I was bullied back in middle school.

For some stupid reason like not having parents.

Looking back now, the reason didn’t matter at all. It was probably my attitude.

When I started high school, there was a guy getting bullied just like I had been.

Why, I wonder.

I’d planned to keep my head down in high school.

To avoid catching anyone’s glare.

Why, I wonder.

Did my body just move on its own?

I don’t know.

Was it some lame sense of justice?

I knew exactly what happens when the powerless stand up to the strong.

I knew the target would shift straight to me.

…

“Alright, the controls are pretty much the same.”

Kenya climbed into the simulator.

Having skimmed the manual, he was certain.

The simulator’s controls were almost identical to those back in his original world.

Sure, there were some minor differences, but nothing significant.

“Just a few hours ago, and it already feels a bit nostalgic…”

It had been four or five hours since he’d arrived in this world.

He had no idea why he’d come here, what was expected of him, or what he was supposed to do.

His plan for today had been to just observe and avoid standing out.

He still didn’t know much about this world, after all.

But after seeing that, there was no way he could stay silent.

He didn’t know what he was meant to accomplish here.

But one thing was certain—he had something he wanted to do.

Protect the heroine.

That burning desire had pushed him to clear that quest and brought him to this world.

So he had no choice but to save her.

The game heroine he’d fallen for.

The beloved girl who’d appeared right before his eyes.

Kenya’s KOG rose to its feet.

“Heh! After all that big talk, the least you can do is stand up, right?!”

Kenya gazed down at the palm of his KOG’s hand.

“Ah, this sensation. It’s like an older version, but it moves just like my own limbs…”

He already had the controls down.

This was from a slightly earlier season back in his old world, but he’d played it plenty.

“Very well, are both fighters ready? Then…”

“Begin!”

“Now then, how should I toy with you?!”

(He seems awfully confident, but I’ve been practicing in this simulator for a whole month! There’s no way I’d lose to some 2nd Class!)

Good charged straight at Kenya.

The spectators, seeing Kenya’s machine stand motionless, sensed his defeat.

Kaguya could only clasp her hands in prayer and watch.

“I don’t know how much you lot have practiced in this simulator…”

“But I can tell just from your movements. At best, a month.”

They’d practiced KOG for about a month in advance.

Even if they’d grinded seriously, eight hours a day meant around 240 hours at most.

Plenty of time to learn the controls.

“First, I’ll smash that right leg and make sure you can’t stand!”

Good swung up the massive sword equipped on his KOG.

The standard KOG weapon—a giant sword with a blade that glowed like a beam at the tip.

Yet Kenya still didn’t move.

Perfectly still, like the surface of calm water without a single ripple.

“But here’s the thing… my playtime is…”

Plop.

A droplet hit the water’s surface, sending ripples outward.

Kenya moved—in a flash too fast for the eye to follow.

But it was a classic technique: acceleration from 0 to 100, using the rhythm shift and blind-spot maneuver.

Basic skills from the top rankers and players of his old world.

“Huh?”

Good instantly lost sight of Kenya’s machine right in front of him.

Kenya had earned plenty of titles.

Waste of a human, hardcore gamer shut-in, hermit, home security guard.

He’d devoted his entire youth to this game.

He’d picked up his share of dishonorable nicknames too, but in this world, those titles took on new meaning.

Because that time he’d invested—Kenya’s playtime…

The playtime of the world’s strongest player, who had become world champion…

“My playtime is 10,000… and 7,000 hours!!!”

All that effort and grinding transformed into the power to resist.

“Gwahhh!!!”

In one strike—a flash from behind—Good’s machine lost its head.

Amid violent shaking and blinding lights, the KOG exploded.

“Huh?”

“Eh? He lost?”

“No way… What just happened?”

Alfred’s jaw hung open, refusing to close.

He’d planned to invoke the handicap system if things got dicey, but to think it’d end in one hit.

“Th-that was a fluke! We messed up the controls! It doesn’t count!”

Alfred hurriedly declared it invalid in a loud voice.

“Wh-what? Instructor’s mistake?”

“Yeah, makes sense. No way that could’ve happened.”

The Earthguard citizens breathed sighs of relief.

Only one silver-haired girl stared straight at Kenya.

(That was… the instructor’s mistake? No way.)

“Hahaha, oh man, instructor’s error! You scared me there. No way something like that happens for real!”

The system restarted, and the two faced off once more.

