Chapter - 19

A fire safety door separated the outer perimeter of the Bay Dome from the spectator stands. There, seated on a bench that overlooked the Osaka Bay through gently curved glass windows, was Koume. She was facing away from the ring where her brother was currently embroiled in combat.

Brother… it's already enough….

She wanted him to stop. If it was just for her, he didn't have to do this anymore. He had never said a word to her about fighting to reclaim her voice. But she understood without needing him to say a thing. That was why she was in pain. And she could not stand to see her brother bleed and be hurt for her sake. That was why she ran away.

"You aren't going to watch the match?"

Shizuku Kurogane, who had pursued her and only just caught up, asked that question. Koume jolted and whirled around at having been called suddenly, turning to regard Shizuku, who was about her height. She remembered this girl.

Ah… she came to the store yesterday… if I recall correctly….

She was the sister of the knight who was dueling her brother now. Why would she be here? Her brother was obviously about to defeat her own. Koume thought this rather strange, and as if reading that doubt showing on her face, a complex expression crept onto Shizuku's.

"I couldn't quite leave you be. Because, as a younger sister with an older brother… I understand your pain, Koume-san."

How did she know? Koume's eyes widened as Shizuku sat down beside her.

"We heard the reasons for Moroboshi-san's comeback from Kiriko-san."

Koume understood then—if it was Kiriko, then of course she would know what had happened between them.

"…I can understand your feelings. After all, I too like my older brother the most. I feel pain when he bleeds or is hurt. It cuts me even deeper when he does it for my sake."

Shizuku's words captured Koume's present emotional state well. Now that she knew this much, there was no point in hiding, and so Koume nodded.

"You hope that if it's for your sake, he should just stop fighting."

Koume nodded again.

"You can't stand to become a burden for the man you love."

Koume nodded again—but realizing that the girl in front of her had just said something outrageous, she flushed crimson and shook her head rapidly in denial. She most definitely did not have that sort of relationship with her elder brother.

"Eh? I was off the mark? It's not that kind of love? …Really."

Why does she seem disappointed….

Having encountered an unfamiliar kind of love, Koume was confused.

"Well… even if your relationship isn't like that, you still feel bad about cheering on your elder brother like a stranger when he's fighting to get your voice back, right?"

Shizuku's words, delivered slowly and in a consoling manner, struck home. Indeed, Koume truly wanted to cheer for her brother. She had been like that ever since Moroboshi had been in the elementary league, a constant figure in the stands cheering her heart out for him. For the brother she was proud of—stronger and cooler than anyone else. She loved cheering for that brother. She enjoyed it.

But now things were different. That accident changed everything. Now, his reason for fighting was to reclaim her voice. It was his duty as an older brother. That was why she couldn't cheer. She had no right to do it. Her brother was sacrificing so much for her, and yet she could not repay him. How much could she be coddled by her brother? Thinking like that was not allowed. That was why she could not cheer for him from the bottom of her heart, not since that accident.

And today, unable to contain that remorse, she had run away.

…This person understands all of that.

This embarrassed her a little, but she could also feel the kindness that Shizuku, who understood her heart and had come all the way here to say these comforting words to her, had shown.

Thus, she whipped out her handphone, intending to text a word of thanks to Shizuku—

"Nonetheless, there's nothing wrong with that. You don't need to care so much about it."

Her fingers froze at Shizuku's words, and she looked up, shocked. Of course she did. For even though she understood Koume's feelings, Shizuku was now tossing that which she had been agonizing over out the window with all her might.

But Shizuku had her reasons for saying this, naturally.

"Why not? No matter how much you… no, we wish to be coddled, it would surely be allowed. After all, we are their younger sisters, and they are our elder brothers."

The elder brother would protect his younger siblings, and they in turn relied on him. This was an unwritten rule not only for humans, but for most creatures in this world.

"Even if it were allowed to no one else, we alone can be coddled by them."

It was their right.

"That's why I make him indulge me. Even though Onii-sama has someone he loves, even though doing this for me might get him in trouble… I have no intention to stop loving Onii-sama. Putting aside the fact that you haven't been able to speak till now, you do wish to cheer for Moroboshi-san. Compared to my kind of selfishness, yours is a much more lovable thing."

This was the reason for her words, the reason she came here. She could no longer stand to see Koume continue to bear her guilt at having to rely on her brother in silence.

She had said what she had come here to say, and not a moment too soon either. From behind them, a tumult stirred in the match venue.

「Kurogane's kicked it up another gear! He's still speeding up, and is cutting Moroboshi's magic guard down by the numbers—it's only a matter of time before he breaks through!」

"It looks like the match is about to end. It's time I went back."

So saying, Shizuku stood up.

"What will you do now? No… what do you want to do?"

Having been questioned thus, Koume looked distressed. It wasn't that she could not understand Shizuku. But she had caused her brother to have that accident, and had even lost her voice of her own accord. Having caused her brother to worry so, could she really have him indulge her?

