Greatest of All TimeChapter 6: The Trouble Rises
The school auditorium was filled with students.
Everyone sat quietly, waiting for the captain election speeches to begin.
Only 43 minutes remained.
Siya looked around nervously.
She still hadn't seen Arashio all day.
"Where are you...?" she whispered.
Unable to calm herself, she quietly walked toward the restroom.
Restroom
Siya stood in front of the mirror.
Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
"...It's all my fault."
"I kept forcing my feelings on him."
"He must hate me now..."
She closed her eyes and remembered all the happy moments she had shared with Arashio.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm really sorry, Arashio..."
Somewhere Else...Domain Expansion...
Infinity Void.
A crimson-black dimension swallowed everything.
The sky turned blood red.
The ground cracked beneath Arashio's feet.
"W-What is this place?"
Satoru Jojo slowly removed his glasses.
His glowing crimson Six Eyes opened.
An overwhelming pressure filled the entire domain.
Arashio stepped back in fear.
"Jojo..."
"No... who are you?"
Jojo smiled coldly.
"You really forgot me..."
"My name isn't Jojo."
"I am..."
"Saku."
Arashio's eyes widened.
"W-What?!"
Inside Arashio's Mind
James suddenly opened his eyes.
"...Saku."
His blue aura exploded.
"So... you've finally appeared."
Infinity Void
Saku raised one hand toward the sky.
"Meteor Shower!"
Hundreds of blazing meteors fell from above.
Arashio tried to move...
But crimson chains wrapped around his legs.
"I can't move!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Explosions shook the entire domain.
When the smoke cleared...
Arashio was lying on the ground.
Blood slowly flowed from his forehead.
He struggled to breathe.
Real World
Arashio suddenly collapsed outside the school.
Blood dripped onto the ground.
Only 20 minutes remained before the speeches began.
School Auditorium
Saku calmly put his glasses back on.
His crimson eyes disappeared.
He walked back to his teammates as if nothing had happened.
No one noticed what had just happened.
Only one minute remained.
Group Two walked onto the stage.
Aaki smiled confidently.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Aaki, and this is my teammate, Neku."
Neku waved happily.
"If our team becomes the School Captain, we'll make this academy stronger than ever."
Aaki continued,
"We believe a true leader should be smart, responsible, and trustworthy."
"So please vote for us."
The students applauded loudly.
Then...
It was Group Three's turn.
Siya slowly walked onto the stage.
Her hands were shaking.
"H-Hello..."
"My name is Siya..."
"I'm..."
She became so nervous that she couldn't continue.
Some students started laughing.
"She's frozen!"
"Is this really her speech?"
Siya lowered her head in embarrassment.
Suddenly...
The auditorium doors burst open.
BANG!
Everyone turned around.
Arashio had arrived.
His uniform was torn.
Blood stained his sleeve.
Even so...
He smiled.
"I'm sorry I'm late."
Jojo's eyes widened.
"Impossible..."
Arashio walked onto the stage beside Siya.
He gently whispered,
"Relax."
"I'm here."
Siya looked at him in surprise.
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
Arashio picked up the microphone.
"Hello, everyone."
"Before we begin..."
"I want to ask one question."
"Who should choose the School Captain?"
"The students..."
"Or the teachers?"
The auditorium became silent.
Then a student stood up.
"The students!"
Soon...
Everyone shouted together.
"The students!"
Arashio smiled.
"Exactly."
"Because this school belongs to all of us."
Then he looked toward Siya.
"You all see someone who's nervous."
"But I see someone kind."
"Someone who always puts others before herself."
"That is why..."
"I chose to stand beside Siya."
Siya covered her mouth.
She couldn't stop smiling.
Arashio continued,
"If our team wins..."
"We'll improve school events."
"We'll organize gaming tournaments."
"We'll listen to every student's ideas."
"Because everyone deserves to be heard."
The entire auditorium exploded with cheers.
"GROUP THREE!"
"GROUP THREE!"
"GROUP THREE!"
The voting began.
A few minutes later...
The results appeared.
Group Three — 736 Votes
Group One — 325 Votes
The auditorium erupted with applause.
Miku and Miwa hugged Siya happily.
"We won!"
Tears of joy filled Siya's eyes.
She looked at Arashio.
"...Thank you."
He smiled.
"We did it together."
Suddenly...
A terrifying aura spread across the auditorium.
Everyone looked toward the ceiling.
Jojo slowly floated into the air.
His glasses shattered.
Crimson energy surrounded his body.
"This result..."
"I refuse to accept it."
He pointed at Arashio.
"I challenge you."
"A one-on-one battle."
The entire school fell silent.
Arashio took a deep breath.
"...I accept."
Siya grabbed his arm.
"Arashio..."
"Are you sure?"
He smiled confidently.
"Don't worry."
"I'll protect everyone."
Inside the Subconscious
James slowly stood up.
His blue flames burned brighter than ever.
"The time has finally come."
Arashio reached out his hand.
"James..."
"Fight with me."
James smiled.
"Our revenge..."
"Begins now."
Their hands touched.
BOND ACTIVATED.
Blue lightning exploded throughout the darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED...