(translation)
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm in good health. …Yes. The match tomorrow is the last one for the school, I guess. Eh? Assistance from Tokyo is coming? M-Make a banner!? It's too early to do that! And anyway, the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival is being held in Osaka this year. …Yeah, that's right. Anyway, whether win or lose, once the selection battles end I'll go make a temporary appearance. Yeah. See you later. Thanks for the vegetables. Say thanks to everyone for me too. And Mother, take care of your body, okay? …Bye bye."
Exchanging words of farewell, Touka switched off the phone function of her student datapad. The liquid crystal display had moisture clinging to it. It was evidence that the telephone conversation had gone out for fifty minutes. It seemed to have been a very long telephone conversation.
"The director was in good health?"
While sitting on the sofa of the student council room and biting into a huge red tomato, Utakata asked about the person who she had been conversing with on the phone. About the circumstances with the director of Wakaba House, the orphanage that the two of them had received favor from.
"It felt like she was as completely full of energy as ever."
The director―the elderly woman who Touka had called "Mother"―had suffered a heart attack last year. At that time, Touka had spent a whole night weeping, and even Utakata who was usually whistling had a pale face, but having heard the voice on the telephone just now, it seemed that her condition was already settled, and her energy had come back. Too much, in fact.
In any case―
"They already made a banner, she said?"
That. Even though victory in the selection battles hadn't been decided, or decisions regarding representatives, it seemed the director and the children of the facility had already made a banner for her taking the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. As expected, even Touka was lost for words.
"Because everyone is hasty… they really are."
"That's the only thing everyone is hoping for, you know. To the kids of Wakaba House, it's their wish for their hero, Raikiri."
Saying so, Utakata handed to Touka a photo taken from inside the cardboard box filled with vegetables delivered from Wakaba House. On that photo was the smiling mud-covered faces of the children who harvested the vegetables, and at the bottom were encouragement written with letters that they had memorized with utmost effort.
Indeed, there was no doubt that for the children of Wakaba House, Touka was a hero. Orphaned like them, graduating from the same facility, fighting grandly at the forefront of the world. Fighting, and continuing to win. That figure was what the children of Wakaba House admired.
Someday Utakata also wanted to shine like that girl. With that dream, the courage to face that dream was continuously being given to him by Touka.
And again, Touka herself was aware that she was that existence to others. Therefore, she couldn't lose. To preserve that kind of expectation, she couldn't let her strength bend to pressure. To an extent, it was the strongest part of Touka Toudou, Raikiri.
This, I'll read it slowly later.
Holding the photo to her chest with sweetly for a moment, Touka put it into her bag. Then she turned her attention to the box full of vegetables. Tomatoes to eggplants to cucumbers―it was an assortment of summer vegetables harvested from the facility's vegetable garden. Each and every one was scraggly, giving a warm feeling that couldn't be put into words.
"Wow, look Uta-kun. This eggplant, it's so fat and splendid. If we made eggplant curry or something, it might come out delicious, right?"
"Yep, it's so dark and fat ant and splendid, huh?"
"J-Jeez! Giving such an old-man response!"
"Ha ha ha. But since it'll go bad being left here, we have to take it to the school cafeteria tomorrow, won't we?"
Suddenly, the words Utakata uttered. At those words, Touka's face clouded over slightly. Because she thought of something unpleasant.
"…Tomorrow, huh?"
Some time ago, a message came for her. It had come from Kurono Shinguuji. Its contents―was a change to her opponent for tomorrow. And furthermore, because that opponent was the Worst One, the topic of an upheaval right now―and unavoidably giving the impression that he had committed a crime.
Touka had inquired about that, and Kurono had not concealed it either. The adversity that Ikki was under, which she heard from Kurono, it was undoubtedly beyond description. The malice that surrounded him, that cornered him into the worst condition, and in addition was sending herself as the assassin against him.
However, needless to say Touka was unwilling to be that.
"Touka will be the representative to take up that duel?"
Even Utakata understood the matter. Therefore he, to Touka whose expression had clouded over, asked with a worried tone of voice. In response, Touka lowered her eyes.
"I don't have the right to decide. Madam Director also said so, but for me it's the absolute final selection battle match."
Indeed, It was a duel for Ikki, but for Touka it was an absolute selection battle. It was only changing the opponent, and she could not risk anything for the sake of the outcome. And even though there had not been alterations this sudden, changing situations had happened many so far. Therefore even Touka could not protest strongly. However―
"But you feel that this shouldn't happen, right?"
"Yeah…."
Because of that, there was no way this unpleasant feeling of shock would go away. All the more for a girl as kind-hearted as Touka.
…Therefore, she had taken one measure.
*knock knock*
Right on time, a visitor knocked on the student council room door.
"Who would that be at this hour?"
"I called her. Please come in."
"Forgive my intrusion."
The person who opened the door and entered was a petite young girl who looked like a bisque doll. She was the one who had fought with Touka with all of her strength, Shizuku Kurogane, the Lorelei.
"This is an unexpected guest, isn't it?"
"…I didn't think that I would be called here by the person who gave me a such a black mark on my record this late at night either."
"Ha ha. That's quite natural. Oh, that's right, do you want a tomato? It's very sweet and delicious, you know."
"…I've already brushed my teeth, so no thank you. Besides, I probably wasn't called here to eat tomatoes. ―Student President. What is it you want from me?"
Shizuku urged Touka toward the main point.
…She was being childish. Shizuku herself thought so. But meeting and speaking with the person who destroyed her dream, her goal of heading in front of the entire country with her brother, was making her uncomfortable after all.
Touka had the same exact feeling. Therefore she got right to the point, and spoke her reason for calling Shizuku here.
"The truth is, Madam Director sent a message a while ago… and because you're not unrelated, Shizuku-san, I wanted to convey it―"
What Touka was saying was that the competition schedule for tomorrow had been suddenly revised. And that Ikki was wagering his entire future in that fight, and had to make a challenge. Little by little, as Shizuku listened to the spiteful reality, her expression became full of wrath. And soon after she was done hearing all of it,
"…Lowlife…!"
With green eyes shining furiously, she spat a curse at someone who wasn't here. And after that, she asked Touka.
"…President, will you fight? Against Onii-sama, whose physical condition is disturbed?"
"The student council president is nothing more than an ordinary student. Even if I cry objections, I have no power to change who I'm matched against."
Even if it was Touka, who was reluctant to fight, she could not do enough. However―even though it couldn't be helped and was she was unable to convince Shizuku, Touka had still called Shizuku here.
"Therefore Shizuku-san, I have a request for you who is Kurogane-kun's family."
"For me…?
"Yes. …Shizuku-san, can you advise Kurogane-kun not to do this?"
"…Eh?"
"Kurogane-kun's physical condition seems to be considerably bad. At worst, pneumonia. …I heard that it might be even worse than that. Speaking plainly, he very much cannot fight with his body like that. …However, it has been only a few days of interaction, but I've seen the kind of knight that Ikki Kurogane is. Speaking from that impression, I think he would drag himself to the fight even with his entire body full of wounds. Not in desperation, but in order to fight me seriously. He will definitely hold prospects of victory and resolution."
And―
"And I too, I am a girl who won't let the opponent I'm facing escape. If he comes to the fight, I will face him as his opponent with all my soul. As a result, even if a disastrous accident occurs…."
In that instant, a shiver ran through Shizuku's whole body.
This person… is serious.
Behind the glasses, she could clearly see the glint in Touka's eyes, and Shizuku was convinced. Touka was not exaggerating. Indeed, she was even thinking of the possibility of killing Ikki. And seeing the worst possible future, she had called Shizuku here.
"I beg of you. Please stop Kurogane-kun. The only one who could do that is you who are his family, I think."
Shizuku didn't respond immediately.
What should she do? What would be the correct thing? Without knowing that….
"…One night, please give me one night to think about it…."
The best she could do was squeeze out those words.
Since Shizuku left the room, Touka muttered a few words of her heart's unease.
"Even if Kurogane-kun abstains from fighting tomorrow, even if I fight and win―I… can I be proud of going out before the entire country after such a fight?"
Remembering the smiles on the photo that came with the vegetables, and the message of support. Would she be able to have a fight worthy of their honest hopes and admiration?
It was an inescapable anxiety.
"Touka."
Suddenly, the hand of that uneasy Touka was wrapped by a small warmth. It was Utakata's hand. He grasped Touka's hand, and looked up at her from his always shorter vantage.
"Certainly, various things have been made ridiculous by adults pushing circumstances for their own convenience, but even so, you're you. You should fight the battle that you yourself will be proud of. We love you because you're like that. …And Kouhai-kun probably hopes for that too."
Naturally, he told Touka a truth that carried his conviction. What other people were thinking didn't matter. If Touka did as she thought was right, that was enough.
To those words… Touka gradually smiled. She could do it.
"Yeah. Thanks, Uta-kun."
That's right. From the beginning, that was all I could do.
She should just do the best she could.
"Alright!"
Touka shouted, and clapped her hnds together. The sharp pain, it drove away her hesitation and confusion―she wasn't wavering anymore.
Tomorrow, if he drags himself to battle in order to face me, I won't show any mercy.
Without mercy, she would accompany him in battle with all her strength as a knight. And she would win. She would win without fail!
I'll win―and I'll go to the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival proudly!
In this way, the night before the decisive battle grew late―and Hagun Academy greeted the morning of the final representative selection battles for the fated Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
"Well well. Even though it's only the start of summer. It looks like this year will be hot too."
On the morning of the final day of selection battles. At the station closest to Hagun Academy, the station master wiped the sweat from his forehead while sweeping up.
The sky was clear. It was a heat that poured down with uninterrupted sunlight. In this kind of season, the snug navy blue uniform was a little bit enduring.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of an approaching electric train, and raised his face. The train that stopped at every station was arriving at this one. It slowed to a stop in front of the station, and its door opened. The station master had no choice but to retreat three steps before the descending visitor.
Well, there aren't anybody who'd come here at this time, but…."
At any rate, Hagun Academy was the reasonable place to go from this station. Setting aside the students who were departing to go have fun on holidays, on time-slots for weekdays, there were no people stopping by the station near Hagun Academy, which had a residential dorm system. That was what he expected, but―
Hmm?
From the train's open door, a man slowly exited. His back was bent limply. It was an old man.
How unusual. Someone came on a weekday.
What kind of person was this? From such curiosity, the station master turned his eyes toward the old man who had descended.
And he became speechless.
It wasn't an old man who had descended. He was a young man―no, a boy. A boy who should be in the peak of health, but he was creeping out of the electric train with his back bent.
But the reason the station master became speechless wasn't because of the boy's age. The surprise was because of his―Ikki Kurogane's physical condition.
"Haa… haa…."
Hoarse breaths were coming out wildly, and his face was a pallid white. The eyes visible from behind disarrayed forelocks were murky, and no vitality could be felt. And more than anything else―exuded from that image, the perspiration dripping from his chin was unusual. Even with the fierce heat, the electric train had an air conditioner inside. A healthy person would not have such overflowing perspiration.
"Y-You, are you okay?"
"Wh… oh, yes, I'm… fine."
"No, you obviously don't look fine! I'll call an ambulance…!"
Then, the station master looked at Ikki's face in surprise. Although Ikki was in front of his eyes, only now did he recognize the boy described in the news as having played around with the princess of Vermillion. And at that moment, the station master's expression showed obvious disgust. Ikki didn't fail to notice that.
"Thank you for… worrying about me. But… I'm sorry. …I'm in a hurry."
Towards the station master, Ikki bowed his head quickly, and passed by on one side. And like that, he left the station.
"Ah…."
That back was becoming more distant with unsteady, shaky steps. Seeing that back, the station master remembered in bewilderment. Ikki was the child who the media had claimed was notoriously difficult to deal with during his time in his parents' home.
But somehow… he was extremely polite, wasn't he?
After meeting the person himself, the station master didn't think that this was very similar to the person that the news described.
Ikki exited the station, and like that he climbed the hill road toward Hagun Academy. It was a road that went on about one kilometer. A course in which he always went over running with Stella each morning. It was a slope that would not bother the usual Ikki, but as he was now, it was an extraordinarily long distance.
With only shallow breaths, his injured lungs could not bring in oxygen properly.
It hurts….
At least, he wanted to breathe. Opening his mouth to gasp, to capture oxygen, but―
"…Ack, *cough*! *Cough*!"
At the sharp pain that his irritated lungs brought in, all the oxygen he had gotten was spat out. The oxygen in his blood was getting extremely low, and his lips were becoming blue. Becoming hazy from fever and lack of oxygen, Ikki's consciousness was already basically nonexistent. And in place of the ego of the weakened Ikki, there were only thoughts of weakness from hallucinations due to being drugged.
…I'm challenging Raikiri in this kind of condition…?
That kind of thing, it was impossible. It would just be suicide.
I can't win….
That was already obvious. In the first place, the hollow sword of a hollow person like himself, it could not possibly defeat that girl's sword.
Enough, I want to sleep….
Complaints floated through the mind of Ikki who was climbing the deserted hill under the sunlight of the annual heat wave and the sound of cicadas. Right now, he had almost let go of his consciousness. For Ikki, it was an irresistibly sweet temptation.
At that time.
"Ah…."
A small rock snagged on his foot, and Ikki's body struck the asphalt without any defense.
This… isn't good….
If he didn't get up.
If he didn't do that, he wouldn't get to the match in time.
If he didn't get to the match in time, he would lose.
If he lost….
Oh, what difference does it… make?
He sensed his brain melting messily. With his distraction from being drugged and his haziness from fever, what was Ikki doing right now? He couldn't even understand what his goal in doing this was.
And in the midst of his messy consciousness, Ikki grasped something at the edge of his field of view.
…Ah.
It was snow. Before he noticed it, the sky had become dark, and large snowflakes were falling down.
In midsummer? Impossible. But still, it was certainly―
It's… cold….
With his teeth chattering, his body froze. At that chill… Ikki remembered.
…Which reminds me, that day was a snowy day too, wasn't it?
That day, when relatives gathered to celebrate the new year. The day he fled the house, not being able to take it. Nobody coming in spite of his calls, nobody caring about him, cowering in the snow by himself.
Compared to that, I… haven't changed at all.
Really, what was he doing? Without a single expectation, without a single accomplishment, he wasn't able to change a single thing. In the past and in the present, he was cowering in the unending snow. Though even if he said that, becoming as worn out as this, what was he trying to do?
He didn't know. He couldn't remember anything. It's just that he couldn't help his body becoming sluggish, and his eyelids growing heavy―
Ikki's consciousness fell into the cold darkness.
The final matches of the selection battles. The number of matches today was less than usual. For the matches happening, they included only the twelve fighters who were undefeated up to now. Therefore, it didn't need to be said that there were many spectators. In particular, the number of people who came to the first practice arena where the confrontation between Raikiri and the Worst One was dreadfully enormous.
The students who came to watch raised their voices in astonishment here and there and everywhere.
"Wow, so many people, huh?"
"Of course there are. Everyone's here to watch the showdown between Raikiri and that Worst One."
"By the way, is that camera I see inside?"
"Because of the news reporters. You know, that story."
"Right, the scandal about the Worst One and the Crimson Princess. But aren't reporters forbidden inside the school?"
"The League was extremely influential in this matter, so maybe there was an exception?"
"Hey… you guys, do you believe that story?"
"There's no doubt they were together. Neither of them denied it, and afterward they were getting along incredibly well."
"And after the match with the Hunter, the Crimson Princess was the one who made a confession with all her heart, you know."
"That's not true! Look, the Worst One's family were the ones who brought the evidence, weren't they? That the Worst One was an unrepentant and notoriously abusive in the past, and is playing around with girls even now?"
"Oh, that?"
"…I don't believe it."
"Truth is, me neither. My Device is a Japanese sword, and I learned how to swing it and do footwork from that guy during lunch breaks, you know."
"Oh, I saw that too. He was doing that in the courtyard, I think. He began doing that with classmates who were pestering him."
"Right, right. I saw that person there, so I can't believe that what the newspapers wrote is true. After all, during this important selection battle season, he was so polite while teaching people even though he got no benefit. How could someone like that be trying to trick the Crimson Princess?"
"But the evidence comes from his own family. In that case, it has to be true, right? Because what reason would they have to lie? They're his own relatives. They might lie to protect him, but there's no reason to make up lies to harm him, right?"
