The Absolute Godspeed of Infinite Worlds

Late spring and early summer often bring sudden showers.

Before long, lightning cracked through the sky, and torrential rain poured from the dark clouds above, drenching the trees and turning the paths into slippery mud.

"Finding this cave was a stroke of luck."

The downpour had come so abruptly.

Unable to make it back in time, the two of them stumbled upon a small cave and immediately took shelter, planning to return to the training grounds once the rain let up.

Standing at the cave entrance, Eiji shaded his eyes with his hand as he looked out at the sky.

Judging from the direction of the storm clouds, it wouldn't stop for at least ten more minutes.

"Did your clothes get wet?"

"Thankfully, I got under cover in time. Not too damp."

Kanata glanced down at the pristine white dress she was wearing.

Plus, she had a parasol, which had helped block much of the rain.

A shame, really.

If she had gotten soaked, she could've used "catching a cold" as an excuse to take the dress off.

"I'll contact senior."

Eiji pulled his student handbook from his pocket and called Touka who had stayed behind.

"Yes, it's pouring too hard to return right now... Mm, understood... What? I see. We'll head back as soon as we can."

A few minutes later, the call ended.

"It seems the other two teams ran into the same problem. They've all found shelter somewhere. But according to my senior, Ikki's group found traces of some large creature's movements."

"There really are giants?"

"Seems like it. Though it could also be the work of some Blazer."

And Stella had caught a cold, too—someone usually so energetic.

Leaving her alone might worsen her condition. Combined with the possibility of giants, Touka and Utakata were already on their way to check on her.

"If... just if."

Kanata's voice suddenly echoed in the small cave.

"If the time ever comes when you have to make a choice… would you abandon me?"

Eiji's gaze into the distance froze mid-motion.

The moment she asked that, the air in the cave grew heavy.

"That's... a pretty sudden question."

"Because I'm a little scared."

Kanata clutched her dress tighter, as if trying to keep the chill from seeping through her collar, though goosebumps still rose across her skin.

"I was always the third party between you and Touka. It wouldn't be surprising if you cast me aside someday. If Touka ever found out, things wouldn't end well for me..."

Despite everything she'd done, she was well aware of her position.

At the end of the day, she was just the one who'd seduced her best friend's boyfriend. She'd been drawn in by Eiji's drive and determination, and had chosen to ignore Touka's feelings—resorting to underhanded means to steal him away.

Their relationship had never been proper. She knew that.

And that's exactly why the fear never left her.

Afraid that one day, Eiji would crumble under pressure and choose to leave her—or worse, that Touka would find out and cut her down with Raikiri. Though, knowing Touka's character, that probably wouldn't happen.

Even during their most intimate moments, these fears would sneak into her mind and make her heart race with anxiety.

"When I helped you before, convincing your twelve opponents to forfeit… I said it went against my principles, didn't I?"

Kanata gave a self-deprecating smile.

"The truth is, I just wanted you to make it to the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival as quickly as possible. That way you'd rise to fame, and I could resolve my engagement. It was selfish of me—I wasn't as noble as I made it sound."

Once the engagement was gone, the path between them would be clear.

Breaking her principles for Eiji?

No. She broke them for herself.

"Isn't that perfectly fine?"

Eiji couldn't help but chuckle at her confession.

"You think this is funny?"

Kanata shot him a glare, clearly annoyed—she'd poured her heart out, after all.

"Sorry, sorry."

Eiji apologized with a sheepish grin.

"Kanata, do you think that changing opponents like that... was unfair to them?"

Why did he suddenly bring that up?

"Well... yeah. It was."

Kanata nodded thoughtfully.

Take Hagure Botan, for instance.

She'd been unfortunate enough to be chosen by Kanata, precisely because she was a core member of the "Fallen Angel Fan Club." If she were to face Eiji in a match, she would most likely forfeit without a fight.

Yet, Botan had the strength to rank among the top ten students in the academy. With a bit of luck, she could've easily been selected as a main competitor.

So yes—it was deeply unfair to her.

"But fairness is rare in this world," Eiji said with a faint, almost weightless smile. "In fact, most things are unfair. That's why people desperately chase after equality."

But even as he smiled, Kanata couldn't see any amusement in his eyes.

"I'm not that noble. I just want to protect my own little corner of the world."

Saving the world?

Upholding justice?

That could wait. First, he had to protect himself.

To Eiji, protecting the people close to him mattered far more than doing right by strangers.

If he hadn't intervened to change his match-ups, he would have faced his senior sister first. One of them would have been forced to bow out in disappointment—and that was something he never wanted to see happen. That's why he'd gone to Kanata for help.

Did he feel guilty about it? A little, sure.

But regret? Not in the slightest.

After all, his senior sister might've looked after him during meals and such—but what had they ever done for him?

"This is my selfishness," Eiji concluded.

"And when it comes to your question… it's the same. In my heart, you're part of my little world. So no—I would never abandon you."

His words were calm, quiet.

But to Kanata, they carried more strength and reassurance than anything else he could've said.

"Ah-choo."

A small sneeze echoed from beside him.

Kanata's cheeks flushed red as she turned away, clearly trying—but failing—to hold it back.

"Put this on."

Eiji unzipped his jacket and handed it to her.

The cave was already heavy with dampness, and with the cold rain outside, it really was easy to catch a cold.

"Mm."

Kanata didn't fuss. She took the jacket and wrapped herself in it.

It still held a bit of his warmth.

Clutching the jacket close, Kanata felt the heat soak into her skin—and into her heart.

...Wait.

Suddenly, a thought struck her.

Eiji had given her a promise, yes—but he still hadn't answered the core issue: the fact that he was two-timing.

His relationship with Touka was progressing extremely well.

Everyone in the student council already knew. It wasn't even subtle anymore.

"Eiji… in your heart, is Touka also part of your little corner of the world?"

"Uh... well—"

Eiji looked away awkwardly.

I tried so hard to dodge the topic, and she still saw through it...

"I see," Kanata said darkly.

Her expression turned pitch-black.

This little brat...! He really wants to have it all!

***

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