Seiken Tsukai no Kinju Eishou

Private Akane Academy was different from ordinary schools.

Moroha actually felt that after a long time.

After school. Strikers’ special practice.

The gathered members and reserve members shouted loudly and cheered; a hot whirlpool rose up to the high ceiling of the third martial arts stadium.

There were two girls at the center of the turmoil.

One of those two brushed up her side tail and declared, getting c.o.c.ky.

–  The special training, the special training has us stressed! When everyone should be excited and hyped about the school festival!

Ranjou Satsuki claimed so with a loud voice.

Cheers and applause came from the team members who were around her.

Among them, Sophia Mertesacker, a blonde girl with dark skin (and with a height of 190 centimeters), was particularly enthusiastic.

– I agree! For us, it’s about hoping to make memories of our last school festival!

There were many other supporters who were third years like Sophia.

Moroha also joined the group and gave applause to Satsuki.

– This I has received the intense feelings of everyone!

Satsuki, who received their support, threw out her chest more and more and stared fixedly at a person.

The one she stared at was a boyish second year senpai, her name was Momochi Haruka.

– I agree with “It has stressed” though? But what about Strikers running a coffee shop? Preparations and what not are quite a pain, aren’t they? Won’t we be getting really stressed because of that?

She didn’t raise her voice, but she clearly disagreed with Satsuki’s opinion.

“Yeah, that’s right” and so on were raised by the members who surrounded her.

The loudest among them, who spun there like a freak――rather, like a young n.o.bleman on ice, was Kammie-senpai.

– Not me! In my cla.s.s, it was decided that I’d do the leading role of a super incredible play! When it comes to a big actor like me, making me hold a simple and boring heavy labor like a coffee shop is a big NO THANKS! Do I provide you with special seats for my drama? Hmm?

Another person, the demon vice-captain Kanzaki Tokiko, said oppressively with her arms folded.

– I decided to spend my time flirting with Haimura during this school festival. Don’t get in my way, you la.s.s!

As usual, those two had lots of things that could be retorted about, but those were accepted now.

The group that was busy with their cla.s.s performance, the group that already had plans with their lovers and the group that simply tended to find most things bothersome unanimously shouted objections.

– That’s why, Satsuki. Be reasonable! If you want to do a coffee shop that much, why don’t you suggest it in your cla.s.s?

Haruka plainly told her despite looking apologetic while being supported by the voices of the opposing group.

However, Satsuki shook her head to the left and right violently.

She raised her voice much more and further insisted on the legitimacy of her own opinion.

– I refuse! I don’t have friends in my cla.s.s!

– Ugh…. You haven’t been able to have friends yet? It’s half of the second semester already.

Haruka showed a wry smile mixed with cold sweat.

– But I’m on good terms with every one of Strikers!  That’s why I want to do it with these members!

– It’s not like I don’t understand your feelings, but…

Did she have a pain in her chest? Was it out of compa.s.sion? Haruka’s tone of voice became weaker,

– Why are you faltering!?

Tokiko spanked her together with a threatening shout.

An almost delightful and high-pitched spanking sound resonated, the face of Haruka dyed with bashfulness.

– W-what are you doing so suddenly, senpai!?

– It’s a whip of love to beat your tepid determination into shape.

– I didn’t feel love at all!

– Hou. Are you saying you don’t understand your senpai’s heart who’s worried about you?

Tokiko made her eyes shine with a flash behind her small gla.s.ses.

– Listen. What’ll happen if you give that coffee shop a try? You’ll fall into an awkward situation in which you’ll expose a disgraceful behavior that you won’t be able to cook anything in front of your beloved Haimura, am I right?

– Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, why are you bring that up so suddenlyyyyyyy?

– Why? I’m just making you remember your original intention about why you’re against it. This is what a senpai heart means.

– You’re lying, lying, lying! That’s an absolute lieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Haruka reddened up to the forehead and jumped lightly and repeatedly.

Tokiko was annoyed as if looking down on her,

– What a troublesome girl.

– No matter how I look at it, senpai is the troublesome person here!

– Internal discord isn’t accepted, girls! If you bother to quarrel like the goop in the eye laughing at the snot in the nose, then you’ll be beyond salvation and the discussion won’t advance.

