Bonus chapter thanks to '@Genki Azuma' for subscription to 'Iron Will' tier on Ko-fi.Ranking Match
Bubble, bubble…
Tiny air bubbles escaped from between my lips.
My blurry vision revealed a pitch-black abyss of an ocean.
I was standing on the seabed, in the depths of the deep sea.
‘Where…?’
I silently turned my head, surveying my surroundings.
An unfamiliar yet strangely familiar scenery unfolded before , evoking a sense of déjà vu.
It was the sa space I had dreamt of before, back when I had lost consciousness during the field trip.
—It’s been a while.
Familiar voices called out from behind.
As I turned towards the source of the sound, two figures ca into view, as expected.
Raiden and Kim Naru.
The two boys, bearing an uncanny resemblance to each other, stood side by side, their gazes fixed on .
Their jet-black hair flowed gently along with the rippling currents.
They stared at in silence for a mont, then suddenly furrowed their brows in unison and spoke.
—We told you.
—Don’t forget.
—Why can’t you rember?
Their accusing tone made frown.
‘Don’t forget? What are they talking about?’
—We’re not different beings. That’s what we told you.
—You must not forget this.
As they spoke, fragnts of a dream I’d had before flashed through my mind.
‘Right, I had a conversation with them in this exact setting before.’
I gathered my scattered thoughts and approached the two.
Questions swirled within .
‘What do they an we’re not different beings? What is this bizarre phenonon that keeps appearing before ?’
Unable to speak underwater, I desperately mouthed my questions, my lips forming silent words.
Bubble, bubble… air bubbles escaped from my open mouth.
—It seems you still haven’t accepted anything…
—It’s understandable. That person wouldn’t have explained anything to ‘.’
—He’s always been a strange one.
—I think so too.
The two boys continued their conversation amongst themselves, seemingly oblivious to my struggles beneath the water.
For so reason, I felt an overwhelming urge to hear what they were saying.
‘Wait, what are you talking about…! Tell too…!’
I cried out silently in my heart.
As if sensing my desperation, Naru and Raiden exchanged troubled glances.
They remained silent for a mont, then whispered into my ear.
—We can’t tell you… No, we can’t tell ‘’ anything yet.
—Right now, we’re separated by a wall.
‘Separated by a wall…? What’s that supposed to an?’
—We wish we could explain everything…
—I’m sorry, but this is our limit for now.
The illusion that had taken Raiden’s form mumbled softly.
Then, the boy who had assud Naru’s appearance spoke.
—This is as far as we can interfere.
—Anything more is impossible… unless the wall disappears.
The two of them gazed at , their eyes filled with a deep, lingering sorrow.
A strange sense of longing emanated from their depths.
—If you truly wish to know everything… then break down the wall.
—We will find you again.
‘Wait…! You’re just going to disappear like that?’
‘You haven’t even answered my questions. At least tell what this ‘wall’ is…’
—If you don’t know, you must learn.
—That is how you will reach the new truth and the old.
With those final words, Raiden and Kim Naru vanished.
Panicked, I looked around frantically, but they were nowhere to be found.
It was as if they had never existed in the first place.
My vision began to blur.
As my consciousness slowly resurfaced, a faint whisper brushed against my ears.
—Don’t forget this ti.
—That we are not so different…
.
.
.
“…Ah.”
When I woke up.
I found myself sprawled on the bed in an awkward position.
The blanket was a tangled ss, a testant to my restless sleep.
I sat up, rubbing my throbbing forehead.
My mind felt hazy, still struggling to shake off the remnants of sleep.
The events of the dream lingered, fragnted, and jumbled.
“What kind of a crazy dream was that…?”
Not only was I breathing perfectly fine underwater, but I was also having a conversation with two boys who looked exactly like Raiden and .
I let out a groan and rubbed my face in exasperation.
“Damn… I must be really exhausted.”
It wasn’t a nightmare, so I supposed it wasn’t that bad.
But it still wasn’t a particularly pleasant dream.
I pushed the lingering images from my mind and got out of bed.
‘I can’t afford to be dwelling on such trivial matters.’
Today was the first day of the ranking competition.
And it was only two days until the Academy invasion.
I had a packed schedule ahead of , with no ti to waste on deciphering strange dreams.
After washing up and changing, I left the dorm and headed towards the nearby carriage station.
I had a lot to take care of.
But my top priority was to participate in the ranking competition.
Even if there was a high chance of the exams being canceled, I couldn’t just ignore the tournant bracket that had already been set.
—Whoooosh…
A gust of wind brushed past my cheeks.
The winter air had a way of jolting you awake, even on the sleepiest of mornings.
With each tired yawn, a long, white puff of breath escaped my lips.
As I rubbed my dry eyes, a faint scent of peaches drifted into my nostrils.
“…...”
‘Don’t tell … that’s from Rachel’s pillow.’
The sweet fragrance clinging to my clothes for so reason made feel strangely flustered.
“What am I doing… I’m not so lovesick teenager…”
I fanned my flushed cheeks, trying to cool down.
I had arrived at my destination before I knew it.
I boarded a passing carriage and set off for the training grounds, where the ranking competition would be held.
The scenery outside the window flew by in a blur.
I leaned back in my seat, my thoughts drifting towards the tournant that was only a few hours away.
‘Co to think of it… my first opponent is Margaret, isn’t it?’
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