[Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan]

*Growl~*

An extremely cute noise came from Stella's stomach. Furthermore, whether there were any kids playing outside at this hour, the park was deserted, which meant the sound reverberated indiscriminately throughout the area―

"Ha ha, what an adorable sound."

She was laughed at by Ikki. Stella's face reddened like an apple in embarrassment.

"I-I can't help it! I was moving a lot today! And it's just before dinner right now―"

"Yeah, that's true. Becoming hungry is proof that you've been working hard, Stella. It's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"R-Right. It's good that you understand."

"But enduring hunger that long isn't good either, so let's go get something to eat."

Saying this, Ikki stood and took the hand of Stella who was red-faced and staring down in shame.

"Ah."

Stella was surprised at her hand being caught suddenly. But Ikki didn't pay any attention to that.

"If we go toward the shopping district, we should be able to find something, so bear it for a moment."

With a smile, he pulled Stella's hand and started walking.

...

The shopping district at dusk was favored by middle school students on summer break and housewives there to buy dinner for their families. Into the midst of that, Ikki and Stella walked hand in hand.

As they did so, they head whispering voices.

「Aren't those two the princess of Vermillion and the child of the Kurogane family who've been in the news lately?」

「Ahh, those stories about the princess being cheating on and molested?」

「I heard those were false rumors.」

Topics about the association between the two of them came up one after another, and it wasn't just Stella, but also Ikki whose face was now widely known in society. It wasn't just their faces either, but the details of their relationship as well. That was why the two of them stood out as they walked, even though it was unpleasant.

「Look, look! They're holding hands! It's really true that they're going steady!」

「I mean, looking at her in reality, that princess is outrageously beautiful.」

「How nice… I wanna go out with a girl like that…」

At the inquisitive gazes piercing from all around them, Stella's ears grew a little red. She had become reasonably used to being stared at in school as a couple, but being looked at as girlfriend and boyfriend by people off-campus was still embarrassing no matter how she thought of it.

Guessing that Stella was thinking this, Ikki spoke.

"Hey Stella, if you're embarrassed, we can let go with our hands?"

It was consideration after noticing that Stella was blushing due to the gazes from all around them. But Stella...

"I'm… n-not embarrassed… at all…"

...told a lie.

She was certainly embarrassed, but she really loved holding hands like this.

"If that's true, then okay. But don't strain yourself."

Did Stella understand the subtleties of that situation? Ikki smiled a little bit, strengthened his grip a little bit, and once again started walking and pulling her along.

Looking at Ikki's face in profile, Stella thought,

"What's this? Ikki has changed a little."

The boy Stella knew as Ikki Kurogane was by any standard not what one would call assertive. Like herself, it was the first time he had liked someone or dated someone, so it was a relationship where the two of them timidly stepped into the role of sweethearts.

But recently, the atmosphere around Ikki had changed―he had become unusually proactive. For example, him grabbing Stella's hand just a while ago. They had enjoyed that sort of physical contact before, but up until now, it was hard to say who was usually the one to put a hand on top of the other's. But lately, it had been different.

'This hand is… solid… firm…'

It wasn't a spontaneous touch, but rather Ikki's assertive grip. And right now, he wasn't worried about the gazes around them but was holding her hand with dignity. Knowing Ikki's usual virtues of care and sincerity, Stella who was slightly anxious couldn't help but be shocked by this change. What exactly caused this change in his mentality? Therefore, Stella spoke to Ikki about this openly.

"Hey Ikki, you've changed a bit recently."

"I've changed?"

"You've become… a little pushier, a little more assertive than before."

'…A little more manly, a little more impressive…'

At Stella's statement, Ikki showed a surprised expression for an instant. And immediately, he blushed and scratched his jaw, then answered.

"…I guess you noticed, Stella?"

Ikki's answer showed that he was aware of his own change.

"Sorry. I've been trying to be more courageous."

"I-It's not like I dislike this! I was just wondering what caused it."

"I don't think it really had a cause…"

At the questions being piled on him, Ikki started his explanation that way.

"It's just that, ever since my proposal to you, I've felt an attachment to you growing strong inside that surprised even me. A feeling that I can't do anything about. That this person is my precious girl."

He spoke of the reason for the change that Stella wanted to know about. The confession he made after the fight with Raikiri, it had become a huge turning point for him. Up to that point, Ikki had intended to love Stella more than anyone else, but after their strong feelings had been confirmed with exchanged words, the desire to her for himself had grown stronger than can be compared to what he felt before. The feeling that he wouldn't surrender this girl to anyone had grown stronger.

