ASCC-Chapter 53 & 54 Junior Brother’s Chances Are Slim

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(From Author- Hello everyone, I am Just Like Sunshine.

Due to the attention recently generated by the latest chapters, some questions have come up. So, in this chapter, I'll address a few of them.

First, about the main character's childhood— specifically, how Ryoji managed to survive with 1 point in physical strength and 1 point in mind/energetic stats. If you pay close attention, you'll notice that I've been emphasizing Ryoji's luck being in a Schrödinger-like state, something that may not be immediately obvious.

The worldview of 'Rakudai World' is extraordinary, and common sense doesn't apply here.

Can you imagine a Hydromancer like Kurogane Shizuku, who can only initially do basic tasks like creating water or freezing it, later being able to reorganize her own body and do something like elemental transformation? Can you imagine her later bringing back Kurogane Ikki from the brink of death, reconstructing his disfigured body to a child's form to keep him alive? And this Kurogane Shizuku is just the disciple of Japan's number one doctor.

In the original 'Rakudai' series, there is also a character who is extremely frail, unable to move from birth, lying in bed unable to even twitch a finger, much like Ryoji's situation. But she later used another unique special ability to rebuild her body, becoming a Blazer. 

So, in this world, surviving with 1 point in physical strength is not an issue. As long as someone is willing to carefully care for them and spend vast amounts of money to bring in world-renowned doctors, these "Gods of War" can make it happen.

Next, about the main character's charm value.

The set maximum value is 50, and for the sake of survival, Ryoji's final charm value is 46.

A charm value of 46 is impossible to reach the level of "charm world," "charm luck," or "charm everything," so please keep that in mind. However, 46 does surpass the normal human range and is only achievable by divine beings in mythology, specifically goddesses of beauty and the like.

So why does Ryoji appear to be just a typical handsome idol? This was initially planned to be revealed in volume two, but since it's been brought up, I'll answer it here.

The reason is that Ryoji still doesn't know how to use his charm. He hasn't realized how powerful his charm is, so he only appears to be a handsome guy.

For example, gods without activating their charm abilities would still be seen as handsome or beautiful, but without realizing how extraordinary or refined they are. Handsome or beautiful doesn't necessarily mean universally adored—people who have someone they love won't be affected by the charm, and being envied is completely normal.

As for the other divine beings, that's another matter.

But in the second volume, I plan to write a 'Danmachi' arc— you know what I mean.

Now, regarding the main character's innate skill.

This aspect has been adjusted to be more like a profession planning system. The added points now appear as a "sword" icon. It's not sword technique or swordsman, and while it isn't a combat-related innate skill, it doesn't affect daily life and is mainly focused on chapters 2 and 11.

Finally, the world view of 'Rakudai'.

This one is a bit sensitive, so I won't elaborate too much, but I'll try to minimize anything political and focus mainly on combat and romantic daily life. So there's no need to worry too much about it.

If there are any other questions, feel free to leave a comment here, and I'll answer them as best I can.

Thank you for your continued support!

That's all, Just Like Sunshine.

'(End of Chapter)'

''Chapter 54 - ''

"Touka, what does it feel like to like someone?"

Totokubara Kanata's sudden question caught Toudou Touka off guard.

"Kanata, you would ask something like that?"

Toudou Touka looked at her stunningly beautiful friend in surprise.

"I remember— doesn't your family have a marriage contract for you?"

Totokubara Kanata was the daughter of the Totokubara family, one of Japan's largest economic entities. They were almost as wealthy as a small country, holding a dominant position within Japan. As the family's eldest daughter, Kanata was undoubtedly born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

However, being the legitimate daughter of such a powerful family came with its own set of responsibilities.

—That responsibility was the marriage contract.

From a very young age, her family had already decided on her marriage partner. It was said that he was the heir of a large European conglomerate, someone who would not tarnish her status.

The reason it was "said" was that Kanata had never even met her fiancé— not once, from infancy to maturity.

"It's exactly because I have the marriage contract that I want to know the answer." Totokubara Kanata replied with a serious expression on her face.

If she didn't have a marriage contract, she wouldn't have asked. She could have explored relationships on her own, but with the contract in place, she absolutely couldn't date freely.

She thought helplessly, her gaze filled with a hint of envy as she looked at her best friend.

Unlike her, Touka didn't come from a large family, had no marriage contract, and could date freely. If there was someone she envied the most, it would definitely be Touka.

It was precisely because she didn't have the freedom to date that she really wanted to know what being in love actually felt like.

"I see."

Toudou Touka realized this and fell into thought.

She and Kanata were best friends and knew everything about each other, even the colors of the other's underwear, so there was nothing they couldn't talk about.

"Is it that you're really just expecting it?"

