Volume 3 - CH 4(2/3)
Then I'll bid farewell to this villain's role today.
The Ethics Committee that was criticized as secret police was a department that held glory during the military police era, but at present it only carried out dark deeds. Decent people would not want to languish in obscurity in this kind of post. Akaza was the same, therefore...
It's regretabble, but I'll crush Ikki-kun completely.
For that outcome, it would be fine even if Ikki died. It wasn't like that was his responsibility.
Ikki's consciousness was within the blizzard. Within the incessant snow, while cowering, he recalled his beginning. About that day exactly like this, when he was freezing down to his bones. Where the Ikki Kurogane that existed now started.
Meeting Ryouma Kurogane, he was born from being told for the first time that it was fine to believe in himself, and being very happy about it. Several months later, Ryouma died of old age, but the words he left behind were kept alive inside Ikki. And Ikki decided that someday, he would also become a person who would confer those words to someone like him who was cowering and unmoving in front of the wall of talent, and from that day onward, he continued to fight against his own limits.
If he had not had that meeting, he would not exist today. The encounter with Ryouma was something Ikki was proud of. But―
「Was that meeting right?」
A voice like his own whispered something in his ear.
「That meeting, did it bring you anything but agony and loneliness?"
Gradually, scenes of the past rose in Ikki's addled mind.
During elementary school. Himself as a child, continuously swinging?Intetsu?while bleeding from hands that had skin peeling off. Those days, was what he did the right thing to do? And he didn't even know if he had truly become strong. In those days where he knew nothing, he had learned how to wield a sword from illustrations in reference books. No matter how much he had reached his limits, there was no one willing to instruct him. Therefore, he had stealthily peeped on the children of the branch family from a thicket, and continuously imitated them. That was.. very lonesome, he remembered well. The gentleness and strictness shown to other children by the sword instructors who came to the Kurogane household, they were never shown to him, and he had felt that pain whether he wanted to or not.
―What came up next was the scene in a dojo. Ikki who was in middle school had traveled to a dojo to gain skill. Eventually, there was one scene. A one-on-one fight. Even though he had to make that agreement, the instant the opening signal was given, other disciples would strike him all at once, and he would be held down at that spot.
「The experience of making fun of challenging a dojo, we'll make sure you don't have it a second time!」
And saying so, the middle school club president who was Ikki's opponent took Ikki's hand and broke the pinky with all his might. While guffawing, he did the same to the rest of Ikki's fingers. There was not a single person there to help Ikki. While one and all were laughing in real fun, every single finger was broken. The pain and fear of being abused at that time, it was seared into his memories even now.
―The last scene that appeared was.. one year ago.
「Hey hey. Not resisting won't prove your strength, you know? I, the Hunter, said I would personally be your opponent. At least counterattack!」
He, who had been filled with holes by Kirihara, was stared at by the cold eyes of the teachers.
And―
「Sorry, Kurogane-kun. I can't stay friends with you anymore.」
The words from the friend who drew away from him...
―The voice that was like Ikki's whispered something.
「And now, here you are on the ground in this kind of place. It's because you wanted to prove Ryouma Kurogane's irresponsible words. You're exactly as Father said, if a person lives within his means, this kind of thing wouldn't happen. Nor would you be dragging along this dying body, clawing your way to the place where you'll fight to the death. A desire beyond your means will only bring you unhappiness. For people, there are domains that correspond to each of them. For those who reach for more, there are only pain and solitude. So? Have you had enough? Then be be reasonable, and relax. The nonsense of the departed, that doesn't have to bind you forever. If you just let yourself fall asleep here, everything will be settled. Ryouma Kurogane's words won't torment you ever again. So―」
Just rest already.
Yeah, that's right. He should just rest. If he continued like this, there would only be bitterness. If he closed his eyes, he would be happy. He would surely be happy. He understood that.
He under..stood.. that.. but―
"Ahhh AAAHHHHH AAAAAHHHHHHH!"
