[Chapter - 1: The Festival has ended Part 1]

The 62nd Seven Star Sword Art Festival that showed a climax rarely seen in the recent years with fierce fights after fierce fights came to an end with the victory of the"Worst

One"Ikki Kurogane who defeated"Crimon Princess"Stella Vermillion.

The spectators who were watching attentively their fight head to their respective homes while talking about the magnificence of the two knights with each other with a look

that didn't cool down its excitement even after the awarding ceremony that happened one night after the finals.

At the same time, the protagonists of this festival that gathered from all over Japan, the representatives of each academy returned home.

The stallholders who put out their shops to take advantage of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival also retired, and the day after the awarding ceremony, the reclaimed land of the gulf coast was taking its original ghost-town shape.

The festival was… over.

However, the representatives of Hagun Academy including Ikki Kurogane were still in Osaka.

That was because the"Star of Naniwa"Moroboshi Yuudai, who was a worthy opponent and crossed swords with him in the first round of the Seven Start Sword Art Festival, led a group and held a victory celebration with the friends of Ikki at the Okonomiyaki shop『Ichibanboshi』which was also the home of his parents.

◆◇◆◇◆

"Err, well then! Kusakabe Kagami, this incompetent me who was sentenced to three days of disciplinary lessons from tomorrow for making a mess at the awarding ceremony, will lead the toast to celebrate the victory of Ikki at the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival!"

Kagaami put up the beer mug that she held in her hand after she had refused with a few words while she inserted a self-deprecating joke.

"Congratulations, senpai…!"

With a loud voice, she blessed Ikki who sat on the seat of honor of the long table that was made by connecting several tables. What followed that was.

「「「Congratulations…!!!!」」」

The friends and acquaintances of Ikki who gathered for the victory celebration also gave their blessings while toasting.

The gathered people were Stella and Shizuku who were representative members of the same Hagun Academy.

His friends Arisuin Nagi and Ayatsuji Ayase. And also the members of the Student Council including Toudou Touka.

In addition to Moroboshi who offered this place and his other friends Jougasaki Hyakuya and Asagi Momiji.

The figures of doctor Kiriko who was another protagonist at the finals, of Sara Bloodlily who unfolded a fierce combat with Ikki at the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival, of Kazamatsuri Rinna who came along with Sara somehow and even her maid Charlotte Corday were there.

Although Ikki was shy and slightly embarrassed due to the words of congratulations from everyone,

"Thank you, everyone."

He also raised the beer mug and participated in the toast.

Thus, the party began.

"Hurry up, they're cooking! They're super-cooking! *Clank**Clank* Make your orders rapidly!"

Moroboshi, who stood in the kitchen, called out to them while clanging the metal spatula.

As if she was waiting for this, Stella raised her hand while raising from her chair.

"Tama porks for me! And ten of them!"

"Coming right away!"

"Stella-chan… isn't your gluttony getting refined somehow?"

"I-it can't be helped, Alice. The fuel consumption of the Dragon Spirit is way too much. If I don't eat properly I get dizzy, you know?"

"Well, it would be great if you could consume properly as well."

"Shiro. What are you going to order?"

"I will order tendon with green onion. What will Momiji get?"

"Hmm〜. Since we're eating a lot now〜. I wonder whiich oone wiill it bee… oh, that's right! Can it be the napolitan that you were preparing the other day?"

"Let me see. A napolitan yakisoba, right? Yeah, sure. And the corpulent Nii-chan over here?"

"Hmm… well, can I get these tama mix?"

"I'm sorry. We'll have those starting next week〜."

"Ah, is that so?"

"Onii-chan, why are you spouting such a stupid lie…!?"

It was a little girl with bobbed hair who raised a voice of protest.

She was the younger sister of Moroboshi Yuudai. She was Moroboshi Koume.

Although she was unable to speak before, during the battle of her older brother and Ikki she miraculously recovered her voice, and while her tone of voice was still unstable, she was taking orders from everyone while chatting without relying on writing.

And then, and until the ordered dishes were prepared.

Everyone gathered around Stella and Ikki who were on the seats of honor and gave them their compliments as they raised each of their beer mugs.

"Congratulations for your victory, Kurogane-kun! It was incredibly cool! To think that I've been receiving sword lessons from such an amazing person, I'm immensely happy!"

