Invaders of the Rokujouma!? Volume 2

by Takehaya

  Both girls were left astonished, but noticing one another’s surprise, they peeked at the other’s notes.

  “Hehehehehehe!”

  “Hahahahahaha!”

  They both laughed at was written on the other’s piece of paper. Despite their laughter, however, they were glaring at one another. They clenched their fists as they squared off. It looked like they were about to start a fight.

  “I thought it would come to this. The path to invasion is a bloody one...”

  Kiriha’s note read: “An A-cup or smaller bra.”

  “Hah! Bring it on, Kurano Kiriha!”

  And Theia’s note read: “A D-cup or bigger bra.”

  Kiriha was sad and Theia was excited. Though they felt the complete opposite about it, they were about to do the same thing. What they each needed was right in front of them. They were both planning on beating the other down and taking what they needed by force.

  Once they started running again, Harumi and Yurika began moving up in the rankings. That was in part due to the majority of the leading group retiring at the eighth obstacle, but they were also running much quicker than before.

  “I wonder what happened to me... Not only do I feel much better, but I feel faster than before I collapsed...”

  “You don’t need to worry about that at all, Sakuraba-senpai. It would be a different story if you weren’t feeling very good, but you’re fine now after all!”

  Although Yurika dismissed it, Harumi was right. They were both inexplicably moving at a faster pace than before. It was as if they had actually become trained marathon runners. No matter how quickly they ran, neither one felt out of breath or slightest bit of exhaustion. Anyone would have found it odd, especially Harumi.

  “But I really am curious...”

  “Then just think of it as a spell I cast. I’m not wearing this outfit just for show, you know!”

  “Nijino-san... Heehee, okay. I think I’ll do that. That would be more dreamlike wouldn’t, it?”

  Thanks to Yurika’s cheerful words, a smile returned to Harumi’s lips. Even though she knew there was no such thing as magic, it would be more fun to think there was. That was how Harumi began to think of it.

  “That’s right! I’m the magic girl of love and courage! Of hopes and dreams!”

  I’m glad. Sakuraba-senpai’s gotten a lot more energetic...

  Seeing Harumi so animated in both mind and body, Yurika couldn’t help but feel happy. Harumi was now convinced that Yurika was a cosplayer, but Yurika had no intention of correcting her despite her daily struggle to do so with everyone else.

  This wasn’t magic. This was good luck brought about by Sakuraba-senpai’s hard work...

  In reality, it was the white magic that Yurika had used. But if she convinced Harumi of that, it would feel like denying all of her hard work to get here. That was why Yurika insisted that it was a stroke of luck in Harumi’s favor.

  If it’s for her, I’m fine with being called a cosplayer. I just want Sakuraba-senpai to believe in herself.

  Yurika had hated the obstacle marathon just a few minutes ago, but now she really was enjoying it. She wasn’t even quite sure herself why that was.

  “L-Look, Nijino-san! We can see the school gate from here!”

  “You’re right! We’re almost there!”

  The two girls could see the Kisshouharukaze High School gates from the road now. Their long-sought goal was just ahead of them.

  “Gwahh?!”

  “Gwhah!”

  As Harumi and Yurika ran through the school gates, Theia and Kiriha’s fists connected with each other’s faces.

  “Did that settle it?! As Kurano went for a right jab, Theia went for a cross-counter! But Kurano saw through it and readjusted her aim! It looks like they both landed a heavy blow and have taken each other out!”

  It was true. They’d both taken the full power of a punch to the face, leaving their heads turned in very odd directions. It seemed as though they were frozen like that.

  “Let’s hear a breakdown from the boxing club advisor, Tange-sensei! Sensei, what do you think?”

  “So, so close! If Theia just had a little bit more reach, it would’ve ended up just like she had planned! This was not her fault! If only she had a little bit more reach!”

  The excited voices of the commentators echoed through the schoolyard. Meanwhile, Theia and Kiriha remained motionless, but they eventually ran out of power and both collapsed at the same time.

  “It’s a double KO!”

  “Well done, Theia! The match may have been a draw, but you were the real boxing champion here!”

