Cardfight!! Vanguard: Generations Volume 4 [Ryouta Rival]

- Part 2

It would be the final time we eat breakfast at this outdoors school as well.

I got my tray of food and sat down at one of the tables in the corner to begin eating by myself. I had no interest in eating with my group, and Yukina wasn't at the dining hall yet, so there was no point in waiting around and letting my rice go cold.

This meal would be the last time I get to have a moment of calm before the storm... as much as I wanted to savour the moment and take in its tranquility, I just felt more sluggish than anything knowing that we were nearly at the end.

With my main goal of this special exam complete, whatever happens here on out is in the hands of fate. I didn't come up with any other plans, so I had no way of securing victory or anything like that.

After last night's performance however, Yahagi's group has become a considerable threat. Since the school doesn't announce all the scores of each group at the end of each day, I don't think everyone truly realises just how many points they've racked up so far.

As much as I want to say Akihiro's group is also threatening, since they jumped from 6th to 2nd place yesterday, today's challenge would give every group an opportunity to rapidly climb up the rankings like they did, so their position was still very unstable.

In any case, it's bad for every class except A Class if Yahagi's group steals the show now, especially at such a crucial turning point. With how far ahead they are, if they gain any substantial amount of points from today's challenge, it'll be over for the rest of us.

As for my group, we were still barely clinging on to our top three position by a thread. However, considering who we have left, and how much turmoil we've been through, I don't think we'll get very far in today's challenge.

With all this in mind, it was obvious what I needed to do today. Even if it's a game plan cobbled together at the last minute, it was still better than letting A Class take back the gap our class worked so hard put a dent into last month.

"T-Takanori-kun."

While I was deep in thought, a voice coming from my right side interrupted me. It was Nora, holding his tray of food.

"...Nora-san?"

"Umm... I-I was wondering if it was okay to sit with you..."

When I looked around the cafeteria, I noticed none of his group mates were here. It looks like they still haven't woken up yet.

"Yeah, that's fine."

Nora smiled a little and sat down next to me. I scratched my cheek, looking away a little. Since he was here now, the atmosphere changed a little for some reason.

On one hand, I was glad that he wasn't sitting across from me, since it would feel like a date. On the other, I was surprised that Nora wanted to be next to me. The gap between our shoulders was so slim, they might as well have been touching.

"Itadakimasu..."

With a yawning voice, Nora broke his chopsticks and started eating his meal.

"Still sleepy?"

"Ha ha... maybe just a little."

Even with dark bags under his eyes, Nora still looked adorable. In some ways, they just added to his endearing charm. Seriously, why were you born a guy?

"I feel you. I've barely gotten any sleep as well."

It's gotten so bad to the point where it's affecting my taste. As I bit into the simmered beef, the flavour was extremely diluted. I could just about taste the onion, but that was about it.