The all-powerful middle schooler

Ignoring the two's antics, Hasegawa Izumi picked up a two-meter-long Japanese bow and entered through the other passage, with the others following closely behind.

Sunlight streamed through the eaves, making the girl sitting there waiting silently appear as if she were draped in a sacred golden veil.

Wearing a well-fitting archery uniform, with her long hair tied in a single ponytail and only long sideburns hanging down on both sides of her forehead, Kaguya Shinomiya today has a more heroic air compared to the cold and aloof image in the public eye.

"Da da."

As footsteps echoed on the wooden plank, the girl slowly opened her eyes and looked at the person who had entered.

"It's been a long time, Shinomiya-kun."

Hanase Izumi slowly opened her mouth.

You should have said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Kaguya Shinomiya stood up as she answered.

When their eyes met, it was as if starlight flickered.

"There seems to be something fishy about the conversation between Hasegawa and Shinomiya."

"Did they already know each other?"

Nearby, Erika Konase and Karen Ki, members of the news department who had arrived earlier, began to whisper among themselves after taking a photo.

"You two stop gossiping and focus on your duties."

Asahi Shizuku immediately reminded them.

"Yes!"

They weren't the only ones with doubts; some other spectators also had theirs.

Clearly, the two people currently at the center of the conversation have no interest in stopping to answer questions from others.

"Let's begin, Hasegawa-kun. I'll make you understand that challenging me is the biggest mistake of your life."

Kaguya Shinomiya tilted her head slightly, and in the blink of an eye, her cold, icy eyes erupted like a volcano.

It was as if they had seen an enemy.

"interesting."

Hasegawa Izumi gave a two-word assessment of the situation.

Throughout the challenges, I've heard others make bold statements, but none of them acted as sincerely as Shinomiya.

This clearly stems from the strong confidence she gained from past victories.

She already possesses the necessary qualities of a strong person.

However, he will tell her next.

There's always someone stronger, and there's always someone better!

"You can decide the rules for the competition, Shinomiya."

"Alright, then our rules are: keep shooting, and whoever's arrow leaves the center first is the loser."

The competition rules are quite high, after all, people's performance varies, and factors such as wind speed can also have an impact, so there will always be times when you make a mistake.

"So be it."

His eyes held the same confidence.

The weather was fine and sunny, with blue skies and white clouds.

Under the watchful eyes of Izumi Hasegawa and a dozen or so spectators, Kaguya Shinomiya raised her longbow and assumed an impeccably perfect archery stance—the standard archery posture.

The Japanese bow (Wa-yum) is a type of longbow used in Japanese archery. The upper arc of the bow accounts for two-thirds of the total length of the bow. In other words, the Japanese bow is longer at the top and shorter at the bottom. Its specifications and length can be considered the largest bow in the world.

Such a design can also cause users to have difficulty maintaining balance when holding the bow.

However, through countless practices, Kaguya Shinomiya, with her extraordinary talent, could know the arrow's landing point simply by feeling, without even looking at it.

"boom."

The arrow flew out and hit the target squarely in the center!

A perfect shot!

59. In the end, you are just an ordinary person born in this era.

"Did Shinomiya-kun shoot with his eyes closed? Or did I see it wrong?"

"No, it seems to be true! Shinomiya-san's archery skills are even more terrifying than we imagined!"

"Shinomiya-kun, this doesn't seem like the level of a fourth dan in archery, does it?"

"Could it be that Hasegawa-san will lose this time?"

This arrow deeply shocked everyone.

Most of them didn't have a clear understanding of Kaguya Shinomiya's archery skills before, only knowing that she had won the national championship every year since junior high school.

Then they realized that, in terms of resume, Kaguya Shinomiya was indeed much more illustrious than the others!

"Is he really that strong? That Shinomiya."

This was the first time that Nibutani Morika had ever felt something was amiss with actions other than those of Hasegawa.

"It's alright, trust the sage!"

"As long as the Sage gets serious, death will be a thing of the past!"

Despite the verbal praise, a bead of cold sweat trickled down the foreheads of the other two chuunibyou girls.

"That person is still smiling... and with that same expression."

Only Natsukawa Masuzu carefully observed Hasegawa's expression, remaining calm and composed.

……

"It's your turn, Hasegawa-kun."

