What Became Apparent to Me a Year After

"What Became Apparent to Me a Year After" (１年後に見えてくるもの) is a short story for volume 11.5 of You-Zitsu light novel series, included in the First Year Arc short stories collection, together with another short stories.

Summary
On a day before the spring break, Ryūen went to the Keyaki Mall wishing to have a rematch with Ayanokōji. He wondered about the ways he could need to defeat Ayanokōji and felt the need for a pawn who would work for him in Ayanokōji’s class. As he sat on a bench, waiting for Ibuki and Ishizaki, someone called out to him.

The one who called him out was Arisu Sakayanagi, the Leader of Class 1-A. Looking at her, Ryūen asked about the whereabouts of her bodyguards. After being asked that, Arisu said that even she had gone out alone in the past and congratulated him for his victory over Ichinose’s Class. Ryūen, in turn, congratulated her over Class A’s victory over Suzune’s. After talking about the end of the year exam, Ryūen and Arisu bantered with each other as Arisu tried to probe into Ryūen while looking down on him and Ryūen trying his best not to give Arisu any enjoyment on his account. Feeling a waste of time talking to her, he started to get up and take his leave.

As he stood up, Arisu remarked that his aura has changed and added that in the previous year, he would look at her with eyes full of enmity while now it didn’t seem the same. Hearing her remark, Ryūen felt that she was joking that she didn’t feel any hostility from him. But Arisu added to her remark and said that the hostility was there but the color of it had changed. She said that at the start of the first year, she didn’t feel any need to be wary of him but that had changed now. Hearing her boasting, Ryūen said that she might be overestimating herself and he wouldn’t mind kicking her down to claim a victory over her. Arisu answered that she might not win in a physical fight but she wouldn’t consider that a win from the perspective of an outsider.

Ryūen said that what an outsider might think didn’t matter to him and tried to frighten her by acting to hit her with a clenched fist. But Arisu didn’t cower a bit and stood there standing with a smile on her face. He felt that if he hit her, she would just brandish the title of the lowest scum on him. As he took her fist away, Arisu said that he had grown into an opponent she should be wary of. However, Ryūen adamantly said that he hadn’t changed at all and stood there thinking. As he stood there he wondered if he had changed at all and thought about the last year and how he might have changed. Arisu commented that something big might have happened for him to have changed and said that she was looking forward to a new war in the coming year.

As they were talking, Ryūen noticed Ishizaki and Ibuki and went to them. Ishizaki asked him about his talk with Arisu to which he replied that they were just having a small talk. Sensing he didn’t want to talk about it, Ishizaki dropped the topic and said that he saw Ayanokōji going to Keyaki mall that morning. Ryūen wondered for a bit where Ayanokōji might be at that time. As they were talking, Ryūen informed Ibuki and Ishizaki that he planned to attack Class A and destroy them completely in the 2nd Year. Hearing him, Ishizaki asked about his plan for Class B. Ryūen answered that they weren’t his opponent and they would crush themselves in due time. He said that only one he needed to be wary of Kanzaki but he still hasn’t had the chance to be an opponent yet.

Ryūen, having left Arisu, waited for Ayanokōji to leave the café. Ayanokōji, who had noticed him earlier, greeted him and asked wouldn’t it have been better to call beforehand instead of waiting for him. Ryūen answered that he wanted to talk face to face instead of on the phone. Ryūen felt that he needed to break his guard to conquer him. He also wanted to confirm something and asked about what he said to Hiyori.

The thing Ayanokōji said to Hiyori was that he would have won with over 5 wins with a better method. Ayanokōji asserted that he might have done better. But Ryūen said that the method doesn’t mean too much to him if he could win with over 5 wins. Ayanokōji said that Ryūen might have to leave the school due to some of his blunders. Ryūen felt that he was goofing around saying that Ryūen might lose to Ichinose. Ryūen said that he was arrogant despite having lost to Arisu with 4 to 3 with Arisu in the lead. Ayanokōji accepted that his class had lost despite him being the Keep, but added that whether Arisu is superior to him or not, is altogether a different matter. Ryūen felt irritated at how easily Ayanokōji accepted his loss but felt that if he was serious, he wouldn’t have lost in any exam despite it being unfair. Ryūen said that someone he has lost to can’t be inferior to Arisu and added that he would have an easy time believing if someone interfered in their match or they had an accident.

As they were talking about the event selection exam, Ayanokōji asked about his plan as he had made his comeback, but Ryūen answered that he hadn’t made a comeback yet and was planning to enjoy his vacation a little longer. He then added that if he wanted to make a comeback, he would crush Arisu and Ichinose as a warm up. Ayanokōji said that he had changed and added that if he could crush Arisu and Ichinose he would be grateful as he could aim for the top smoothly. Ryūen having believed he wasn’t interested in class A inquired about his intentions. Ayanokōji answered that the situation had changed and he might not be there till graduation as he will be targeted to be expelled. Ryūen boastingly said that if he was to be expelled it would be by him. He thought that no student from the school was able to expel him regardless of their class or grade. As he thought that he quickly took a step towards him without any warning and kicked him aiming for the space right in front of his face. As he kicked, Ayanokōji calmly dodged his kick at the perfect moment as if having predicted his next move. As Ryūen prepared for another strike, he felt his tension releasing and wondered if he was a monster as even the surprise attack didn’t work. As Ryūen began relentlessly attacking him while provoking him to attack, Ayanokōji calmly dodged without hitting back. When asked why he wasn’t hitting back, Ayanokōji answered that he didn’t want to fight in presence of so many cameras and wanted Ryūen, who was recklessly fighting to grow up properly. Hearing him say that, Ryūen felt he was looking down on him and punched at the wall.

While Ryūen asked Ayanokōji about telling him to grow up, Ayanokōji answered that the scheme he had used for the victory over Class B was full of holes and if the school had been informed about it, Ryūen might have been expelled and said that he was only saved due to Ichinose’s grace. Ryūen said that he had taken Ichinose’s good-naturedness into account to which Ayanokōji said that if he did that then Ryūen catching up to him was impossible. Ayanokōji also added that whether he took his or not was up to him but if he stayed as he is, he would never win with him. Ryūen, reflecting over his strategy, said that he would take his advice and would crush him sooner or later. Hearing his reply, Ayanokōji said that having Ryūen crush and expel him wasn’t bad.

Hearing Ayanokōji reply that he wouldn’t mind getting expelled by Ryūen, Ryūen thought that if Ayanokōji desired it, he would certainly expel him. Ryūen felt that even though he had conquered any and all opponents who had stood before him, Ayanokōji was different. He was someone with a sharp mind on whom the physical or psychological attacks didn’t work. He believed that even though someone as sharp as him had been in Class D, he didn’t need to panic as even if he wasn’t winning now if he won at the last moment, he would be the victor. At that time, he resolved to win no matter the method.