"Princess, you shouldn't speak of this matter to anyone. Follow my story as much as possible, okay?"

"Alright."

Haru nodded at Kenji.

"But... what is she doing here?"

Haru meekly asked.

"Well, I knew that she would do something sometime this week but I didn't think it'd be this early. And the fact that she did this so she could see me exert authority... What an idiot..."

"I guess that just goes to show how much she loves you."

Haru placed her hands behind her back and leaned forward as she walked. It was a cute gesture.

"But it worked, that at least removed Yoko's suspicion of me as Kai. It isn't his time to be known yet."

Haru nodded.

When Haru and Kai arrived at the door, the entire class became noisy and most of the class went up to them to talk.

"Hey, what happened?"

"Did they do anything to you?"

"Haru, where you scared?!"

Many questions of different varieties were asked.

Kenji stood in front of Haru.

"Nothing happened, we were just asked to fill up some spots in the information."

Kenji smoothed out all the talks and Haru gave some support from the back. And during the talks, the professor walked in which got them out of their predicament.

"Alright everyone, take your seats. I have another thing to announce before we begin our lesson."

The professor placed some papers on his table and stacked them before coughing once.

"Before that, is anyone missing?"

"Yes! Umi isn't here yet."

"Umi? I see. I can only announce this if all you here so I should delay it... Ah, you're here."

Opening the door was the blue haired girl who eavesdropped on Kenji and Haru's situation, Sasaki Umi.

"Go take your seat, I'm going to announce something important."

Umi nodded at the professor who didn't even take her reason for being late and sat down.

"Following this inspection, the kingdom has decided to raise the student's goals. Each class will get one of the kingdom's best talents to accompany them in their lessons. And our class will have the crowned prince as our companion!"

"""OOOOH!"""

Many of the students shouted in joy. For them, seeing the crown prince is a privilege but to actually be in the same class as the crown prince, their parents and family would be elated.

There's also the chance of getting the crown prince's eye and that would be an instant rise in status. If one of the girls here were to catch his eye, they'd be the future queen. And if the prince saw their talent or skill, they can become one of the knights or royal guards.

That's the true goal of this event, to gather talents for the kingdom.

"Teacher, when will this happen?"

"At the start of next week. Be sure to polish your skills until then!"

"""Yeah!""

With that, everyone was pumped up to train save for a few.

And a certain blue haired girl was thinking of other things.

The crowned prince and third princess are going to be in the same class and on top of that the captain of the third princess' royal guard...?

"What's wrong, Umi?"

"You look a bit pale."

The girls beside Umi asked her.

"Is it a cold?"

One of the girls placed her hand on Umi's forehead.

"I'm fine..."

"You don't look like it... Where's your usual energetic self?"

"I'm just feeling a bit under the weather."

She turned around and looked at Yoko's table but she saw Kenji looking at her and she faced forward immediately.

The girls beside her looked at her movements and saw Kenji staring at Umi.

"Hey, Umi. I didn't know you were that type of girl."

"To think that you even caught the eye of the hottest boy in class. I'm jealous~"

The girls said in teasing tones.

If only it was really like that...

Umi thought. In the end, she couldn't calm down and listen to the lesson at all. And when break finally arrived, she tried to leave as fast as she could.

"Hey."

Kenji appeared right as she was about to leave. The two girls shrieked in a low voice and were shaking each other.

"Can you come with me?"

Kenji asked but in Umi's eyes, he was giving an order.

"Yes..."

Umi followed meekly behind Kenji. The class once more broke out into a discussion when they saw that.

"Seriously, that's the third girl!"

"To think that he not only took the Dark Queen and the Ice Queen but also our class' pure and innocent Umi!"

Yoko and Haru looked at Kenji's figure who had suddenly taken Umi with curious eyes.

"Do you have any idea?"

Yoko asked Haru.

"Not at all..."

Behind the school, Umi was looking around while averting her eyes from Kenji.

"You eavesdropped on that conversation, didn't you?"

"...Yes."

Umi looked down.

"Then keep that a secret. Now, the more important question."

"Eh?"

