Chapter 8: If you want to take it off for free, take it off!
By the time I landed at School, most weapons were looted.
No ammo either…
All I grabbed from the rooftop was a pistol and 15 bullets.
Hearing my team’s screams, I rushed downstairs and spotted enemies.
Shot once, and they dropped. That’s it.
Then I revived everyone, following Fujiwara’s instructions.
“What gun was that…?”
“Says P92.”
“What…? A pistol? You wiped a squad with a pistol?”
“Few shots to the head, and they went down easy.”
“Tch…”
Makihara clicked her tongue.
Is it that big a deal?
Needing gear, I scouted around and spotted a huge weapon.
[Crossbow]
Thought this was a gun game, but this exists?
No clue what’s good, so I needed a test.
“Found a crossbow. How’s this?”
“Suzuki-kun, that’s total tra—”
“Nice luck, General Affairs-kun. You found Battle Grounding’s best weapon.”
Makihara cut Fujiwara off.
“…Best weapon?”
“Top damage, silent for stealth, beautiful arc, great feel… No weapon beats a crossbow!”
“Hmm…”
If the expert says so, fine. I picked it up.
Fujiwara sighed, but probably just my imagination.
Moving as a group, I spotted something on a distant hill.
“Enemies on the north hill. See them?”
“…Where? I don’t see anything.”
“Nothing there…”
“Let’s take a shot, then.”
Thwip!
The crossbow bolt flew toward my target—
Whoosh…
It fell pathetically.
“Pfft! General Affairs-kun! You believed that…!”
“Got the feel now.”
“…Huh?”
I aimed much higher this time. The bolt—
Thwip!
[ShuchiinDeer’s crossbow headshot knocked out Hwanchobi]
Nailed the enemy’s head.
Their team scrambled, clueless where the shot came from.
They tried reviving their ally to escape, but no chance.
Thwip!
[ShuchiinDeer’s crossbow headshot knocked out Piasins]
Another down. Two left.
They moved predictably, in straight lines—no rush needed.
Thwip! Thwip!
[ShuchiinDeer’s crossbow headshot…
[ShuchiinDeer’s crossbow…
Wiped the squad.
Makihara was right—crossbow’s solid.
One headshot, one kill. Simple.
“…”
“…?”
The usually chatty trio was silent.
Glancing over, they stared at me with squinting eyes.
“…Did I mess up?”
“Serious question—are you human…?”
“I am…?”
“Alright then…”
Ignoring their weird vibe, we ran toward the safe zone.
More fights followed, and everyone pulled their weight.
Fujiwara and Makihara charged, while Gigako-senpai and I covered.
My crossbow consistently dropped one or two per fight, and the team held up.
About ten minutes later…
1/25
[Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!]
No one but our team remained.
“…Is this game usually this easy?”
“No way. Enemies started two down thanks to your crossbow…”
“How many kills, General Affairs-kun?”
“Says 18.”
Pretty good? About ten with the crossbow, rest with the pistol.
“You a gaming prodigy or what? Ugh, talent freaks…”
“I’m too tired to be shocked…”
“Fine, General Affairs-kun passed the trials. You can take Chika.”
They’re finally letting us go.
Gotta escape before they change their minds.
“Fujiwara, let’s go.”
“…Okay.”
We stood, nodded to the seniors, and left the TG Club for the student council room.
Halfway there, I felt off and checked my arm.
Forgot my jacket—left it on the chair in the TG Club.
“Crap, left my jacket. Be right back.”
“Sure, I’ll head on~”
Ten steps back, I heard a strange thud.
Something felt wrong. That’s definitely…
“—Fujiwara!”
I spun around and sprinted toward her.
“…W-What!?”
She panicked as I charged at her, clueless.
No time to explain…
Crash!!
A window shattered loudly.
I tackled Fujiwara, diving to the ground.
Twisting mid-air, I took the fall on my back.
“—Ugh!”
Scraped my back on the glass.
That stings.
“Ow, what was—? A-Are you okay!?”
Fujiwara, dazed, saw the glass shards and a baseball, then frantically checked on me.
“I’m fine, mostly. You?”
“Thanks to you, I’m okay! Thank you…”
“No big deal. Just get off me.”
“Oh! Sorry…!”
She scrambled off.
Is she really okay? Her face is red.
“You sure you’re fine? You look pale.”
“…I’m fine, eek!”
“What, you hurt somewhere…?”