A roar came forth from his festering throat, and Ikki raised his body up from the asphalt. And step by step, with each step hardening his stride, he continued through the blizzard up the slope.
「Just stop already. Why do you keep hurting yourself?」
The voice asked that question. The answer to that, Ikki didn't know himself. With his muddied mind and recollections, he couldn't hold a single thought or memory.
But―since a while ago, something had been continually reflected in his consciousness.
Red.. flame.
Gently swaying, spreading incandescence, flame-like red hair.
Whose hair was that? Whose back was that? Right now, Ikki couldn't even remember.
But―every time he caught a fleeting glimpse, his heart couldn't help but be stirred. Even though he didn't know who that was, just because that hair swayed, the heat in his frozen body burned, and his body that had used up all its energy became stimulated.
「Just rest. Someone as hopeless as you will only be defeated by that Raikiri. What can you do if you go there? What can you do as you are now?」
He didn't know about that. In the first place, Ikki didn't know what he was trying to do going there, or where he was even going.
But―
Aah, but―
There was a heat burning in his chest. Feeling that, Ikki remembered only one thing.
I made a promise.
「So.. go.. high.. knigh...」
Though he didn't quite recall the contents, it was a precious vow, made to a precious person.
That wasn't all. He could hear a voice. What it was saying, he couldn't tell. But that familiar voice like a great commotion was pushing him onward.
Then―I have to...
That was Ikki's answer. At that answer, the thing that had been throwing taunts at him heaved a breath of disgust.
「Is that how it is? To the bitter end, you're going to continue your pain, I see.」
On a blackened face, it gave a twisted smile.
「However―it's futile.」
At that moment―
Ah...
At the exact moment he reached Hagun Academy's main gate, Ikki knee collapsed, and his body tumbled to the ground. Whatever Ikki's determination, his body had reached its limit. He could not advance farther than that. He could not stand up anymore. This was the limit of the person named Ikki Kurogane.
「You're finished, you know.」
Ikki's body would fall like a marionette whose strings had been cut, and that body would lay on the ground. The ground that he would not rise from a second time.
―That was what would happen.
However, at the moment he fell.
With a?*thump*.
Arms full of warm and gentle strength caught his falling body. With those strong arms, a trembling subdued voice said something.
"..Welcome back, Onii-sama."
That sweet bell-like voice called forth the memory of a single person from his slowly collapsing recollection. The memory of Ikki's only cherished little sister. That name was―
"Shizu..ku..."
Shizuku, who had caught Ikki's collapsing body in her arms, spoke to him in a hoarse voice.
"..Last night, I heard what Touka-san said, and it's been in my head the entire time."
Whether she should stop her brother, or not.
To speak Shizuku's honest feelings, she thought she wanted to stop him. It was enough already. Her brother had already fought on more than enough. She didn't want her brother to be hurt anymore. To have such bitter experiences. Stop trying to become a knight, and come back to the Kurogane house with her. For her brother, it might be a prison. But she herself was there for her brother. She herself could give her brother love as a mother, a sister, a friend, a lover. She could give her brother whatever he wanted. Therefore.. she should let her brother rest.
"..But even if I think that, I can't help but hesitate about stopping Onii-sama. Because when Onii-sama is at this school, he laughs like he is truly happy."
The times he was at their family home was unimaginable. Yes, he smiled at the young and immature Shizuku, but never smiled, not once, for himself. The smiling face that her brother had earned for himself little by little. To take that away from him, she could not do so no matter the reason.
"So I'll make a gamble. Now that Onii-sama came here by his own will―I will send him off to battle with the biggest cheers I can offer."
Along with Shizuku's words―a commotion arose.
"That's right, Senpai! If it's you, you'll definitely win!!!"
"The match hasn't started yet! Hurry!!!"
"Kurogane-kun! There's just a little more to the arena grounds! Do your best!!!"
"Ikki-kuuun! Fight―!!!"
"Just one more push! Show us what you got―!!!"
