The deal was done. But Chris's group didn't immediately leave.
Of course, aside from the handful of people who'd bought Combat Suits or reinforced firearms, no one else had spent any more.
The thing was, inside the Black Sphere's shop — apart from those two pieces of baseline gear — everything else was just way too expensive, and the system wouldn't even cough up product descriptions. Pure blind-box energy.
Granted, part of that was because the item-catalogue Horikita had traded for was still in Ayanokoji's hands for the moment.
But at least for now, the smart play was to hold off — wait until they came across an item that actually clicked with them, then go for a targeted power-up.
That said, Chris and the others didn't actually wait in the room for very long.
"Ding-dong."
Soon enough, Ichinose Honami's phone chimed with a system notification.
"The rankings for the preliminary test are in…"
Ichinose looked at her screen and read aloud softly: "They are — Ayanokoji-kun, me, Mr. Speedwagon, and… Karuizawa-san."
Hearing the list, no one was particularly surprised. As for the rewards, they were much the same as before — extra Resurrection Count and points, nothing notably different.
Right after that, Chris glanced at the settlement info Ayanokoji had forwarded him, and added:
"Ayanokoji says Speedwagon was reverted back into a human by the Black Sphere."
"As for Yagami Takuya and Housen Kazutomi… the instant they returned to school, they got forcibly reverted back to normal humans too. And — the Black Sphere didn't even leave them a capsule representing the vampire bloodline."
At that, Ryuuen Kakeru stroked his chin and said:
"Looks like, even though it didn't let those two kids walk off with the goods, they really did stumble onto a nice little shortcut."
"During an exam, no matter how dangerous or twisted the thing you fused with — once you head back to school, the Black Sphere will forcibly strip it out and put you right back the way you were… isn't that basically a free trial run?"
Chris shook his head, though:
"You don't get this kind of sweet deal every time. The Black Sphere said it itself during the settlement — this round was a 'welfare round.' Next time? No guarantees."
Ryuuen Kakeru shrugged.
Then, his gaze shifted, and he suddenly looked at Chris:
"Right — when Kars died, the loot he dropped, is that on you?"
Chris didn't bother hiding it. He just pulled the universal capsule housing The World Stand out of his pocket.
"Right here. Looks like one person can only fuse with one Stand, though."
"Tomorrow when we're training inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, you guys take a look and see who's a good fit. Whoever it is can take it."
Seeing Chris look so utterly unattached to it, Ryuuen Kakeru raised an eyebrow:
"Isn't Time Stop more useful than that 'repair' ability of yours? Anyway, the school force-pops this kind of item once we're back — surely you could just swap between the two discs?"
Ryuuen frowned: "The way I figure it… keeping Time Stop for yourself, and lending that 'Crazy Diamond' Stand out to someone else for support — wouldn't that be the most efficient setup?"
Chris spread his hands:
"In theory, yeah. But that's only if any of you can actually attune to it first. It's not 'whoever wants to use it gets to use it.'"
Ryuuen had a moment of realization, remembering that the catalogue did indeed mention something about 'mental strength and soul compatibility.'
He stopped pressing the point and instead pulled out two capsules from inside his jacket — the loot dropped by Esidisi and Wamuu upon their deaths.
"Aside from the disc Ayanokoji took, these other two are also Ripple-lineage discs."
"Because those two Pillar Men were worth higher point values, the Ripple energy on these discs is probably a bit stronger. One's called 'Lisa Lisa,' and the other's called 'Joseph Joestar.'"
His gaze swept over everyone:
"I'm already going down the mechanical-ascension route — I don't need this stuff. Anyone want it?"
Everyone present exchanged glances.
Sakayanagi already had Romantic Cannon, Ichinose had the Love-Love Fruit — neither of them needed Ripple reinforcement for now.
And girls like Kamuro Masumi and Shiraishi Asuka had already proven, in previous attempts, that they hadn't grasped the Ripple — handing it to them would just be a waste.
Naturally enough, then, the two Ripple discs were claimed with smiles by Amanatsu Kazuha and Kouenji Rokusuke.