Kaguya Shinomiya showed no sign of pride when she fired the arrow, as if it were just a casual shot.

That was certainly true for her.

Ever since that one moment of inspiration in junior high school when she shot a pretty perfect arrow, she has only ever repeated that same shot.

"As expected, it's great that Shinomiya left you for last. Surprises should be saved for last."

At this moment, Hasegawa Izumi saw a realm that ordinary people could not see, and couldn't help but show a look of delight.

The moment the arrow was shot, the girl's aura seemed to merge with the longbow in his hand.

With focused mind and keen observation, the arrow flies... hitting the mark wherever you aim!

This is clearly the realm of 'man and weapon as one'. Depending on the weapon, it can be called 'man and knife as one' or 'man and sword as one'.

Even within the world of martial arts and chivalry as we remember it, this level of skill is considered to have reached a high level.

Of course, this is only the level of skill; in other aspects, he is far from being a master.

But this is only a limitation of the times, not her limit.

"Hasegawa-san, do you have to look at me like that?"

Kaguya Shinomiya glanced sideways, her voice inexplicably changing tone.

So enthusiastic.

That could be misunderstood!

"Next, Shinomiya-kun, I will show you an even higher level! Then follow this path and catch up! Although we may not be able to walk together, I still look forward to you giving me more surprises."

Izumi Hasegawa didn't seem to care at all. After saying a few words, she also prepared to draw her bow and shoot an arrow.

"Imiwaga nai".

Kaguya Shinomiya was somewhat bewildered after hearing this.

What is all this stuff?

This man is really no different from before, saying nonsensical things and doing things that are incomprehensible...

The only difference is that it's even more annoying than I remember.

Hanesegawa Izumi took a step forward, her target locked on the target next to her.

His archery posture, which he then displayed, gave Kaguya Shinomiya a small but profound shock.

Hasegawa Izumi's right foot was back, like a supporting wooden stake, his left knee was tilted forward, his center of gravity was lowered, and his hands gripped the bowstring, pointing diagonally to the sky.

He can draw his bow as full as the moon!

"Where can that shot go?"

This pose challenges the common sense of Kaguya Shinomiya and the archery club.

From childhood to adulthood, their archery teachers had never taught them how to shoot arrows.

Moreover, pointing so high, was he trying to shoot the sun down?

"call out!!"

Hanase Izumi gently released the fully drawn bowstring, and the long arrow shot into the sky, seemingly disappearing from sight.

The spectators stood on the edge of the archery platform, looking up at the sky, but almost pushed themselves off the platform.

"Don't push! You'll fall!"

"I can't see it! The sun is very bright!"

Suddenly, Kaguya Shinomiya showed a slightly shocked expression as she looked at the target several dozen meters away.

"boom."

An arrow landed squarely in the center of the target.

"It's your turn."

Hasegawa Izumi turned around and gestured.

"I never expected that you could apply the archery technique used on other bows to the Japanese bow. You truly are a man who has won all the way here."

Kaguya Shinomiya swallowed hard, analyzing the situation and drawing a conclusion.

"However, I will not lose a match like this!"

She drew her bow again, maintaining the exact same archery posture, full of vigor, and the arrow hit its mark immediately.

The arrow, with almost no error, easily pierced through the long arrow that was already on the target, and landed firmly in the center of the target.

This operation left everyone speechless.

This is no archery competition in a small academy; they would believe it if you told them it was an Olympic gold medal contest!

"How about it?"

Kaguya Shinomiya, her competitive spirit fully ignited, cast a triumphant glance at him.

"Clap clap clap... To be honest, this is the best archery I've ever seen in the world! Shinomiya-kun is also the most talented person I've ever met."

He immediately applauded in praise.

This made the girl's lips involuntarily curl up slightly.

She was used to being praised by ordinary people, but it was quite different when she was praised by an opponent she respected.

"But is this your limit, Shinomiya-kun?"

Izumi Hasegawa stopped clapping, and then her voice turned somber.

"What do you mean?"

The girl's smile gradually faded.

"Alas, it seems... you are ultimately just an ordinary person born in this era, unable to reach our level."

"If you want to preach, defeat me first!"

Their expressions turned indifferent, and their postures became tense again.

"You dare call me an ordinary person? How dare you! I'd like to see what you've got... eh?"