CHAPTER FOURTEEN – AT THE FIELD

The days progressed with a heightened air of anticipation and diligence. Aware now of the oncoming challenges that would help seal their places in Hope's Peak, the Ultimates started working even harder. Classes were held with a number of activities in mind, both written and practical, all designed to help get them in the proper mindset in time for the summer sports festival and their preliminary evaluations, where the wheat will be separated from the chaff. Some struggled, if only to still wonder how their talents can be displayed properly. Those who already had an idea on what to do were the openly confident ones, who looked forward to the events with gusto, with their heads held high as the days drew closer to the festival. Familiar groups in class bonded together to discuss their prospects, comparing progress and trying to imagine how they would fare in the festival events. In some cases, even those less likely to converse with one another found meaningful advice from each other.

Today, their afternoon classes will comprise of their first Physical Education class. Kaede had relayed the instructions to them after their first morning class, informing them that they were to gather at the courtyard near open field in full P.E. uniform after lunchtime. Kirumi welcomed the prospect with optimism, though some of her classmates were a little skeptical of it. In the meantime, things progressed normally as the class idled by in preparation for their next morning class before lunchtime.

"Do you think 'Rhapsody in Blue' will work for a practice pick, Kirumi?" asked Kaede as she looked over the note sheets she had been perusing for the past few minutes. "Hmm. . . It might be too light. I was thinking Mozart's 'No. 20' is good for a bit more vigor. The delegates from Julliard loved that when I played it for them at Tokyo. Or how about 'La Campanella?' I had that for my first performance piece at Shining Star."

Kirumi looked over the sheets as she stood behind Kaede's seat. "'Rhapsody' seems like a comfortable starter," she said modestly. "And then 'Moonlight Sonata' should make for a nice follow-up to it as you progress. There is also Chopin's 'Prelude No. 15,' and 'Rondo Alla Turca' from Mozart as well. Or how about 'Sonata Pathétique?'"

"Ooh, I almost forgot about that one," said Kaede, smiling. "You know your classical music pretty well, huh?"

Kirumi smiled back. "My former employers had records that they would play while they worked. That is how I learned to identify these pieces by name, and not just by hearing."

"That's so cool! I'll admit, it's a bit tricky to get people to recognize the pieces that way. Most of the time, they just know them based on their notes and how they go." Kaede looked over the sheets one by one, her lips pursing in thought. "'I might just add 'Pathetique' now that you brought it up. That'd make for a bit of a challenge along with 'Campanella.' So that means there'll be at least five of them in a day for practice, starting from the easiest to the hardest, leading up to what I might play for the evaluations. I don't wanna get too distracted by the sports festival to the point where I forget that I need to practice piano too."

"That sounds like a good plan. I am here if you need my assistance in choosing or preparing."

"Thank you, Kirumi, but I should be fine on my own. How about you? What do you have in mind for the evaluations?"

Kirumi stopped to think, and felt surprise well up in her as she found that she had not given her own exhibition for the evaluations much focus, engrossed as she was in helping her schoolmates—and Ryoma most of all. Such pressures were manageable, especially when compared to the rigors of her maid duties when she was in the employ of wealthy elites, but that was no reason to hold off on planning.

"Are you going to do an exhibit?" Kaede pressed. "Or are you gonna try serving people in a classroom or something?"

"Perhaps," said Kirumi. "I would presume that a practical demonstration would fit my talent more, though I suppose it's up to the school if they want me to serve people other than my schoolmates. Nevertheless, once we receive further guidelines for the evaluation, I should be able to come up with a proper prospect for myself soon enough. Thank you for reminding me, Kaede."

"No problem!" said Kaede. "At least you'll have it easier than the rest of us—I mean, well, not easier to do, since it's still hard work and all, but I'm sure your evaluation will just involve serving people as a maid, right?"

"That is correct. I might need to just decide on what I can prepare for it. Perhaps I can inquire for a proper venue where I can serve some food and drink to those who need them, or I can offer my full services to someone for a day, and assist them like I had done with my former employers."

Kaede gave her a knowing look. "Well, at least you're already practicing on that with a certain someone."

