Inquisitor

- Chapter: 60 -

'I... lost?'

The crowd watching started to cheer. With Katsuo unable to stand, the victor of the sports festival was all but decided. Midnight sighed and started walking over to where Katsuo laid on his back.

Izumi stood where she had punched Katsuo and rubbed her back. He had dug his heel in just enough to not cause any damage, but it still hurt. Her eyes were trained on Katsuo, his gaze focused on the sky above him.

'I lost...? Izumi... beat me?'

Katsuo raised his right hand above his face and looked at it. Focusing on it he managed to stop his hand from appearing doubled enough to realize it was trembling.

'Is she really... that strong now? After all this time... she's finally...?'

That's when the crowd's attitude changed slightly.

"Hey, he's not getting up."

"What?"

"The hell is he doing?! He stopped all those other students barely breaking a sweat, but one punch is enough to take him out?"

"Was he really that weak?"

"Man, to think I thought we were getting to see an early view of one of the next top pros... what a bummer!!"

"No no no, don't you idiots realize?!"

"Huh? Realize what?"

"Hey! At Least take some offence from him calling us idiots!"

"Remember the first round? Those two helped each other, specifically he helped her secure first then he helped her in the cavalry race by keeping her in. Doesn't it seem more likely that he let her win?"

"Eh? He let her... yeah, I guess that does make more sense."

"Oooooh!!! So that girl's just taking advantage of that guy?"

"Seems like it, right?"

"Ha ha! As expected of you, boss! So smart to see their deception!"

More and more rumors spread through the stadium as the cheering slowly died out.

Katsuo looked around at the crowd's reaction, and realized what they were thinking. That neither him, or Izumi, had taken the match seriously. He could feel it in their gaze. The gaze of people disappointed with what was in front of them.

'They... they aren't satisfied... they need to see more of Izu- of our performance... They need to see what else we can do...! Or else, or else...' The world around Katsuo grew dark, as he slipped into unconsciousness.

---

"Man! What a loser!"

Children snickered and laughed as they looked at Katsuo, sitting alone during recess.

"Even though he says his dad is a Pro Hero he won't tell us which one! What a liar!!"

"Yeah!! If his dad was really a pro he'd just tell us!!"

"Loooooser!!!!"

"Ahaha!! Look at him! He doesn't even react to us calling him names!!!"

"Please, he doesn't react to anything! Even if you hurt him his face just stays the same!"

Katsuo turned his head to look at the kids insulting him, his face completely devoid of any emotion.

"See?! He's always like that!"

A child started walking over to Katsuo, surprising the other children.

"Greetings Katsuo, how are you today?"