"Yeah, it's hard to imagine that."
Mixing with the activity of the noisy crowd, questions and suspicions about Ikki were exchanged. From the spectator seats, the best place for grinding out such conversations, Nene Saikyou―the petite woman dressed in a kimono who was staring down at the arena―spoke in admiration to Kurono Shinguuji who standing nearby.
"Hm~ph. It looks like the other kids aren't swallowing the news reports whole, huh?"
"Indeed. The people who've had first-hand acquaintance with Kurogane seem the most likely not to do so."
"You can tell he's harmless at a glance, that kid."
"But the truth of it is already inconsequential."
With a sour expression, Kurono spoke that reality.
Indeed, the chain of events surrounding Ikki, the right and wrong of it or the good and bad, was already entrusted to his victory in this duel. Therefore how much Ikki needed to be reformed, how much Akaza's group was wrong, Ikki's method of verifying his righteousness was already limited to victory.
"Really, they really did it, you know. Those bastards."
Even Kurono hadn't anticipated things unfolding this way. He should've endured until Stella's father came? Kurono groaned at her own naivete. And then….
"He he he. Let me accept your compliments."
A deliberately delighted, cloying voice was heard from beside the two of them. The two of them turned as one toward that voice, and there a sweltering barrel of a man was standing and wiping sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Good afternoon. My, today is certainly hot, isn't it~?"
"Committee Chairman Akaza…."
At Akaza's appearance, both Kurono's and Saikyou's handsome faces grimaced together. Naturally, since this wasn't someone they could possibly welcome.
"What do you want from us, you red tanuki[1]?"
Saikyou asked this bluntly with a barbed tone, and Akaza laughed as if saying "Wait, wait, please don't bare your fangs."
"No, no. I have nothing I want from you, but having met Sensei by chance, I just wanted to lead him here so you could talk, you know? Ahh, over here, Sensei."
A petite old man wearing a kimono decorated with a family crest was brought in front of the two of them.
"Ah, we found you at last. In a place as spacious as this, I wouldn't know where you were or what you were doing, ha?"
"Geh, the geezer!"
Saikyou was the first one to react to this person's appearance. And it was justified.
The old man's name was Torajirou Nangou, the God of War. He was a ninety-two year old mage-knight, the oldest in Japan, and the man who was Saikyou's teacher.
"Ho ho ho. My lovable pupil's mouth is as sharp as ever. Well, that's what's cute about you, isn't it?"
"C-Cu… don't say disgusting things!"
"Your face is red, Nene. How about accepting it honestly?"
"Y-You dried-up old geezer, hearing stuff like that from you doesn't make me happy!"
Nene's face as she said that, its bashfulness couldn't be hidden by those words.
Sheesh, that girl can't be honest.
Even though it was already known that this old man was the one Nene had known the longest, and the one she respected the most in the world.
"Kurono-kun, it's also been a long time for us, hasn't it? We haven't met since your belly was big, but did your childbirth end without any problems?"
"Yes, thankfully."
"That's good, very good. However, hnn~, after experiencing childbirth, you've become much more voluptuous, Kurono~. Around the hips, especially―"
"Geezer! Did you come over here just to leer at my friend!? I'll kill you!"
"Ho ho ho. Nene, you're getting along in years too, so instead of making such shrill noise, you should follow Kurono's example and acquire some knowledge of adult appeal. Otherwise, you'll lose your chance to get married, you know?"
"Nangou-sensei, even if you don't worry about it, surely this girl had lost that chance a long time ago."
"I-I-I can still get married! I'm just having fun with all my might as a single woman! It's just that it would be dumb to be bound to one man! Or rather, why is Kuu-chan on his side!?"
Because Nene is cute whenever Nangou-sensei is around.
It made Kurono want to tease Nene against her better judgment. There were too many moments of Nene not being cute, usually. Well, she wasn't going to tell the person herself that.
"Anyway, Nangou-sensei, why are you here today?"
Disregarding Saikyou's indignant "Don't ignore me!", Kurono asked that of Nangou. Well, this was just being polite. Kurono could guess the main outline of the reason he had come here.
"Of course, I came here to watch Touka's grand performance. …Well, it would be fine to wait until the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival itself, but I had to show up since her opponent is someone of the Kurogane, don't I?"
Like I thought.
Indeed, Nangou was Touka's teacher at the same time he was Nene's. He saw the quick wits of Touka who followed an ancient style, and afterwards taught her his own sword style. Touka's current signature Raikiri was also an arrangement of the old man's own technique, Otogiri[2], for her use. And the reason even more important than that―
"He he he. And because it's the honorable Nangou-sensei's lifetime rival born in the same era, the great hero Ryouma Kurogane, isn't it? It would only be natural to take an interest."
Nangou was ninety-two years old. He was someone who fought alongside the great hero Ryouma Kurogane in the Second World War, and at the same time they were rivals. Ordinarily, the schedule of selection battles in the school was not shown outside, but the fight this time was given as news outside. If he knew that his own favorite pupil and the blood relative of his rival were fighting against each other, it would only be natural for Nangou would show up to see the outcome with his own eyes.
However―
"…But wait, Nangou-sensei. There's a chance that the match today might not happen."
Suddenly, Akaza pasted a repulsive smile on his face, and said that.
"What?"
Kurono's eyebrows moved suddenly at those words. Because she felt an ill-will that did not match his tone of voice. And at almost the same time―
「A notification for everyone in attendance. Although the time has arrived for the match between contender Touka Toudou and contender Ikki Kurogane, contender Ikki Kurogane has still not arrived in the waiting room. As per the selection battle regulations, in the event that contender Kurogane does not arrive in ten minutes, he will be given a loss by default due to absence, so please give us your understanding.」
That announcement echoed within the venue.
"…If I remember correctly, Kurogane was brought here by Committee Chairman Akaza in the same car so there is no need to fetch him. Wasn't that what I was told?"
Certainly, Akaza had told this to Kurono yesterday, and forestall her from taking Ikki. But despite that talk―
"He he he. No, I'm very sorry. I compleeeeetly forgot. I'm sincerely regretful. However, the distance from the League branch to here is not that far. A single person can use the electric train to get here, can't he? …Well, his physical condition seemed extremely bad, so I hope he didn't collapse along the way? He he he."
This son of a bitch….
At the discomfort boiling up inside, Kurono clenched her blood-congested fists.
A small hand took that shaking fist. It was Saikyou's hand. She was looking up at Kurono with her eyebrows raised, and admonished Kurono with a small voice, her lips hidden behind her folding fan.
"Don't be short-tempered, Kuu-chan."
Kurono was silent.
"The details don't matter, since Kurobou accepted the duel. What goes on here isn't important. The things that should be done, all of them come afterwards."
Saikyou was equally pissed off. Knowing that, Kurono unclenched her fist quietly.
"Yeah, that's true, huh?"
And so, the two of them resolved themselves. This battle, whether Ikki won or whether Ikki lost, they wouldn't let this red tanuki leave here alive.
Whereas the red tanuki, Akaza, as if not feeling the killing intent from the two of them, happily looked out at the ring where the match was not starting. Up to this point, everything was going well. Banishing Ikki from the League: if Akaza produced the result that Itsuki desired, Itsuki had given a firm promise to promote Akaza from the position of chairman of the Ethics Committee to chairman of public relations. That wouldn't be in the underground levels of the branch. He'd be on the bright, visible surface. If that happened….
Then I'll bid farewell to this villain's role today.
The Ethics Committee that was criticized as secret police was a department that held glory during the military police era, but at present it only carried out dark deeds. Decent people would not want to languish in obscurity in this kind of post. Akaza was the same, therefore….
It's regretabble, but I'll crush Ikki-kun completely.
For that outcome, it would be fine even if Ikki died. It wasn't like that was his responsibility.
Ikki's consciousness was within the blizzard. Within the incessant snow, while cowering, he recalled his beginning. About that day exactly like this, when he was freezing down to his bones. Where the Ikki Kurogane that existed now started.
Meeting Ryouma Kurogane, he was born from being told for the first time that it was fine to believe in himself, and being very happy about it. Several months later, Ryouma died of old age, but the words he left behind were kept alive inside Ikki. And Ikki decided that someday, he would also become a person who would confer those words to someone like him who was cowering and unmoving in front of the wall of talent, and from that day onward, he continued to fight against his own limits.
If he had not had that meeting, he would not exist today. The encounter with Ryouma was something Ikki was proud of. But―
「Was that meeting right?」
A voice like his own whispered something in his ear.
「That meeting, did it bring you anything but agony and loneliness?"
Gradually, scenes of the past rose in Ikki's addled mind.
During elementary school. Himself as a child, continuously swinging Intetsu while bleeding from hands that had skin peeling off. Those days, was what he did the right thing to do? And he didn't even know if he had truly become strong. In those days where he knew nothing, he had learned how to wield a sword from illustrations in reference books. No matter how much he had reached his limits, there was no one willing to instruct him. Therefore, he had stealthily peeped on the children of the branch family from a thicket, and continuously imitated them. That was… very lonesome, he remembered well. The gentleness and strictness shown to other children by the sword instructors who came to the Kurogane household, they were never shown to him, and he had felt that pain whether he wanted to or not.
―What came up next was the scene in a dojo. Ikki who was in middle school had traveled to a dojo to gain skill. Eventually, there was one scene. A one-on-one fight. Even though he had to make that agreement, the instant the opening signal was given, other disciples would strike him all at once, and he would be held down at that spot.
「The experience of making fun of challenging a dojo, we'll make sure you don't have it a second time!」
And saying so, the middle school club president who was Ikki's opponent took Ikki's hand and broke the pinky with all his might. While guffawing, he did the same to the rest of Ikki's fingers. There was not a single person there to help Ikki. While one and all were laughing in real fun, every single finger was broken. The pain and fear of being abused at that time, it was seared into his memories even now.
―The last scene that appeared was… one year ago.
「Hey hey. Not resisting won't prove your strength, you know? I, the Hunter, said I would personally be your opponent. At least counterattack!」
He, who had been filled with holes by Kirihara, was stared at by the cold eyes of the teachers.
And―
「Sorry, Kurogane-kun. I can't stay friends with you anymore.」
The words from the friend who drew away from him….
―The voice that was like Ikki's whispered something.
「And now, here you are on the ground in this kind of place. It's because you wanted to prove Ryouma Kurogane's irresponsible words. You're exactly as Father said, if a person lives within his means, this kind of thing wouldn't happen. Nor would you be dragging along this dying body, clawing your way to the place where you'll fight to the death. A desire beyond your means will only bring you unhappiness. For people, there are domains that correspond to each of them. For those who reach for more, there are only pain and solitude. So? Have you had enough? Then be be reasonable, and relax. The nonsense of the departed, that doesn't have to bind you forever. If you just let yourself fall asleep here, everything will be settled. Ryouma Kurogane's words won't torment you ever again. So―」
Just rest already.
Yeah, that's right. He should just rest. If he continued like this, there would only be bitterness. If he closed his eyes, he would be happy. He would surely be happy. He understood that.
He under…stood… that… but―
"Ahhh AAAHHHHH AAAAAHHHHHHH!"
A roar came forth from his festering throat, and Ikki raised his body up from the asphalt. And step by step, with each step hardening his stride, he continued through the blizzard up the slope.
「Just stop already. Why do you keep hurting yourself?」
The voice asked that question. The answer to that, Ikki didn't know himself. With his muddied mind and recollections, he couldn't hold a single thought or memory.
But―since a while ago, something had been continually reflected in his consciousness.
Red… flame.
Gently swaying, spreading incandescence, flame-like red hair.
Whose hair was that? Whose back was that? Right now, Ikki couldn't even remember.
But―every time he caught a fleeting glimpse, his heart couldn't help but be stirred. Even though he didn't know who that was, just because that hair swayed, the heat in his frozen body burned, and his body that had used up all its energy became stimulated.
「Just rest. Someone as hopeless as you will only be defeated by that Raikiri. What can you do if you go there? What can you do as you are now?」
He didn't know about that. In the first place, Ikki didn't know what he was trying to do going there, or where he was even going.
But―
Aah, but―
There was a heat burning in his chest. Feeling that, Ikki remembered only one thing.
I made a promise.
「So… go… high… knigh….」
Though he didn't quite recall the contents, it was a precious vow, made to a precious person.
That wasn't all. He could hear a voice. What it was saying, he couldn't tell. But that familiar voice like a great commotion was pushing him onward.
Then―I have to….
That was Ikki's answer. At that answer, the thing that had been throwing taunts at him heaved a breath of disgust.
「Is that how it is? To the bitter end, you're going to continue your pain, I see.」
On a blackened face, it gave a twisted smile.
「However―it's futile.」
At that moment―
Ah….
At the exact moment he reached Hagun Academy's main gate, Ikki knee collapsed, and his body tumbled to the ground. Whatever Ikki's determination, his body had reached its limit. He could not advance farther than that. He could not stand up anymore. This was the limit of the person named Ikki Kurogane.
「You're finished, you know.」
Ikki's body would fall like a marionette whose strings had been cut, and that body would lay on the ground. The ground that he would not rise from a second time.
―That was what would happen.
However, at the moment he fell.
With a *thump*.
Arms full of warm and gentle strength caught his falling body. With those strong arms, a trembling subdued voice said something.
"…Welcome back, Onii-sama."
That sweet bell-like voice called forth the memory of a single person from his slowly collapsing recollection. The memory of Ikki's only cherished little sister. That name was―
"Shizu…ku…."
Shizuku, who had caught Ikki's collapsing body in her arms, spoke to him in a hoarse voice.
"…Last night, I heard what Touka-san said, and it's been in my head the entire time."
Whether she should stop her brother, or not.
To speak Shizuku's honest feelings, she thought she wanted to stop him. It was enough already. Her brother had already fought on more than enough. She didn't want her brother to be hurt anymore. To have such bitter experiences. Stop trying to become a knight, and come back to the Kurogane house with her. For her brother, it might be a prison. But she herself was there for her brother. She herself could give her brother love as a mother, a sister, a friend, a lover. She could give her brother whatever he wanted. Therefore… she should let her brother rest.
"…But even if I think that, I can't help but hesitate about stopping Onii-sama. Because when Onii-sama is at this school, he laughs like he is truly happy."
The times he was at their family home was unimaginable. Yes, he smiled at the young and immature Shizuku, but never smiled, not once, for himself. The smiling face that her brother had earned for himself little by little. To take that away from him, she could not do so no matter the reason.
"So I'll make a gamble. Now that Onii-sama came here by his own will―I will send him off to battle with the biggest cheers I can offer."
Along with Shizuku's words―a commotion arose.
"That's right, Senpai! If it's you, you'll definitely win!!!"
"The match hasn't started yet! Hurry!!!"
"Kurogane-kun! There's just a little more to the arena grounds! Do your best!!!"
"Ikki-kuuun! Fight―!!!"
"Just one more push! Show us what you got―!!!"
These were the cheers that Shizuku had run around gathering in order to send her brother forth. Friends, classmates, pupils, former opponents―many students had been waiting for Ikki's arrival at the main gate. And to Ikki who showed a face like he couldn't believe what he was seeing, Shizuku spoke.
"Onii-sama. Among this group, no one asked anything. Because for all of us, we can easily imagine what has happened to corner you like this. But please don't forget. Onii-sama, you're definitely… not alone. You certainly might have been alone in the beginning. That time might have been very, very long. But right now, all of these people are supporting you. Even Stella-san and Alice who couldn't be here because of their own matches, they are praying for your victory. You, the Worst One, are the hero of every one of us."
So―
"Please fight. And please win!"
The cheers from Shizuku and the others. They… certainly reached the consciousness of Ikki who was alone in the blizzard. Ikki in his blurry vision confirmed it firmly.
"Please fight. And please win!"
His silver-haired little sister was there.
"Senpai, I'm going to put a special feature about you on the next wall newspaper, so you absolutely can't lose! Please!"
His lovely classmate with the glasses was there.
"Kurogane-kun. This is a critical moment, you know!"
A tall and beautiful former pupil was there.
"Sensei believes in you. You're not a boy who would lose in this kind of place."
"The student council president is stupidly strong, but you won against me, so let's see your strength!"
"Yeah, what she said."
"Ikki-kun! We absolutely believe that will win!"
