The final image remained frozen across the enormous screens above the stage.
Seishin Academy's Base Camp had been destroyed.
The battlefield that had filled the monitors only moments earlier had disappeared, replaced by the final results of the match. The familiar colors of Nervanox were gone, leaving behind two simple words that felt far heavier than they should have.
VICTORY — ISHIKA HIGH
DEFEAT — SEISHIN ACADEMY
For several seconds, the venue remained strangely quiet.
The crowd had spent the final minutes roaring at every attack, every dodge, every kill, and every desperate comeback. Yet now that the match was over, the excitement slowly gave way to something else.
Respect.
The spectators had expected an exhibition match.
Instead, they had witnessed a battle that had come down to the final player standing.
There was no overwhelming celebration from the winning side, nor was there immediate despair from the losing side. The match had simply been too close for either reaction to feel appropriate.
Neither team moved.
Ruko remained seated in front of his monitor, his hands resting near the controls as he stared at the final result.
His expression was difficult to read.
He wasn't angry.
He wasn't crying.
He wasn't even visibly disappointed.
He was thinking.
His mind was still replaying the final moments of the match, moving through them one by one as if he were reviewing recorded footage.
Kana's initiation at the Dragon Zone.
Hikari being eliminated before the fight could properly begin.
Sukachi diving toward Kazuha.
Kazuha dodging the attack and turning the gank around.
Risa arriving too late to save Kana.
Ruko's final confrontation with Inori.
The mistake that had cost him his life.
Kazuha standing alone against four opponents.
Two kills.
The shutdown on Inori.
The final one-on-one.
The hesitation.
The misclick.
The death.
The destruction of the Base Camp.
Ruko replayed every moment in his mind.
If one decision had been different, perhaps the outcome would have changed.
If Kana had survived a few seconds longer, the Dragon fight might have developed differently. If Ruko had positioned himself slightly farther back against Inori, perhaps he could have avoided the trap. If Kazuha had reacted differently during the final duel, perhaps she would have survived long enough for the others to respawn.
Perhaps.
Perhaps.
Perhaps.
That was what made the defeat so frustrating.
They hadn't been completely outclassed.
They hadn't been crushed from beginning to end.
They had fought.
They had adapted.
They had forced Inori, a former world-class player, to take them seriously.
They had pushed her team to the limit.
And yet, after everything they had done, they had still lost.
The announcer's voice finally broke through the silence.
"WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXHIBITION MATCH!"
The audience immediately responded with another wave of applause.
The announcer waited for the noise to settle before continuing, his voice carrying throughout the venue.
"Both teams gave us an unforgettable performance tonight! Please give a huge round of applause to Seishin Academy's Gaming Research Club and Ishika High's Nervanox team!"
The applause grew louder.
The enormous screen shifted, displaying highlights from the match as the announcer continued.
"From the opening exchange to the final team fight, neither side was willing to surrender! We witnessed brilliant plays, unexpected comebacks, incredible individual performances, and one of the most exciting final clashes we've seen in an exhibition match!"
The final statistics appeared across the screen.
The announcer immediately focused on the most dominant player of the evening.
"And, of course, we cannot overlook the performance of Ishika High's marksman!"
The display changed.
INORI — 24 KILLS / 5 DEATHS / 8 ASSISTS
The crowd reacted immediately.
"Inori delivered an extraordinary performance today! Her control of Yamashiki demonstrated exactly why she has earned such a reputation among competitive Nervanox players!"
Another wave of applause swept through the venue.
Inori's name continued to appear above the stage.
Twenty-four kills.
Five deaths.
Eight assists.
The numbers were almost absurd.
Then the screen changed again.
RUKO — 10 KILLS / 7 DEATHS / 11 ASSISTS
The announcer's tone shifted slightly.
"But Seishin Academy refused to back down! Their players repeatedly challenged an opponent with far more experience, and their performance throughout the match proved that this young team has tremendous potential!"