"Yeeah, it was really a great thing. But I'll overturn the outcome from that situation! My alias"Fifty Fifty"was eclipsed after all."

"I always believed, you know!? That Kurogane-kun would win! Since he's a knight that defeated my"Blackbird"in the end!"

Ikki responded to them with gratitude from the bottom of his heart.

"Thank you. If I hadn't met everyone… I wouldn't have been able to get this strength by myself. I'm grateful."

"Though it was unfortunate for Princess-dono. The difference was millimeter."

Stella showed how she shrugged her shoulders a little with the comfort of Saijou Ikazuchi.

"To suffer a loss with almost no difference. It's the result that comes out when you do what only you have to do. And I accept it. But..."

And then, she paused her words for a moment, drained in one gulp the beer mug that she had in her hand with excitement,

"The next time I'll absoluuuuuutely not lose…!"

She boasted while vigorously hitting the wooden table with the bottom of the beer mug.

While she scattered flame's phosphorescence from her scarlet hair.

Everyone who was gathered around that valiant looking applauded with「You can do it!」「As expected of Stellchan!」

Toudou Touka, who was sitting in a seat somewhat away from the seat of honor and from that situation, stared at those cheerful smiles.

"Fufu. It seems that next year's Seven Stars Sword Art Festival will be exciting. It's regrettable that I can't participate in it."

"Kukuku… That rematch was also the fate written down in the Black Chronicle… The moment when thou will know will come…"

"Ojou-sama says『I am looking forward to next year!』"

"…even so, it went too far this time!"

However, only a girl gave her honest opinion with such excitement.

It was the little sister of Kurogane Ikki, the victor.

"Lorelei"Kurogane Shizuku.

Shizuku glanced at the two people sitting on the seats of honor while raising her eyebrows,

"Since both Onii-sama and Stellsan are a couple, why you two weren't more worried about the health of each other? It wouldn't be funny for either of you to die in such an absurd match, you know? Don't you think that this lacks common sense or something?"

"Ah, I-I'm sorry…"

They made their bodies smaller as if they were kids that were scolded by the words of Shizuku.

In fact, that final. It was no funny at all with one of their lives being destroyed.

Because their whole souls were completely put into the slashing attacks they unleashed, they didn't go easy at all with each other.

However, and also in line with this, she also excused them.

"B-but, it can't be helped…. Because we are knights…, I wouldn't let my skill or something to come loose against an opponent I deem acceptable…"

If one were to expose a gap, one would be immediately slashed, losing the match.

The fight of the two had that sort of perspective.

They couldn't let their guard down not even for an instant, because they understood that their opponent didn't wish for that above all.

And… that was also the same for Shizuku.

"You truly are helpless people, aren't you?"

Even Shizuku knew that.

The bonds of the two was stronger than anything else, that's why their relationship could do so.

She was jealous and envious of the bonds of the two… but at the same time she was delighted,

"…you truly are suited for each other…"

Shizuku muttered with a small voice that nobody could hear and let out a sigh as if she was amazed.

"Eh? Shizuku, did you just now..."

"Why are you placing a boneless ham on your knee?"

"This is my leg!"

◆◇◆◇◆

And then, when the cooked okonomiyaki and the teppanyaki reached everyone from the kitchen, and once their bellies were filled.

Estimating that timing, and after Kagami tidied a part of the table, she spread the pictures she took at the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

From the first match to the finals, all the great efforts of everyone in this place were selected from within the time that passed by, they had fun talking about the memories.

"Oh oh, please look, senpai. This is a picture when senpai used"Ittōu Rasetsu"for a second time! I was able to photograph it neatly, didn't I? This will be used on the whole surface of the next wall newspaper!"

"Uwaa…, though in this one I look mostly worn-out…"

"But you were very manly and fantastic. The gentlemen who have that much of a naughty side are fascinating."

"Ah! There's also a picture when Shiro received a record instakill〜."

"That's a coincidence, Momiji. I also came across with this picture when you fell and fainted."

"I see. Is this the father of the Bloody Da Vinci? I was able to remember his face."

"…yeah. That's him."

"If you have any pictures you want, I will make extra copies, so don't hesitate to tell me, okay? By the way, my best shot is... this one! The uncensored panties of Her Highness Stella, the Second Princess of Vermillion Ki...!?"

But the moment Kagami took out the photo from her flat bosom and tried to show it to everyone.

