"I… I can't hold back anymore… Please, I'm begging you, let me buy the Hoshino (swimsuit) figure!! Get out of my way!!"
"Stop this nonsense! What if Swimsuit Serika-chan comes out, or even Swimsuit Hoshino-chan!? You don't know what's coming!"
"Even so… I'm buying it!!"
"…Then I'll stop you, for your own good, Big Bro."
"…Bring it on… Here we go!!"
"DUEL MASTERS! START!!"
That's how it went. Little Bro Sensei used a Red-Green Moldvine deck, while Little Sis Sensei ran an Eight-Axis Battle Robot deck. The result? Well… let's just say the gods stopped Little Bro Sensei.
Now, back to the main story!
Mash Burnedead and the Unyielding Spirit
"Wow! Using all the explosives we brought really paid off!"
"Right on time, detonated perfectly… Mission complete! Now we just head over there, dig, and it's perfect!"
"Yeah, totally!"
From a distance, the members of the Hot Spring Development Club, who had been waiting for the explosion, confirmed their bombs went off as planned and were thrilled.
"First time using a timed bomb, but it feels kinda great!"
"Right? Let's tell the club leader to use these more often!"
"Totally agree!"
"By the way, where'd we get those?"
"The guy who tipped us off about the hot spring gave us the info and the bombs."
"Who was that?"
"Dunno, it was over the phone… But who cares! That place is a deserted wasteland anyway! We're gonna dig up a hot spring!"
"…Yeah! Alright, let's pack up and head to the blast site!"
"WOOO!!"
Was it innocent malice? She didn't question the info—no, she didn't care. For her, digging hot springs was the ultimate priority.
Even if the chance of finding a hot spring was just 2%, as long as there was a sliver of possibility, the Hot Spring Development Club would gleefully dig, blast, and hunt for it.
In short, they were a nuisance.
Unbeknownst to them… Mash was there.
Cough, cough! "Ugh… What in the world—!?"
Hifumi, knocked out by the explosion's shockwave and blast, came to. She looked around, stunned. The building that stood moments ago was now rubble, with flames crawling across the ground and smoke rising.
Speechless, her first instinct was to check on her comrades lying nearby.
"Ugh… Koharu-chan! Azusa-chan! Hanako-chan!"
Cough, hack!
"Koharu-chan…!"
Hack, ouch! "…What? Hifumi? What just happened…!?"
"Ugh… What the—An explosion…?"
"Everyone… are you okay…!?"
The Remedial Class Club members stirred, supporting each other as they stood and surveyed the devastation. The scene was unrecognizable, a ruin beyond ruins.
"…Sensei… Oh no, Sensei!"
"He grabbed us suddenly, smashed through the wall… shielded us from the explosion… and then… where is he!?"
"Maybe under the rubble!?"
"We have to help him! Sensei! Answer us!! Sensei!"
Fearing Mash was buried in the nearby debris, Hifumi and the others searched frantically. Even for a superhuman like Mash, they couldn't help but worry.
"Sensei… where are you—Sensei! Answer us!!"
"Yo."
"—There! Hold on, Sensei, we're coming!! Sensei, reach out—Sensei!?"
"Good, you're all awake."
"Sensei—Sensei!"
The moment Azusa spotted Mash, she ran and hugged him, relief overwhelming any embarrassment.
"Thank goodness… really…"
"Sorry for worrying you. I was clearing rubble and making a path back."
"Sensei!!"
"Koharu-chan, Hifumi-chan, Hanako-chan… I'm glad you're all okay."
"It's because you acted so fast—Sensei, are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, just a sore back."
"…"
Mash had escaped outside, shielding them with his body, taking the falling debris and obstacles on his back to protect Hifumi and the others.
"Is that really okay!?"
"Look, I'm tough."
"Even if you're tough, pain's still—"
"No problem at all."
"…Okay."
"But my clothes are trashed… Cough, and I'm filthy… Wow, my face is covered in soot."