Kamekichi forced his way through between Haruka and Tokiko with a moon walk,

「「The most troublesome guy says so!?」」

He received an iron fist from the left and right.

The writhing-in-pain Kamekichi was at the feet of the angered Tokiko and Haruka. When they should be glad that he mediated normally.

– But Kammie-senpai’s words are true. Let’s continue the discussion promptly.

*Ahem*――A deep and strong cough was heard.

The clamored team members fell completely silent all at once as if suddenly becoming quiet.

The one who was in front of their eyes and who simultaneously gathered everyone’s attention was the captain Isurugi Jin.

There were very few neutral groups that didn’t care if they ran a coffee shop or not.

Taketsuru Uisuke, who was one of them, showed a refreshing smile and,

– In the end, this won’t stop even if we discuss it. Momochi and Ranjou will settle it right here.

He winked like a good-looking guy.

As soon as that happened, Satsuki and Haruka fixedly stared at each other.

– Let’ have a fair and square match, Momo-senpai!

– I agree, with no hard feelings.

They confronted each other again and gave off sparks with their gazes.

The rest of the people, who left the arena to Isurugi and the two who glared at each other, moved to the observation seats in a crowd.

Because they were in the way.

Of Satsuki and Haruka’s one-on-one match.

Moroha turned his head to the arena many times as he walked blended with the flow of people.

(This school is terrible for trying to decide things with a sword and not with lottery or majority vote, huh…)

He sat down as he complained in his mind.

Next to him was Urushibara Shizuno who showed little to no interest and who had opened a small-format paperback book in the observation seat a long time ago.

– Why the long face?

Shizuno closed the small-format paperback book and asked with a blank look on her face.

– Well, they’re going to have a duel, but I don’t know who I should support.

– Ara, I thought you’d naturally support Ranjou-san.

– When it comes to battle, both are important companions.

– Hmm…. When it comes to battle, you say? Correction, that’s the common way of thinking of Moroha.

Shizuno had a sudden transformation and turned her inquisitive eyes to the two people in the arena,

– As their master, which of your apprentices will win?

– I’m not their master or anything like that. I’m just frequently going along with their personal special training.

– If so, then who do you think will win?

– I don’t know. I really don’t.

– I see. But I do know?

– Shizuno? Hee, I want to hear that.

– Okay then, lend me your ear.

Moroha’s curiosity suddenly welled up, but he looked sullen after he heard Shizuno’s prediction that was whispered into his ear.

– Is that your answer?

– Yes, it is. I’m looking forward to the results.

Moroha, with his face still sullen, turned about to the front just like Shizuno had indicated.

The arena and its surroundings were getting more and more excited, wrapped in a wild enthusiastic mood.

– Satsukiii! Don’t think of anything complicated! Aim for a simple way of fighting. Stand firm and try to not let Haruka’s speed toy with you!

Sophia, who was in the front-row seats of the observation seats, gave advice to her like a trainer.

– Please leeaavee iit too mee! See how my speed fighter countermeasures are perfect!

Satsuki replied with a pose, turning her right hand around and then made a somewhat smallish double-edged sword manifest.

– I’ll show you how perfect my countermeasures are.

Haruka made a small suitable-for-thrusting sword manifest while wearing a fearless smile.

Tokiko and Kamekichi shouted in the front-row seats after that.

– What happens when a kouhai defies a senpai? That’ll have to be engraved on Ranjou’s body with disgrace!

– *Gihihihihihi*, there’s no reason for a regular member to lose against a reserve member! Isn’t this settled before it started?

These ones were more of a jeerer than a trainer.

And those where the lowest.

Haruka replied without omission even though she ignored them.

– If you fight with such a naïve thinking, then you’ll trip up. The rapid growth of Satsuki in the last days isn’t impressive. I intend to fight as if you were one of my rank.

Her fearless smile was still there, but Haruka didn’t show even the least of carelessness.

A light of prana from her whole body rose up and swayed like a blue flame.

A nice brilliance that made one infer the improvement of her willpower.

(As expected of Momo-senpai)

Moroha was happy that a person as stoic as her listened to his words and devoted herself to become stronger.

