Chapters 3-12 of the light novel detail the protagonist's desperate attempt to evade mandatory enrollment in a special abilities development academy and his subsequent entanglement with a childhood rival.
The narrative begins with a national broadcast announcing the discovery of a boy with special abilities who has refused to join the academy and is now on the run. This news sparks widespread public interest. The protagonist, who identifies himself as a "city boy" and possesses an inflated sense of self-importance and appearance, is revealed to be this fugitive. He finds himself lost and miserable in a forest, complaining about the difficult terrain and insects, attributing his predicament to the "special abilities test" he refused to undergo.
His solitude is interrupted by the voice of Kuroitsu Kirako, his childhood friend and now sworn enemy. Kirako, also on the run, explains she is there for the same reason: to avoid being forced into the academy. They share a similar, self-serving mindset, and the protagonist views her as a dangerous obstacle. Kirako mentions the protagonist's notoriety in the news, which he attributes to his "handsome looks" rather than his abilities. They banter about their shared situation of evasion, with the protagonist cynically remarking that they are running to avoid conscription.
The story then flashes back to the protagonist's middle school days, just before the mandatory special abilities test. He expresses his disdain for the concept of "duty" and the test itself, which he views as a farce. He encounters a classmate who is excited about the possibility of having special abilities and gaining entry into the "girl-filled academy." The protagonist, however, dismisses this, emphasizing his disinterest in such pursuits and his desire to maintain his superior image. During the test, he touches a crystal that emits an overwhelmingly bright light, indicating a powerful special ability. Despite his disbelief and repeated attempts to prove it a malfunction, the authorities confirm his exceptional talent, marking him for mandatory academy enrollment.
Panicked, the protagonist uses the intense light from the crystal as a blinding diversion and flees, pursued by government agents in black suits. He encounters Kirako again in the forest, and they are subsequently cornered by these agents. To save himself, the protagonist fabricates a story, claiming he was helping Kirako escape against her will, effectively shifting the blame onto her. This manipulation momentarily appeases the agents, but Kirako, enraged by his betrayal, retaliates by using her own newly awakened special ability: the creation of a powerful, destructive red spear. She unleashes an attack that incapacitates the agents, leaving the protagonist and Kirako to face the aftermath of her destructive power.
The narrative then shifts to their forced enrollment at the "Japan Special Abilities Development Academy." The protagonist views it as a "forced labor camp" and a prison, lamenting the loss of his freedom. He is introduced to a violent, seemingly drug-addicted teacher named Urazumi, who forcibly drags him to class. Inside, he encounters Kirako again, who is furious at being dragged down with him. A transparent classmate named Kakushigi Enmi also joins their reluctant trio, claiming to be unable to find a partner.
The chapters conclude with the three students, along with other classmates, being led into a dungeon for a "recreation event." The protagonist, Kirako, and Enmi form an uneasy alliance, with the protagonist and Kirako viewing Enmi as a potential "meat shield." As they enter the dungeon, a monstrous roar echoes, signaling the presence of a creature, and the protagonist and Kirako immediately begin to strategize, each intending to use the other as a shield.
