Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan - Volume 2 Page 8

  The number of people who'll be selected through the matches is six. According to their homeroom teacher Oreki-sensei, each student will get about 12 matches. That's just enough for that number of people to remain undefeated. In other words, it would be better to think that losing just one match would mean being kicked out from the competition.

  "But in a normal fight, she can't hope to win. That's obvious. The difference in strength is too great. She knows that the best, having been taught by you. Therefore, she would obviously make plans to win beforehand. Am I wrong?"

  "Alice really is sharp."

  Ikki shrugged, and tossed his notebook to Arisuin. There was a single mail displayed there. The sender, Ayatsuji Ayase.

  「I have something important to discuss with Kurogane-kun. I want to borrow your power. Tomorrow at 3 AM. Meet me at the rooftop of the main school building.」

  "I got it this morning."

  "This feels too much like a trap… I guess."

  "Ahaha… certainly. But this isn't a trap."

  "You're sure?"

  "Because I believe in her. Ayatsuji-san wouldn't do something so low. I've only trained with her for a few days, but I could understand at least that much."

  To Ikki, Ayase was an overly serious, hard working, and honest person. And besides―

  "She said she liked my hands."

  She told that to a person who had the hands of a labourer, rough and tough. She, who could respect another person's hard work to that extent, definitely wouldn't do something so lowly in a match between knights.

  "That's why I'll go to meet her."

  Ayase was an important friend. And his friend wanted to consult him. He couldn't refuse that. Ikki made that clear. And so, Arisuin―

  "You're dazzling."

  While smiling bitterly, Arisuin stretched his hand towards Ikki, who was so close to him… but his eyes suggested that Ikki was too far away, as if his hand could never reach him.

  "Dazzling?"

  "Yes, very. To the point it makes me jealous. People like Stella-chan and Shizuku who can love someone so wholeheartedly, and Ikki who can trust someone so honestly…. Seeing that, reminds me of how ugly I am. For me, I can no longer trust someone so easily."

  But after saying that, Arisuin made a serious face unlike any other and gave Ikki some advice.

  "But that's exactly why I can realize some things others don't…. This might be me being too nosy but just in case, Ikki should have the resolve to cut ties with her. If you remove the mask of humans, you won't know what lies beneath. If you handle this situation lightly, you might not be able to win a match you're otherwise sure to win. Like what happened to the Hunter."

  "Now that I think about it, Alice was the one who advised me back then too right? But it's okay. I've already decided what's the most important for me."

  Saying that, he looked at Stella who was still quarreling with Shizuku.

  ―To meet once again at the battle for the summit. That's what he promised her. That's why―

  "I don't intend to break my promise with her. No matter what happens."

  "Fufu. Seems like it wasn't something I should worry about. Pardon me, I said something unpleasant."

  "It's not like it was unpleasant…. But regarding Kirihara-kun's case, and even this time, I really wouldn't like it if someone called my important friend who had always given me important advice ugly. Even if it's Alice, you yourself."

  For a moment, Arisuin showed a troubled expression. But he soon dismissed it.

  "Fufu, saying something so cool…. I'll end up falling for you."

  "Please, your gender is the only joke here."

  Arisuin replied with his frivolous chatter, so Ikki replied in the same manner. He didn't prolong it any further. Even if he tried to ask more, Arisuin probably wouldn't say anymore. That's why… he concentrated on the closer matter.

  He looked up at the rooftop dyed by the mad red of the sunset. Tomorrow, she would be waiting there for him.

  I wonder if I'll be able to help her…?

  Part 10

  Ten minutes before the appointment, Ikki left his room, taking care not to wake Stella up. He passed the corridor there without making a single sound, and came outside. Using the pale moonlight as a guide, he headed for the school building. As he approached the school building bathed in moonlight, his footsteps echoed.

  Normally, this would be a bustling place, but now, it had an almost deadly, serene atmosphere. Ikki headed for the roof, while enduring the silence that almost made his ears go mad.