The left jab that held the light and heat of Stella and that was released with a sharp, wind-cutting noise, penetrated the picture that Kagami held in her fingers and turned it into ashes.

And then, she grabbed the nape of the neck of Kagami with her right hand,

"Give me the data."

Pulling her towards herself with all her strength, she brought her close with bloodshot eyes and ordered her.

The jaw of a dragon that got near until the very eyes of Kagami, which she was able to see clearly...

"Y-yesh! As you wish!"

The pen yielded before the sword.

"T-this is no good… because Stella-san didn't get the joke… ahaha."

Seeing the state of all the presents who were chatting like that, Moroboshi called out to Koume from the kitchen.

"Koume. The orders have settled down already, so I'll join them. Will you be fine on your own?"

"Don't worry. Leave it to me. …Onii-chan also worked hard."

"Thank you."

To appreciate her words of gratitude, Moroboshi patted and ruffled the head that Koume had placed down and she made her cheeks smile broadly with「Ehehe」.

Then, Moroboshi took off his apron and with a double tama pork dish that he had prepared for himself, sat down next to Touka who wasn't involved in the photo viewing.

"Haaaa. Can I sit next to you?"

Touka unintentionally spilled a smile, looking amused with that question.

"Aren't you sitting there already? …but yes, you can. Help yourself."

"Thanks. …hmm. Like I thought, our okonomiyaki is the best. The number one in Osaka."

"I agree. They were very delicious. I would love to make my family eat them as well."

"*Ding* *Ding* that's our business after all. They're here in the Ichibanboshi of okonomiyaki."

Moroboshi had dinner somewhat late than everyone else while he returned so.

He ate the double tama pork completely while sticking out his tongue.

And then, when the sauce taste in his mouth was unified with the beer then poured into the stomach,

"Hey, Toudou…. The irregular swordsmanship that used electromagnetic force that you showed in the fixed match with Kurogane is what you call "Inazuma", right? If so, then you had a plan against my "Houkiboshi"."

He touched on the matter just before the final match.

Touka, who got that, returned a nod.

"It's not that my Noble Arts assumed an anti-"Houkiboshi"only, but naturally I have been forging it so that I can meet that purpose. Last year, I didn't dodge"Houkiboshi", and you took the pace from there. … Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with the opportunity to use it."

"I imagined so. That's not it, right? It's what I thought when I gave a glance at it. Certainly, if you had such skill, then it wouldn't have gone like last year."

"Inazuma"was a Noble Arts that created a special magnetic field in the cross range and because of its attraction and repulsion, it made the sharp turns to accelerate abruptly.

The sudden changing gaps of angle and velocity boasted unequalled strength in midrange pace fights.

That power was also guessable from the fact that Ikki, who was able to master the sword of"Twin Wings", pushed back the distance between the swords, the thing he was excellent at.

That was why Moroboshi said it with regret.

"I wanted to give it a try too, what a shame."

The Seven Stars Sword Art Festival was for form's sake a tournament, it was difficult for the rank to become a ranking of strength.

From the point of view of Moroboshi's sense, Touka was the most difficult enemy that stood in his way last year.

The skill that such formidable enemy had refined to defeat him.

It was something he wanted to try on the stage of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

But still...

"Well, I would be the one who would win, isn't it?"

*Grin*, Moroboshi turned a sidelong glance to Touka with a smile that looked provocative.

Towards that, Touka also returned a full smile to Moroboshi.

"I don't think so. By suppressing"Houkiboshi", I would have won this year."

"Nah, impossible."

"I think otherwise."

"Noope, you're lying to yourself."

"Not at all. This is an absolute fact〜."

In the end, the two of them were rubbing their foreheads with each other while smiling.

That was the very picture of an explosive situation.

It was natural because their personalities couldn't yield in topics like this with each other.

But that didn't last long.

"Puh."

"Ahaa."

After they exchanged killing intent for a moment, they laughed tiny and separated their foreheads that got a little red.

"Let's stop. This is nothing but a talk of a fight that never happened."

"You're right. Let's drop both of our ego, we're just wasting time. Besides… the dejected losers won't get nothing by biting each other. We have to knockdown Kurogane. Our mutual target is way too high."

"…judging from that way of speaking, Moroboshi-san is going to continue being a knight after graduation."

