Chapter - 8

"Ulterior motives?"

Yagokoro's brow furrowed at the disquieting implications of that term. "You mean like using the fact that he treated them to this meal as leverage in tomorrow's battle? He's not the type to consider these petty tricks."

"Haha. That's so, that's certainly so. In fact, he's quite the opposite."

The opposite?

Whatever could 'the opposite' mean? But even as he pondered the meaning of those words—

"Whoa! You guys gave me a shock, what happened here?"

—Moroboshi cut off that train of thought inadvertently as he came in with their orders in hand.

Part 5[]

It was with some surprise that Moroboshi took in the crowd before him as he walked in, a plate of food in either hand.

"Koume said that the doctor was here. So you're here too, huh, Yagokoro."

"S'rather rude of you, to 'whoa!' a maiden to her face."

"It must be all sins you commit normally catching up to you, Ms. Paparazzi. Hope you weren't a nuisance to Kurogane, the doctor and the others?"

"Of course not."

The sheer self-righteousness of Yagokoro's statement left Kiriko looking thunderstruck.

"Eh—"

Man, this is the one person I refuse to be called dense by.

After all, she herself could no longer be described as merely being "dense".

"You're one to talk about being a nuisance. It just goes against common sense to bring your next opponent to your place the day before your match."

"I didn't force them, so why not?"

"Well, I wouldn't know… you do look scary, so for all you know they might've been unable to refuse even though they wanted to."

Moroboshi laughed at her allegation.

"Don't be stupid. Someone who would be that scared of me wouldn't be here at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. Eh, Kurogane?"

"Well, I wouldn't say we were forced."

Hearing Ikki's reply, Moroboshi gave a pleased expression, as if to say "There, you see?" But his face clouded over swiftly.

"Still, I wish I could sit down and talk—so many interestin' people are here, after all."

He muttered ruefully as he laid out the dishes onto the two tables with a practiced hand.

"Gotta be truly down on my luck t' have work to do at a time like this."

Presently Ikki's order, a butatama okonomiyaki, had been placed in front of him. An impressively portioned meal, about the size of a small pizza.

"Right! Three butatama and two seafood deluxe, sorry for th' wait!"

"Wow. As expected, it smells great…and the bonito flakes are practically dancing on top, too."

Having been born overseas, Arisuin was excited to see real okonomiyaki for the first time. As for the rest, they too were spurred by the food's fragrance and the dancing bonito flakes to pick up their disposable chopsticks.

Ikki for his part was still concerned about the ulterior motives that Kiriko had mentioned earlier, but the atmosphere seemed wrong for that sort of conversation.

And I couldn't possibly ask Moroboshi-san himself if he has any such intentions, either.

Well, he would just decide what to do after eating first.

Having turned his thoughts thus, he picked up his own disposable chopsticks. Then, as he gazed upon his order, he noticed that something was different from the time they had eaten okonomiyaki in Tokyo.

"The tables at this restaurant don't have iron plates, huh."

"Well, if we did that the gas bill would be stupidly expensive, and 'nyways the okonomiyaki would be overcooked on one side. I mean, havin' 'em creates a better atmosphere, but we don't do it here. We serve the food at its best, and we'd like our customers to eat it that way."

As expected of the ones who prided themselves in being Osaka's best—they really had thought of everything. In that case, he decided as he began to cut his meal into appropriately-sized pieces, he would not waste this ideal state that his food was in.

"Right then, let's eat."

Paying this courtesy to Moroboshi, who was treating them, he brought the food to his mouth.

It had barely passed the threshold of his tongue when—

Ooohhh!

—his eyes widened, shining with praise. Indeed, this was an utterly different beast from the one they had in Tokyo. Its tastiness was on a whole other level. And surprisingly, this aroma did not come primarily from the sauce or the pork, but rather from the dough base. Also, the cabbage therein too was superb, having both a fresh sweetness and an rich aftertaste.

"Wow, this is delicious! Don't you think so, Shizuku?"

"…Yes. It's completely different from the food in Tokyo. There you could only taste the saltiness of the sauce, but here it's sweet. It feels like the sauce's saltiness brings out the sweetness of the base. It's a little too much food for me, however."

It seemed that Shizuku and Arisuin, too, rated the food favorably. Especially Shizuku; it was quite unlike her to be this eloquent. It was also uncommon for her to give such praise to food, being fairly well acquainted with the subtleties of gourmet food as she was. The other two also feasted upon their okonomiyaki with relish. Seeing this, Moroboshi looked truly pleased.

"Nahaha. It's good, innit? It's because there's a secret ingredient in our cooking. Did you catch it, Kurogane?"

"A secret ingredient, huh…."

