You, the one reading this book.

Tell me. What is happiness?

For the past fifteen years of my life, I've wondered what the answer to that question is.

Whenever I asked someone this question, they're never able to answer it properly.

They always speak about things that make them happy, but not happiness itself.

When I asked my mother, she said happiness was raising me.

When I asked my father, he said happiness was playing card games.

When I asked my teacher, she said happiness was watching her students grow.

When I asked my classmate, he said happiness was being with his girlfriend.

When I asked my pet dog, she barked in happiness.

And when I asked myself, I said...

"Happiness is what everyone should aim towards."

But it was a shallow answer with no real meaning behind it.

Even so, I still followed that philosophy, not knowing what it really means.

If that's the case, then what happened to me next should be happiness, right?

"You are now the King."

Yet when the Headmaster congratulated me with a smile in his office, I felt nothing towards it.

That brings me back to my original question.

What is happiness?

I'd only find out the answer to that question after meeting a certain person at this school.

Still in his office, the Headmaster handed me a pin badge made of gold. The title of "King" was engraved in it.

"Take it. It's yours."

I've only been at GEN Academy for less than a day, yet I had already ascended to the highest possible rank in this school.

I reached out and picked up the pin. It was smooth, heavy, and cool to the touch.

"I look forward to seeing your true abilities, Kishou-san."

I nodded and silently got up, fixing the badge onto my purple rimmed blazer.

Leaving the Headmaster's office, there were four people waiting outside for me.

The Joker of the school, 1st Year Satsubatsu Himura. She was newly appointed, like me.

The Ace of the school, 1st Year Mikazuchi Kaido. He was newly appointed, like me and Satsubatsu.

The Jack of the school, 2nd Year Ikeda Kotoe.

And finally, the Queen of the school...

3rd Year Naga Raikou.

"Kishou-san..."

She stepped forward and slapped me across the face.

"I'll never forgive you."

Naga walked away.

I watched as the figure of her back faded into the distance.

There can only be one reason why she was so mad at me.

I stole the title of King from her.

Let's rewind a bit.

It was the first time I stepped foot on the island.

Since my parents went abroad for work, I was eligible for an early access scheme by the school. That meant I got to arrive to GEN Academy before anyone else.

With me were a few other people, such as the Chinese transfer student Xuelan Lingling. There was also the son of a famous zillionaire, Mikazuchi Kaido.

However, I didn't spend my time talking to them. We were all in the same class, A Class, so I figured I could get to know them later.

Instead, I went around exploring the island by myself in order to become familiar with the layout. I began mapping out the routes in my head and checking out the different shops in Stark White.

In particular, the music shop caught my attention. Displayed at the front was a beautiful grand piano made out of the finest wood and painted slick jet black.

I was immediately captivated by its expert construction and sharp quality, but soon backed off seeing the price tag on such a rustic beauty.

"I'd never be able to afford that much..."

My family was middle class, but even we wouldn't be able to pay such an extravagant price. I guess I'll have to ask my parents to ship my current piano over so I can move it into my dorm.

Just as I was about to leave the music shop, a woman with long purple hair tied up into a ponytail entered. She glanced at me briefly before preceeding to ignore my existence.

Certainly, she was a striking looking individual. Her unique hair colour alone was more than enough to make her stand out, but her matching purple eyes and sleek leather jacket added a certain rebellious flair to her character.

She sat down at the piano and began playing it. I stopped immediately, turning to look back at her graceful figure.

"...that's Für Elise, isn't it?"

She continued playing, looking at me.

"It is. I'm surprised you know."

While playing, her finger slipped on one of the keys and played it wrong. Her eyebrows raised in surprise and she looked away, a little embarrassed from her mistake.

"You play it very well. How long have you been practising?"

"Since I was a child."

"That's some dedication..."

As she talked with me, she messed up another key. She tried to brush it off without panicking, but messed up again. At this point, her face was bright red.

"Am I distracting you?"

It was a very difficult piece of play, so it required a lot of concentration. Doing it while talking to me would be very difficult, so I'm not surprised she messed up.