Kirumi smiled. "In a way. But my time with Ryoma is not just out of duty."

"I have to admit, you two seem to only get closer and closer as time passes," Kaede teased. "A lot can happen in three years too."

"I agree." Kirumi glanced over at the spot where Ryoma sat, his beanie pulled over his eyes as he reclined on his chair, either in deep thought or asleep. If there was anyone who knew how starkly life could change on a dime, it would be the two of them, she knew. Her mind hearkened back to the memories that she had been revisiting recently, of her own estranged family back in Nara. So much had passed since she said goodbye to her former home, forsaking her life of pampered comfort in order to pursue her career as a maid, to the chagrin of her parents. Kirumi always imagined that she had already forgotten how difficult the decision had been on her part, or how spiteful her parents had become following her choice, but speaking to Ryoma about her experiences made her recollect things with a slow but surprising clarity. Since his first evening of practice at the gymnasium, she knew that she would have even more to share, if time and circumstance were willing. Lunchtimes were often spent with the rest of the class, and they had yet to follow up on the unspoken promise of discussing more in the privacy of Ryoma's room.

Kaede leaned in a little closer. "It's nice that Ryoma is doing a lot better when it comes to dealing with us, though I can tell that he's still reserved about a lot o things. Not that I'd nudge him to try harder and all, though. I mean, he talks to me and the others, sure, but I always found him a little, ah . . . intimidating, even if he's a smallish guy."

"He's definitely nicer than he seems," said Kirumi, though she remembered how Shuichi had almost let slip on their first day what Ryoma's past was, and she wondered if Kaede had any idea about it now. "He admits that he feels self-conscious when he speaks to you and the others. He assures me that it's not because he's being rude."

"That's okay. Maybe he just needs a bit more time to ease out of his shell," said Kaede. "Again, if there's anyone who can help him with that, it'd be you. You're a good influence on him, in a sense."

Kirumi paused for a moment, remembering the pain that Ryoma showed when he relived part of his trauma on his first time practicing again. "I truly hope that is the case," she remarked.

Before Kaede could say anything in response, a voice pierced through their discussion. "Duh-doy! Anyone with a working pair of eyes and brains could fucking see that you're better at dealing with the tennis shrimp than any of us are!" Miu strode over to their spot, the heels of her leather boots thumping against the floor as she went. Most of the class seemed to ignore her, a testament to how they were slowly getting used to her obnoxiousness. "As if it's not already obvious with all the times you went a little extra with him. In fact, we've heard that you were taking your little quickies over at the gym at night. Pretty fucking bold, to be honest!"

Kirumi inclined her head with a modest air. "I am simply helping Ryoma with his practice for the festival, at his request."

Miu grinned shrewdly. "'At his request,'" she repeated in a mocking tone. "Always have to throw in a bit of S&M there, eh? Well, your getup's already a dead giveaway, so I guess that's a given."

"That's not what it is, Miu," said Kaede with reproach. "Geez, you should know better than to spread the same kind of stuff that Kokichi likes to let slip."

"As if I'm gonna do what the fuckin' grape gremlin does!" Miu snapped at her, oblivious to the irony. "Besides, Miss Maid-To-Order here's not the only one being obvious with her recent hookups. You and Simphara aren't exactly hiding things either!"

"You mean like you and Keebo?" Kaede retorted, even though she turned faintly pink at the mention of Shuichi. "From what I've seen, he speaks glowingly of you, and defends you from Kokichi whenever he can. And I think I've spotted you coming to visit him at his room a few times already. Is that true?"

Miu drew back, turning red at a faster rate. "Y-You don't know that!"

"I do," Kaede pressed on. "Rantaro, Tenko and Maki noticed it too. Are you saying we're all lying?"

Wringing her gloved hands together, Miu looked defenseless. "K-Keebone's just . . . W-Well, he's not. . . He needs someone to take care of him, okay?" she spluttered, casting a shy glance over at Keebo, who was engaged in a conversation with Rantaro by the window. "He told me that his deadbeat maker doesn't have time to help him with his maintenance, and I j-just offered to do it for him, since there aren't any nerds around here w-with the right brains and hands to do it!"

