I Start with a Bad Hand!

“…So, how about we hold a little competition within the archery club?”

Even with my mind in turmoil, daily life flowed in its own direction.

Despite it being lunchtime after archery practice had ended, I was sitting in the corner of the archery range with a serious expression. The faces of my fellow club members sitting beside me mirrored my own.

The existing members of the archery club had gathered with a single-minded determination: we couldn’t let the club shut down. Those who were genuinely dedicated to this class, which was like a pit you could never climb out of once you entered, tended to become particularly anxious during the withdrawal period.

“This year, with so many third-year seniors graduating and fewer new students joining, it’s a problem.”

“There’s no guarantee that the freshmen who joined this year will continue next year either. At least until we graduate, the archery club needs to stay alive.”

“The swordsmanship club is running out of training space, so they’ve expanded their training grounds. If they keep gradually expanding their area, they’ll soon reach the archery range.”

The atmosphere became tense as everyone realized the club’s dwindling numbers were resembling more of a small gathering than a formal class. The initial ease we had, enjoying the spacious and quiet venue due to the small number of people, began to crumble when two freshmen expressed their desire to leave the archery club and when Agatha’s face started to show an indescribable shadow.

“Then if we have a team competition, what will the winners get?”

“How about exemption from cleaning and tidying up the archery range? Both archery classes are right before lunchtime.”

“That sounds good. And if the stakes are too high, the losing team might feel too discouraged. This seems just right.”

At that moment, cheers and laughter erupted from the swordsmanship club students in the distance. All our irritated eyes turned towards the training grounds.

“Do they think they’re the only ones who use the training ground?”

“It’s annoying to see them hang out and make noise.”

Since last year’s friendly match, the animosity towards the swordsmanship club had grown among the archery club members. We were quite certain that the toy-like arrows we had to use right before the match were the handiwork of the swordsmanship club students. Moreover, despite our commendable performance in the friendly match, the archery range saw no improvements nor did we receive any additional support.

“Why do they replace the wooden dummies or straw targets every week for them, but we don’t even get new targets?”

The complaints always arose when we had to manually fix the feathers on the fallen arrows. However, since the swordsmanship club had many students, it was natural that the straw bundles used for cutting practice were frequently consumed. More importantly, the condition of the straw bundles was critical for their training, whereas the academy’s stance was that targets didn’t need to be regularly replaced for archery. Although the reasoning was strangely convincing, the archery club couldn’t help but feel resentful, even if the protests had stopped.

“Then let’s divide the members like this…”

Taking into account everyone’s skills, Roxanne and I ended up on different teams. It wasn’t by my doing. In fact, it would have been awkward no matter which team I was on.

‘Should I be relieved that we’re on different teams, or should I consider it bad luck?’

This relationship wouldn’t heal before I left this place. How long do I have to endure this discomfort?

‘And if it becomes known that Dietrich is truly the Princess of Elexion, the conflict with Roxanne is inevitable.’

I sighed lightly and wrote down the rules and team divisions for the archery club’s planned competition on paper.

‘Of course, I don’t plan on revealing it anytime soon. I haven’t figured out why that bastard who threatened Dietrich did what he did, and I don’t lose anything by not entering the ducal house.’

And above all… What happens to Roxanne if I reveal that fact? Pushing down my complicated feelings, I wrapped up the meeting.

“As we decided, let’s apply the rules leniently for the freshmen, but no leniency among ourselves.”

Everyone nodded solemnly. The light-hearted competition initiated to retain the number of freshmen brought unexpected consequences.

***

“Wow, they actually replaced all the archery targets and practice arrows.”

“Can they just change everything like that? Ah, Roxanne should have joined the swordsmanship club.”

At those words, the archery club members, feeling somewhat proud, began to draw their bows with more elegance. In the quiet archery range, the only sounds were the arrows hitting the targets and the murmurs of swordsmanship club students pretending not to spy on our practice.

