In any world, entrance ceremonies are boring and long-winded.
After letting out an uncountable number of yawns, the ceremony finally came to an end.
Politely declining the invitation from Katsuragi Kohei and the others to go scout for information, Mikage Touji stepped out of the gymnasium to find the sun already high in the sky.
April in Tokyo isn’t hot; in fact, it’s a bit chilly, so the sun hitting one’s body provided a cozy, warm sensation.
‘This place also has unlimited free mineral water?’
Mikage Touji stretched his limbs, standing by a vending machine lost in thought.
This vending machine was clearly different from those outside; next to it was an additional button labeled “Free.” It had likely been specially modified to provide free mineral water.
Pressing the free button, a bottle of mineral water slid down into the pickup slot, and Mikage Touji leaned over to grab it.
It was just an ordinary 500ml bottle of mineral water, the kind commonly seen on the market, retailing for about 60 Yen.
Mikage Touji stared at the production date on the bottle, his eyes flickering.
‘A very recent date.
It must have been restocked not long ago.’
The school only has 480 students in total, and these vending machines are everywhere on campus.
Logically, the demand shouldn’t be that high.
And yet, the reality was that a significant number of students were coming to collect the free water.
Even with monthly point distributions, did the school judge that a portion of the students would fall into such a state that they couldn’t even cough up 60 Yen?
Mikage Touji picked up the water bottle and tapped it rhythmically against his shoulder, deciding that for the sake of his life over the next three years, it was necessary to investigate further.
Taking the water, Mikage Touji headed toward the student cafeteria.
Ten minutes later, Mikage Touji stood at the cafeteria entrance, scanning the various windows.
Since there was free mineral water, free meals should logically exist as well…
there!
His gaze paused, landing on the section labeled “Mountain Vegetable Set.”
Vegetables, miso soup, meat that looked unappetizing at a glance, and finally rice—a nutritionally balanced yet indescribably dreary combination…
Mikage Touji took a prepared tray of the Mountain Vegetable Set and found a random seat.
Then, he bumped into Morishita Ai, who was also sitting in the cafeteria having lunch.
Fried chicken (karaage), meat patties, salad, and a carbonated drink—an exceptionally childish combination.
Sitting nearby, Morishita Ai—whose mouth was clearly stuffed with food—silently shifted one seat over upon seeing Mikage Touji.
“…”
‘What’s with this “I am currently enjoying my lunch, please do not disturb me for the time being” vibe?’
But that was fine.
Mikage Touji sat down, kept his eyes fixed on the Mountain Vegetable Set window, and put a forkful of vegetables into his mouth.
‘So dry…’
It had absolutely no flavor.
It was pure torture, reminding him of his middle school cafeteria in his previous life—no!
It was even worse than that!
One…
Two…
Three…
While unhurriedly chewing, Mikage Touji silently counted the number of students picking up the Mountain Vegetable Set.
“What number are you at?”
“The sixth—”
Mikage Touji forced himself to stop speaking.
Without even turning his head, he knew that no one but Morishita Ai would suddenly drop a line like that out of nowhere.
“How did you know I was counting people?”
“…” Morishita Ai remained silent.
This reaction made Mikage Touji curious.
To make the eccentric Morishita Ai go silent…
“Wait!” Mikage Touji recalled his line of sight when he first encountered her.
“Don’t tell me you were also—”
“Correct,” Morishita Ai cut him off.
“Originally, I planned to enjoy my lunch while searching for the school’s hidden treasures.
However, that Mikage Touji—the one who destroyed my dreams—wandered into my field of vision.
I was a bit annoyed, so I thought about whether to startle him from behind as revenge.
By the time I snapped out of it, I realized I’d forgotten what number I was on.”
Mikage Touji stared blankly at Morishita Ai’s expressionless face.
Was this person a genius?
Or just incredibly blunt?
“Then I discovered that Mikage Touji was also counting, so I decided to use him to make up for my losses.
To avoid disturbing him, I even generously vacated the seat for him.
It turned out exactly as I expected.” A flash of smugness crossed Morishita Ai’s cold face.
‘Fine, I can’t predict this person.’
“So, do you want to exchange information now?”
“No.” Morishita Ai rejected him decisively and without hesitation.
“Treasure is meaningless if you don’t find it yourself.
This is an ancestral teaching passed down through generations of the Morishita family.”
“…Was your Morishita ancestor the Pirate King?
Also, you really are a bit weird.”
“Yes, the bloodline of the Pirate King flows through the Morishita family.” Morishita Ai ignored the comment about being weird and nodded with total certainty.
“…” What is with this tone that says ‘I’m lying, but you absolutely must not expose me’?
Mikage Touji decided to drop the subject; if they kept talking, he had no idea where she would take the conversation.
“So, what’s your conclusion?”
“The school has a considerable number of students in financial straits, which suggests that the personal point distribution might be extremely low or zero.”
“Agreed.
For more than six students to pick up the free set in such a short lunch window…
that number is suspicious no matter how you look at it.”
“Seven.
Including that Mikage Touji who has an eating disorder and reminisces while he chews.”
“I’m ‘recalling past hardships to appreciate present sweetness,’ okay?” Mikage Touji attempted to defend himself with embarrassed indignation.
“Anyway, do your best.
By the way,” Mikage Touji swallowed the last bit of the set and stood up with his tray, “I feel like this school’s secrets go far beyond this.
You might have a quite exciting school life.”
“What an irritating evaluation, for a mere Mikage Touji.” Morishita Ai also picked up her tray.
“In the name of my grandfather, the Pirate King, I absolutely cannot lose to you!”
“Huh?” Mikage Touji turned his head.
“Was I competing with you for something?”
“Treasure belongs only to the first person who discovers it.”
Mikage Touji had no interest in such childish provocations and started to walk away.
“Suit yourself.
I hope you have fun, Morishita-san.”
“It seems I’ve won.
Mikage Touji is nothing special.” A look of satisfaction appeared on Morishita Ai’s face.
“True, after all, there’s no way you, as an Ultraman, could defeat me, a Kamen Rider.”
“Hoh…
Morishita-san, so you’re from the Toei faction.”
His walking feet stopped, and Mikage Touji looked back with a forced smile.
“No wonder you were so hung up on my self-introduction.”
Ultraman and Kamen Rider, the two titans of the Japanese Tokusatsu world—their nearly half-century of competition and cooperation is a saga of love and hate in the Tokusatsu universe.
The private bickering among fans is countless.
“Today, Kamen Rider has claimed victory.” Morishita Ai sighed while looking at a light in the distance that had just gone out.
“After all, things like Ultraman are already outdated…”
“You’ve got some nerve.
Can a childish thing for kids like Kamen Rider even touch Ultraman, who is the literal Light?
Then again, it is a brand that specializes in selling toys to children—it suits the childish Morishita perfectly, doesn’t it?”
“…”
A few hours later, the scene from the bus repeated itself in the cafeteria.
It was as if sparks were flying between their crossing gazes.
“Two days from now, after school.” Mikage Touji suddenly said.
“Class A classroom,” Morishita Ai followed immediately.
“Whoever uncovers more of this school’s hidden rules.” Mikage Touji stepped closer to Morishita Ai.
“Wins this match.” Morishita Ai also drew near.
“The loser—” Their eyes met as they spoke in unison: “Admits that Kamen Rider (Ultraman) is fake!”
“Deal!”
Their palms slapped together in a firm handshake.