"That is a generous thing for you to do, Miu," Kirumi told her, halting their argument. "I confess, I'm unfamiliar with robotics and the maintenance of complex machines such as them, so I cannot assist Keebo as effectively with his personal maintenance as I would want. It is good that you are able to help him instead."

Disarmed by her compliments, Miu nodded. "Y-Yeah, well, someone's gotta do it," she admitted. "I can't let his parts seize up 'cuz of all the junk that gets trapped in him. It's kinda like babysittin' a pipsqueak, to be honest," she added in an attempt to sound more annoyed than she actually was.

"Okay, Miu, whatever you say," said Kaede with a grin.

"Shut your nasty face, Bakamatsu!" Miu hissed. "As if you or anyone else here could understand the difficulties of being a gorgeous girl genius like m-me!" With that, she stalked off to save face, leaving Kirumi and Kaede to watch her with amusement.

"Well, at least she's growing in her own way, huh?" Kaede remarked. "I've seen how soft she is with Keebo, though I'm still wondering whether he'd be enough to help her curb that obnoxious attitude she has."

"You learn as you go," said Kirumi, knowing how similar things had happened for her with regards to Ryoma. "Many of us have much to pick up on, but who's to say we wouldn't get where we want to go?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right about that. As ragtag as our little group can be, I like to think that we can all get along." Kaede giggled a little. "I guess that's why they made me the class rep, huh?"

"I suppose so," said Kirumi with a soft laugh. "But of course, your diligence and sense of responsibility are strong factors in that as well."

"Thanks for that, Kirumi. I just hope they're enough to help me get everyone in the right mindset for the festival." With a sigh, Kaede looked around at their classmates, taking in the ragtag composition they had. "I can only wonder what'll happen later in the afternoon."

"At least we all have something new to look forward to, yes?" said Kirumi.

Kaede laughed. "Where the school's concerned, you can never know."

It was a clear afternoon when Class 80-A managed to gather in their designated courtyard, with other groups forming at certain spots near the open field; Kirumi realized then that the other classes were also holding P.E. classes of their own. It was an odd feeling to see everyone wearing their own P.E. uniforms—white shirts with their names and class section printed on the front, blue shorts and white sneakers. It was a surprising change given how frequently everyone saw each other in either their ordinary school uniforms or the outlandish garb that some wore. Now clad in whites and blues, everyone looked quite similar, with only a few who stood out because of their height, build or hair color. Some looked rather uncomfortable, both at the thought of having P.E. activities and at wearing a uniform that was starkly different from what they were used to. For Kirumi and Ryoma, however, it was nothing new compared to the physical activities they had been doing every day, and their P.E. attire felt less awkward for them than it did for the others. She eyed Ryoma as they went, feeling proud of how far he has come, though part of her still worried about his trauma and how it could act up in the future.

After a few minutes of getting in proper formation, their group was called out to the open field to meet their P.E. instructor. The first image that came to Kirumi's mind was that they were looking at an actual Minotaur. Taller than even Gonta, with rippling muscles beneath the taut blue tracksuit he was wearing, their instructor's face was completely hidden by the scowling visage of a bull's head. It was a fearsome thing, black and white with a pair of curved horns, burning red eyes and even a metal ring through the snout. There were also long brown locks of hair that flowed from its crown, leaving them to wonder if it was their instructor's hair or part of the intimidating headpiece he was wearing. The whispers immediately fired up.

"What the fuck is that supposed to be?"

"I-Is he a cosplayer too? If so, that's a well-made mask he's wearing."

"A renowned fighter. How intriguing."

"His aura, so . . . strong, even for a degenerate male!"

The bovine-headed giant straightened up, feet planted apart in a stance full of authority and confidence. "Good afternoon, students," he called out to them. "I . . . am Great Gozu! And I will be your instructor for today!" His voice boomed through the open field as he thundered the words out loud.

Before anyone could react, Kaito blurted out all of a sudden, "Wait, are you really the Great Gozu?! used to watch your matches back in the day! You were a total beast of a wrestler!"

"Oh, him professional wrestler?! Like Red Cyclone, yes?" Gonta cried out, staring in awe at him. "He just as strong too! Gonta feel it!"

