Chapter 98: One Week Before Vacation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: One Week Before Vacation
Summer vacation of our second year.
With just one week to go, the atmosphere at Ichijo Academy was buzzing with excitement.
The final exams, which were essentially the last hurdle before summer vacation, were completely over, and with the provisional scoring also finished, everyone felt completely liberated.
Of course, anyone who failed even a single subject would have to come in for supplementary classes during the break, but such fools were rare at Ichijo Academy.
After all, Ichijo Academy was a prestigious private high school with a high academic standard; it wasn't the kind of easygoing school that someone who'd completely given up on studying could get into.
And right now, the members of Group D who had become friends during the forest school, including myself, were all gathered together, trying to decide where to go for summer vacation.
"It's great that we decided to go to the beach, but where should we go?"
"How about we go somewhere close? If it's too far, the travel time will be long and tiring."
"It'll be quick if we take the Shinkansen. Taking the train will be much faster than driving, actually."
"If we're planning to stay overnight instead of a day trip, we should probably avoid the peak season. The accommodation fees will be insane."
"Oh, speaking of which, my dad has a villa in Okinawa."
"Okinawa is far enough that we'd have to take a plane..."
But as the saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth. With everyone voicing their own opinions, the meeting had been going on for nearly thirty minutes, and we still hadn't even properly decided on a destination.
Just then, Rika, who was next to me, asked.
"Ryu-chan, where do you want to go?"
"Huh? I don't really mind wherever we go. But if I had to choose, a place we can afford on a student's allowance would be best, right?"
I've saved up a decent amount of money from helping around the house, but it's not enough to spend lavishly.
And I'm sure it's the same for the class president, Ayase.
Ichijo Academy is famous for being a school for the rich, but not every student is wealthy.
At that moment, Sakamoto, who had been listening quietly to our conversation, raised his hand and spoke.
"I agree with Kim. My parents are on an overseas business trip, so an expensive trip would be difficult for me."
Yaguchi, sitting next to him, timidly raised her hand as well.
"Then how about Onjuku Beach in Chiba? My relative runs a guesthouse there. We could probably rent rooms for cheap."
"Sounds good! Chiba is close to Tokyo, too."
"There's a zoo and an amusement park nearby, so there's plenty to do even if we don't go swimming."
"...I suppose I could see Kumamon, who I parted with so regretfully."
As if the previous chaos had been a lie, Yaguchi's single suggestion caused the plan to take shape in an instant.
Ayase, who had taken on the role of meeting facilitator, pushed up her glasses.
"So, is it officially decided that we're going to Onjuku Beach for the summer?"
She asked as she glanced around.
She made eye contact with all seven of us, including Karen, who was from the class next door but had naturally joined our group, but no one offered a different opinion.
"It's decided, then. Now, let's figure out how much we'll need to chip in."
And just like that, our destination for the summer was set.
*
At that same moment, in Brooklyn, New York.
The final match of the God of Fist—known as GOF in the West and the God of Fist Tournament in the East—was unfolding.
「God of Fist」
First held in 1999, about 18 years ago, it was an open-weight fighting tournament. Since it was held once every three years, this year marked its 7th installment, making it a tournament with a respectable history.
The official sponsor of the tournament was the Russian mega-corporation, the Easter Egg Company. Its head, Ivan Vladimirovich Romanov, was the champion of the first three tournaments and was hailed as the world's strongest martial artist.
And now—
A new legend was being born here in the Brooklyn Stadium.
"Ah! She's strong! So strong! America's Michael can't even fight back against Meiling's fluid combination of attacks!"
"Has there ever been a female fighter this powerful among all who have competed! China's Meiling is truly incredible!"
An overwhelming presence that didn't yield a single step against a man of massive build.
Her body, honed through relentless training, shone with a beauty of its own.
Having mastered Baji Quan, perfectly reinterpreted in a modern style, she drove a final fist into Michael's chest.
Thump!!
With a sound like a great tree falling, Michael finally collapsed backward.
