"It's over. Accept your loss. That should be easier on you too."
Just before unleashing her attack, she spoke those words with a dragon's dispassion. Stella had believed that anyone strong enough to overwhelm her like this would triumph elsewhere no matter the difficulties, but she hadn't accounted for this boy whose lack of talent forced him onto the path of a Failed Knight. That was why Stella would defeat Ikki for his sake as well, using the absolute power of her talent!
"Katharterio Salamandra―!!!"
The descending blade of light knew only ruination, burning the entire arena.
「Uh, uwaaa!」
「Run for it! We'll get swallowed up―!」
"Hey hey…. Is this really a move for a one-on-one fight?"
As the arena crumbled down, the spectating students started to flee in a screaming mob, and Kurono watched it all with a bitter expression.
But standing before this approaching devastation, Ikki Kurogane smiled.
"My little sister used to often say, 'Brother can become anything other than a mage-knight, so he should aim for that.' Certainly she might be right, since I don't have the talent."
If Ikki Kurogane wanted to be a mage-knight, he'd have to at least win in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, but trying for that victory was as reckless as climbing a waterfall in a bamboo boat. Ikki probably knew that better than anyone.
"But I can't step back now, because becoming a knight is my dream. If I gave up, I couldn't forgive myself for breaking the promise that binds us."
So...
"So I wondered, how can the weakest beat the strongest? How can I exceed my own weak self? Here and now, I'll show you my answer."
Ikki pointed the tip of Intetsu at Stella and said,
"Here, with my greatest weakness, I'll defeat your greatest strength...!"
At that moment, Ikki's whole body and Intetsu's full length started to shine.
Luminous blue that flickered ever so slightly like flame ― was it an elemental power similar to hers? Stella thought so for a moment but soon abandoned the idea. No, it was the light of magic power itself growing to the point of visibility.
His power… is increasing…!?
Impossible. Magic power could neither rise nor fall from its owner's level at birth. Then what was happening? Stella couldn't understand it. She had never heard of an ability that raises magic power. But she did understand one thing: the current Intetsu glowing with blue light had the power to strike her down.
...But so what!? No matter what kind of power he possessed, all things of heaven and earth burn to ashes before the sun!
'Slash him! I can take victory just doing that!'
The distance between them was more than sixty meters. It didn't matter what her opponent tried, because her blade of light would reach him first.
But this boy ― he said he'd break through that reasoning!
"Wha!?"
In the instant that the blade of light fell upon Ikki, he vanished. No, he just jumped fast enough while evading the light that he seemed to disappear.
Stella was dumbfounded after missing her target.
What was that, just now!?
Despite her surprise, she immediately attacked Ikki with a second swing. Katharterio Salamandra created a sword of heat that had no physical body, and it could reach a target more than a hundred meters away. It wasn't something a flesh-and-blood human could simply evade.
But Ikki did.
The second strike, and then the third. Here and there on the battlefield, Ikki kept moving like a windstorm between her flashing strokes, completely dodging each attack. His movements were impossible to follow. Forget her sword, even her eyes couldn't keep up with Ikki's speed. Eventually, Stella could no longer catch even a rough visual of his position.
"Kuh, what's with that strength!? How can you move like that all of a sudden!?"
"Because that's my ability. Just like how Stella-san can control flames, I also have an ability as a Blazer."
Ikki's ability was… doubling his physical attributes.
It was called the worst among all the abilities a Blazer could have, because even without the boosting of physical attributes, a Blazer could gain far more force or mobility by applying magic. Indeed, Stella had used such magic during this match, and her attributes had multiplied five or six times, not merely doubled. In other words, Ikki's ability was a downgraded version of what every Blazer could do just by using magic.
One could say that it was very appropriate for an F-Rank.
"That's a lie! Those movements, that's far more than just doubled! And besides, I've never heard of magic power also rising alongside physical strength!"
While swinging her sword of light, Stella made this protest. A release of magic power that could be seen by the naked eye, and then movements that couldn't? Such things weren't caused just by doubling physical attributes. Even if she was only talking about physical power, Ikki's had surely jumped more than ten-fold.
Ikki, still moving around like a windstorm while dodging Stella's sword, gave a small and boastful laugh at what she was pointing out.
