Chapter - 14

Standing behind the tall man, a shadow asked him while looking down at him as if in scorn.

"It's already well-done."

The tall man, to the question, showed his left arm. The left arm of the man who was controlling the stone dolls had been burnt by Raikiri's high-voltage current that had flowed through the threads, and flesh had been scorched off. The degree of that damage was fierce, such that even recovery in a capsule would probably not restore it perfectly.

Despite that, where were the tall man's cries of pain? He was happily singing Touka's praises.

"Thanks to that, my left hand has become useless, hasn't it?"

"It's because you did a useless thing right before festival eve, you fool."

"I can't say anything in response, I guess. Ha ha ha."

"I'm an ordinary student, so I don't know the organization's plans, but you're someone right beside the organization, aren't you? With strategy in front of you, shouldn't you hold back on doing careless things?"

"Well, that's true, but I can't help it if waiting around isn't fun, you know. It's not enjoyable. That's not a good thing. I hate things that aren't fun. It's because I'm a Pierrot. I always have to be laughing. Whether virtuous or corrupt, a Pierrot's style is to be fun, wouldn't you say?"

"You words are as difficult to understand as ever."

"Ha ha ha. Thank you for saying so. Being a wet blanket is also a strong point of a Pierrot who reads the heart of others."

Answering with a voice that didn't hide its frivolity, the tall man moved his the fingers of his right hand nimbly with a swish. As he did so, the scorched left arm fell off beautifully at the shoulder as if being cut by sharp cutlery. Because the area at the shoulder had been cauterized, there was no bleeding.

"Ah, do you want some? It's well-done, but…."

"I don't need it. You might as well feed it to that cat."

"Ha ha ha. She'll cry again if you don't call her a sphinx properly."

"Even if you attach wings with glue, a cat is a cat."

At the curt reply from the shadows behind him, the tall man sighed and spoke his innermost thoughts. Sheesh, that one didn't have youthful dreams, huh?

"Oh, by the way, the Crimson Princess you're infatuated with was also at the scene. Her facial color wasn't good at all, so I wonder if she had a cold?"

"I wouldn't know about such things."

"Oh? You're not concerned? I heard that you came here to meet her."

"True. That's the reason I'm accompanying you bastards on your blood sports. But if her physical condition is damaged to the point that she can't be in the tournament, then I say the Crimson Princess is only a girl of that level."

With a voice that traveled clearly in the dark, the words of the man answering contained no lie. Sensing that, the tall man clearly felt that the compatibility with the shadow that was scorning him was bad. Sheesh, this man was terrible at banter.

"Well well, you're quite cold, aren't you? Nowadays, women won't spare a glance for men who don't make small talk, you know?"

"Tell your nonsense to a mirror, clown."

Perhaps the man in the shadows also felt that their compatibility was bad. He spoke as if spitting out the words, and left the place.

Staring at the back that was melted into the darkness, the tall man again let out a sigh ―and said….

"Really, not cute at all. I'd prefer he share his younger brother's simplicity."

After that, the rain continued to fall for an unexpectedly long time. It was around three hours. With that impact, in the end the sun had started to set by the time Ikki and the others could come down from the mountain. At some point, the clouds what were sending furious rain disappeared before anyone noticed, and the sky became perfectly clear of clouds, and the scene fell under a beautiful red hue.

Honestly, there was really something wrong with Japan's weather recently. As all of them thought that, they headed back to the training lodge. Along the trail, Stella who Ikki was carrying once again asked something of Touka.

"Hey, Touka-san. The one who manipulated the rock dolls from before, is it okay to let him get away?"

In the end, after fleeing the rain, they were confined to the entrance of the cavern the entire time, so they couldn't find the true identity of the enemy who manipulated the rock dolls and attacked Ikki and the others. Stella seemed displeased about that. Well, that feeling was something everyone in the situation shared. Since they were going back and leaving the fundamental question about the giant behind, they couldn't erase the feeling of leaving things undone. However―

"…Well, if we were able to catch that person, we would've wanted to do so, but it seems that's a bit impossible."

"Why?"

"When I demolished the hub, I measured the distance to the practitioner using Raikiri's lightning attack on the threads, but it would be too far to go and catch that person."

"How far away would that be?"

"At an estimate, it would be about a hundred kilometers."

"Bu, *cough cough*!"

At the dubious distance, even if the location of the training camp was within the Tokyo metropolis area, Stella choked over her surprise. Certainly, they couldn't go that far to make an arrest.

"Haa. I was shocked by that. Can a steel wire user manipulate dolls from that far away?"

"No. Ordinarily, it would be impossible. There was a B-rank steel wire user in the special assembly of Blazers I was on the same team with, but the distance that person could freely manipulate dolls was around five hundred meters."

