Chapter 59: We Can Do Nothing
"Waaaaah!" The male student who had ultimately shot a three-ring score suddenly flushed red with indignation. He dashed off the stage, tears scattering in the air like pearls.
"Next, Mitsuzuri Ayako!" the student in charge of the roster immediately shouted.
Hearing her name, Ayako looked at Shirou.
"Well then, I'm up."
"Yeah," Shirou nodded.
Ayako stepped onto the stage and picked up the bow. After nocking a wooden arrow, she drew and released with an incredibly steady posture.
Swoosh—!
The arrow sliced through the air and struck the bullseye with dizzying speed. The referee's eyes widened slightly before he blew the whistle.
"Mitsuzuri Ayako, ten rings!"
In an instant, the Sakuraba Academy high school archery club members were in an uproar.
"Is that the captain of the Homurahara Archery Club, Mitsuzuri Ayako? She's amazing!"
"Too strong. A ten-point bullseye on her first shot... no one in our club can hit a ten that easily."
"She's so beautiful... wait, I mean, she's so good!"
"The captain of Homurahara really lives up to her reputation. But even she can't hit the ten-ring every single time!"
In her next two shots, Ayako hit a seven and a nine, respectively. Her final score was twenty-six points.
"Hmph, only the captain of the Homurahara Archery Club is any good. The other members are all total noobs!"
"They're way too weak~"
"That's right, we've definitely got this win in the bag!"
Some people even started whistling.
"Mitsuzuri-senpai! Why don't you join us at Sakuraba instead?!" "Exactly! Practicing with these weaklings will only make your skills worse!"
The faces of the Homurahara students turned extremely sour upon hearing those remarks.
"Next, Orihara Shirou!" The student reading the roster continued expressionlessly, appearing as though the joys and sorrows of humanity meant nothing to him.
"I'm counting on you now~" Ayako said as she returned to Shirou's side.
"If I help you win, will there be a reward?" Shirou asked suddenly.
"This..." Ayako froze for a moment, stepping back half a pace warily. "What kind of reward do you want?"
"Emmm..." Shirou pondered for a moment, then pointed to his lips. "How about..."
"I refuse!" Ayako immediately glared at him.
"No fun~"
Shirou shrugged, stretched his arms, and walked onto the stage.
The appearance of a stranger left both the Homurahara and Sakuraba club members in a daze.
"Who is that? He's so handsome...!"
"Hmph! What's the use of being good-looking? He probably won't even hit the target, hahaha!"
"Hahaha! Did Homurahara send a newcomer on purpose just so they don't look too bad when they lose?!"
"The weak are just weak. I'm feeling so 'High' right now!"
At that moment, Shirou picked up the bow and let an arrow fly with seemingly casual ease.
Swoosh—!
The arrow shot forth at a speed undetectable to the naked eye and slammed into the bullseye.
"Orihara Shirou, ten rings!" The referee blew the whistle, looking quite surprised.
The high schoolers who had been jeering moments ago instantly fell into a dead silence. Then, under their stunned gazes, he released his second arrow.
Swoosh—!
The second arrow struck the tail of the wooden arrow already embedded in the target, splitting it apart directly until it looked like a blooming flower. The referee was dumbfounded, taking several seconds to snap back to reality.
"Or-Orihara Shirou, ten rings!"
To be able to hit the previous arrow with such precision was a feat that could truly be described as "piercing a willow leaf from a hundred paces." Then, the third arrow followed suit, flying through the silent dōjō.
"Orihara Shirou... ten rings!"
Setting the longbow down nonchalantly, Shirou turned and walked off the stage, leaving a dashing silhouette for the gathered students to admire.
"What... what was that just now?"
"What the hell? Can a person really shoot their own previous arrow like that?"
"It's not like it's never happened in competitions, but there's usually a huge element of luck. To do it twice in a row... 'luck' doesn't even begin to describe it."
"We... we can do nothing...!"
The archery club Ayako belonged to won the competition without any suspense. The usual scenario of Ayako trying to carry four teammates and losing didn't happen; instead, with the two of them carrying the other four, they won the match with ease.
"We won...!" Ayako looked quite excited as she held the prize—a metal commemorative medal. Although the medal wasn't worth much and was merely a souvenir, the joy of a victory earned through hard work was immense for her.
"I'm going to make this a family heirloom!"
On the corridor leading back to the classrooms, Shirou listened to Ayako—now changed back into her school uniform—and felt somewhat speechless.
"Over just this?"
"Over just this!" Ayako was in a great mood and answered his question with a smile.
"Fine... so, where's my reward?" Shirou asked.
"..." The girl suddenly lowered her head and went silent.
Shirou hadn't actually been holding onto any expectations; he was just teasing her. Seeing the classroom nearby, he realized he would soon have to part ways with Ayako, who was in a different class.
At that moment, a fragrant breeze brushed past, and Shirou felt a sudden pressure on his face. Taken by surprise by Ayako's sudden "attack," Shirou raised a hand to touch his cheek and looked at her with some confusion.
"Why?"
Hearing the question, the girl's face turned bright red, and she looked at him with a hint of resentment.
"Didn't you ask for a reward...?"
To Ayako, the boy who was both her savior and "friend" was undoubtedly special in her heart, but as to whether those feelings were "love," she didn't even know herself. She only knew that being near this person made her feel a sense of security ever since that night.
Born into a family of martial artists, Ayako's skills were far superior to ordinary people, so she had rejected all the boys who tried to pursue her because they were too weak. It all started from what happened that night. When the world of fantasy collided with reality, Ayako felt the sensation of being protected.
Of course, she couldn't say these inner thoughts out loud. The sudden impulsive act had stained her cheeks a deep crimson.
"I-I have to go...!"
Under Shirou's gaze, Ayako's heart began to race. She turned and fled with a red face.
"..."
Shirou watched the girl's slender figure as it disappeared into the distance and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hm... a young girl's feelings, huh? Not bad at all."
Muttering to himself, Shirou walked into his classroom.
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