Being asked that question, Ikki focused on the sensations of his tongue, thinking as he chewed. The main flavor of the okonomiyaki came from the fresh, strong sweetness of the cabbage, and a gentler sweetness in the dough base. The unique aspect of this dish was how this sweetness was then brought out and emphasized by the salty sauce. But that was not all; there was still that rich flavor, that which left a sweet aftertaste even long after he had chewed and swallowed. This could not be the cabbage's sweetness, not the sort that flowed down one's throat in an refreshing manner.

So, this secret ingredient is probably behind that rich flavor….

"…Hmmm, would it be cheese?"

After much tasting, he found the way sweetness stayed to be somewhat similar to cheesecake, and answered this way.

Moroboshi was impressed.

"Wow, you've got a good tongue. That's absolutely correct. Our okonomiyaki has cheese as a secret ingredient."

Just a little of course, as the taste of cheese was not primary in the dish. But, as Moroboshi had said, it had only taken that little amount of cheese to multiply the richness and flavor of the meal.

"That had to be it, or so I felt."

"I was somewhat troubled when I heard you were 'reeling us in', but with this I'm completely satisfied. Coming here with you was a great idea."

It was as Arisuin had said. Moroboshi hadn't been bluffing—the difference between this and the food from Tokyo was like the distance between heaven and earth. It was great that they had come here, Ikki thought. And because he thought this, he could not help but ask Moroboshi again.

"Um, Moroboshi-san, is it really okay for you to be treating us to such delicious food?"

"It's fine, it's fine. If I took money from y'all after dragging y'all here, my mum would kill me. So don't sweat it, just take it as a welcoming a rival from far away."

"But I still feel bad about being treated…."

He had no basis of comparison on which he could call Ichiban Boshi's okonomiyaki the best in Osaka, but it was undoubtedly delicious. Ikki was grateful to him for having taken the time out, on the day before the day of their Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival match no less, to bring them here. That he had then paid for their feast only made him feel even more apologetic.

A smile crept across Moroboshi's face at Ikki's consideration.

"Well then, you can pay me back during our match."

"During the match?"

Faced with Ikki's confused query, Moroboshi nodded.

"Exactly. Good food is good motivation, y'know? So just take the day to rest up, and then meet me in the match tomorrow in your best condition, better than you've ever been. Provin' my strength by defeating an opponent at their strongest—now that's well worth the meal I treated!"

At that moment, Ikki realized something. If he looked closely, he could something lurking in Moroboshi's eyes under that friendly smile of his. Fighting spirit, almost bordering on killing intent, enough to make the hairs of his arm stand on end.

「He's quite the opposite.」

Just as he discovered that which Moroboshi had hidden, he understood the true meaning of Kiriko's words.

Indeed, Moroboshi did not seek petty gain in battle from treating the opponent kindly, but rather the opposite. Welcoming his opponent as best as he could and allowing them to re-energize themselves, so they could meet him in battle in peak condition. Victory that came of his opponent's poor form or carelessness meant nothing in his eyes. What he desired was a life and death battle with an opponent at their best. A victory in such a battle had meaning, value—this was the chivalry of the Seven Stars Sword King.

"In a battle at the highest stage, neither I nor my opponent should leave with any regrets. Therefore, tomorrow, let's battle to our heart's content with all our might. How 'bout it, Crownless Sword King?"

With all our might. With the words "all our might", the Seven Stars Sword King, he who stood at the top of the student knight of Japan, had acknowledged the F-rank knight Ikki as an opponent worth going all-out against.

Ikki welcomed this. Like Moroboshi, he too believed there was nothing better than to match his opponent with everything he had. Being no more than an F-rank who just popped up out of nowhere, he had fully expected to be looked down upon. But the one who stood at the top was willing to come at him seriously.

It was great that I came here today.

Having understood Moroboshi's true intentions, Ikki felt so deeply. The strong foe before him had acknowledged him as a rival, as someone that demanded his full strength to deal with. As a knight, as a fighter, there was no higher honor. Therefore, there was no reason at all to reject this "ulterior motive".

"If it's like this, then I'd be glad to be treated to the meal. I will return that favor in full tomorrow."

"Lookin' forward to it!"

Part 6[]

Ikki and the others spent about an hour more at Ichiban Boshi before leaving. Moroboshi had expressed the desire for them to wait till he was free, but he never seemed to free up as the customers never dwindled but only increased in number. Their continued presence would only slow the turnover of customers—thus, regrettably, they had to depart.

"Haa. I haven't eaten this much in a long time. My stomach is so full."

"Yes, it's a little uncomfortable."

"Onii-sama and Alice even ate two pieces. That's just too much. You two aren't Stella-san."

"Well, I'm sure Stella-chan wouldn't just have eaten two…."

If Stella had heard that, a fight would have started.

Even though Stella had only really been training with the Yaksha Princess for slightly over a week, Ikki recalled quite a few arguments of that sort with fond nostalgia. If she was here, it would surely be more lively…. Having been together all the time in school, being parted made him miss her all the more.

