(translation)

After that, Ikki went with Stella to her room to pick out a dress, before they both returned to the Bay Dome. Stella went towards the medical room where Sara was waiting, while Ikki went to the meeting place after contacting Arisuin along the way.

The waiting place was at the third entrance of the Bay Dome. Once Ikki arrived, Arisuin, who was at the bench in front of the fountain, waved his hand.

"Ikki. Here, here."

Ikki jogged toward the guiding voice. Sitting next to Arisuin was Shizuku, who looked like a high-quality doll.

"Sorry for calling you out all of a sudden, Alice. Oh, Shizuku, you came too?"

"Wherever Onii-sama goes, be it into a fire or a bath, Shizuku will join regardless."

"Stop that."

"Hehehe. I'm joking. As expected, going into a fire would be troubling."

"That's not what I'm troubled about.. but are you sure? You have another match today. I think that it's best to preserve your stamina."

More importantly, it would be the third round battle at night. The one who would be competing in D-Block against Shizuku was the one who had already won two consecutive matches without fighting, a member of Akatsuki Academy, Bad Luck Amane Shinomiya. An eerie contender who possessed Nameless Glory, a bottomless causation-manipulation ability that could bend all causal effects to his wishes. As her brother, it was natural for Ikki to be worried about her. However, Shizuku returned that worry with an elegant smile.

"It's alright, Onii-sama. I have a grand secret plan."

"Now that you mention it, you said that before. I haven't heard the details though."

"Yes. As it concerns the outcome, the details cannot be revealed to Onii-sama after all. But it's alright to not worry about me.. or rather, don't you also have a match? Even though your opponent is that exhibitionist of Akatsuki, you want us to go to the department store with her. What exactly happened?"

"Ahh, that's..."

Ikki explained the sequence of events to the doubtful Shizuku. About how Stella had torn her apron, and how Sara still intended to wear that apron to the match. How it was decided that Stella would bring her to the department store after half-threatening her.

"Certainly.. Stella-san can be unexpectedly attentive."

Shizuku responded with an impressed tone after grasping the situation. Though he felt that some parts were unnecessary, Ikki nodded without touching on that part.

"Honestly speaking, it really helped me. If she had entered in that attire.. it would've been hard for me to fight."

He didn't intend for that to disrupt his concentration.. no such intention, but.. he had no confidence. Even Ikki was a young man, so it was a physiological phenomenon that could not be helped.

"I see. So that's the reason you called me."

"Yeah. Alice is well-versed in that, right? That's why I hoped that you can teach Sara-san the joy of dressing up, or at least wearing a minimum amount of clothes."

Arisuin's skill in makeup and coordinating clothes could clearly be understood from seeing Shizuku. If she saw her own figure after he gave her a serious makeover, Sara might also become interested, once she does, she might not show up topless in public anymore. That was what Stella surmised, and Ikki also agreed. He believed that Sara lacked the fundamental feeling of shame. She wore an apron to avoid the paint, so an apron could count as having a minimal amount of clothing to cover herself with, but she would probably go out without even wearing an apron if she was not drawing.

Ikki could not understand the reason as to why she was like that. She was a genius, so it wouldn't be strange if a wire or two in her head were connected differently. Or rather, she didn't understand the concept of wearing clothes in terms of shame at being naked in the first place. Then, the only thing they could do was.. rouse her interest. They could only make her enjoy the act of dressing up.

In consideration of Arisuin's feelings, Ikki asked him apologetically. Arisuin, on the other hand, showed a refreshing smile and replied positively.

"Sure. It's true that I was once part of Akatsuki Academy and their comrade, but I have not met with them directly."

The only ones Arisuin had met directly were Puppeteer Reisen Hiraga, and One-Armed Swordsman Wallenstein who was a teacher of Akatsuki Academy. Hence, he said that it would not be awkward.

"Also.. that girl only became like this due to neglecting her health, but she's like a gem in the rough. I also have the motivation."

"It really helps if you say that."

"..Even so, I'm astonished. That exhibitionist is still aiming for Onii-sama. I'll dropkick her in the stomach again when she arrives."