"N-no... not at all."

She tried to reply coolly, but her voice was shaking. Biting her bottom lip, she continued to play, before messing up a huge jump in the keys.

At that point, she gave up and smashed the piano keys in rage. That poor piano, being abused like that... perhaps that was a good thing, since it might drive down the price.

"Are you okay?"

"...I-I'm fine."

Despite her earlier outburst, the girl laughed awkwardly and refused to face me. She must be feeling really embarrassed right now.

Since she wasn't playing anymore, I decided to take my leave. However...

"D-don't tell anyone what you saw here today."

"Hm?"

"I said... d-don't tell anyone what you saw here today! Don't make me repeat myself twice..."

She muttered sourly.

"Oh... sorry. I can do that."

I waved the girl goodbye, but she continued our conversation panickedly.

"Y-you better! I'm surprised you're so calm... most people who talk to me would quiver in fear."

Why was she bragging about that?

"They do?"

"O-of course they do. Do you even know who I am?"

"Uh..."

I stared at the woman and drew a blank.

"Wait... are you that girl who holds the world record of fastest card draw?"

"Why do you know me for that?!"

She seemed displeased with my response and stamped on the floor. Despite how mature she looked, she acted more like a child.

"That's you, isn't it? Naga Raikou?"

She sighed, turning around and facing me with a nervous smile.

"U-umu. I am Naga Raikou, world record holder of the fastest card draw. My lightning fast technique will dazzle you!"

I clapped as she repeated her famous catchphrase. Her face went red once more, then she coughed.

"But really, you should know me for something else. S-something even more impressive!"

"Uh... are you also the world record holder of the fastest card shuffle?"

She stared at me like I was an idiot.

"You're too honest..."

"I am?"

"I am Naga Raikou, the King of GEN Academy! Bow down before me, the ruler of long distant light!"

"...but, you're not a man?"

Naga struggled to hold back her urge to kill me right then and there.

"Y-you know... females can be Kings too, right?"

"...they can?"

"Yes! Of course they can! Why wouldn't they be?!"

"Because... the term King is meant for a man?"

"What made you think that?!"

"All the schools I've attended have a man as the King... this is the first time I've seen a school with a female as King."

"The younger generation these days... I swear, you guys are getting dumber and dumber..."

Naga muttered displeasingly, pinching her nose. She was clearly becoming tired of me.

I saw this as my chance to leave, since I didn't want to bother her anymore, but she continued talking anyways.

"Let me guess, you're from E Class?"

"A Class, actually."

"Y-you? In A Class?"

She laughed. I didn't know what was so funny about that.

"N-no way! You didn't even know who I am! There's no way you're in A Class!"

"But... my acceptance letter said I was."

"That has to be a mistake, l-let me see. Did you bring it with you?"

"No."

Naga sighed.

"Okay... h-how about you prove it to me instead?"

"How would I do that?"

"It's simple. I'll play you in a fight."

"...a fight?"

I couldn't hit a girl though.

"Are you sure about this?"

"I'm very sure. Don't underestimate me, newbie."

I felt reluctant to do it though... even if she looked a bit like a delinquent, she was still a girl.

With my training in martial arts, I would probably clobber her. Unless...?

"Naga-sama."

"H-hm?"

Her face turned pink as I called out her name.

"Which of the arts are you trained in?"

"I'm a black belt in karate. Why?"

I suddenly felt less bad about doing this. I nodded and unfastened my trench coat.

"Alright, let's fight."

I plonked the coat on the piano chair and got into my favourite fighting stance.

Naga just stared at me like an idiot again.

"When I said we could fight... I meant with our cards, not with our fists, you idiot!"

"...oh."

It seems like I misunderstood once more. It was always like this in middle school as well...

I picked up my trench coat and put it back on before taking out my deck box from its pockets.

Naga did the same, taking out her deck box from her jacket's unusually small pockets.

Why do woman's clothes still have such small pockets anyways? That casual thought came to my head as I shuffled my deck.