Umi actually thought she'd be silenced so when Kenji just said it that lightly, she was caught off-guard.

"Have you met with a woman after that?"

"Yes... The beautiful blonde woman talked to me right after and also told me to keep it a secret or she'll handle me herself..."

"Hm? Just what is that girl thinking..."

Kenji placed a hand on his chin and leaned towards Umi. Umi was startled and backed away but Kenji kept walking forward until she finally hit the wall.

I-is he going to kiss me?! This is too soon! No, that's not the problem! What is with this guy?!

Umi's thoughts went haywire and she closed her eyes preparing to be kissed. But after a few seconds when there was still no contact, she opened one of her eyes and saw Kenji there in deep thought.

"As I thought, it seems you're special."

"Huh?"

Umi asked with a confused tone.

"You can do it right? Organic water magic."

Umi's eyes opened wide.

"H-how did you?!"

"Well, that girl usually wouldn't spare anyone who'll become trouble in the future but she doesn't like killing people who have special traits or talents. Plus, organic water magic has a special trait that's easily noticeable. The user has a vibrant life force and when they use magic, it's even more obvious. I'm sensitive to that and I can sense that your life force is at least twice as strong as a normal person."

Umi was about to agree with his explanation but suddenly thought about something.

"Did you just say 'sense' life force?!"

"No, I said I used magic."

"You didn't! And to do that, you need a super rare ancient magic! And if you don't use magic, you need one of those magic eyes or be of a different race! It's impossible to do it with other means!"

This time, it was Kenji's turn to be pressured. But that didn't happen at all.

"No, I was just bluffing so I could find out.

"Like hell you did! You definitely have one of those magic eyes!"

"No, a magic eye has a different eye color, look at my eyes, there are none."

"You're lying! I'm sure that if I were to inspect your eye, I'd find traces of magic to hide it!"

"You're crazy, you'd have to remove my eye for that!'

"I can do it even without removing your eye! It might sting for a bit but please do endure!"

Umi came close with a dangerous face.

Crap. I forgot about her personality. I received information that this girl is quite the researcher!

"Hell no!"

Kenji disappeared and ran back into the building.

"Eh? Where'd you go?!"

The prey became the hunter.

Kenji was running inside the building and fell on his behind.

"Sorry about that."

Kenji stood up and picked up the papers and other stuff that he had knocked down.

"It's my fault for not looking where I was going, don't mind it."

"Hm? Aren't you from my class?"

Kenji looked at the man's features and remembered them.

"Ah, you're Kenji. I'm Tsunoda Arata."

"Nice to meet you. Need some help?"

"Thanks. I can't say I feel too good about bumping into a guy with glasses and on top of that getting help from him though."

This guy is Tsunoda Arata, in the class I'd say he's the big brother figure. He's helping out many students and even gives them advice. No matter how much I try to look into his personality, it doesn't feel like he's lying. He's most likely just acting normally.

Kenji helped carry the papers to the staff room.

"Hey, Kenji mind if I ask you another thing?"

"Hm? Sure."

"Have you heard about the group combat competition?"

"Group combat competition?"

"Yes, have you not heard about it?"

"No, I'm still new to this school so..."

"The group combat competition is exactly as the name says. Several people form a group to compete against each other. Because not everyone will really go for combat as knights and mages in the future, this is entirely voluntary. I plan to join this but I haven't found enough members. I want to invite you to join my team, I saw your fight with Yoko in the spar, you have superb close combat skills. I also plan to extend my invitation to five more people, two of them being Haru and Yoko."

"Hmm... Is this limited to each class or are other classes also allowed?"

"It's not really restricted but almost nobody does that."

"Then, how many people can join?"

"Nine. There are a minimum of five members though."

"How much potential members do you have?"

"Including you, there's three. And if those five others accept my invitation, then eight."

"Then, can I get the last one?"

"I don't really have any ideas for the last member and was about to with eight so sure. It would be better if that person is a mid ranged fighter with both magic and capability to be a vanguard but if it isn't possible, then get a long range fighter."

"No problem."

Kenji nodded at Arata then turned around to leave.

Hitting two birds with one stone, this is my chance.