy at that time is still
valid.
『Shibatsuru Academy leaders, can you
hear me? There is a girl from Shibatsuru Academy sneaking up behind you. They
might be trying to trick you』
「...Eh?」
Marika whisper as she opens a
one-on-one Telepathy channel with the leader, and the leader sounds startled
and dumbfounded.
「What's wrong?」
「Eh, uh... nothing」
He finally understood the situation
when Madoka asked him, and he cut off the conversation vaguely.
And then...
「Hey. What is she doing there?」
「...Oh, I have been found out, haven't
I?」
And it worked.
Marika is alone in the shadows,
giggling. And there...
『Hazuki-senpai? Iwaki Tsukasa is
heading your way!』
Marika looks around reflexively and
clutches the marker.
She recognizes the sound of
approaching footsteps and points the marker in that direction.
「I'm going to get rid of anyone who
gets in the way!」
With a calm voice, she exchanges
bullets with a petite girl, Iwaki Tsukasa, who jumps out of the way.
The outcome depended on whether or
not Marika was prepared for it.
The result was that Marika's bullet
narrowly missed the target and Tsukasa's bullet landed on Marika's chest.
『Shibahou Academy, Hazuki Marika,
down!』
"Oh, I've been hit," Marika
thought.
Marika regrets her early exit, but at
the same time she feels she's done it.
Because now Shibaryuu Academy and
Shibatsuru Academy...
「So, the girl who informed me has been
shoot, huh...? Well, I guess you were trying to trick us, huh?」
「Well, that's a bad thing to say. It's
your fault if you were fooled in the first place」
Immediately after that, a number of shoots
were heard in rapid succession and a series of announcements were made.
**b
* * *
「I'm lucky, is it you? Finally, we've
met here after a hundred years!」
Minamoto rushes at high speed,
shouting with authority and holding up his marker.
Seeing him, Chisato move the bodies
as fast as she can, while Chihiro fires an intercepting shot at him.
They jumped into a nearby shield to
dodge his attacks, then quickly jumped out to attack. Sometimes they would come
out from the side they had entered, repeating feints, and they engaged in a
number of attacks and defenses.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the
battle did not end in a firefight while moving.
However, dealing Minamoto with his
[Acceleration] was a nerve-wracking task, and Chihiro began to feel tired after
only a minute or two, even though he and Chisato were splitting the labor
between them.
But at least for a little while.
Chihiro stood in the shadows for a
few seconds to catch his breath, he felt a presence behind him.
「!?」
He turn around with his marker ready.
There, he saw Minamoto smiling at him
with his marker pointed at him.
「At this rate, we're going to have to
fight each other. So, I have a proposal」
「A proposal?」
Chihiro nod his head, careful to make
it look like a conversation so he doesn't get shot - though Minamoto probably
not the type to play tricks like that.
「Yes. How about a duel?」
He says they will take three steps
with their backs to each other, then turn around and pull the trigger, a
western style.
Either one of them will win, or they
will fight each other. Either way, the game is instantaneous. It is easy to
understand and quick, just the way Minamoto likes it.
But it is not bad for Chihiro that
the game is settled so quickly.
「Okay」
「Heh~. That's the way it should be」
The boy's smiling face is carefree
and Chihiro can see that he is enjoying this situation from the bottom of his
heart.
（I'm sorry）
（It can't be helped, this is a game）
Chisato responds to the heartfelt
murmur and comforts Chihiro.
――And this is the time to play your
trump card.
「Well then...」
「Let's begin」
The two men put down their guns for a
moment to catch their breath.
Chihiro felt Minamoto's stiff back
and whispered to him.
「One!」
「Two!」
「Three!」
They said at the same time, taking
one step at a time.
On the third step, Chihiro turns
around with a great momentum.
『Shibahou Academy, Hazuki Marika,
down!』