Even though I was joking earlier, Naga's lighting fast hands nimbly shuffled and drew her starting hand in under 5 seconds.

However, immediately afterwards, she accidentally dropped her entire hand on the table and shrieked in surprise.

"Y-you didn't see that, did you?!"

She quickly scooped up her cards and held them close to her chest. She had big boobs. I shook my head no.

"If it makes you feel better, you can shuffle your hand back and draw a new one."

"N-no... that's unnecessary. It ruins the legality of our game."

"It does?"

"I might gain an advantage if I draw a new hand."

"But at the same time, you could also get a worse hand?"

"That's also true. Either way, it's best not to tamper with it, even if I made a mistake."

"I see..."

I guess that line of thinking existed too. Personally, I didn't mind if my opponent took back and shuffled their deck if they made a mistake.

"Are you ready yet?"

She asked rather impatiently.

"Oh... yeah, just about."

"Man, you are slow as molasses..."

"Sorry."

I quickly apologised and placed my hand on the face down starter.

"You are forgiven."

Naga smiled, performing the same actions as me.

"Stand up, the! Vanguard!"

"Barit Dracokid!"

"Bermuda Triangle Cadet, Shizuku!"

So the King of GEN uses Bermuda Triangle, huh?

"Since I'm the King, you get to go first. Also, you only have to deal me five damage to win."

"That's generous of you. Thank you."

"Don't be. I have to apply this rule to all my cardfights because I'm royalty. If I didn't, you wouldn't have the slightest chance of winning against me."

"Oh. What if I wanted to play you without that handicap?"

"Why are you asking?"

"I was thinking that'd be the best way to prove to you I'm from A Class."

"I mean... you could, but I don't recommend it."

"In that case, let's have a regular cardfight then."

"Y-you're kidding me..."

Naga knitted her eyebrows, muttering to herself.

"I'm not. I'm being completely serious."

"I can't tell if you're trying to show off or if you're that confident in yourself..."

"Neither. It's just the quickest and most effective way at showing you I am from A Class."

"Hmph, we'll see about that. Since we're throwing that rule out of the window, would you mind letting me go first?"

"Sure thing. Good luck and have fun, Naga-sama."

Naga smiled.

"Thanks, you too. Stand and draw! I ride Freshers Innovate, Rosalinda! Shizuku's skill, I draw a card! Rosalinda's skill, I soulblast and scry 5 to add a Unique Allure, Dagny from deck to hand! Turn end."

Naga:
Hand: 7
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Kishou:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. I ride Miu Miu. I draw and get a Quick Shield. Miu Miu attacks. (8000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check. (Lightning Cannon Eradicator, Gongsun)"

"Damage check! (Mermaid Idol, Sedna)"

"Turn end."

Naga:
Hand: 7
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Kishou:
Hand: 8
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! I ride Unique Allure, Dagny! Dagny's skill, I soulcharge 1! I call Top Star, Cier! Cier's skill, I soulblast and reveal the Sonata in my hand to scry 7 and add a Melody unit from among them to my hand! I add another Sonata! Cier attacks! (8000)"

"Quick Shield. (13000)"

"Dagny attacks! (10000)"

"No guard."

"Drive check! (Top Idol, Aqua)"

"Damage check. (Jaggy Shot Dragoon)"

"Turn end."

Naga:
Hand: 8
Damage: 1
OXX
OOO

Kishou:
Hand: 7
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. I ride Ren Ren. Miu Miu's skill, I bind the top card of my deck. Ren Ren attacks. (9000)"

"You sure have a dry way of playing Vanguard. No guard!"

"This isn't a very complex card game. It's fine to make simple plays as long as they're effective. (Dragon Knight, Sharaf)"

"Y-you're not wrong... damage check! (Glittery Baby, Lene) Draw trigger! I draw a card."

"Turn end."

Naga:
Hand: 9
Damage: 2
OXX
OOO

Kishou:
Hand: 8
Damage: 1
Bind: 1
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! Carving a path of shimmering light, her smile will illuminate the world and usher in a new era of the next generation! Everyone loves her, my avatar! Happiness Heart, Lupina!"