The other students who he taught the sword to, as well as the upperclassmen who had always helped him. The classmates who he studied together with. The teacher who had let him into the academy. The worthy opponents who he had competed against for the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival―
Many people were calling Ikki's name. From that sight, a single conviction was born inside of Ikki.
Ahh, at last I understand.
The thing supporting his body that had already been driven past its limits, what that thing was. It was their voices, and their hopes.
People who loved him. People who admired him. And―people whose dreams he had snatched away. The people who were gathered here right now, each and every one of them was entrusting some form of hope to Ikki. That was why they were calling Ikki's name. And those voices, those hopes, they were pushing Ikki onward.
Since the time Utakata told him that 「Between the two of you, the weight of responsibility you're carrying is different」, he had thought he had nothing burdening him, but that was a mistake. His own limits had been exceeded, and Ikki was barely aware of his own existence. The things burdening him now, were the desires entrusted to him.
At some point, I became that kind of person…
The moment he gained that conviction, Ikki felt the fire burning in his heart. *Babump, babump*, the blood flowing inside his body grew hot, and his strength returned. His collapsed thoughts, memories, they certainly returned to their original form, and his consciousness was cleared.
―He would fight. Of course he would. If hopes were entrusted to him, he could never give up of his own accord.
And more than anything else, he had something with that girl with the flame-like hair who wasn't here―a promise with Stella.
「So let's go together, the two of us, as high as knights can go.」
Right now, he could clearly remember. That precious vow. In order to fulfill that, he could not let things end here!
"…Thanks, Shizuku. Kusakabe-san. Ayatsuji-san. Tomaru-san. Saijou-san. Oreki-sensei. And all of you here."
―At some point, the blizzard had ended.
Giving his thanks, Ikki separated from Shizuku and walked on with his own feet. With his head held high, by the strength that everyone had brought him, to the place of the decisive battle.
His heart was no longer uneasy.
「Someone as hopeless as you will only be defeated by that Raikiri.」
The words that the weak self inside Ikki had spoken. To that, he could answer clearly now.
―Be defeated?
They were burdened with the same weight, and they were knights of equal status. He didn't know if he could win. In truth, she was a formidable enemy. Was she an opponent he could defeat with this physical condition?
The more he thought about it, the more disadvantages he could see, and only that. But he would do the only thing he could. Because for the sake of everyone who gave him strength to move forward step by step, he had the duty to do that.
"Well, off I go―"
At that moment―
"Ikki!!!"
A voice resounded loudly in the summer air. Very, very strongly, and beautifully―a voice more lovely than the notes of any music.
"Stella!"
"Thank goodness… I got here in time…!"
Crying out and rushing toward in before his eyes, the fiery-haired girl coughed something as she wheezed. At that entry, Shizuku raised her voice in surprise from her position behind Ikki.
"Wha―S-Stella-san! You should be in the middle of your match right now…!"
Yes, that was the reason for Shizuku's surprise. Stella was also a candidate for representative at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival who had been undefeated up to her final match. She was just like Arisuin who hadn't come to this place, someone who must be conducting a match at this time. But despite that, what was she doing here?
Stella didn't respond with an answer.
Instead, she demonstrated it with action.
She took something out and thrust it in front of Ikki's eyes, and said this.
"Ikki, like I promised, I'm now a Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative!"
The thing that Stella had brought out. It was a medal that proved she was a Hagun Academy representative.
That's right, she had already finished her match. With the selection battles' fastest record, a KO at three seconds from match start, against her equally undefeated opponent. All of it was… for the sake of being in time for this moment.
She was always thinking about this. What she should do. For the sake of Ikki who was fighting alone, what she could do. And the answer she had produced was to protect the vow they made. Protect it, come out to greet him. That would surely become courage for him. So―
"So Ikki, you win too! And let's go together! As high as knights can go!"
At those words, Ikki felt the corners of his eyes heating up. Sheesh, his sweetheart was… such a wonderful girl. Encouraging him who had used up all of his energy, not just heading him all the way here, but also bringing him such great valor at this moment. Doing such a forceful thing.
I'm in love with her. That's something I'm proud of.
In that case, he needed to prove he was deserving. To not be unfavorably compared to this strong girl, to become proud of himself.
―To do what he could only do.
That faint-hearted spirit, she had scattered it from inside him with just a few words. Therefore he changed the words he had left with the people around him.
It wasn't going to be "off I go".
"I'm going to win!"
"Okay, I see. I understand. Thank you for informing me."
Giving his thanks, Utakata lowered the student datapad from his ear. And he reported to Touka who was stting on a chair in the waiting room with her eyes closed and her concentration heightened.
"A message from Renren. …Kouhai-kun came."
"…I see."
Touka returned a short reply, and hung her head. Because her hanging forelocks hid her eyes, Utakata could not guess her feelings. Ikki had come to this place. In front of this, even if Touka had been avoiding it, what was she―
"…Ha ha."
For an instant, Utakata felt the hairs on his entire body stand on end. Because Touka's lips had twisted in joy. With sounds of crackling, Touka's excitement had electrified the atmosphere, giving birth to lightning. At that sight, Utakata gulped.
…Her switch has been completely flipped.
He hadn't seen Touka like this since the fight with Moroboshi at last year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
Yes, urging him not to fight was Touka's gentleness in worrying about her underclassman's body. But… in this world of battle, one could not reach the heights of the best four in the entire country with gentleness alone. The brutality and ferocity that submerges the enemy in a sea of blood. That was also one of this girl's sides.
But then, that was a side she usually rarely shows―
But alas, Ikki had brought out Touka's seriousness. The pride of the boy named Ikki Kurogane, he had made Touka recognize him as a formidable enemy. Touka as she was now would likely never go easy on him. She would undoubtedly rush at the half-dead Worst One. Ikki already didn't have a one-in-ten-thousand chance of winning.
「Contender Touka Toudou. The match will begin shortly, so please go to the entrance.」
"…Well, I'm going, Uta-kun."
Slowly rising from the chair, Touka passed through the door that connected to the entrance gate. Utakata, who saw her back filled to the brim with willpower, felt sympathy for the opponent on the verge of death who had no choice but to fight her at her most excited.
It's pitiable, but try to think of it as sorrow brought by bad luck―Worst One.
「Okay~ everyone in attendance. We've kept you waiting for a while. And now―the last match of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival will begin! From the red gate, it's Raikiri, who went undefeated nineteen out of nineteen matches! Our student council president has shown us an overwhelming strength that won through everything without a scratch. In the records of Hagun Academy, how much have we cheered on her continuously brilliant form? She is the pride of Hagun! Our shining star! In order for this beautiful star to continue on the road of glory toward her last Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, she has come to this battlefield! It's third year contender Touka Toudou, the Raikiri! Right now, with everyone's anticipations on her shoulders, she's standing in the ring of battle!」
Touka who was standing in the ring. With her head held straight and proud, her standing figure staring at the blue gate was surely majestic.
"Amazing concentration, isn't it? Just from that, I can feel shocks on my skin."
Even to Stella who was watching from afar, that strength of will was fully transmitted.
However, Shizuku who had been in the presence of Raikiri's strength before didn't feel just that. The moment that Touka appeared in the ring, a shiver of terror rushed through her whole body. She felt a fear that made her want to avert her eyes.
However―Shizuku didn't avert her eyes. Hugging her shivering shoulders, she endured the urge to flee and stared down on the field.
"Shizuku, are you okay?"
"…Honestly, I'm not, but since Onii-sama is fighting on, there's no way I'll leave this place. I will see this match to the end. No matter what the outcome."
「And from the blue gate, one who was similarly undefeated in nineteen battles. But it's unexpected for him to walk the same road as Raikiri! Without taking anyone as partner, without recognition from anyone―he is the one lone wolf who was left behind at the bottom of the earth. However… he has crawled up! Against the Crimson Princess! Against the Hunter! Against Runner's High! Blowing past Hagun's famous knights one by one! Now, there's no one in Hagun who doesn't know his name! The strongest F-rank that is Hagun's pride! First year contender Ikki Kurogane, the Worst One! Baring his fangs at the heavens, now he's on this stage of battle to devour a star!」
And after that, Ikki was visible in the blue gate. Facing the battlefield with sturdy steps without the appearance of being half-dead, Ikki's back was straight and dignified as he faced Touka.
However―
"Wha, what's that? …Isn't the mood different from usual?"
"Y-Yeah… even though his face is the same as always."
"Looking at it, I get a scary feeling…."
Toward Ikki's form that should be the same as always, the venue made a stir. Even if words didn't come out, everyone felt something in his standing posture. And among them, there were people who definitely recognized it.
"Oh ho? That's Touka's opponent? I see… he's strong, right?"
"Nangou-sensei, you can tell?"
"Certainly so. He's making an absolutely strained expression. That youngster, he's resolved even to die here, yes? Even the audience is overwhelmed by his resolve. I didn't know that a man like this existed among the Kurogane, but… this is becoming a rather interesting match, it seems."
"Is that so~? It might not be on his face, but the color of fatigue is deep. Kuu-chan, with his condition like that, is there any chance for him to challenge Touka and win?"
"He he he. Whether there is or there isn't, he has no choice but to challenge her, you know? Whatever the reason, this is a duel."
Disregarding Akaza's disruption from the side, Kurono covered her face and replied.
"…Honestly, the situation is quite bad. He can probably swing the sword properly once or twice. …But that is why Kurogane will move cautiously. Because he probably already knows Raikiri's killing direction."
"Hmm? Even things like Raikiri's killing direction?"
She was thinking of ignoring him again for a second, but having that oily man heap questions on her also gave an ill feeling. Because she thought so, Kurono explained it to Akaza who was standing across the way.
"…Raikiri is a fast sword draw. Namely, it's a technique that can't attack if the sword isn't returned to the scabbard. By moving in-and-out with fine repetitive motions, he had render Toudou's Raikiri or other Noble Arts useless, and if he draws her sword out, then at least in that instant Raikiri can't be launched. Kurogane's chance to win would be in that moment. …However, in order to create that chance, he needs to control a battle of attrition with that battered body of his."
It was a disadvantageous battle. But on the other hand, if he went for victory impatiently the chance of success was completely nil. His opponent was still Raikiri, who boasted of invincibility in close range. If he plunged in straightforwardly, he would fall prey to her trump card without a doubt. Because Ikki's Ittou Shura, though it encompassed many years of body strengthening, was still not enough to break through Raikiri. For that reason, there was only a battle of attrition. That was the same opinion that Saikyou held.
But―there was one knight with a different view.
"Ho ho, I see. Kurono-kun, you see this match riding on a battle of attrition?"
It was Nangou. The falcon-sharp eyes inside his wrinkled eyelids shined with a sharp gaze, and he spoke.
"I see that this battle―will be decided with one stroke."
In the outer stands, people became rowdy at the two figures on the stage. Within that upheaval, inside the ring, Touka gave some words as she faced Ikki.
"Kurogane-kun. I have to apologize to you."
"…Apologize?"
"I was thinking all this time that you shouldn't come to this place today. Thinking that, I begged your sister to urge you to not show up. But… even as I did such a hypocritical thing, the girl that I am… seeing you before my eyes right now, I can't help but look forward to this fight…!"
Ikki was silent.
"Kurogane-kun, I know that you're covered in wounds right now. I can see how tired you are. But still, I can't help but be excited. Because from the moment I came came across you, I've always, always thought that―I want to fight you!"
With that bit of gossip, a smile grew on her face, and she took a stance. A flash of lightning crossed the air, and that lightning coverged on Touka's hand, taking the shape of Narukami. She had a face that said she couldn't wait for the match to start anymore.
Facing that, Ikki Kurogane also―
"―About that, I'm the same."
Announcing that, he summoned his beloved black Japanese sword in right hand. Indeed. He was also thinking that the entire time. Raikiri and himself. Which of them was stronger? That he would probably fight with this person. Worrying about it sometimes, he was even sometimes caught in an intangible mist. But right now, he saw that she was very straightforward.
Standing as knights in this place, neither you, nor I, nor the people pushing us forward want to see a single sword being swung in shame. So I promise you this."
Saying so, Ikki raised the sword he held in one hand, and thrusted the point at Touka.
"With my great weakness, I will break your invincibility…!"
He swore that he would absolutely win. Of course, because that was why he had come here.
「The two great rivals have exchanged some words, and taken their Devices in their hands. The girl who is striding toward the summit, and the boy who's crawling up from below. Who is truly the strongest? With the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative position at stake, the last fight begins! Everyone, please cheer for them! LET'S GET STARTED!!!」
The moment of the signal that raised the curtain. Everyone there saw something they could not believe. At the same time the buzzer sounded the beginning of the match, Ikki pulled forth blue light from his body, and ran at Touka.
「Wh-Wh-Wh-What is going on!? Contender Kurogane suddenly used his trump card, Ittou Shura!」
The inside of the venue stirred at that fact. Ikki had employed Ittou Shura at the beginning of the match, which he had never done before.
It was natural. This technique had a strict limit of one minute. It could be nullified just by running away. For that reason, Ikki never used it without first exhaustively understanding the scope of his opponents' powers.
But now, Ikki had thrown away that attitude. He had no stamina left to draw out his opponent's ability bit by bit. Was he too much in a hurry to decide the match because of that fatigue?
In any case―
That decision is reckless, Kurogane…!
Kurono ground her teeth at the sight before her eyes. This was too foolish a choice. While his body had stamina, the match was still in question. The amount of risk could be prepared for. If things became favorable, such tactics might be good, but….
Do you understand? Your opponent is Raikiri!
A member of the country's best four. It was impossible to beat her with a suicidal attack out of desperation. Would he be cut down by Raikiri, or would she escape with her lightning speed? Whichever it was, she couldn't see Ikki winning with this choice. At that fact, both Kurono and Saikyou who was watching at the match at the same time had grim expressions. And influential students like Shizuku and Arisuin were the same. It was too thoughtless. Their expressions twisted in grief. But among them… the Crimson Princess, Stella Vermillion―
"Jeez. Even with your life as a knight on the line, you're such an impossible person, aren't you Ikki?"
And she smiled just a little.
She understood.
Why did Ikki choose to do this? Raikiri was going to slash with her sword draw. In that case, he should attack during the draw itself. It was only then that Raikiri could kill.
Even I know that, so Ikki must have realized it.
But Ikki did not choose that. Why? Because he judged that his stamina would not permit that tactic?
No. It was―not anything as clever as that.
Stella understood that, and she was right. Ikki had―
I had decided all along…!
Ever since he encountered Touka. For the time he would defeat her, he had been putting together his strategy. Of course, that included the electromagnetic sword draw, Raikiri, that was Touka's signature technique as a knight. And when challenging her, how could he win without being beaten by it?
In truth, his body was at its limit. Though he had enough magic power left that performing body strengthening with Ittou Shura was not a problem, he could not draw out his stamina anymore. Swinging a sword properly, it was probably limited to one time.
But that was fine. It was enough. If he struck with all his might, one slash was enough. He would not feint. He would not spend his stamina uselessly. Running forward in a straight line over the shortest distance, he would put all he had right now into his blade and send it forth! And he would defeat it. The Raikiri that Touka Toudou was proud of!
And to Touka, who rose above this place whirling with this intrigue, the greatest sincerity that he could show―
This is my personal challenge―!!!"
Whatever the unfavorable conditions, it would be a match that didn't leave any regrets. He would not show himself leaving his opponent regrets. With that spirit in his heart, scattering the glow of his life, Ikki ran forward with the wind coiling around him.
Seeing that― Touka Toudou perceived his feelings.
「With my great weakness, I will break your invincibility!」
The words he had said before the match, it was in genuine seriousness.
She didn't need Reverse Sight to read his body signals. The soul that was approaching informed her eloquently. Ikki Kurogane would make one slash in this match, to decide the last stroke. His aim was to intercept the Raikiri she would unleash.
In that case, the match is simple.
She would feint with Raikiri, retreat a long way back, and have him miss with all his strength. And if she teased the exhausted Ikki from outside his range, he would not be able to do a thing. The match would be her win―that kind of thing….
Don't joke around!
Touka didn't even glance at that plan. Raikiri, which had not been broken in close range even once yet, dominated this territory. If an enemy invaded, what feudal lord would shamelessly flee his domain? Close range was Touka's strongest distance. If she ran away, where would she fight from? More than anything else―against someone pushing his heavily wounded body yet still using all his might, if she discarded her invincibility in the face of such a proud knight's challenge, how could she boast of that kind of victory!?