The final victor of the 7th GOF, held three years after the 6th GOF in Berlin, was Li Meiling of China.
Waaaaaaaaah!
The stadium erupted at the unprecedented result—the first female champion in the 18-year history of GOF.
As the unconscious Michael was carried off the stage on a stretcher, a waiting announcer came up, and the winner's interview began.
"Li Meiling, after a hard-fought battle, you've become the final champion of GOF. How are you feeling right now?"
Holding the microphone, she replied, her voice still thick with excitement.
"I dedicate this glory to my master and my father back in my home country. Without their teachings, I would never have been able to make it this far."
It was a conventional speech, but no one had anything to say about it.
She had just proven herself to be, in name and in reality, one of the strongest fighters on Earth.
The announcer nodded and asked Li Meiling.
"You've won the GOF, the dream of all fighters. What is your next goal?"
Li Meiling paused for a breath before answering.
"There are only two fighters my master was never able to defeat in his entire life. The renowned 'God of Destruction,' Ivan, and the 'Black Yaksha,' Fuma Kotaro."
However—
"As the saying goes, the student surpasses the master. To prove that I have surpassed my own, I will head to Japan."
"Japan? Who is there?"
At the question, Li Meiling smiled meaningfully and replied.
"That is a secret."
That day, the newspapers featuring Li Meiling's victory interview sold like hotcakes.
And it piqued the curiosity of many enthusiasts and critics.
Just who was this opponent that Li Meiling, considered the strongest fighter of the current generation, wanted to fight?
Those who didn't know the situation thought she would challenge the God of Destruction and the Black Yaksha, who were called the strongest of the previous generation. But those in the know quickly realized she was referring to the 'Vajra Yaksha.'
A battle between the high school student who defeated Thunder Emperor Ivan, known as the strongest modern martial artist, and Li Meiling, the strongest female martial artist who had distinguished herself even among the monsters of the open-weight class.
Ahead of this match of the century, a true dream match, the world's attention was turning to the small nation in the Far East.
*
At that same moment, in the Ichijo Academy Student Council Room.
"Young Lady, the villa has been prepared."
"All that's left is to ensnare Kim Yoo-Sung, who would otherwise be spending his summer vacation all alone."
Their master, Saionji Kumiko, received the report from her two loyal retainers and smiled, covering her mouth with her fully opened fan.
"Fufu, the plan is perfect."
Her secret plan, which had been in preparation ever since the first Kim Yoo-Sung Countermeasure Committee meeting last month.
Project S.U.V was finally ready to be set in motion.
"A 3-night, 4-day vacation where the two of you are trapped on an isolated island where our family villa is located, under the pretext that all the boats were canceled due to bad weather... Shinji, you can be quite devious sometimes."
"I'll take that as a compliment, Young Lady."
"More importantly, Young Lady, I have about fifteen swimsuit designs from a famous designer. If you choose one, I will have the finished product ready before the day of the operation."
"You've worked hard too, Minami. Thanks to both of your efforts, I feel like I can finally do it this summer."
As Saionji Kumiko spoke, she pressed a hand firmly over her left breast.
The feelings of love she had cherished since the day Kim Yoo-Sung saved her a year ago.
The time to confess them had finally arrived.
It was true, just as Shinji had said before, that she only had about half a year left.
Even if they started dating now, the actual time they could spend as a couple would surely be very short.
But even so, Saionji Kumiko didn't want to lie to her own heart.
The one who freed her from the cage she'd been trapped in was none other than Kim Yoo-Sung, the man she adored.
'Just you wait. I'm going to give you a wonderful confession.'
Saionji Kumiko made her resolve, then was startled by the swimsuit designs Minami showed her.
It was because every single one of them was incredibly revealing.
"A-Aren't there any rash guards or anything?"
Minami asked with a stern expression.
"Did you not want to appeal to Kim Yoo-Sung, Young Lady?"
"Gh."
Struck by Minami's point, Kumiko figured she would only be wearing it on a private beach anyway and decided to be a little bolder.