"I-It's not a good idea to do that to someone who's having a match today..!"

While getting cold sweat at his sister's disturbing words, the three of them chattered as they waited for Stella and Sara to arrive. But after a long wait, those two still didn't arrive. Ikki looked at the time on his student datapad. It was already five minutes past the meeting time.

Speaking of which, they are really slow...

He recognized that girls took a while to prepare, but in this case, it was just putting on clothes on Sara. In considering her preferences, they had even prepared four sets...

Could it be, she's already realized she enjoys dressing up and took her time to pick out the clothes, or something like that?

If that was the case, then it would shorten things, but..

Meanwhile, as Ikki was thinking that..

"Ah. Here come Stella-chan and Sara."

Arisuin stood up after seeing the two coming out of the third entrance of the dormitory. Ikki and Shizuku also stood to welcome them, but.. as the distance shortened, Ikki felt something was wrong. Somehow, Stella was not energetic.

"K-Kept you waiting..."

Nor was her voice full or spirit. Her back was also hunched. She seemed to be very tired.

"..S-Stella, you seem somewhat worn out? What happened?"

"T-That's...."

Stella glanced at Sara who she had brought along. Sara's attire was just a jersey. That wouldn't seem to suggest any sex appeal, but the visual of her cleavage peeking out from behind the zipper opened up at her chest betrayed that expectation. Although this attire shouldn't have anything to do with sex appeal, wearing it sloppily created that impression. They could see passersby also taking glances at Sara's cleavage.

"It's not good for a girl to be wearing such a shameful attire. You're not Fu●ko-chan[1], so close that up properly."

Arisuin complained about her appearance and zipped up the jersey up to her neck. But the instant he let go...

*Zzzz...*

The zipper reopened and returned to its original position.

"O-Oh my..."

"The chest area is too tight to be closed up. Other dresses had their buttons pop off, so nothing worked out."

"Ugh!"

Stella leaked out a groan as if Sara's words were brass knuckles hitting her stomach.

"I s-somehow understand the reason why Stella is like that..."

"....I t-tasted a humiliation that I've never experienced before..."

That was probably true. Girls with chests as big as Stella were not common. Even in Hagun Academy.. probably only Kanata Toutokubara could match her.

"My condolences."

"Honestly speaking, I may feel depressed for a while..."

Stella, who became groggy from an unprecedented psychological impact, bent her waist like an old woman trembling all over, and raised her face in agony. And then.. she suddenly stopped moving.

Stella stared straight at Shizuku, who was standing in front of her...

"―Now then! Since everyone's here, let's hurry up and leave for the department store!"

Her back suddenly straight, she announced so with vigor.

"Stella-san, where did you look just now to recover yourself?"

"We don't have much time because the match is tonight! Let's hurry up!"

"Stella-san, please answer honestly. Because I'll kill you."

It took a twenty-minute-long bus trip from the Bay Dome to reach a certain large downtown street. Three large shopping malls whose names everybody knew[2]?faced one another, forming a fierce warzone in the middle of commercial metropolis Osaka. Ikki's group reached the Japan Railways station which overlooked those three shopping malls and boarded the bus at the roundabout.

The expressions on the five of them were all worn out after the ride, even though they didn't walk here. That was because..

「Kurogane-san! I'm definitely going to Hagun next year! Please remember me!」

「Thank you so much for your autograph, Miss Stella! I'll treasure it for the rest of my life!」

「Shizuku-chan! Please look over here again! With those cold eyes—!」

「Everyone, I'll be cheering for you! Please do your best!」

The windows of the bus were all fully open, with middle school students leaning out and waving.

「Dear passengers, please do not extend your heads outside the windows!」

Ignoring the driver's pitiful warning, those girls continued to wave at Ikki's group with their eyes glittering in admiration.

Indeed, Ikki and the others had shared a bus with some middle schoolers on club activities or some such. The children had swarmed upon them with one-sided admiration, asking for signatures and handshakes. The friendly smiles as they saw off the bus were stiff.

"This is.. I've underestimated it."

As Ikki murmured so with a sigh, Stella nodded and combed up her disheveled hair with her fingers.