Ruko slowly lowered his eyes.
He knew that.
Everyone on the team knew that.
They had known from the beginning that their chances weren't particularly high.
Inori was a former Nerva player.
She had competed at the highest level.
She had stood on the world stage.
And unlike Ruko, she had continued playing competitively long after Nerva had disbanded.
Compared with her experience, Seishin Academy's Gaming Research Club was still incredibly inexperienced.
The odds had never been in their favor.
And Inori had proven exactly why.
She had dominated the early stages of the match.
She had punished every mistake they made.
Whenever they thought they had found an opening, she had found a way to turn it against them.
Whenever they attempted to trap her, she had anticipated the setup.
Whenever the team began to lose control of the battlefield, she had taken responsibility and dragged her teammates forward.
She had carried them through several critical moments.
But strangely, that wasn't what hurt the most.
The most frustrating part was that Seishin Academy had almost beaten her.
They had come within a single mistake.
A single decision.
A single moment.
That was all it had taken.
The announcer's voice echoed through the venue once more.
"Please have both teams line up at center stage for the traditional post-match greeting!"
The players finally began moving.
Ruko pushed his chair backward and stood.
Kazuha rose beside him, her expression still carrying the weight of the final duel. Hikari slowly left her seat, looking visibly frustrated, while Kana took a deep breath before standing. Risa quietly adjusted her glasses and followed the others toward the center of the stage.
Nobody said anything.
They simply walked.
Across from them, Inori and the rest of the Ishika team did the same.
The two teams formed parallel lines at the center of the stage.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Ruko looked across the opposing line.
Inori stood near the center.
Despite winning, she wasn't celebrating.
Her expression was calm, almost thoughtful.
Sukachi was unusually quiet as well. The same player who normally complained, joked, provoked opponents, and filled every silence with noise had nothing to say.
The match had exhausted even him.
The announcer's voice became quieter.
"Both teams..."
He paused.
"Please show your respect."
Everyone bowed.
Ruko lowered his head.
Kazuha did the same, followed by Hikari, Risa, and Kana.
Across from them, Inori and her teammates bowed as well.
The gesture lasted only a few seconds.
But it carried more weight than any celebration could have.
They had fought each other.
They had challenged one another.
They had pushed each other to their limits.
Now, they acknowledged one another.
When everyone raised their heads, Inori's eyes briefly met Ruko's.
Neither said anything.
There was no need.
That battle had meant something to both of them.
From the spectator area, Principal Rikka had watched everything.
She hadn't looked away during the final fight.
Not when Kazuha eliminated two opponents.
Not when she took down Inori.
Not when the final one-on-one began.
And certainly not when Seishin Academy's Base Camp exploded.
Her gaze remained fixed on the students as they left the stage, lingering especially on Risa.
Her daughter stood quietly among the others.
There was disappointment in Risa's expression, but no panic.
No excuse.
No attempt to blame someone else.
Rikka watched her for another moment.
Then a faint smile appeared.
Her decision had already been made.
She had seen enough.
The purpose of the exhibition match had never been simply to determine whether five students could defeat a more experienced team. Rikka had wanted to know whether the Gaming Research Club still had a reason to exist.
Now she had her answer.
She had watched inexperienced players challenge opponents who possessed vastly more experience.
She had watched Risa adapt during the match despite having only recently begun developing as a jungler.
She had watched Kazuha refuse to surrender even after the situation appeared hopeless.
She had watched Kana continue fighting despite repeatedly becoming a target.
She had watched Hikari continue to push forward even after being punished again and again.
And she had watched Ruko.
More importantly, she had watched how they responded when things went wrong.
The Gaming Research Club had lost.
That much was undeniable.
But Rikka's decision had never been based solely on the scoreboard.
She had wanted to know whether the club had a reason to continue existing.
Now she knew.
Rikka quietly stood from her seat.