She pointed out that fact. In other words, at that time, it was an abnormal thing directing those threads. Referring to that, Touka's expression stiffened slightly.

"Therefore… it may be me who'd have to be rescued before getting to confront him."

"If that's the case, it would be wise not to chase too far."

It was too dangerous to charge in without a plan against that kind of unknown opponent. Hearing Touka's words, Ikki understood her judgment. Nonetheless, Stella seemed to have a personality that was dissatisfied over leaving an enemy alone, and cleared her throat.

"But quitting without knowing anything, it's somehow unsatisfying."

"Since we relayed the information to the chairman through Toutokubara-san, if a decision is needed, I think the chairman will take measures. Moreover, since that person suffered wounds, he probably won't come here again."

You said something amazing without hesitation just now, Toudou-san.

It was amazing for a steel wire user to manipulate dolls form a hundred kilometer away, but for Touka to cast a lightning strike against an enemy over a hundred kilometers away was also extraordinary, after all.

After that, while they spent the walk exchanging a childish conversation, they continued back through the evening. The way was muddy from rain, but they were Hagun's distinguished student knights. Nobody tripped clumsily. Since Ikki had gotten enough sleep in the cavern, the fatigue from Ittou Shura didn't drag him down, and his walking while carrying Stella was easy. Consequently, the march progressed as smoothly as one would suppose, and all of them managed to reach the foot of the mountain where the lodge buildings were before sundown.

"Ah! Hey there, everyone! Welcome back!"

Their return was greeted by Renren and Saijou, who were waiting for them outside.

"Stella-chan, I heard you collapsed? How terrible, right?"

"Sorry to worry you. It was the first time I had a cold, so I didn't even know I had one."

"You could rest if you were just tired, but you're an extremely energetic person, right? You made holes in the ground with the badminton birdie. Thinking isn't something you can do with your body, right?"

"…Somehow, I feel like you're calling me an idiot."

…She's really not like what I think of as a sick person, after all.

Why was this girl hitting a badminton birdie as if she was playing tennis? Somehow, he had the sense that Stella would win through the selection battles as usual even with a cold.

"Having fought a giant while your partner was collapsed, you look like you've thoroughly suffered, huh?"

Suddenly, Ikki heard sympathetic words from Saijou.

"Ha ha ha… well, I'm used to being unlucky, so I'll be fine."

"I heard you were injured, but is it serious?"

"I was only wounded a little, so no. I'm alright."

"I see."

Nodding, Saikou took out a small bottle from his pocket and handed it to Ikki.

"What's this?"

"My family is a lineage of doctors. This is an ointment made from a secret formula. It's effective on bruises, so you should go apply it."

"Is that so? Okay, thanks. I'll use it later."

Ikki stated his thanks for Saijou's kindness with a smile. Then from behind him, Utakata and the others….

"Homo."

"Is that why you don't attack me even when I'm only in my underwear in the student council room!?"

"W-W-What stupid things are you two saying!? That was camaraderie! Probably, surely!"

"Why does even Touka-san seem halfway unsure…?"

Ikki heard a conversation that gave him a headache somewhat as if he had been hit on the head.

"Sorry that my colleagues are so noisy. Well, that's how they always are, so don't mind them."

"Ha ha ha."

Saijou-san has a strong mind.

This person might also be wise in the ways of the world.

"Haa. I'm tired from walking the entire time today. And my stomach is empty. Hey, hey, Touka, let's all have barbeque before we go back."

"Ah, that would be great! I didn't eat much at noon, so I want to have some meat."

"I agree!"

Stella and Renren latched onto Utakata's suggestion, but Touka shook her head with full turns of her neck.

"No way. Stella-san is sick, you know. She has to go to a doctor first."

"Ehhhhh…."

"Stella-chan looks completely lively, so she's probably fine―"

"Yeah. I'm alright."

"See, she says she's fine. As an upperclassman and as the student council president, shouldn't you respect her independence!?"

"Even if you split hairs, no is no. If we don't take a cold seriously, it can be dreadful. In addition, Stella-san is in an important season, so if an unlikely emergency happened, it would be a disaster."

"Ooh…."

*grrrrr*

Stella's stomach, resting on Ikki's back, made a complaining noise. It seemed that her appetite really was coming back. In addition, the heat he felt from her body had also fallen considerably compared to the time they were in the mountain shack. Perhaps she had nearly completely recovered from the cold. It was a staggeringly superhuman recovery power, but if it was Stella, he couldn't say it was impossible.

"…Toudou-san. It's certainly true that we should go to a hospital, but not eating something when you're hungry is also bad for the body, you know. The body wants energy to fight the illness, after all."

"Ikki…!"

Renren shouted out.

"Ooh! That's right, that's right! Kurogane-kun said something good just now!"