As a result, a self-consciousness had been born inside of him. A man's strong self-consciousness that he would protect his woman. And that self-consciousness had given Ikki an assertiveness he had not had up to now.

"To the point that I want to embrace you right this minute. …But I don't think saying that is very chaste, right?"

Ikki spoke what was in his heart, though he sounded a bit embarrassed. At Ikki's confession, Stella felt her chest pounding like a drum.

:Ikki…:

That throbbing, it was a sweetness emerging from so deep inside her chest that it was itchy.

Why? The reason was obvious. The one she loved was declaring something right now that words wouldn't be enough for.

'You're mine. I won't let anyone else have you.'

And at the same time, the overwhelming pressure from their surroundings fell away.

'She's my woman. Don't touch her.'

At this realization, Stella had to hide her softening cheeks.

'Ikki, you're so cute…'

Honestly, it was adorable. Even though he was immature, he was trying to monopolize his woman with all his might. She couldn't help it when he was that cute. Ikki probably wouldn't enjoy being thought of that way, but as far as Stella was concerned, Ikki was so cute that she was getting giddy.

She had to reward this no matter what. As someone's girl, as his girl. So Stella―took his arm with her own hand, and pulled him into an embrace.

"S-Stella?"

"If we do this, everyone will understand better that I'm your girl, right?"

Smiling, Stella pressed Ikki's arm to her cheek. She no longer cared about the stares falling on her from all around. More than such trivial things, the boy who was trying to monopolize her with all his might had created a far stronger feeling.

But for Ikki, who was trying to hold her hand and walk with a prim face to the end, Stella's act of clinging to him had created a situation where he couldn't calm down. Though since he was the one who said he wanted this, he couldn't tell her to get off because he was embarrassed either.

"Th-That's right. Good idea. Yeah…."

Ikki continued to walk while staying as calm as possible, but his cheeks were glowing with embarrassment, and the hand he was holding Stella with had become damp with sweat.

"Hehe…."

At such a bluff, Stella couldn't help but find him charming.

'…Somehow, I'm really happy right now…'

With her mouth falling into a smile, Stella entrusted the walk entirely to Ikki. Anyone around them who saw this would probably think they were an idiot flirty couple. Stella seriously figured that it wasn't something they could do anything about. After all, they were in love.

'Hold me firmly, my prince.'

This embarrassing thing didn't leave her mouth, but was only whispered inside her heart.

But at that moment―

"Hmm?"

Ikki's steps abruptly stopped.

Did he find somewhere to eat? That was her first thought, but Stella instantly realized this wasn't the case.

Ikki's line of sight was in the opposite direction from where they were going, and his face had a very grim color.

"What's wrong?"

"…That person just now."

Ikki, looking straight at the back of a man dressed in work clothes who had passed them, answered like this.

"Wasn't something strange about the way he was walking?"

"Maybe he was hurt?"

"No―"

Ikki thought that at first too, but…

'It's probably not the case.'

Inhaling a shallow breath, he raised his concentration. Staring at the departing backside, he took in the man's physique, height, and width. He compared the muscles attached to that frame to his preconceived notions on how bodies were put together. Yes, the man was walking strangely. The steps were not going left and right in a regular way. But there was no feeling of injury or other hindrance. He could see that the various joints were driving the man forward normally.

But it was so lifeless. The man was walking as if his body was out of order.

'I can see there's something wrinkled at its side. The right pocket?'

A hand was thrust into the right pocket at the waist. In the wrinkles gathered in the work clothes, there wasn't just the hand. The right hand was clutching something, stored away in the pocket. It was somewhat long and wide. For example―a survival knife, or something like that.

'…From his clothes, he might be an electrician.'

It was common for an electrician to carry a knife in order to peel the tough outer covering of electrical cables. The knives that electricians used were very large, but his own knowledge of such things was meager, and maybe this was just an individual's preference. But just as he thought this, Ikki noticed it clearly for an instant.

From the brim of the cap the man was wearing on his head, something inside of it glimmered. It was the bloodshot eyes of a wild beast focused on its prey. They were very much the eyes of someone full of hate.