When this Festival is over, we'll come to Moroboshi-san's place again.

Next time, they would bring Stella along. She would certainly enjoy it. So he vowed to himself, even as loneliness blew through him like a chill wind. Then he turned to Kiriko, who was walking beside him and asked in concern.

"Anyway, Yakushi-san?"

"What is it?"

"Is it okay to have not done your check-up on Moroboshi-san and left together with us instead?"

This had been bothering him for a while now. Though her original intent had been to run a check-up on Moroboshi, she had only ended up eating and then leaving together with Ikki and the others. Perhaps she might have forgotten?

Kiriko for her part seemed unperturbed, and replied straight up.

"Oh, but I've already done the checkup."

"Eh? When?"

"Haha. For a water element user of my level, it is possible to grasp a person's blood and lymph flows even through their clothing. If I wish it, I can read a person's intent via those flows, and even influence them to take control of someone else's body."

"That's amazing…!"

Ikki thought aloud.

"So this was how you were able to seal Tatara-san's movements yesterday?"

"Indeed. It was originally supposed to be a rehabilitation assist, but this technique is also useful for punishing idiots… and anyway."

"Anyway?"

"Controlling people at will feels reeeally great."

She had a radiant smile, but her words were pure horror. Ikki vowed in his heart at that moment never to be treated by her.

"So, what are the results of your check-up, then?"

He was, after all, to be Moroboshi's opponent. That he was concerned was only natural.

Kiriko replied with a note of pride in her voice.

"Don't you worry, he's almost stupidly well, as would be expected of someone who was once treated by me."

"In other words, he's never been better?"

"Yes… you're going to have a hard time in the first round."

She sounded like she pitied him, but Ikki did not consider his situation pitiful. If anything, he was anxious that if Moroboshi were not at his best, there would be no worth in "returning the favor".

As they talked, they once again left the commercial strip, reaching the train station.

"Well, looks like this is where I step off, I dun' stay at the hotel, after all."

"Do you need us to walk you back?"

Arisuin voiced concern that Yagokoro was returning home alone, but she declined.

"It's fine, it ain't that late. I'm a student knight too, y'know?"

With that, she stepped out of their circle, before stopping and turning around.

"Oh, that's right. I had something I wanted to ask you, Worst One."

"You look oddly serious. What is it?"

Yagokoro made a face torn between wry acknowledgement and embarrassment.

"Well, y'know, I would write any scoop s'long as it was interestin', but this rumor was just way too crazy, so I thought I gotta get it from the horse's mouth."

For even Yagokoro to call this rumor too crazy, it must surely be scarily so. Feeling a cold sweat break out, Ikki prompted her almost timidly.

"What… sort of rumors?"

"Aah, umm… they say you defeated Twin Wings in combat, is that true?"

Ikki's eyes did their best sunny-side-up egg impression.

She referred to his battle against the strongest swordsman in the world, 'Twin Wings' Edelweiss, who he had fought on the deserted school grounds not long before. There had been no eyewitnesses, and as such no news made of it. As such, he had not imagined that anyone else would have known about this. Seeing his reaction, Yagokoro pressed forward first.

"Eh! What's with dat reaction!? Is it real then? Did you really win!?"

"No, wait, wait-wait-wait! Calm down a bit, please! Yes, it's true that I did cross swords with Edelweiss, but—"

"S-So you did!"

"That's why I said, calm down—!"

Grabbing Yagokoro by the shoulders, he somehow managed to calm her down from her almost predatory state, before proceeding to refute that rumor.

"I won't deny that I did indeed fight her—the rumor is correct, but only up till there. I did not win. I lost consciousness during the battle, and the next thing I knew I was lying was a hospital bed. In other words, I'm only alive because she held back on me."

He could not bear to think of what would happen if this misunderstanding got out.

"I-I see, so as I expected, it was false, huh…."

Yagokoro also seemed to accept quickly that the rumor was merely that.

"Yeah, that was probably it. Still, that you fought her and survived in itself is big news, ain't it? I know you gotta leave now, and I'm sorry, but could'ja tell me some details about the fight?"

Her face positively beamed at having unearthed this unexpected big scoop.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

"Wh-Why!? I'm not gonna mock you for losin', y'know?"

"No, I'm not refusing for that reason. Simply put, I don't remember."

"You don't… remember?"

"Yes… I remember being beaten really badly, and at some point I lost myself—the last moments were especially muddy."

This was the truth. All he remembered was his last-ditch Dokuga no Tachi being repelled with ease, and Intetsu shattering to pieces. Following this, he had no memory of how he had attempt to fend off Twin Wings. Thus he could not recall it—the moment when his sword had landed a hit on the world's strongest swordsman. Though he had heard of it from Kurono after she rescued them, it all felt too surreal, as though it had happened to someone else.