"My master used to tell me about you," Tenko joined in. "You would've made a great opponent for him, though it would've been a really big challenge!"

Great Gozu thumped a massive fist across his barrel chest; his physically boisterous demeanor reminded Kirumi of Nekomaru Nidai from Class 77-B. "I'm quite flattered that there are some of you who recognize me from my wrestling matches. Yes, I am Great Gozu!" Again, he bellowed out his name and thumped his chest. "I was formerly known here as the Ultimate Wrestler. I am here because my colleagues and I have been asked to help you prepare physically and mentally for the summer sports festival. Now, I know some of you are already busy with your own routines, but trust me when I say that a bit more physical activity wouldn't hurt. After all, a strong mind goes hand in hand with a strong body!"

If anyone in the class had any questions or even thoughts of protest and reluctance, no one spoke them out loud; an equal measure of both respect and fear had swept through the class following Great Gozu's words, as if they were daunted by his literal bullheaded visage or his obvious strength, or the fact that he was an alumnus of Hope's Peak Academy. Great Gozu, meanwhile, looked over the lot of them appraisingly, and nodded.

"You look like a solid bunch," he said in a baritone rumble. "Such strength and potential. Yes, there is much excellence waiting to be unleashed from within you all, I can already tell. Very well. Let us begin! Please group yourselves into two—men in one group, women in another. Go, go, go!"

He clapped his gigantic hands together, spurring them all into motion. They grouped up as instructed, muttering about the activities at hand and the commanding vibe of their instructor. Elsewhere on the field, the other classes were doing the same thing, with some already lining up for an activity or two. Their distant voices floated along in the vicinity, a mixture of calls from instructors and responses from the groups they were handling.

"Good," said Great Gozu when their class had lined up in the same way. "For your first activity, we will be warming up for a while. Nothing too hectic; just a short five-minute jog before we do some hundred yard dashes to get the blood running. Even so, I want to see nothing but vigor and determination in you all. No lagging behind, if you can manage. Follow my lead!"

With that, he set off on a light jog, his tree trunk-like legs bounding heavily as he went. The class followed dutifully behind him, jogging side by side. Together, they rounded a sizeable oval and kept going at a steady pace. The clouds mercifully screened them from the sun at some points, and a high wind blew to keep the heat away. It felt like the sort of activity children in kindergarten would do with an enthusiastic teacher, though no one dared to complain as they followed Great Gozu. After a minute of jogging, Great Gozu broke off to let the rest of them continue, watching them from the sidelines and shouting in order to get them to run even better. Kirumi felt at ease, having grown so used to her morning routines that a simple jog like this seemed like nothing to her. A few times, she managed to fall in beside Ryoma, and the two of them would exchange brief smiles and nods whenever they did.

When their warmup jog was done, Great Gozu got them in line once again for their hundred yard dashes, herding them in line as he set down a marker where a hundred yards would end. As expected, mixed reactions cropped up for this; some like Kaito, Gonta and Kaede looked forward to it with optimism and even gusto, while those like Himiko and Tsumugi went with anxious resignation. Miu looked as if she would protest at any moment, and Kokichi hung back watching everyone with a lazy smile, as if he could slip away at any moment, though Great Gozu's imposing visage seemed to make them both reconsider.

"I'll call two of you at a time, and at random," Great Gozu called out to them. "I don't expect any world-class running from you all unless one of you is actually an Ultimate Sprinter. But again, that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it your all. So do your best!" His voice reverberated like a foghorn across the field as he bellowed the last phrase.

"Geez, you'd think we're fucking deaf or something," Kirumi heard Miu muttering behind her. "Do meathead teachers always have to be this annoying?"

"This is usually the part where I'll do my best only to fall face first in the dirt," Tsumugi remarked worriedly. "I guess I'll just have to channel my inner Yamato Akizuki and hope for the best. . ."

Angie breathed deeply, a look of bliss on her face. "Atua smiles down upon us. Those who clear the first fifty meters in less than eight seconds will receive his blessing for the next three days!"