Ahh, that's right.
I don't want to just be Hagun Academy's strongest! I'm going to defeat this proud knight, and go on to become a Seven Stars Sword King!
In that case―
I'll take you on! With my invincible Raikiri―!!!
She spread her stance, and sent a flash of lightning into the scabbard that held Narukami. She prepared her trump card. To throw out the blow that brought down every opponent without exception. That posture of readiness to draw a sword, Touka intercepted Ikki who was approaching with coiling wind around him. She was the same as her opponent, risking everything on one slash!
Mutually and reciprocally, carrying themselves proudly, fighting fair and square. This was the righteous path of knights!
And―right now, two knights were confronting each other on that path.
Ikki had thrown out the fastest of his seven personal techniques. The seventh secret sword, Raikou. With a speed that showed no swordsmanship, it was an invisible sword. That speed, it was like lightning that drilled into earth within the blink of an eye.
But even so, the name of the technique meeting that Raikou was coincidentally Raikiri. An artful sword draw that splits even descending lightning.
The speeds of both parties were that of peerless superhumans. In that case, the decision of which one was superior was left to the weight of hope that each sword carried. The prayers of other people who prayed for their victory wholeheartedly. And the hopes of themselves, wanting to win against the enemy in front of their eyes. All of that was entrusted to the sword of their souls.
"AHHHHHHH!!!"
"YAHHHHHHH!!!"
The two knights put their entire bodies into it, and followed through with their slashes! The flash of lightning from the attack released by steel. The mutual strike that crossed the shortest distance―Raikiri was just slightly faster!
―Not good!
Ikki knew this.
―This wasn't enough!
Before his eyes that already could not perceive color, a blade of shining plasma was approaching. Before that speed and power―
―He couldn't reach it!
He would be defeated. The Raikiri that followed through would show neither hesitation nor mercy. A complete swing that would kill without remorse. Such a beautiful, beautiful swordsmanship.
Touka Toudou, Raikiri… this girl was truly strong!
―But so what!?
He already knew that. That she was strong, and that he was inferior to most, all of it. However, did Ikki turn his eyes away from that reality?
No!
He continued to fight. He did not retreat one step from that unbearable reality. That was why he knew. Because Ikki was like that, he knew what he should be doing right now.
If he was inferior, he should gather his strength. If he was imperfect, he should strain his power.
One minute was too long. Right now, he just needed one second!
―So be it, he'll sharpen his soul.
Vision, taste, hearing, touch, smell―right now he didn't need any of them. In this instant, he didn't even need to breathe. Abandoning all of those things, he concentrated the strength left over.
All of his flesh. All of his brain. All of his blood. All of his cells, everything from them.
His personal vitality, stamina, magic power, potential, he mustered all that he had―
―And for an instant, he broke past his limits!!!
The flash of lighting from colliding steel. That air that was blasted away. The collision gave birth to lightning and thunder that could be witnessed hundreds of miles away, carrying away all color and sound―
*crack*
In the long silence afterward, the shrill sound of steel breaking echoed in the venue.
And then… the sound of someone falling.
The spectators who had shut their eyes at the dazzling radiance timidly opened their eyes again, and looked toward the ring.
The thing that had been broken was―Narukami.
The one who had fallen midway on the righteous path of knights was Touka Toudou, the Raikiri.
「I-It's broken!!! H-How can it be!? With just one intersection of blades, merely one entanglement! In that instant, Touka Toudou's Narukami! Her Raikiri! They were broken!!! Contender Toudou has fallen in the ring and isn't even twitching! Now, the referee is rushing up! Can she continue!? If not―」
The huge audience held their breath as they watched the referee approach Touka. The referee who leaned over her examined her for a brief period, and before long, stood back up with both hands making a cross.
「The referee's judgment is that she can't continue! The match is over! What an end to the fight! What a conclusion! The crossing slashes were only off by millimeters! And with those millimeters, Hagun Academy's strongest knight has fallen! The one still standing in the ring is first year contender, the Worst One, Ikki Kurogane!!!」
The moment the winner's name was called, cheers broke out and shook the hall. The huge audience raised their voices in astonishment.
「It, it can't be….」
「H-He really won! He really did it! Against Raikiri!」
「I can't believe it! The student president lost in close range….!」
「It's the first time I've ever seen a Device get broken…. Is the president still alive?」
「Eeeeek! Ikki-kun, you're the best―!」
The hall turned into a mixing pot of excitement. Amidst the incessant cheers, Ikki dragged his body from the ring. Seeing that, Stella broke into a run immediately. The place she was going to was the blue gate. She was probably going to meet Ikki.
"Shizuku-chan, you're not going?"
Kagami who was watching it with the silver-haired girl asked that suddenly. But Shizuku shook her head a little at the question.
"Could it be, you're restraining yourself for Stella-chan? I think it's fine for you to go with her today, though."
"That's not… it…."
"Shizuku-chan?"
Coughing, Shizuku sat down right there firmly. Seeing that, Kagami also realized it. It wasn't not that Shizuku wouldn't go. She was unable to move because of shock.
Her beloved brother had dragged his body that was on the verge of death to appear in this fight. The enemy had struck at her brother with full force, showing no hesitation or mercy. Although the result was the Ikki had won, it had truly been dangerous. If a single thing had gone wrong, Ikki's head would've flown in that instant. That tension, and the relief that was loosened, they had probably stolen all energy from Shizuku.
Right now―
"…It's great… that he's safe…. It's great!"
At that relief, Shizuku had fallen onto her seat, and was now shedding tears. Well, that was understandable. Because Shizuku had been strained since last night.
However, speaking of the risky match―the truth was different.
"Did you see that, Nene?"
"Of course I saw that. Sheesh, what an outrageous man Kuro-bou is."
The two mage-knights looking down on the ring from the top floor of the spectator seats had noticed it. They had seen it with their own eyes.
Raikou and Raikiri. The thunder of two steel swords colliding, and the moment that happened.
―Ikki had accelerated even more.
"Ittou Shura, which spent everything of oneself in one minute, didn't win against Raikiri. Kurogane himself understood that. So that guy, he spent everything himself in one sword swing instead of one minute! With astounding concentration, he concentrated his 'strongest single minute', and magnified his physical strength in a many-fold leap, and added swing speed and power…!"
Compared to burning his stamina using the usual Ittou Shura to run forward, Ikki had spent the stamina of running a hundred meters at the first step instead just then. That was entirely beyond the domain of humans. It was not the realm of a man who fell into the realm of the shura. Exceeding limits beyond limits. A… demon that exceeded humanity. If it needed a name―
Ittou Rasetsu[3].
"But that's just an ordinary mechanism. The result of the battle was decided by something else, you know."
"Nangou-sensei…."
"Geezer, what are you saying?"
"The Raikiri that Touka unleashed. That was a slash that didn't have the resolve to kill that Kurogane youngster. What I saw was the highest, most beautiful sword stroke without a hint of hesitation. And that, make no mistake, was faster than the youngster's long sword. But… that youngster. He improved in the instant of reaching his limit. In that last moment. In order to beat the stronger Touka. …Perhaps, that youngster came here to do that the entire, entire time. Having nothing, being given nothing, while constantly under siege he continued to believe in his own potential even in a struggle to the death. Continuing to hone himself. Faster than himself at one minute. Stronger than himself at one second. In that narrow span, that difference. Touka undoubtedly drew strength to her limit. But that youngster, in this battle, had changed his own limit. …His spirit in continuing to change his own potential without slacking off, this victory was born of that."
Saying that, Nangou tightened the wrinkled skin around his narrowed eyes, and said―
"…That boy resembles him."
Looking forward with a gaze that seemed to see an old acquaintance, he watched the back of Ikki who was leaving the ring.
But, at the side,
"I-Impossible! How can something so stupid happen! That kid was half dead! For this to happen even then, something must be wrong! Ahh, of course, something isn't right! It was a mistake! Who could accept this kind of outcome!?"
Only Akaza could not accept the situation before his eyes, and he took off running with a scream.
At his round back running away with thumping noises, Saikyou asked.
"Kuu-chan. Is it okay not to chase him? That's not very satisfying."
It wouldn't be satisfying. Kurono was of the same opinion. But….
"…Honestly, I thought about doing various things to pay him back, but seeing Kurogane's fight has made me somewhat ridiculous. It's probably fine to let him go. At any rate, that man can't do anything now. If he tried to do anything, it's already too late anyway. Things have already escaped his grasp. A champion on the level of the whole country. Bonds to family. Outrageous attacks. Absurd duels. Ikki Kurogane has taken all of that head-on―and cut through them with one slash."
There was no one left who could object to that conclusion. And that situation had been captured by news cameras. In the moment that Raikiri, among the best four of the whole country, was beaten by the Worst One.
"So no matter how much the Kurogane family tries to persecute Kurogane, it's already irrelevant. The society can't strike him anymore. Because with this fight, the Worst One―no, the Uncrowned Sword King, will have his fame spreading through the entire world."
The cheers are… far away.
As if they were just the sound of rain outside a window. Ikki thought so. His consciousness was completely separated from his flesh. If he relaxed his attention just a little, he would tumble to the floor immediately.
No, it was already fine to tumble down. Because the match had been decided, and Ikki had won. But even so, Ikki hastened forward.
―There was somewhere he wanted to go. There was someone he wanted to meet.
There's something I want to convey. …At this moment.
So he walked. With the cheers at his back, he passed through the blue gate.
"Ikki…!"
The person he wanted to meet, she had come to meet him as well.
…I'm grateful.
Because honestly, walking all the way to the spectator seats would be troublesome. Stella was welcoming Ikki with her arms spread.
Ikki collapsed into her bosom. Stella hugged Ikki into her voluptuous chest, and―
"Well done… Ikki…!"
She hiccuped. On her face, tears were dripping down.
"Were you that… worried?"
"I was! Of course I was! *sob* You were taken away and didn't come back for weeks! And when you came back, you came back half dead! And yet you did something absurd like challenging Raikiri in a head-to-head contest… what kind of idiot are you! Unbelievable! Stupid stupid stupid!"
Ha ha… my retort was exposed.
"But… I'm an idiot too."
Hmm?
"Because Ikki, who continues to challenge like that, is the one I love."
Saying that, Stella hugged Ikki with greater force. From the skin squeezing him hard, Ikki could feel Stella's warmth.
Ahh, this heat.
This heat, it gave strength many times over to his frozen body. That time, when he fell in the middle the blizzard, he thought it was truly hopeless. That not a bit of strength remained in his body. However, this heat had given him strength to go on. Even though he couldn't recall her name, his hopeless body had still gotten up.
…Thank you.
If Stella hadn't been there, there was no way he could've come here. Being decisively cast aside by his father, sinking under the despair from that, he would've been buried under the blizzard. But if this girl was there… he could get up. If this girl was there, he could continue to fight.
So he would say it. He had decided. When the fight ended, if he won―he would say this to Stella.
"…Stella."
Ikki took a single deep breath, and hugged Stella with all the strength he had left.
"I want us to be a family."
A few words. The affection he felt, all of it was loaded onto them, and delivered to her. Decisive words that he had never spoken before. Words that said the relationship between them was already not that of ordinary lovers.
In an instant, Stella's body that was embracing him trembled.
But that was only one instant.
Immediately, Stella hugged Ikki's body even harder, and said―
"Yes. Ikki, please make me your bride."
With a voice that sounded like she would break into tears, but with a bashfulness truly filled by delight, she gave him her answer. The moment he heard those words, Ikki's heart was wrapped by relief―and he finally let go of his consciousness.
"Ikki…? No, Ikki! Hold it together!"
Losing strength, Ikki's body leaned languidly on her. Even though he was breathing… it was terribly weak. She could tell he was in a dangerous condition with a glance.
And furthermore Stella noticed it. Ikki's entire body, it was bleeding underneath his clothes. The body he had strengthened many hundred-fold. It was already beyond the range that a human body could withstand.
If I don't take him to the infirmary quickly….
"Stooooop!"
But in front of Stella who was trying to carry Ikki to the infirmary, a barrel-like man was standing. With bloodshot eyes, and greasy sweat dripping down all of his face, it was Mamoru Akaza.
Those eyes had no sanity in them anymore. He had failed. Therefore, he would have to take responsibility for that failure. If so, there was no way he was going to be promoted. It was obvious that he would lose even his current position.
Unless he did something to erase that.
That impatience, it took away all the sense from this middle-aged man. Akaza had taken out a hatchet Device, and approached the unconscious Ikki.
"He he he! Please wait a moment, Princess! Please leave that boy to me! I must have a duel with him right now~! In truth, the one who was to be his opponent was not Touka Toudou, but me! That was a promise between men! So give that boy to me immediately―huh?"
In that moment, Stella disappeared from before Akaza's sight. No, not disappeared―it wasn't that he had lost sight of her, but that Stella had stepped in between intervals of his awareness.
The ancient martial arts footwork, Trackless Step. For someone of Stella's class, as long as she understood the principle, it was not a difficult technique to reproduce. Stella carried Ikki past Akaza without him being aware of it.
―And as she went past, she gave a backhand blow that sent his whole pitiful body flying.
"Buhyaaaaaaaaa!?"
Akaza's body was blown away like it had been hit by a truck, and crashing through the blue gate, it bounced over and over like a rubber ball to finally roll onto the ring.
「Whoa! That old guy really flew!」
「What's with that old man? I think I've seen him before.」
「Or should I say, it looks like his back is bent at an outrageous angle, right?」
「And that's some amazing twitching. It makes me feel bad.」
「Is he even alive?」
The outside was becoming slightly noisy, but Stella didn't care. In order to get Ikki examined by a doctor immediately, she turned toward the infirmary. The face of the person she had just sent flying, it didn't leave a trace in her mind.
One hour after the end of the match, Touka's consciousness, which had been shattered to pieces by her Device Narukami being broken, had gradually returned.
"Have you woken up, Touka?"
"How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?"
She was stretched out on a bed. Utakata and Kanata were nursing her. At this sight, Touka knew.
"I see… I lost, didn't I?"
Her recollection stopped after following through with Raikiri, so Touka didn't remember the instant that she had been defeated. But if she looked at the expressions on her friends' faces, it wasn't hard to guess.
"…Even though I thought my Raikiri was supreme, huh?"
"Nangou-sensei said so too."
"Master said so? He was here?"
"Yep. Right, Kanata?"
"Yes. Because today's match was open to the public. It seems he came to watch."
"He praised it very much, that your Raikiri was the most beautiful to date."
..Is that so?
"If even Master saw it that way, then it couldn't be wrong, I guess."
She had used all of her power. And there was no mistake that she had exceeded Ikki Kurogane. However―
At that instant, Kurogane-kun had become even faster.
Inside that instant, he had changed his own limits. For nothing more than his own victory.
She had also pursued her own goal continuously, but compared to Ikki, she had still been indulgent. The Worst One had always, not just today, been having this kind of hopeless fight. And on each occasion, he had always been changing himself.
…What an amazing person.
For herself to be defeated, in a way it was probably inevitable.
But―that's only true for now.
In Touka hands, there was a satisfactory response from her broken Raikiri remaining. And that response taught her this. Raikiri could still become stronger. What hindered it could be overcome someday. No, she would show that she could overcome it. Before their next fight, absolutely.
She would chase after him. With all her power―because next time, she would be the challenger.
"…Well anyway, Touka."
"Yes?"
Suddenly, Utakata spoke with a self-conscious expression for some reason. What was on his mind? Touka urged him to speak.
"Should we get in touch with everyone at Wakaba House?"
…Oh, that's right.
Now that she thought of it, she remembered they had said they already made the congratulatory banner. She had to properly inform them that she had lost. If even the selection battles had ended like that, she had to go and tell them.
Utakata was saying that if having her say it herself was too difficult, he would inform them in her place.
"Thanks for thinking about my feelings, but it's fine. I'll tell them properly."
"It's fine not to force yourself, you know?"
But Touka calmly shook her head. She wasn't forcing herself. She had fought with Ikki with all her strength. Touka had drawn as much of what she now had as she could. Raikiri, with even the resolve to kill Ikki, had been a slash that no one who saw it would be embarrassed about. She had nothing to be ashamed of.
"So I'll go home with pride."
And she would tell them.
That she had fought with an amazing knight.