"So, well, you see, all I can tell you is that I lost."

"So that's how it is…."

Kurogane Ikki was not one to lie, this much Yagokoro knew even from their short acquaintance. Thus, she shrugged. It was disappointing, but she would not pursue the matter further.

"As I feared, though, this information alone won't make for a juicy enough scoop… say, do you mind if I fill in some… details?"

"I would."

"Come on, you'll lose magnificently!"

"No."

"Ooh. You're so stingy."

With this came her best glare, but Ikki refused to give any ground. If he left her to dramatize the story as she liked, who knew what would come of it. Before long, Yagokoro backed down first in the face of his firm stance.

"Well there's nothing for it, then. I'll just have t'give up on making this into an article."

"I'd be thankful if you did that."

"…But, to be honest, my estimation of you has gone up after hearing about this, Worst One. Now I'm really lookin' forward to see the match between you n' Moroboshi. Then, that's all, eh? Bye!"

Sending Ikki her support thusly, Yagokoro headed off by herself in the direction of the bus stop. Shizuku spoke up first after the seeing-off.

"Let's go back together, shall we? We do stay at the same hotel, after all."

Ikki, however, declining that suggestion.

"I'll pass. I'll walk back instead of taking the train."

"Why would you do that? It's still quite the distance, you know."

"It's, well, I guess two pieces really was too much for me. I'd like to do a bit of light exercise to help with the digestion."

And on top of that—

"I guess Moroboshi-san's fighting spirit has infected me too. I can't seem to sit still, so I guess I need to walk it off."

There was also that reason. In any case, Shizuku understood that while the hotel was a ten-minute train ride away, that distance was nothing her brother couldn't handle, and so she accepted it with only one mild reminder.

"So that's how it is. I understand—but tomorrow's match is an important one, so please be careful not to overtax yourself."

"I will keep myself in check, of course."

"Do you want me to come with you, Ikki?"

"…Nah, it's fine, Alice, you can just go with Shizuku."

"Ah, alright then, I understand."

"Then, I'll see you all tomorrow at the match."

Ikki waved, before heading off through the alleys in a different direction from Yagokoro.

"Onii-sama is really happy."

Shizuku could not help but notice this, and she said so in a pleased voice.

"Yes, it seems that he was really struck by the Seven Stars Sword King's fighting spirit. It was to be expected, I suppose, seeing as that fighting him in optimal condition was in fact his ulterior motive."

"Onii-sama was also unusually provocative in his reply."

"He probably couldn't contain his excitement. As an F-rank, he has been ridiculed, unacknowledged, and yet he continues to believe in his own potential. Having the chance to test himself against the Seven Stars Sword King alone would have been enough motivation for a battle maniac like him. And now he knows that his opponent, too, desires that battle. He must be so happy and proud he can barely sit still… that's actually really cute."

No doubt Ikki looked forward to meeting Moroboshi in battle tomorrow when both of them were at their best in both body and mind. To Shizuku and Arisuin, this was what they could see in Ikki's bright expression.

"But, this much won't be enough to win."

Kiriko spoke suddenly, causing them to gape slightly.

"Eh?"

"Won't be enough to win… do you mean Onii-sama?"

"Yes, that is what I mean."

"Wh-Why would you say that?"

Shizuku seemed chagrined that the White-Robed Knight would suddenly claim that her brother would lose.

"I would say that it's an issue of mentality."

Kiriko narrowed her eyes.

"I think that Kurogane-kun is a splendid knight. While being an F-rank, he aimed for and made it to the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival—so he certainly has both the drive and the strength. Even when facing the Seven Stars Sword King, he did not show any sign of fear, but rather challenged him head on—that he has ambition thus also plain to see… but I feel that he is taking it this lightly."

"Lightly… you say?"

Shizuku stared daggers at Kiriko, perceiving this as an insult to her brother. Arisuin moved to calm her down, even as he spoke what was on both their minds.

"You said Ikki is taking this too lightly. How different is Moroboshi from him then, if they share the same feelings on the matter?"

If they had different feelings on the matter, why would Moroboshi have said something like "I wish to fight you when you're at your best"?

But Kiriko simply shook her head lightly at his words.

"…That's not true. I think you've misunderstood the man called Yuudai Moroboshi quite severely. Beneath what I called his ulterior motives is something very different from Kurogane-kun's ambition. Halfhearted feelings that those would never have allowed him to overcome those injuries. That which supports him is something else altogether. It's something even more unique than the mere desire to fight those above you, or to chase after a beautiful victory. It is a most grievous sense of duty. If Kurogane-kun only holds on to such self-congratulatory ideas like wanting to fight a battle he can be proud of, or aiming for greater heights—he cannot defeat Moroboshi. I'm sure of it."