These were the cheers that Shizuku had run around gathering in order to send her brother forth. Friends, classmates, pupils, former opponents―many students had been waiting for Ikki's arrival at the main gate. And to Ikki who showed a face like he couldn't believe what he was seeing, Shizuku spoke.
"Onii-sama. Among this group, no one asked anything. Because for all of us, we can easily imagine what has happened to corner you like this. But please don't forget. Onii-sama, you're definitely.. not alone. You certainly might have been alone in the beginning. That time might have been very, very long. But right now, all of these people are supporting you. Even Stella-san and Alice who couldn't be here because of their own matches, they are praying for your victory. You, the Worst One, are the hero of every one of us."
So―
"Please fight. And please win!"
The cheers from Shizuku and the others. They.. certainly reached the consciousness of Ikki who was alone in the blizzard. Ikki in his blurry vision confirmed it firmly.
"Please fight. And please win!"
His silver-haired little sister was there.
"Senpai, I'm going to put a special feature about you on the next wall newspaper, so you absolutely can't lose! Please!"
His lovely classmate with the glasses was there.
"Kurogane-kun. This is a critical moment, you know!"
A tall and beautiful former pupil was there.
"Sensei believes in you. You're not a boy who would lose in this kind of place."
"The student council president is stupidly strong, but you won against me, so let's see your strength!"
"Yeah, what she said."
"Ikki-kun! We absolutely believe that will win!"
The other students who he taught the sword to, as well as the upperclassmen who had always helped him. The classmates who he studied together with. The teacher who had let him into the academy. The worthy opponents who he had competed against for the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival―
Many people were calling Ikki's name. From that sight, a single conviction was born inside of Ikki.
Ahh, at last I understand.
The thing supporting his body that had already been driven past its limits, what that thing was. It was their voices, and their hopes.
People who loved him. People who admired him. And―people whose dreams he had snatched away. The people who were gathered here right now, each and every one of them was entrusting some form of hope to Ikki. That was why they were calling Ikki's name. And those voices, those hopes, they were pushing Ikki onward.
Since the time Utakata told him that 「Between the two of you, the weight of responsibility you're carrying is different」, he had thought he had nothing burdening him, but that was a mistake. His own limits had been exceeded, and Ikki was barely aware of his own existence. The things burdening him now, were the desires entrusted to him.
At some point, I became that kind of person..
The moment he gained that conviction, Ikki felt the fire burning in his heart.?*Babump, babump*, the blood flowing inside his body grew hot, and his strength returned. His collapsed thoughts, memories, they certainly returned to their original form, and his consciousness was cleared.
―He would fight. Of course he would. If hopes were entrusted to him, he could never give up of his own accord.
And more than anything else, he had something with that girl with the flame-like hair who wasn't here―a promise with Stella.
「So let's go together, the two of us, as high as knights can go.」
Right now, he could clearly remember. That precious vow. In order to fulfill that, he could not let things end here!
"..Thanks, Shizuku. Kusakabe-san. Ayatsuji-san. Tomaru-san. Saijou-san. Oreki-sensei. And all of you here."
―At some point, the blizzard had ended.
Giving his thanks, Ikki separated from Shizuku and walked on with his own feet. With his head held high, by the strength that everyone had brought him, to the place of the decisive battle.
His heart was no longer uneasy.
「Someone as hopeless as you will only be defeated by that Raikiri.」
The words that the weak self inside Ikki had spoken. To that, he could answer clearly now.
―Be defeated?
They were burdened with the same weight, and they were knights of equal status. He didn't know if he could win. In truth, she was a formidable enemy. Was she an opponent he could defeat with this physical condition?
The more he thought about it, the more disadvantages he could see, and only that. But he would do the only thing he could. Because for the sake of everyone who gave him strength to move forward step by step, he had the duty to do that.
"Well, off I go―"
At that moment―
"Ikki!!!"
A voice resounded loudly in the summer air. Very, very strongly, and beautifully―a voice more lovely than the notes of any music.