And, as for Satsuki, it seemed she was pleased about the frank impression of Momo-senpai,

– Fuo〜〜〜h fuoh fuoh fuoh fuoh fuoh fuoh! It’s true that smart people can understand! This is an evidence that Momo-senpai is a strong warrior, and that in itself is something I can correctly grasp with my true strength.

She laughed in ecstasy and louder than usual.

However, when Isurugi, who remained in the arena as the referee, raised his right hand and signaled「get ready」, she focused her mind and put a face of a brave challenger.

The body of Satsuki wore gold prana from corner to corner.

Just a dazzling and perfectly clear brilliance.

Moroha stared at it, closing his eyes partly.

In the body of a Shirogane, there were 7 gates to pump prana out.

Until the very last month, Satsuki was only capable of opening 6 of them when she was in a good condition, but she was finally able to open all 7 of them unrestrictedly and got the hang of them while Moroha went to Russia.

Now, the prana that Satsuki was clad in could be felt even when she had the appearance of being calm.

As of October, she was the only person among the first years who succeeded in opening 5 gates. Although it was considered that the「foundation is completed」only after one is capable of opening the 7 gates freely, which was usually said to take one year normally.

7 months have pa.s.sed since Satsuki enrolled. She had been practicing for 2 months before that, so 9 months in total.

It could be said that her growth rate was exceedingly superior.

Moreover, the fierceness of Satsuki these days wasn’t going to be satisfied with that much.

(Your talent has finally begun to bloom…)

At the end of the point the deeply moved Moroha stared at――

The sword of Satsuki in her right hand also wore a golden brilliance.

Ancestral Arts’ Light Technique Venus.

Cla.s.sified as one of the 5 star techniques, it sharply increased the destructive power of a weapon.

If opening the 7 gates was the「foundation」, then the learning of the 5 star techniques was the「application」.

It was said that it took two years normally.

Those who could use it by the ninth month of enrollment were less than ten in the history of Akane Academy.

This wasn’t about a “superior category”, but an exceptional growth rate.

– Start!

Isurugi swung his right hand downward and the match between Satsuki and Haruka began. Haruka was the one to move first.

She continued doing small and repeated jumps as she took distance of a little more than 10 meters.

No sooner than she moved vertically, taking a satisfying rhythm with a tap――she appeared before Satsuki’s eyes with a horizontal leap and all of a sudden.

From the point of view of Haruka, the fastest within the school, a distance of this degree wasn’t the same.

Furthermore, she shortened the distance by accelerating to the top speed in an instant. A tremendous difference in pace that made the viewer have a hallucination that the figure of Haruka was still jumping there.

One of the seven derived techniques of G.o.dlike Movement, the way of walking that creates afterimages, Giant Gate.

The eyes of Satsuki were still clearly seeing Haruka’s afterimages.

Even though the real body before her eyes had launched a thrust, Satsuki stood upright.

(Yes, since Momo-senpai is proud of her footing, then acting first and surprising the opponent is always important)

Moroha gave her that advice before.

– Yaaah!

Haruka hit her with the small sword together with a short and sharp spirit.

She was after Satsuki’s chest. Although any fatal wound would be cancelled if she were to go outside of the martial arts stadium’s barrier, it was an unrelenting blow. Without going easy on her just as she had declared.

She also used the Light Technique Venus. The sword blade that housed Haruka’s prana was similar to blue lightning.

The sharp point of the sword hit Satsuki’s chest directly ….

*Clang*!!

It was repelled as if it hit an iron wall.

– You kidding meeeee!?

Even though she was in the middle of a battle, Momo-senpai opened her eyes wide and raised a voice in disarray.

Satsuki smug at her and shifted to counterattack, holding her sword aloft.

– Fuo〜〜〜h fuoh fuoh fuoh! Did you se it? That’s Sophie-senpai style’s b.o.o.b defense!

A compact form with good power. The high-speed diagonal slash from the shoulder cut Haruka off.

– I felt like I hit an iron wall or something like that.

Haruka pretended to being cut off and evacuated backwards, leaving only an afterimage.

– Iron wall? You felt a “boing” like the ones of Sophie-senpai, didn’t you!?