  The crowd in bleachers stood up. Their cheers of joy and applause flooded the schoolyard. However, neither Theia nor Kiriha heard any of it. They had indeed knocked each other out.

  “B-Boxing...?”

  “Is the tenth obstacle a fist fight?!”

  Harumi and Yurika anxiously ran past Theia and Kiriha who were collapsed on the track. They both disliked fighting, so the prospect of tenth obstacle like that truly troubled them.

  “S-Satomi-kun? Even Satomi-kun was...!”

  “Wh-Who did this to him?! I don’t want a fist fight!”

  Koutarou was on the ground not too far from Theia and Kiriha. Seeing that, Harumi and Yurika got even more anxious.

  “It’s not really that hard of an obstacle,” Sanae, still floating over Koutarou, scoffed.

  “...R-Really?” Yurika let out a small sigh of relief.

  “Koutarou collapsed because he was tired. And those two were just fighting each other because they had the chance.”

  “I see. Th-Thank god...”

  Normally Yurika would be terrified of Sanae, but right now she was surprised by too much else to let it get to her. She flashed Sanae a big, relieved grin. However, Sanae herself was still in a foul mood. She was angry at Koutarou, who still hadn’t woke up.

  “Nijino-san, are you talking to someone?”

  “N-Not at all! I’m just talking to myself!”

  Harumi couldn’t see Sanae, much less hear her. Seeing Yurika talk to Sanae while wearing the outfit she was in did look a bit... strange. Even to Harumi.

  “I see. That’s good...”

  Harumi was honestly relieved. Cosplaying was one thing, but talking to someone who wasn’t there was a little scary. Surely just talking to herself was fine though.

  “Welcome back, ladies!”

  Shortly thereafter, Harumi and Yurika arrived at the tenth obstacle. Greeting them was of course the cosplay society.

  “Vice president!”

  “You’re finally here, Yurika-chan!”

  “Um, what is the tenth obstacle?”

  “It’s a scavenger hunt! Hurry up you two and draw your items from this box! There are some people ahead of you, but if you hurry, you can still make it!”

  The vice president quickly explained the situation and presented the box to them. The cosplay society members obviously wanted Yurika to win, so they all cheered her on.

  Currently, Yurika and Harumi were in seventh and eighth place. Although technically with Koutarou, Theia, and Kiriha all passed out, they were actually fourth and fifth. That meant there were only three people ahead of them. They had already dashed into the crowd to find what they needed for the scavenger hunt, so Harumi and Yurika did still stand a chance if they hurried.

  “Let’s do this, Sakuraba-senpai!”

  “All right!”

  They put their hands in the box and drew their cards together. Unlike Theia and Kiriha, they did so calmly. Yurika and Harumi were bonding through friendship, not bloodlust.

  “Ah...”

  “Auugh...”

  As they opened their notes, Harumi’s expression lit up while Yurika’s turned gloomy.

  “I got this. What did you get, Nijino-san?”

  “I got this...”

  They revealed their cards to each other. Harumi’s read: “A junior in your club.” Yurika’s read: “A friend.”

&nbs
p; “All right! Let’s go, Nijino-san!”

  “Auugh... Go on ahead, Sakuraba-senpai. I have to retire here.”

  Yurika’s shoulders slumped as she looked down despondently. Her eyes were dim and she let out a heavy sigh.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t have any friends.”

  Harumi only needed a junior in her club, so she just had to bring Koutarou with her. But Yurika needed a friend. Being new in town, that was a tall order for her.

  “So just go on ahead without me.”

  “It’ll be okay, Yurika-san.” However, Harumi gave her a gentle smile. “Your friend is right here.”

  “Huh...?”

  Harumi held her hands in front of her chest and lightly tilted her head.

  “Or am I not sufficient?”

  “N-No, it’s not that at all! I-It’s an honor, Sakuraba-senpai!”

  Yurika’s mood instantly changed. Tears welled in her eyes, a sign of the joy she felt.

  “But in exchange, I would like you to ask you for a favor.”

  “A favor?”