"That's true, but I'm not using my ability the normal way. Instead, I'm using it at full power."
"Huh!? There's no way you would improve like this just because of enthusiasm!"
"No… I wasn't talking about enthusiasm, but the literal meaning."
"Eh…?"
"I've been thinking about this for a long time. Let's say you were to sprint a hundred meters after saying that you'll do it at full power. Even if you did as you intended, you'll still have spare energy afterward. I thought that was strange. If you really ran while using all of your strength, shouldn't it be weird to even stay conscious afterwards?"
How could that happen? The answer was because humans are alive, and living creatures instinctively want to preserve their lives, their instincts give top priority to survival. No matter how much a person pledges to use his full strength, his subconscious would never allow it. Even if he expends all energy, some amount would still remain so that his body continues to function. This limitation was hardwired into living biology.
Because of that limitation, humans didn't normally use even half of their stamina, strength, or magic power. It was an absolute rule.
But what if someone could break that absolute rule? What if someone, using willpower alone, could remove the limiter that keeps him from exerting his full strength?
"You… you don't mean...!"
"Yes. My magic power hasn't increased. I'm just tapping into power I couldn't before, after willfully exceeding my limitations."
Ikki lacked talent more than anyone else, and he understood that fact better than anyone else. He couldn't close the gap between himself and a prodigy just by working hard, because prodigies also worked hard, and it was insulting to say that they won only by talent. Insufficient effort could widen the gap, but investing effort couldn't shrink it so easily. A difference in talent was that vital a factor, normally.
If he wanted to close the gap anyway, he couldn't be normal any longer. He had no choice but to become a Shura. Ikki didn't avert his eyes from that truth. Focusing on this realization, he had discovered a way. To surpass talent, he could no longer leave any strength unused.
One minute was enough. It was fine to ignore what happened afterward, but for one minute he'd become strong enough to beat anyone.
That was the answer Ikki Kurogane found, so that his greatest weakness can defeat another's greatest strength. Intentionally using all of his vigor and stamina after breaking through his limits, it was a Noble Art that brought out all of his meager power for little more than one minute and multiplies that power several dozen times.
"Ittōu Shura."
Suddenly Ikki, who was moving around the arena with movements that could no longer even be tracked by human eyes, used his astounding speed to appear at Stella's blind side, and ended everything.
With a *slash*.
At a speed that could be neither dodged nor blocked, without even a chance to scream, Stella took a direct hit from Intetsu.
"Ah―"
She felt the ground under her feet dissolving, and then Stella's thoughts fell into darkness. It was a special kind of unconsciousness imposed by an illusionary fatal wound. Just like its name suggested, Ittōu Shura felled the Crimson Princess with just one cut, and Stella fainted powerlessly.
"That's enough! Winner, Ikki Kurogane!"
Even though Kurono called Ikki's victory, and the stunning result stood before their very eyes, the students in the arena still didn't quite comprehend what had happened. All they could do was stare at the figure of the Failed Knight silently standing there.
...
"…Nn."
Emerging through a bright haze, Stella gradually woke up, and what filled her vision as she opened her eyes was a somewhat low ceiling and―Kurono sitting beside Stella's bed while smoking a cigarette.
"Are you awake, Vermillion?"
"Madam Chairman… Where am I?"
"Your room. You collapsed from the fatigue of getting hit by a Device in illusionary form. It's not something we should use an iPS capsule or call a doctor for, so I had you rest here."
Saying that, Kurono released a puff of smoke from lipstick-coated lips.
…Doesn't the student dormitory prohibit smoking?
But Stella wasn't really in the mood to say so out loud.
"So that means… it wasn't all a dream?"
With that realization, her feelings turned gloomy. It seemed her hope wouldn't come true. She'd been beaten, and beaten so completely she could make no excuse for her loss.
"…Haa. I thought I had forgotten it long ago. Losing… certainly does feel like this."
"Well, you shouldn't let it bother you that much. Handicaps aside, Kurogane is a guy who even won a straight fight against me. He's not someone you could defeat as you are now."
"Winning against 'World Clock', the former top third in the world… what the heck is that?"
There was a limit to being a monster.
…No, she couldn't say that. Defeating her inside a single minute was the apex of willpower, something normally unthinkable. What kind of dreadful resolve and determination would someone need to try it? That way of fighting was indeed like a Shura. It could be called inhuman.