"Stella!"
"Thank goodness.. I got here in time..!"
Crying out and rushing toward in before his eyes, the fiery-haired girl coughed something as she wheezed. At that entry, Shizuku raised her voice in surprise from her position behind Ikki.
"Wha―S-Stella-san! You should be in the middle of your match right now..!"
Yes, that was the reason for Shizuku's surprise. Stella was also a candidate for representative at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival who had been undefeated up to her final match. She was just like Arisuin who hadn't come to this place, someone who must be conducting a match at this time. But despite that, what was she doing here?
Stella didn't respond with an answer.
Instead, she demonstrated it with action.
She took something out and thrust it in front of Ikki's eyes, and said this.
"Ikki, like I promised, I'm now a Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative!"
The thing that Stella had brought out. It was a medal that proved she was a Hagun Academy representative.
That's right, she had already finished her match. With the selection battles' fastest record, a KO at three seconds from match start, against her equally undefeated opponent. All of it was.. for the sake of being in time for this moment.
She was always thinking about this. What she should do. For the sake of Ikki who was fighting alone, what she could do. And the answer she had produced was to protect the vow they made. Protect it, come out to greet him. That would surely become courage for him. So―
"So Ikki, you win too! And let's go together! As high as knights can go!"
At those words, Ikki felt the corners of his eyes heating up. Sheesh, his sweetheart was.. such a wonderful girl. Encouraging him who had used up all of his energy, not just heading him all the way here, but also bringing him such great valor at this moment. Doing such a forceful thing.
I'm in love with her. That's something I'm proud of.
In that case, he needed to prove he was deserving. To not be unfavorably compared to this strong girl, to become proud of himself.
―To do what he could only do.
That faint-hearted spirit, she had scattered it from inside him with just a few words. Therefore he changed the words he had left with the people around him.
It wasn't going to be "off I go".
"I'm going to win!"
"Okay, I see. I understand. Thank you for informing me."
Giving his thanks, Utakata lowered the student datapad from his ear. And he reported to Touka who was stting on a chair in the waiting room with her eyes closed and her concentration heightened.
"A message from Renren. ..Kouhai-kun came."
"..I see."
Touka returned a short reply, and hung her head. Because her hanging forelocks hid her eyes, Utakata could not guess her feelings. Ikki had come to this place. In front of this, even if Touka had been avoiding it, what was she―
"..Ha ha."
For an instant, Utakata felt the hairs on his entire body stand on end. Because Touka's lips had twisted in joy. With sounds of crackling, Touka's excitement had electrified the atmosphere, giving birth to lightning. At that sight, Utakata gulped.
..Her switch has been completely flipped.
He hadn't seen Touka like this since the fight with Moroboshi at last year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
Yes, urging him not to fight was Touka's gentleness in worrying about her underclassman's body. But.. in this world of battle, one could not reach the heights of the best four in the entire country with gentleness alone. The brutality and ferocity that submerges the enemy in a sea of blood. That was also one of this girl's sides.
But then, that was a side she usually rarely shows―
But alas, Ikki had brought out Touka's seriousness. The pride of the boy named Ikki Kurogane, he had made Touka recognize him as a formidable enemy. Touka as she was now would likely never go easy on him. She would undoubtedly rush at the half-dead Worst One. Ikki already didn't have a one-in-ten-thousand chance of winning.
「Contender Touka Toudou. The match will begin shortly, so please go to the entrance.」
"..Well, I'm going, Uta-kun."
Slowly rising from the chair, Touka passed through the door that connected to the entrance gate. Utakata, who saw her back filled to the brim with willpower, felt sympathy for the opponent on the verge of death who had no choice but to fight her at her most excited.
It's pitiable, but try to think of it as sorrow brought by bad luck―Worst One.