It might be the bloodshot look of someone who was just lacking sleep. In addition, the thing in the pocket might also have been an ordinary work tool. Both of those possibilities were perhaps more likely than Ikki's worst-case guess. But―there was no way he could put the worst case out of his mind. His premonition wouldn't lessen.

"…Okay."

"Ah, Ikki, where are you going!?"

"Wait for me a bit."

Ikki pulled away his right arm that Stella was holding, and he rushed over to the man who was dressed in work clothes.

He could start with talking, and find a way to check what was in that pocket. If he was just making a rude misunderstanding, that would be good. He'd just need to apologize. If his apology wasn't accepted, well, he could accept getting into a little trouble. Since that was the case, if he could allay the worst-case thoughts that had stolen his attention….

Thinking that, Ikki called out―and at that moment, the man in the work clothes suddenly stopped walking.

The place he stopped was the shopping district's tenth street. It was in the middle of very busy foot-traffic. Why did he stop in such a place with nothing to look at? The answer was―

"The hell!? What're you doing stopping in the middle of street, old man!?"

The moment some middle-school aged kids bumped into the man, it became obvious.

"Heeee―"

Leaking a weird whistling shriek, the man moved. He started to pull whatever was in his pocket out with his right hand quickly. In that unending moment, Ikki beheld time flowing past with his focused concentration and enhanced motion perception.

He had correctly identified the thing glittering through the tiny gap he had peeked through into the man's pocket. It was a blade's edge glaring and sparkling savagely, a thick survival knife. In the middle of the intersection, there was only one reason to pull out such a tool.

The worst possibility that Ikki had suspected had come true. And as he felt his prediction hitting the mark, Ikki moved.

With his concentration slowing the world down around him, he was faster than anyone. Lunging forward through the pedestrians coming and going, Ikki ran to arrest the man's hand holding the blade. The distance to the man was less than five meters. The man hadn't yet pulled the knife out half-way, and the group of middle-schoolers in front of the man hadn't yet realized the danger.

'I can make it…!'

With Ikki's speed, there was plenty of time. Running, he could strike the man from the back and render the man unconscious. Before the knife-blade was fully pulled out, he could settle the matter. Though it might create a small ruckus, he could stop a tragedy from happening. It was all from what Ikki immediately sensed in the moment they passed each other by, but thankfully Ikki's quick-wittedness had caught it. Indeed, up to now it was all what Ikki considered the worst possible possibility.

But the next moment, something he hadn't foreseen occurred.

"Waa! Wait, wait! Don't do it!"

The high voice a girl who sounded at her wit's end resounded, and before Ikki could arrive at where the man was, that owner of that voice clung to the man's arm.

'Eh…!?'

It was timed just before the knife could be taken completely from the pocket.

If a normal person wasn't staring from the start at the pocket the man was vigilantly watching over, she wouldn't have the timing to interrupt that action with only common reflexes. Only someone who had the kind of physical ability that Ikki regularly honed could do it. That was why Ikki had not foreseen anyone having such timing. Someone attacking the man when his guard was down perfectly. And all the more untimely, it was a girl who was next to the man, who was now in the way of Ikki's attack.

He couldn't charge. Having no choice, Ikki immediately canceled his body's acceleration and came to a halt.

Meanwhile, the situation progressed. The girl, with a somewhat high voice, yelled at the man who had a look of shock at the abrupt interruption.

"You can't, mister! Even if your company laid you off or you're under tons of debt, to consider taking someone with you in suicide would be…!"

But her yell was heard by everyone in the vicinity—

"H-Hey! This guy has a knife!"

"Eh—Whoa!"

"Eeeeek! He's going to kill someone!"

Though the thing hadn't yet been fully pulled out of his pocket, everyone could understand the implication of having it. The shine peeking out from the man's right pocket caused an uproar. While the people closest to him recoiled, and the contents of the bags they were carrying spilled all around, everyone raced to get away from the intersection. In the middle of that, the young girl who had grabbed onto the man's arm…

"Since you failed to do what you were trying to do, won't you come with me to the police? Something like this would make your mother in the countryside mourn, you know. It'll be fine. As long as you're alive, good fortune will come your way eventually, right!?"

Smiling with a beautiful face that was only sweating just a little, she spoke with a soft voice. She was probably trying to calm the man.

But the man did not accept it.

"You fucking brat!"

"Uwa!"

The man who had been hindered roared with an angry voice, and shook off the girl with all his might. The slender girl was easily heaved away, and fell on her back.