Toudou Touka thought carefully about her feelings for her Junior Brother, and a smile involuntarily spread across her face.

"Expecting it?"

"Yeah, when you can't see him, you're always thinking about when you'll be able to meet again. And when you finally do meet, you want to take it further— holding hands, hugging, getting compliments... These are the feelings I have for Junior Brother."

"Aren't you nervous or scared? I read that in manga."

"I'm really familiar with Junior Brother, so there's no nervousness... I guess it depends on the person."

Toudou Touka thought back to the time when she first got close to her Junior Brother the year before, and the scene from last year when he had grabbed her chest. Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and her eyes glistened like autumn water.

"Although... sometimes, I really do get terribly nervous..."

Because she was so shy, she whispered this quietly, making sure Totokubara Kanata didn't hear.

"...Expecting it?"

Totokubara Kanata nodded as if she understood but didn't quite get it.

She had never been in a relationship, so no matter how Touka explained, it felt like "looking at flowers in the fog" to her.

"By the way, the day after tomorrow, Kanata's first match is against Junior Brother, right?"

Toudou Touka shook her head, now turning slightly curious, and casually asked Kanata.

"Yeah, that's right."

Kanata snapped out of her thoughts, brushing aside the tangled ideas in her mind, and smiled lightly. "Touka isn't hoping I'll show mercy, is she?"

"Of course not."

Toudou Touka couldn't help but laugh softly.

"Even if I wanted to say that, Junior Brother wouldn't want me to."

'Is that so?'

Totokubara Kanata was somewhat surprised. Her impression of Ryoji was quite average. He was undeniably the most handsome guy she had ever seen, and she admired his willpower, but she didn't want to comment too much on his personality.

He left all the household chores to Touka, enjoying the benefits without lifting a finger, and skipped classes without a care... These behaviors made Kanata's impression of Junior Brother remain at the "lazy" level.

"Kanata, you must think the outcome of this match is already decided, right?"

"Pretty much. Is there a problem?"

"No, like you, I also think Junior Brother's chances are really slim."

Toudou Touka shook her head.

"After all, the ability compatibility between the two of you is really at opposite extremes."

That's right.

Even though Touka wanted to support her Junior Brother, she had to admit that his chances against Kanata were really low.

The first principle of Blazer battles was the absolute difference in compatibility.

If the compatibility is poor enough to make the two sides mutually restrain each other, then no matter the difference in Magic Power, there's no way to turn things around.

It was just like the battle between Smile and Stella last weekend: even though Stella had the world's strongest Magic Power, she was beaten by Bishou with just one move.

This was an unavoidable fact, an unshakeable truth in Blazer battles.

And Junior Brother's weapon-special ability and Kanata's special ability had a compatibility that was at extreme odds with each other.

For Junior Brother, the upcoming preliminary match was undoubtedly going to be a tough, grueling battle.

"However, Kanata, I suggest you don't underestimate Junior Brother."

Unlike Totokubara Kanata, who thought the outcome was already sealed, Toudou Touka clearly hadn't lost hope in her Junior Brother.

"Junior Brother is not someone who will easily give up, and he is definitely not someone who can be easily defeated. If you underestimate him, you'll regret it."

Totokubara Kanata fell silent.

In her eyes, the outcome was already decided, and no matter how she thought about it, Ryoji was impossible to be her opponent.

But in her mind, she recalled what Ryoji had said to her that evening when he came to the committee office—he would never bow to fate without making an effort first.

'—Let's see who is right,' She thought to herself.

...

"Phew…"

On Tuesday morning, Ryoji changed into his sportswear, left the dormitory, and jogged toward the school gate.

At this time, most students hadn't woken up, and there were only a few people like Kurogane Ikki at the school gate—at least, that was how it used to be.

"Ka-chakacha!"

The sound of camera shutters filled the air at the campus entrance as groups of girls gathered together, chirping excitedly and discussing something.

"Even in just sportswear, he looks so handsome!"

"Nangou-kun, good luck!"

The fact that Ryoji worked out in the mornings had somehow spread, and within just a couple of days, it became this way.

It seemed that some reporters were also in the crowd. One was blending into the group, constantly selling photos to the girls around her. In no time, she had sold several sets.

The money from the photo sales was split 70/30, with her keeping the profit, and since it was a request from an idol, Kagami was very motivated. She didn't even need Ryoji to prompt her; she was selling the photos with enthusiasm.

It seemed that no one had come to confess their feelings today.

Ryoji glanced around the crowd but didn't see any fateful beautiful girl, so he lost interest in the crowd and turned his attention to Kurogane Ikki, who was not far off.

"Hey, Ikki, isn't Princess here today?"

Ryoji looked around but didn't spot Stella's figure. He asked, somewhat surprised.

(End of this chapter)