Ah.
Come to think of it, what happened to that fellow after he used himself up?
"Madam Chairman. That guy, is he alright?"
Kurono lightly nodded at her question.
"He's fine. He was much more seriously injured than you, but it's not so bad that his life was in danger."
After saying so, she looked at the upper level of the bunk bed.
Stella crawled out of the lower bed and looked up to see a pale-faced Ikki lying above in an exercise shirt. His vitality seemed so low that if Stella hadn't heard faint breathing, she'd surely mistake him for a corpse.
"Well, he had enough spare energy to return to his room and change his clothes. If he couldn't leave that much in reserve, the aftermath of his technique would be far too harsh. Kurogane exercised some foresight, at least."
"I don't think that really counts as spare energy."
Ittōu Shura was a Noble Art that brought out one's full power while ignoring survival instincts. The user wouldn't even be able to breathe after just one minute of use, so Ikki couldn't use it to fight for long. If he didn't win within that minute, breakdown was unavoidable ― a harshly self-destructive tactic. But in mastering such a fickle technique, this boy showed he could conquer even himself.
"Madam Chairman, who exactly is this guy?"
"What do you mean?"
"Please don't play dumb! It's definitely not normal to move so fast my eyes can't even keep up! Could he be one of them? One of those Japanese ninjas!?"
"No, you're totally off…."
"In any case, it's strange for someone like him to be an F-Rank and repeat a year! Please explain to me exactly what's going on!"
"Even if you say that, him being an F-Rank is actually a valid judgment, because the ranking system evaluates Blazer abilities. Mundane skills like swordsmanship, physical fitness, and martial arts aren't included in that evaluation, since such things would probably be ineffective against Noble Arts."
Indeed, mundane skills were nothing compared to overwhelming supernatural power. For example, suppose there existed a master swordsman who could even cut through steel. How would he fight against Stella's flaming sword? His mastery was useless; he could only burn to ashes. Mundane skills were only useful to Blazers when fighting those with equal magic ability.
"That's the general public's way of thinking these days. To put it simply, no system exists to evaluate Kurogane appropriately. And Kurogane, who only excels in physical skills… well, he could only be called the worst. It's rare for someone to have circumstances this bad. If you're a prodigy who appears only once a decade, then he's a dunce that appears only once a decade too. Nothing can really be done about that. You should also understand after facing him directly, since his full-powered strike couldn't harm you even while you were defenseless."
"…Well, there's that… but you haven't explained why he was made to repeat."
"Haven't I?"
"I'm royalty. I know how much countries value strong Blazers, and an academy responsible for training mage-knights should think the same. Not having good evaluations shouldn't be enough reason to make him repeat a year."
Because insurgent organizations had recently started to appear, countries were always promoting the development of strong knights. No reason was enough to undercut that priority.
To Stella's argument, Kurono gave a bitter smile and sighed as though in agreement.
"Haha… well well. You really struck where it hurts."
"As I thought, there's some other reason, isn't there?"
"Yeah, his marks not being sufficient is just the school administration's pretense."
"Pretense…?"
"Indeed. Vermillion, doesn't the name Kurogane ring a bell?"
"There's no way I would know something so plebeian―"
She shouldn't know. That's what she wanted to say, but one person with that surname appeared in her mind.
"Wait, no way… Samurai Ryouma?"
"Exactly. The hero who guided Japan to victory in the Second World War, Samurai Ryouma. His real name is Ryouma Kurogane, and he's Ikki Kurogane's great-grandfather. Even without him, the Kurogane clan is a distinguished family dating from the Meiji era that has produced superior Blazers for generations, and holds strong clout in mage-knight society. That clan put direct pressure on Hagun Academy and said, 'Don't let Ikki Kurogane, the reprobate who fled the Kurogane house, graduate."
"Why did they do something like that?"
"To uphold their distinguished family's prestige. If an outlier like an F-Rank was born from their lineage, it would tarnish their name. They probably thought something like that, since knights today emphasize rank more than anything else. The previous academy chairman complied, and started a ridiculous rule about minimum requirements to take combat lessons. In that way, he excluded Ikki Kurogane, and repeating the year is the result of that unfairness."