After leaving the Black Sphere Space.
Because they were curious how the school was going to handle Yotsuya Miko and Hayasaka Ai, the four fixed-roster members didn't disperse right away. Following the directions Ayanokoji had sent, they made their way together to the admissions office in the academic building.
Inside the office.
Tsukishiro Tsunenari looked at Chris and the others pushing the door open with a smile, and spoke slowly:
"Hayasaka-san, Yotsuya-san — these are the core figures representing each of the first-year classes. I trust you've already met them during the exam just now."
He angled his body slightly, looking toward the two otherworld girls:
"Since the school has no way to send you home for the time being, for the sake of management, please pick a class to join."
Yotsuya Miko, with barely a moment's hesitation, turned her gaze toward Ichinose.
"Um… can I join Ichinose-san's class?"
Seeing Ichinose nod gently in agreement, Hayasaka Ai standing to one side immediately stepped forward:
"I want to join a class that can stably get me a slot in either the Black Sphere main exams or the preliminary tests. I have… reasons that mean I absolutely have to get home as quickly as possible."
At that, Sakayanagi Arisu thought it over and said:
"Going by the current preliminary tests, the actual competitive pressure to lock down a slot is going to be pretty fierce, you know."
"That said — in the end, it comes down to your own performance. If you really have the ability, and the determination, I'm sure no one would mind stepping aside for you."
Hayasaka Ai cut her eyes toward Sakayanagi, her tone firm:
"Then I'll join your class. I've gone through training since I was little, plus the points I gathered from Stone Masks — once I swap those for a Combat Suit, I'm sure I won't drag any of you down."
Sakayanagi Arisu lifted her chin in satisfaction, turned her head toward Ryuuen and Chris, and said with a small smile:
"In that case, I'll be taking her, then."
Ryuuen Kakeru gave a careless click of his tongue: "Whatever. Just don't get in my way out on the exam field."
Chris's gaze landed on Yotsuya Miko, and he said with deliberate meaning:
"Yotsuya was born with spirit-sight — so I imagine she's got some natural talent when it comes to the Ripple too. Got any plans?"
Hearing that, Yotsuya Miko's eyes dimmed somewhat.
But she quickly drew in a deep breath, forcing herself to perk up:
"If I get the chance, I'd like to try going home and seeing my mother… but for now, it seems like I can't get out…"
Seeing this, Chris knew Yotsuya Miko had grasped the fact that this wasn't a world that shared her reality. The fact that she was forcing herself to put on a brave face right now was clearly because of some sort of pact she'd made with Shiranami Chihiro.
Chris flicked a glance at Tsukishiro Tsunenari standing to one side with his usual smiling-squint, and said:
"It can't really be helped."
"That said — maybe down the line, you could try buying a chance to go visit your family, either from the Black Sphere or even from the school?"
"After all, this school's motto is 'merit above all.' As long as you've got enough points in hand, any rule should be open to negotiation, right, Director?"
Tsukishiro Tsunenari's smile didn't change. He gave a small nod:
"Of course. Though — at the end of the day, that's still going to need to be conducted 'within the rules.'"
Sakayanagi Arisu pursed her lips and said with a sardonic edge:
"Heh~ 'within the rules,' huh… seems to me the final say on interpretation still depends on what the Black Sphere has to say."
Tsukishiro Tsunenari neither confirmed nor denied it, only making a gesture of invitation.
After that, with the relevant procedures all taken care of, Hayasaka Ai and Yotsuya Miko were led off by Sakayanagi Arisu and Ichinose respectively, heading to the logistics office to pick up dorm keys and first-year textbooks.
Chris, after exchanging brief goodbyes with Ayanokoji and Kouenji, turned and walked out of the academic building.
Following the location-share on his phone, he went looking for Karuizawa Kei, who had taken the initiative to reach out to him.
As he walked through the tree-lined path that connected the academic buildings, just as Chris had expected, standing alongside Karuizawa Kei were Horikita Suzune, Nanase Tsubasa with their various expressions, and… Kushida Kikyo.
