Chapter 6: The Cat Had Doubts About The Dragon
TL: Akabane
***
-- First period.
As soon as the chime sounded, Nekomaru's first class of his life began.
The first class was English. The teacher in charge instructed everyone to open their textbooks, and the sound of pages being rolled up could be heard from everywhere.
"Yes, now we will continue our study of the subjunctive as before. First, let's review ......--"
Positioned at the teaching table, reading what is described in the textbook, while the teacher writes it's main points on the blackboard.
-- Damn, I never thought I would stumble upon it from the very beginning ....... It's all her fault ......!
Nekomaru was completely unfocused in class.
Bewildered by the morning's events, he wrinkled his brow as hard as he could.
Although he had the indicated pages open at least once, the notebook next to the textbook was untouched, and was a stunning blank slate.
The pen in his right hand wasn't the usual one used for writing, but a secret knife that had been confiscated by the family.
-- At first glance, she seems to be taking the class without a care in the world, but ....... when you saw her, she revealed her own identity after revealing mine just a few minutes ago. Deep down inside, she must be up to something again. ......
Nekomaru repeatedly glances at the girl sitting next to him, repeating the thought over and over in his mind.
His expression grew more and more intense, and he unwittingly created an atmosphere that made it difficult to get close to him.
--- "Hey, that new student looks really scary. ......"
--- "Oh no ....... he looks like he's about to kill someone anytime. ......"
-- "Is it me? Is it because my class is boring? Is it because my class was bad?"
Almost everyone in the classroom, including the teacher, was overcome by the sense of intimidation overflowing from Nekomaru's body, and their backs were drenched in cold sweat.
Unaware of the situation, Nekomaru continued to monitor the movements of Akane, the culprit who had brought him to this state.
***
After the end of homeroom, Nekomaru, who had mistaken Akane for someone from his own world, was investigating Akane himself.
He had the option of asking for reinforcements from the house, but in order to fill the hole he had left, the whole house was very busy.
Nekomaru felt very sorry that he had to ask for help.
-- I was the one who had caused the situation ....... I'll have to get through this one on my own. ......
Fortunately, I am not empty-handed right now.
I was a little nervous, but it was a relief to have two prey ready to go.
This way, even if a battle were to break out, I would have enough time to deal with it.
I don't know how powerful my opponent is, but I have no intention of losing.
Believing in his own strength, Nekomaru was ready for Akane to make a move at any moment, while keeping an eye on her.
Finally, Akane makes her move--!
""If it had not been for the storm, we would have had a better harvest."-- Now, please translate this English sentence into Japanese ...... Ryuuhime-san!"
[TL: I'm sorry, I misspelled it as Tatsuki, the correct one is Ryuuhime.]
"Yes!"
After reading the English sentence on the blackboard, Akane was appointed by the teacher to translate it into Japanese.
Nekomaru naturally didn't miss the sight of her standing up with her reply.
-- What, it's just a translation ....... well, this is no problem at all.
Nekomaru was relieved to be released from the tension he had been feeling. As soon as he saw the English sentence written by the teacher on the blackboard, he instantly thought of the answer.
As long as the whole world is their workplace, it's essential for assassins to mastering English, which is often used as an official language.
Nekomaru, who naturally thought he would be able to answer the question without difficulty, listened to Akane's Japanese translation and asked
"If you touch my wrath, everything will be enveloped in red flames, and you will be dyed jet black and weep tears of despair in that ashes-turned world."
I was stunned at how wrong she was, and how the answer wasn't even remotely similar to the solution I had in mind.
Of course, Nekomaru wasn't the only one who had that reaction.
All of his classmates, with the exception of Akane, and even the teacher who had asked her to translate the answer into Japanese, were left open-mouthed and unable to say anything.
-- What is that ridiculous answer now?
In the freezing air, Nekomaru can't help but raise a question mark above his head.
In the midst of all this, the teacher replied, "You're wrong." and coughing one more time as if switching.
"Let's see, then, next to that ....... Kuroki-san, please translate this Japanese instead."
"Yes, haha ......."
Demanded to clean up Akane's mess, Nekomaru stood up as if he had no choice.
At that time, one objection emerged in the minds of the students in the classroom.
-- Why are you asking him?
The classmates, who had assumed Nekomaru was the same kind of person as Akane during their homeroom discussion.
Realizing that this would be a repeat of the earlier incident, they all began cursing the teacher in their hearts.
On the other hand, the teacher, who was the one who nominated Nekomaru, regretted that he had done it again when he saw Nekomaru's face and the way he stood up.
-- Ugh ...... what am I doing! I'm going to get a terrible air again. ......
The English teacher continues to blame himself as well as others.
But ......
"Well, "If it had not been for the storm, we would have had a better harvest.""
Figuratively, his fears were unfounded.
"Oh, thank you, ....... Please be seated."
-- Huh, that's normal. ....... No, that's normal, right? I'd rather it be, you know?
A sigh of relief is released from the mouths of the teachers and students after the unexpected result.
Nekomaru was feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the atmosphere in the class when the survey subject next to him spoke to him.
"Hmph, you're pretty good, Black Cat."
"This is about as good as it gets. What's more, what was that joke of an answer you just gave? The Japanese translation was a mess, and the second half of the answer was obviously added."
"Hmph, you mistake that for just an answer. ....... You're not ready for this."
"What the ......?"