  He climbed the stairs one by one, and finally stood before the ironclad door to the roof. He opened it.

  The wind blew through, and he was showered by the pale moonlight.

  A tasteless scene that spread before him. A concrete floor and a rough steel fence that defiled the night sky. A cold scenery.

  The blowing wind, the dim moonlight, even though it was early summer, they all felt cold. And standing in the middle of the scenery, with her back to the fence, was the yukata-clad figure of Ayatsuji Ayase.

  "Hey, I haven't seen you since the pool, Ayatsuji-san."

  "Yeah… even though I was the one who asked, sorry for neglecting it."

  …Hmm?

  Ayase, who had an apologetic face, looked a bit uncomfortable to Ikki for a moment.

  The gaze that was sent straight to him looked dry.

  As if her eyes were artificial glass balls.

  She had become used to Ikki recently, and Ayase didn't have to avert her eyes for every single thing now. But that day at the pool, when he restarted the conversation with her, her gaze had also felt dry. Well, it might be something natural for a person who wasn't used to the opposite sex.

  But for some reason, the gaze of today's Ayase bugged Ikki even more.

  Was she the type of woman who could look straight at me so calmly in the middle of such a serene night?

  …But even though you could call it uncomfortable, it was only a little bit. So it wasn't something Ikki had to go out of his way and ask her. That wasn't the reason why he had come here today.

  "It's alright. After that mail, things turned sour anyways."

  "Yeah, saying that helps… and besides, you came alone, like I told you to. Thank you for that. But is it really alright to leave your girlfriend and come here in the middle of the night?"

  "Aah, so you noticed huh. Keep this a secret from Stella though. She'll bite me half to death if she finds out."

  While joking and agreeing with her, Ikki finally went to the point.

  "…Then, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

  "―"

  Ayase went silent. Was she hesitating to talk? Or was there a different reason for her silence? Ikki couldn't make a judgement, since he couldn't read Ayase from her almost artificial eyes.

  But it wouldn't do if the silence continued like this.

  "If you aren't going to say it, then may I ask a question?"

  Ikki opened his mouth. Ayase didn't. This time, he took it as an affirmation and asked once more.

  "Continuing from our previous conversation, was it Kurashiki Kuraudo who took away something important from Ayatsuji-san?"

  Ikki didn't miss the swaying in Ayase's eyes.

  "…Why do you think that?"

  "Just a guess. During lunch that day, when Ayatsuji-san said ‘I'm going to take back what's important to me', you released an amazing amount of killing intent. And you did that another time afterwards, when Kuraudo appeared."

  Ayase was looking down while biting her lips. Ikki concluded that it was the same thing he felt during lunch, that killing intent.

  "And Ayatsuji-san said she had to appear in the Festival to do that. In other others, you had to fight someone who'll also be appearing there. Sword Eater was in the best eight last year. As long as Donrou isn't using a special system like Hagun's, his place in the festival is certain. From these two points, the person Ayatsuji-san is trying to face, the one who took that important thing from you, is the Sword Eater, Kurashiki Kuraudo. Am I wrong?"

  Ikki tried confirm his suspicions. And―

  "Fufu, as I thought. Kurogane-kun understands everything. Since you've gotten this far, I don't feel like hiding it anymore."

  Ikki's guess had hit the nail on the head.

  "Hey Kurogane-kun. The reason I called you here today was because I wanted to ask you something."

  "…Ask me something?"

  "Yeah. I heard from Vermillion-san at the pool, but Kurogane-kun has a promise with her to fight her in the deciding match in the festival right?""

  "Yes, that is, if I can get there. But well, we'll fight somewhere in time, that's about it."

  "But before that happens, what would Kurogane-kun do if you faced an enemy you absolutely can't beat?"

  "…?"

