心の底では、己の矛盾に気が付いていた.

――『手抜いた崩波に崩波をぶつけられたらどうなるか. ゆーてもオレ、2年間ずっと考えてきたんだぜ. ただ1度だけでも、お前に勝つためにな！！！！』

――『有っちゃ、いけねえんだわ. その目的は』


　バリアリーフ・F・クライストは、二度とオーシャン・ビッグウェーブには戻らない.

　その決意は、あの日.
　第一皇子たる兄との"契約"で心に決めたはずだった.

　闘剣に身を投じることは、もう二度とない.
　親父の最後の願いを、自分くらいは叶えるのだ.
　それは自らが放蕩してきた人生に対するけじめであり、亡き父親に対するせめてもの感謝の気持ちだった.

　そして、皇族として皇国の民を想うが故、皇都や方々の都市で遊んだ、民という名の仲間を想うが故のこと.

　だからこそ、もう二度と闘剣に身を投じることはない.

　レザードにすら、心の中で謝って背を向けた.
　そのはずなのに.

「――そのはずなのになァ！！」

　ぐ、と握りしめるは七海征覇.
　思わず胸の内からこみ上げる感情に、薄く涙腺を緩ませながら、それでも視界を雫に邪魔されはしまいと歯を食いしばり、刀を振るう.

　不思議なものだ. ここまで奥歯を噛みしめ、何かを耐えているはずなのに、口角は吊り上がったまま戻らないのだから.

「――そのはずなのに、オレはずっと……オレはずっと、お前を倒す方法ばかりを考えていたんだ！！！」

　何度も雑念を振り払った.

　我欲の為に生きるのはもうやめだ. そう心に決めたのに、結局己の性は欠片も変わっちゃいなかった.

　お前ならコロッセオのチャンピオンになれると言った、祖国の仲間の想いを背負って.
　チャンピオンに会えたら頼むと託された天下八閃の想いを、期待を背負って.
　オーシャン・ビッグウェーブこそ最強だと声を上げたコロッセオのファンを背負って.

　そして何より、

「オレならお前を超えられるって！！」

　己が己に懸けた期待を、一身に背負って.

「結局、七海征覇を折ることも捨てることも出来なかった！！」

　お守り代わりと嘯いて、常日頃から持ち歩いていたのは結局、いつかどこかでまみえることを期待していたからだ.

　オーシャン・ビッグウェーブは、どんなことがあっても. 何を言ったところで.

　"契約"の最後の1回の使いどころは決めていて、言い訳出来ない我欲に素直になるしかなかったのだ.

　――ごめんな、親父.

　――ありがとな、姉ちゃん.

『姉ちゃん、オレは何をすれば良い系なんだろな』
『――じゃあ、好きなことを見つけるところからね』

　ああ、見つけたよ.

　期待を背負うってことも、もちろんそう.
　進んできた航路に後悔はない.

　でもな.

　――どうやら、期待されることが一番だってわけでも、ないらしいんだ.


　振るわれる剣閃に響く鉄.
　飛び散る火花は視認出来ても、最早その振るわれる刃は観客に見えるようなものではない.

　けれど先ほどまでの闘剣とはまた空気が変わった.
　それだけは、誰もに理解が出来ていた.

　辛うじてその闘剣全てに認識が追い付いているライラックだけは気づく.

《模倣:オーシャン・ビッグウェーブ》
《模倣:オーシャン・ビッグウェーブ》
《模倣:オーシャン・ビッグウェーブ》
《模倣:オーシャン・ビッグウェーブ》
《模倣:オーシャン・ビッグウェーブ》

　フウタの動きがぎこちない――否、一瞬一瞬で切り替わっている.
　まるで剣を交える度に別人の相手をしているかのように、手抜く隙すら与えない連続模倣.

　金の瞳が、まるで残光のようにフウタの動きに合わせて迸る.

　正面で刀を振るい続けるオーシャンが笑う.

「ははっ……おい、おいおいおいおい、マジかよ！！」
「――これ、は」

　ぐ、とフウタは奥歯を噛んだ.
　オーシャンがいつ手抜くのかは"分からない". それが何より恐ろしい.

　フウタは鍛錬の軌跡を模倣する.
　相手の努力を、相手の積んできた鍛錬を知ることが出来る.

　だから、たとえばリヒターの《ランダー流決闘術:一筆》であろうが、一通りの剣技がどんなルートを辿るかを理解していればこそ対応出来た.

　だが、オーシャン・ビッグウェーブの手抜きは最早天才のそれだ.

　鍛錬を積み上げた.
　他の誰もが見ていない場所で.