"Hmm. That's true, I guess…. …I think she'll have the chance to eat meat while convalescing, but… I understand. Then let's take Stella-san to the hospital and get her some medication, and after that we'll go to an all-you-can-eat yakiniku place. If we eat first, we won't be in time to get her treated before the hospital closes."

Utakata cheered.

"Thanks, Touka! Yahoo! Meat!"

"Misogi-senpai! Let's go to Jo●en!"

"Alright, leave making the reservation to me!"

"Stop! I said we'll go to an all-you-can-eat place!"

This bunch of people is as lively as ever.

But suddenly, Ikki noticed that someone was missing.

"By the way, where is Toutokubara-san?"

Renren blinked.

"Kanata-senpai? She went to receive a guest who just came."

Saijou also spoke up.

"Hmm, now that you mention it, I forgot that there was a message I had to deliver. Actually, just a while ago, someone came here to visit you, Kurogane."

"Me?"

"Yeah, it seems he came when he found out you were here after going to the academy."

Who could it be? Ikki tilted his head in confusion. Especially to pursue him all the way to Okutama. Honestly, he couldn't think of any acquaintance who would want to meet him that much.

"Saijou-san, what is the person's name?"

"I think it was―"

After thinking about it for a short while, Saijou seemed to recall.

"Ah, that's right. He gave his name as Azaka."

At the name that was announced, Ikki's expression stiffened. And at the same time―

"Oh, he's here, he's here. Finally, we meet."

A man's cloying voice came to Ikki's ears. Turning his gaze, he saw Kanata Toutokubara leading the person she had probably been receiving.

"It's been such a long time~ Ikki-kun. Ha ha ha."

An obese middle-aged man wrapped in a red suit, smiling with an Ebisu-like face.

Ikki knew him. He had met him several times during the period he lived in his parents' home.

"Ikki, who's this old man…?"

Perhaps Stella sensed something serious through his back as he carried her. She asked Ikki timidly. In response, Ikki lowered Stella from his back, and answered.

"This is… Mamoru Azaka-san. The current head of the Kurogane house's branch family."

Just from knowing what kind of person this was, Stella received all she needed to understand the situation. Stirring up, Stella whose demeanor became like a menacing cat faced the visitor with her hackles raised.

Kanata, who had guided Azaka, expressed confusion at the mood that had grown dangerous as if the air had started to sting,

"Excuse me, is something wrong?"

But Azaka himself, who had been receiving hostility one-sidedly….

"Ha ha ha. Please don't make that scary face. I don't like it either, you know? After all, I went as far as to show up in Okutama for a good-for-nothing like yourself, right?"

Without feeling the timid situation at all, he pasted a smile on that uselessly grateful face, and spat out aggressive words. At those bluntly contemptuous words, even the people of the student council who didn't know what was going on felt the distinct animosity that the visitor was directing toward Ikki. This person was Ikki's enemy.

In that case, for Touka who considered the feelings of her colleagues, she had to fire back.

"You, what are you doing? That way of speaking, isn't it rude?"

She immediately turned an intimidating gaze toward the discourteous visitor.

"Well well, if it isn't the famous Raikiri-san. Good afternoon to you. Ah, or is it late enough for good evening? I heard your conversation, you know. It seems you went to save Ikki-kun, didn't you? No, I'm sorry, I should describe it as an upright adherence to your duty. As a representative of my family, I humbly apologize. Exactly as I said."

"Wh-Who would want an apology like that―"

"I'm truly very sorry~"

Watching Azaka speak with Touka this way, it seemed he wasn't listening to Touka's words at all. And it seemed he was one-sidedly showing his contempt for Ikki all over again. To that excessively conspicuous malice, Touka was so bewildered she became speechless. The other student council officers were the same.

And in the brief period of silence that fell, Akaza raised his face without a moment's delay.

"Well, let's please leave that aside for now, and get down to business immediately. I can't bear the many mosquitos here in the mountains. Ha ha ha. The reason I came here today, it's because the head of the ethics committee for the League's Japanese branch has something very important to communicate to Ikki-kun."

The point of the conversation appeared. Though Akaza's expression had a smile, his eyelids were narrowed into slits, and the light coming out of them was dim. That his important matter was worthless was evident even without listening to it.

But if it wasn't heard, the conversation wouldn't progress. Therefore Ikki prompted him to continue.

"I wonder what he has to say after all this time?"

"Ha ha ha. Well, it's still early for you to ask what he has to say beyond this. Here, here. Today's evening publications."

What Akaza handed over were several newspaper articles. What exactly was written there, and what did they have to do with Ikki? While feeling a strange apprehension, Ikki opened one of the newspapers up, and―

There, a photograph of Ikki and Stella exchanging a kiss against a background of many trees was published.