"Alright, settle down, we're going to start!" Great Gozu boomed. He raised his hand, paused for a moment, and pointed his sausage-sized index finger at Rantaro and Tenko. "You two! Go on ahead and kick things off!"

Rantaro flashed a resigned smile. "Just like at the track meet at Hope's Pass. Good thing this isn't a competition."

"Hah! This should be a piece of cake!" Tenko exclaimed. "All my training with Master chasing pickpockets and gropers on train stations is sure to pay off!"

In spite of the potential mismatches that could form, the activity soon had everyone engaged with some form of enthusiasm, whether by cheering on their classmates or channeling inspiration for their impending turns—a testament to the spirit of camaraderie that Hope's Peak inspired. Tenko and Rantaro delivered a surprisingly close duel, with the Ultimate Adventurer shifting into a focused stance that belied his laid-back nature. In the end, though, it was Tenko who managed to edge him out, and she jumped for joy and punched her fists in the air; nevertheless, she was enough of a sport to casually commend Rantaro on his efforts. His pride intact, Rantaro complimented her as well, his words veering away from any untoward remarks that the Ultimate Aikido Master might misinterpret as advances. Kaede and Keebo came up next, with Miu screeching loud cheers for the Ultimate Robot and snarky banter for the Ultimate Pianist. It came as another surprise that Kaede delivered a stronger showing compared to Keebo, as the Ultimate Robot lagged behind at the halfway mark; Kirumi mused on whether his metallic composition weighed him down, or if his shy nature had anything to do with it. Nevertheless, Kaede and Keebo went back exchanging compliments and showing little concern about who won and who lost.

The first glaring mismatch came with Gonta and Tsumugi, one that no one in the class had expected. With childlike enthusiasm, Gonta tore through the short track with terrifying speed for such a large person, his face momentarily burning with sheer intensity, while Tsumugi could only hurry after him feebly. In true innocent and gentlemanly fashion, Gonta apologized profusely right after, worried that he might have scared Tsumugi, though the Ultimate Cosplayer was quick to commend him and give reassurance that no harm was done. The excitement following their brief matchup mellowed somewhat with Angie and Shuichi, who delivered a slower showing as they ran at equal speeds, with Angie looking unruffled at failing to meet Atua's proclaimed standards and Shuichi being egged on by Kaito to do better in the next activity.

Korekiyo and Himiko delivered the second mismatch, with Korekiyo's long legs giving him a stark advantage over Himiko's short, childlike stature; the Ultimate Mage took the loss with barely any acknowledgment, looking more relieved than disappointed that the sprint was over and expressing her relief that her magic had stopped her witch's hat from flying off. Following Gonta's startling display was a similar incident with Maki and Kokichi; but where Gonta was wild and full of blazing life, Maki was sharp and cold as she shot across the track like she was made for it, leaving the Ultimate Supreme Leader behind in seconds. Kokichi did not acknowledge the sound thrashing he had just received, though he eyed Maki with a knowing, impish gleam in his eyes, as if he knew something about her that the others did not. For the penultimate pairing, Kaito managed to overtake Miu easily in their matchup, and while the Ultimate Inventor had thinly veiled disdain for the activities, she did seem sullen at the fact that she gave a poorer showing. Nevertheless, Keebo was there to her rescue, praising her efforts with optimism and reassurance. Kaito, on the other hand, puffed out his chest in triumph and saluted Great Gozu with a bow, who returned the gesture with a thumbs-up.

As soon as Kaito and Miu had been called together on the track, Kirumi knew that more eyes would be drawn towards her and Ryoma when their turn came last. It seemed like the oddest of coincidences, though Great Gozu could hardly be blamed for the accidental nature of his clandestine picking, she knew. When Kaito and Miu returned to their spot, Kirumi glanced over at Ryoma for a moment, drawing his gaze to her, and she imagined a hint of acknowledgment passing between them, unspoken but understood. Where the two of them were concerned in this activity, she wondered if Ryoma had any plans of holding back.

"Alright, that just leaves you two!" Great Gozu yelled as he pointed at them. "Get going, and remember: Do. Your. Best!"