「Okay~ everyone in attendance. We've kept you waiting for a while. And now―the last match of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival will begin! From the red gate, it's Raikiri, who went undefeated nineteen out of nineteen matches! Our student council president has shown us an overwhelming strength that won through everything without a scratch. In the records of Hagun Academy, how much have we cheered on her continuously brilliant form? She is the pride of Hagun! Our shining star! In order for this beautiful star to continue on the road of glory toward her last Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, she has come to this battlefield! It's third year contender Touka Toudou, the Raikiri! Right now, with everyone's anticipations on her shoulders, she's standing in the ring of battle!」
Touka who was standing in the ring. With her head held straight and proud, her standing figure staring at the blue gate was surely majestic.
"Amazing concentration, isn't it? Just from that, I can feel shocks on my skin."
Even to Stella who was watching from afar, that strength of will was fully transmitted.
However, Shizuku who had been in the presence of Raikiri's strength before didn't feel just that. The moment that Touka appeared in the ring, a shiver of terror rushed through her whole body. She felt a fear that made her want to avert her eyes.
However―Shizuku didn't avert her eyes. Hugging her shivering shoulders, she endured the urge to flee and stared down on the field.
"Shizuku, are you okay?"
"..Honestly, I'm not, but since Onii-sama is fighting on, there's no way I'll leave this place. I will see this match to the end. No matter what the outcome."
「And from the blue gate, one who was similarly undefeated in nineteen battles. But it's unexpected for him to walk the same road as Raikiri! Without taking anyone as partner, without recognition from anyone―he is the one lone wolf who was left behind at the bottom of the earth. However.. he has crawled up! Against the Crimson Princess! Against the Hunter! Against Runner's High! Blowing past Hagun's famous knights one by one! Now, there's no one in Hagun who doesn't know his name! The strongest F-rank that is Hagun's pride! First year contender Ikki Kurogane, the Worst One! Baring his fangs at the heavens, now he's on this stage of battle to devour a star!」
And after that, Ikki was visible in the blue gate. Facing the battlefield with sturdy steps without the appearance of being half-dead, Ikki's back was straight and dignified as he faced Touka.
However―
"Wha, what's that? ..Isn't the mood different from usual?"
"Y-Yeah.. even though his face is the same as always."
"Looking at it, I get a scary feeling..."
Toward Ikki's form that should be the same as always, the venue made a stir. Even if words didn't come out, everyone felt something in his standing posture. And among them, there were people who definitely recognized it.
"Oh ho? That's Touka's opponent? I see.. he's strong, right?"
"Nangou-sensei, you can tell?"
"Certainly so. He's making an absolutely strained expression. That youngster, he's resolved even to die here, yes? Even the audience is overwhelmed by his resolve. I didn't know that a man like this existed among the Kurogane, but.. this is becoming a rather interesting match, it seems."
"Is that so~? It might not be on his face, but the color of fatigue is deep. Kuu-chan, with his condition like that, is there any chance for him to challenge Touka and win?"
"He he he. Whether there is or there isn't, he has no choice but to challenge her, you know? Whatever the reason, this is a duel."
Disregarding Akaza's disruption from the side, Kurono covered her face and replied.
"..Honestly, the situation is quite bad. He can probably swing the sword properly once or twice. ..But that is why Kurogane will move cautiously. Because he probably already knows Raikiri's killing direction."
"Hmm? Even things like Raikiri's killing direction?"
She was thinking of ignoring him again for a second, but having that oily man heap questions on her also gave an ill feeling. Because she thought so, Kurono explained it to Akaza who was standing across the way.
"..Raikiri is a fast sword draw. Namely, it's a technique that can't attack if the sword isn't returned to the scabbard. By moving in-and-out with fine repetitive motions, he had render Toudou's Raikiri or other Noble Arts useless, and if he draws her sword out, then at least in that instant Raikiri can't be launched. Kurogane's chance to win would be in that moment. ..However, in order to create that chance, he needs to control a battle of attrition with that battered body of his."
