Track 10

Ahhhhhhhh! Ah, ah, ah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~♪

Great! Sound, check! Vocal chords, check! Do-re-mi-fa-so-rea-dy to rumble! Y’wanna warm up with me, Kiroku?

We’re not… the ones, battling, though…

True, but we gotta come in clutch if they need us, y’know!

And boy do I have the move for that… Behold, the one-shot-one-kill guaranteed Eardrum Blast!

Isotake, no…

Hey guys, can we talk before we start?

‘Sup!

Mhm.

I’m really sorry for that weird PeChat I sent the other day.

You guys helped me a lot with the training, yet I almost backed out right before the event started…

Nah, don’t worry ‘bout it. It was needed for plot development, so if anything thanks!

Huh?

Think about it! What kinda climax doesn’t have a crisis before the final act? It’s the classic movie formula!

…

It’s, all good, so…

Apologies for intruding on your strategy meeting.

The lord’s here!

Most of the audience have taken their seats and the evaluation committee and teachers have also arrived. We can begin at any time.

Kurama’s… still not, here, though…

I completed what you asked me, Nanamegi, and delivered that to him successfully. However, I cannot guarantee if he will read it.

That’s enough for me. Thanks, Muneuji.

So this is what the D-BATTLE arena looks like. The ring in the center is very well made.

And the crowd size’s what you’d expect from a school this big. Guess this thing really blew up, huh.

It looks like Sakujiro-san’s on the evaluation committee.

I heard a lot of teachers are against D-BATTLE… I wonder how this’ll go…

It was announced that students and guests are also welcome to provide feedback. There is a survey regarding the continuation of D-BATTLE one can fill out after.

So everything rides on their match.

I hope they go all out.

With lots of passion and energy.

Oh, it’s starting!

“It’s finally time for the long-awaited special weekend eveeeeeent! Shout! Scream! And get ready to PUMP! IT! UUUUUUP!”

“Per usual, I, President Setsumei of the D-Club, will be your emcee! And with us are two very special commentators! Please introduce yourselves!”

“Greetings. I am the vice-president of the student council, Kaguya, and with me is—”

*exhales* “You may all know me as the wandering D-BATTLE Professor, but—”

“It is actually I, your student council president, YUMENOSUKE KURAKU!!”

Wait, that was the StuCo Prez this entire time?

I had, no idea… at all…

Gh…! I get that I was incognito, but between this and the Masquerade Ball, why does no one ever recognize me!?

Perhaps it was because your disguise was impeccable. Though, as someone who works closely alongside you, I myself was not fooled

Hm… Well, if my own perfection is what led to the oversight, then I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it.

Now then, Club President. Let us hear the purpose of today’s battle!

“Gladly! Let me explain! Until now, we were simply testing D-BATTLES as a notion. However, that ends today. Folks, today is the day where we will determine once and for all whether there is purpose to our cause.”

“And the gentlemen whose backs our fate rides on are none other than the overnight legends—”

“The opener in the blue corner, Nanamegi-kun, and the responder in the… hm?”

…

Huh, Nanaki’s alone?

I don’t see Ushio-kun anywhere…

Free Battle, BO1.

D-Speaker on stand-by.

Hm? But the opponent has yet to arrive…

Nanamegi, what are you—

“……”

Is this the opening act or something…?

I dunno…?

“…There’s someone I really hate.”

“That person is arrogant, and always pushes people away.”

“He discards anything he deems as a waste of time, and gives up as soon as something gets messy.”

“He doesn’t understand a single thing, yet he’d always assume the worst than face the truth right in front of him.”

“That person is Nanaki Nanamegi, and I really hate him…!”

Gh…

He… He’s dealing damage to himself…

“What in the world is happening!? A-And has anyone found Kurama-kun!?”

…

“At least you’re self-aware.”

Uwah!

Ow…

!! Ushio!

“Adding on to all that, it also pisses me off how you’re able to do something so cringe.”

And you even went outta your way to challenge me properly.

Ah…

That’s…

So that’s what that was!

I have done my part in delivering this letter.

…

(There is literally no reason for me to read this.)

(…But I mean, Muu-chan did go outta his way to give it to me so…)

…The reason I can still stand in the ring and face you head-on—

(He…)

Is he trying to be a poet or something?

…

…Sorry for being a dumbass.

…

It was childish of me to tell you to die alone in a ditch.

Ushio…

Did you really just apologize onstage?

Shut up, I’ll do it again properly for everyone to hear.

Oh, okay…

Also, um…

Thanks for being a pain in the ass.

…!

“Just like a certain pest hiding in the cupboards that’s black, runs really fast, and starts with a ‘C’!”

A—

ARE YOU SERIOUS!? After showing up late, that’s your opening line!?

“You know it’s basic human decency to apologize after inconveniencing someone, right? Maybe consider going back to elementary school?”

“I can’t believe it only took that much to rattle you. Miyamoto Musashi’s¹ shaking in his grave.”

“Since you wanna act like that, then show us how it’s done! Don’t worry, you can apologize in your teeniest, tiniest voice, ‘cause I’ll record it and play it on full blast, just for you!!”

“From a fashionably late arrival straight into the onslaught!”

“Alright folks, let’s get this battle started!”

“Here’s to a clean fight, get ready to throw!”

“Play fair and square! Say—”

D-BATTLE, READYYYYY GOOOO!!!

Wow, their exchange came off a little strong, but it's nice. I can tell they’re having fun.

Kinda curious if Nanaki’s big bro has ever seen this side of him.

Hahaha! I hope Kuguri and I can have a go like that one day.

In order to do that, you must first convince Kuguri to step into the ring.

A bond like this is only possible because they’re exactly on the same wavelength…!

Haha, you know, I don’t know why but I really hate you!

Funny you should say that, ‘cause same!

(…Although the truth is, I’ve already known for a while now.)

(That it’s because we’re pretty similar, especially when it comes to being immature.)

(It’s like looking in a mirror that only reflects the parts of myself that I wanna hide.)

(The parts hiding behind that grown-up act, pretending like I’m some all-knowing, altruistic do-gooder…)

(So that’s exactly why—)

“You’re the one person…!!”

“I won’t run away from!!”

So this is a D-BATTLE…

This is my first time seeing it in person…

Quite a remarkable match, don’t you think? After all, nothing captures the essence of communication better than facing each other head-on.

The clash, the confrontation, and the stubborn refusal to back down are all part of the youth’s growing pain. To dismiss all of that as something harmful would be rather short-sighted, don’t you agree?

*grumbles*

“You scrub that kitchen sink sooooo much it’s like you’re personally offended by the concept of a water stain!! It’s so spotless I feel guilty even using it!!”

…Hm?

That’s not… a bad thing, though…

“Oh yeah? Well what about when I give you muffins to taste test and you fold those stupid little muffin wrappers neatly every time before tossing it in the trash!! It’s all garbage anyways so stop wasting your time!!”

They… noticed, even the, smallest details…

They sure care about each other.

[Red corner D-LIFE: 18.0523% remaining, Blue corner D-LIFE: 18.0523% remaining.]

What’s thiiiiiiis!? They’re neck in neck even down to the fourth decimal!!

Do you two have any insights on this development!?

*gasp*!? I-I got so caught up in the Ultimate D-Zone that I completely lost myself…!!

Indeed… They are exchanging clash after clash. What a splendid match.

(Thank you for not throwing in the towel, Nanamegi.)