"This is my Imaginary Gift: Force II! On the rear-guard circle! Lupina's skill, I soulblast 2 and scry 7 to call a normal unit from among them to rear-guard! I call Colourful Pastorale, Caro! Her circle gets an Imaginary Gift: Force II! Then, I move her and Cier back to call two Colourful Pastorale, Sonata (13000/1 > 2) (13000/1 > 2) as well as another Caro behind vanguard! Melody skills, activate! Sonata's skill twice, all my Melody units get +5k! (13000 > 23000/2) (13000 > 23000/2) (13000 > 23000) (13000 > 23000) Caro's skill twice, all my Melody units get Boost, and when they Boost, they get +5k! Battle! To start things off, my right Sonata attacks! (23000/2)"

"No guard. (Isolation Eradicator, Nusku, Exorcist Mage, Ren Ren)"

"My left Sonata! (23000/2)"

"Reseph. (39000)"

"Boosted by Caro, Lupina attacks! (13000 > 36000 > 46000) Lupina's skill, I counterblast to stand all my rear-guards on Force markers! Both of my Sonata get back up! Progression under the Starry Sky!"

"Guld, perfect guard."

"Nice, that's two of your Sentinels gone already. Twin Drive!! (Top Star, Cier, Freshers Innovate, Rosalinda) N-nothing... boosted by Cier, my right Sonata attacks! (23000 > 31000/2)"

I looked at my hand. It was the perfect time to use this now.

"Heal Guardian, Blitz Knuckle Dragon. (9000 > 24000) Minus two critical."

"I thought you might've been saving one for this. (31000/2 > 0) No matter, boosted by Caro, my left Sonata attacks! (23000 > 46000 > 56000/2)"

"Once again, Heal Guardian. (9000 > 24000) Minus two critical."

"Y-you had another one?! (56000/2 > 0)"

"Yeah. I drew into two after my mulligan."

"I can't tell if that's lucky or unlucky... turn end."

Naga:
Hand: 8
Damage: 2
XXX
XXX

Kishou:
Hand: 3
Damage: 3
Bind: 1
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. I ride Sealed Demon Dragon, Dungaree."

Naga gulped.

"Accel II. Draw. Ren Ren's skill, I counterblast to look at the top two cards of my deck. I bind Nusku and add Sharaf to my hand. I call Jaggy Shot, (12000 > 17000) Gongsun, and Ouban. Ouban countercharges. They get +3k. (9000 > 12000) (8000 > 11000) Start of battle phase, Dungaree binds the top card of my deck. Boosted by Ouban, Gongsun attacks. (12000 > 33000)"

"No guard! (Unique Allure, Dagny)"

"Gongsun's skill. I counterblast to bind all rear-guards in this column and draw two."

"I bind Sonata and Caro..."

Now I won't have to worry about that troublesome column later.

"Dungaree attacks. (17000/2/3d) His skill, I discard five cards in my bind zone. You bind one from hand and I shuffle back three in my drop."

I put back my two Heal Guardian and draw Sentinel.

"W-what a terrifying unit... I bind Benedetta and perfect guard with Lene!"

I looked at my deck.

"Triple Drive. (Isolation Eradicator, Nusku, Exorcist Mage, Miu Miu, Lightning of Triumphant Return, Reseph) Critical trigger. All to Jaggy Shot. (17000 > 27000/1 > 2) Jaggy Shot attacks. (27000/2) I bind one from hand to bind Sonata."

"Lover Hope, Rina guards! (28000)"

"Turn end."

Naga:
Hand: 4
Damage: 3
Bind: 4
OXO
OXX

Kishou:
Hand: 6
Damage: 3
Bind: 1
XOXO
   OOO

"Stand and draw! Paving the way to the future on a road of luminescent starlight, no matter the era which she sings in, her timeless smile shines the brightest! Everyone loves her, my avatar! Happiness Heart, Lupina persona ride!"