Some excited whispers fired up as Kirumi made her way to the starting point with Ryoma, who looked relatively unperturbed. No doubt their classmates were having a field day fawning over the sight of them dueling, even if there was no official competition to be had. They paused to stretch for a few seconds before kneeling down on the trimmed grass to prepare for takeoff. Kirumi looked fleetingly again at Ryoma; he looked so grim and resolute, his small frame hunched like a predator ready to spring, imposing in spite of his small stature. For a brief moment, she understood why Kaede and some others might find him unapproachable still. As soon as their gazes met, he nodded once at her.

In an instant, they were off. The whispers rose to a sudden crescendo as soon as they left the starting point, but Kirumi did not hear any of them as she bolted forward. Her legs felt better than ever as they propelled her forth, and the wind soon flitted across her face, sweeping her bangs aside. As she went, she glanced over to her side for a moment and saw that Ryoma was intensely focused as well, his eyes narrowed as his small frame moved with the same impressive speed she had seen him display during his practice. It was a wonder that his beanie did not fly off his head, and it was only after a few fleeting milliseconds did she realize that they were neck and neck. She turned her head and focused her eyes forward for the remainder of the sprint, unable to decide whether she was speeding up to defeat Ryoma or simply finish strong.

When they finally cleared the marker, sporadic cheers and whoops were ringing out from their group, and the two of them reined in their momentum as they jogged for a few more meters before slowing down to a halt. Kirumi wiggled her legs one at a time to ease their tension, taking in deep breaths to nourish her lungs, feeling her veins afire from the exertion, enlivening and emboldening. Next to her, Ryoma had his hands on his hips as he recuperated, the makings of sweat trickling down his face, where his intensity was starting to dissipate. Sensing her eyes on him, he looked up at her, and she grinned.

"I guess we did well," she remarked candidly.

Ryoma nodded, panting a little. "Looks like it. You didn't hold back, did you?"

"I have no idea," Kirumi confessed, laughing.

"Well, that makes two of us," Ryoma conceded with a chuckle.

Together, the two of them went back to the rest of the class, where they were immediately set upon by some of their classmates. "Honestly, you two looked amazing out there," Kaede gushed. "It was a very close race! I mean, I know there's no competition and all, but still—"

"I should've known you were athletic deep down, Kirumi!" Tsumugi joined in. "I knew it was a given! How many times have I read Maid and Chaffeur: Thrilling Tale to not remember how Etsuko Oji was a maid moonlighting as an Olympic-grade athlete? Was that where you drew your inspiration from?"

"You did pretty darn well out there, Ryoma," Rantaro stated with a smile. "I guess that's a glimpse of just how fast you could be as the Ultimate Tennis Pro, eh? I thought you and Kirumi were gonna give Gonta a run for his money!"

Gonta, meanwhile, looked like a child who had just witnessed a real-life superhero materializing before him. "Ryoma and Kirumi strong! Move so fast, like wolves on hunt!" he cried out excitedly. "Did other forest family teach Ryoma and Kirumi too?"

"Alright, alright, that's enough! Everyone get in line again!" Great Gozu yelled, sweeping his arm to call everyone in. "You all did pretty good out there, so well done. Well done, indeed. We still have a few activities left for the afternoon, though, so don't be afraid to keep your momentum up!"

As everyone scrambled to group up together again, Kirumi could not have felt more inspired at that moment. Their classmates' collective praise and surprise gave her a pleasant feeling inside, no different from the commendations she would receive for doing honest work as a maid. Again, she fell in beside Ryoma, and again their eyes met. He smiled up at her, and Kirumi sensed his excitement at the next time they would be alone together, discussing these encounters fondly over a hot cup of tea.

The afternoon wore on, and though sweat and exhaustion stepped in for many, there was no shortage of odd camaraderie and jovial inspiration for everyone involved. Great Gozu directed them as they went on with the rest of their activities—high knees, backwards jogging, some aerobic exercises and a minor relay race that covered part of the oval around the open field. Part of it was spent with some in the class instructing Gonta about what to do for the relay race, though once he picked up on the basics the Ultimate Entomologist managed to rush through his part with the same frightening speed he had displayed earlier. Nevertheless, the others did their best, with Maki coming in second as she delivered a surprising upset against Tenko and Korekiyo combined. Those who had finished passing their batons lingered to cheer for their groupmates, with Kaede, Angie and Miu cheering the loudest for the likes of Shuichi, Keebo and Tsumugi who needed a boost of confidence. And again, Kirumi and Ryoma wowed the rest of the class with their own athletic displays, aimed more at the process rather than the results, while Great Gozu nodded with approval on the sidelines. On the other parts of the field, similar displays were occurring, with gales of laughter and loud cheers resonating in the open air, proof of the surprisingly enjoyable nature of their activities.