The spectator area was beginning to empty as staff members started cleaning the venue and spectators slowly made their way toward the exits.
Rikka adjusted her coat and walked toward the exit without saying anything.
There was a faint smile on her face.
The fate of the Gaming Research Club had already been decided.
The hallway behind the stage was considerably quieter than the main venue.
The roar of the crowd was still audible through the walls, but it had become distant and muffled, reduced to an indistinct rumble that followed the students as they walked.
Ruko walked ahead.
Kazuha followed behind him, while Hikari, Kana, and Risa walked together a short distance away.
Nobody spoke.
Their footsteps echoed softly through the corridor.
Under normal circumstances, someone would have broken the silence by now.
Hikari would have complained about something.
Kana would have attempted to lighten the mood.
Risa would probably have begun analyzing the match in painstaking detail.
Kazuha might have told everyone that they had done well despite losing.
But none of them seemed capable of saying anything.
The defeat was still too fresh.
Hikari's hands were clenched at her sides as she stared at the floor.
She had been targeted repeatedly by Inori throughout the match. Every time Hikari thought she had found an opportunity, Inori had somehow been one step ahead.
She hated that feeling.
Not Inori.
Not the opponent.
Herself.
She had wanted to prove that she belonged on this team.
Instead, she had spent much of the match being punished by the strongest player on the opposing side.
"...Damn it."
The words escaped quietly.
Kana looked toward her.
Hikari immediately shook her head.
"Nothing."
She tried to continue walking, but the frustration remained.
Risa was silent for an entirely different reason.
Her eyes were lowered slightly as she replayed the match in her head.
Every decision.
Every rotation.
Every missed opportunity.
Every mistake.
She wasn't visibly emotional, but her silence said enough.
She was already analyzing.
Kana, meanwhile, was struggling with something different.
She kept blinking rapidly, trying to keep anyone from noticing how much the defeat had affected her.
She had really wanted to win.
Not simply because of the club.
Not because of the inspection.
She had wanted to win because everyone had worked so hard.
They had practiced.
They had struggled.
They had improved.
And in the end—
They had lost.
Kana pressed her lips together and looked away.
Ruko continued walking, his expression remaining calm.
But his mind was somewhere else entirely.
He was still analyzing the final fight.
The exact positioning.
The timing.
The mistakes.
The possibilities.
Eventually, he stopped.
The others nearly walked past him before noticing.
Ruko stared at the empty hallway.
"..."
Kazuha stopped as well.
She looked at him.
She had been watching him ever since they left the stage.
She knew that expression.
Ruko wasn't simply disappointed.
He was dissecting the match, trying to understand exactly where everything had gone wrong.
Kazuha studied him quietly.
She didn't interrupt.
Not yet.
After several seconds, Kana finally broke the silence.
"...What are we going to do now?"
Everyone stopped.
Kana lowered her head.
"We lost."
Nobody answered.
She swallowed before continuing.
"...The exhibition match was the condition."
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
"If we lost..."
She struggled to finish the sentence.
"...The Gaming Club is going to be disbanded."
Hikari's expression tightened.
"I..."
The words died before they could leave her mouth.
She wanted to say something.
Anything.
That they could appeal.
That they could ask for another chance.
That they could prove themselves.
But she knew how unlikely that was.
The condition had been clear.
They had been given an opportunity.
And they had lost.
Hikari lowered her head.
"...I should've played better."
Kana looked toward her.
"Hikari..."
"I got killed too many times."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"If I had done better, maybe..."
She stopped herself.
There was no point finishing the sentence.
Risa finally spoke.
"I will speak with my mother."
Everyone looked toward her.
Risa adjusted her glasses before continuing.
"I cannot guarantee anything."
She paused.
"But I will ask her to reconsider."
Kana's eyes widened slightly.
"Do you think she'll listen?"
Risa looked away.
"...Probably not."
The answer was unusually honest.
