The four of them sat in a row, waiting for the match to begin.
The first match that afternoon was between Touka and Shizuku. The tension in the arena was already at its peak—right from the start. But that same intensity also had Ikki and the others on edge.
Eiji happened to glance at Nagi beside him.
And suddenly—an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over him.
"Come to think of it, Nagi…"
"If you're not gonna call me Alice, I'm not talking to you~"
"Ugh… Alice."
Eiji's mouth twitched.
The usual flirtatious banter he could sling at anyone else? Utterly useless in front of Nagi. He couldn't say a word, let alone flirt. He even felt the urge to run.
"I remember your ability involves shadow manipulation, right?"
"Mhm~ I'm so happy you're willing to talk to me!"
"Heh… hypothetically, if you used your ability to obscure the light on someone's body—basically reduce them to a shadow figure—would that be possible?"
"Hm, shouldn't be too hard."
Nagi tapped a finger to his chin, thinking carefully.
"I see. Could you use it on someone else?"
"No problem, but I almost never do. I prefer working alone, you see~"
"Ohhh… Mind showing me your Device?"
"Here?"
Nagi gestured to the crowd around them, spreading his hands in an innocent shrug.
Quite a few students were sneaking glances their way. If a Device was drawn now, it'd definitely draw disciplinary action from the school.
At Hagun Academy, student knights weren't allowed to summon their Devices outside of formal matches or dojos—unless under attack off-campus and even then, it required school reporting afterward.
"What's the problem?"
Eiji grinned, flashing white teeth. Then he reached behind him and pulled out a dazzling, silver-glinting katana.
"Look, this is my family heirloom—a treasured blade called Bling Blade."
His serious tone stunned the others beside him into disbelief.
…Who the hell's buying that?!
"Well then, I suppose I'll accompany you~"
Nagi wore the face of one going to their doom with honor. He reached back and also pulled out a dagger.
"Behold—my family heirloom too: the Darkness Hermit~!"
The dagger shimmered in dark purple, about a foot long. Its sleek blade was smooth and elegant, just like its owner.
"Such a beautiful dagger."
Eiji paid the customary compliment.
But a flicker of thought flashed through his eyes.
In the arena, the announcer's voice rang out as both fighters readied themselves in the waiting room.
"By the way, I think I saw you guys out and about the night before last. Were you out?"
"The night before last? Stella and I weren't."
"Oh, I was out with Shizuku-chan that night, but I didn't see you anywhere, Eiji-kun!"
"I see. Maybe I just saw wrong… Anyway, the match is about to begin!"
With that change in tone, everyone's attention turned to the arena.
Ikki and Stella didn't suspect a thing, focusing fully on the match.
Nagi, however, cast a brief sidelong glance at Eiji, eyes faintly filled with doubt.
In the arena—
"Thank you for waiting, everyone! The match we've all been looking forward to is finally here!"
"Let me introduce the first of our competitors! Stepping out from the blue gate—known far and wide as the younger sister of the infamous 'Worst One,' but possessing talents far beyond him! The runner-up among this year's new students, second only to the Crimson Princess herself—and completely unfazed by elemental disadvantages!"
"—Lorelei! First-Year Class 1, Kurogane Shizuku!"
The silver-haired, petite girl emerged from the blue gate.
Unlike her usual aura of aloof chill, her face now bore a stern expression. In her emerald eyes, a heavy determination radiated.
"Shizuku's out!"
Stella clutched the hem of her skirt nervously.
"If it were any other opponent, Shizuku would win easily," said Ikki, his expression calm, but his voice heavy.
"But this time… the opponent is too strong."
The arena roared in excitement.
Because now, the other fighter had appeared from the red gate.
"And now, our next competitor! The President of our Student Council, and last year's top-ranked student! Returning to the battlefield at last, after making it to the top four of the Seven Star Sword Art Festival last year! Known for her lightning-speed swordplay—please welcome!"
"—Raikiri! Third-Year Class 3, Toudou Touka!"
Her chestnut-colored hair swayed in the wind.
The strongest girl of Hagun Academy walked out from the red gate.
Her usual round glasses were gone. Her eyes were sharp, her face resolute—etched with the confidence to charge through any storm.
The moment their eyes met—tension exploded in the air.
"Compared to everyone else she's fought so far… her aura is on a whole different level!"
Just by facing each other, Shizuku realized it.
"Now then, the first match of the day—begins!"
"—Let's go ahead!"
The buzzer blared.
—The match had officially begun.
"Hmmmm? What's going on?!"
Everyone had expected an explosive clash, but what they saw defied all expectations.
The two girls stood at opposite ends of the stage.
Neither took a step forward.
Instead, they slowly began circling the edge of the platform, maintaining the full 20-meter starting distance.
The short silver-bladed kodachi, Yoishigure.
The long blade in the black scabbard at the waist, Narukami.
Each held their respective Devices—but neither launched an attack.
"Neither wants to make the first move."
Stella ran her fingers through her fiery red hair, eyes serious.
"Both of them are B-Rank knights. In past years, either could've been a Seven Star Sword King contender. Neither one's going to act rashly."
"And more importantly, both specialize in long-range combat," Ikki added.
"Right now, they're both within each other's attack range. Whoever strikes first puts themselves at a disadvantage."
Nagi nodded in agreement.
"But in the end," Eiji chimed in, "it'll probably be my senpai who moves first."
"Shizuku's close-quarters combat is weak—that's her greatest flaw. But up close? That's Touka-senpai's territory. Inside her striking zone, Raikiri is basically invincible."
They said Raikiri was fast enough to slice through lightning itself.
Anyone who entered that range wouldn't be able to dodge her strike. So far, no one had ever managed to withstand it head-on.
***
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