"Is that surprising?"

Touka nodded.

"Yes, it is. I thought that you would only become a reservist and would surely take over your family business."

"Well, I thought about that too, but…"

Although the reservists have a"Mage-Knight"license, they work in their respective workplaces in the same way as ordinary people, but for emergencies only, and when requested by the"League Branch",they would be people in charge of criminal investigations and national defense as"Mage-Knights".

The people that were running a family business like Moroboshi, the majority of them became reservists.

And then Moroboshi also planned to do the same.

However...

"I know, but I finally was able to hear the cheering that I wanted to hear, you see. And I can still get stronger. Now I can stop shooting this air of superiority."

Touka nodded slowly and deeply with the words of Moroboshi.

"…I agree. Having people who are pushing our backs. That's a very happy thing."

"We are third years. It'll be impossible to participate in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival, but… Toudou. What are you going to do from here on?"

"For the present, I think that I will thoroughly train this summer vacation with my master. When I saw the battle of Kurogane-kun and the others, it made me realize that the lack of self-reliance was there, that there is still some ways to go for me. …And then simultaneously with my graduation, I will register in the National League and someday aim for the A-Rank League."

The A-Rank League was the popular name of the Top League of the King of Knights "KOK", which was a close combat performance done by Blazers and hosted by the"League of Mage-Knight Nations"

The participants of A-Rank League were players representing the country that had won one of the few limited recommendations that were assigned to each nation affiliated to the league. The fights of the most prominent individuals in the world were done by knights that were singled out, the fights were loved by people all over the world as supreme pleasure.

Touka had set her next goal there.

Moroboshi nodded with "I see".

"That's the easy course, no?"

Feeling a distance somehow with what returned, Touka cocked her head in puzzlement.

"Moroboshi-san disagrees?"

"…well. I'm registered in the National League. The National League of Japan… no, the National Leagues of the participating members of "Mage-Knight Leagues"have many knights who emphasize on black magic because it's the policy of the leagues. Though, my "Tiger Bite"isn't an ability of the type that has destructive power like black magic itself. That's because the way of the taijutsu and how it is applied are essential. That's a lifeline for me. …However, I didn't reach Kurogane with my taijutsu."

His current taijutsu and spearmanship didn't fit into the first-class world.

Moroboshi fully realized that when he fought against Ikki.

Therefore...

"That's why… I'm thinking of participating in taijutsu-focused matches."

"Eh, does that mean…"

Battles that emphasized taijutsu while being a Blazer.

There was only one tournament in the world that was held with such policy.

A continent spread beyond the Sea of Japan.

The world's toughest League Matches were taking place there. Its name was...

"I'll challenge the God of War League…!"

"…"

Touka caught her breath because of Moroboshi's tone of voice that made her feel some kind of resolution coming from him.

Which wasn't surprising.

The God of War League was held in China which wasn't a member nation of the League. It was a fighting tournament where Blazers participated in it, its name was famous in the world, being on par with the A-Rank League.

There were a lot of voices saying that the level was higher than A-Rank League.

The reason was the severity of the battles.

The A-Rank Rank League had promised state-of-the-art medical facilities, strict rules, sufficient intervals and rewards.

But the God of War League was different.

The God of War League was a tournament held by Bujutsuu Temple also called"Shinryuu Temple" for ascetic monks, but in the first place, it wasn't a show business.

Anyone could participate regardless of nationality, but there was no rewards, no medical facilities, the nonexistent rules was a terrifying thing, and so on.

"『Always Prepared』…you must be prepared to be on the battlefield whenever you're a fighter. In that God of War League that embodies the philosophy of"Shinryuu Temple", one is allowed to join forces with others and to attack even when one is asleep, in any case, I've heard from Sensei that the battles are tougher than the illegal underground fighting entertainment industry. …The consideration in terms of safety is the same, and therefore there are more deaths that can't be compared to others like A-Rank League."

The only Japanese who has won that tournament was a man.

Touka, who had heard of the severity of the God of War League from "God of War" Nangou Torajirou, told Moroboshi with a tone that sounded like warning.

However, Moroboshi returned an 「I know」,

"But, there are things that can only be obtained when on the verge of death. …Like when Kurogane fought against"Twin Wings"and was able to steal that technique."

"…is, that so?"

When she was told so, Touka couldn't help but be convinced.