It was a disadvantageous battle. But on the other hand, if he went for victory impatiently the chance of success was completely nil. His opponent was still Raikiri, who boasted of invincibility in close range. If he plunged in straightforwardly, he would fall prey to her trump card without a doubt. Because Ikki's Ittou Shura, though it encompassed many years of body strengthening, was still not enough to break through Raikiri. For that reason, there was only a battle of attrition. That was the same opinion that Saikyou held.
But―there was one knight with a different view.
"Ho ho, I see. Kurono-kun, you see this match riding on a battle of attrition?"
It was Nangou. The falcon-sharp eyes inside his wrinkled eyelids shined with a sharp gaze, and he spoke.
"I see that this battle―will be decided with one stroke."
In the outer stands, people became rowdy at the two figures on the stage. Within that upheaval, inside the ring, Touka gave some words as she faced Ikki.
"Kurogane-kun. I have to apologize to you."
"..Apologize?"
"I was thinking all this time that you shouldn't come to this place today. Thinking that, I begged your sister to urge you to not show up. But.. even as I did such a hypocritical thing, the girl that I am.. seeing you before my eyes right now, I can't help but look forward to this fight..!"
Ikki was silent.
"Kurogane-kun, I know that you're covered in wounds right now. I can see how tired you are. But still, I can't help but be excited. Because from the moment I came came across you, I've always, always thought that―I want to fight you!"
With that bit of gossip, a smile grew on her face, and she took a stance. A flash of lightning crossed the air, and that lightning coverged on Touka's hand, taking the shape of?Narukami. She had a face that said she couldn't wait for the match to start anymore.
Facing that, Ikki Kurogane also―
"―About that, I'm the same."
Announcing that, he summoned his beloved black Japanese sword in right hand. Indeed. He was also thinking that the entire time. Raikiri and himself. Which of them was stronger? That he would probably fight with this person. Worrying about it sometimes, he was even sometimes caught in an intangible mist. But right now, he saw that she was very straightforward.
Standing as knights in this place, neither you, nor I, nor the people pushing us forward want to see a single sword being swung in shame. So I promise you this."
Saying so, Ikki raised the sword he held in one hand, and thrusted the point at Touka.
"With my great weakness, I will break your invincibility..!"
He swore that he would absolutely win. Of course, because that was why he had come here.
「The two great rivals have exchanged some words, and taken their Devices in their hands. The girl who is striding toward the summit, and the boy who's crawling up from below. Who is truly the strongest? With the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative position at stake, the last fight begins! Everyone, please cheer for them! LET'S GET STARTED!!!」
The moment of the signal that raised the curtain. Everyone there saw something they could not believe. At the same time the buzzer sounded the beginning of the match, Ikki pulled forth blue light from his body, and ran at Touka.
「Wh-Wh-Wh-What is going on!? Contender Kurogane suddenly used his trump card, Ittou Shura!」
The inside of the venue stirred at that fact. Ikki had employed Ittou Shura at the beginning of the match, which he had never done before.
It was natural. This technique had a strict limit of one minute. It could be nullified just by running away. For that reason, Ikki never used it without first exhaustively understanding the scope of his opponents' powers.
But now, Ikki had thrown away that attitude. He had no stamina left to draw out his opponent's ability bit by bit. Was he too much in a hurry to decide the match because of that fatigue?
In any case―
That decision is reckless, Kurogane..!
Kurono ground her teeth at the sight before her eyes. This was too foolish a choice. While his body had stamina, the match was still in question. The amount of risk could be prepared for. If things became favorable, such tactics might be good, but...
Do you understand? Your opponent is Raikiri!
A member of the country's best four. It was impossible to beat her with a suicidal attack out of desperation. Would he be cut down by Raikiri, or would she escape with her lightning speed? Whichever it was, she couldn't see Ikki winning with this choice. At that fact, both Kurono and Saikyou who was watching at the match at the same time had grim expressions. And influential students like Shizuku and Arisuin were the same. It was too thoughtless. Their expressions twisted in grief. But among them.. the Crimson Princess, -->>