A shadow fell over her. It was the shadow of the knife that the man was swinging down with an extremely upset expression on his face—

'Wh-What should I do!?'

Properly speaking, it was the kind of situation where he shouldn't hesitate, but go in and save the person. But—there was one factor that made Ikki hesitate. It was none other than the girl who had barged into all of this.

No—this was no girl. He didn't misread that charming voice or those pretty features. But the clothes were—Kyomon Academy's boy's uniform.

And he knew that face. He hadn't recognized it at first, but after looking at it carefully, he remembered. After the selection battles ended, his classmate Kagami had shown him a list of this year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative students. This person's face was in a photo.

Ikki had forgotten the name, but this was a Blazer who was at a level of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. In that case...

'That kind of person wouldn't barge into this without a plan.'

That kind of person wouldn't appear nonchalantly and spout cliche words from a police drama. That kind of person must have some means and ability to take control of the situation. And since he didn't know what kind of ability this boy had, there was a possibility that he could be a hindrance if he intervened. Ikki thought that about the boy.

'So I have to leave this situation to him, right?'

But as Ikki came to that judgment, the boy with blond hair facing the descending knife—covered his head and yelled out.

"S-Someone save me—!"

'You had no plan…!?'

While screaming in his mind at the boy's cry for help, Ikki immediately began to move. He didn't have enough time to rush in anymore, but the belongings of the fleeing passengers were scattered all over the ground.

Ikki swung one foot forcefully at a tube of lipstick, aiming to hit the swinging knife.

"Guah!?"

Taking an unexpected impact, the knife flew out of the man's hand and fell to the ground. At the same

time, Ikki charged up and struck the man in the face with his fist.

"Gah!"

The man fell face up on the ground with blood flying from his nose in an arc, and he stopped moving.

Ikki's fist had rendered the man unconscious with one blow.

To anyone watching, it was probably a truly skillful performance. But…

"Ha… haa… haa… haa…!"

The performer himself was sweating frantically.

:Too close…! This person really didn't think before putting himself out there…!'

If Ikki hadn't flown to the boy's aid, the boy would undoubtedly have been killed. At that moment, the boy had been defenseless against the knife swinging down on him. To say nothing of martial arts, he hadn't even used a Blazer's magic to protect himself, only panicking, freezing up, huddling up against the blade-wielding opponent. Honestly, the young boy's reckless behavior had been more terrifying than the man who tried to attack people randomly in the street.

"Ikki!"

"Ha… Stella. Can you call the police to arrest this attacker?"

"Y-Yes! I'll do that!"

After asking Stella who had arrived late to go inform the authorities, Ikki turned toward the young boy who was still lying on the ground. Ikki kind of wanted to make a word of complaint, but the boy had done what he did to stop a tragedy. Therefore, no complaint erupted from his throat, and Ikki asked the boy as he extended a hand.

"Are you hurt?"

"…Ah, no. Thank you. You saved me."

The boy gave a sudden smile, and offered his thanks as he took Ikki's hand.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, his eyes grew large as he looked at Ikki's face.

"…Hmm? Is there something wrong?"

"Ah-Ahh! You, are you Ikki Kurogane-kun by any chance!?"

"Err, yes. That's right, but—"

What was the matter? The moment that Ikki answered the strangely excited boy's question—

"Wow! Wow! It's really you It's really you, Ikki-kun!"

And no sooner than the boy got up, he grabbed Ikki in a hug.

"E-Ehhhh!?"

"H-Hey, what are you two doing—!?"

At the unexpected embrace, both Ikki and Stella raised their voices in confusion. But the boy continued to hug Ikki without concern for their surprise.

"I'm so moved! Even though I hoped for it, to meet you by chance like this, I'm really lucky after all!"

As if they were friends meeting again after ten years, the boy was beaming and jumping up and down with his whole body. The blue eyes wavering underneath long eyelashes were spilling tears of deep affection. The boy seemed truly and sincerely happy to meet Ikki.

As if they were friends meeting again after ten years, the boy was beaming and jumping up and down with his whole body. The blue eyes wavering underneath long eyelashes were spilling tears of deep affection. The boy seemed truly and sincerely happy to meet Ikki.

But because of this, Ikki was in chaos. Why was a boy this happy to meet him?

"Who are… y—"

But before Ikki could ask, Stella was quicker. Forgetting to call the police, she who couldn't endure this any longer rushed over and grabbed the shoulder of the boy with a cute face who was embracing her boyfriend and tore him off with sheer strength. And she stood in front of the boy as if covering Ikki protectively.

