Ch.212Storm Observation Class (6)

With this, the dodgeball match was evened out.

If Igor threw the ball, all I had to do was block it. While I marked Igor, we could circulate the ball and draw out a long game.

‘In the end, dodgeball is a team game too.’

There were limits to what an individual could do.

“Alright! If you’re not sure, pass the ball around!”

I immediately passed the ball toward the children.

*Thump-!*

The children seemed to understand my intention. They each began passing the ball around. Holding the ball for too long would be a rule violation, but continuously passing it would be fine.

“D-Despicable…!”

Igor clicked his tongue.

“First we win in possession. Then we win the match. That’s my victory plan!!”

I shouted confidently.

*Pat-! Pabat-! Pat-!*

The pattern continued with feints followed by quick passes.

Having lost the initiative, they never knew when they might get hit. That was enough to instill fear in the opposing team.

At that moment, one kid spotted an opening.

“Bwasha!!”

It was a strike threatening enough at the kindergarten level.

“Kyaah!!”

The ball hit one opponent directly in the stomach.

“Out!!”

The kindergarten teacher announced with a bright expression.

“Hmph… No matter what tricks you pull…!!”

Igor caught the ball as it rose in the air.

“Everyone!! Hide behind me!!”

I shouted loudly.

“Got it! Big bro!!”

The children nodded and moved behind me.

“Just because you caught it once by luck… nothing has changed!!”

Igor swung the ball like a shot put.

“Hnnnngh…!!”

I tensed my entire body and raised my arms.

*Shiiiiiiiiiiik-!!*

The ball flew straight toward me.

*Paaaaaaaang-!!!*

I somehow managed to block the ball.

*Kigigigigik-!!*

My body was pushed far back. Damn it… I couldn’t completely negate the impact.

“Uhahah! You seem to be having a harder time than before?”

Igor said with a laugh.

‘Of course… I couldn’t use the Blazing Stance.’

No matter how efficiently I’d learned to use it, I could only maintain the Blazing Stance for 3 minutes. After using it for 3 minutes, extreme fatigue would overwhelm my body. Once used up, the match would be as good as over.

I needed something… some method other than the Blazing Stance.

“Everyone!! Pass the ball around again!!”

I handed the ball to the children. I could have thrown the ball myself to get opponents out one by one, but that would have been too petty. An adult shouldn’t stoop so low in a children’s fight.

Igor also took the same approach. He had some sense of fair play after all. His opponent was just me. That was established.

*Pat-! Pabat-!*

The children passed the ball according to the planned formation. I also moved around to keep pressure on the opponents.

*Sting-!*

At that moment, I felt a sharp pain in my hand.

Blood was flowing from my palm. My entire hand was covered in scratches. This much damage just from blocking a dodgeball?

“Oh. You’ve been caught.”

Igor smiled.

“You’ve fallen victim to my technique, the Blade Wind.”

Igor said.

“Blade Wind…?!”

I looked at Igor.

“When I was in a special forces unit, I once got caught in a harsh Russian blizzard. When my entire body was covered in blood from the blade-like wind, I was rescued.”

Igor suddenly went into explanation mode.

“Attack while he’s explaining!!”

One of the children immediately threw the ball at Igor.

“Too slow.”

Igor easily dodged by tilting his head.

“There… I gained enlightenment. I mastered the technique of becoming one with the blade wind.”

Igor stretched out his hand.

*Whooooosh-!!*

Wind swirled from Igor’s hand. No. What the hell. Is this even possible? This is too much.

“I’ve reached a state where I can create lethal wind through bodily movements.”

Igor said.

“Of course I can apply it to a dodgeball too. If you block more… your arms will be seriously injured.”

Igor said.

“I see… so that’s it.”

I sighed and took my stance.

“To surpass you… I have no choice but to develop a new technique.”

I accepted that fact.

Just as I had bluffed to Kana, I needed to create a new technique anyway. That time was now.

I had a rough idea.

‘Now!! Watch this!!’

Gonzaemon held up a Post-it note and struck down at a plywood board.

*Chang-!*

With that, the plywood split in two.

‘Uhahaha! This is the realm of Issem!’

Gonzaemon laughed heartily.

‘Ooooh!! Amazing!! Master!!’

I shouted loudly.

‘Hmph. It’s different from your crude Issem. Keep training harder!’

Gonzaemon laughed heartily.

With that, my flashback ended.

‘If even a Post-it note can deliver a slash… then anything is possible.’

As long as I maintained the basics of Issem, I could handle anything like a sword.

‘I should be able to handle air like a sword too!’

I immediately came up with an insane idea. Make the air my own and cut with it. I had the concept. The question was… could I make it real?

*Chuk-!*

I immediately took my stance.

I extended my hand blade like a sword, pointing it toward Igor.

“Ha!! You’ve prepared yourself… is that it?!”

Igor smiled as he grabbed the ball.

He intended to settle it with this one throw.

“It’s admirable that you haven’t lost your fighting spirit until the end!! What’s your name, young samurai?”

Igor took his throwing stance.

“Arigiri Shota.”

I said that while taking a deep breath. My condition was optimal. The range of my Issem had expanded. I could read all the air currents around me.

“I’ll remember it!! Arigiri… anyway!!”