Nekomaru's face grew more and more frowning, thinking he was being provoked.
The atmosphere created by the exchange froze the air in the classroom once more.
-- "Don't fight, please.........."
***
Second period.
Nekomaru, having changed into his jersey, came to the gymnasium with his classmates.
A huge net divides the spacious room.
Apparently, the upcoming classes will be held separately for men and women.
"Here we go, one point! Let's get another one!"
The boys in the class, all dressed alike, split into teams of five or six, and they are fighting for the ball with each other.
Using their feet dexterously, they bring the ball to them and kick it vigorously toward the opposition's goal line.
-- So, this is indoor soccer, futsal, huh?
Leaning his back against the wall, Nekomaru learns the mechanics of the game as he watches from the edge of the field.
After gaining some understanding, he turned his attention to the game being played on the other side of the net.
"Yes, pass pass pass!"
"Here comes the smash! Get ready!"
To the shouts of the players, six girls per team were competing for points, each handling a single ball as well.
The main difference is that there is a partition between their own team and the opponent team, and they are using their hands instead of their feet.
The ball is launched into the air, struck, and sent to the team across the net at a tremendous speed.
Then, one girl skillfully used her arms to kill the momentum of the ball, and another girl sent it high into the air, this time into the opponent team in the same way.
-- That's volleyball ....... I see, it's a good sport to train reflexes and body usage.
Nekomaru is impressed by the extreme exchanges, and thinks that there are some interesting things in the surface society.
In the corner of his eye, his intended girl finally makes her move.
"Akane! Here you go!"
"Mm! Leave it to me!"
At the call, Akane reaches out her hand in a wide gesture.
Just above her was a volleyball, launched by her teammate's receiver.
"Huahahahahahahahahahaha! Come, Oh Yellow Pearl that descended from the heavens! Depend on it and return to my hand!"
Raising her voice, Akane continued to raise her hand toward the ball in the air.
As she wished, the ball didn't defy gravity and fell directly to her .......
"--Gyaun."
As it was, it passed through her hands unaided and hit her directly on the forehead with great force.
Akane, holding her reddened forehead with her hand and fainting in pain, and her classmates, who just looked at her in silence.
"Ugh ...... i-it hurts. To hurt me like this, as expected of the one who received God's favor..."
"An overhand pass isn't just a matter of pointing your hands upward, Akane. You have to properly make a triangle with the thumb and forefinger of both hands and catch the ball firmly."
"Moo ......"
While being woken up by the girl with glasses, Akane twists her head in difficulty.
Nekomaru was quietly watching her.
-- That woman ...... did you say Ryuhime? What's with that move? She is clearly below average......."
[TL: Dragon Princess.]
He had new doubts and suspicions about Akane.
He's not proud of it, but Nekomaru considered himself to be one of the more well-known names in the underworld.
In fact, Nekomaru is considered the strongest in the assassin industry, and the number of lives he has reaped with his hands is too much to keep a tally.
I thought that she must have confidence in her skills, since she was such a crazy person who proudly told me her name in front of me. That's what I assumed. ......
"Transfer student! It's your cue, come on!"
I heard a call and looked in that direction. The allies and the opposing team were already lined up facing each other.
The man who called him is a gym teacher who stands between them as a referee.
Nekomaru answers the call and runs to them.
After the pre-game bow, the whistle blew to start the game as soon as the teams were placed in their positions.
Allies and opponents run in unison for the ball.
Nekomaru, on the other hand, stood there like a stick.
"Transfer student! Here it is!"
An ally surrounded by opponent handed him the ball he was holding.
Stopping the ball with his foot, Nekomaru caught the opponent's goal and his classmate standing in front of it with his right eye, which wasn't blocked by his eye patch.
--The ball is kicked with an eye toward that place ...... as I recall.
Remembering what he had seen and learned beforehand, Nekomaru swings his right leg up.
The arc-shaped trajectory is slowly drawn, and this time he swings down as if tracing the trajectory.
"--Hngh!"
He kicked the ball as hard as he could.
From the outside, one wouldn't have understood what had just happened.
The sphere that was supposed to be at Nekomaru's feet just a moment ago disappeared as if it had moved instantaneously, and by the time he realized it, it was gone.
""""Uwaaaaaaaaa......"'""""
It was lying there, lost in the rubble of the wall goal.
The goalkeeper, blown away by the wind pressure, was falling down, convulsing.
Those who witnessed the series of phenomena, both ally and opponent, froze in place, reacting as if they had witnessed a natural disaster.
"I'm sorry. It was my first time, and I didn't know how to adjust."
Nekomaru, perhaps aware that he had made a mistake, rushed over to the fallen goalkeeper and bowed deeply.
However, his remorse wasn't received, and the keeper backed away from Nekomaru.
After all, it was probably a mistake for me to come here to high school.
Thinking this, Nekomaru turns over on his own.
"Hahahahahaha! You're good, Black Cat! That's exactly the kind of man who deserves to be a man who lives in the same darkness as me!"
From the far side of the net, with a cheeky laugh, I heard the voice of a woman once again shooting unnecessary things out of her mouth.
The joking woman spoke to him again, and Nekomaru looked back at her with a face that revealed his displeasure ......
"Akane! Look out!"
"Hm? --Gyaun!"
The ball released from the opponent's side hit the woman's forehead once more.
-- The ability to sense danger is also zero ....... Perhaps, that woman isn't that big of a deal?
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