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

Zero SS Kishou Arashi: Mikazuchi Kaido (The First Encounter)

GEN Academy.

The academy city on water.

A cutthroat meritocracy that acts as a microcosm of real world society to prepare its students for the unpredictable future.

And as the newly appointed King at this school, I had to do everything in my power to live up to the title bestowed upon me and represent those lofty ideals.

That was my role as a leader entrusted with carving open a path to the future for everyone else.

—But that made me think.

What even is being a King anyways?

Or rather...

How do you even properly be one?

This prestigious title was suddenly thrusted upon me during my first day here.

And now, I was about to enter the classroom I'd be spending the next three years of my life in with such a grand reputation weighing on my shoulders.

As King, what was the proper way to conduct myself?

As King, how do I greet my classmates knowing they are now forced to look up to me?

As King, was it even right for me to be here with everyone else?

Even though Dust Purple was technically its own nation, we had to attend class with the students of Stark White under the banner of A Class.

Even though I wouldn't be the only Dust Purple there, since both the Joker and Ace were also 1st Year, my status was naturally higher than theirs.

People's first impressions of me would be far more important.

This role was more complicated than I anticipated.

As I stood outside the door, I straightened out my purple tie, pulling it close to my shirt's collar.

Then, I pat down my bangs and pushed up my glasses.

After fixing up my appearance slightly, I tugged on the door handle.

I tugged on it again.

I kept pulling at it, but the door wasn't opening.

It seems the classroom was locked.

That was strange.

I checked the time on my phone, and there was still an hour until the opening ceremony that would formally induct me, Mikazuchi, and Satsubatsu into the Royalty.

In the meantime, Headmaster Satsubatsu-sama has instructed us to go to our homerooms and meet our classmates, like the other new students. Mikazuchi and Satsubatsu went ahead, but I stayed behind to prepare a speech for the ceremony.

Perhaps I spent too long constructing it and everyone had already left for the ceremony. If that's the case, then I'd better make my way over there as soon as possible.

Before I could however, a woman with sangria coloured hair came up to me. She placed her hand against the door before looking at me.

"Push, not pull."

And while my hand was still holding the handle down, she opened the door for me.

"Oh. Thank you very much."

I bowed in appreciation. She smiled and walked away.

The colour of her tie was white, meaning she was from Stark White and an A Class student, like me. Considering she didn't follow me inside or introduce herself, I guess she must've been from a different year.