"Who do you think you are!? From your clothes you look like a boy, but are you gay!? Are you gay too!? Even though we already have one such character!"

Stella scowled at the boy as if to intimidate him. The boy was astonished at being pushed away suddenly, but immediately understood that he was facing Stella who was Ikki's girlfriend, and sympathized with why she was angry.

"Ahh, I'm sorry, Stella-san. No, I'm not gay. I'm just excited and happy to meet Ikki-kun."

After this explanation, he turned to both of them and introduced himself.

"How do you do? I'm a first-year student at Kyomon Academy, Amane Shinomiya. Like you, I'm a representative at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, and—I'm a huge fan of the Crownless Sword King!"

...

After that, Stella and Ikki gave their report to the policemen who came to arrest the attacker, and returned to their original goal of getting something to eat. They entered a hamburger franchise restaurant. All three of them.

The third person was Amane Shinomiya, Ikki's self-proclaimed fan who they had just met. He came

because he wanted to treat the two of them for saving him from danger.

"Nnn—♪ It's my first time coming to a place like this, but this potato is delicious, even though it's full of grease that spreads through your stomach and has tons of salt."

"Eating something like this every once in a while is fine by me. But is it really okay for you to treat us?"

Ikki asked that as he sat facing Amane. To the question, Amane nodded with a big smile on his attractively cute face.

"Of course! Ikki-kun, you're a lifesaver, so I have to treat you to McRonalds at least!"

Lifesaver was not overstating it. Practically speaking, if Ikki had not intervened at that time, Amane would've lost his life. Thinking about it from Amane's side, it would probably lead to guilt if he didn't offer something like this.

"…Then I'll accept your kindness."

Sympathizing with this situation, Ikki accepted Amane's goodwill. Unwrapping his burger, Ikki took a bite. Though it was not an especially nutritious meal, the stimulating taste spreading over his tongue was pleasant.

"By the way, Amane-san was it?"

Suddenly, Stella—who had already devoured her own burger and returned her tray some time ago—spoke to Amane.

"Call me Amane. We're the same age, and having a princess put '-san' after my name is a bit

embarrassing."

"I see. Then I won't use the honorific, but Amane, you're a representative member of Kyomon, aren't

you?"

"Yep. That's true."

"But so far I haven't seen you at the training camp. Where have you been?"

At the question, Amane let out an "aah" and answered.

"It's because I'm not participating in the training camp. Today was the first time I came here, so it's natural that you haven't seen me."

"Is that so? Then you're thinking of participating from today onwards?"

"No. Today is also me coming to bring stuff the participating upperclassmen asked for and then immediately going back."

"How humble. Since you've already taken the effort to come, you should participate too."

"Ahaha. …Well, unlike you, Stella-san, I'm not very interested in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. It's only because I have a rare ability, even though I don't have physical strength or knowledge of martial arts, that I was chosen as a representative."

A student who wasn't interested in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival had been chosen as representative. It was not rare for such a thing to happen in academies that didn't use combat selection like Hagun and Bukyoku. So it wasn't unusual. Amane probably wasn't just saying it to be modest. In that case…

"Then against that attacker, your rare ability should've helped, right?"

Ikki said this to Amane. In response, Amane shook his head a little, and answered.

"…Why do you think that?"

"Just process of elimination. Amane-san, I'm sure you don't have martial arts experienced based on your build and your reaction when the attacker came at you. Despite that, you had unusual timing when you seized that man's hand. Though you don't have a high level of martial arts, it was timing that showed an exceptional reaction speed. If it's not from martial arts, then all that's left is Blazer ability, I think."

At Amane's question, Ikki answered with his own ponderings. When he did so, surprise spread across

Amane's face.

"Ahh, as expected of you, Ikki-kun. You were able to see through that. Such insight doesn't differ from the rumors."

It was an expression of the discernment called "shining magic mirror", belonging to the Crownless Sword King. Was Amane glad to see something like this? He stated words of happy admiration.

"But I can't tell you what kind of ability it is. My teacher said that I mustn't tell people of other schools, so I'm sorry."

"Ahh, that's only to be expected, especially for people like us who are fellow representative contenders."

There was nothing to be gained from telling the enemy your own abilities, so Ikki had no real intention of asking to hear it.

