Chapter 84 – ８４ – Morning Run

Sports Festival Arc

It has been a little over a month since I enrolled in the National Duel Academy.

Because that much time has passed, my weekend routine has become fairly fixed.

To be specific:

Mornings are for running for about an hour.

Afternoons are spent going to the shopping mall with Suzu and the others to buy necessities and scout for anything that might be useful for dueling.

Evenings are for hand-to-hand training under Ichi’s guidance.

Nights are primarily for classroom study and homework with Suzu and Marie.

That is the general gist of it.

“Ssshh… haaa…”

And so, I am currently running aimlessly through the academy grounds.

I haven’t decided on a specific course, but given the sheer size of the academy, there are still paths I haven’t taken, so I’m gradually clearing the unknown routes.

Suzu, Ichi, and Marie are nowhere to be seen.

The three of them have their own things to do, so that’s only natural.

However, today’s run took a slightly different turn than usual.

“Oh, Lord Midorikawa.”

“Hmm? Ms. Morikuni. Are you… running too?”

“Yes, that is correct. Like you, Lord Midorikawa, I am out for a run.”

I encountered Ms. Morikuni at a corner of a crossroads along the way, and since we were heading in the same direction, we decided to run together.

“I take it you’re doing this as part of your physical conditioning, Ms. Morikuni?”

“Exactly. Running is suited for building basic stamina while learning how to move the body efficiently. While the timing and routes vary from person to person, I’m sure there are others running just as we are.”

“I imagine so. I pass other people occasionally. Some of them look like they aren’t used to running, though.”

Ms. Morikuni and I continued to run while chatting.

Due to the difference in our heights, there was a fair difference in our stride lengths, so I adjusted my pace to match hers.

However, Ms. Morikuni still seemed to have plenty of reserve, so she might have been slowing down to match my pace as well.

“Those who aren’t used to running have likely been decided for the running events, such as the footrace, for the Sports Festival, so they are practicing now to get even a little bit accustomed to it.”

“Running events… besides the footrace, I guess that would be the hurdles, Yabusame, and the Scavenger Race.”

“That’s right. Aside from the 10,000m, I will also be participating in the Scavenger Race, so I must get used to it.”

“…Is it okay for you to say that?”

“I believe there is no problem. There is no specific strategy for the Scavenger Race, and as for the 10,000m, it’s practically a given that A-Rank Evaluated students will participate, with a few exceptions. Won’t you be entering the 10,000m as well, Lord Midorikawa?”

“Hmm? Huh?”

I thought about Ms. Morikuni’s words for a moment.

Not the Scavenger Race.

The 10,000m footrace.

It’s practically a given that A-Rank Evaluated students will participate, with a few exceptions?

What does that mean?

“Lord Midorikawa? Are you aware of the rule that each dormitory must have at least one student from each grade participate in every event?”

Ah, uh… I feel like Suzu or Mr. Suwa… one of them mentioned something like that.

And I recalled the subtle expressions Suzu and the others made when I submitted my preferred events.

“Maybe?”

“…Lord Midorikawa, to finish the 10,000m footrace, one must possess a corresponding amount of magical power. Otherwise, you will run out of magical power midway, trigger a Masquerade Release, and be disqualified. Do you follow? That is precisely why one cannot participate in the 10,000m without having a prior record.”

“Ah, yeah, I get it.”

“Then, how much magical power is required to finish the 10,000m? To run it normally, a Magic Capacity of 1,000 is necessary. In other words, if you are not an A-Rank Evaluated student, you lack the necessary magical power.”

“I see.”

I felt like we had suddenly started a math lesson.

No, it’s fine.

I’m following the conversation perfectly, and I’m paying attention to traffic rules and the people passing by.

Yes, I’m fine.

“If that is the case, considering both physical ability and the abilities of the Masked Form, it would be me for the Kou-U Dormitory. For the Koushi Dormitory, it would be Fuchibeni or Kibitsu. For the Shin-Yu Dormitory, Tokuto or Tōsaka. And for the Inui Dormitory, it would be you, Lord Midorikawa. That is why I assumed you would be competing in the 10,000m… am I mistaken?”

“Ah, based on how the Inui Dormitory does things, the final decision on events is made during the meeting next Monday. So, if what you say is true, and no one else intends to run the 10,000m, I guess I’ll be the one doing it.”

“I see… In other words, Ms. Minasono deliberately overlooked it and didn’t correct you when you submitted your preferences this week.”

The way Ms. Morikuni looked at me felt somewhat similar to the way Suzu looks at me when she’s exasperated by my actions.

“I guess… that’s how it is? Ah, er, it’s just my fault for not noticing; Suzu and the others aren’t in the wrong. That part is certain.”

“Indeed. Ms. Minasono and the others are not at fault. This is a problem of your own for not fully grasping the rules, Lord Midorikawa.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

“However, Lord Midorikawa. In a duel, a failure to grasp this kind of rule can be a fatal blow, so I suggest you make a point of understanding them properly. Ms. Minasono and the others likely let it slide this time specifically to make you realize that.”

“Ah, yes…”

Yes, I’m reflecting on my mistakes.

I could feel Ms. Morikuni’s reprimanding gaze piercing through me, making me feel like I wanted to curl up into a ball.

This is probably a sign that I shouldn’t rely on Suzu and the others too much.

Yeah, I’ll really be careful.

“Well, we are almost at the dormitory. I shall leave you here, Lord Midorikawa.”

“Right, got it. Thanks for today, Ms. Morikuni. For telling me the things I hadn’t noticed.”

“N-no, not at all… I apologize if I was being overbearing. Um, please give my regards to Ms. Minasono later.”

“Sure, will do. See you next time.”

“Y-yes! ‘Next time,’ indeed!”

The Kou-U Dormitory came into view.

I had a bit more to run, but Ms. Morikuni seemed to be finishing her run here.

So, after parting ways with her, I kept running and made a final spurt toward the Inui Dormitory.

Later, as Ms. Morikuni had suggested, I told Suzu about what happened during my run.

“Ah, so you were told. Hmm, I see… Well, I suppose this is just how it goes,” she murmured with a smile.

“Oh, Naru. From your next run, why don’t you start by running toward the Kou-U Dormitory?”

“I mean, I don’t mind, but why?”

“Hmm, to prevent any suspense?”

“?”

The words that followed were even more incomprehensible.

I’ll follow her lead, though.