Satsuki bent her legs like a spring and charged like a cannonball, exchanging her physical strength for linear speed.

– It certainly felt like a clank!

Haruka forestalled after she saw Satsuki’s preliminary action and countered with a high-speed maneuver without a preliminary action.

– My b.o.o.bs shouldn’t be that hard!

Satsuki adopted a stance, calming down where she was the moment she lost sight of Haruka.

– An impregnable cliff…

Haruka hit Satsuki’s back with the sword, but she grimaced as it was repelled again.

– Kh, they’re still bigger than Momo-senpai’s!

Satsuki relied fully on the power she was proud of and released a back diagonal slash that created a whirlwind.

– S-shut up. That doesn’t matter now, you baka, baka!

Haruka jumped greatly into the air without frontal impulse, lightly jumped over Satsuki’s head and slash as if mocking her, rotated once in the air and landed without making a sound.

The two girls showed a high-level offense and defense as they cursed each other with low-level insults, they made the team members who watched the game get greatly excited.

(Yup, both of them are doing well, as expected of their everyday special training)

Even Moroha felt good seeing them.

Haruka excelled in speed and was able to manage a phantasmagoric way of walking with the expert of G.o.dlike Movement, but she had the bad habit of willingly attacking way too much.

Certainly, if she was faster than her opponent, she had the tendency to seize the initiative by keeping up the attacks; one could say that the means of making sport of the opponent with a way of walking and speed was effective.

However, just taking the very lead wasn’t a practical use of speed.

If she surpa.s.sed her opponent in speed, then she could do a counter while keeping her leeway.

The more she overwhelmed her with speed, the more the room she had, the choices of countermeasures expanded; in the end, she defended against the things the opponent wanted to do with a feeling like waiting to see her opponent’s movement, she reached a point she was able to counterattack. Moroha explained how strong this was and gave her advice about how to learn it.

She obviously didn’t master it at first. Haruka had a complex regarding her powerlessness and lack of attack power, so she voluntarily didn’t attack first, she was uneasy about it.

But now, as he could see, it was possible for her to judge when to attack first or when to counterattack, this was the result of her every day’s efforts.

– Hey, Satsuki?

Haruka, who jumped over the back diagonal slash, got out of her sword range immediately after she landed and recovered her breathing.

– What, was that trick?

She thrust her twice with her sword but suspected she would be repelled by Satsuki’s body again, so she glared at her as if appraising her.

As for the flow of the battle, Moroha gave his most deep down praise to Haruka who could persevere in it, being able to be cautious after a brief pause.

– Fuoh fuo〜n. I just guarded myself with High Durability?

– I lack power and you’re tough, yes, but there’s no way you can defend against Venus with High Durability.

It was natural for Haruka to not be convinced.

It was also contrary to the principle of Ancestral Arts’「Easy to attack, hard to defend」.

– Fuoh fuo〜n. It’s not an ordinary High Durability, you know? It’s Nii-sama’s secret super High Durability.

– What’s that!? Will you teach me that too!?

Even though they were in the middle of a fight, Haruka looked at Moroha spontaneously.

The gazes of the other team members concentrated on him all at once.

Only Sophia said「He already taught it to me」proudly.

– Well… I’ll teach it to you later. You’re in a match now.

Moroha showed a wry smile as he scratched his head.

Satsuki and Haruka suddenly realized so and held their swords at the ready again, glaring at each other.

Moroha, who still had that wry smile,

– It’s really not that much of a deal, and she’ll just be stumped if she expects too much from it…

He complained in a low voice that only Shizuno could hear.

– No matter how much time pa.s.ses, you’re a person who doesn’t get used to being an S-Rank, aren’t you? But, I like that.

– Don’t tease me…

Moroha was overwhelmed by Shizuno who ma.s.saged his knee as if caressing him, encouraging him and comforting him.

However, the reality was that the Light Technique trick that Satsuki used didn’t amount to much.

There were two advanced techniques regarding High Durability that hardened one’s body.

One was Sun: It concentrated prana on a single part of the body and made it invincible.*

The other one was Moon: It condensed all the prana in an instant and made it invincible for a moment. *

*TN: These terms use archaic kanji for sun (金烏) and moon (玉兎).