Chris stepped up, puzzled:
"You're all gathered here for something? Not going to rest?"
Karuizawa Kei nodded, then turned her gaze toward Horikita Suzune.
Horikita Suzune cut straight to the point:
"I've noticed something."
"Just now, after coming back from the exam, the T-Virus inside me wasn't forcibly extracted into a universal capsule by the Black Sphere the way Ayanokoji's Parasyte was."
"I asked him about it, and apparently his Stroheim Ripple disc has also been retained inside his body."
Horikita Suzune looked at Chris: "So I was thinking… the Black Sphere's standard for what counts as 'dangerous' might not be as strict as we initially imagined…"
Chris thought it over and answered:
"That tracks. But going by Katsuragi Kohei's exam experience… inside the exam zone, it looks like you can extract purchased weapons through your Black Sphere wristwatch."
"It's just that they don't have the convenience of things like the Ripple — which gets stored inside the body and is active anytime, anywhere."
Horikita Suzune's mouth opened and closed; only then did she recall that detail, and she looked instantly a bit chagrined.
Seeing the atmosphere getting a touch dry, Nanase Tsubasa stepped forward of her own accord to cut in and ease things:
"Senpai, I've now saved up enough S Points to buy a Combat Suit. If I want to make the purchase… do I have to wait until the next Black Sphere exam opens and I enter the Black Sphere room before I can do it?"
Chris nodded:
"As things stand, with the Black Sphere not having opened wristwatch permissions to us, yeah — that's how it is."
"That said, I think this restriction will probably get lifted soon."
"Because at everyone's current pace, barring something unexpected, plenty of people are going to scrape together enough S Points to buy a Combat Suit very soon. For convenience's sake, the Black Sphere will probably adjust accordingly."
Chris glanced up at the sky:
"Like the Hyperbolic Time Chamber — that only appeared after our midterm exams. I figure it was because we had exams on Saturday and the following Monday, and the Black Sphere was worried we wouldn't have time to keep up."
Nanase Tsubasa listened intently, then pressed on with another question:
"Then… senpai."
"Can I sign up to take part in the next Black Sphere exam?"
Chris mulled it over for a moment, then said:
"As long as the preliminary tests aren't forcibly deducting lives at the moment, and with Ayanokoji and Kouenji and the others holding the front line, yeah — you newcomers can take turns participating in the tests and trading up for Combat Suits."
"That said — the next exam's on Monday. You really ready for that?"
Nanase Tsubasa clasped both hands in front of her chest and answered in earnest:
"Just like Horikita-senpai taught me. There's no escaping this for any of us."
"And if we can't escape it, then we have no choice but to try and adapt to it, to overcome it! I've already made my resolve."
Hearing that, Chris cast a glance at Kushida Kikyo, who stood off to the side keeping her smile in place: "All right."
Nanase Tsubasa looked profoundly relieved, and bowed deeply to Chris and Horikita Suzune:
"Thank you, senpai! I absolutely will not betray the expectations you and Horikita-senpai have placed on me!"
Watching Nanase Tsubasa's retreating back, Chris pulled his gaze back and turned to Karuizawa and Kushida, who'd stayed where they were:
"All right, the newcomer's business is sorted. The two of you — you specifically called me out here. Anything else you wanted to say?"
Karuizawa Kei pressed her lips together, her eyes drifting around the open space around them. In a small voice, she said:
"Chris-kun. Can we, maybe… go into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to talk?"
"Out here… I'm scared the walls have ears."
Chris glanced at her with some surprise.
But he didn't turn her down either.
After all, given the rate at which they were currently earning evaluation points, even staying in the Time Chamber a bit longer, the cost was something he could absolutely absorb.
He raised his wrist and operated his Black Sphere wristwatch with a few quick taps.
Once the three girls present had accepted the invitation, in the next instant, the four of them vanished from the spot.
When her feet touched the ground again.