  Ikki couldn't get the meaning of the question. Why did Ayase wish to know about him and Stella? But instantly, he understood that the question also applied to Ayase herself. For Ikki it was a promise; for Ayase it was to take back her important thing.

  Even though their reason differed, their standing was similar. …She was asking another person to confirm her situation, was it that?

  He couldn't understand. But his reply was decided―

  "I'll fight with all I have fair and square."

  "Even if you lose."

  "You won't know until you try… Even if I lose, I won't stop until I've used all I have."

  During his match with the Hunter, Ikki almost gave up once, but because of Stella, he managed to compose himself. The wound one gets from the enemy after one loses a fight can be healed, and then one can fight again. But the wound receives from running away from a fight can never be healed. That's why even if he were to lose, Ikki would fight wit
h all he had; enough to be proud of himself. Ikki would never lose sight of this again. However―

  "I don't think like that. Righteousness without results is just caprice."

  Saying that, Ikki received an icicle-cold gaze from Ayase.

  "Eh…?"

  It was too unexpected to hear that from Ayase. Ikki gulped down.

  He didn't…. Ikki didn't expect to hear something like an ‘Anything is fine as long as I win' kind of line from Ayase.

  …Why, would she.

  The Ayase Ikki knew would never say that, so when he heard her he couldn't reply immediately. But… even if he couldn't reply, he noticed. Beneath Ayase's cold eyes, her lips twisted into an insulting smile. An expression that Ikki never saw Ayase make.

  When Ikki saw that expression of hers, two questions came to his mind.

  Is this really Ayase? Rather, is this the real Ayase?

  And to the confused Ikki, Ayase replied with that mocking tone.

  "That's why this is my reply. No matter what I have to do, I'll take down my enemy. No matter what."

  In her right hand, she materialized the vivid red sword Hizume.

  The shriek of a sword cutting through something echoed into the night sky.

  Part 11

  "―!?"

  Ikki prepared himself upon hearing the sound of the sword. Without a doubt, Ayase had used some kind of ability right now to cut something.

  …But exactly what did she cut?

  Ikki raised his caution level to the highest. He collected his consciousness and in return for cancelling out the sense of colors and sound, he put the maximum amount of concentration in situation recognition.

  He noticed the strangeness immediately.

  In front of him was Ayase. Behind her, the fence for some reason was collapsing backwards. Why? Because the hooks of the fence were cut.

  There were no sounds. Without a doubt she had used some kind of ability.

  What was her motive? Why was it necessary to cut that?

  Ikki who was confused while not understanding the reason… was pushed into even further confusion with what happened next.

  For some reason, Ayase was also falling backwards with the fence, falling from the roof of the four-storey building.

  "Wha―!?"

  Surprise, shock, but he didn't let this cloud his judgement.

  He couldn't understand the meaning behind her actions. Did she fail? Or was there some meaning behind it? …He couldn't understand. But, now wasn't the time to think of stuff like that.

  Instantly, a blue aura surrounded Ikki. He had invoked Ittou Shura.

  He pushed his strength to the limits in a matter of seconds. He dashed toward the fence and grabbed Ayase. Ikki, in his Ittou Shura mode, could easily land even if it was from the 4th floor. But he couldn't use it more than once, and its power lasted for a very short time.

  He ran vertically on the wall of the school building. He caught Ayase and pulled her towards his chest.

  "As expected."

  "Y-You, for that… you're willing to risk your life!?"

  "Yes. Didn't I already say that no matter what I had to do, I would win? If Kurogane-kun's answer was the same as mine then I might've thought otherwise, but of course, Kurogane-kun is ‘just'… Then I have to use force to win. Kurogane-kun beats me in swordsmanship, and he also has a trump card, Ittou Shura. There's no way I can win against that. Then all I have to do is remove that trump card. I hear you can only use it once per day. And you've used it. The match starts at ten. You won't recover in time. Even if I can't beat you with the sword, now that you don't have Ittou Shura, I just might be able beat you with my ability as a knight."