“All of this…?”

“Yes, since I’ll be here for a long time, I wanted to do at least this much. Is that alright?”

A few days ago, just as we were about to wrap up, Roxanne shyly mentioned replacing the equipment to Agatha, who was in charge of the archery club. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but Roxanne’s clear and resonant voice was hard to miss. Agatha responded with gratitude, albeit with a somewhat ambiguous smile.

“Your sentiment is appreciated, but actually, academy equipment cannot be replaced by individual students. Even for a single replacement, approval is required.”

Roxanne looked somewhat disappointed, but she soon understood and nodded. However, after that, all the equipment at the archery range was replaced. For some reason, the academy staff were aware that the influence of Elexion was involved in the replacement of the equipment.

In any case, the environment, which had remained unchanged despite multiple suggestions and complaints from the archery club students, improved, and this seemingly elevated the status of the freshmen as well, which was indeed a good thing.

“Thanks to this, we’re quite fortunate.”

“Indeed.”

Taking a break under a makeshift tent with a fellow club member, I twirled an arrow that felt just right in my hand. Watching the backs of the archery club members practicing hard, I casually asked Frank, who was sitting next to me.

“How are the new members on your team?”

“Our team?”

Frank replied, taking a sip from his water bottle.

“Well, they’re about as skilled as you’d expect new members to be.”

I let out a short laugh at his somewhat harsh assessment.

“At this stage, it’s natural for new members to have the skills of new members.”

“But didn’t we learn a bit faster when we were new?”

Why does everyone in this academy seem to believe that they were better during their time? Trying to erase the image of a certain curly-haired someone that popped into my mind at Frank’s comment, I trailed off.

“Well… even we weren’t all that…”

“You, though, were good from the start. Oh, come on. Are you drawing a line between us?”

After a few rounds of playful banter, Frank glanced around and then lowered his voice as he spoke to me.

“But there is someone who’s noticeably struggling. Even after a few weeks, they still haven’t quite adapted.”

Unintentionally, my eyes followed the direction of the flowing silver hair. Frank nudged my arm, whispering not to make it so obvious.

“They seem to be trying hard.”

“They are. I even saw them practicing with a private tutor. Do you know who that tutor is?”

“Who?”

“The continental archery champion.”

“Continental… not imperial?”

Frank, nodding absentmindedly, said, “Isn’t it amazing?” I couldn’t help but think that the ducal house’s influence was truly formidable.

“But she still seems a bit anxious, which is worrying.”

Out of ten arrows Roxanne shot, only two hit the target. Watching her walk to retrieve the arrows, looking exhausted, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

“I met with the new members separately the other day, and Roxanne was struggling with her posture. I helped her adjust it for quite a while, but she ended up crying. She apologized for not being able to do better despite my efforts. It brought down the mood, and our plan to use the session to get to know each other fell apart.”

It wasn’t something she needed to apologize for. Reflecting on that time, Frank added that he was still taken aback. The purpose of this competition was to help the newcomers find enjoyment in archery, not to make them cry during practice. I felt a twinge of bitterness at how things seemed to be going in the opposite direction of our intentions.

“…The point of this competition is to help them enjoy archery more.”

“Exactly.”

Still, with a private tutor, she should improve soon. She’s practicing hard, after all. As Roxanne approached the firing line again, she seemed to notice my gaze. Her previously somber expression hardened, and she turned away from me.

Feeling awkward, I laughed internally and muttered to myself, ‘This is bad.’

If this continues, the team competition will become overly serious. Winning would be uncomfortable, but if we intentionally lose, it will be obvious.

I covered my forehead, trying to calm my troubled mind. The archery range, which had always brought me peace, was no longer serene.

“…Hello, Dietrich.”

And during an early morning practice, Roxanne unexpectedly greeted me first.

Standing next to her was Icarus, which was just as surprising.

“What brings you out this early?” Roxanne asked, her face unfamiliar in this dawn light.