CH 61

The entrance ceremony for the junior high school is similar to the entrance ceremony for the elementary school.

Or rather, it was almost the same.

There was nothing new, just the new school building, and the ceremony was over.

Then, when I was led to class A, I saw the members I knew well.

It was Berg, Natalie, and the others.

It’s a meritocratic school, so people don’t get replaced that often.

Furthermore, the homeroom teacher was Chris-sensei, and she was no different from when she was in elementary school.

“I’ll be taking care of you again this year. A pleasure to work with you.”

I thought it would be another teacher by now, so I was quite happy.

Chris-sensei’s classes are the easiest to understand and the most informative.

So we were dismissed in the morning.

“Owen, let’s go.”

Natalie was the first to come to my seat after homeroom.

“Wait a minute. I’m getting ready to leave.”

Then I packed my things.

I’m going to have tea with Natalie today.

It’s a date.

How jealous you must be.

This is what real life is all about.

Every year after the entrance ceremony, Natalie and I usually go out somewhere.

Most of the time, we go to the commercial area.

There’s nowhere else to go but there.

We could leave the school district and go to the royal capital, but we would need permission to do so.

That was too much trouble, so we came to a coffee shop in the commercial area.

It was a little dark in the coffee shop, and there were lanterns on each table.

The building itself is made of bricks, making it a stylish space.

Now I’m a stylish man.

“Do you come here often?”

I didn’t even know it existed until now because it’s a little hidden place off the main street.

“It’s my first time at ……. I heard about it from a friend.”

Oh, I see.

A friend.

Natalie was good friends with Emilia, so maybe she heard about it from her.

Once we were seated, we quickly looked at the menu.

The menu was written on a wooden board, which was also stylish.

I don’t know how to say it anymore, but everything was stylish.

Everything is stylish.

And I’m inevitably stylish in that space.

This is the perfect argument.

“Have you decided what to order?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Eh, what?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Natalie said, “Excuse me,” and called for the waiter.

Soon the waitress came to take their order.

“I’ll have a coffee, please.”

“I’ll have a coffee too.”

The coffee I ordered was soon brought to me.

I had gotten used to being with Natalie lately, but this was still a date.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing. It’s …… nothing.”

“Really?　I hope so.”

I sipped my coffee and stared at Natalie’s fingertips.

She used her slender fingers to tuck her beautiful, shiny hair behind her ear.

Natalie is always so cute.

“There are four major festivals this year, aren’t there?”

When Natalie lifted her gaze, my eyes met hers for a moment, and I was thrilled.

“Ah, that’s right, the one that happens every four years. It’s like a super-competitor to the martial arts …….”

“Yes. Do you know it?　This year’s tournament is supposed to be a preliminary round to determine who will compete in the Four Great Festivals.”

“I heard.”

“There are only eight of us from the middle school who can compete in the Fourth Annual. I don’t want to get into a fight with Owen.”

The preliminary round of the Fourth Annual Festival.

There are more than 200 students in the middle school alone, and only eight of them can participate in the festival.

It’s a pretty serious competition.

However, it’s not a tournament for everyone.

The number of students who can participate in the preliminary round is determined by the previous year’s results and is narrowed down to 64.

A tournament is then held among those who meet the requirements, and the eight winners are allowed to participate in the festival.

Since the entire middle school is involved in the tournament, the first-year students are at a disadvantage, but that’s not an excuse.

It only happens once every four years.

That’s luck.

On the other hand, we are the lucky generation because we can challenge the festival as second-year students in the upper secondary school.

The most unfortunate generation is those who leave in the first year of elementary school and leave in the second year of middle school.

Both of these are delicate years.

“I don’t want to get into a fight with Natalie either.”

Practically speaking, me, Natalie, Berg, and Kaizaf will be able to attend the Four Great Festivals.

The other two are Emilia and Farren, depending on the combination.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t fought Owen yet.”

“We were on the same team in every martial arts tournament in primary school.”

“And every time we won.”

That’s right.

I and Natalie won all the elementary tournaments.

“When Berg said he was leaving our team, I was so nervous. Natalie was about to collapse.”

“We had no choice. Berg’s strength is insane. He’s a monster.”

In the third year, Berg fought as the enemy team.

As a result, although Natalie was defeated, our team managed to win because the other members were not strong enough.

Berg is a cheat character.

He has a particular constitution that makes it difficult for the magic to pass through him, which is related to the fact that he himself said he couldn’t use magic.

At first glance, his inability to use magic seems like a disadvantage.

However, at the same time, it also has the advantage of being resistant to magical attacks.

It makes it difficult for long-distance attacks to reach him.

It would be suicide to get close to Berg, who is strong in close combat.

I’ve never fought Berg before, but I’m sure he’s a nasty opponent.

“I’ve never seen Natalie lose before, so that was refreshing.”

“Next time I won’t lose.”

Natalie puffed up her cheeks.

A cute expression she usually didn’t show in class.

I wanted to poke her puffy cheeks.

But I’ll hold back.

I’m not old enough to do that anymore.

I can control myself, too.

“What are you doing?”

Natalie blushed in surprise.

“You were puffing so I just ……”

It’s not my fault.

It’s not my fault I say.

It’s not my fault. My fingers just moved on their own.

“Why are you poking me?”

“My finger is selfish?”

Hey!

Don’t do that!

It’s my right hand!

It’s all its fault.

I slapped my right hand.

“What? You idiot!”

Natalie, who had a bright red face, got angry with me.

It was my right hand.

It was my fingers. ……