"U-Usually, they're not so persistent... Today is really above the norm."

"I'm sick of people.. I feel ill..."

"Are you alright?"

Sara rubbed Shizuku's back, who had a poor complexion. Were it the usual Shizuku, she would have put up a strong front to people other than Ikki and Arisuin, but...

"Mmm, thank you.. ugh."

Shizuku, who already disliked crowds, had been showered with praise and admiration, and it made her too tired to put up a front.

"Well, they used to hold back for privacy reasons, but now everyone is in a festive mood... Not to mention four out of the eight Festival quarterfinalists are gathered here. We should've expected this."

All of them nodded to Arisuin's words, even if that regret was a little too late—

*Rumble rumble*

A sudden noise resounded in their ears. As they raised their heads to see what was happening..

"Wha?"

「Hey, over here, over here! They're in front of the bus stop!」

「Eek—! Ikki-kun in person! Just like Tweeter said!」

「Quick, let's share this with everyone!」

「Stella-sama—! Please shake hands with me—!」

It was literally a human wave from the shopping mall that was their destination, rushing towards the bus stop where Ikki's group had disembarked. Probably someone, or maybe everyone on the bus.. had leaked Ikki's group's location onto the Net.

"Social networks are scary—"

"Now's not the time to escape from reality, Alice! If we don't act, someone will get injured!"

"C-Certainly if someone fell down amid such a big group, it would be terrible."

"But Onii-sama, what should we do to calm them..."

「Breasts! The Imperial Princess's breasts! With this many people we can do it!」

「Gotta try to touch them in the chaos!」

「Aim for the b-button at the middle! The center button!」

「Shizuku-sama! Please use your adorable little feet to step on me—!」

"Okay, let's just kill them."

"C-Calm down, you two! I understand your feelings, but you'll be expelled!"

Ikki tried to cool down the two's bloodthirst, and made a suggestion at the same time.

"Instead, let's escape! If we were caught by that many people, forget about buying clothes, we might not make it back for the match!"

However...

"That may be a little too late."

Turning around upon hearing Sara statement, they saw people bursting out from the station behind them with mobile phones, wanting to get a closer look at the national quarterfinalists. In other words, Ikki and the others were surrounded.

"Well, it doesn't seem possible to escape."

"It can't be helped."

"True. I didn't want to resort to violence, but it can't be helped."

"The faces you two are making isn't 'it can't be helped', but filled with killing intent!?"

What to do? At this rate, it'll really turn into a bloodbath...

But Ikki had no alternative in mind. They were not listening, as far as he could see. What should he do? As he thought over this difficult situation..

"In short, it's fine as long as those people can't see."

As Sara told him, she took out her device?Brush of the Demiurge?and its palette.

"What are.."

You doing??Before Ikki could finish asking, Sara had already finished her business with divine speed. She mixed the paint on her palette into a gray color and..

"Color of Magic─Stone Gray of the Roadside."

She then painted it onto the back of her hand, and in that instant, Ikki and the others sensed that they could no longer focus on Sara.

The Noble Art called Color of Magic controlled the concept associated with colors. One of those colors was stone gray. Those painted that color would find themselves difficult to notice, like a pebble on the side of the road, to the point of imperceptibility except by knights who routinely trained their concentration. ..Ikki and the others hadn't received an explanation about this technique from Sara, but they all felt and understood the effect of her Noble Art. At the same time, they also knew how to handle the current situation.

"I see. It would be fine to use magic and make myself invisible. I didn't think of this since I've never used my abilities this way."

"..If there is another solution, then it can't be helped."

As they murmured somewhat disappointedly, Stella and Shizuku closed their eyes..

"Flame Veil."

"Blue Fantasy."

With these words, each covered herself with magic power--Stella with heat and Shizuku with water--to bend light, making themselves invisible to the crowd. These were applications of their excellent magic power control.

"These three are as skillful as ever. Then I'll use my ability to thin Ikki's shadow."

Arisuin deployed his Device,?Darkness Hermit, as he said so. His ability controlled the concept of shadow, and using that power would literally make the shadow thinner, obtaining a temporary enhancement in stealth.