They were too difficult, almost n.o.body could master them.

When it came to Moon, even Moroha was uncertain about it, he couldn’t feel inclined to handle it. The “White Knight” Edward was the only user known to get through it in his previous and current life.

However, for example, if it was an applied technique that hit the exact middle point between High Durability and Sun, then it wasn’t that difficult. It was a means to concentrate prana on relatively wide areas such as「arms」and「abdomen」rather than a single part of the body and to obtain a high defense power without drifting away from “invincibility”.

This was a very popular technique, used by the majority of the reserve members and team members of Strikers.

And, Moroha thought.

So, if an applied technique that hit the exact middle point between High Durability and Sun was thought out, then one could use it even if one wasn’t Edward, right? He concentrated on defense for about 10 seconds and tried a means to get high defense power that wasn’t far from invincibility.

The result――although he was able to get a defense power he had expected, he ascertained that his body lost practically all mobility while focusing on it.

It had its use in actual fighting, but the completion of this tricky technique wasn’t useful without coming up with something.

That was why he didn’t teach it to a lot of people, but he thought that there was a lot of valid situations for tank types that excelled in power and toughness but had difficulty in evasion like Satsuki and Sophia, so he told them in their personal special training.

In the match now, it would have been difficult for Satsuki to evade the first ultrafast thrusting of Haruka and the thrusting from a blind spot she counterattacked in an instant.

But Satsuki guessed that「Haruka would start something」and waited for the use of the applied technique of Moon.

And when Haruka got to her back, she also guessed that「A surprise attack when she disappeared from my sight would come」.

Satsuki herself, who mastered a technique rather than the trick of a technique, was magnificent.

For that reason, the signs of Satsuki’s and Haruka’s efforts made Moroha happy.

Unlike speed fighters, who fought by taking advantage of preemptive attacks and counterattacks, the tank-type Satsuki was eventually forestalled in a battle of different levels of ability.

Therefore, it was crucial to stand ready and solidly, take a closer look at the opponent’s approach, pull through their offensive and strike back.

Satsuki, who was usually restless, controlled herself well. Moroha was delighted as if it was his own affair, because she succeeded in doing so with an opponent like Haruka.

– What happened to your body!? Are you done?

*Clank* !*Clank* !*Clank* !

Haruka made free use of G.o.dlike Movement, toyed with Satsuki and thrust from a blind spot each time she was repelled.

– W-what an impolite way of talking you have. Is that how you face a young maiden in her teens?

*Scornful laugh*

Immediately after Satsuki was struck, she countered, but at that moment, Haruka already escaped from her sword reach and Satsuki’s huge sword that cut the air changed into an electric fan.

All of Haruka’s attacks were repelled by Satsuki’s High Durability.

All of Satsuki’s attacks were dodged by Haruka’s G.o.dlike Movement.

It became a stalemate at a high level.

Those who watched the game were fascinated by the exciting match, but the ones doing it were impatient.

The result of that――

– Satsuki’s that Tetsujin 28- gō!*

*TN: A very old manga of a mecha known as Iron Man 28 or Gigantor.

– That metaphor is too old, you grandma Momo-senpai!

– You’re only a piece away from that.

– If I’m only a piece away from that, then my smooth-textured skin is doing a good job.

– Will you be able to say that next year?

– No worries, I’ll stop aging with this prana full of freshness and youth!

– The only thing that won’t develop is what’s inside your head that look like a field of alpine flowers.*

*TN: Basically that she won’t stop being an airhead.

Their quarrel while fighting was getting more and more severe….

Shizuno, who saw that,

– Oh, they ended up giving themselves away?

She coquettishly leant against Moroha while revealing a small dimple near her mouth.

– Don’t behave improperly in this place. You’re also giving yourself away, you know?

– Everyone is crazy about the match, they aren’t looking at us at all.

– That’s not the problem…

Moroha gave his candid advice while being overwhelmed by how she pushed her sensual body against him.

But Shizuno gazed at Satsuki in the match while showing no concern at all,

– I’m just relaxing while the demon isn’t here.

– By demon you mean Satsuki…?

– Her b.o.o.bs are like an ironing board?