Looking at the pure-white space around them, Kushida Kikyo seemed briefly taken aback:
"This place… for some reason it feels strangely familiar…"
Kushida Kikyo joked half-seriously: "After we wrap up our final exams, the exam venue's not going to suddenly get upgraded from that musty little room straight into this place, is it?"
Only after she'd finished did she realize that the surroundings were oddly quiet — only her own echo was drifting through the air.
The girl instinctively shut her mouth.
She turned her head — and discovered that Chris, Karuizawa Kei, and even the usually cool-faced Horikita Suzune were all staring at her with the strangest expressions.
Kushida Kikyo's heart gave a sudden 'thud,' as though she'd just remembered something that could get her killed.
She frantically waved her hands, panicked enough that cold sweat was nearly breaking out on her:
"Th-that — I really am not someone the Black Sphere sent in!"
"That info and those rules the Black Sphere posted earlier — me being able to guess them right a few times… I swear, it really was just intuition and coincidence!"
"And besides, with surveillance all over the school, if the Black Sphere really wanted to eavesdrop on us talking, that'd be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?!"
Looking at Kushida and her near-tearful, panicked state.
Horikita Suzune cut in to put a stop to the farce:
"Enough — put your persecution complex away. I trust that you're not the mole."
"After all, no 'connected insider' with even a normally functioning IQ would saunter into an exam this loaded with hidden dangers without bothering to secure themselves even the slightest privilege."
Horikita didn't pull her punches: "Considering you got scared half to death from just running into a low-grade vampire… rather than believing you're a connected insider, I'd find it more believable to suspect that Chris is the seasoned veteran."
At that, Horikita Suzune turned her sharp gaze toward Chris:
"Otherwise, I genuinely struggle to understand how, in a mortal body, he could be on par with — or even completely overwhelm — those of us wearing Combat Suits… that's borderline outrageous."
Chris stroked his chin, picking up Horikita's thread half in jest:
"Honestly, I do feel like my body isn't quite normal — terrifyingly strong, even…"
"Maybe what you're saying really is a possibility. But personally, I don't remember anything related to that."
Karuizawa Kei, seeing the conversation drifting further off-topic, hurried a step forward:
"There's no need to fixate on those vague, untouchable past things! Just be who you are right now, that's all that matters!"
Listening to Karuizawa coming to his defense like that, Chris felt a touch of warm relief:
"Kei, looks like under pressure, you've finally grown up too…"
"All right — enough small talk. You guys specifically dragged me out to this guaranteed-confidential place — what's the urgent matter?"
Karuizawa Kei didn't speak right away. Instead, she turned her head and looked at Kushida Kikyo with a complicated expression.
Pinned by Karuizawa's stare like that, Kushida Kikyo couldn't help feeling like she was being prickled all over.
But she also knew perfectly well that the Hyperbolic Time Chamber was, by now, the most absolutely secure place at Advanced Nurturing High. If she didn't speak up here, then once they walked out that door, she'd have even less courage to bring it up.
After a brief silence, Kushida Kikyo forced down her embarrassment.
She took two steps forward, pressed her palms together in front of her chest, and looked up at Chris with a pleading gaze:
"Chris-san…"
"For the special training going forward… could you, please, bring me along too?!"
After getting beaten down through both the Uninhabited Island exam and the ruins test, Kushida Kikyo had at last seen the picture clearly.
The idea of simply ingratiating herself with someone, latching on, and serving as a useless accessory…
The prerequisite for that was — first you have to actually survive long enough for that 'big thigh' to show up and save you!For that reason, gaining the most basic self-preservation power was a precondition she had to meet in the near term!
But this request of hers, made with what looked like grand resolve, was, from where Chris stood, really not that big a deal.
Chris answered with an even expression:
"Sure."
"Our class evaluation is at 4,580 right now. Allocating one day per person for everyone to get familiar with the Black Sphere's weapons and gear inside the Time Chamber — that level of expenditure is completely fine."
"If you want to start getting familiar with things, you can start right now. I'll open the permissions for you all, and you can use your wristwatches to pick the practice setting that suits you best."