When everything was done, Great Gozu had them cool down with a number of stretching and static exercises for a few more minutes. By then, the sun had retreated behind the clouds, sparing them the ordeal of enduring their tiredness in the afternoon heat. "That was very well done. Good work to all of you!" he thundered when they were finished. "Some of you could use a bit of work with your physical prowess, but I commend you for trying all the same. It was an honor supervising you all for today's activity. Good day!"

At that, their activities came to an end, and everyone was given the chance to do what they will for the rest of the day. Some decided to go back to the Ultimates' quarter immediately for a quick shower at their rooms, while a few lingered on the open field to bask in the afternoon's atmosphere. Angie, Himiko and Tenko left together as they went back to the dorms together. Surprisingly, Maki joined Kaito alongside Shuichi, Kaede, Tsumugi and Gonta to the main building. Miu hurried off with a mortified Keebo, citing that they were late for his afternoon maintenance session. Rantaro and Korekiyo walked off to one side, discussing the details of Rantaro's recent travels to the Mediterranean as Korekiyo offered him some advice on island culture. And as usual, Kokichi vanished without a trace, presumably to take care of some form of mischief again.

Kirumi stayed behind to help Great Gozu pick the markers they had used for their activities, with Ryoma helping as well. Their instructor did not notice them at first—due to both his mask and immense size, Kirumi mused—until he spotted Ryoma stacking the markers he had gathered. With their combined efforts, they managed to collect all the markers and return them in front of one of the equipment sheds near the field.

"I think we can just leave these here now. The maintenance team will come by and put everything away eventually," Great Gozu rumbled when they were done. "Thanks for the help, you two. You didn't have to assist me, but I appreciate it all the same."

"We're just doing our part, sir," said Kirumi with a polite bow.

Great Gozu grunted. Together, they walked back out on the open field. "Good showing out there earlier, by the way," he said as they went. "It's always refreshing to watch talent flourishing the way it did earlier with you both, and with some of your classmates too. Are you an athlete by any chance, Miss . . . ?"

"Tojo. Kirumi Tojo. And no, sir. I'm the Ultimate Maid."

Great Gozu inclined his head. "That's surprising. But I suppose that's part of your training as a maid, to be physically fit and able like that. Either way, you showed one hell of a performance out there on the field. Your form would put some of my protégés in Kansai to shame!"

"Thank you, sir."

Great Gozu nodded, before turning his intimidating gaze on Ryoma. "You too, Mr. Hoshi," he went on. "Many have seen your matches back then, myself included, and let's just say it's been a while since I saw you joining anything that's related to sports."

Ryoma grunted. "Yes, sir. It's been a long while."

"I take it you're adjusting rather well to the new environment?"

"Yes, sir. It still takes some getting used to, but I'll manage."

"That's good. Your enrollment here came as a bit of surprise for a lot of people here, to be honest," said Great Gozu. "Then again, I'm in no position to speak of it that way, and besides, Kizakura's instincts haven't failed him yet when it comes to great potential. When Headmaster Jin caught wind of you, he lobbied hard to have you here. I think that was more than enough to convince the skeptics."

Ryoma nodded. "I can only hope that my past doesn't catch up to me here, sir, so that I won't disappoint those who made sure that I could come here."

Great Gozu stopped and stared at him for a moment, his expression unfathomable beneath his bull mask. "I think it's best if I spoke a bit more bluntly about this, Mr. Hoshi," he stated quietly. "What happened with you back then, what you did . . . nothing can be done to change that, and there will always be people out there who choose to see that instead of who you were. Personally, I cannot approve of your crime, even if I understood why you did it. It was a highly regrettable affair, highly regrettable."