Usually, the use of Blazer abilities weren't allowed public areas, but at this rate they were bound to cause a major incident. Ikki understood this so he didn't protest, but...

"No, it's fine."

Ikki declined Arisuin's assist.

"Oh? But you can't do something like this with magic, right?"

"That's true, but my physical ability is more than enough to handle normal citizens."

Ikki turned his focus to the human wave rushing towards them. Reading blind spots, he strode into the crowd with Trackless Step, weaving like a thread through the holes in their collective attention. Not a single person noticed Ikki travelling against the human wave. His vision pinpointed the limits of each individual gaze, and his body moved without a millimeter of error, astonishing Arisuin.

"Oh my. Your stealth even humbles an assassin. I'm really amazed by you, Ikki."

With an admiring voice at Ikki Kurogane's fathomless technique, Arisuin followed after those four.

Once Darkness Hermit sank into his own shadow.. that shadow immediately thinned out. In that moment, the five people vanished from the attention of all onlookers.

「H-Huh!? The're gone!? Disappeared!?」

「Hey wait a minute! What do you mean!? Ikki-kun's not there!」

「That's strange. Weren't they were here just a moment ago?」

The confused crowd was in an uproar upon five people disappearing like smoke. With their targets lost, the passion that had lost its direction soon dispersed with no more risk of injury. Seeing that, Ikki and the others passed through the crowd of hundreds of people and entered the shopping mall.

After the five of them entered the nearest shopping mall, they took escalators to the sixth floor where women's clothes were sold. Coincidentally, a Summer Lady Fashion Exhibition was being held, so some partitions of the whole floor were temporarily removed.

"Ohh. There's quite a variety of stores."

"They also seem to be displaying some overseas brands during this exhibition."

Shizuku had supplemented Stella's impression after looking at a flyer given out at the floor entrance. The shopping crowd during the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival was far above usual. What better time was there to make sales? It was obvious that the shops would give it their all during such an event.

"If there's such a variety of clothes, you're sure to find one you like! Now, let's hurry up and browse around!"

But despite Stella's energy, Sara's expression was unmotivated, she randomly grabbed a nearby piece of clothing.

"..This is fine."

"Huh? You already decided? Wha, this is a negligee! It's what you wear for sleeping!"

"It's fine if I can wear it."

"It's not fine! This is pretty much see-through! We can't even broadcast the match if you wear this! Don't just pick randomly, choose properly!"

Sara grumbled.

"..Then this."

"What? Now it's not even clothes! This is a belt! Just a belt!"

"It covers my breasts if I wrap it around."

"Wouldn't that just make you look like you have a unique fetish!? Make sure to choose clothes, only clothes!"

"Got it. I'll choose properly after looking.. done."

"So in the end, an apron!? Are you somehow cursed to only wear aprons naked!?"

"It's quick to put on and take off, and feels nice. Logically, it's the best choice."

"..I wonder if this is what marrying a husband with no interest in food feels like."

"Indeed."

Next to Stella holding her head, Arisuin mumbled his agreement with his hand on his chin.

"This is even more severe than I expected."

She wore clothes out of obligation. Making her interested in fashion would be a true challenge. However..

"Can you understand somehow?"

"Well, leave it to me."

Arisuin believed there must be a method. If she had no reason, he just need to create one.

"Hey, Lily. Why aren't you interested in fashion?"

"..There's no need for me to decorate myself. I don't really have anyone to dress up for."

"But you want to have Ikki as your nude model, right?"

"So?"

"Then isn't that a reason?"

As Sara tilted her head in confusion, Arisuin got closer to her ear and spoke an evil whisper.

"Make yourself cute... You just need to make him fall for you."

"Wha, A-Alice!?"

"W-Wh-What are you saying!?"

With Alice's disturbing words, the expressions on Ikki and Stella changed. The friend who knew about their relationship was trying to create discord, so that reaction was natural.

But Sara knew about their relationship too.

"..Impossible. The Crownless Sword King already has the Crimson Princess as his lover. He won't fall in love with me."