The moment Stella heard that harsh story, she felt an unimaginable resentment deep within her chest.
"Was that something a parent or a teacher should do!?"
"It's regrettable, but there are adults like that in the world. Of course, I have no intention of condoning their actions. After taking up this post, I thoroughly purged those who had a hand in such garbage... But it won't return the year that Ikki Kurogane lost. Still, that boy didn't despair. Despite being targeted by his family, treated unfairly, deprived of opportunities, and even derided as trash, he didn't stop believing in his own value. Not seeing prodigies as insurmountable, not running away from his inadequacies. After struggling through all the injustice, he reached the pinnacle where he stands now. By having faith in himself and his values, he wagered all his worth and finally achieved that 'invincible one minute', which can even defeat the Crimson Princess who's called a once-in-a-decade prodigy. Honestly, he's quite special."
Believing in oneself and in one's value, no matter how hopeless the situation. Stella knew very well how hard that was, understood so well it hurt. But fortunately, she had talent. She believed that if she mastered the flames dwelling inside her, her power would help her country greatly. That was why she could push herself onward.
What about Ikki? He really had nothing at all. He had scant magic power, and his Noble Art, a Blazer's trump card, was only the doubling of physical strength. That was painfully enough, but the adults around Ikki did all they could to block his way as well. How did he still keep faith and believe in himself?
"Just... Just what is pushing him to go that far...!?"
"Who knows? It's not something you'd understand without asking Kurogane himself. I just have a few expectations. Whether he'll really take the summit of the Seven Stars, stuff like that."
Kurono pressed her cigarette into her portable ashtray and once again asked Stella.
"Vermilion. When you came to my office this morning to greet me, do you remember how you replied to my question, 'Why did you come here to study abroad?'"
"Yes. Because if I stayed in that country... I would eventually forget how to aim higher."
That was Stella's reason for leaving Vermilion Empire: the people of her land, of their own accord, were trapping her in the cage of "prodigy". That she could do anything, and wouldn't lose to anyone. If Stella stayed among them, she might've started to believe them. She'd become arrogant, and her heart would rot. Her arrogance would build without foundation, and her will to improve would be chipped away. It had frightened her more than anything, so much that she couldn't let herself remain there any longer. She had to become a much stronger knight to protect her beloved Vermilion Empire.
That was Stella's reason for coming to Japan: to seek out people stronger than herself. To fight strong knights, defeat them, and become the Seven Stars Sword King.
"In that case, Stella Vermilion, try chasing after Kurogane for a year. I'm sure it won't be a waste of time."
At Kurono's forceful air, Stella couldn't give a definite answer.
"I still... Don't get it. I still don't know anything about him beyond your words..."
"Well, that's true too, I guess."
It wasn't clear whether Stella's response had satisfied Kurono, but Kurono walked towards the exit after giving a nod.
Turning the knob, she opened the door.
"Then you should learn who he is on your own. Like I said, Ittōu Shura is a grand technique that can only be used once a day, not holding back the slightest bit of magic, strength, or willpower. And it's an ability that, like a charging horse, can't be stopped partway. He shouldn't wake up for a while... Well, hopefully he's not actually dead, just looks like it. He'll get up sooner or later, and if you still don't want to live with him after testing my words, tell me. I'll prepare a special single-person VIP room for you."
After saying that, Kurono left.
Stella, now somewhat abandoned, looked up at the upper bunk bed and studied the boy who defeated her.
'I'm... certainly not weak.'
She wasn't brash enough to think she was the strongest in the world, but she'd never lose to a person of mediocre ability. Ikki was strong, and she was curious about the source of that strength. She wanted to know how he could continue to believe in himself without all that mistreatment overcoming him.
"...Kurogane, Ikki."
As she spoke that name, a mysterious sweetness made her heart lightly throb. For Stella, this was the first time she wanted to know someone else so much. She couldn't restrain the desire to learn more about the sleeping boy, and the delay from his recovery was unbearable. That was why, after being overwhelmed by the curiosity bubbling inside of her, she climbed the bunk bed's ladder.
Ikki was still sleeping. He might've changed sides while asleep, but now he was lying on his stomach, and she could no longer see his face. She could hear light breathing that matched the gentle movements of his well-built back, so he must have improved quite a bit since a while ago, because the feeling that he might never wake again was no longer there, Stella felt a little relieved at that.