– That’s not bad at all.

– Ironing board-san seems to be in a tough spot though?

– Eh…

Moroha turned his eyes in a hurry to the match he took his eyes off for a moment.

Satsuki shouted, standing imposingly at the center of the arena.

– My body isn’t weird! The scantiness of Momo-senpai is!

A huge vein instantly raised to the surface of Haruka’s forehead whose complex was hollowed out.

– Allow me to teach you whether I’m scant or not!

It seemed that the sound of the blood vessel flipping out could be heard even by Moroha.

Haruka, who lost her temper in a matter of seconds, charged.

Directly from the front, facing Satsuki. Without trying to attack from a blind spot.

She made her speed explode, and went faster, dividing her body into 5.

Haruka’s trump card. The finishing blow.

An ultrhigh-rank derived technique of G.o.dlike Movement, the swift and simultaneous chained attacks――Donrou.

And done by five of her.

(Wow…)

Moroha admired her, clenching his fist.

No one could even divide into two in the school.

Moroha could divide into four at most. And so it was for Haruka.

But Haruka already surpa.s.sed the Haruka that Moroha knew!

Amazing. Splendid. He sweated unconsciously.

(But… that’s not enough)

Moroha stared at the divided-into-5 Haruka who sprung at Satsuki from 5 directions.

At that moment, Satsuki moved.

And with her unoccupied left hand she hit hard.

The concrete floor.

The strong fist howled, the floor sunk over a wide area and the damage spread with a shrieking-like roaring sound.

The footing became unstable and Haruka slightly slowed down.

She, as an expert of G.o.dlike Movement, wasn’t handicapped even when the footing became like this.

However, an explosive speed, her maximum speed was needed for Donrou.

「Slightly slowed down」and 「not so handicapped」became deadly.

――The body of Haruka, who divided herself into 5, returned to 1.

Donrou was a powerful technique that was used with all her power, therefore, after she finished using it, an opportunity was generated at last.

Satsuki didn’t fail to notice it.

– Taaaaaaaaaakee thiiis!

With the left fist that shattered the floor, she attacked Haruka with an upper cut this time.

Haruka’s body waited high in the sky while spinning flashily. *

*TN: The verb is indeed “to wait”.

She fell, drawing a beautiful parabola and pierced the observation seats from the top of the head without doing an ukemi. The team members who were there escaped. Isurugi raised his right hand.

– It’s over! The winner is Ranjou-kun!

– I, I really could win.

Satsuki rejoiced while half of herself didn’t believe it.

– I could win against Momo-senpai. I’m amazing.

No more than broken applause burst from the observation seats.

– Hmmm…

Moroha clapped with mixed feelings.

He wanted to praise Satsuki, but on the other hand, he couldn’t be delighted seeing Momo-senpai who stuck into the observation seats.

– It’s no good to use Donrou until you have grasped a definite chance of victory…

He repeatedly gave advice to Haruka like always.

She had an inferiority complex because of her powerlessness and therefore, she couldn’t self-control her impatience?

Her bad habit ended up coming out at the last minute?

Contrary to her, Satsuki was patient until the end, she saw the movements of her opponent well and dealt with her.

The idea of destroying the footing that killed Haruka’s speed was probably arranged a long time ago, maybe she got the idea when the awakened Moroha was hara.s.sed by Isurugi’s younger brother.

Which meant that she never forgot the battle style of Moroha she saw with great care.

– So?

Shizuno, who leant coquettishly against him, whispered close to his ear as she got up.

– My prediction hit the mark about who would win, didn’t it?

As she made a somewhat triumphant feeling run in her roguish tone of voice.

– Mu…

Moroha felt embarra.s.sed when the long breath touched his earlobe, but he hesitated, without knowing how he should reply.

Shizuno had predicted that before the match.

“The one who faithfully followed the daily teachings of Moroha will win――”

After the end of the match.

As the applause ceased, the low commotion of the team members gradually could be heard from all around.

– That Ranjou… I felt she was doing well recently, but to think she was this good…

– Weren’t you cheering when she was winning with that lucky punch though? It was superb.

– Actually, didn’t Momochi look like she wasn’t in her best condition?