Kirumi observed Ryoma as she continued listening to them, feeling some of his shame and discomfort at the veiled admonition that Great Gozu was giving. Nevertheless, Ryoma seemed to shoulder the sting of the remarks well enough as he nodded again. "It was, sir. No one regrets that more than I do," he muttered.

"But you are here now, like so many before you who have walked through these hallowed grounds to greatness," Great Gozu continued. "And now you have your second chance in life. I say, use it!" Again, his guttural voice resounded across the field, turning a few heads towards them momentarily. "Seize that chance, and make the most out of it! Your professors can never stress that enough, which is why they never tire saying it to you all. You are Ultimates. You were all chosen for a reason, and that is to become the hope that the world needs to keep going! That is why it's encouraging and enlivening to see people like you grow, because of and in spite of any dark past you might have. To see you running out there again, showing hints of your old form and marching in step with everyone else to the future, I would consider that an honor. And the same goes for you, Miss Tojo!" he said suddenly, looking over at Kirumi now. "Your potential and determination can be seen easily in the way you move and take on what is asked of you. Some may consider being a maid quite lowly, but your commitment to your chosen career deserves to be commended."

Kirumi felt startled as she listened to the words being directed her way out of nowhere now. Great Gozu's words were nothing new, but they invoked a sense of determination and pride nonetheless, and he spoke like he knew a lot more than he was letting on, enough to guess certain things about her correctly. Of course, such assumptions were often nothing more than hit-and-miss observations, particularly in those who claim to see what lay beneath a person's visage after years of experience, but it was an odd marvel that such guesses hit their mark more often than not. She held her head high, moved by the passion and praise in their one-time instructor's words. Even Ryoma looked caught off guard by the fact that he had received an inspirational nudge instead of more dressing-downs. It made her feel glad to know that many in the school wanted to see him succeed the way she did, more so than the gratification she felt for herself when met with such approval.

When Ryoma looked unsure as to how to respond, she decided to speak for him. "We will do our best not to disappoint the academy, sir," she said. "Thank you for your encouragement. You can be sure that we will keep it in mind as we study here."

Great Gozu gave them a nod, ostensibly satisfied. "Seeing you standing where the old guard before you stood years ago, going through the same motions we did, working hard for the future in spite of our lowly beginnings, it brings me way back." He turned his gaze upon Hope's Peak Academy's surroundings with an air of nostalgia. "The halls of this place are filled with enough wisdom and inspiration for you to use. It is up to you to find that, so you can face September with steel in your body and fire in your hearts!" he declared. "When the cameras start rolling then and people everywhere watch what takes place here, I hope that you will hold your heads up high and show them what it takes to be Ultimates!"

". . . 'Cameras?'" asked Ryoma in a surprised tone. Next to him, Kirumi felt her composure receive a slight jolt.

"Yes!" Great Gozu let out a short bark of laughter. "Did you all think that your time as Ultimates here in the school goes by unnoticed in the country? Here, you will have a grand stage that is better than any of the arenas I've competed in. Once you are asked to show what you have learned at your evaluations, the entire country—no, the entire world will bear witness to your skills and growth! There's no better time to show what you are capable of!"

The school bells began ringing in the main building, signaling the end of classes across the campus. "Well, that's my cue to go back in," said Great Gozu, straightening up. "Just keep doing your best, you and your classmates and everyone else here, and show the world that you've got what it takes to lead everyone to a better future. I wish nothing but good fortune and success for you all! Until we meet again!"

With that, Great Gozu saluted them with a thump of his fist on his huge chest. He turned and made his way to the main building, his lumbering strides covering distances quickly for a man of his size. Kirumi and Ryoma watched him go, still startled at the revelation that he had shared to them inadvertently in his fervent speech.

A/N: Another long haul for this chapter, and I sincerely apologize for it. The past couple of weeks have been hectic with writer's block, chores and tutoring, to the point where I just lack either the time or the energy to write. Thankfully, I had more than enough help from my best friend cheering me on and giving me ideas, and I'm proud of what I turned in. I hope it all makes for a good read for you guys. See you in the next upload!