"This is my Imaginary Gift: Force II! To the back row rear-guard circle!"

However, instead of putting it there, Naga had slapped down the marker on her vanguard circle.

"Uh... I don't think that's right."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

I pointed at her field. Naga looked down at her cards and gasped.

"W-wait, that's not...! I-I didn't mean to put it there...!"

Her face went dark red as she realised she had placed the Force marker on Lupina, rather than on Cier's circle. I guess being quick with her cards led to this silly mistake.

"It's fine, you can move the marker back. I don't mind."

"B-but I already put it down... changing it would be ruining the game state... I-I can't do that..."

"I don't think so. It think it'd be correcting the game state."

"Huh...?"

"You said that you were going to put it on the back row. That was your intention. Right now, the game state is wrong because that's not what you wanted."

"But the outcome of the game will drastically alter if I put it where I wanted to... I can't take it back now."

"Why not? I don't mind."

"Well I do! I should've paid more attention to where I was putting it... now that I've accidentally put it there, it'd be unfair to you if I went back on it..."

She was really stringent about not doing take backs, huh?

Just as Naga was about to continue playing the game, I reached out and picked up the Force marker.

"W-what are you doing?"

Then, I put it on Cier's circle.

"Fixing your mistake."

Naga's eyes widened, her face going pink. She then knitted her eyebrows, weakly pointing a finger at me.

"Y-you really are defective...!"

"...eh?"

"Y-you could've kept quiet about this and increased your chance of winning... but instead you pointed it out and even fixed it...! I really don't understand! Why do this?!"

With a stern outburst, Naga hit the table repeatedly with a pout. I shrugged lightly.

"Because I want a fair game."

"That's all...?"

"That's all."

Naga, more irked than satisfied with my answer, sighed exasperatedly.

"I can't help but feel like you're looking down on me..."

Just as she was about to move her Force marker back, I put my hand firmly on top of hers to stop it. Naga hiccuped.

"I'm not looking down on you. We're both equals, so I want to fight you as such."

"...annoying..."

"Huh?"

Naga mumbled something, but I couldn't hear it.

"Y-you're annoying! I-I'm the King, so you should treat me like one!"

"But I am?"

"No you're not! I-instead of being afraid of me, you're looking down at me and laughing at me in your heart..."

"Hearts can't laugh."

"H-huh? Stop mocking me!"

"I'm not. It's impossible to laugh at you in my heart if my heart can't laugh."

Naga paused before groaning.

"I don't mean it literally, dummy... I mean it as a metaphor."

"Oh. In that case, it'd still be no. I wouldn't be happy if I didn't get to face you at your full strength."

"Really...? I think anyone would be happy if the King made a misplay while they were fighting..."

"It'd be meaningless if I won by taking advantage of an honest mistake. That wouldn't prove I'm from A Class at all."

Naga's eyes softly widened. She looked down in embarrassment.

"O-oh... I see now... I-I think I've been confusing your naivety with overconfidence..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"This entire time, I thought you were looking down on me by letting me undo my mistake... when really, you just wanted to prove to me you were elite by defeating me at my strongest."

"Pretty much."

"Then... if I go without holding back, will you be happy?"

"...yeah."

It was one simple word, but it was a vague answer plagued by uncertainty in my voice and wavering in my false tone.

I don't know what happiness is, so I wouldn't be able to confirm whether or not I felt happy in this moment.

But I felt that saying "yes" would get me closer to the true meaning of that feeling.

Teach me, Naga.

The happiness of facing an opponent you can't beat.

OST: Without Holding Back

"I call Unique Allure, Dagny! (10000/1 > 2) Dagny's skill, I soulcharge, then since I have a Lupina on field, I soulcharge again! I move Cier up. Lupina's skill, I soulblast 2 and scry 7 to superior call Colourful Pastorale, Sonata! That rear-guard circle gets a Force II marker! (13000/1 > 2)"

By spreading out her Force markers like this, Naga was ensuring that both of her columns would restand when she attacked with Lupina.

