kscans

Chapter 799 - A Sprinting Greeting

A simple, practical top and fitted hakama trousers, topped with matte-finished gauntlets and leggings.

His feet were, of course, protected by waraji sandals, which were also dyed a light-swallowing black—a testament to his thoroughness. As for the final touch, his head… well, it was exactly what you’d expect.

And the finishing blow was the single piece of cloth covering his head, revealing only his eyes, which furiously flip-flopped between the “sophistication” of traditional attire and a suspicious person. As I thought, there was only one word for it.

"A ninja… I knew it, but…"

"It's just painful, isn't it?"

As I voiced my impression of his ‘live appearance,’ which I’d already researched beforehand, a rather scathing comment flew in from next to me.

"He walks around town dressed like that, you know. He just loves to be the center of attention, so for various reasons, I can't be seen walking next to him."

"Ah, yeah, for various reasons…"

Even if she was playing a different person with terrifying acting skills, she was still the ‘Archiver, illustrator, idol voice actress, and 20-year-old university student’ with an absolutely immense level of fame.

If the wrong person saw her, something could happen. She was probably trying to avoid any unnecessary attention.

In any case, you could tell they were close.

"So blunt…"

Her sweet, fluffy voice (which was actually a knife) must have pierced his heart. The ninja-don who was now wilting with a forlorn sigh… well, and I say this knowing full well how rude it is…

He had, uh, no… presence.

"…Yeah. He seems like an approachable fellow."

"Wow, such carefully chosen words. You're amazing, Haru-san."

"Am I just imagining things, or are you taking a jab at me from a completely different angle?"

Anyway, putting aside the artist-idol-etcetera-sama, who might be the second most difficult person to interact with after a certain maid named Itsuki…

""………………""

Following our first contact just a few dozen seconds ago, our eyes met again.

Both his and my eyes are black. But unlike mine, which I personally feel are rather childish, his were slightly sanpaku and had a nice, sharp edge to them.

As expected, I didn't feel any presence or pressure from him, which was strange… but setting 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'm sorry that the little bird next to me is chirping with a sweet, fluffy voice, but unfortunately, I'm a boy. In other words, I'm an incorrigible fool with an eternal elementary schooler living in my heart.

What's cool is cool.

This is a world of dreams, after all, so I can't lie to my own heart, especially not more than in reality.

"…I knew it. I saw it all, I understood…!"

The ninja's black glove met my outstretched right hand. The sanpaku eyes peeking from under his hood were now filled not only with sharpness but also with a new, fiery emotion.

"You're a man… who understands… romance!!"

"Good is good. Please, continue to walk your 'path'."

Well, to be honest, I was thinking, what is this? myself, but…

"—I'm [Hayagake]. It's an honor to meet you, First Clearer-kun."

"I'm Haru. The honor is all mine, great forerunner-dono."

Don't look at me with such a blank face, Hiyodori-san. It's a sad thing, but we men are not at all averse to this kind of thing—

And so.

"…………──────────────"

The revered former fastest and the feared, yet current fastest, finally met face to face.

And by a strange coincidence, we were both boys who understood romance.

Or rather, fools who acknowledged the eternal elementary schoolers living in our hearts.

"…Ah, Hiyodori-kun."

"Yes?"

Once such men have finished their introductions, what follows is an inevitable, unspoken understanding.

Alright, it's on. Let's get this started…

"Excuse me for a sec… watch out."

"Huh, what—"

Lot-- Irori pulled the chick next to me by the hand, and with the surrounding area secured, any and all concerns about the major event about to unfold vanished.

Therefore,

"…On your mark…"

There was no hesitation in the voice chanting the 'ritual'.

"…get set."

And the ninja, responding, added the second phrase with a smile.

""──────────!!""

The 'go' was the impact of us both shattering the air.

The rules were established in an instant, accompanied by nothing more than our pride.

No cheating with boosts from active skills or equipment. The only things permitted were the aid of passive skills that couldn't be turned off and the basic stats we had built up.

Ah, something important was missing.

One or two more things to fuel our legs were—

"Nnghhaaaaaaaahhhhhhaaaaaaahhhh-YEAHHH!!!"

"Doryaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhaaaa-RAAAAHHH!!!"

—an absolute faith in the skills we've relentlessly polished, and a little bit of grit.

Off the starting dash, I was the one who took the lead. The course was a hundred percent decided on a whim and pure energy; I figured a lap around the perimeter of Green Connect would be enough since it's over ten kilometers long.

It was a natural outcome. The jump motion reduction from [Rega-Lielta] and the initial speed boost from various other skills were working at full capacity. On top of that, showing no mercy, I even ignited [Matoi], so there was no way I could lose at the start.

That's why I took the lead—but my skin tingled.

I couldn't stop my cheeks from rising at the presence that had stuck right to my back.

The area surrounding the large basin where Green Connect resides resembles a massive forest with trees scattered about, not quite dense enough to be called a proper forest. In other words, it's a terrain littered with just enough obstacles to make it difficult to run through.

Of course, if you're just jogging at a normal speed, there's no problem. However, if you're sprinting non-stop at several hundred kilometers per hour, it's a different story.

It's an extreme race where even grazing an obstacle would guarantee you become a stain on a tree.

Using my 'talent,' I've already 'memorized' the entire visible scene from the starting point. Furthermore, my usual extreme physical control—a human macro that follows the pre-laid path almost unconsciously—is in top form. However, since I'm running in a circle…

the 'information' supporting my legs, which allows me to dash straight while avoiding all obstacles, will eventually run out.

"Ngh—…!!!"

I was overtaken.

After finishing the first leg of the run. The 'breath' absolutely necessary to map out the next course—a unique, unconquerable weakness in my legs, which have achieved the 'fastest' speed through means unattainable by others. It was a fatal point of stagnation.

The presence that had been stuck to my back vanished, a gust of wind caressed my cheek, and…

a jet-black wind leaped out in front of me, running with confidence.

On what kind of technique is this law built?

After how much training was this skill established?

And—how many times, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of times, did he have to become a 'stain' on the ground, walls, and everything else before this art was perfected?

…Ah, ahh—

You're on, you bastard.

"I'm not gonna lose."

Outer Force Output: [Kai], critical convergence.

Memorization complete, route constructed, movement set.

Now, one step.

"Wh—…!!?"

And behind me, a voice of astonishment. Now we're even. Come on, let's run to our hearts' content.

Overtaking, being overtaken, and running past it all… it's clear that a new, precious, and irreplaceable friendship, one unlike any I've had before, is shining dazzlingly ahead.

---

Ah, those two lovable idiots.

Ahem This part is embarrassing. My apologies for the consecutive posts, which includes an apology for the huge blunder in the previous chapter. I depicted it as if Irori-san would be participating, but since he is a former ranker of Istia, he gets caught by the 'slot restriction.' It's a no-go. I have already corrected the text, so if you could please take a quick look at the beginning of the previous chapter, I would be very grateful. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me.