Ikki achieved an explosive growth in the fight against Edelweiss, the strongest"Twin Wings"swordsman in the world.

Also, in the final match against Stella, both of them were raising their limits with each other.

The moment like a spark where life and death intersected.

That moment was—in some cases comparable to several decades or regular daily training.

Moroboshi intended to obtain that moment.

By putting himself in a hard environment to drive himself to the limit.

Understanding that, Touka stopped to check it then yelled to her friend that was going to walk the path of carnage.

"God of War League has battles for the honor only, as there is no prize at all, but if you get good results there, then you will get global attention. And you will get a recommendation for A-Rank League, no?"

"Yeah. I'm not interested in the National League, but A-Rank is another deal. Most of the human beings there are monsters that would carry pretty much to the extremes their hearts, techniques and physiques. But I plan to challenge them, sooner or later."

"If so… then our rematch will be there."

"Yeah. Absolutely."

Having made a promise, the two made their beer jugs meet gently.

◆◇◆◇◆

Moroboshi and Touka talked about what would come next.

Looking at the two from a distance—Toutoukubara Kanata headed to the place of a person she had decided to talk today as well.

That person was the"Beast Tamer"Kazamatsuri Rinna of Akatsuki Academy.

"Yes. It is good to eat something not classy once in a while."

"Ojou-sama. *Kiss*."

"Fuaah!? W-w-w-w-what are you doing so suddenly, Char!?"

"I did that because there was sauce stuck on your cheek."

"Ah, thank—*ahem*. That helped me a lot. Ho-however, since this"Altar"has"Purity that wipes impurity away"I hope that you will use it from next time."

Instead of joining the bustling circle around Ikki, Kanata approached Rinna who was eating little by little a large okonomiyaki with her small mouth and talked to her.

"…it's been a long time. Rinna-san."

Rinna turned her head with that voice,

"Oh, it's Toutoukubara's…"

She showed a particular uninterested attitude.

This was also natural because they exchanged greetings in the high society once or twice as Japan's most wealthy people, but it wasn't like they had a relationship as if they were to talk in private.

"I am sorry for not being able to greet you when I went to"Hagun"."

"Don't worry. I, the ruler of the night don't care about such trivial things. *chewing*."

"…I suppose you intended to be sarcastic, yes? Can I sit next to you?"

"Khelf yourhelv (Help yourself)."

""Go ahead", it's what Ojou-sama is saying."

Then by excusing herself, Kanata sat down next to Rinna.

"But I was surprised. Toutoukubara also knows that Kazamatsuri has strong connections with the underworld, but to think that Rinna-san, who is the biological child of the Head Kazamatsuri Kouzou, is involved with the activities of"Rebellion"…"

"Gats ingogect (That's incorrect)."

"Eh?"

"Not the subject of Head-sama, but Ojou-sama doesn't belong to"Rebellion"."

Charlotte explained instead of Rinna who was stuffed with okonomiyaki in her mouth.

The father of Rinna, Kazamatsuri Kouzou, and Prime Minister Tsukikage were old friends, and because of that connection, Rinna played with Tsukikage since she was a child, and got on good terms.

So Rinna, when Tsukikage proposed the establishment of the "National Akatsuki Academy"to Kouzou who was the leader of"Rebellion", volunteered to participate in that strategy to become the strength of Tsukikage.

In that sort of sense, her connection was thinner than Sara who was participating as "Rebellion", more or less.

She was a guest like Ouma, because they were good beings.

After she got the explanation, Kanata nodded with "I see",

"…is that so? If so, please sever your ties from this kind of activities right now."

A little potent, she told Rinna with a tone of voice that was like a command rather than a request.

Rinna gulped the food that was in her mouth and asked.

"Hou? Why would you order such a thing?"

"Because I don't want to come across with an acquaintance in the battlefield."

That's right. This was what Kanata wanted to talk with Rinna today.

"Scharlach Frau"Toutoukubara Kanata was a prominent influential person in Japan.

Therefore, and while being a student, she would appear in the field of an actual combat in the form of a"Special Summon".

She fought with enemies and participated in the suppression of bases of"Rebellion". ―She had experience in killing and wounding formidable combatants.

Even though she was prepared, the experience wasn't going to leave a good aftertaste.

That's why she wanted to avoid running across a face she knew in hell.

However, Rinna showed a scornful laugh to that warning.