Hearing that.
Even though Kushida Kikyo still had a few other things on her mind she wanted to say —
Being the master at reading the air that she was, she instantly picked up on the fact that Karuizawa Kei seemed to have something more private she wanted to say to Chris.
So, reading the room, she tapped at her wristwatch a few times.
"Thank you so much! I'll go practice over there first! I absolutely won't get in your way!"
Since the first step had been achieved, she could take her time figuring out how to deepen the relationship after this.
After all, she refused to believe that her pride-and-joy social skills couldn't bring down one high-school boy!
She refused even more to believe she could be unlucky enough to get randomly drawn as a worldline-crasher by the Black Sphere two times in a row!
Watching Kushida disappear from view.
Chris turned to look at Karuizawa Kei and Horikita Suzune, who had stayed behind.
"There aren't any outsiders here now."
Chris folded his arms across his chest. "Out with it. The two of you have been being awfully cryptic — what gourd are you selling medicine out of?"
Karuizawa Kei pressed her lips together and turned to look at Horikita Suzune.
Seeing her — like a startled quail, head buried so low even the tips of her ears had gone red, the usual cool-queen composure utterly gone —
Karuizawa Kei clenched her teeth, and then, with a hardened heart, raised her head and looked Chris directly in the eyes:
"Chris-san…"
"You said it to me yourself, didn't you — that the 'future' in this world has already gone out of operation, and the only thing we can really hold on to is 'now'… right?"
The girl's voice trembled, but her words didn't stop.
"So — so that one day, when I suddenly die, I won't be left with regrets…"
"I… can I please be allowed to like you? Chris-san."
The moment those words came out.
It wasn't just Chris who was stunned.
Even Horikita Suzune, who had been mortified to begin with, snapped her phoenix-eyes wide open in utter disbelief.
Weren't we just supposed to euphemistically hint at it?!
Why did you just throw a direct, dead-center fastball confession?!!
But Karuizawa Kei paid no mind to Horikita's shock; she only clenched the hem of her skirt tightly and went on:
"Because I myself have no idea exactly when I'll end up dying on the exam field…"
"So — can I, please… can I be allowed to leave a little space in your heart that belongs to me?"
"I'm not being greedy — I don't need you to give me some sole, exclusive promise… I just need one spare corner, just enough to let me know that, at some point, you've held me in your thoughts. That alone would be enough…"
Looking at this near-pleading look of hers, Chris awkwardly scratched at his head:
"This… doesn't really sound like a confession."
"To me, this is starting to sound more like a 'live for the moment' thing coming from somewhere with a hint of self-abandonment, under high-pressure stress."
Karuizawa Kei shook her head stubbornly and pushed back:
"Wasn't it you, Chris-kun, who told me to be brave enough to be myself?"
"Sure, the Black Sphere did say that, once we gained the strength to protect our own world, it would let us go."
"But who knows where that so-called 'threshold' actually lies?"
The girl smiled a touch bitterly:
"By now we're already crossing the dimensions between worlds… I really, truly can't believe that someone as ordinary as me will keep getting lucky enough to hold on until the day this is all cleared…"
Seeing Karuizawa Kei push the conversation to this point.
Horikita Suzune, who had been silently playing dead this whole time, finally couldn't help but let out a sigh.
She picked up the thread:
"To be honest — it isn't that Karuizawa and I have thrown away a girl's sense of shame. It's just… right now, we really only have the option of choosing to trust in 'the present.'"
Horikita Suzune raised her head, her finely featured, beautiful face stripped of its usual cold pride — leaving only a real, honest fragility and yearning:
"At the very least, before death actually comes for us… we want to grab hold of a little bit of certain happiness first — to leave some concrete proof that we existed in this world."
"That way, when death does come for us, when we close our eyes for the last time… we won't have hearts left full of nothing but regrets."
She looked Chris dead in the eye:
"That's something I only really figured out after you snapped me awake earlier."
____
👻🔥+40 ch: Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Homelander: Founding the Hero Association
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