“Suzuki-kun, you’re bleeding…!”
She pointed at my back.
Feeling it, I realized—
“…Huh, really?”
Didn’t notice the blood, probably from the impact.
I shrugged it off, but Fujiwara was freaking out more than me.
The white shirt made it obvious.
“Let’s go! Infirmary!”
“Just a few bandages—”
“No nonsense, come now!”
Fujiwara snapped, grabbed my hand, and dragged me to the first-floor infirmary.
We passed a crowd, all staring.
What’s the big deal about some blood?
We reached the infirmary and yanked the door.
Click, click!
Locked. A sign read—
‘On a brief trip. Out for hours, hard to reach…’
“No time to wait!”
Bang!
Fujiwara kicked the door open, breaking the lock.
What’s with that strength? Can she cover the damage…?
“I’ll grab disinfectant, sit!”
“…Sure.”
I sat on a nearby bed.
Fujiwara rummaged through the medicine shelf, muttering, ‘Ugh, where is it?’
A few minutes later, she came back with supplies.
“Okay, Suzuki-kun! Shirt off!”
“…!?”
We’re not kids—there’s stuff you don’t say.
This is non-negotiable.
“…No way.”
“Don’t cross your arms like that, you’re making me look weird…! Why’re you shy!?”
“It’s fine, really…”
“I feel bad and grateful, I can’t let this slide! Take it off!”
“Absolutely not.”
“Off!”
“No!”
A tug-of-war over my shirt began.
It was already damaged from the fall, and after a bit—
Riiip!
Torn in half.
I’m completely shirtless now.
We both froze, stunned, when the door burst open.
“Hotaro, Secretary Fujiwara, you here—!?”
Miyuki, looking for us, stopped dead, seeing me shirtless and Fujiwara holding my torn shirt.
“Hey, Miyuki, there’s a reason—”
“President—!? It’s a misunderstanding—!”
“Didn’t expect this. You two, huh? My bad for interrupting. Have fun.”
“Hey, wait!”
Bang!
Miyuki slammed the door and bolted.
He’s got the wrong idea…
Fujiwara and I stood there, speechless, like mutes.
After Miyuki’s visit, the vibe got weird.
Fujiwara, teary-eyed, felt awful for Miyuki’s misunderstanding and leaving me shirtless for the trip home.
“Ugh, I’m so sorry…! I’ll give you my clothes instead…”
“No…! Please, don’t!”
Trying to make me a criminal, Fujiwara?
If she did that, tomorrow’s headlines would scream—
[Pervert High Schooler H Steals Girl’s Uniform, Leaves Her in Underwear…]
Splashed across the nation.
Seeing her so down, I had to offer something, or she’d come up with more crazy ideas.
“…If you feel bad, get me a new shirt.”
“That’s enough?”
“Yeah. My old one was worn out anyway.”
I wasn’t mad about the shirt.
She was trying to help my injury, and I’m the one who resisted.
Her guilt made me feel worse.
I cleared my throat and said.
“Ahem, can you treat my back?”
“…Yes! Leave it to me!”
Fujiwara perked up, soaking cotton in disinfectant.
I turned my back to her, but she hesitated.
“What’s up?”
Glancing back, her face was red.
Is she sick?
“Oh, it’s, um… nothing!”
She applied the disinfectant thoroughly.
It must’ve been a bigger deal than I thought.
“Your back’s wider than I expected, Suzuki-kun…”
“Guess so.”
My slouch hides it, but my athletic past isn’t gone.
I still do some bodyweight exercises.
“You really can’t do sports?”
She asked out of nowhere.
Now that I think about it, I’ve never discussed this with the council besides Miyuki.
“You’ve seen me. And heard the rumors.”
“…What I saw was you saving me in a split second, and this back—wide, solid, full of effort.”
“…”
She’s sharp in weird ways.
Her hands, bandaging my back, felt oddly warm.
“If it’s sensitive, I’m sorry.”
“Nah, it’s just…”
“…?”
“Hard to talk about now. I’ll tell you guys someday, if it’s okay.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, promise.”
Maybe I can trust them a bit.
After treatment, I barely stopped Fujiwara from driving me home.
A guy in just a gakuran jacket looking like a creep—ride in her family’s car? No way.
I sneaked home, keeping low.
When I got there, my brother, watching TV, gave me a ‘What’s with this guy…?’ look.
That’s a secret.