These worries that swirled around in her mind could not be so quickly dispelled. She was torn. She did not know what to do. But—

「Aah—! At last, Moroboshi's shield has been destroyed! He's in a huge pinch!」

Brother…!

—throwing down what had occupied her thoughts so, she allowed her legs to carry her towards her brother.

Part 8[]

Back in the ring, the flow of the battle was almost decided.

「Moroboshi tries to move back to gain some distance, but Kurogane has a read on him! He can't get away! He counters with Sanrensei, but it misses—Kurogane is moving faster than the spear! He's taken three, no, four cuts in return! Blood sprays, staining the white floor of the ring! Kurogane's struck home with all his slashes so far, but not a single thrust of Moroboshi's has hit its mark! The home crowd has been silenced at the onesidedness of it all! It seems rude, but it seems hard to imagine that Moroboshi might reverse this! The difference in power, the difference is skill is just too great!」

Having all but spent the magic power he had used to shield himself and not having enough to use Tiger Bite, Moroboshi could only frantically use his spear to fight back. But he could no longer catch sight of Ikki. With the situation being as it was, of course he would not be able to pierce his opponent. He could do nothing but hit empty air while taking hits himself.

There was simply no contest. From anyone's perspective, this was surely Moroboshi's loss.

「And yet the Seven Stars Sword King does not fall! Yuudai Moroboshi still stands tall in the middle of the ring!」

He would not kneel. He had not given up on victory.

I can't… lose here!

Was it for Koume's sake? No. At first, only his duty as an older brother drove him. To reclaim the voice she had lost because she had seen him at his weakest—so he had thought. But having returned to this field of battle, he had experienced a change of heart. He remembered how much he loved this world, and so his wish became stronger, stronger than anything else.

He didn't just want his treasured little sister to be able to speak again. He wanted to be cheered on by her. His to battle, and hers to support him. Those bygone halcyon days where they shared the joys of knighthood.

It was a rather un-mannish dream, and yet—

—Ain't nothin' more important to me than this!

So until his wish was realized—

"What's wrong, Kurogane—! I'm still standin'! Come and git' me!"

He would continue to be that strong older brother whom Koume could cheer for. That dignity, that wish was what gave Yuudai Moroboshi his unyielding determination.

Part 9[]

"What spirit… he still hasn't gone down…"

Having returned to her seat, Shizuku could not help but say this with a slight tremor in her voice. Despite being literally helpless and bleeding all over, Moroboshi was still challenging Ikki. What frightening combat instincts. Kurono nodded in agreement.

"As expected of a man who managed to stand back up after suffering an irrecoverable injury. It might just be impossible to break his spirit. But his body is at its limits. His magic's hit rock bottom, and Tiger Bite has disappeared. He was able to make that fearsome challenge, but that is only because his legs can no longer move. Right now, Moroboshi isn't frightening at all, and Ikki understands that as well. The next blow will end this."

And indeed, the battle proceeded as she said, as a blue mana wrapped around Ikki's body. That was a clear a sign as any that Ikki intended to finish this match right here and now.

「His insurance policy is here, it's Ittou Shura! He's pulling out the ace with which he brought down such names as Hunter, Raikiri, and the Crimson Princess!」

「The Worst One—what a frighteningly expert combatant, choosing to use the most effective technique at the best possible time! To make matters worse, the Seven Stars Sword King can no longer deal with his speed. I can say that he doesn't even have a one in ten thousand chance of winning!」

It was as Muroto said. If Moroboshi could not deal with Ikki in his normal state, there was no way he could do anything against Ikki when Ittou Shura, which boosted his ability tens of times over, was active. With this move, Ikki had cut off any avenue of victory Moroboshi might have had.

"With my weakness, I'll beat the Seven Stars Sword King—Moroboshi-san, let's do this!"

And with that he launched his final attack, aiming to finally end this long and arduous battle. Lowering his stance deeply, and in an instant put all his strength into both his legs. His heels floated up, reached maximum speed, and Ikki bounded towards Moroboshi as though in flight.

「Kurogane's coming to finish this! The Seven Stars Sword King is in a real pinch!」

The commentator Iida yelled, his voice made louder than it had been all day by the impending climax. The crowd churned and roiled at the impending upset of the Seven Stars Sword King in the first round. And amid that earthshaking tumult of cheers and cries—

Koume recalled, as she saw her brother facing defeat, the words that he had said to her when she saw him off in the morning.

「Hey. Could you tell me to do my best?」

Ahh… yes, that's it….

It wasn't just her. Her brother, too, had wished for her to cheer him on as she had in the past. It was such a tiny wish, and how had she replied? She had given him a piece of paper with written support. Wasn't that wrong? What he had wished for wasn't that piece of paper. What he wished for was—

「What will you do now? No. What do you want to do?」

What I should say is—

"BIG BROTHER, DO YOUR BEEESSSTTT—!!!"

She yelled her heart out—yelled out those words that she had always, always meant to say. Those words that she had held in all this time, believing that having taken her brother's life away she had no right to say them. Those words, rusty from disuse, came from her throat hoarse and soft.

…Yeah.

