Chapter-07 · EP-102

Episode 102: Yuno Hayasaka (Part 2) – Archery Club Trial

Thinking that maybe, with a bow, I too could be useful to my party, I knocked on the door of the Archery Club after school. After requesting a trial membership, I entered the practice hall. There, I saw familiar faces.

"Oh? Hayasaka-san."

"Hikaru-san. And Mei-san."

It was Hikaru Kujo-san and Mei Kisaragi-san from Class 1-A.

"So you've come to learn archery too."

"Yeah. What about you, Hikaru-san?"

"Yes. It seems swordsmanship doesn't suit me, so I thought that with a bow, I might be able to be as useful as everyone else."

Speaking of Hikaru-san, before the break, she had been training hard in the Second Swordsmanship Club and had learned to defeat slimes in one hit. Had she given up on swordsmanship despite all that effort?

"Hikaru-san, weren't you in the Second Swordsmanship Club? You were working so hard."

At my question, Hikaru-san smiled wryly and explained.

"I experienced the second floor during Golden Week, but I simply couldn't defeat the monsters there with my own strength. So I wanted to try a different approach, not relying on a sword."

"…That's the same as me. Maika and I had to hit a Giant Toad dozens of times before we could finally defeat it. Monsters on the second floor are tough, aren't they? But Iori and Shirou defeat them in one hit."

Back then, I was level 2, but now that I'm level 3, I might be able to defeat them a bit faster.

"I also saw him defeat monsters in one hit when Ichinose-san helped me level up. He really is amazing."

Hikaru-san muttered, looking into the distance. Come to think of it, she said she had entered the dungeon with Shirou for a bit during Golden Week. Even though her hard work in swordsmanship hadn't paid off, she was still looking forward. I thought Hikaru-san was truly strong.

As we were chatting, Takamiya-senpai noticed us and came over.

"Hikaru-san. You came."

"Rena-sama, good to see you. Yes, I came for a trial membership."

Hikaru-san greeted her with a graceful curtsey.

"Oh my, you've become a lady who can greet so elegantly. Good to see you, Hikaru-san."

Takamiya-san returned the greeting with similar refined movements. I was captivated by their grace.

"Welcome, Mei-san. And you're Hayasaka-san, aren't you?"

"Y-yes! I'm Yuno Hayasaka! Nice to meet you!"

I was so nervous that I answered standing at attention.

"Hehe… You don't need to be so nervous. You were just chatting amiably, so you know each other?"

"Y-yes!"

I answered nervously, and Hikaru-san continued.

"Yes. We get along well with Hayasaka-san and the others."

"Is that so? It's rare in this academy for students from different classes to get along. It's wonderful."

Hearing Hikaru-san, a Duke's daughter, say "get along well" made me happy.

"Since the three of you have come, I'll guide you myself today."

The Archery Club president, Takamiya-senpai, personally offered to do so. It was coincidental, but meeting Hikaru-san was lucky.

Excited, I changed into comfortable clothes and gathered again. It seemed only the three of us were here for the trial today.

"So it's just the three of you today. I thought more would come, since we introduced it in weapons class."

Takamiya-senpai muttered, disappointed.

Hearing that, I looked around the training hall. There didn't seem to be many members. And they were all girls.

Hesitantly, I asked.

"Um, is the Archery Club not popular?"

"That's right. Compared to the Swordsmanship Club, it's much smaller. Especially since it's mostly girls, the problem is that boys don't join. It seems boys all want to get to the front and fight monsters directly. But I'm happy that even just the three of you came. Enjoy yourselves today."

Takamiya-senpai smiled softly. Her smile somehow eased my tension.

It seemed the popular Swordsmanship Club was divided into First and Second due to its large membership, but the Archery Club wasn't. However, regarding practice facilities, there were two: a regular practice range and a high-tech range for nobles.

First, we were guided to the regular practice range.

It was the same place we had visited in today's class, so quiet it felt cut off from the academy's bustle.

The building was wooden, with aged beams and columns reflecting soft light. The polished wooden floor felt cool and pleasant underfoot; with just one step inside, I was enveloped in an atmosphere different from the outside world.

The shooting positions where students stood were one level lower, offering a view of the outdoor range. It was a breezy, wall-less space, with rows of targets painted with black and white concentric circles lined up ahead.

The distance was much farther than I had imagined; it felt less like shooting an arrow and more like a ritual of "sending one's heart."

A breeze blew from somewhere, rustling the paper of the targets slightly.

Even that faint sound didn't break the silence. Not a single club member uttered a word. Each time they drew a bow, only the creaking of the bamboo and the sharp whistle of the released arrow disturbed the air.

I involuntarily caught my breath.

– Here, releasing a single arrow was a heavy, sacred act, like a prayer.

Then, as if breaking that silence, a sharp sound accompanied an arrow that pierced the center of a target.

It was Takamiya-senpai.

"First, let's practice using a Japanese bow. With this, not only technique, but also concentration is important. Especially in a dungeon, it's easy to lose focus. It's important to practice repeatedly so that your heart isn't disturbed even in the midst of battle."

Concentration… I have to do my best too!