(translation)
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm in good health. …Yes. The match tomorrow is the last one for the school, I guess. Eh? Assistance from Tokyo is coming? M-Make a banner!? It's too early to do that! And anyway, the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival is being held in Osaka this year. …Yeah, that's right. Anyway, whether win or lose, once the selection battles end I'll go make a temporary appearance. Yeah. See you later. Thanks for the vegetables. Say thanks to everyone for me too. And Mother, take care of your body, okay? …Bye bye."
Exchanging words of farewell, Touka switched off the phone function of her student datapad. The liquid crystal display had moisture clinging to it. It was evidence that the telephone conversation had gone out for fifty minutes. It seemed to have been a very long telephone conversation.
"The director was in good health?"
While sitting on the sofa of the student council room and biting into a huge red tomato, Utakata asked about the person who she had been conversing with on the phone. About the circumstances with the director of Wakaba House, the orphanage that the two of them had received favor from.
"It felt like she was as completely full of energy as ever."
The director―the elderly woman who Touka had called "Mother"―had suffered a heart attack last year. At that time, Touka had spent a whole night weeping, and even Utakata who was usually whistling had a pale face, but having heard the voice on the telephone just now, it seemed that her condition was already settled, and her energy had come back. Too much, in fact.
In any case―
"They already made a banner, she said?"
That. Even though victory in the selection battles hadn't been decided, or decisions regarding representatives, it seemed the director and the children of the facility had already made a banner for her taking the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. As expected, even Touka was lost for words.
"Because everyone is hasty… they really are."
"That's the only thing everyone is hoping for, you know. To the kids of Wakaba House, it's their wish for their hero, Raikiri."
Saying so, Utakata handed to Touka a photo taken from inside the cardboard box filled with vegetables delivered from Wakaba House. On that photo was the smiling mud-covered faces of the children who harvested the vegetables, and at the bottom were encouragement written with letters that they had memorized with utmost effort.
Indeed, there was no doubt that for the children of Wakaba House, Touka was a hero. Orphaned like them, graduating from the same facility, fighting grandly at the forefront of the world. Fighting, and continuing to win. That figure was what the children of Wakaba House admired.
Someday Utakata also wanted to shine like that girl. With that dream, the courage to face that dream was continuously being given to him by Touka.
And again, Touka herself was aware that she was that existence to others. Therefore, she couldn't lose. To preserve that kind of expectation, she couldn't let her strength bend to pressure. To an extent, it was the strongest part of Touka Toudou, Raikiri.
This, I'll read it slowly later.
Holding the photo to her chest with sweetly for a moment, Touka put it into her bag. Then she turned her attention to the box full of vegetables. Tomatoes to eggplants to cucumbers―it was an assortment of summer vegetables harvested from the facility's vegetable garden. Each and every one was scraggly, giving a warm feeling that couldn't be put into words.
"Wow, look Uta-kun. This eggplant, it's so fat and splendid. If we made eggplant curry or something, it might come out delicious, right?"
"Yep, it's so dark and fat ant and splendid, huh?"
"J-Jeez! Giving such an old-man response!"
"Ha ha ha. But since it'll go bad being left here, we have to take it to the school cafeteria tomorrow, won't we?"
Suddenly, the words Utakata uttered. At those words, Touka's face clouded over slightly. Because she thought of something unpleasant.
"…Tomorrow, huh?"
Some time ago, a message came for her. It had come from Kurono Shinguuji. Its contents―was a change to her opponent for tomorrow. And furthermore, because that opponent was the Worst One, the topic of an upheaval right now―and unavoidably giving the impression that he had committed a crime.
Touka had inquired about that, and Kurono had not concealed it either. The adversity that Ikki was under, which she heard from Kurono, it was undoubtedly beyond description. The malice that surrounded him, that cornered him into the worst condition, and in addition was sending herself as the assassin against him.
However, needless to say Touka was unwilling to be that.
"Touka will be the representative to take up that duel?"
Even Utakata understood the matter. Therefore he, to Touka whose expression had clouded over, asked with a worried tone of voice. In response, Touka lowered her eyes.
"I don't have the right to decide. Madam Director also said so, but for me it's the absolute final selection battle match."
Indeed, It was a duel for Ikki, but for Touka it was an absolute selection battle. It was only changing the opponent, and she could not risk anything for the sake of the outcome. And even though there had not been alterations this sudden, changing situations had happened many so far. Therefore even Touka could not protest strongly. However―
"But you feel that this shouldn't happen, right?"
"Yeah…."
Because of that, there was no way this unpleasant feeling of shock would go away. All the more for a girl as kind-hearted as Touka.
…Therefore, she had taken one measure.
*knock knock*
Right on time, a visitor knocked on the student council room door.
"Who would that be at this hour?"
"I called her. Please come in."
"Forgive my intrusion."
The person who opened the door and entered was a petite young girl who looked like a bisque doll. She was the one who had fought with Touka with all of her strength, Shizuku Kurogane, the Lorelei.
"This is an unexpected guest, isn't it?"
"…I didn't think that I would be called here by the person who gave me a such a black mark on my record this late at night either."
"Ha ha. That's quite natural. Oh, that's right, do you want a tomato? It's very sweet and delicious, you know."
"…I've already brushed my teeth, so no thank you. Besides, I probably wasn't called here to eat tomatoes. ―Student President. What is it you want from me?"
Shizuku urged Touka toward the main point.
…She was being childish. Shizuku herself thought so. But meeting and speaking with the person who destroyed her dream, her goal of heading in front of the entire country with her brother, was making her uncomfortable after all.
Touka had the same exact feeling. Therefore she got right to the point, and spoke her reason for calling Shizuku here.
"The truth is, Madam Director sent a message a while ago… and because you're not unrelated, Shizuku-san, I wanted to convey it―"
What Touka was saying was that the competition schedule for tomorrow had been suddenly revised. And that Ikki was wagering his entire future in that fight, and had to make a challenge. Little by little, as Shizuku listened to the spiteful reality, her expression became full of wrath. And soon after she was done hearing all of it,
"…Lowlife…!"
With green eyes shining furiously, she spat a curse at someone who wasn't here. And after that, she asked Touka.
"…President, will you fight? Against Onii-sama, whose physical condition is disturbed?"
"The student council president is nothing more than an ordinary student. Even if I cry objections, I have no power to change who I'm matched against."
Even if it was Touka, who was reluctant to fight, she could not do enough. However―even though it couldn't be helped and was she was unable to convince Shizuku, Touka had still called Shizuku here.
"Therefore Shizuku-san, I have a request for you who is Kurogane-kun's family."
"For me…?
"Yes. …Shizuku-san, can you advise Kurogane-kun not to do this?"
"…Eh?"
"Kurogane-kun's physical condition seems to be considerably bad. At worst, pneumonia. …I heard that it might be even worse than that. Speaking plainly, he very much cannot fight with his body like that. …However, it has been only a few days of interaction, but I've seen the kind of knight that Ikki Kurogane is. Speaking from that impression, I think he would drag himself to the fight even with his entire body full of wounds. Not in desperation, but in order to fight me seriously. He will definitely hold prospects of victory and resolution."
And―
"And I too, I am a girl who won't let the opponent I'm facing escape. If he comes to the fight, I will face him as his opponent with all my soul. As a result, even if a disastrous accident occurs…."
In that instant, a shiver ran through Shizuku's whole body.
This person… is serious.
Behind the glasses, she could clearly see the glint in Touka's eyes, and Shizuku was convinced. Touka was not exaggerating. Indeed, she was even thinking of the possibility of killing Ikki. And seeing the worst possible future, she had called Shizuku here.
"I beg of you. Please stop Kurogane-kun. The only one who could do that is you who are his family, I think."
Shizuku didn't respond immediately.
What should she do? What would be the correct thing? Without knowing that….
"…One night, please give me one night to think about it…."
The best she could do was squeeze out those words.
Since Shizuku left the room, Touka muttered a few words of her heart's unease.
"Even if Kurogane-kun abstains from fighting tomorrow, even if I fight and win―I… can I be proud of going out before the entire country after such a fight?"
Remembering the smiles on the photo that came with the vegetables, and the message of support. Would she be able to have a fight worthy of their honest hopes and admiration?
It was an inescapable anxiety.
"Touka."
Suddenly, the hand of that uneasy Touka was wrapped by a small warmth. It was Utakata's hand. He grasped Touka's hand, and looked up at her from his always shorter vantage.
"Certainly, various things have been made ridiculous by adults pushing circumstances for their own convenience, but even so, you're you. You should fight the battle that you yourself will be proud of. We love you because you're like that. …And Kouhai-kun probably hopes for that too."
Naturally, he told Touka a truth that carried his conviction. What other people were thinking didn't matter. If Touka did as she thought was right, that was enough.
To those words… Touka gradually smiled. She could do it.
"Yeah. Thanks, Uta-kun."
That's right. From the beginning, that was all I could do.
She should just do the best she could.
"Alright!"
Touka shouted, and clapped her hnds together. The sharp pain, it drove away her hesitation and confusion―she wasn't wavering anymore.
Tomorrow, if he drags himself to battle in order to face me, I won't show any mercy.
Without mercy, she would accompany him in battle with all her strength as a knight. And she would win. She would win without fail!
I'll win―and I'll go to the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival proudly!
In this way, the night before the decisive battle grew late―and Hagun Academy greeted the morning of the final representative selection battles for the fated Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
"Well well. Even though it's only the start of summer. It looks like this year will be hot too."
On the morning of the final day of selection battles. At the station closest to Hagun Academy, the station master wiped the sweat from his forehead while sweeping up.
The sky was clear. It was a heat that poured down with uninterrupted sunlight. In this kind of season, the snug navy blue uniform was a little bit enduring.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of an approaching electric train, and raised his face. The train that stopped at every station was arriving at this one. It slowed to a stop in front of the station, and its door opened. The station master had no choice but to retreat three steps before the descending visitor.
Well, there aren't anybody who'd come here at this time, but…."
At any rate, Hagun Academy was the reasonable place to go from this station. Setting aside the students who were departing to go have fun on holidays, on time-slots for weekdays, there were no people stopping by the station near Hagun Academy, which had a residential dorm system. That was what he expected, but―
Hmm?
From the train's open door, a man slowly exited. His back was bent limply. It was an old man.
How unusual. Someone came on a weekday.
What kind of person was this? From such curiosity, the station master turned his eyes toward the old man who had descended.
And he became speechless.
It wasn't an old man who had descended. He was a young man―no, a boy. A boy who should be in the peak of health, but he was creeping out of the electric train with his back bent.
But the reason the station master became speechless wasn't because of the boy's age. The surprise was because of his―Ikki Kurogane's physical condition.
"Haa… haa…."
Hoarse breaths were coming out wildly, and his face was a pallid white. The eyes visible from behind disarrayed forelocks were murky, and no vitality could be felt. And more than anything else―exuded from that image, the perspiration dripping from his chin was unusual. Even with the fierce heat, the electric train had an air conditioner inside. A healthy person would not have such overflowing perspiration.
"Y-You, are you okay?"
"Wh… oh, yes, I'm… fine."
"No, you obviously don't look fine! I'll call an ambulance…!"
Then, the station master looked at Ikki's face in surprise. Although Ikki was in front of his eyes, only now did he recognize the boy described in the news as having played around with the princess of Vermillion. And at that moment, the station master's expression showed obvious disgust. Ikki didn't fail to notice that.
"Thank you for… worrying about me. But… I'm sorry. …I'm in a hurry."
Towards the station master, Ikki bowed his head quickly, and passed by on one side. And like that, he left the station.
"Ah…."
That back was becoming more distant with unsteady, shaky steps. Seeing that back, the station master remembered in bewilderment. Ikki was the child who the media had claimed was notoriously difficult to deal with during his time in his parents' home.
But somehow… he was extremely polite, wasn't he?
After meeting the person himself, the station master didn't think that this was very similar to the person that the news described.
Ikki exited the station, and like that he climbed the hill road toward Hagun Academy. It was a road that went on about one kilometer. A course in which he always went over running with Stella each morning. It was a slope that would not bother the usual Ikki, but as he was now, it was an extraordinarily long distance.
With only shallow breaths, his injured lungs could not bring in oxygen properly.
It hurts….
At least, he wanted to breathe. Opening his mouth to gasp, to capture oxygen, but―
"…Ack, *cough*! *Cough*!"
At the sharp pain that his irritated lungs brought in, all the oxygen he had gotten was spat out. The oxygen in his blood was getting extremely low, and his lips were becoming blue. Becoming hazy from fever and lack of oxygen, Ikki's consciousness was already basically nonexistent. And in place of the ego of the weakened Ikki, there were only thoughts of weakness from hallucinations due to being drugged.
…I'm challenging Raikiri in this kind of condition…?
That kind of thing, it was impossible. It would just be suicide.
I can't win….
That was already obvious. In the first place, the hollow sword of a hollow person like himself, it could not possibly defeat that girl's sword.
Enough, I want to sleep….
Complaints floated through the mind of Ikki who was climbing the deserted hill under the sunlight of the annual heat wave and the sound of cicadas. Right now, he had almost let go of his consciousness. For Ikki, it was an irresistibly sweet temptation.
At that time.
"Ah…."
A small rock snagged on his foot, and Ikki's body struck the asphalt without any defense.
This… isn't good….
If he didn't get up.
If he didn't do that, he wouldn't get to the match in time.
If he didn't get to the match in time, he would lose.
If he lost….
Oh, what difference does it… make?
He sensed his brain melting messily. With his distraction from being drugged and his haziness from fever, what was Ikki doing right now? He couldn't even understand what his goal in doing this was.
And in the midst of his messy consciousness, Ikki grasped something at the edge of his field of view.
…Ah.
It was snow. Before he noticed it, the sky had become dark, and large snowflakes were falling down.
In midsummer? Impossible. But still, it was certainly―
It's… cold….
With his teeth chattering, his body froze. At that chill… Ikki remembered.
…Which reminds me, that day was a snowy day too, wasn't it?
That day, when relatives gathered to celebrate the new year. The day he fled the house, not being able to take it. Nobody coming in spite of his calls, nobody caring about him, cowering in the snow by himself.
Compared to that, I… haven't changed at all.
Really, what was he doing? Without a single expectation, without a single accomplishment, he wasn't able to change a single thing. In the past and in the present, he was cowering in the unending snow. Though even if he said that, becoming as worn out as this, what was he trying to do?
He didn't know. He couldn't remember anything. It's just that he couldn't help his body becoming sluggish, and his eyelids growing heavy―
Ikki's consciousness fell into the cold darkness.
The final matches of the selection battles. The number of matches today was less than usual. For the matches happening, they included only the twelve fighters who were undefeated up to now. Therefore, it didn't need to be said that there were many spectators. In particular, the number of people who came to the first practice arena where the confrontation between Raikiri and the Worst One was dreadfully enormous.
The students who came to watch raised their voices in astonishment here and there and everywhere.
"Wow, so many people, huh?"
"Of course there are. Everyone's here to watch the showdown between Raikiri and that Worst One."
"By the way, is that camera I see inside?"
"Because of the news reporters. You know, that story."
"Right, the scandal about the Worst One and the Crimson Princess. But aren't reporters forbidden inside the school?"
"The League was extremely influential in this matter, so maybe there was an exception?"
"Hey… you guys, do you believe that story?"
"There's no doubt they were together. Neither of them denied it, and afterward they were getting along incredibly well."
"And after the match with the Hunter, the Crimson Princess was the one who made a confession with all her heart, you know."
"That's not true! Look, the Worst One's family were the ones who brought the evidence, weren't they? That the Worst One was an unrepentant and notoriously abusive in the past, and is playing around with girls even now?"
"Oh, that?"
"…I don't believe it."
"Truth is, me neither. My Device is a Japanese sword, and I learned how to swing it and do footwork from that guy during lunch breaks, you know."
"Oh, I saw that too. He was doing that in the courtyard, I think. He began doing that with classmates who were pestering him."
"Right, right. I saw that person there, so I can't believe that what the newspapers wrote is true. After all, during this important selection battle season, he was so polite while teaching people even though he got no benefit. How could someone like that be trying to trick the Crimson Princess?"
"But the evidence comes from his own family. In that case, it has to be true, right? Because what reason would they have to lie? They're his own relatives. They might lie to protect him, but there's no reason to make up lies to harm him, right?"