"...Ikki."
She called his name, but as if defying her, he didn't rouse from his deep slumber. It couldn't be helped. He was sleeping soundly, so it would be rude to wake him up by force. Since her anxiety hadn't subsided yet, Stella decided she should take a stroll outside and come back later.
Yes, as Stella was thinking that — she accidentally peeked into the gap between the shirt and the nape of Ikki's neck. He had a wide back, and the sight had a profound impact that she couldn't imagine from his sheepish smile.
'…Ju-Just a little, it's okay, right? He's facing the other way too.'
After conferring with some invisible person in her heart, Stella extended her hands towards Ikki's back, and she slowly started to touch.
"W-Wow..."
*Thump* *Thump*
When Stella touched him with the palms of her hands, the sensation of Ikki's blood flowing started to enter her. It was strong, and hot enough to burn, but his body felt quite different from steel, as if she was feeling the heat of his vitality.
'So this is a boy's... Back.'
It was her first time touching a boy, and Stella felt like she was dreaming.
"N... Mn..."
"Eek...!"
Ikki suddenly turned over, and now he was facing up. Because of that, Stella's right hand got rolled in and pinned under his sleeping body.
'Oh no!'
If Ikki woke up now, Stella couldn't give any excuse. His body was unexpectedly heavy, so she couldn't pull her hand out and escape. She could yank it, but that might disturb him, and falling off the ladder because she pulled too hard would also be disastrous.
'...What choice do I have?'
Stella held her breath and climbed further up the ladder. Standing on her knees while taking care not to touch him, she used her left hand to raise Ikki's side slowly... Slowly... Very slowly.
"Uun... Nn... Kuh!"
Th-That was close!
Stella felt cold sweat forming on her back. She somehow managed to lift up that side with her free hand and... One way or another succeeded in pulling out her trapped one. Success! But... Even so, Stella kept looking at the sleeping Ikki below her.
"This guy didn't wake up at all."
Well, since he was exhausted, she could understand why he was sleeping so deeply. Seeing Ikki still not stirring, Stella gulped. Now that he flipped over, she was looking at his slightly exposed abdomen.
A boy's belly...
Even though she might've seen a few before, she had never touched one. What kind of feeling would that bring?
'W-What in the world are you thinking, Stella?! That's no good! For me who's still unmarried, and a princess no less, to take interest in the body of a boy who isn't even my lo-lo-lover or anything... That's disgraceful!'
Wait, it wasn't that bad, was it? Not like she was really holding perverted thoughts or anything. Ikki Kurogane, the first opponent who managed to defeat her — she wanted to learn more about a knight she'd have to face in the future, out of pure curiosity.
That was all. Maybe. More or less.
'I-In any case he saw me naked first, so this makes us even, right...?'
It was sophistry, but Stella seemed to have justified herself that way. Led by her curiosity towards the first knight she lost to, she once again extended her hands towards Ikki's abdomen and put one through the crevice of his shirt. She slowly reached as low as his solar plexus and... Gently pulled his shirt up.
'...This is... A boy's... Body...'
When Ikki suddenly stripped that time they met, she didn't really see because of her confusion, but now that she had crawled so close, she could tell his body was unusually toned. The slight shadows of muscles across his body looked completely different from her own as a woman. Of course, feeling them should be different too.
"Haa... Haa..."
Stella's brain started to boil at the intense urge to touch. Her head felt feverishly dizzy, and her breathing became heavy and irregular. She could no longer stop herself.
"...Okay."
She couldn't doubt Kurono any longer. Ikki certainly never gave up in despair. His body, as thoroughly hardened as his will, proved so.
But because Kurono hadn't been exaggerating, Stella's desire to learn more about Ikki grew even stronger. The more she knew, the more she wanted to know. This desire started to overheat, enough to suffocate her. She was becoming entranced, lost in a fever without cause or reason, yet it was pleasant, which surprised her even more.
"Haa... What am I doing, I wonder..."
While tracing his abdomen with delicate fingers, she asked that question to some invisible person in her heart, sounding like she was struggling against delirium. But then...