– I think her movements were agile, you idiot. Did your eyeb.a.l.l.s just see like 50% of it or something?

Everyone here was greed people who wanted strength.

Discussions about the details of the match and the results of it started here and there.

The performance of the school festival was n.o.body’s topic.

– A regular member lost to a reserve membeeeeeeer! What am I gonna do with my time for my play’s practice!? You’re the youngest of the regular members, right!? Aren’t you the disgrace of Strikers!?

– Kuuuu, my honeymoon with Moroha is… Momochi! You idiot! Show me your b.u.t.t! I’ll spank it until it’s swelled up!

With the exception of two people who jeered at her abusively.

They were the lowest.

Satsuki jumped lightly and repeatedly at the center of the arena without being aware of the atmosphere around her,

– Did you see it, Nii-sama～♥? Did you see the moment of Satsuki-chan’s victory～♥?

She made a heart fly towards Moroha.

– Yeah, I saw it. You did it well.

Moroha replied and waved his hand, being cautious so as to not reveal that――he almost missed it if it wasn’t for Shizuno who told him.

Then he pointed to Satsuki’s back with a light movement.

Satsuki obediently followed so while looking puzzled and turned around.

– You were outstanding, Ranjou-kun.

Isurugi stood in front of Satsuki with a humble look on his face.

– N-not〜〜〜at all〜〜〜〜. I’m nothing like that〜〜I’m not〜〜〜〜〜.

Satsuki smiled with joy and felt embarra.s.sed by the praise of the captain she was entrusted with.

– Do you remember the first time we met face-to-face?

– Uh… I’m sorry, I don’t.

– Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure that I looked like a terribly cold guy from your point of view, didn’t I? Those who were forgotten will be saved.*

*TN: Not sure what the last piece means.

Isurugi said so and gave a small wry smile.

Moroha thought back upon that exchange while watching them from the observation seats.

The conversation when he enrolled.

Isurugi came to recruit Moroha to Strikers and Satsuki barged into that, and appealed she wanted to get in as well.

However, Satsuki’s real strength was insufficient and was clearly rejected by Isurugi.

Isurugi didn’t feel particularly cold, rather, he exemplarily behaved as a captain and how honest he usually was. Of course, on the other hand, Moroha could get that Satsuki ended up being shocked.

At that time, Isurugi looked at the saddened Satsuki and said this.

– I don’t have the intentions of closing the doors to you forever. Getting stronger is a good start. I hope to see you again.

And──

Now, Isurugi quietly said while looking up at the high ceiling of the martial arts stadium.

– My decision at that time wasn’t wrong. I’m glad that Ranjou-kun is a proof of that.

– Yes…

Isurugi turned an honest face to Satsuki who gave a half-hearted answer, looking somewhat baffled.

And, he proposed.

– Don’t you want to become the 14th regular member, Ranjou-kun?

– Yes…

Satsuki gave a half-hearted answer, looking somewhat baffled again.

Her head didn’t seem to keep up with what she was told all of a sudden.

Isurugi waited for her reply in silence.

Satsuki was at a loss for moment, but once she was able to understand the meaning of those words little by little, she began to sweat and her face was covered in it.

– Excuse me… that’s not a joke, is it?

– I hate the idea of joking about something like this.

– S-someone like me, a regular member!?

– That’s an unusual answer of you who usually has great confidence in herself.

– But but but, it’s so sudden that my heart isn’t ready…

– Momochi-kun is by no means weak. You won against her. Moreover, you didn’t win out of pure luck, did you? Preparing to become a regular member is about strength and nothing else.

– Are you really sure about this!?

– Rather, I’m asking you. At any rate, saving lives in an emergency is an important role.

– Th-th-th-th-then, then I’m finally a C-Rank!?

– No, I’m afraid not.

Isurugi moved his neck to the left and right with an honest face.

Satsuki had a face as if she had fell from heaven to h.e.l.l.

Isurugi increased the speed of his head shaking,

– Please don’t jump to a wrong conclusion. I plan to recommend you to B-Rank.

– Is that sooo? I’m fine with being B, yeeah. If there was a hexagonal graph, it would be full of weak points and just a bit of power, and in a shape so distorted that it would make you lau――whaaaat!? What did you… say just now?