"Yeah, it's hard to imagine that."
Mixing with the activity of the noisy crowd, questions and suspicions about Ikki were exchanged. From the spectator seats, the best place for grinding out such conversations, Nene Saikyou―the petite woman dressed in a kimono who was staring down at the arena―spoke in admiration to Kurono Shinguuji who standing nearby.
"Hm~ph. It looks like the other kids aren't swallowing the news reports whole, huh?"
"Indeed. The people who've had first-hand acquaintance with Kurogane seem the most likely not to do so."
"You can tell he's harmless at a glance, that kid."
"But the truth of it is already inconsequential."
With a sour expression, Kurono spoke that reality.
Indeed, the chain of events surrounding Ikki, the right and wrong of it or the good and bad, was already entrusted to his victory in this duel. Therefore how much Ikki needed to be reformed, how much Akaza's group was wrong, Ikki's method of verifying his righteousness was already limited to victory.
"Really, they really did it, you know. Those bastards."
Even Kurono hadn't anticipated things unfolding this way. He should've endured until Stella's father came? Kurono groaned at her own naivete. And then….
"He he he. Let me accept your compliments."
A deliberately delighted, cloying voice was heard from beside the two of them. The two of them turned as one toward that voice, and there a sweltering barrel of a man was standing and wiping sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Good afternoon. My, today is certainly hot, isn't it~?"
"Committee Chairman Akaza…."
At Akaza's appearance, both Kurono's and Saikyou's handsome faces grimaced together. Naturally, since this wasn't someone they could possibly welcome.
"What do you want from us, you red tanuki[1]?"
Saikyou asked this bluntly with a barbed tone, and Akaza laughed as if saying "Wait, wait, please don't bare your fangs."
"No, no. I have nothing I want from you, but having met Sensei by chance, I just wanted to lead him here so you could talk, you know? Ahh, over here, Sensei."
A petite old man wearing a kimono decorated with a family crest was brought in front of the two of them.
"Ah, we found you at last. In a place as spacious as this, I wouldn't know where you were or what you were doing, ha?"
"Geh, the geezer!"
Saikyou was the first one to react to this person's appearance. And it was justified.
The old man's name was Torajirou Nangou, the God of War. He was a ninety-two year old mage-knight, the oldest in Japan, and the man who was Saikyou's teacher.
"Ho ho ho. My lovable pupil's mouth is as sharp as ever. Well, that's what's cute about you, isn't it?"
"C-Cu… don't say disgusting things!"
"Your face is red, Nene. How about accepting it honestly?"
"Y-You dried-up old geezer, hearing stuff like that from you doesn't make me happy!"
Nene's face as she said that, its bashfulness couldn't be hidden by those words.
Sheesh, that girl can't be honest.
Even though it was already known that this old man was the one Nene had known the longest, and the one she respected the most in the world.
"Kurono-kun, it's also been a long time for us, hasn't it? We haven't met since your belly was big, but did your childbirth end without any problems?"
"Yes, thankfully."
"That's good, very good. However, hnn~, after experiencing childbirth, you've become much more voluptuous, Kurono~. Around the hips, especially―"
"Geezer! Did you come over here just to leer at my friend!? I'll kill you!"
"Ho ho ho. Nene, you're getting along in years too, so instead of making such shrill noise, you should follow Kurono's example and acquire some knowledge of adult appeal. Otherwise, you'll lose your chance to get married, you know?"
"Nangou-sensei, even if you don't worry about it, surely this girl had lost that chance a long time ago."
"I-I-I can still get married! I'm just having fun with all my might as a single woman! It's just that it would be dumb to be bound to one man! Or rather, why is Kuu-chan on his side!?"
Because Nene is cute whenever Nangou-sensei is around.
It made Kurono want to tease Nene against her better judgment. There were too many moments of Nene not being cute, usually. Well, she wasn't going to tell the person herself that.
"Anyway, Nangou-sensei, why are you here today?"
Disregarding Saikyou's indignant "Don't ignore me!", Kurono asked that of Nangou. Well, this was just being polite. Kurono could guess the main outline of the reason he had come here.
"Of course, I came here to watch Touka's grand performance. …Well, it would be fine to wait until the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival itself, but I had to show up since her opponent is someone of the Kurogane, don't I?"
Like I thought.
Indeed, Nangou was Touka's teacher at the same time he was Nene's. He saw the quick wits of Touka who followed an ancient style, and afterwards taught her his own sword style. Touka's current signature Raikiri was also an arrangement of the old man's own technique, Otogiri[2], for her use. And the reason even more important than that―
"He he he. And because it's the honorable Nangou-sensei's lifetime rival born in the same era, the great hero Ryouma Kurogane, isn't it? It would only be natural to take an interest."
Nangou was ninety-two years old. He was someone who fought alongside the great hero Ryouma Kurogane in the Second World War, and at the same time they were rivals. Ordinarily, the schedule of selection battles in the school was not shown outside, but the fight this time was given as news outside. If he knew that his own favorite pupil and the blood relative of his rival were fighting against each other, it would only be natural for Nangou would show up to see the outcome with his own eyes.
However―
"…But wait, Nangou-sensei. There's a chance that the match today might not happen."
Suddenly, Akaza pasted a repulsive smile on his face, and said that.
"What?"
Kurono's eyebrows moved suddenly at those words. Because she felt an ill-will that did not match his tone of voice. And at almost the same time―
「A notification for everyone in attendance. Although the time has arrived for the match between contender Touka Toudou and contender Ikki Kurogane, contender Ikki Kurogane has still not arrived in the waiting room. As per the selection battle regulations, in the event that contender Kurogane does not arrive in ten minutes, he will be given a loss by default due to absence, so please give us your understanding.」
That announcement echoed within the venue.
"…If I remember correctly, Kurogane was brought here by Committee Chairman Akaza in the same car so there is no need to fetch him. Wasn't that what I was told?"
Certainly, Akaza had told this to Kurono yesterday, and forestall her from taking Ikki. But despite that talk―
"He he he. No, I'm very sorry. I compleeeeetly forgot. I'm sincerely regretful. However, the distance from the League branch to here is not that far. A single person can use the electric train to get here, can't he? …Well, his physical condition seemed extremely bad, so I hope he didn't collapse along the way? He he he."
This son of a bitch….
At the discomfort boiling up inside, Kurono clenched her blood-congested fists.
A small hand took that shaking fist. It was Saikyou's hand. She was looking up at Kurono with her eyebrows raised, and admonished Kurono with a small voice, her lips hidden behind her folding fan.
"Don't be short-tempered, Kuu-chan."
Kurono was silent.
"The details don't matter, since Kurobou accepted the duel. What goes on here isn't important. The things that should be done, all of them come afterwards."
Saikyou was equally pissed off. Knowing that, Kurono unclenched her fist quietly.
"Yeah, that's true, huh?"
And so, the two of them resolved themselves. This battle, whether Ikki won or whether Ikki lost, they wouldn't let this red tanuki leave here alive.
Whereas the red tanuki, Akaza, as if not feeling the killing intent from the two of them, happily looked out at the ring where the match was not starting. Up to this point, everything was going well. Banishing Ikki from the League: if Akaza produced the result that Itsuki desired, Itsuki had given a firm promise to promote Akaza from the position of chairman of the Ethics Committee to chairman of public relations. That wouldn't be in the underground levels of the branch. He'd be on the bright, visible surface. If that happened….
Then I'll bid farewell to this villain's role today.
The Ethics Committee that was criticized as secret police was a department that held glory during the military police era, but at present it only carried out dark deeds. Decent people would not want to languish in obscurity in this kind of post. Akaza was the same, therefore….
It's regretabble, but I'll crush Ikki-kun completely.
For that outcome, it would be fine even if Ikki died. It wasn't like that was his responsibility.
Ikki's consciousness was within the blizzard. Within the incessant snow, while cowering, he recalled his beginning. About that day exactly like this, when he was freezing down to his bones. Where the Ikki Kurogane that existed now started.
Meeting Ryouma Kurogane, he was born from being told for the first time that it was fine to believe in himself, and being very happy about it. Several months later, Ryouma died of old age, but the words he left behind were kept alive inside Ikki. And Ikki decided that someday, he would also become a person who would confer those words to someone like him who was cowering and unmoving in front of the wall of talent, and from that day onward, he continued to fight against his own limits.
If he had not had that meeting, he would not exist today. The encounter with Ryouma was something Ikki was proud of. But―
「Was that meeting right?」
A voice like his own whispered something in his ear.
「That meeting, did it bring you anything but agony and loneliness?"
Gradually, scenes of the past rose in Ikki's addled mind.
During elementary school. Himself as a child, continuously swinging Intetsu while bleeding from hands that had skin peeling off. Those days, was what he did the right thing to do? And he didn't even know if he had truly become strong. In those days where he knew nothing, he had learned how to wield a sword from illustrations in reference books. No matter how much he had reached his limits, there was no one willing to instruct him. Therefore, he had stealthily peeped on the children of the branch family from a thicket, and continuously imitated them. That was… very lonesome, he remembered well. The gentleness and strictness shown to other children by the sword instructors who came to the Kurogane household, they were never shown to him, and he had felt that pain whether he wanted to or not.
―What came up next was the scene in a dojo. Ikki who was in middle school had traveled to a dojo to gain skill. Eventually, there was one scene. A one-on-one fight. Even though he had to make that agreement, the instant the opening signal was given, other disciples would strike him all at once, and he would be held down at that spot.
「The experience of making fun of challenging a dojo, we'll make sure you don't have it a second time!」
And saying so, the middle school club president who was Ikki's opponent took Ikki's hand and broke the pinky with all his might. While guffawing, he did the same to the rest of Ikki's fingers. There was not a single person there to help Ikki. While one and all were laughing in real fun, every single finger was broken. The pain and fear of being abused at that time, it was seared into his memories even now.
―The last scene that appeared was… one year ago.
「Hey hey. Not resisting won't prove your strength, you know? I, the Hunter, said I would personally be your opponent. At least counterattack!」
He, who had been filled with holes by Kirihara, was stared at by the cold eyes of the teachers.
And―
「Sorry, Kurogane-kun. I can't stay friends with you anymore.」
The words from the friend who drew away from him….
―The voice that was like Ikki's whispered something.
「And now, here you are on the ground in this kind of place. It's because you wanted to prove Ryouma Kurogane's irresponsible words. You're exactly as Father said, if a person lives within his means, this kind of thing wouldn't happen. Nor would you be dragging along this dying body, clawing your way to the place where you'll fight to the death. A desire beyond your means will only bring you unhappiness. For people, there are domains that correspond to each of them. For those who reach for more, there are only pain and solitude. So? Have you had enough? Then be be reasonable, and relax. The nonsense of the departed, that doesn't have to bind you forever. If you just let yourself fall asleep here, everything will be settled. Ryouma Kurogane's words won't torment you ever again. So―」
Just rest already.
Yeah, that's right. He should just rest. If he continued like this, there would only be bitterness. If he closed his eyes, he would be happy. He would surely be happy. He understood that.
He under…stood… that… but―
"Ahhh AAAHHHHH AAAAAHHHHHHH!"
A roar came forth from his festering throat, and Ikki raised his body up from the asphalt. And step by step, with each step hardening his stride, he continued through the blizzard up the slope.
「Just stop already. Why do you keep hurting yourself?」
The voice asked that question. The answer to that, Ikki didn't know himself. With his muddied mind and recollections, he couldn't hold a single thought or memory.
But―since a while ago, something had been continually reflected in his consciousness.
Red… flame.
Gently swaying, spreading incandescence, flame-like red hair.
Whose hair was that? Whose back was that? Right now, Ikki couldn't even remember.
But―every time he caught a fleeting glimpse, his heart couldn't help but be stirred. Even though he didn't know who that was, just because that hair swayed, the heat in his frozen body burned, and his body that had used up all its energy became stimulated.
「Just rest. Someone as hopeless as you will only be defeated by that Raikiri. What can you do if you go there? What can you do as you are now?」
He didn't know about that. In the first place, Ikki didn't know what he was trying to do going there, or where he was even going.
But―
Aah, but―
There was a heat burning in his chest. Feeling that, Ikki remembered only one thing.
I made a promise.
「So… go… high… knigh….」
Though he didn't quite recall the contents, it was a precious vow, made to a precious person.
That wasn't all. He could hear a voice. What it was saying, he couldn't tell. But that familiar voice like a great commotion was pushing him onward.
Then―I have to….
That was Ikki's answer. At that answer, the thing that had been throwing taunts at him heaved a breath of disgust.
「Is that how it is? To the bitter end, you're going to continue your pain, I see.」
On a blackened face, it gave a twisted smile.
「However―it's futile.」
At that moment―
Ah….
At the exact moment he reached Hagun Academy's main gate, Ikki knee collapsed, and his body tumbled to the ground. Whatever Ikki's determination, his body had reached its limit. He could not advance farther than that. He could not stand up anymore. This was the limit of the person named Ikki Kurogane.
「You're finished, you know.」
Ikki's body would fall like a marionette whose strings had been cut, and that body would lay on the ground. The ground that he would not rise from a second time.
―That was what would happen.
However, at the moment he fell.
With a *thump*.
Arms full of warm and gentle strength caught his falling body. With those strong arms, a trembling subdued voice said something.
"…Welcome back, Onii-sama."
That sweet bell-like voice called forth the memory of a single person from his slowly collapsing recollection. The memory of Ikki's only cherished little sister. That name was―
"Shizu…ku…."
Shizuku, who had caught Ikki's collapsing body in her arms, spoke to him in a hoarse voice.
"…Last night, I heard what Touka-san said, and it's been in my head the entire time."
Whether she should stop her brother, or not.
To speak Shizuku's honest feelings, she thought she wanted to stop him. It was enough already. Her brother had already fought on more than enough. She didn't want her brother to be hurt anymore. To have such bitter experiences. Stop trying to become a knight, and come back to the Kurogane house with her. For her brother, it might be a prison. But she herself was there for her brother. She herself could give her brother love as a mother, a sister, a friend, a lover. She could give her brother whatever he wanted. Therefore… she should let her brother rest.
"…But even if I think that, I can't help but hesitate about stopping Onii-sama. Because when Onii-sama is at this school, he laughs like he is truly happy."
The times he was at their family home was unimaginable. Yes, he smiled at the young and immature Shizuku, but never smiled, not once, for himself. The smiling face that her brother had earned for himself little by little. To take that away from him, she could not do so no matter the reason.
"So I'll make a gamble. Now that Onii-sama came here by his own will―I will send him off to battle with the biggest cheers I can offer."
Along with Shizuku's words―a commotion arose.
"That's right, Senpai! If it's you, you'll definitely win!!!"
"The match hasn't started yet! Hurry!!!"
"Kurogane-kun! There's just a little more to the arena grounds! Do your best!!!"
"Ikki-kuuun! Fight―!!!"
"Just one more push! Show us what you got―!!!"
These were the cheers that Shizuku had run around gathering in order to send her brother forth. Friends, classmates, pupils, former opponents―many students had been waiting for Ikki's arrival at the main gate. And to Ikki who showed a face like he couldn't believe what he was seeing, Shizuku spoke.
"Onii-sama. Among this group, no one asked anything. Because for all of us, we can easily imagine what has happened to corner you like this. But please don't forget. Onii-sama, you're definitely… not alone. You certainly might have been alone in the beginning. That time might have been very, very long. But right now, all of these people are supporting you. Even Stella-san and Alice who couldn't be here because of their own matches, they are praying for your victory. You, the Worst One, are the hero of every one of us."
So―
"Please fight. And please win!"
The cheers from Shizuku and the others. They… certainly reached the consciousness of Ikki who was alone in the blizzard. Ikki in his blurry vision confirmed it firmly.
"Please fight. And please win!"
His silver-haired little sister was there.
"Senpai, I'm going to put a special feature about you on the next wall newspaper, so you absolutely can't lose! Please!"
His lovely classmate with the glasses was there.
"Kurogane-kun. This is a critical moment, you know!"
A tall and beautiful former pupil was there.
"Sensei believes in you. You're not a boy who would lose in this kind of place."
"The student council president is stupidly strong, but you won against me, so let's see your strength!"
"Yeah, what she said."
"Ikki-kun! We absolutely believe that will win!"