"Kuku… I see. But that's a discussion I won't comply with. Because this"Demon Eye of Twilight"is the root of the darkness of the world of the dead, and I am the person that carries it in my body. You may call that the karma that exists in the world of darkness… Guh! The chaos sealed in the demon eye is aching, wishing for blood…! Kukuku… I wonder who will be the sacrifice tonight…!"

Rinna covered the eye-patch while saying such thing.

That was an incomprehensible painful act from an outsider's perspective.

However, Kanata knew what she meant, and the meaning of that behavior.

That's why—Kanata used the trump card she had prepared in advance.

"…haa. I guess there is no other way."

She took out a student's handbook from the white tote bag and called to that place.

That place was...

"Hello? Can I get in contact with Oota Hara, the editor-in-chief of the Weekly Shounen Jack Editorial Department? Tell him that is Toutoukubara please."

With this action, Rinna, who was next to her, got up so vigorously and suddenly that she kicked the chair away,

"T-the Weekly Jack? Is that where『The User of the Twilight Demon Eye』is being serialized? That Jack!?"

She forgot about her exaggerated acting and approached Kanata with an excited expression.

Kanata chuckled to herself due to the expected reaction of Rinna.

"Yes. Because Shoueisha is an affiliate company of Toutoukubara Group."

"Th-th-th-th-then, y-you, can t-talk, with Takayanagi-sensei, the author of『The User of the Twilight Demon Eye』!?"

"Yes, of course. I met him right before coming to Osaka—, Ah. Excuse me. Hello? I am sorry for interrupting you. …Yes. Well, it's about the negotiation we discussed earlier, yes. Like I thought, she is not listening to my persuasion, yes, that's why and like I discussed with you Takayanagi-sensei, 『The User of the Twilight Demon Eye』will have to be terminated..."

"Waaait, whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?!?!?"

Rinna instinctively grabbed the shoulders of Kanata with a loud voice due to the contents of the conversation that made her hair stand up straight.

"Eh!? What, what does that mean!? What's going to be terminated!? What!? Even though it was last week's opening color!?"

"…adults' matters, isn't that right? Publishing works that will end up guiding children to a road of crime can be a compliance issue for a company. If Rinna-san who ended up setting foot into the underworld due to the influence of『The User of the Twilight Demon Eye』couldn't be reformed, then we decided that he would consult with the editorial department and attempt to terminate his work."

Due to the words of Kanata, the blood from the flushed and excited face of Rinna disappeared.

An affiliate company of her own family.

Because the work was serialized in that magazine, Kanata knew at a glance that Rinna was doing a role-playing of the character of the work.

A work she loved till that point.

She had no objection as a hostage. And then...

"T-that's tyranny! It's outrageous! Don't you feel bad for Takayanagi-sensei!?"

"Of course I consulted it directly with Takayanagi-sensei. … This is what Sensei said. 『If there is a child who ends up committing crime due to my work, then I will cancel it. That is what I decided』…he is truly a splendid gentleman."

"Yes! Rinna is rehabilitated! Rehabilitated! Rehabilitated! She's not going to work with "Rebellion"anymore! Please, will that much make it stooooooooooooooooop!?!?"

Rinna quickly fell down, she clung to Kanata in tears.

◆◇◆◇◆

Rinna clung to Kanata in tears like a kid throwing a tantrum.

Shizuku sighed while staring at her figure in the distance.

"…good grief, she's quite lousy…"

And, at that moment.

A tall handsome man called Arisuin Nagi talked to Shizuku who was sitting alone.

"Don't be so hard, Shizuku."

"Alice…"

"You got tired? I know you don't like this kind of bustling gatherings, Shizuku."

Arisuin was an extremely tactful man.

It seemed that he was paying attention to her because she couldn't fit in the mood of the place.

Despite Shizuku being grateful towards the consideration of her friend, she replied.

"…it's not that I'm particularly tired. It's just… that I lost motivation because I was left out."

"What do you mean?"

"…I came here today because it was Onii-sama's celebration, however, I wanted to aspire becoming an apprentice of… Kiriko-san."

Arisuin wasn't surprised with those words, but rather he showed agreement with「I see」.

– "That's… like I thought, the matter at that time is the reason?"

Towards that, Shizuku nodded.

Arisuin said the matter at that time.