  Ikki bit down at her explanation. It was as she said. Ittou Shura was a technique that pushed him to the limit. It would use up his strength, all the quantity of magic that he retained. To counter that, all she had to do is make him use that magic before the match. He wouldn't be able to use it again. But―

  Was I wrong…. Did I fail to understand her?

  Ikki truly thought Ayase was an honest hard worker. That she wouldn't be able to do something that spat on another's hard work like this. The Ayase who was proud of her father's swordsmanship, who was happy being just a little closer to her father's teaching, who sometimes acted like a child just by learning something new, was it all just a facade?

  "…When I first saw Ayatsuji-san, I was happy that there was someone other than me in this school who was so devoted to the sword. I thought we could become friends."

  "I am truly grateful for your guidance thus far. I will use it all to defeat Kurogane-kun."

  "I didn't think you were the type to do this kind of thing."

  "I'll be troubled if you push those expectations onto me."

  "…! Sword Eater might've taken something from Ayatsuji-san. But what Ayatsuji-san is doing is an insult not only to me, but Stella, Shizuku, and everyone else participating in the festival! It's an insult to what we knights pride ourselves in! It's an insult even to you yourself, Ayatsuji-san! All this, for the sake of taking back that something. Even if you do take it back, can you be proud of yourself!? Can you proudly boast of the rewards with this!?"

  "That's not something Kurogane-kun has to worry about."

  Ayase completely ignored questions of Ikki, who seemed as if he was grieving.

  "No matter what you say, I will definitely beat you. It wouldn't do if I won't."

  And with that, she turned her back on him. That back wasn't that far away, but it felt so far away. Soon, he was unable to see it.

  「Just in case, Ikki should have the resolve to cut ties with her. If you handle this situation lightly, you might not be able to win a match you're sure to win.」

  He remembered what Arisuin had said. It was exactly like that. With this kind of complex feeling, his swordsmanship would get affected.

  Then, should he cut it? His ties with Ayase. Cutting it, severing it… forgetting it all, was it really alright? …With that.

  "—"

  The reaction from Ittou Shura passed his heart like storm clouds.

  While kneeling there, Ikki, for once…

  "Dammiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!"

  …spat out an insult not directed at anyone, and struck the lawn.

  Sanpaku eyes: Eyes where the white portions above or beneath the iris are visible. It is associated with ill health or mental imbalance.

  Nodachi: A field sword, a long katana for use from horseback.

  Chapter 3: Ayatsuji Ayase

  Part 1

  The morning before the battle with Ikki, at around 9 am, Ayatsuji Ayase woke up lazily.

  She was napping in her own room after parting ways with Ikki at midnight. She was tired because of all the match preparations, and equally because of the negotiations with Ikki. After crawling out of the neatly arranged double bed, she saw a letter from her roommate on top of the table.

  「I will not be coming to see the match because I was told not to yesterday. However, I want you to consult me if there is something troubling you. I am very worried whenever I see you because you have become gloomier nowadays.」

  "…Truly, what a worthless woman I am."

  Betraying a benefactor, and troubling her roommate this much―

  「Sullying our pride, and even throwing aside your own. Can you still remain proud even if you manage to regain that 'something' with such means!?」

  "…Ku."

  The question, which had been thrown at her with a sorrowful tone, was still echoing deep within her ears. It was not a very good condition to be in. Even though there was a match she just couldn't lose today.

  This had to be corrected immediately. She had to change the mood and lighten it up. Having thought that, Ayase decided to use the time in the morning to go to a certain place.

  Part 2

  About fifteen minutes by train from Hagun Academy's nearest train station, Ayase arrived at the intended facility: a large white building soaring into the cloudless summer sky. This was Shishido General Hospital. It was the nearest big hospital from the Hagun Academy. Room number 515 was Ayase's destination.