Satsuki, who entered in an endless dejected mode, raised her voice all of a sudden and asked again.

– You said that you surpa.s.sed the limits of C-Rank long ago and that you deserved B-Rank.

– No way…

Satsuki pinched her own cheeks.

She pinched them to the point they were bright red and swollen.

Then turned around to Moroha,

– What do I do, this doesn’t hurt at all. Is this a dream…?

She wondered as she shed tears of happiness.

Moroha gave her a thumbs up in silence.

Satsuki saw that and trembled with great joy,

– I’ll do it! I’ll become a regular member and I’ll protect Moroha’s baaaaaaaack!

She shouted, getting all excited with a “Yahoo”.

– I kne〜〜〜〜w it. That the wise ones would understa〜〜〜〜nd it. A strong person like Isurugi-senpai wouldn’t mistake a tiger cub for an ugly du〜〜〜ckling fuoh fuoh fuoh!!

Since she completely returned to her usual self, bitter laughter leaked out from all over the martial arts stadium.

– I think that becoming either a tiger cub or an ugly duckling is a good thing.

Moroha retorted while giving a strained laugh, but because he was in the observation seats, it couldn’t be heard by the super prideful Satsuki.

Furthermore, Haruka, who recovered from the pain when she crashed, returned to the arena,

– Tch―――- Why do I look like someone who makes Satsuki appear better!? Don’t feel sympathy just because a kouhai is higher in rank than me, tch―――.

She congratulated her cute kouhai, then ruffled her hair and hugged Satsuki while cursing and pouting her lips.

– *Sobs*. Thank you. *Sobs*. Even If I have become a B-Rank, I’m not going to forget Momo-senpaaaaai.

– Hey… you want to be hit for real…

Haruka hugged Satsuki tight while feeling indignant.

Then Isurugi shook his head again,

– You’re speaking too early.

「「Eh?」」

– I’ve planned to recommend Momochi-kun to B-Rank too.

「「Eeeeeeeee〜〜〜〜〜〜〜h!?」」

Satsuki and Haruka jumped in surprise while still embracing each other.

– You lost to Ranjou-kun, but I felt you still deserve it. This is the result of your everyday efforts, Momochi-kun.

– I, I, I, I, I’m not that strong――

– Come oooooooon, stop being so m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic and celebrate with meeeeee.

Satsuki, clad in prana, threw Haruka right overhead with Strength.

She started to lift her high all by herself, saying *Heave-ho!* *Heave-ho*!

– H-hey! Stop it.

– I’m not going to stop until you celebrate with me.

Satsuki threw and caught, threw and caught the panicked Haruka.

The smiling faces in the martial arts stadium multiplied with that charming scene.

– Once the special training is over, let’s start a celebration for them!

Taketsuru took the lead with energy and voices of approval arose.

– I object! With this authority I have as the vice-captain, I don’t approve it! These la.s.ses aren’t in the same rank as me.

– Isn’t strange that I, the top of the second years, is still a C while Momochi and the kouhai are B now? This is all messed up, isn’t it, Isurugi-saaaaaaaaaannnn?

The two who jeered were heating up more and more.

These two were the lowest.

– It’s no good that Satsuki lifts her high alone!

Sophia jumped over the fence of the observation seats, descended to the arena and the rest of the members followed her with quick steps. The two lowest people were completely swallowed up by that flow of people.

Sophia and the others, who rushed into the arena, gave praise to Satsuki and Haruka.

Furthermore, Satsuki was also lifted high by everyone, the two revolved in the air alternately.

It was filled with a friendly atmosphere, it was hard to believe that they were confronting whether they would run a coffee shop or not.

Moroha stared at that scene while still sitting in the observation seats.

– Isn’t this a nice vie――ah, what happened to your face?

Shizuno, who was sat next to him, said as she tried to examine Moroha’s face in profile from below.

– I get embarra.s.sed when you stare at me so fixedly, you know?

– But this one is a better view for me.

– You…

Moroha complained, but in the end, he let Shizuno do as she liked and continued watching Satsuki and Haruka who were lifted high with great joy and the members who were too excited.