"I call another Sonata from hand! Melody skills activate! My two Sonata will give +5k each while my one Caro gives boost and the boosting unit +5k! (13000 > 23000/2) (13000 > 23000) (13000 > 23000/2) Not only that, but since Dagny's got a Force marker, Lupina's original critical becomes 2! (13000/1 > 2)"

All of her Melody units were at the back, meaning all of them would be boosting for at least 27k.

I had six cards in hand. Part of me thought I wouldn't be able to defend it.

"Battle! Boosted by Sonata, Cier attacks! (8000 > 31000 > 36000/2)"

Then, after running the numbers in my head, I realised I would barely make it out alive.

"Sharaf and Nusku. (32000) Sharaf's skill, I soulblast, we both bind a card from hand then draw a card."

I used this skill to try and dig for defensive pieces. Four cards were left in my hand.

"I bind Rosalinda and draw!"

"Since a card was bound this turn, he gets +5k Shield. (32000 > 37000)"

Dungaree's 17k base saved me from having to add another 5k to guard.

"Boosted by Sonata, Dagny attacks! (10000 > 33000 > 38000/2)"

"No guard. (Jaggy Shot Dragoon, Sealed Demon Dragon, Dungaree)"

"Boosted by Caro, Lupina attacks! (13000 > 36000 > 41000/2) Lupina's skill, I counterblast to stand all my rear-guards on Force markers! Everyone, get back up! And strike forth, my vanguard! Progression under the Starry Sky!"

I blinked as Lupina swam fiercely towards me, her right arm wound back and the palm of her hand wide open.

"Guld, perfect guard."

I instinctively put the cards down, leaving two cards in my hand.

There was just enough remaining to guard the last two attacks.

It all depended on what Naga drive checks here.

"Twin Drive!! (Shiny Star, Coral, Mermaid Idol, Sedna) N-nothing..."

So that's how it's going to be, huh?

With a thunderous yell, Lupina slapped Guld across the face, shattering him into fine gold dust.

I was completely unharmed, yet I felt that powerful slap ripple across my right cheek faintly.

Part of the pain that Guld went through was shared with me.

It was the first time I'd ever experienced this gentle, tingling sensation before.

Up until now, no one's ever reached me here.

It was an inexplicable occurrence that I couldn't explain.

But whatever it was, I wanted to feel it again.

"Boosted by Sonata, Cier attacks! (8000 > 31000 > 36000/2)"

"Reseph. (47000)"

One card remained.

"Boosted by Sonata, Dagny will finish this! (10000 > 33000 > 38000/2)"

"Reseph. (47000)"

Zero.

There was nothing left.

I used everything I had to guard this turn.

Naga's eyes widened.

"N-no way... you stopped that...?"

"Yeah. Just about."

Just because I lived doesn't mean I'll win. I had to clean things up next turn or else I'd lose.

"W-well colour me surprised... you keep impressing me."

"Thanks. But I got lucky this time round."

I wouldn't have been able to guard if she drew even a single trigger. That's how tight the margin of error was for me.

"They say luck is a skill too, you know."

"I suppose. It's not one you'd want to brag about, though."

I didn't even think I was that lucky of a person.

My life was blessed for sure, but I'd rather use what little luck I have on keeping what I have now and securing a place in the uncertain future.

The world is unforgiving. It doesn't ever stop for you.

You have to keep moving, otherwise you'll get left behind.

I run alongside the world, not because I want to, but because I have to.

That's the role of a true King.

To be a pioneer for his people, so they also have place in the uncertain future too.

I refuse to live that sort of life where regrets of what could've been fill my heart.

I'll do whatever I can to secure it, because the hard work you put in now pays off in the future.

That's the only way you can grasp the intangible concept known as "the distant future" with your own two hands.

And once you grab ahold of it, you'll have a place there. Always.

An image of who you want to be. A visage of clarity.

Naga:
Hand: 4
Damage: 3
Bind: 5
XXX
XXX

Kishou:
Hand: 0
Damage: 5
Bind: 2
XOXO
   OOO

Everything hinged on what card I drew next.

