"Today is Ikki's match. Are you planning to go watch?" Stella asked Noah.
Lately, Noah had skipped attending the recent matches, choosing instead to seclude himself for training.
"Are you going, Stella?"
"Well, Shizuku invited me, so I'll go."
"Is that so? Then I will go take a look as well."
He wasn't the only one growing stronger. Shizuku had improved a lot since their last battle, and Ikki was no exception.
A swordsman, by nature, is someone who evolves through continuous combat
. Even a defeated opponent could undergo earth-shattering changes in just a few days, overturning the past.
However, Ikki didn't even exert his full strength. His opponent shared the same enhancement-type Ability, but in close combat, Ikki overwhelmed him.
The entire fight, from start to finish, lasted only 43 seconds.
"Great! Onii-sama won!"
Noah glanced at the delighted Shizuku.
'This must be genuine affection.'
'Is it worth being this happy over defeating such a weakling? Wasn't the outcome obvious from the start?'
He sighed. "Feels like I came here for nothing."
Though Stella felt the same, she held back out of consideration for Shizuku.
At that moment, Nagi Arisuin, upon seeing the group, spoke up. "Since the match ended early and Ikki didn't even use Ittou Shura, why don't we go into town? I know a dessert shop that is delicious."
"Dessert!" Stella's eyes lit up.
On the other hand, Shizuku didn't seem interested.
Then, Nagi added, "Oh, right. They also have a couples' discount and a couples' photo souvenir."
Upon hearing "couples' photo," Shizuku seemed to think of something and changed her attitude.
She even grew excited!
"Great! Let's all go together!"
"Hehe." Nagi smiled as he watched the happy Stella and Shizuku.
Noah, standing to the side, didn't even get a chance to express his own opinion.
He merely glanced at Nagi.
Knowing the other's true identity, he pondered what intentions he might have but kept his mouth shut.
...
Some time later. At a certain dessert shop in the city.
Stella finished another entire parfait.
Nagi and the Kurogane siblings stared in astonishment.
"Princess Stella is impressive..."
Shizuku curiously poked and prodded at Stella's waist.
"Wait! That tickles, Shizuku! Stop it!"
"No, no, this defies science! How can you eat so much and still have a flat stomach? You eat so many high-calorie, high-fat foods every day—there is no way you wouldn't gain weight! Where is the excess fat? Do not hide it!"
"I'm not hiding anything! I am just the type who does not gain weight no matter how much I eat!"
"You're lying!"
"Alright, fine... Actually, all the fat just gathers around my chest," Stella blushed as she revealed her secret.
Shizuku couldn't relate at all.
'Heh. What kind of nonsense is that? That is just cheating! How can something like that exist?!'
'Eating seven or eight bowls of rice per meal, not to mention side dishes and snacks, and still not gaining weight—only growing in the chest!'
'How are other women supposed to live like this?!'
'Heaven cannot be this blind!'
'Its impossible for all the physical advantages of a woman to concentrate in just one person!'
"After today, Ikki will have seven wins in seven matches. It feels like the qualification for the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival is right within reach," praised Nagi with a gentle smile.
Ikki scratched his head and replied, "You are the same, Alice. Seven wins, no losses."
"Hehe, I'm just taking advantage of my special Ability's convenience. Shadow Bind—the ability to restrain an enemy's movements just by touching their shadow—is quite formidable."
The two exchanged some mutual flattery.
It was then that Noah realized something.
The few people present here were essentially the strongest contenders in the selection battles for the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.
Stella and himself went without saying. If Shizuku hadn't faced him, she would have kept winning all the way.
And then there was Ikki, who had defied everyone's expectations—the sole exception who kept winning despite being an F-Rank.
Add Nagi himself to the mix.
These were almost all the candidates from Hagun Academy who could potentially become representatives.
And at this very moment, they had gathered together due to Nagi's clever little scheme, talking about each other's combat affairs.
This was intelligence gathering!
Nagi, the spy from Rebellion, seemed to be aiming to collect information on Hagun Academy's potential representatives.
Realizing this, Noah glanced at the expressions of those around him and noticed that Nagi was skilled.
Here, aside from himself, no one else had detected this little interrogation trick.
Shizuku took a sip of her coffee and then asked Ikki, "Onii-sama, Shizuku has a question she would like to ask."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Actually, Shizuku is curious. Who is that woman who has been following us, gazing at you with such passionate eyes?"
Ikki's expression fell.
Noah raised an eyebrow.
He had noticed someone tailing their group, but he hadn't realized the target was Ikki. Yet Shizuku had sensed it.
Was this the power of a brother complex?
"...Huh???"
At the neighboring table, separated by the back of the booth, a girl who had overheard their conversation let out a startled cry.
By now, Shizuku had already leaned over the chair, pressing the cold blade of her Device, Yoishigure, against the girl's neck from behind.
In a cold tone, she demanded, "Miss, you wouldn't happen to be planning to do something to my brother, would you?"
"Huh?"
Only Stella, still unaware of what was happening, continued eating her dessert.
Ikki hurried to pull his sister back. "Wait! You cannot take out your Device outside of school Shizuku!"
Nagi checked his student handbook and said, "Its Ayase Ayatsuji-senpai from Class 1, Year 3."
"Huh? A senpai?"
Ikki lifted Shizuku away with his arm and repeatedly apologized to the older girl.
"Sorry, Ayatsuji-senpai. My sister was rude. Huh, Ayatsuji... that surname, could it be...?"
Finally, the girl mustered her courage and stood up.
She first bowed and then said shyly, "I-I am Ayase Ayatsuji. My father is Kaito Ayatsuji."
"Kaito Ayatsuji-san!!"
Ikki grew excited, but his excitement wasn't directed at the unfamiliar beautiful girl before him.
It was that girl's father!
He looked at the bewildered crowd and said, "Do you all not know Kaito Ayatsuji-san? He is known as the Last Samurai, a master swordsman! Anyone interested in martial arts must have heard his name—he is a remarkable person!"
Meanwhile, Ayase Ayatsuji wore a gloomy expression upon hearing such high praise for her father.