Alfred manipulated the panel.

Kenya’s skills were too dangerous—he cranked the handicap system to maximum.

Now, one solid hit would wipe Kenya’s HP to zero.

Good would need 100—no, 200 hits to go down.

(A bit blatant, but no choice. Just who is this guy…? Mikazuki Kenya… Never heard of him.)

“A-alright! We’re set. Fighters ready? Begin—round two!”

Alfred thought that would settle it.

But his face quickly drained of color.

(What… what the hell is this…?!)

“What the hell is happeningggg!!!”

Good screamed.

To anyone watching, it was utter domination.

An insurmountable skill gap that allowed not even a single counterattack.

“Where are you?! Show yourself, coward!”

Good yelled over the comms from inside his KOG.

“Coward? You call overwhelming power cowardly? Is that how it works in your country?”

(Handicap’s maxed out… but it only adjusts damage. If it doesn’t hit, it’s meaningless.)

It was like facing a completely different machine.

Good’s KOG was sliced and diced from every angle by Kenya’s hyperspeed sword strikes and showered in gunfire.

“Incredible…”

Kaguya let the words slip as she watched the footage.

A display of power that matched his earlier confidence.

She thought it honestly—amazing. Movements like he could see the future.

Kaguya didn’t know much about KOG, but even she could tell.

Mastery like this was breathtakingly beautiful.

Sparks flew amid gunfire and slashes.

But every blow came from one side only.

About five minutes in, after relentless pummeling, Good was spent.

“P-please… enough… urp.”

Even in the simulator, the barrage of slashes, shots, explosions, flashes, and vibrations dragged on.

It felt endless to Good, wearing down his mind until he was exhausted.

The intense shaking finally brought on nausea.

The handicap kept Good’s HP from dropping much.

But the moment arrived at last.

Over 100 attacks landed—HP fully depleted.

“Wooooh!!!”

The Japanese erupted.

No excuses this time.

Anyone could see who won.

(No way… a 2nd Class wins? No, is he even 2nd Class? Without special training… that’s Holy Knight level. No, higher…)

Alfred felt more shock than regret.

But he had to admit it.

Winner: 2nd Class. Loser: 1st Class.

Winner: Japanese. Loser: Earthguard.

In this fight alone, history had been overturned.

The two emerged from the simulators.

“Kenya!”

Kaguya rushed to him.

She and the other Japanese swarmed Kenya, clapping and cheering.

“That was insane, Kenya! You’re amazing!”

“Our hope for the future!”

“So cool!! Felt so good!”

Kenya got mobbed by the excited Japanese.

Kaguya pushed through, stepping forward to express her thanks.

“Thank you, Kenya…”

“Then, as a reward… a kiss?”

“Huh?”

“Kidding… Instead, call me Kenya from now on. And let me call you Kaguya.”

“…Heehee, you never change. Fine… just this once. Thank you, Kenya!”

The girl who’d been in tears moments ago now beamed at him with a full smile.

That alone made all the recklessness worth it.

And on the other side…

“Obobobooo!!”

“Gross!!”

“Good barfed!!”

The relentless shaking pushed Good’s nausea over the edge.

He spectacularly hurled up breakfast and was carted off.

Sighing at the sight, Alfred made his declaration.

“The winner is clear. Now, does anyone want to take revenge for him?”

Silence fell.

Alfred knew no one would step up.

But he needed to save face.

They had to set the rankings today.

Otherwise, a 2nd Class would top the class.

Something unprecedented—and unacceptable—in Empire history.

Yet no one raised a hand.

The Earthguards who’d watched the fight avoided Alfred’s eyes.

They’d accepted defeat.

They hated to admit it, but that 2nd Class outdid them at KOG.

No one spoke up.

Except one.

“Step forward. I’ll be your opponent.”

An Earthguard slowly walked to the front of the simulator.

Kenya grinned at the familiar voice aimed his way.

“Of course.”

He accepted.

He always took the fights that came to him—full force against anyone who challenged him.

And this challenger was…

“Mikazuki Kenya, was it? My apologies for earlier.”

Kenya recalled her first words in the classroom.

“I said I had no interest in you, but I take that back.”

Silver hair swaying, eyes like chips of ice.

Cold eyes that seemed to dismiss everyone but him.

In those captivating icy blue eyes…

“I’m interested in you now.”

There, without a doubt, was Kenya’s reflection.