If Akeno-san and Koneko-chan could obtain the courage to get over their problems by holding someone like me, it was a small price to pay. “…Ise-senpai, aren’t you afraid of me, as a nekomata?”
Koneko-chan asked me this with an anxious expression. “No, not at all.”
I answered calmly. Eh? Why would I be afraid of Koneko-chan? Rather, how could I be bothered by her lovely cat-ear form? I knew her circumstances, but I couldn’t see a reason why I should be afraid of Koneko-chan. Hearing that, Koneko-chan looked completely astonished. But, her face looked down. “…Before the training began, I said something horrible to Ise-senpai.”
Ah, so it’s about the time I spoke care-freely and Koneko-chan got angry. “You don’t have to worry about that. I was also at fault then. Although I didn’t know your circumstances, I—was an inconsiderate senpai.”
“That isn’t true.”
Koneko-chan grasped my hand harder. “…I’ll use my nekomata power.”
“—!”
I was surprised by Koneko-chan’s words. “…I hate what nee-sama became. But as things are now, I may not be able to be useful to everyone. That’s why, I’ll use it.”
She had a resolved look. So she overcame her problem when she met with her sister and declared that she would break off her relationship with her. “Koneko-chan, you’ll surely overcome your nekomata power in the future and someday become a hell cat.”
“…Hell cat?”
“Yes, it’s written as “cat of the underworld” and read as hell cat! Like this!”
Though it was a method of encouragement even I wasn’t sure about, I declared further! “I’ll declare this to Koneko-chan too. Even if you run out of control with your nekomata power, I’ll stop you. I want to use this Sekiryuutei power not only for myself, but for my friends too. And even if that scary onee-san comes again, I’ll definitely save you. Since I’ll blow away that nee-chan with a punch, you don’t need to be scared.”
That was my best encouragement. Because I’m unfortunately an idiot, I couldn’t give any smarter words than this. That’s why, if it comes to it, I’ll risk my life and save this girl. “…You really are a gentle Sekiryuutei.”
She seemed to murmur something, but I didn’t hear it. I think I heard “gentle”, but…
By the way, your cheeks were a deep red, Koneko-chan. Why? Was I making an ero-face again? —It was the appointed time. We had gathered at the dining floor and were waiting for the starting time. Then, an announcement streamed through the store. [It is now time to begin. Furthermore, the time limit for this game will be a blitz-style of three hours. Then without further ado, game start.] Game start! Wait, blitz!? So they decided that to give it a short time limit! So there were also cases like this! So this is why they gave us strategy time before this. It was because they change the rules every time, huh. The Rating Games are profound. Buchou stood up from her seat and spoke with an expression filled with fighting spirit. “Your instructions are just as we agreed on before. Ise and Koneko, and Yuuto and Xenovia will split into two separate groups. Ise and Koneko will advance through the store interior. Yuuto and Xenovia will advance forward via the parking garage. Gasper will transform into many bats and do surveillance and reporting inside the store. According to the condition of your progress, me, Akeno and Asia will go by the route of Ise’s group.”
We listened to Buchou’s instructions and we fitted communication-use microphones in all of our ears. “Now then, my cute servant devils! We won’t lose again! This time, we’ll win!”
[Yes!] Everyone was filled with fighting spirit. Naturally! We can’t lose like that again! We’ll win! For sure! “Then, Xenovia, let’s go.”
“Yes, Kiba.”
Kiba and Xenovia headed out first. They rushed out from the dining floor and headed down the path that connected to the parking garage. According to Kiba, it was confirmed that there were cars in the parking lot. However, they seemed to be mere imitations. So charging using the car was apparently impossible. Now then, we were next to leave after Kiba and Xenovia. “Koneko-chan, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Me and Koneko-chan left that place behind and headed out. Koneko-chan had already told everyone that she would use her power. Buchou’s reading was this. She predicted that the enemy would read our movements as following. I would burst into the base while avoiding battle as much as possible. In order to promote myself to [Queen]. The quick-witted Kiba and Xenovia would move together and go around back through the parking garage to the base. There they would disturb the enemy’s formation and attract the attention of the enemy. In order to promote to [Queen], they would quickly distract and lead the enemy away from their base. When I became [Queen], everyone would temporarily pull out and then attack once again. Buchou would also move out at this time. In any case, making me the Sekiryuutei promote to [Queen] was considered most important—or so it would seem. Buchou assumed that Kaichou would read us like this, and so did the opposite instead. I was moving forward just as Kaichou would predict. They would also receive an attack. But, our true main offence was Kiba and Xenovia. It wasn’t a diversion, but a genuine attack. Instead, I would be the feint. Since the opponent would aim at me and send out several assassins, Buchou predicted that the area around the [King] would be short-staffed. Of course, assassins would also be sent after the parking garage group, but we expected that it wasn’t secured that much and would be assaulted by Kiba and Xenovia. Meanwhile, we would aim at the [King] and claim checkmate! The tactic for using my Sekiryuutei power was different. This time, I wasn’t playing an active Power-role. Since I was a first-most member of Buchou’s family. I have to combine my power with everyone else’s. “Ise, good luck.”
“Ise-san! Do your best! Don’t lose!”
“Ufufu, I expect to see your cool side.”
Buchou, Asia and Akeno-san all had high expectations of me! Uooooh! I have to show my good side! Wait, even if I fight, they’d only be able to see it later from the recorded videos…
Me and Koneko-chan advanced at a subtle pace that was neither quite running or walking. Since sound echoed in the store interior, the opponent would be able to judge our distance from them if we ran. Moreover, the store interior was a horizontally long shopping mall that extended in a straight line towards both ends. We had no choice but to advance while concealing ourselves beneath cover. Well, even if we called it a big department store, it wouldn’t take even ten minutes to walk from end to end. We moved while being attentive of that. …Hmm. There were no enemies in sight. Five minutes had already passed since the game began, but because we were moving forward while being on alert, we’d only progressed through a quarter of the place. We appeared to be evading battle, while we were actually acting as a diversion. I was nervous. Then, next to me, Koneko-chan—grew cat ears on her head!