"But Amane-kun… if it's not an ability you can use to hold off an opponent, you should be a bit more restrained yourself next time. It's your life at risk, after all."

Indeed, Ikki gave candid advice to Amane from experience. With a serious look, Amane bowed his head in apology.

"Y-Yeah. That's true…. I was so upset I forgot to protect myself…. If you hadn't been nearby, Ikki-kun, what would've happened…? I was really lucky. But..."

"But?"

"But because my luck was good, I got to see you in action, and it was so awesome~♪ You really looked cool, like a hero~♪"

In a complete change from his look of remorse, Amane's face bloomed in a girlish look of happiness. Where could one find such an optimistic person? Ikki's head was starting to hurt a little.

'…Well, he's not a bad child, but…'

"Oh, that's right."

Suddenly, Amane reached a hand into his bag as if he just remembered something.

"…The truth is, since I knew that Hagun and Kyomon were shaing a training camp this year, I was a little hopeful that I could meet you, Ikki-kun, so I was carrying something for you to autograph. Um… do you mind!?"

With eyes sparkling, he pulled out a gigantic piece of paper and begged Ikki.

"Eh, Y-You want me to sign on that expensive paper?"

"Yep! Please?"

"Err, it's not like I would refuse…"

Ikki was perplexed at Amane's request. After the duel with Stella at school he had become somewhat popular, so it wasn't like there weren't people asking him for a handshake or to sign their notebooks. But there weren't anybody who brought paper for an autograph so diligently. Because of that, a mere commoner like Ikki would of course become nervous. To be treated like a celebrity this way, wasn't it strange?

"Being presented such splendid paper, I don't think my signature would be good on it…"

But Stella opined as though she was completely uninvolved.

"Isn't it fine? It's just writing your name."

"Stella… but still."

"He idolizes you to this degree. Shouldn't you respond at least that much? Besides, the value of your autograph is for the person receiving it to decide."

"Ugh…"

It was certainly sound reasoning. Amane only wanted Ikki to sign, and brought paper that reflected how important Ikki's signature was for the request, so it was unreasonable for Ikki to doubt his own value.

Therefore Ikki accepted the splendid paper with a soft "I understand."

"But I really can't do much more than sign my name. Is that okay?"

"Don't worry about it!"

So after Ikki double-checked, and Amane reaffirmed with that he should sign, he wrote his full name with unskillful characters.

"Whoa—! Thank you, Ikki-kun! I'll frame it and treasure it for the rest of my life...!"

Receiving Ikki's autograph, Amane jumped up and down in rejoicing and hugged it close to his chest. Seeing a happiness not unlike that of a child who was bought the toy he really wanted, Ikki gave a wry smile.

'Did I ever think anyone would put my name inside a frame and treasure it for life…?'

He was happy that someone idolized him to that extent, but Ikki who wasn't used to such treatment felt self-conscious more than anything, and started sweating. Until he met Stella, things like praise and respect were far beyond reach for him, so perhaps this feeling couldn't be helped.

However, contrary to Ikki's mood,

"At any rate, you really like Ikki, don't you Amane? Would you tell us what exactly about him made you a fan?"

Stella asked Amane for this, and the topic turned more and more toward Ikki.

"I like how he fights. The way he's taken down every adversary put in front of him with just a sword is smart and stylish."

"But recordings of his selection battle fights weren't allowed outside of school, I heard."

"That's true, but every school has a few 'benefactors' who upload them. Especially Bukyoku and Hagun, it seems. The schools with currently popular students having matches invariably leak information. So Ikki-kun's main match was appreciated by everyone! Downloaded to datapads,

broadcast hundreds of times, I've memorized his words completely! –With my great weakness, I will break your invincibility…!"

"Buh!"

Seeing a picture of himself reciting those words from the match against Raikiri with a sexy expression, Ikki just barely managed to cover the spray of ginger ale from his mouth with a napkin.

"That signature phrase is mesmerizing! Ah, but I like the version you gave during your fight with the 'Hunter' too!"

"L-Look, can we not listen to that? Stop? Please stop! Hey!"

"With my greatest weakness, I'll catch your greatest strength―!"

"Nooooooooo!"

"When you destroyed, no, caught Hunter, you looked really elegant, you know?"

"Wa—no, please let me off! I was really stressed at the time! During the fight I was just out of sorts! So please forgive me, I beg you!"