Her eyes were narrowed with disapproval at Arisuin's suggestion. However..

"Hahaha. That's not quite true, you know? A man is a creature who says 'I'll love only you for all my life', but can easily have an affair. As a famous painter, you should know, right? If Zeus himself was like that, how certain is Ikki, a mere human, that he won't have an affair? And not to mention that this country has a nonsensical saying, 'affairs are the proof of a husband's worth'."

"..Is that so?"

"It is. You just need to work hard and make yourself pretty, then snatch Ikki away, see? And then won't you be able to draw him all you want?"

Arisuin looked like the serpent tempting Eve, gradually guiding her into taboo. Stella could not keep quiet anymore, and interrupted the two.

"A-Alice! Don't teach her weird things! And Sara, don't make that maybe-I'll-try-working-a-little-harder face! Ikki's my boyfriend, got it!? S-Seduction is immoral, it's absolutely not allowed!"

But Arisuin only gave a provocative smile.

"Oh my, oh my~? Isn't this opinion really unlike you, Stella-chan?"

"W-What do you mean?"

"Did you believe you won after becoming a couple? I thought that Stella-chan would say something like 'I'll hold on to Ikki's heart with my charm, so try snatching him away if you can!'"

"Guh..!"

Stella wavered slightly at Arisuin's provocation. Shizuku, who had been observing her until that moment, slid in and hugged Ikki's arm like a tangling ivy, and dealt another blow.

"Well well, there's nothing more unbearable to watch than complacency. A woman should chase after a more charming man, and a man should chase after a more charming woman, but even with this natural law not unlike survival of the fittest, for you to claim morality and cling to arbitrary human concepts.. you're such a boring woman. Onii-sama, be careful. Women fall into depravity like this. It's better for you to abandon her now, before she stops doing the housework, and spends her day lazing around watching dramas while her husband works, wasting all the family savings on playing the stock market. Of course, Shizuku won't become someone like that."

"Grr..!"

"G-Geez, Alice and Shizuku, don't bully Stella so much."

Ikki joined in, unable to watch this anymore. In the end, if he himself had no such intention, there wouldn't be any affair in the first place, and Ikki was confident that such a thing was impossible. That was obvious. How would he be unsatisfied with such a wonderful girl beside him, a girl that he was unworthy of? Hence, Ikki said his thoughts aloud.

"Stella, you don't need to take them seriously. My feelings will absolutely─"

"Wait, Ikki."

"Mgh!?"

But those words were physically blocked by Stella's hand.

"..Just as they said, I was wrong."

"S-Stella?"

"I know what you're going to say, but those words coming from you because I forced them is entirely different."

Stella cautioned herself in her heart. Did becoming his girlfriend mean she had won? This was an excellent point. She had become too complacent about their relationship after it was revealed.

I'm not qualified to fight off all the girls gathered around Ikki, for one thing.

Of course. Ikki Kurogane was a man loved by none other than Stella Vermillion. He was that charming a man. In a sense, it was obvious that those who knew his story and received his kindness would come to like him. ..And in addition, it was not elegant at all for her to make a fuss with 'I'm his girlfriend, that's why!' at every single person who got close to him. It was not charming.

If I relax just because of our promise, I'll be finished as a woman..!

It was the heart, and not a promise, that bound lovers together. To keep on loving him, and keep being loved by him. Only by striving like this, could she honestly accept Ikki's words─!

"Fine! Sara Bloodlily, do as you like if you want! I won't stop you! But I won't let you steal him! Ikki's heart belongs to me, Stella Vermillion!"

Thrusting one finger high in the air with her declaration of war, Stella left the group and strode towards the exhibition by herself, not wanting to waste a single moment. She was likely thinking about how to win against Sara, who had Arisuin's fashion support.

"Since it's a rare chance for me as well, Onii-sama, I'll see you later."

Shizuku walked away alone, in the same direction.

The mastermind, seeing those two leave, allowed cheerful giggles to spill out.

"Hehehe. Ikki sure is loved."

And standing in Arisuin's gaze, Ikki fumed.

"..Aliiiiice."

"Aww, don't make such an angry face. You're ruining your own cuteness."

