Chapter 799 - A Sprinting Greeting
A simple, practical top and form-fitting hakama trousers, complemented by matte-finished gauntlets and leggings.
On his feet were, of course, waraji sandals, dyed a thorough, light-swallowing black. And as for the finishing touch on his head… well, it was exactly what you’d expect.
To top it all off, a cloth hood covered his head, revealing only his eyes—an accessory that frantically shuttle-ran between traditional chic and “suspicious person.” Really, there was only one way to describe the sight.
"A ninja… I knew it, but still…"
"It's kind of painful to look at, isn't it?"
As I murmured my thoughts on seeing him in the flesh—having already looked up his appearance beforehand—a rather scathing comment flew in from beside me.
"He walks around town like that, you know. He just loves gathering all sorts of stares, so I can't be seen walking next to him for… various reasons."
"Ah, yeah, I can imagine… for various reasons…"
Even if she was putting on an incredible performance to become a different person, she was still the one and only 'Painter-slash-Idol-Voice-Actress-slash-Illustrator-Archiver (and 20-year-old university student)'. Her fame was just too immense.
If the wrong person saw her, there could be trouble. She was probably trying to avoid any unnecessary attention.
In any case, I guess this is just how comrades talk to each other.
"Not mincing words…"
Her sweet, fluffy voice—a knife in disguise—must have pierced his heart. The ninja-dono wilted, letting out a pained sound… and, well, I know it's rude to say, but…
He, uh, how do I put this—he had no sense of gravitas.
"…Right. He seems like a friendly fellow."
"Wow, such carefully chosen, considerate words. As expected of you, Haru-san."
"Is it just me, or are you taking a completely different kind of jab at me now?"
Well, let's put aside the painter-slash-idol-etcetera-sama for a moment, whose difficulty to interact with might be second only to a certain maid named Itsuki…
""…""
Following our first contact just moments ago, our eyes met again.
His eyes were black, as were mine. But while I personally think my own eyes have a rather childish look to them, his were slightly sanpaku, giving them a nice, sharp edge.
Just as I thought, I felt strangely little presence or pressure from him… but that aside, as a man, there was something I had to say to him, face-to-face.
Namely,
"—That looks awesome. Nice ninja."
"…!!!!"
I offered a hand and a word of praise.
"Ehh…"
I heard the little chick beside me let out a sweet, fluffy chirp of dismay, but unfortunately for her, I'm a boy. Or rather, an eternal idiot who keeps a perpetual elementary schooler in his heart.
Cool things are cool.
This is a world of dreams, and more so than in reality, I cannot lie to my own heart.
"…I knew it. From everything… all of it… seeing you, I knew it, but…!"
And so, the ninja's black glove met my outstretched right hand. The gaze from his sanpaku eyes, peeking from under the hood, was no longer just sharp—it was now filled with a fiery emotion.
"You… you are a man who understands what's truly cool…!!"
"Good is good. Please, continue to walk your 'path'."
To be honest, a part of me was thinking, What is this?
"—I'm [Hayagake]. It's an honor to meet you, First Clearer-kun."
"Haru. The honor is all mine, great pioneer-dono."
Don't look at me with such a deadpan expression, Hiyodori-san. It may be sad, but we men don't exactly hate this sort of thing—
And so.
"…————————————"
The former fastest man and, with all due respect, the current fastest man had finally met face-to-face.
And by a strange twist of fate, we were both boys who understood what was cool.
In other words, a pair of idiots who recognized the perpetual elementary schooler dwelling within each other's hearts.
"…Ah, Hiyodori-kun."
"Yes?"
Once we had finished our introductions, the next step was an inevitable, unspoken understanding.
Alright. Let's do this…
"Excuse me for a sec… watch out."
"Huh? Wha—"
Rotta pulled the chick who was standing next to me aside, ensuring the surrounding area was safe. With that, any and all concerns about the great event about to unfold vanished.
Therefore,
"…On your mark…"
There was no hesitation in my voice as I recited the ritual.
"…Get set."
The ninja replied, his smile widening as he continued the count.
""——————————!""
The "Go!" was the sound of us both shattering the air.
The rules were established in an instant, bound only by our mutual pride.
No boosts from active skills or equipment. The only things permitted were the aid of passive skills that couldn't be turned off and the base stats we had built up ourselves.
Ah, I was missing something important.
There were one or two more things to fuel our legs—
"Nnguuuuaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh-YAHHHH!!!"
"Doryaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh-EAAHHHHHH!!!"
—an absolute faith in the techniques we had endlessly polished, and just a little bit of grit.
Off the starting dash, I was the one who shot ahead. The course was decided on a whim, fueled by pure adrenaline; a single lap around the perimeter of Green Connect. Ten kilometers should be more than enough, I decided.
It was the natural outcome. My jump motion was reduced by `Rega-Lielta`, my initial speed was boosted by various skills, and as if to say there were no holds barred on technique, I even ignited `Matoi` without a shred of mercy. There was no way I could lose at the start.
That was my initial ranking—but my skin tingled.
I couldn't stop my cheeks from curling into a grin at the presence that had stuck right to my back.
The area around the massive crater where Green Connect sat was less a forest and more a gigantic grove, with trees dotting the landscape. In other words, it was a terrain littered with exquisitely placed obstacles, not at all easy to run through.
Of course, if you were just jogging at a normal speed, there'd be no problem. But it's a different story when you're sprinting nonstop at several hundred kilometers per hour.
It was a race to the limit, where even grazing an obstacle would guarantee you become a stain on a tree.
Using my 'talent', I had 'memorized' the entire scene visible from the starting point. I was tracing a pre-planned path almost unconsciously, my usual extreme-motor-control-human-macro maneuver in peak condition—however, since I was running in a circle,
the 'information' supporting my legs, allowing me to dash past every obstacle, would eventually run out.
"Ngh—…!!!"
He passed me.
After completing the first leg of my planned route. That 'breath intake' I absolutely needed to plot the next course—it was the one clear, insurmountable opening in the legs of a man who had earned the title of 'fastest' through a method no one else could replicate. A fatal point of stagnation.
The presence on my back vanished, a gust of wind caressed my cheek,
and leaping out in front of me was a jet-black wind, running with absolute confidence.
What kind of technique was that built upon?
How much training did it take to achieve such a feat?
How many—hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of times—did he have to become a 'stain' on the ground, on walls, on everything else, before he established that principle?
…Ah, ahhhhhh—
Bring it on, you bastard.
"I'm not gonna lose."
External rotation output 'Kai'—critical convergence.
Memorization complete. Route constructed. Movement set.
Now, one step.
"Wha—…?!"
And behind me, a voice of astonishment. Now we're even. Let's run until our hearts are content.
Breaking away, passing, being passed, and what lies beyond the finish line… it's clear that a new, precious, and priceless friendship, of a kind I've never known, is already shining blindingly bright.
Ah, those two lovable boys (idiots).
※Cringe Warning※ With that, please forgive me for the consecutive posts, which include an apology for the huge blunder in the previous chapter. I depicted it as if Rotta-san would be participating, but since he is a former rank holder of Istia, he gets caught by the 'slot restriction'. He can't join. The text has already been corrected, so I would be very grateful if you could take a quick look at the beginning of the previous chapter. I am truly sorry, please forgive me.