"Ermm, that's something I want to ask too. Stella-san, what are you doing?"
To Stella who was straddling his waist and touching his skin here and there, Ikki echoed that question back with a face that showed he had no idea what was going on.
"A-Aieeeeeeee!?"
Stella instantly released a dreadful scream and recoiled from Ikki.
"Wait! If you jump that hard you'll—"
Ikki's warning was fruitless. After rising so sharply, Stella's head crashed into the ceiling with earth-shattering force and she fell from the upper bunk bed, with a yelp, down to the floor.
"S-Stella-saaan? Are you okay!? Your head just looked like it—"
"I-I-I-I'm fine! I just fell down and poured some tomato juice on my head, that's all!"
"That's not fine one bit! Because that's tomato juice that came from inside of you! Just sit still for now! I'll prepare first aid so just sit still!"
...
"That should do it."
Ikki treated Stella with the emergency kit from his drawer, much to Stella's embarrassed gratitude.
"You're quite good."
"I've lived alone since middle school, so I do at least this much."
'Well, it's not like anyone helped me while I lived in that house either.'
As Ikki sighed, Stella said something strange.
"...I heard about you. From the chairman."
"About me?"
"About how you were treated at school, even by your own family."
"Wha... Why's that person spreading the delicate matters of someone else's family? Sorry, it probably wasn't a pleasant story."
"That's not it. Rather, I want you to tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"How can you hope to become a knight when everyone treats you so badly?"
"...Why do you want to hear about that?"
"I-It's not like, it's definitely not like I want to know more about you! Don't get conceited! I was just wondering why a novice with such low magic power would still want to be a knight! Th-That's what I'm curious about!"
"Saying something so awfully right to my face... It feels somehow refreshing."
Well, his story wasn't really worth hiding. Ikki was a little embarrassed about telling it, but if Stella wanted to know so badly, he couldn't reject her.
"There's a person I'm trying to reach."
"A person? Do you mean Samurai Ryouma?"
A well-known hero, who anyone of the Kurogane family would emulate — Ikki thought it natural for that name to come up.
"Yeah, exactly so. I've never had talent, so my parents and relatives have spurned me since I was young. Mine's a lineage of heroes stretching back generations, where talentless children are a burden. I wasn't allowed to participate in my family's magic lessons. Instead of a seat at New Year's parties, I was locked up out of sight every time."
「You can't do anything, so don't try.」
On his fifth birthday, those were the last words Ikki's own father ever uttered to him, and after that never spoke or turned a gaze to him again. Since the views of the family head shaped the whole household, Ikki Kurogane was treated as "the one who didn't exist" by everyone else too.
It was painful enough that he honestly wanted to disappear.
"But at that time, Ryouma-san spoke to me."
Even now, Ikki Kurogane could clearly remember that snowy day. It was New Year's and the whole family was gathered, but the holiday meant nothing to Ikki. Hearing cheerful laughter despite being locked away made staying in the house painful, so he sneaked out to the mountain behind the family mansion.
And... He lost his way. The sun soon set and the air grew cold. Gentle snow turned into a blizzard.
No one came to find him. The reason was obvious: who'd help a child that didn't exist anyway? Even if Ikki froze to death, neither his parents nor his relatives would grieve.
In this family, only his sister would be hurt if he died... But she was just one person.
As he thought that, he couldn't help but cry. Not because he had no talent, but because no one ever believed in him.
...It was then that Ryouma Kurogane, an elderly man with a large build and white imperial moustache, he appeared before Ikki. He said to the crying Ikki — that Ikki should cherish those tears.
Those tears were proof that Ikki hadn't given up on himself.
「Listen boy. You're still a brat now, don't become a boring adult like that lot who glorify something as pointless as talent. Don't become a feeble adult who gives up without trying and calls it maturity. Become an adult who walks so far ahead they can't even trace your footsteps. If you have the guts to not give up, you can become anything you want to be. We're living creatures that don't have wings, but still went to the moon.」
The old man said those words to him with a youthful smile, and brushed off the snow that has settled on Ikki's head.
"I was... Overjoyed. It was the first time someone told me I didn't have to give up on myself. Though I was a child, I knew that those were simply words, and that he wouldn't guarantee anything about my future."
But still, he was happy. Even if they were just a few words, he felt truly saved.