　鍛錬を積み上げた.
　他の誰もが努力を見抜けないように.

　鍛錬を積み上げた.
　最強の高みを目指しながら、その研鑽を感じさせず.

　――鍛錬を積み上げた.
　遍く全て、自然に行えるように.

　オーシャン・ビッグウェーブは、武人に見えない. それは最早、彼が常に手を抜いているのと同じこと.
　意図的にいつでも弱く見せることが出来る.

　闘剣の中でも変わらない.

　どんな場面で、どんな体勢からでも、手抜くことが出来る.

　That's why Futa has to keep re-mimicking.

　The moment you fall to 70%, push back with 90% of your strength. The moment you fall to 100 percent, you respond with 120 percent of your strength. A thorough push is the most advantageous way for a person who has the power to win.

　--That's why it's so boring, the audience said.

　But.

"Try it, man!　If you can!

　The roaring ocean laughs.

　And...

"And...
"...... Lilac?

　Pasta, who was watching the game next to her, noticed a slight change in Lilac.
　She rolled over in her chair and looked at Lilac, her eyes only slightly upward. And then her eyes widened.

　She was staring at the sword.

　If I had to name the color in her eyes, I would say envy.

　It's obvious which one he's looking at.
　He is looking at Ocean Big Wave's sword with eyes of envy, as if he were looking at something strong and bright.

　For a moment, Pasta couldn't figure out why she was giving such a look to a man who looked the same as before, but who seemed to be getting pushed around.

　But...

"...... Oh. I see.

　I'm not sure what to say.

　Huta was slowly gaining the upper hand on the field.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's not as if Futa wasn't giving it his all.
　The fact that he was smiling so happily is clearly etched in Pasta's memory.

　But that was probably because Ocean was stronger than Futa had expected. Because he was a worthy opponent.
　And most of all, because he could feel that his opponent was having fun.

　So what about now?

...... I know what I'm doing, so why shouldn't you?

　He put his cheekbones down and turned his gaze back to what he wanted to see more than lilac.

　You've been outnumbered, and you've played your cards right.
　Some of it worked, I suppose.

　But more than such strategic pleasures.

　You're being allowed to fight in a style you've been denied for years.
　It would be a fun swordfight to be allowed to feel like that.

Well, it's not for sale as it is, so I'll have to play around with it.

　However, my work can wait for now.

　Pasta snickered a little at his sister.

"You're an idiot. You're jealous of how much fun I'm having with Futa?

　--That's because you're the one who approved of him.


　I'd never say that.
　At best, you can gaze at people who are enjoying themselves at heights that you cannot reach, and keep reaching out with your unreachable hand.

　It's so funny to see that lilac having such feelings.


《Blue Sea Wave Currents: Breaking Wave (Damper)
Imitation: Ocean Big Wave = Blue Sea Wave Current: Damper

　Blade against blade.

What do you do after you've cut corners, how do you win? The trajectory of your efforts can be mimicked at ......!
You're comparing your concentration with my patience!

　The corners of their mouths lifted as they saw the signs of a winning strategy.

　--There's one thing I should tell you.

Copycat: Ocean Big Wave.
Copycat: Ocean Big Wave.
Copycat: Oceanic Big Wave.

　Ocean Big Wave is probably the only person in the history of the world that Champion Huta has ever gone to such lengths.

　It's a good thing that he's not the only one who's been forced to go through all this trouble, because there aren't many swordsmen in the world who can go after Futa this hard.

　He was not wrong when he said that Ichi no Tachi and Ni no Tachi were exceptional, and that they were still improving their skills to reach Futa.

　But that means, paradoxically.

"Haha, d*mn it -- I can't let this end like this. ！！！！

　Ocean is slowly being overwhelmed.
　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few things to do.

　It's like a small boat in rough seas, searching for a thin, narrow way to win and waving its oars to traverse the storm with all its might.

　Ocean Big Wave just keeps on thinking and wielding his sword.

　I don't want to lose. Of course that desire is strong. But...

　But... I'm having fun.

I've made up my mind!　"I've decided that with this last sword, I'm going to give you what you want!


"Hey, Futa!

　--He pointed his finger and made a gesture like he was releasing a drawn bow.

I'll get your hopes up. I'm going to beat you, so look forward to it.

　--I'll make you look forward to it.

　--There was a day when I vowed to do so.




　That's why I wielded the Seven Seas Conqueror and drove him to this point.
　I've given him a medal on his cheek.

　In the end, it is the most enjoyable thing for me to live up to someone else's expectations.

　I'll beat him.
　Even if it's just once. Yes, just one sword fight.