The other students who he taught the sword to, as well as the upperclassmen who had always helped him. The classmates who he studied together with. The teacher who had let him into the academy. The worthy opponents who he had competed against for the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival―
Many people were calling Ikki's name. From that sight, a single conviction was born inside of Ikki.
Ahh, at last I understand.
The thing supporting his body that had already been driven past its limits, what that thing was. It was their voices, and their hopes.
People who loved him. People who admired him. And―people whose dreams he had snatched away. The people who were gathered here right now, each and every one of them was entrusting some form of hope to Ikki. That was why they were calling Ikki's name. And those voices, those hopes, they were pushing Ikki onward.
Since the time Utakata told him that 「Between the two of you, the weight of responsibility you're carrying is different」, he had thought he had nothing burdening him, but that was a mistake. His own limits had been exceeded, and Ikki was barely aware of his own existence. The things burdening him now, were the desires entrusted to him.
At some point, I became that kind of person…
The moment he gained that conviction, Ikki felt the fire burning in his heart. *Babump, babump*, the blood flowing inside his body grew hot, and his strength returned. His collapsed thoughts, memories, they certainly returned to their original form, and his consciousness was cleared.
―He would fight. Of course he would. If hopes were entrusted to him, he could never give up of his own accord.
And more than anything else, he had something with that girl with the flame-like hair who wasn't here―a promise with Stella.
「So let's go together, the two of us, as high as knights can go.」
Right now, he could clearly remember. That precious vow. In order to fulfill that, he could not let things end here!
"…Thanks, Shizuku. Kusakabe-san. Ayatsuji-san. Tomaru-san. Saijou-san. Oreki-sensei. And all of you here."
―At some point, the blizzard had ended.
Giving his thanks, Ikki separated from Shizuku and walked on with his own feet. With his head held high, by the strength that everyone had brought him, to the place of the decisive battle.
His heart was no longer uneasy.
「Someone as hopeless as you will only be defeated by that Raikiri.」
The words that the weak self inside Ikki had spoken. To that, he could answer clearly now.
―Be defeated?
They were burdened with the same weight, and they were knights of equal status. He didn't know if he could win. In truth, she was a formidable enemy. Was she an opponent he could defeat with this physical condition?
The more he thought about it, the more disadvantages he could see, and only that. But he would do the only thing he could. Because for the sake of everyone who gave him strength to move forward step by step, he had the duty to do that.
"Well, off I go―"
At that moment―
"Ikki!!!"
A voice resounded loudly in the summer air. Very, very strongly, and beautifully―a voice more lovely than the notes of any music.
"Stella!"
"Thank goodness… I got here in time…!"
Crying out and rushing toward in before his eyes, the fiery-haired girl coughed something as she wheezed. At that entry, Shizuku raised her voice in surprise from her position behind Ikki.
"Wha―S-Stella-san! You should be in the middle of your match right now…!"
Yes, that was the reason for Shizuku's surprise. Stella was also a candidate for representative at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival who had been undefeated up to her final match. She was just like Arisuin who hadn't come to this place, someone who must be conducting a match at this time. But despite that, what was she doing here?
Stella didn't respond with an answer.
Instead, she demonstrated it with action.
She took something out and thrust it in front of Ikki's eyes, and said this.
"Ikki, like I promised, I'm now a Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative!"
The thing that Stella had brought out. It was a medal that proved she was a Hagun Academy representative.
That's right, she had already finished her match. With the selection battles' fastest record, a KO at three seconds from match start, against her equally undefeated opponent. All of it was… for the sake of being in time for this moment.
She was always thinking about this. What she should do. For the sake of Ikki who was fighting alone, what she could do. And the answer she had produced was to protect the vow they made. Protect it, come out to greet him. That would surely become courage for him. So―
"So Ikki, you win too! And let's go together! As high as knights can go!"
At those words, Ikki felt the corners of his eyes heating up. Sheesh, his sweetheart was… such a wonderful girl. Encouraging him who had used up all of his energy, not just heading him all the way here, but also bringing him such great valor at this moment. Doing such a forceful thing.
I'm in love with her. That's something I'm proud of.
In that case, he needed to prove he was deserving. To not be unfavorably compared to this strong girl, to become proud of himself.
―To do what he could only do.
That faint-hearted spirit, she had scattered it from inside him with just a few words. Therefore he changed the words he had left with the people around him.
It wasn't going to be "off I go".
"I'm going to win!"
"Okay, I see. I understand. Thank you for informing me."
Giving his thanks, Utakata lowered the student datapad from his ear. And he reported to Touka who was stting on a chair in the waiting room with her eyes closed and her concentration heightened.
"A message from Renren. …Kouhai-kun came."
"…I see."
Touka returned a short reply, and hung her head. Because her hanging forelocks hid her eyes, Utakata could not guess her feelings. Ikki had come to this place. In front of this, even if Touka had been avoiding it, what was she―
"…Ha ha."
For an instant, Utakata felt the hairs on his entire body stand on end. Because Touka's lips had twisted in joy. With sounds of crackling, Touka's excitement had electrified the atmosphere, giving birth to lightning. At that sight, Utakata gulped.
…Her switch has been completely flipped.
He hadn't seen Touka like this since the fight with Moroboshi at last year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
Yes, urging him not to fight was Touka's gentleness in worrying about her underclassman's body. But… in this world of battle, one could not reach the heights of the best four in the entire country with gentleness alone. The brutality and ferocity that submerges the enemy in a sea of blood. That was also one of this girl's sides.
But then, that was a side she usually rarely shows―
But alas, Ikki had brought out Touka's seriousness. The pride of the boy named Ikki Kurogane, he had made Touka recognize him as a formidable enemy. Touka as she was now would likely never go easy on him. She would undoubtedly rush at the half-dead Worst One. Ikki already didn't have a one-in-ten-thousand chance of winning.
「Contender Touka Toudou. The match will begin shortly, so please go to the entrance.」
"…Well, I'm going, Uta-kun."
Slowly rising from the chair, Touka passed through the door that connected to the entrance gate. Utakata, who saw her back filled to the brim with willpower, felt sympathy for the opponent on the verge of death who had no choice but to fight her at her most excited.
It's pitiable, but try to think of it as sorrow brought by bad luck―Worst One.
「Okay~ everyone in attendance. We've kept you waiting for a while. And now―the last match of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival will begin! From the red gate, it's Raikiri, who went undefeated nineteen out of nineteen matches! Our student council president has shown us an overwhelming strength that won through everything without a scratch. In the records of Hagun Academy, how much have we cheered on her continuously brilliant form? She is the pride of Hagun! Our shining star! In order for this beautiful star to continue on the road of glory toward her last Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, she has come to this battlefield! It's third year contender Touka Toudou, the Raikiri! Right now, with everyone's anticipations on her shoulders, she's standing in the ring of battle!」
Touka who was standing in the ring. With her head held straight and proud, her standing figure staring at the blue gate was surely majestic.
"Amazing concentration, isn't it? Just from that, I can feel shocks on my skin."
Even to Stella who was watching from afar, that strength of will was fully transmitted.
However, Shizuku who had been in the presence of Raikiri's strength before didn't feel just that. The moment that Touka appeared in the ring, a shiver of terror rushed through her whole body. She felt a fear that made her want to avert her eyes.
However―Shizuku didn't avert her eyes. Hugging her shivering shoulders, she endured the urge to flee and stared down on the field.
"Shizuku, are you okay?"
"…Honestly, I'm not, but since Onii-sama is fighting on, there's no way I'll leave this place. I will see this match to the end. No matter what the outcome."
「And from the blue gate, one who was similarly undefeated in nineteen battles. But it's unexpected for him to walk the same road as Raikiri! Without taking anyone as partner, without recognition from anyone―he is the one lone wolf who was left behind at the bottom of the earth. However… he has crawled up! Against the Crimson Princess! Against the Hunter! Against Runner's High! Blowing past Hagun's famous knights one by one! Now, there's no one in Hagun who doesn't know his name! The strongest F-rank that is Hagun's pride! First year contender Ikki Kurogane, the Worst One! Baring his fangs at the heavens, now he's on this stage of battle to devour a star!」
And after that, Ikki was visible in the blue gate. Facing the battlefield with sturdy steps without the appearance of being half-dead, Ikki's back was straight and dignified as he faced Touka.
However―
"Wha, what's that? …Isn't the mood different from usual?"
"Y-Yeah… even though his face is the same as always."
"Looking at it, I get a scary feeling…."
Toward Ikki's form that should be the same as always, the venue made a stir. Even if words didn't come out, everyone felt something in his standing posture. And among them, there were people who definitely recognized it.
"Oh ho? That's Touka's opponent? I see… he's strong, right?"
"Nangou-sensei, you can tell?"
"Certainly so. He's making an absolutely strained expression. That youngster, he's resolved even to die here, yes? Even the audience is overwhelmed by his resolve. I didn't know that a man like this existed among the Kurogane, but… this is becoming a rather interesting match, it seems."
"Is that so~? It might not be on his face, but the color of fatigue is deep. Kuu-chan, with his condition like that, is there any chance for him to challenge Touka and win?"
"He he he. Whether there is or there isn't, he has no choice but to challenge her, you know? Whatever the reason, this is a duel."
Disregarding Akaza's disruption from the side, Kurono covered her face and replied.
"…Honestly, the situation is quite bad. He can probably swing the sword properly once or twice. …But that is why Kurogane will move cautiously. Because he probably already knows Raikiri's killing direction."
"Hmm? Even things like Raikiri's killing direction?"
She was thinking of ignoring him again for a second, but having that oily man heap questions on her also gave an ill feeling. Because she thought so, Kurono explained it to Akaza who was standing across the way.
"…Raikiri is a fast sword draw. Namely, it's a technique that can't attack if the sword isn't returned to the scabbard. By moving in-and-out with fine repetitive motions, he had render Toudou's Raikiri or other Noble Arts useless, and if he draws her sword out, then at least in that instant Raikiri can't be launched. Kurogane's chance to win would be in that moment. …However, in order to create that chance, he needs to control a battle of attrition with that battered body of his."
It was a disadvantageous battle. But on the other hand, if he went for victory impatiently the chance of success was completely nil. His opponent was still Raikiri, who boasted of invincibility in close range. If he plunged in straightforwardly, he would fall prey to her trump card without a doubt. Because Ikki's Ittou Shura, though it encompassed many years of body strengthening, was still not enough to break through Raikiri. For that reason, there was only a battle of attrition. That was the same opinion that Saikyou held.
But―there was one knight with a different view.
"Ho ho, I see. Kurono-kun, you see this match riding on a battle of attrition?"
It was Nangou. The falcon-sharp eyes inside his wrinkled eyelids shined with a sharp gaze, and he spoke.
"I see that this battle―will be decided with one stroke."
In the outer stands, people became rowdy at the two figures on the stage. Within that upheaval, inside the ring, Touka gave some words as she faced Ikki.
"Kurogane-kun. I have to apologize to you."
"…Apologize?"
"I was thinking all this time that you shouldn't come to this place today. Thinking that, I begged your sister to urge you to not show up. But… even as I did such a hypocritical thing, the girl that I am… seeing you before my eyes right now, I can't help but look forward to this fight…!"
Ikki was silent.
"Kurogane-kun, I know that you're covered in wounds right now. I can see how tired you are. But still, I can't help but be excited. Because from the moment I came came across you, I've always, always thought that―I want to fight you!"
With that bit of gossip, a smile grew on her face, and she took a stance. A flash of lightning crossed the air, and that lightning coverged on Touka's hand, taking the shape of Narukami. She had a face that said she couldn't wait for the match to start anymore.
Facing that, Ikki Kurogane also―
"―About that, I'm the same."
Announcing that, he summoned his beloved black Japanese sword in right hand. Indeed. He was also thinking that the entire time. Raikiri and himself. Which of them was stronger? That he would probably fight with this person. Worrying about it sometimes, he was even sometimes caught in an intangible mist. But right now, he saw that she was very straightforward.
Standing as knights in this place, neither you, nor I, nor the people pushing us forward want to see a single sword being swung in shame. So I promise you this."
Saying so, Ikki raised the sword he held in one hand, and thrusted the point at Touka.
"With my great weakness, I will break your invincibility…!"
He swore that he would absolutely win. Of course, because that was why he had come here.
「The two great rivals have exchanged some words, and taken their Devices in their hands. The girl who is striding toward the summit, and the boy who's crawling up from below. Who is truly the strongest? With the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative position at stake, the last fight begins! Everyone, please cheer for them! LET'S GET STARTED!!!」
The moment of the signal that raised the curtain. Everyone there saw something they could not believe. At the same time the buzzer sounded the beginning of the match, Ikki pulled forth blue light from his body, and ran at Touka.
「Wh-Wh-Wh-What is going on!? Contender Kurogane suddenly used his trump card, Ittou Shura!」
The inside of the venue stirred at that fact. Ikki had employed Ittou Shura at the beginning of the match, which he had never done before.
It was natural. This technique had a strict limit of one minute. It could be nullified just by running away. For that reason, Ikki never used it without first exhaustively understanding the scope of his opponents' powers.
But now, Ikki had thrown away that attitude. He had no stamina left to draw out his opponent's ability bit by bit. Was he too much in a hurry to decide the match because of that fatigue?
In any case―
That decision is reckless, Kurogane…!
Kurono ground her teeth at the sight before her eyes. This was too foolish a choice. While his body had stamina, the match was still in question. The amount of risk could be prepared for. If things became favorable, such tactics might be good, but….
Do you understand? Your opponent is Raikiri!
A member of the country's best four. It was impossible to beat her with a suicidal attack out of desperation. Would he be cut down by Raikiri, or would she escape with her lightning speed? Whichever it was, she couldn't see Ikki winning with this choice. At that fact, both Kurono and Saikyou who was watching at the match at the same time had grim expressions. And influential students like Shizuku and Arisuin were the same. It was too thoughtless. Their expressions twisted in grief. But among them… the Crimson Princess, Stella Vermillion―
"Jeez. Even with your life as a knight on the line, you're such an impossible person, aren't you Ikki?"
And she smiled just a little.
She understood.
Why did Ikki choose to do this? Raikiri was going to slash with her sword draw. In that case, he should attack during the draw itself. It was only then that Raikiri could kill.
Even I know that, so Ikki must have realized it.
But Ikki did not choose that. Why? Because he judged that his stamina would not permit that tactic?
No. It was―not anything as clever as that.
Stella understood that, and she was right. Ikki had―
I had decided all along…!
Ever since he encountered Touka. For the time he would defeat her, he had been putting together his strategy. Of course, that included the electromagnetic sword draw, Raikiri, that was Touka's signature technique as a knight. And when challenging her, how could he win without being beaten by it?
In truth, his body was at its limit. Though he had enough magic power left that performing body strengthening with Ittou Shura was not a problem, he could not draw out his stamina anymore. Swinging a sword properly, it was probably limited to one time.
But that was fine. It was enough. If he struck with all his might, one slash was enough. He would not feint. He would not spend his stamina uselessly. Running forward in a straight line over the shortest distance, he would put all he had right now into his blade and send it forth! And he would defeat it. The Raikiri that Touka Toudou was proud of!
And to Touka, who rose above this place whirling with this intrigue, the greatest sincerity that he could show―
This is my personal challenge―!!!"
Whatever the unfavorable conditions, it would be a match that didn't leave any regrets. He would not show himself leaving his opponent regrets. With that spirit in his heart, scattering the glow of his life, Ikki ran forward with the wind coiling around him.
Seeing that― Touka Toudou perceived his feelings.
「With my great weakness, I will break your invincibility!」
The words he had said before the match, it was in genuine seriousness.
She didn't need Reverse Sight to read his body signals. The soul that was approaching informed her eloquently. Ikki Kurogane would make one slash in this match, to decide the last stroke. His aim was to intercept the Raikiri she would unleash.
In that case, the match is simple.
She would feint with Raikiri, retreat a long way back, and have him miss with all his strength. And if she teased the exhausted Ikki from outside his range, he would not be able to do a thing. The match would be her win―that kind of thing….
Don't joke around!
Touka didn't even glance at that plan. Raikiri, which had not been broken in close range even once yet, dominated this territory. If an enemy invaded, what feudal lord would shamelessly flee his domain? Close range was Touka's strongest distance. If she ran away, where would she fight from? More than anything else―against someone pushing his heavily wounded body yet still using all his might, if she discarded her invincibility in the face of such a proud knight's challenge, how could she boast of that kind of victory!?