  Yurika stared blankly at Harumi and blinked a few times. Seeing that, Harumi happily winked at her and put on a special smile she rarely showed anyone.

  “Could you help me carry Satomi-kun?”

  “Ah... O-Of course! For as long as you like!”

  “Thank you, Nijino-san,”

  “No, I should be the one thanking you.”

  The two of them laughed together and ran over to Koutarou, who laid collapsed by the tenth obstacle.

  Winners, Losers, and Overtime

  Sunday, May 10th

  “H-Huh...?”

  Koutarou woke up as the victory ceremony for the obstacle marathon was beginning. Some time had passed since he’d passed out, and the scenery was now dyed orange by the evening sun.

  “You’re finally awake...”

  As Koutarou fully opened his eyes, he saw a pouting Sanae. She was in a bad mood after waiting for him to wake up for so long.

  “Sanae... Huh? Wait, what happened to the obstacle marathon?! Where am I?!”

  Koutarou jumped up and looked around. He was in the emergency medical tent next to the sports festivals headquarters. Despite its name, it wasn’t outfitted like a hospital and its “medical” value was pretty limited. It was just a standard outdoor tent with a blue vinyl sheet laid out so people could rest. Apart from Koutarou, there were two others lying in the tent: Theia and Kiriha. The staff had left the three of them there on their own when they were called to the eighth obstacle.

  “It was over a long time ago. You passed out and retired just before the tenth obstacle.”

  “Th-Then who won?! Was it Theia?! Or Kiriha-san?! Who was it?!”

  Koutarou pointed at the two unconscious girls as he demanded to know the results of the competition. He wasn’t asking for the results of the obstacle marathon so much as he was the rankings for the residents of room 106.

  “Neither. It was us and Yurika.”

  “What...?”

  Sanae’s answer left Koutarou dumbfounded. It was an outcome he never could’ve imagined.

  Me, Sanae, and Yurika won...?! But how?! I dropped out of the race!

  “Wh-What does this mean? How did it come to me and Yurika winning?”

  Unable to comprehend the situation, Koutarou shook Sanae’s shoulders.

  “C-C-Calm down!”

  “How could I possibly calm down?!”

  Koutarou kept shaking Sanae. Having given up on running away, Sanae tried her best to answer him.

  “Th-Theia and Kiriha knocked each other out in a fist fight. Though they got a special award from the judges, th-they were unconscious and counted as out of the race. After that, Harumi and Yurika tied. So you, me, and Yurika will end up taking points from Theia and Kiriha.”

  “W-Wait a minute, Sanae! You’re saying that Sakuraba-senpai and Yurika won?!”

  Koutarou was so surprised that he stopped shaking Sanae for a moment, but he soon started shaking her at twice the speed. He simply couldn’t believe that Harumi and Yurika had won.

  “Heee-eeey, K-Koooutaaaroouuu, stoooop...!”

  “What do you mean?! Explain yourself right now!”

  “If you want to me explain then stop shaking me, you idiot!”

  A first aid kit fell on Koutarou. It was Sanae’s Poltergeist powers at work.

  “O-Oooooww!”

  The corner of the first aid kit hit him square in the head. Because of the impact, he let go of Sanae to hold on to his head.

  “Phew, jeez...”

  “D-Don’t be so reckless...”

  “You’re the one being reckless! Seriously...”

  Finally free from Koutarou, Sanae floated up into the air, put both of her hands on her hips, and puffed up her cheeks indignantly. Only then did she take it upon herself to explain everything.

  “Well, everyone was slowed down by the minefield, right? And most of the leaders had to retire.”

  “Yeah.”

  “During that time, Harumi and Yurika caught up and won the race.”

  Thanks to the minefield at the eighth obstacle, the pace of the majority of the competitors slowed down to a crawl. Lots of participants tried to rush through it, but the most of them failed and had to drop out.

  But by the time Harumi and Yurika got there, most of the mines had already been detonated and they were able to cross without any problems. As a result, the minefield ended up helping them out quite a bit.

  “B-But even then, those two making that kind of comeback is just...”