"Stand and draw."

I knew you wouldn't give up on me, partner.

"I persona ride, Sealed Demon Dragon, Dungaree."

"Accel II. Draw. I call Ren Ren. (9000 > 14000) Ren Ren's skill, I counterblast and bind the top card of my deck. It's a grade 0, so I draw a card. Start of battle phase, Dungaree binds the top card of my deck. Jaggy Shot attacks. (17000) Skill, I bind a card from hand to bind Dagny."

"Coral guards! (18000)"

"Dungaree attacks. (17000/2/3d) His skill, I discard five cards in my bind zone. You bind one from hand and I shuffle back three in my drop."

I put back three critical triggers, two of which being the Sentinel critical.

"I bind Sedna and guard with Pursh! (28000) Two to pass!"

Right now, my deck was compressed with triggers. I had 13 left in a 28 card deck.

That was a 46% chance of seeing one trigger, nearly 50%. It would've been easy to see two in a three card check.

However, I wasn't aiming for that. No, any one trigger wouldn't be good enough.

I had to get at least two critical triggers in specific. That way, there would be no room for error.

There were 9 in my 28 card deck. A 32% chance.

If there was ever a time to be lucky, now was the time.

"Triple Drive."

I looked at my deck.

I closed my eyes.

I picked up the bow.

I prayed, just a bit.

I loaded the arrow of fate.

Then, I flipped—

"First check. (Sealed Demon Dragon, Dungaree) Nothing. Second check. (Spark Edge Dracokid) Critical trigger. All to vanguard. (17000 > 27000/2 > 3/3d)"

Looking deep into Naga's eyes, I boldly declared that I was going to bet everything on myself.

Her eyes widened in disbelief at my seemingly risky, illogical, and desperate action.

"H-huh... y-you're not going to play it safe?"

"Not anymore. It's either go big or go home now, Naga-sama."

Everything would come down to my next check.

"I-I see... well, let's see if it'll pay off."

Naga laughed uncomfortably.

This was getting scarily close for both her and me.

Well... here goes nothing.

I nocked the arrow even tighter, pulling back the strings of my bow as far as it could go.

"Third check. (Lightning of Triumphant Return, Reseph)"

Naga dropped the last card in her hand, a Lupina.

"Critical trigger. All to Dungaree. (27000 > 37000/3 > 4/3d)"

Her eyes went fuzzy as I let go, firing a divine arrow blessed with the curse of the raving ogre of cherry blossoms.

A white dove flew in the clear skies above as a bone chilling scream left Naga's bloodied lips.

She huffed and wheezed, sinking in a field of snow white pincushions.

A long arrow coated in crackling light pierced her convulsing heart.

I looked down to see her teary face painted with scarlet lashes of fear.

Out of respect, I knelt down and closed her cloudy dilated eyes.

She was the first person to make me use that in a long time.

I don't remember the last time I've used this power.

I made it a rule to only use it out of necessity...

...but was this really a necessary moment?

I let go of the bow.

"D-damage checks... (Freshers Innovate, Rosalinda, Unique Allure, Dagny, Happiness Heart, Lupina)"

She looked down at her damage zone and gritted her teeth.

"Nothing... you win."

Naga mumbled, lowering her head in shame.

"Good game."

I extended my right hand out to her for a handshake.

"Y-yeah... g-good game."

Naga, reluctant to look me in the eye, quickly shook my hand before withdrawing it.

"I guess you really are an A Class student..."

"Yeah."

I packed up my cards and put them away into my deck box.

"I'll be going now. Thank you for the fun game."

I got up, ready to leave. However, before I could step foot outside...

"W... wait!"

Naga grabbed my sleeve and pulled me back in.

"Before you go..."

"Hm?"

"T-tell me your name, please..."

Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself.

"I'm Kishou. Kishou Arashi."

That was the story of how me and Naga met.

A person who would become irreplaceable to me in my first year here, at GEN Academy.