That matter was, of course, the night of the semifinals.

After the fight against"Bad Luck"Shinomiya Amane, the older brother of Shizuku, Ikki, lost his life for a moment due to his ability.

No matter how much she tried to save him, the result of death engraved on his body tried to steal the soul of Ikki to the purgatory.

Fortunately, Ikki safely came back to life thanks to the efforts of" White-Robed Knight"Dr. Kiriko who came flying there at the request of Father Itsuki, then he was able to be in the finals against Stella...

"I couldn't do anything. I was just crying the dilemma of Onii-sama despite me being a water user like her."

Shizuku remembered.

...The figure of herself who absolutely lost her temper in front of the operating room where Ikki was going into.

And then, she felt extremely anger with herself.

"How am I so pathetic?"

And yet, Kiriko, a water user like her, definitely saved her older brother with that power.

Around that moment, she never fully realized her own incompetence.

"I'll never go through that again. How was I unable to do anything else but cry the dilemma of Onii-sama…!? That will never, never happen again. That's why…"

"You thought about trying becoming an apprentice of woman doctor-san."

Shizuku nodded and showed affirmation,

"…but."

She turned a little fed-up gaze to one corner of the table.

Arisuin also followed the destination of her gaze.

There―was the figure of the drunken Kiriko that toyed with the body of "Bloody Da Vincy"Sara Bloodlily, she had stolen the freedom to Sara by wrapping her legs and arms around her like an octopus.

"Oh my, oh my. You. The muscles of your physique are unexpectedly insufficient〜."

"W-well, my body is weak by nature. Besides, I just paint and draw while sitting, so… it can't be helped."

"That's not good, that's not good〜. If it's with such everyday life *hic*. The bomb will explode immediately after you've passed your twenties. The bomb is ticking all throughout your whole body, you see. Bu〜t〜don't wo〜rry. Kiriko-chan. Actually, I'm currently researching a revolutionary healing technique that transforms fat into muscle! So, I have nominated you as the first human testing subject〜. Hmm〜 Kiriko-chan is so soft〜"

"Help me, anyone…"

*Lick*

"Ah…"

Kiriko had to experience the fetishism of a certain woman doctor called Sara since she had a lot of exposures from the beginning.

Arisuin showed a slightly disgusted smile because of the very lascivious scene where such two women were entangled while disarranging their clothes.

"She was influenced by sake. That woman doctor-san."

"Despite that, she's not going to talk a lot. …Or perhaps I should say that even I might get involved if I get close to her, so I don't want to approach her. No no no."

"Yeah. I also think that's fine."

"Well, I will visit her directly in Hiroshima during summer vacation."

Arisuin asked with a little surprised look as Shizuku said so as if she had given up.

"Then you are not going to accompany him to Vermillion?"

While facing Shizuku that pouted her lips as if she sulked a little.

"Even I wouldn't do an absurd thing like that."

'I felt that it was going to be something like that, but…'

He thought, but Arisuin wasn't a man who would say such a thoughtless thing.

They knew.

That the relationship of Ikki and Stella advanced greatly in the finals of the tournament.

And those two were going to visit Vermillion Empire to greet Stella's parents.

If the discussion there were to be settled smoothly, then that would become the key of their engagement.

Gazing at that coming day, Shizuku started coming to an understanding within herself.

'Shizuku… also loves Stella-chan, isn't that right?'

Although the person herself would never admit it.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for her to allow her to get close with her beloved older brother.

Such sweet Shizuku was so cute, Arisuin pressed her cheek with a finger that got a little sulky as if poking fun at her.

With that, Shizuku raised her sullen eyebrows then raised her index finger and poked the cheek of Arisuin.

No, rather than saying she poked it, she stabbed it.

Arisuin smiled wryly as he rubbed his cheek due to the very competitive spirit that had such strong Shizuku-like countermeasure.

Shizuku asked him.

"More importantly, does Arisu have any plans for summer vacation? If not, then would you like to come with me to Hiroshima?"

However, Arisuin returned「I'm sorry」with a sad expression towards that invitation.

He had something he wanted to do.

"…I've been thinking of going back to my hometown for a while during this summer vacation. I couldn't go there for a long time, but I will visit the graves of my friends."

"I see. Then we'll spend our summer without each other. That's a bit unfortunate."

"I hope for your training to go well from the distance."

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