  “Instead of doubting me, why don’t you just watch the victory ceremony?”

  Sanae pointed out of the tent, but Koutarou was still in disbelief. Beyond the exit was a podium surrounded by a crowd. In order to get a better look, he jumped out of the tent.

  “Oh...”

  On top of the podium were Harumi and Yurika, just as Sanae had said.

  “And the winners are the knitting society and cosplay society, despite both being liberal arts interest societies! Congratulations! Well done!”

  The principal’s excited voice boomed through the speakers. Harumi and Yurika blushed as they were being praised by the people around them. As they were both rather introverted, they were unused to this kind of thing. But as the principal handed them the trophy, they both smiled at each other.

  “Th-They really won...”

  “See? I told you so.”

  “I can’t believe it...”

  “Yeah, you and everyone else.”

  Sanae shrugged. It didn’t matter how little Koutarou believed the principal congratulating the two girls on top of the podium. It didn’t make the least bit of difference whether he actually believed it or not. Those two girls really won.

  “...Oh well, in the end it all worked out.”

  “You could say that.”

  Harumi was on the podium and Koutarou had won against the invaders. It was the perfect outcome for him.

  I wonder if god noticed how hard she was working for it... Isn’t that great, Senpai?

  Thinking of it like that made the results a little easier to accept. Koutarou stared at the two standing on top of the podium with a smile. They were proudly holding on to the trophy and smiling themselves.

  “...I-It didn’t all work out...”

  “Landlord-san?!”

  That was when Shizuka suddenly appeared in front of Koutarou, blocking his view of the podium. Her whole body was covered in black powder and her hairstyle now looked like an afro.

  “Where’s the idiot who planted mines at the eighth obstacle?!”

  The reason she looked like that was of course because she had been caught up in several of the explosions at the eighth obstacle. Even though the mines didn’t actually harm anyone, getting caught in the blasts had left her sooty and singed. She looked like she’d just barely escaped a fire. It was so bad that Koutarou couldn’t tell it was Shizuka until he heard her voice.

  “Satomi-kun!
Nothing good will come from hiding it from me!”

  Shizuka was worse for wear, but her eyes were burning with rage. Her anger was fierce, and she approached Koutarou menacingly, breathing heavily with each step.

  “O-Over there! She’s sleeping in the emergency medical tent!”

  Overwhelmed by Shizuka’s looming aura, Koutarou told her where Theia was. He didn’t have any intention of hiding the truth from Shizuka, and he wasn’t confident he could hide it from her even if he wanted to.

  “So she’s over there?!”

  Shizuka cracked her knuckles.

  She’s dead. Theia is so dead...

  Koutarou could hear Theia’s lifespan shorten with every knuckle Shizuka cracked. Shizuka left the frightened Koutarou behind and approached the tent with slow, heavy footsteps.

  “Forgive me, Tulip.”

  Even though he knew Theia was in danger, Koutarou found himself unable to move. That was just how scary Shizuka was. Besides, he was still angry at her too.

  “No, I won’t forgive you.”

  As Koutarou was apologizing, someone else appeared in front of him.

  “Mackenzie?”

  “And it’s not just me.”

  Kenji stood before Koutarou, followed by three large guys. He wasn’t in much better shape than Shizuka. His face and pure white tuxedo were now pitch black. His hair was a mess too.

  “Hey, first-year brat!”

  “I’ve been dying to meet you...”

  “Gottsan desu!”

  It was none other than the upperclassmen from the rugby, judo, and sumo clubs. Like Shizuka and Kenji, they too were pitch black and could only be told apart by their distinct uniforms. If they had been wearing gym clothes like everyone else, they would have been indiscernible from each other.

  “Well, you see, Kou. These upperclassmen wanted to talk to you.”

  Kenji grinned as he cleaned his glasses with a handkerchief. They were about as dark as the smile on his face.

  “Uhhhhh... Wh-What can I help you with, Senpais?”

  They couldn’t have...

  A cold shiver ran down Koutarou’s back. Kenji appearing with these guys could only mean one thing.

  “We wanted to thank you for what you did back at the start.”