"Oh, I've got a towel!"
"I've got water in my canteen. We can make a wet towel."
"Sorry about this."
"No need to apologize."
Mash wiped his face with the wet towel. His training wear underneath was tattered, exposing parts of his body.
Though uninjured, his body was smudged with dirt… and seeing this, Hanako was struck with an unprecedented fury.
"—Someone who came from another world and vowed to protect this one."
"Huh… Hanako, what's wrong?"
"Hanako-chan…?"
"…Something's off."
Hanako stepped forward, fists clenched, trembling as her voice rose.
"A kid our age, tasked with being our Sensei, working tirelessly for us every day."
"Struggling with studies, yet giving his all for us… always acting cheerful so we don't worry…"
"Always making us smile, cheering us up, sharing cream puffs… supporting us—protecting us…"
"Always, always, always believing in us… And someone tried to blow him up… Heh… hehehe…"
In an instant, Hanako's gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by unmistakable rage as she shouted with all her might.
"ENOUGH WITH THIS NONSENSE!!!"
"Eek!?"
"…"
"Hanako-chan…"
Nagisa had said, "We'll continue monitoring, so don't forget." That's why Hanako shouted—how could they call this justice, seeing Mash like this?
"What… justice? What… peace!? Defiling the person protecting that peace!"
A palpable aura of negativity—hatred, disgust, and more—radiated from her. The usual Hanako was unimaginable in this state.
"…Fine. If that's how it is… then we'll—"
She was on the verge of falling into darkness, ready to charge at Nagisa and do something drastic… but a hand grabbed hers, stopping her.
"No, Hanako."
"Azusa…chan."
"That expression, those emotions—they don't suit you."
"But Azusa-chan, even you—"
"I know. I'm furious too. But what happens if you storm the Tea Party alone?"
"But…"
"Revenge… it's meaningless. And Sensei would never want that."
"…!"
"I don't want that dark shadow to consume you."
"Exactly."
Holding the soiled towel, Mash approached Hanako.
"Black doesn't suit you, Hanako-chan."
"But Sensei… one wrong step, and you could've—"
"I didn't die, and something like that wouldn't kill me anyway."
"…"
"I'm incredibly grateful you're angry for me, but I don't want you getting hurt over it… or turning dark."
"…!"
"Thanks, though. Really."
Suppressing her dark aura, Hanako returned to her usual self and spoke to Mash.
"…Heh, sorry—I got a bit heated."
"Anyone would. It's okay."
"What now…?"
"Let's head back to the dorms and rest. You're all exhausted, right?"
"That explosion… destroyed our test papers too."
"We were doing so well… that's why it stings."
"—!! After all our hard work!!"
"They went this far… Nagisa-san… Things just got interesting."
"Really… going this far, Nagisa-san… Bring it on."
Mash clenched his fist, renewing his resolve.
"If that's how you want it, we'll fight back… with everything we've got."
Second Special Exam Results
All failed due to lost answer sheets.
One chance remains.
That single chance will change the fates of Nagisa, the Remedial Class Club, and Mash himself.
Postscript Continuation
"Little Bro… so weak! LOL"
"Ugh, this sister is the worst!!!"
"Lame, lame! ♪ lol"
"Who even wants a bratty little sister!? Not me!!"
"But you're a lolicon, Big Bro."
"No! I'm just a refined pervert!"
"Gross."
"WHAT!?"
"No fighting."
"Avenge me, Big Bro!!"
"Ugh, 'Big Bro' hits hard… Fine, I wanted to do this anyway. Let's go."
"Oh? You're on? I'll show you my skills! lol… So, what're you using?"
"Dark Magic Dragon Zero."
"Wait, that's a serious deck!?"
I crushed them. We're a Duel Masters-loving sibling pair, playing since we were kids and still at it. Little Bro Sensei reluctantly gave up on the figure… He's really lost it.
Back to the main story—Hanako's furious. Has she ever been this mad in the main story? If so, my bad.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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