Ahh, that's right.
I don't want to just be Hagun Academy's strongest! I'm going to defeat this proud knight, and go on to become a Seven Stars Sword King!
In that case―
I'll take you on! With my invincible Raikiri―!!!
She spread her stance, and sent a flash of lightning into the scabbard that held Narukami. She prepared her trump card. To throw out the blow that brought down every opponent without exception. That posture of readiness to draw a sword, Touka intercepted Ikki who was approaching with coiling wind around him. She was the same as her opponent, risking everything on one slash!
Mutually and reciprocally, carrying themselves proudly, fighting fair and square. This was the righteous path of knights!
And―right now, two knights were confronting each other on that path.
Ikki had thrown out the fastest of his seven personal techniques. The seventh secret sword, Raikou. With a speed that showed no swordsmanship, it was an invisible sword. That speed, it was like lightning that drilled into earth within the blink of an eye.
But even so, the name of the technique meeting that Raikou was coincidentally Raikiri. An artful sword draw that splits even descending lightning.
The speeds of both parties were that of peerless superhumans. In that case, the decision of which one was superior was left to the weight of hope that each sword carried. The prayers of other people who prayed for their victory wholeheartedly. And the hopes of themselves, wanting to win against the enemy in front of their eyes. All of that was entrusted to the sword of their souls.
"AHHHHHHH!!!"
"YAHHHHHHH!!!"
The two knights put their entire bodies into it, and followed through with their slashes! The flash of lightning from the attack released by steel. The mutual strike that crossed the shortest distance―Raikiri was just slightly faster!
―Not good!
Ikki knew this.
―This wasn't enough!
Before his eyes that already could not perceive color, a blade of shining plasma was approaching. Before that speed and power―
―He couldn't reach it!
He would be defeated. The Raikiri that followed through would show neither hesitation nor mercy. A complete swing that would kill without remorse. Such a beautiful, beautiful swordsmanship.
Touka Toudou, Raikiri… this girl was truly strong!
―But so what!?
He already knew that. That she was strong, and that he was inferior to most, all of it. However, did Ikki turn his eyes away from that reality?
No!
He continued to fight. He did not retreat one step from that unbearable reality. That was why he knew. Because Ikki was like that, he knew what he should be doing right now.
If he was inferior, he should gather his strength. If he was imperfect, he should strain his power.
One minute was too long. Right now, he just needed one second!
―So be it, he'll sharpen his soul.
Vision, taste, hearing, touch, smell―right now he didn't need any of them. In this instant, he didn't even need to breathe. Abandoning all of those things, he concentrated the strength left over.
All of his flesh. All of his brain. All of his blood. All of his cells, everything from them.
His personal vitality, stamina, magic power, potential, he mustered all that he had―
―And for an instant, he broke past his limits!!!
The flash of lighting from colliding steel. That air that was blasted away. The collision gave birth to lightning and thunder that could be witnessed hundreds of miles away, carrying away all color and sound―
*crack*
In the long silence afterward, the shrill sound of steel breaking echoed in the venue.
And then… the sound of someone falling.
The spectators who had shut their eyes at the dazzling radiance timidly opened their eyes again, and looked toward the ring.
The thing that had been broken was―Narukami.
The one who had fallen midway on the righteous path of knights was Touka Toudou, the Raikiri.
「I-It's broken!!! H-How can it be!? With just one intersection of blades, merely one entanglement! In that instant, Touka Toudou's Narukami! Her Raikiri! They were broken!!! Contender Toudou has fallen in the ring and isn't even twitching! Now, the referee is rushing up! Can she continue!? If not―」
The huge audience held their breath as they watched the referee approach Touka. The referee who leaned over her examined her for a brief period, and before long, stood back up with both hands making a cross.
「The referee's judgment is that she can't continue! The match is over! What an end to the fight! What a conclusion! The crossing slashes were only off by millimeters! And with those millimeters, Hagun Academy's strongest knight has fallen! The one still standing in the ring is first year contender, the Worst One, Ikki Kurogane!!!」
The moment the winner's name was called, cheers broke out and shook the hall. The huge audience raised their voices in astonishment.
「It, it can't be….」
「H-He really won! He really did it! Against Raikiri!」
「I can't believe it! The student president lost in close range….!」
「It's the first time I've ever seen a Device get broken…. Is the president still alive?」
「Eeeeek! Ikki-kun, you're the best―!」
The hall turned into a mixing pot of excitement. Amidst the incessant cheers, Ikki dragged his body from the ring. Seeing that, Stella broke into a run immediately. The place she was going to was the blue gate. She was probably going to meet Ikki.
"Shizuku-chan, you're not going?"
Kagami who was watching it with the silver-haired girl asked that suddenly. But Shizuku shook her head a little at the question.
"Could it be, you're restraining yourself for Stella-chan? I think it's fine for you to go with her today, though."
"That's not… it…."
"Shizuku-chan?"
Coughing, Shizuku sat down right there firmly. Seeing that, Kagami also realized it. It wasn't not that Shizuku wouldn't go. She was unable to move because of shock.
Her beloved brother had dragged his body that was on the verge of death to appear in this fight. The enemy had struck at her brother with full force, showing no hesitation or mercy. Although the result was the Ikki had won, it had truly been dangerous. If a single thing had gone wrong, Ikki's head would've flown in that instant. That tension, and the relief that was loosened, they had probably stolen all energy from Shizuku.
Right now―
"…It's great… that he's safe…. It's great!"
At that relief, Shizuku had fallen onto her seat, and was now shedding tears. Well, that was understandable. Because Shizuku had been strained since last night.
However, speaking of the risky match―the truth was different.
"Did you see that, Nene?"
"Of course I saw that. Sheesh, what an outrageous man Kuro-bou is."
The two mage-knights looking down on the ring from the top floor of the spectator seats had noticed it. They had seen it with their own eyes.
Raikou and Raikiri. The thunder of two steel swords colliding, and the moment that happened.
―Ikki had accelerated even more.
"Ittou Shura, which spent everything of oneself in one minute, didn't win against Raikiri. Kurogane himself understood that. So that guy, he spent everything himself in one sword swing instead of one minute! With astounding concentration, he concentrated his 'strongest single minute', and magnified his physical strength in a many-fold leap, and added swing speed and power…!"
Compared to burning his stamina using the usual Ittou Shura to run forward, Ikki had spent the stamina of running a hundred meters at the first step instead just then. That was entirely beyond the domain of humans. It was not the realm of a man who fell into the realm of the shura. Exceeding limits beyond limits. A… demon that exceeded humanity. If it needed a name―
Ittou Rasetsu[3].
"But that's just an ordinary mechanism. The result of the battle was decided by something else, you know."
"Nangou-sensei…."
"Geezer, what are you saying?"
"The Raikiri that Touka unleashed. That was a slash that didn't have the resolve to kill that Kurogane youngster. What I saw was the highest, most beautiful sword stroke without a hint of hesitation. And that, make no mistake, was faster than the youngster's long sword. But… that youngster. He improved in the instant of reaching his limit. In that last moment. In order to beat the stronger Touka. …Perhaps, that youngster came here to do that the entire, entire time. Having nothing, being given nothing, while constantly under siege he continued to believe in his own potential even in a struggle to the death. Continuing to hone himself. Faster than himself at one minute. Stronger than himself at one second. In that narrow span, that difference. Touka undoubtedly drew strength to her limit. But that youngster, in this battle, had changed his own limit. …His spirit in continuing to change his own potential without slacking off, this victory was born of that."
Saying that, Nangou tightened the wrinkled skin around his narrowed eyes, and said―
"…That boy resembles him."
Looking forward with a gaze that seemed to see an old acquaintance, he watched the back of Ikki who was leaving the ring.
But, at the side,
"I-Impossible! How can something so stupid happen! That kid was half dead! For this to happen even then, something must be wrong! Ahh, of course, something isn't right! It was a mistake! Who could accept this kind of outcome!?"
Only Akaza could not accept the situation before his eyes, and he took off running with a scream.
At his round back running away with thumping noises, Saikyou asked.
"Kuu-chan. Is it okay not to chase him? That's not very satisfying."
It wouldn't be satisfying. Kurono was of the same opinion. But….
"…Honestly, I thought about doing various things to pay him back, but seeing Kurogane's fight has made me somewhat ridiculous. It's probably fine to let him go. At any rate, that man can't do anything now. If he tried to do anything, it's already too late anyway. Things have already escaped his grasp. A champion on the level of the whole country. Bonds to family. Outrageous attacks. Absurd duels. Ikki Kurogane has taken all of that head-on―and cut through them with one slash."
There was no one left who could object to that conclusion. And that situation had been captured by news cameras. In the moment that Raikiri, among the best four of the whole country, was beaten by the Worst One.
"So no matter how much the Kurogane family tries to persecute Kurogane, it's already irrelevant. The society can't strike him anymore. Because with this fight, the Worst One―no, the Uncrowned Sword King, will have his fame spreading through the entire world."
The cheers are… far away.
As if they were just the sound of rain outside a window. Ikki thought so. His consciousness was completely separated from his flesh. If he relaxed his attention just a little, he would tumble to the floor immediately.
No, it was already fine to tumble down. Because the match had been decided, and Ikki had won. But even so, Ikki hastened forward.
―There was somewhere he wanted to go. There was someone he wanted to meet.
There's something I want to convey. …At this moment.
So he walked. With the cheers at his back, he passed through the blue gate.
"Ikki…!"
The person he wanted to meet, she had come to meet him as well.
…I'm grateful.
Because honestly, walking all the way to the spectator seats would be troublesome. Stella was welcoming Ikki with her arms spread.
Ikki collapsed into her bosom. Stella hugged Ikki into her voluptuous chest, and―
"Well done… Ikki…!"
She hiccuped. On her face, tears were dripping down.
"Were you that… worried?"
"I was! Of course I was! *sob* You were taken away and didn't come back for weeks! And when you came back, you came back half dead! And yet you did something absurd like challenging Raikiri in a head-to-head contest… what kind of idiot are you! Unbelievable! Stupid stupid stupid!"
Ha ha… my retort was exposed.
"But… I'm an idiot too."
Hmm?
"Because Ikki, who continues to challenge like that, is the one I love."
Saying that, Stella hugged Ikki with greater force. From the skin squeezing him hard, Ikki could feel Stella's warmth.
Ahh, this heat.
This heat, it gave strength many times over to his frozen body. That time, when he fell in the middle the blizzard, he thought it was truly hopeless. That not a bit of strength remained in his body. However, this heat had given him strength to go on. Even though he couldn't recall her name, his hopeless body had still gotten up.
…Thank you.
If Stella hadn't been there, there was no way he could've come here. Being decisively cast aside by his father, sinking under the despair from that, he would've been buried under the blizzard. But if this girl was there… he could get up. If this girl was there, he could continue to fight.
So he would say it. He had decided. When the fight ended, if he won―he would say this to Stella.
"…Stella."
Ikki took a single deep breath, and hugged Stella with all the strength he had left.
"I want us to be a family."
A few words. The affection he felt, all of it was loaded onto them, and delivered to her. Decisive words that he had never spoken before. Words that said the relationship between them was already not that of ordinary lovers.
In an instant, Stella's body that was embracing him trembled.
But that was only one instant.
Immediately, Stella hugged Ikki's body even harder, and said―
"Yes. Ikki, please make me your bride."
With a voice that sounded like she would break into tears, but with a bashfulness truly filled by delight, she gave him her answer. The moment he heard those words, Ikki's heart was wrapped by relief―and he finally let go of his consciousness.
"Ikki…? No, Ikki! Hold it together!"
Losing strength, Ikki's body leaned languidly on her. Even though he was breathing… it was terribly weak. She could tell he was in a dangerous condition with a glance.
And furthermore Stella noticed it. Ikki's entire body, it was bleeding underneath his clothes. The body he had strengthened many hundred-fold. It was already beyond the range that a human body could withstand.
If I don't take him to the infirmary quickly….
"Stooooop!"
But in front of Stella who was trying to carry Ikki to the infirmary, a barrel-like man was standing. With bloodshot eyes, and greasy sweat dripping down all of his face, it was Mamoru Akaza.
Those eyes had no sanity in them anymore. He had failed. Therefore, he would have to take responsibility for that failure. If so, there was no way he was going to be promoted. It was obvious that he would lose even his current position.
Unless he did something to erase that.
That impatience, it took away all the sense from this middle-aged man. Akaza had taken out a hatchet Device, and approached the unconscious Ikki.
"He he he! Please wait a moment, Princess! Please leave that boy to me! I must have a duel with him right now~! In truth, the one who was to be his opponent was not Touka Toudou, but me! That was a promise between men! So give that boy to me immediately―huh?"
In that moment, Stella disappeared from before Akaza's sight. No, not disappeared―it wasn't that he had lost sight of her, but that Stella had stepped in between intervals of his awareness.
The ancient martial arts footwork, Trackless Step. For someone of Stella's class, as long as she understood the principle, it was not a difficult technique to reproduce. Stella carried Ikki past Akaza without him being aware of it.
―And as she went past, she gave a backhand blow that sent his whole pitiful body flying.
"Buhyaaaaaaaaa!?"
Akaza's body was blown away like it had been hit by a truck, and crashing through the blue gate, it bounced over and over like a rubber ball to finally roll onto the ring.
「Whoa! That old guy really flew!」
「What's with that old man? I think I've seen him before.」
「Or should I say, it looks like his back is bent at an outrageous angle, right?」
「And that's some amazing twitching. It makes me feel bad.」
「Is he even alive?」
The outside was becoming slightly noisy, but Stella didn't care. In order to get Ikki examined by a doctor immediately, she turned toward the infirmary. The face of the person she had just sent flying, it didn't leave a trace in her mind.
One hour after the end of the match, Touka's consciousness, which had been shattered to pieces by her Device Narukami being broken, had gradually returned.
"Have you woken up, Touka?"
"How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?"
She was stretched out on a bed. Utakata and Kanata were nursing her. At this sight, Touka knew.
"I see… I lost, didn't I?"
Her recollection stopped after following through with Raikiri, so Touka didn't remember the instant that she had been defeated. But if she looked at the expressions on her friends' faces, it wasn't hard to guess.
"…Even though I thought my Raikiri was supreme, huh?"
"Nangou-sensei said so too."
"Master said so? He was here?"
"Yep. Right, Kanata?"
"Yes. Because today's match was open to the public. It seems he came to watch."
"He praised it very much, that your Raikiri was the most beautiful to date."
..Is that so?
"If even Master saw it that way, then it couldn't be wrong, I guess."
She had used all of her power. And there was no mistake that she had exceeded Ikki Kurogane. However―
At that instant, Kurogane-kun had become even faster.
Inside that instant, he had changed his own limits. For nothing more than his own victory.
She had also pursued her own goal continuously, but compared to Ikki, she had still been indulgent. The Worst One had always, not just today, been having this kind of hopeless fight. And on each occasion, he had always been changing himself.
…What an amazing person.
For herself to be defeated, in a way it was probably inevitable.
But―that's only true for now.
In Touka hands, there was a satisfactory response from her broken Raikiri remaining. And that response taught her this. Raikiri could still become stronger. What hindered it could be overcome someday. No, she would show that she could overcome it. Before their next fight, absolutely.
She would chase after him. With all her power―because next time, she would be the challenger.
"…Well anyway, Touka."
"Yes?"
Suddenly, Utakata spoke with a self-conscious expression for some reason. What was on his mind? Touka urged him to speak.
"Should we get in touch with everyone at Wakaba House?"
…Oh, that's right.
Now that she thought of it, she remembered they had said they already made the congratulatory banner. She had to properly inform them that she had lost. If even the selection battles had ended like that, she had to go and tell them.
Utakata was saying that if having her say it herself was too difficult, he would inform them in her place.
"Thanks for thinking about my feelings, but it's fine. I'll tell them properly."
"It's fine not to force yourself, you know?"
But Touka calmly shook her head. She wasn't forcing herself. She had fought with Ikki with all her strength. Touka had drawn as much of what she now had as she could. Raikiri, with even the resolve to kill Ikki, had been a slash that no one who saw it would be embarrassed about. She had nothing to be ashamed of.
"So I'll go home with pride."
And she would tell them.
That she had fought with an amazing knight.