Hikari sighed.
"That's reassuring."
Risa glanced at her.
"I was attempting to be realistic."
"I know."
Risa lowered her eyes again.
"...But I will still try."
That small statement was enough.
Nobody objected.
Then Ruko's phone vibrated.
The sound immediately drew everyone's attention.
Ruko reached into his pocket and looked at the screen.
A new message had arrived.
The sender's name was immediately recognizable.
Inori.
He opened it.
Can we meet somewhere? I want to talk about the game.
Ruko stared at the message for a moment.
Kazuha noticed.
"Who is it?"
"Inori."
The others looked at one another.
Kana blinked.
"She wants to talk?"
Ruko nodded.
Hikari crossed her arms.
"Go."
Ruko looked toward her.
Hikari shrugged.
"You two just fought one of the most insane matches I've ever seen. If she wants to talk, you should probably go."
Kana nodded.
"She's probably going to talk about the match too."
Risa adjusted her glasses.
"...I agree."
Kazuha was the last to respond.
She simply looked at Ruko.
Then she gave him a small nod.
"Go."
Ruko looked at all of them.
He nodded.
"Okay."
He turned and began walking down the opposite hallway.
Kazuha watched him leave.
She remained silent.
For some reason, her eyes stayed on him until he disappeared around the corner.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the venue, the Ishika team had gathered in their designated waiting area.
Victory had been secured.
Yet nobody seemed particularly excited.
Sukachi sat quietly, his usual energy nowhere to be found. The other players were similarly subdued.
They had won.
But everyone knew the truth.
The match had not been easy.
Without Inori, the outcome might have been completely different.
Sukachi eventually looked toward her.
"...That was rough."
Inori remained silent.
She stared at the results displayed on the screen.
She knew exactly what he meant.
Her team had won.
But the match had exposed something they could not ignore.
Their greatest advantage was her.
And their opponents had forced her to carry them through several critical moments.
Inori eventually sighed.
"We'll talk about it later."
Sukachi nodded.
For once, he didn't argue.
Inori stood.
"I'm going somewhere."
Sukachi looked at her.
"Where?"
"I need to meet someone."
He raised an eyebrow, but he didn't ask another question.
The team simply watched her leave.
Inori walked through the quiet hallway toward the restrooms.
She had planned to meet Ruko at a café nearby.
They could talk about the match there.
There was plenty she wanted to discuss.
His gameplay.
His improvements.
Their fourth encounter.
The way he had finally learned how to punish Yamashiki's weapon rotation.
The instincts he had begun recovering.
There was more than enough to talk about.
But before meeting him, Inori needed a moment alone.
She pushed open the restroom door.
The room was quiet.
The noise of the venue had become distant, and the only sound was the faint rush of running water somewhere ahead.
Inori stepped inside.
Then stopped.
Someone was already there.
A girl stood near the sink with her back turned toward the entrance. The angle and lighting concealed most of her features, leaving the details of her face impossible to make out.
Her hair fell around her shoulders, further obscuring her silhouette.
Inori immediately recognized her.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"It has been a long time, Mitsuru."
The girl remained still for a moment.
Then she turned slightly.
Her face remained hidden from view.
"Been a while."
Her voice was quiet.
"Sorry for not messaging you in a while."
Inori walked toward the sink.
"It's no big deal."
She turned on the faucet and began washing her hands.
Then she looked toward Mitsuru through the mirror.
"That was a fun game."
Mitsuru remained quiet.
Inori smiled faintly.
"I didn't expect you and Ruko's team to be that strong already."
Mitsuru finally answered.
"It was a fun game."
There was a strange calmness in her voice.
Inori continued washing her hands while studying Mitsuru's reflection.
Mitsuru said nothing more.
Inori waited.
Nothing.
That silence was answer enough.
"A good team," Inori said.
Mitsuru repeated the words quietly.
"...A good team."