"So I decided right then. If I have to grow up, I'll grow up to be like him. And if I ever met someone in the same situation, then unlike my parents, I'd say 'You don't have to give up', and point out that people aren't just their talents. I'll be an adult who carries that man's words to others. I'm still not good enough to do it right now, though. I have to be stronger, as strong as he was, or my words are nothing more than platitudes from the weak. That's why I can't simply yield in a place like this. If I want to be as strong as Ryouma Kurogane, then winning in the Sword-Art Festival is the least I must do."
"...I see. So that's Ikki's dream."
"You think it's hopeless?"
Bull's-eye. Stella's expression clouded awkwardly. She really thought Ikki's dream was wonderful, but... To attain it...
"You don't have to say it, or make that face either. I know it's not something I can do easily. But even so... Stella-san, if you had a dream you just can't abandon, and someone told you 'It's impossible for you , just give up', then... Would you meekly agree?"
"Ah..."
Stella's eyes opened wide. Her scarlet pupils shined bright, as if finally understanding something. As if accepting something.
"Hehe, hahaha."
Stella's apologic look vanished and she burst out in laughter.
"Yes, that's right. I wouldn't give up. Even if I'm burnt badly, why should I give up?"
After hearing Ikki's words, Stella remembered that she was the same years ago.
"So that's the reason. It's true, we don't need to worry over reaching our dreams. If my efforts are useless even after I've given my all, then that's that, but we can't decide if they're useless before we even try."
"Exactly. No matter how much I lack talent, and how many people say I'm hopeless, I won't give up on myself because of that. Especially since I hate to lose."
"Though I didn't think there was someone else who hated to lose as much as I do."
Saying that, Stella started to laugh again. It was a laughter that sounded very surprised, but very happy.
She relaxed and raised her hands.
"Ahh, I lost. I put you on my own silly scale of prodigy and mediocrity, and didn't see the real you. It was impossible for me to win with these presumptuous, half-hearted feelings in the first place. It's my complete defeat, Ikki."
In speaking those words, Stella felt somewhat liberated. She had no more doubts about Kurono's advice. Ikki was a person who shared the same spirit, and he was stronger — that was exactly why she could learn from him, and if she followed after him she'd surely become stronger herself. With honest conviction, from me bottom of her heart, Stella was thankful for meeting Ikki. How could she not be, when she crossed the world for this?
And Ikki, after seeing her bright expression, felt that Stella had come to understand him. She seemed satisfied with his replies. In that case...
"Then, since we've reached an agreement here — shall we discuss that other important matter?"
"Huh? I mean... I won the duel, right?"
"Of course. Even though I hate to lose, I'm not so unreasonably stubborn that I'll deny it when it happens."
"Then that means Stella-san is my slave from now on, right?"
"…Eh?"
Stella's eyes suddenly grew big, like a dove shot with a pellet.
"Don't you remember we made a bet? Whoever loses will submit to the winner, and obey any kind of order."
Instantly, Stella's complexion went boiling red, then paled to bluish white. It seemed she completely forgot about the deal because so many things had happened.
"So since I won, let's get started right away—"
"Wh, th-th-that was, that! A fi-figure of wo-wo-words, and like, I just got too excited, and...!"
"Hmm, I wonder what I'll demand first. You'll listen to anything, right?"
"A-A-Anything? N-No, th-that's, th-th-that's, I did say I'll do anything, but anything not alright! Totally not alright, right?"
Stella dove into a corner of her bed and covered herself with blankets, as if trying to hide from Ikki. What did she say about not being unreasonably stubborn?
"Eh? Then Stella-san, you're going back on your words?"
"Ugh…"
"Well, if you're that unwilling, it's okay. Ahh, I guess Vermilion's imperial family can't keep its promises?"
"Aa, ugh..."
"It's a bit disappointing."
"Wa-Wait a minute!"
As expected, Stella reacted to Ikki's shameless taunting. Creeping out of blankets, she glared at Ikki with half-crying eyes.
"Who says we can't keep them? Fi-Fine! I'll become your slave or dog! I'll do whatever you want! I'll do indecent things too! You pervert! Idiot! I hate you!"
"You came up with this and now you're mad about it?"
'...Well, maybe I was a bit too mean.'