But even amid the thunderous din her words reached her brother Yuudai Moroboshi's ears.

Of course they did. After all, he had been waiting for these words for years and years!

"Jus' leave it t' me—!!!"

Right there and then, the roaring Moroboshi showed everyone in the Dome something unbelievable.

"Strike 'em dooowwwnnn—! Tora-Ouuuuu!"

Ikki was charging full-speed ahead towards the half-dead Moroboshi, Ittou Shura about him. But having squeezed the last dregs of his magic for a Tiger Bite, Moroboshi hurled his spear right for Ikki's forehead!

Until now, Moroboshi had always fought within the range of spear. This was his first use of his spear as a thrown weapon.

"This—"

Kurono cried out at this eleventh-hour change.

"—This is bad!"

Why? Indeed, a spear-throw was unusual, and it was quite like Moroboshi to aim for such blind spots in his opponent's line of thought. But there was no way it would hit. Normally, that is. However, this situation was different!

The zero-to-one-hundred burst speed of Edelweiss's swordplay is indeed strong! But it also means that emergency brakes and directional changes are impossible!

This was a matter of course. After all, the world's strongest swordsmanship possessed peerless offensive strength while on the attack, which was always executed at top gear. Thus in truth, its weak point was sudden changes in the situation—that is to say, surprise attacks!

Moreover, Ikki was now using Ittou Shura. Even if he was not using Edelweiss's swordplay, he was already at a speed where a sudden stop or a change in direction was impossible.

In other words, this throw that would not normally have hit Kurogane will do so—but only for this moment!

To counter, he would have to parry the spear with his sword. But he couldn't do that. After all, the flying spear was presently clad in the golden light of Tiger Bite.

Moroboshi's magic should have hit rock bottom. How could he still use Tiger Bite? The reason lay in Tora-Ou itself. Its long shaft was halved, rendering it the size of a javelin. Having dispersed the magic power particles within his Device, he had managed to wring out enough magical power for one Tiger Bite. All in all, that throw was one Ikki could neither get hit by nor avoid!

That man Moroboshi… was definitely aiming for this—!

Indeed, Moroboshi had seen through the weakness of Edelweiss' swordplay. For this moment, he had lain in wait. For the moment when Ikki would activate Ittou Shura and advance toward him at a speed that he himself could not suppress.

He had allowed himself to be cut flesh, bone and soul—all for this. This was the truth behind his act of being unable to deal with Ikki's extreme change. A blood-drenched bluff! And that bluff had managed to fool everyone in the Dome—not only the spectators, but even a knight of Kurono's level!

At top speed as he is, Kurogane can't dodge that throw!

Kurono could not help but shiver at Moroboshi's battle sense, that which had overturned her expectations and played them all for fools. Beside her, Shizuku and Alice felt the same way.

So everyone in here… was within the palm of his hand all along?

So this is… the Seven Stars Sword King!

They had discerned it. The true strength of Seven Stars' pinnacle—of the man who bore the title of Seven Stars Sword King!

—But in the next moment, everyone in the stadium would once again be shocked into frigid silence.

As Tora-ou's point sped through the air and pierced Ikki's forehead… his form shimmered, and faded.

Wh…at….

Moroboshi was at a loss for words. Just then, a shadow appeared above him. Silhouetted against the sun, the figure of a black swordsman was about to let fly his blade.

This was the secret sword that had eluded Houkiboshi earlier—Shinkirou. But this time, it neither feinted front-to-back nor left-to-right, but rather up and down. Leaving an afterimage below, he had sent himself soaring into the air with his enhanced leg strength. That which Moroboshi had hurled his spear at had never been anything more than an illusion.

In other words, Ikki knew that Moroboshi would choose this moment to try the last. But why? For what reason?

Ah… so that's it….

Looking at the expression on Ikki's face as he brought his blade down, Moroboshi understood. Ikki's face held not the slightest hint of mocking him for having fallen for that feint. There was only overflowing—almost embarrassingly so—respect.

You really believed in me….

Up till now the Seven Stars Sword King had layered stratagem upon stratagem, trap upon trap to make sure he had the worst of it. Kurogane Ikki had not believed for a moment that such a great king would easily allow himself to be defeated. He respected the knight named Yuudai Moroboshi more than anyone else in the stadium, even more than Moroboshi did himself.

This was why Moroboshi lost. He had fooled everyone with that blood-soaked bluff, but only this knight standing before him, he could not fool.

And so, the battle was decided in that instant.

Ikki let fly his blade. Having bet it all on this surprise attack, Moroboshi had nothing left—no magic, no weapon, not even the strength to flee. The blade bit deep, slicing him from the shoulder down. In a flurry of crimson, Moroboshi at least fell upon his knees. At the last, with the final vestiges of his strength, he reached out his arms and grabbed Ikki by the shoulders, and—

—to the knight who had surpassed him…

—to his opponent who had believed in him to the end…

"Don'cha lose now, y'hear?"

—he left his wish.

With that, the Seven Stars Sword King finally collapsed, and the referees gave the signal for the match's end—thus bringing this showdown to a close.