"I'm sure Captain and the others would be happy for you and Ruko."
Mitsuru didn't respond.
Inori smiled slightly.
"You know, I'm actually surprised."
Mitsuru finally looked toward her.
"You and Ruko ended up on the same team again."
There was a teasing tone in Inori's voice now.
"Maybe this time, you'll finally get to tell him."
Mitsuru's attention immediately sharpened.
Inori laughed quietly.
"There it is."
Mitsuru looked away.
"I never expected Ruko to fight so hard..."
Inori leaned slightly against the sink.
"But you, on the other hand—"
"It is what it is."
Mitsuru interrupted her.
Inori stared at her for a moment before sighing.
"I'm guessing you still haven't told him the truth, huh?"
Mitsuru didn't answer immediately.
"No..."
She hesitated.
"I don't des—"
Before she could finish, Inori gently placed a finger against her lips.
"I haven't told him who you really are because we're friends."
Mitsuru's eyes widened slightly.
Inori lowered her hand.
"But you're already lying to him."
Her expression became more serious.
"At least be honest with yourself."
She paused.
"And tell him how you really feel."
Mitsuru said nothing.
Inori's expression softened.
"I still remember that same girl begging her mother to buy her Nervanox just so she could play with him."
Mitsuru looked away.
Inori chuckled.
"You were so determined back then."
Her eyes narrowed playfully.
"Honestly, I would've been in even more trouble if you had actually played seriously today."
Mitsuru remained silent.
"Ruko was already tough enough to handle."
Inori shook her head.
"And if you had been playing at your old level too..."
A smile appeared on her face.
"I don't think that match would've been fair."
Mitsuru's expression remained hidden.
Inori continued.
"You have something more than teammates now."
She looked directly at the girl standing before her.
"And I'm happy to see both of you still playing."
For a moment, the restroom was silent except for the running water.
Inori finally turned off the faucet.
She dried her hands and looked directly toward Mitsuru.
"I'll play this game of yours with him for now."
She smiled.
"I won't tell him who you are."
Mitsuru looked toward her.
"But he deserves to know the truth."
Inori's expression became nostalgic.
"I still remember our conversation back then, don't you?"
Mitsuru remained quiet.
"You were asking me how to get his attention."
A teasing smile appeared.
"You were asking me what you should do so he'd notice you."
Mitsuru immediately looked away.
Inori laughed.
"Some things really haven't changed."
She walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
Her hand rested on the handle.
"You can't keep this game up forever."
Mitsuru remained silent.
"Sooner or later..."
Inori looked back.
"...you need to make a move, Mitsuru."
Mitsuru's eyes shifted toward her.
Inori's smile widened.
"Otherwise..."
She deliberately allowed the silence to linger.
"I might ask him out myself."
Mitsuru immediately looked at her.
The reaction was so obvious that Inori couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Hahaha!"
Mitsuru stared at her.
Inori wiped the corner of her eye.
"You know..."
She smiled.
"You look much cuter when you're jealous and angry than when you're smiling."
Mitsuru's expression tightened.
"No need to make that adorable jealous face."
Inori waved a hand dismissively.
"He's not my type."
Her smile softened.
"You two look good together."
Mitsuru didn't answer.
Inori opened the door.
"See you later, Mitsuru."
She gave a small wave before walking out of the restroom.
The door slowly closed behind her.
Silence returned.
Mitsuru remained where she was.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Her gaze eventually lowered.
Although most of her expression remained hidden, the faintest trace of emotion could be seen in the way she held herself.
Jealousy.
Embarrassment.
And something far more complicated.
Outside, Inori continued walking down the hallway with a small smile on her face.
She had kept her promise.
She hadn't revealed Mitsuru's identity.
But she had said what needed to be said.
Ruko deserved the truth.
And Mitsuru knew it.
Sooner or later, the game would have to end.
And when that happened...
Someone would finally have to make a move.