Igor shouted.

“You didn’t remember it!!!”

I immediately objected. Damn. My concentration broke.

“Here I come!!!!”

Igor immediately threw the ball.

*Whoooooooot-!!!*

Wind spinning like mixer blades enveloped the ball. It was definitely dangerous.

However… there was no problem. I could read the rhythm of that wind. If I could read the rhythm, I could cut it.

*Kwaaaaaaang-!!*

The ball flew straight at me.

“Oppa!! Danger!!!”

“Dodge!! Just dodge!!”

The three sisters shouted in panic.

“Shota!!!”

Even Eri shouted loudly, clearly worried.

*Hwuuung-!*

The ball flew in at close range in an instant.

“Uryaaaaaaah!!!”

I swung my hand blade with a roar.

*Whioooot-!!!*

For a moment, I had the illusion of something sword-like extending from my hand blade. An invisible sword that existed only in my mental world, my personal sword.

*Chaeeeeeeeng-!!*

Though only air collided, the sound of clashing swords rang out.

“……..!”

Igor smiled, raising the corners of his mouth as if sensing victory.

However, that expression quickly froze.

My sword was cutting through Igor’s wind rhythm, using it against him.

*Whioooot-!!*

I had completely conquered Igor’s blade wind. I had reached the point of using that wind against him.

*Paaaaat-!!*

The ball immediately flew back toward Igor.

“Huh…!!”

Igor tried to take evasive action. But it was already too late.

*Kwaaaaaaang-!!!!!*

The ball struck Igor’s body directly.

“Kuh…hack…!!”

Igor fell forward, showing the whites of his eyes.

“To think… you’d become this strong in such a short time…!”

Igor looked at me with disbelieving eyes.

“I express my gratitude.”

I smiled and raised my hand blade.

“Thanks to you… I was able to become stronger.”

I really wanted to say those words.

“Truly… people with talent… are so unfair…!”

Igor smiled wryly, then collapsed to the ground.

“Wooooooh!!!”

The kindergartners on our side cheered.

“Ah!! Igor is out!!”

The kindergarten teacher excitedly announced.

“Shota big bro!!!”

“When I grow up, I want to be like Shota big bro!!!”

“Arigiri Shota!! Is he a god?!!! Is he a god?!!”

It was almost a frenzy of excitement.

After that, the game continued.

However, the momentum had already shifted to our Starising Kindergarten.

The impact of Igor’s defeat was too great.

“Urah!!!”

One kindergartner threw the ball.

*Bueok-!*

With that, the last remaining Goldbringer Kindergarten kid fell.

“Starising Kindergarten!! Victory!!”

With that, the match was decided.

“Waaaah!!!!”

“Kiyooooot!!!!!”

Since we had nearly lost the game, the thrill of the comeback was substantial. Everyone screamed with excitement.

“Ah… that was close.”

“But I feel like I watched something good…”

“Yeah. Somehow I feel satisfied.”

Surprisingly, even the defeated Goldbringer Kindergarten kids seemed content.

Win or lose, it had been an exciting game with plenty to see.

“Y-You!!”

At that moment, Mori ran toward me. Hey, your pomade is messed up. I wanted to fix his hair, but I was afraid of getting oil on my hands.

“What?”

I looked at Mori.

“T-To defeat Igor… who are you?! Igor had never lost before!!”

Mori couldn’t believe it.

“Me?”

If he’s asking about my identity… I’ll tell him.

“I’m the hero of Emoshita.”

I stated firmly.

“Hero? What nonsense…!”

Before Mori could finish speaking, I rejoined Eri’s group. I wanted to get praised by Eri quickly. That was all I could think about right now.

———

“There, there. Shota. You were really cool.”

Eri hugged me tightly and stroked my head.

“Hueeeng….. Mama Eri…!”

I felt Eri’s warmth.

“Oppa! You can hug us too!!”

Hana grabbed my collar and said.

“Yes!! Hana! Mizu! Konoha! Everyone come into my arms!”

I immediately spread my arms.

“Yes!!”

The three of them snuggled into my embrace. Ah… this feeling of being surrounded by cute little sisters-in-law… so healing!!

——-

With the dodgeball game, the observation class was more or less coming to an end.

“Well! Did everyone have fun? Let’s meet again tomorrow with bright smiling faces!”

The kindergarten teacher called out.

Then, the kindergarten teacher smiled sweetly.

The children had become completely friendly with each other in a short time… the kids from both kindergartens were now friends.

“It ended on a warm note.”

Eri said, holding my hand tightly.

“Yeah. Let’s all go back and have dinner together.”

I looked at the three sisters around me. We’re all one family now, aren’t we?

‘But what about Mori…’

I wondered if Mori might cause trouble again, so I raised my head to look for him.

Mori… seemed to have found a new love besides Madoka.

“Mori!! Is this how I do it?”

A little girl was hitting Mori with her small but firm hands. She was a student from our kindergarten.

“Yes… like that… harder… yes…”

Mori blushed and wore a happy expression.

“Uhahaha! Mori is weird!!”

The girl laughed while hitting Mori.

Well… be happy then. I looked at Mori with warm eyes, then decided to return to Eri’s house.

And so the observation class came to a fulfilling end.