No longer able to stand the itch of humiliation, Ikki clung to Amane. His face was so red it could burst into flame at any moment. But Amane looked dissatisfied by Ikki's restraint.

"Eh—why? I think you look really cool. Don't you agree, Stella-san?"

And Stella, who Amane was trying to bring into the conversation...

"Y-Yes, that's true. Yep. Ikki sure is cool. …Heh heh heh."

...was half crying, trying to keep the laughter off her of face.

"Stella, your words don't match the expression I see."

As he thought, Stella turned her face away rather than object. Well, since he understood her feelings, Ikki didn't object strongly. If he had to say so himself, how could he say such brazen words? Stress was a fearful thing.

But in this place, Ikki's fan continued to talk about the things that made Ikki fascinating, even though Ikki was writhing from the descriptions of his own conduct.

"Even though you look so cool fighting… I like how you look dealing with the fight even more than that, Ikki-kun."

"How Ikki looks when he's dealing with the fight?"

"Yep. My way of saying it might be impolite, but frankly Ikki-kun seems to have given up on the attributes of a Blazer, right? At least, he wasn't blessed in that way. But Ikki-kun doesn't let that show. No matter how strong his opponent is, or what the gap is between him and that opponent, Ikki-kun makes his challenges with pride and dignity. As if he believes in his own worth. That's dazzling to

me."

And so Amane informed them the reason he was captivated by Ikki. At that confession, Ikki once again felt surprise and embarrassment.

'He really was watching carefully, huh?'

Believing in his own worth. The attitude he had when he strugged which Amane was describing, it was surely Ikki's core truth.

"Ah, haha. …Saying that in front of the person himself is embarrassing after all, right? My face is getting a little red, you know."

"…Hearing it is even more embarrassing, though."

"Haha. Sorry, sorry."

Smiling as if glossing over it, Amane left his seat with a sigh.

"Well, it's time for me to go back."

"Oh my. At any rate, we're going to the training camp, right? Then let's go together."

"There's no way I can keep up with you two running even after you've just eaten. Besides, I haven't finished buying the things my upperclassmen asked for."

Amane declined Stella's suggestion. And before he left, Amane turned to Ikki.

"Thank you for the autograph. I'll be cheering for you from the bottom of my heart that you'll push through every difficulty and take the summit of the Seven Stars!"

Yes, he gave those words of encouragement with a smile. It was very strange to hear those words of support from someone he might meet and fight in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, but it would be boorish for Ikki to retort that in the face of being shown such clear favor.

'He's cheering for me in such an honest way, if I don't respond properly…'

Ikki opened his mouth to thank Amane for that support with a smile of his own...

'...Huh…?'

At that moment, inside himself, he felt an unease—and lost his train of thought.

"Ikki-kun…?"

"…Ah, no. I'll do my best. Thank you."

After Ikki was silent for a while, he managed to squeeze out a few words in response. To Ikki who had suddenly sunk into silence, Amane showed a slightly puzzled expression, but…

"Well, let's meet again~"

Was he satisfied by Ikki's response? Amane gave a small grin and left that place by himself.

"Hehehe. In the end, you became the type who can get fans outside the school, Ikki. It's unbelievable compared to how you were in the beginning."

After Amane left, Stella laughed delightedly as she finished off her remaining potato. In reply, Ikki nodded slightly.

"…That's true."

"And Amane seems to have quite the crush on you."

"You look very happy about that, Stella."

"Yes, I certainly am. I'm happy that the strength you beat me with has been recognized, but more than Amane expressing that so openly and heatedly, I'm happy that he recognized what's wonderful about the one I love. Ikki, you're not dissatisfied, are you? About having a fan who understands you properly and supports you?"

"…Yeah. I don't have a problem with it. …I can't have a problem with it."

"Ikki…?"

Suddenly, Stella felt a strange faltering in Ikki's response, and looked at his expression. Ikki was staring toward the exit that Amane had left through and making a somehow strained expression. No, it wasn't—just at the level of being strained. Ikki was… clearly, visibly sweating. Even in this

store with a functioning air conditioner.

"What's wrong, Ikki? You're sweating so…"

"Hey, Stella."

As if pushing Stella's question aside, Ikki asked Stella.

"In your eyes, what kind of person is Amane-san?"

"What kind of…. His manners are good, he has a cute face, and more than anything he watches you properly. A person who feels splendid, I think."

To Stella's reply,

"Yeah… that's right. One would normally think that… right…?"