"How can I not be angry? You provoked Stella on purpose since you know she hates losing."

"What else could I do? This was the only reason I figured Lily would accept. And I mean every single thing that I told them too. Ikki, you also don't want to chain Stella-chan down with just some promise, right?"

"..Well, that's true."

After hearing the explanation, Ikki couldn't make a rebuttal either.

"Then I'll take Lily around. Do you want to come along?"

"..No, Shizuku seems to have disappeared, and since I have something I want to buy, I will shop by myself."

"I see. Then let's meet up back here in two hours."

Since the shops were having a showdown, the contents of the exhibitions were very diverse, from casual wear to formal dresses and even native outfits. Three floors of the department store were being used to display ladies' wear from classic to modern, Eastern to Western. The main goods were displayed on attention-grabbing mannequins, pushing the summer's trends and brands.

A mild milky-colored one-piece. A refreshing striped flared skirt. Just seeing them brought about a joyous mood. And yet..

"It's cute, but..."

They weren't good enough, Stella thought. Not to mention that her opponent had Arisuin, who made Shizuku appear three times cuter the last time he seriously dressed the girl up. Given Sara never even bothered with appearance, she might have even greater potential.

The mainstream outfits Stella held in her hands.. simply put, they were ordinary. She was slightly worried.. but being too unorthodox would also be dangerous.

"Oh?"

At that moment, the pensive Stella was attracted to a corner of the exhibition. What she saw in that section was 『Chill! Yukata Summer Exhibition! (You may try them on)』 written on a pamphlet.

It was a corner specially for handling yukata.

"This may be good!"

Though it was mainstream, it would also be a highly unexpected choice. Not only was it proper for the season, she didn't have to worry about clashing with Sara, who would be choosing clothes with ease of movement in mind for her match. And since Stella didn't have a single set of kimono, this was a good opportunity to buy some. Stella made up her mind and walked towards the corner, and after browsing through the beautiful merchandise, she eventually picked one out. It was a red and white yukata that matched her hair.

Stella released Flame Veil as she took it into her hands, then walked towards the shop attendant.

"Excuse me. I want to try this on."

"Welcome. You'd like to try it? Then this way..!?"

The expression on the middle-aged woman froze in recognition.

"Y-Y-Y-You're, could it be that you're Vermillion's Princess Stella? W-Why are you here!?"

"Like I said.. umm, I want to try this."

"A-Ahh! That's right! That's what you said! Our shop has that service! I forgot about it out of shock! Th-Then please, wait a moment! I'll prepare tea and some tea cakes! Saitou-san! Please go and buy some top-grade tea cakes and tea! The most expensive ones!"

"No, you don't have to! There's no need for that, please let me try this on!"

Stella stopped the middle-aged woman who was trying to take out a wallet to give her colleague nearby.

"I came with my friends today, so I can't stay for long. But I appreciate the thought."

"S-Sorry for my impoliteness. We have no experience in receiving state guests, s-so I became a little overexcited.. ahaha."

"I'm just a student now. Please, don't mind it."

"I understand. Then please wait in this dressing room. I'll help you put it on at once."

Stella was guided to the partitioned space in the middle of the kimono corner, its size about eighteen square meters. She passed through the curtain over the entrance and walked towards the center. And then, she saw a familiar figure.

"Shizuku? Why're you here?"

"Is there any reason other than trying on clothes? ..Since it's such a rare chance that Stella-san herself is allowing others to tempt Onii-sama, I was thinking of showing him my appearance in yukata after such a long time."

"Grr..."

Stella frowned at the expected reply. Even though she purposely chosed something that wouldn't overlap with Sara, she ended up clashing with the other opponent. But since she had already decided on the kimono, Stella wasn't going to retreat.

"I don't remember you ever being considerate though.. hmph. Well, do what you want. It's fine as long as I win Ikki's heart."

Hearing Stella's declaration, Shizuku gave a meaningful smile.

"Ha.. I will need to congratulate you on that, huh?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Even though I've chosen a yukata, you're going to do the same. Are you sure that's fine? You won't stand a chance, you k-->>

next page