　My pride will not allow me to be cornered like this.

Let's see how long that imitation lasts!

Soukai Wavoryu: Damper

　The technique that you forcibly unleash is a double strike that does not allow you to be caught.
　I'm not sure how long it will last.

Imitation: Ocean Big Wave = Soukai Wavoryu: Damper　

　The two swords clashed with each other with all their might.
　At that moment, Futa's eyes widened a little.

　For example, no matter what kind of genius swordsman you are, there are certain parts that cannot be imitated.

I've never missed a day of grooming my partner, you know.
"What?

　It's the blade that you hold.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.
　Even though I know this in my head, I don't have any cards in hand that can be called a breakthrough.

　Even in less than a second, he would just keep on mimicking.
　In addition, there is the time limit of the sword's life.
　The thin line of victory that Ocean Big Wave has found is, indeed, Futa's kryptonite.

　I wouldn't call it cowardice.
　Rather, it is the advantage of having a particular weapon and the disadvantage of Futa's way of being.

　But Futa laughs.

　There have been clashes between the Seven Seas Conqueror and dullards before.
　I've never been defeated by any other opponent with a mass-produced weapon.

You can't lose, ......!
I'm not going to lose.　

　That's right.
　I'm not going to show any mercy, even if it's a dull blade that breaks every time it clashes.
　There's no time to go easy on her. I'll use any means necessary to wrestle the two letters of victory from you and--!

　Our gazes crossed.
　Futa's gold-tinted eyes and Ocean's blazing gaze.

　Swords clash with swords.
　Swords clashing against swords.

　When you try to push your opponent with all your might, the fierce expression of the person you are trying to defeat is right in front of you.

　Oh," Ocean laughs.

　I wonder if I could have made this man look like this that day.

　Between the memories that come to mind.
　I force myself back to consciousness, thinking there's no time for sentimentality.

　In front of me is the apex. The newly completed Colosseum.
　No need for extraneous noise on such a perfect stage, I thought.


"Go for it!　Let's go!


　Suddenly, I heard the cheers of the audience.
　For just a moment, not even a pause, that young voice pierced my head.

　It's not that I have any feelings for the girl herself.
　But what resonates in my heart is my original.


"So, let's start by finding out what you like.


　--Sis.

　Yeah, that's right. I'm doing everything I can to do what I love.

　I enjoy what's expected of me.
　And... I'm more than what's expected of me.

"Don't let this end, Hooter!

paring.

　--Apparently, from the start. Apparently, I've been looking for someone who can keep me guessing.


　I want to beat the top. I want to reach it.
　But... I don't want you to be a champion who crumbles so easily.


　I was supposed to be the one to lead him.
　But somehow I've let myself get carried away.

　I've made up my mind to conquer this eighth sea, but I'm not ready if I'm being carried along by the waves.

It's not over.

　The stinging waves are sharp thrusts. A sharp thrust, aimed at the throat.
　You can avoid it. It can be swatted away. That's been the choice from the beginning.
　But then Futa realized. The great wave, which had been repeatedly imitating him, moving back and forth between 100 percent and 70 percent, unleashed its final blow, a blow of 12 percent.

　The strength of the bluntness was at its limit. There was only one thing to do.



《Mimicry: Ocean Big Wave = Blue Sea Wave Current: Piercing Wave》

　What does it matter if the blade breaks? It doesn't matter. I just respond to the full force of what's coming at me with full force.
　The man in front of you has chosen to give you one last shot in anticipation of your brash and uninteresting fight.

　--To live up to the expectations of the man in front of me.

"Oooohhhhhhhh!
"ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　The sound of the blade snapping.

　The tip of the blade snaps off from the middle, and whirls through the air.

　The lilac. The pasta. Luli. Corona.

　And Ocean, gazing at the sky.

　A broken, blunt end.

　It's pointed at his throat.

　His own shot sliced through the air, narrowly missing Futa's throat.

　It should have been the exact same, stabbing stance, but the game was already decided.

I should have seen it coming. I should have known.
"......?

　"First thing I should have known," Ocean says, keeping his posture steady.


"Play the game, please. --Let's have a match so I can be a prince again.
"Yeah, let's do it.


　That powerful response was not that of a man who had given up hope for anything like that day.

　This guy has already regained his light and is probably happy now.

　I have an idea of who made him that way.

　He has expectations of someone, and he's going straight for it.

　The eighth sea is still wide.
　We need more and more time to conquer it.

"...... I've lost, Futa.　


　I'm sure you've heard of it.

　I'm not a prince, I'm not a fighter.


　It was the smile of a boy who had just finished a long voyage.