Ikki's voice came out like a moan, and he furrowed his brow.

That's right. …Because there's nothing to dislike.

Amane Shinomiya. With charming looks like a girl from somewhere. With gentleness that couldn't turn a blind eye to possible tragedy, but held back an attacker even at the risk of his own life. He, more than anything else, idolized and respected Ikki. Everything about him was what was likeable in a human being. He had to be likeable. But—despite that...

'I can't hold together an impression of liking him without it breaking into pieces…'

Moreover, at the moment when Ikki was returning the smiling Amane's encouragement as Amane was departing, he felt it. Against Amane's smile, he needed to exert quite a lot of effort. Amane's words. Amane's expression. Amane's puppy-like good-will. All of it was naturally likeable. All those things that Ikki thought he should like, in reality none of them resounded in Ikki's heart.

It was incomprehensible. Ikki himself couldn't understand why he held no favor for Amane. And so, that shapeless and uncanny truth clung to Ikki's heart like tar.

The eerie unease couldn't be helped, so Ikki took out his student datapad, and attempted to call someone. The phone call was connected immediately.

「Ye~s, hello! It's rare for you to call me, Senpai. Is something the matter?」

"Ah, Kagami-san. Do you have a little time right now? There's something I need to ask you."

「Sure, it's no problem. I'm just having tea with Alice-chan and the others right now. What do you want to ask?」

"Kagami-san, you haven't just been investigating Hagun, but also the contenders from other schools, right?"

「Sure, of course. I've checked through basically every school's representative team.」

"Then do you know what kind of person Kyomon's representative Amane Shinomiya is?"

「What kind of person, you say. That's a very vague question again, you know?」

"Ah, yes, I know. Hmm."

Saying such a thing, Ikki had the same thought. It was an inquiry that was too much like what a guy would ask another guy. However, in order to sweep away that ominious feeling, wouldn't knowing anything he could about Amane be good? Since he didn't know himself, Ikki was worried for a short while. Kagami guessed Ikki's distress over the phone and opened her mouth to speak.

「Ahh, it's fine. If it's about Shinomiya-san, I can tell it's something between boys.」

"Is that so?"

「There's not much information. He's not a contender who appeared in the middle-school league. What I know is that he's a Blazer of the rare causation-manipulation system, and the story is that he was endorsed with high opinion as a representative. How should I put it? The truth is there are a lot of those kinds of contestants this year, you know? There's a pattern of nameless first-years who don't have experience in the middle-school league being selected as representatives. So with regard to Shinomiya-san being one of them, there's not much of an impression–that you pulled out his name and asked about him makes me a little interested. Did something happen with Shinomiya-san?」

To the question being thrown at him, Ikki wavered in explaining the ominous sensation he had felt. Since he himself didn't know the reason for it, he didn't want to denigrate another person, and more than anything else, he couldn't put that ominous feeling into words.

"No, I just met him unexpectedly during my run. And because of that, I just felt like I wanted to know what kind of person he is."

In the end, Ikki dodged the question that way.

「Huh… I thought he wasn't coming to the training camp, but he did come to the mountain?」

"It seems he came in order to deliver provisions to his upperclassmen."

「In that case, I should be on the lookout and gather some information on him~I guess? Heh heh heh.」

"Ahaha… well, you can do that. Sorry for the abrupt call."

「No, no. Sorry I couldn't help much. Tell me if you figure out something interesting~」

"Yeah. Thanks. Talk to you later."

Giving his gratitude, Ikki ended the call. In the end, he didn't obtain any great information. If Kagami who always had an ear out for such things didn't know, then there probably was little information on Amane available.

"Aren't you overthinking it? You probably just have a fatally bad compatibility with Amane. Maybe you killed each other in a past life, or fought for the same lover. Or maybe it's true from both sides."

"Maybe that's how it is."

"Well, I think everyone has someone he can't get along with."

Can't get along with. It would be good if his discomfort went that far and no more. However, since he himself couldn't explain the reason for the weird feeling he had about Amane,

"Yeah. …That's right. It's probably just that."

He had no choice but to agree. But even if he told himself to agree, he couldn't wash away the eerie feeling those false words left clinging to his heart.

What settled in his heart, that he couldn't put into words, was — an evil omen. An awfully unpleasant premonition. This is what Ikki thought as he looked at the restaurant exit that Amane had exited through: that he had met something tremendously fearsome just now.