Ikki wanted to chastise Stella for speaking carelessly and betting herself so easily, but he seemed to have overdone it. From the beginning, he never intended to make Stella his slave. His real request was...
"Then here's an order. Stella-san, be my roommate."
…For them to live in this room together.
"Eh... That's... That's all?"
"Yeah. I was thinking while we fought that we might be able to have a peaceful relationship, and I wanted to become friends with Stella-san too. Rather than an order, it's more like a wish."
Ikki wanted to know more, and more deeply, about this girl whose spirit resembled his own. At his words...
"Fuah..."
…The girl who was thinking the exact same thing felt her brain boil over.
"Y-You, ju-just... What are you... Calling me pretty... And that you want to be friends... To an unmarried princess like it's nothing. Really, you really have no delicacy at all..."
Maybe she couldn't look straight at Ikki anymore. Even her ears were dyed red as she averted her gaze. On the other hand, Ikki took that reaction as anger.
"Ah, th-then you don't want to? Making you live together with a boy, sorry for saying something so rude. Let's go find the chairman. If we beg, I think she can managed at least another room."
"Wait!"
Stella grabbed Ikki as he was about to leave.
"…It's fine."
"Eh?"
"I-I said... I don't mind it!"
"Eh? It's really okay?"
"I-I'll tell you this, it's only because it's an order! I'll be troubled if you think Vermilion royalty are liars. That's all, I say! I-It's not like I-im doing this because I want to be friends with you even this much!"
Stella stood up after throwing glances all over the place. She really expressed it in roundabout way... But Ikki understood that she was consenting. That made him very happy.
"Then let's get along from now on, Stella-san."
"…It can't be helped, so I'll be in your care... Hmph!"
Stella shook his hand while looking the other way. Her hand was far smaller than he had imagined, and far warmer.
Just as they finally worked out the roommate issue, the dormitory bell rang. It was the signal for eight o'clock.
"Ugh, it seems like I slept quite a bit. Guess it's too late now."
"Is there something inconvenient about eight o'clock?"
"The dining halls here close at eight. What am I going to do about dinner?"
'The curfew is at nine. I guess I should go to supermarket and buy something. But my body hurts after using Ittōu Shura, so I really don't want to cook...'
It was scary to think what would happen if he sliced off a finger. Ikki folded his arms in worry, but Stella proposed a solution with a strangely excited voice.
"I-If that's all, then I'll make something."
"Eh? Is that okay?"
"I mean, Ikki is... My ma-master though I'm very reluctant about it... And it's a maid's duty to cook when the master wants a meal."
"…Erm, can't we just forget all the talk about being master and slave?"
"Th-That's no good! Royalty never break a promise! S-So stop being reluctant and let me serve you!"
What an outrageously great maid she was. And to be honest, Ikki was at that age when a girl's homemade cooking was rather appealing.
"I understand. Then let's go to the nearby supermarket together. I'll at least do the buying, Stella-san."
"Mu—"
'…Huh? Why's she's pouting this time?'
"…That's not allowed."
"That, being?"
"That 'Stella-san' thing. Ikki is the master here, and on top of that your older, so it's weird for you to add an honorific. Say it without the '-san'."
"Err... I shouldn't, I mean, Stella-san is really a princess..."
"And who is it that wants to be friends with this princess?"
"Uh..."
"Isn't it weird for friends to be so formal?"
Well, that's indeed the case, but...
"This is one issue, that is another."
"Eeeeehhh!?"
"In any case!"
Stella pointed a finger, *stab*, at the tip of Ikki's nose.
"I won't reply if you don't call me Stella."
She declared it in adorably angry way, but at the same time she sounded quite embarrassed. Ikki didn't want to address a princess in an unfitting manner... But it was true they should become friends, so refusing her now would be bad too.
"…Heh. I get it, Stella."
In the end, Ikki gave in. Or rather, Stella had been leading him through the conversation for a while now. What an outrageously great maid she was!
"Yeah. Then let's go, Ikki! I still don't know much about Japan, so be sure to escort me properly."
"Yes, yes."
But even though he called her name with no formality at all, if it made her so happy, he'd have to speak this way from now on. Captivated by Stella's smile, Ikki arrived at that conclusion with a grin of his own.