"Game over--！！！！　Winner, Futa Pomodoro!!!


　The words touched my ears.


　I thought back to the crowded stands. I remember the empty seats, the blank sighs, and the annoyed eyes of my opponents.


　What about it?



"I won!
I love you!
"Izuna lost!



　Just the amount of this I can hear.

　If their voices were inaudible, just noise, it would be infinite.

　Ah, so this is what it feels like to be cheered on.

　Is this what it feels like for a fighter to be celebrated for his victory?

　I didn't understand it when I was standing there in the commentator's seat. It's this cheering that hits me all over.

　This is what it means to praise a fighter.


"......


　I looked up.

　He lowered his hammer axe and just stood there looking at his surroundings.


　The first thing he saw, of course, was the challenger in front of him.

"I lost.
Oh.
"What am I supposed to say to ...... Motosuke?
I don't know.

　I'm not sure what to tell you," he said.

　He doesn't know what kind of promise Motisuke and Izuna made to each other.
　So, he couldn't give him an answer.

　He just saw the trail of his training.

　He knows how much effort the two of them put in to defeat Futa.
　I'm not going to say anything random.

　There was only one thing I could say to Futa.


"I'll always be here.
I'll--


　Praise and comfort are hollow.
　A rematch. Always waiting for a rematch.

　That was the only thing Futa could say to Izuna.

"Haha ......

　But...

　But it was enough.

"Oh.

　Their gazes crossed each other for a moment.

　Futa looked up from Izuna and saw the crowd.

　It was full, even after Futa's game was over, and everyone was keeping an eye on the field.

　How happy I was. How he wished for it.

　Out of the corner of Futa's eye. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted two clusters of gold high up in the general seating area.

　They were only the size of a pea, but they were still enough for Futa to wave at them.

　He smiled at the girl who waved back happily, and looked around at the audience.

　Finally, he glanced at the commentary area.

　Richter seemed to be saying something, but that was it.
　The girl next to him made eye contact with Futa and snickered.

　That woman," she said, raising the corner of her mouth.
　Finally, Futa spotted another girl out of the corner of his eye.
　The one from which Futa had come out. She was waiting with her back against the wall in the dark, out of sight of the audience.

　With his heart in his mouth, he walked straight into the gate and into the players' corridor.

"Dear Lilac.
You did ...... it.

　He stood in front of her, smiling softly, and bowed his head.

Thanks to you, I've made it this far.
My power is not so great. I owe it to you and to Beatrix.
That's because Master Lilac is in charge.
Is that so?　I don't mind being called that.

　At the service entrance, where you can still hear the cheers, the two of them exchange words.

　Lilac smiled happily and mischievously, and waved her finger.

How does it feel to get your wish?
I don't know. ...... I'm still so flustered. But it really is like a ...... dream.
"Really?

　He nodded gently.
　She locked eyes with Huta and turned on her heel.

I'm sorry to say, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow.
I'm not going to let you down.
Did you say that?
Yes.

　A small smile, but her lilac eyes are serious.

I have a lot of work to do in my life. I have a lot of work to do in my life, and the sooner I fulfill my dream of becoming a champion, the better. --Do you understand?　There will be no mercy, will there?


"Forgive me, ......?
Yes. I will use all my strength to defeat you. And when I do, I'll make the sky you look up to cheer.

　The fists clenched and the words spoken are the truth.
　For the first time, Futa felt the applause. She enjoys it as if it were a matter of course.

　She's about to receive the biggest cheer anyone has ever received for defeating Futa.
　Strangely enough, that's what I think she can do.
　She's not going to lose, but if she does - and I'm sure she will - the spectacle will be an explosion of excitement that Futa has never heard of.

An ovation?
Yes.

　You're right, we won't win if we play there.
　I'm not sure I can win there.

　Futa thought as he walked alongside the girl next to him.
　After all, Lilac is really trying to beat Futa.
　There's no such thing as a fair game.

The cards were drawn by lottery, right?
Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn't be playing you in the semifinals.
Right?
......

　Look at me.
　I'm not sure what you're asking me right now, but I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out soon enough.

"Oh. For those who really wanted to hear it, you can say this. If you're going to play around with it, you might as well deal with the possibility of Arawn and I getting into our first fight.
"Ah, ha!

　Lilac sniffs boringly at Futa, who can only laugh bitterly.

I'm not surprised that you think that way.
I didn't think Lilac was going to play the cards.
Did you see how it worked?
What?

　I didn't think Lilac would set up the cards.
　Lilac put her forefinger to her mouth like a child who's been successfully teased.

It's just that Futa's match will be his last.
"Lilac-sama ......
"Hmm. How did you like the last program of the day?

　Oh, this guy is so...

"Man is not a slave to his profession. You've shown me that firsthand.

"As humans, we are absolutely bound by our professions. But being a manager does not make you a manager. A good manager makes an effort to become one. I don't want to live in a world where that is just a benefit of the profession.

　I remember what she said to me one day.

　Now. The "unemployed" fencer was applauded.

　I'm sure she's happy about that.

"It was a great time.
"That's good to know.

　The two of them face each other. They smiled softly at each other.














　When the man who had been cheered on the battlefield finally raised his head.
　It was quite funny to see him wandering around the audience, clearly unaccustomed to being cheered so loudly.

　How can a former champion have such a low tolerance?

　Thanks for the excitement!　I thought he was much more emotional than the audience, who were shouting "Thank you for the excitement!

　--You idiot.

　So is the look on the winner's face.
　And the fact that he's being so friendly with the loser when he knows the "villain" line isn't going away.

　I could have yelled at him.

　"Tell him not to do anything that goes against management policy, just like a lowly member of the board of trade.

　But...

　But for some reason I couldn't do that.
　I gently rubbed my eyes and looked up.

　And just like that. That's when my eyes met his.

　I told him I wasn't going to get used to him. He said he wasn't going to get any closer.
　I can't help it. But it was true that it would be unnatural if I didn't respond to him as "sister".

　At any rate, I snickered.

　This was not the end of the day. It was the climax of the day, but it was not the climax of the day.

　That's what I told myself.
　Still, she thought, it would be wrong not to praise him for making the cheers his own.

　She raised her right hand, which had been holding a stuffed bear, and thrust her thumb up in the air in response.

　He was already heading towards the service entrance at a very fast pace.

　Ahead of him, a girl.


　For a moment, I felt like I was losing my mind.

　--Well, you're right.

　I don't know what I'm getting myself into.

　It was a chilling sensation, but it was enough to cool her down enough to remind herself that this was okay.

　Silently, she slowly lowered her raised arm.














　--Night. Pasta's home.



I didn't know that!

　She slammed the table in the dining room and glared at Futa and Pasta.

"They didn't ask.
Because they didn't ask.
What do you want me to say?

　The two of them looked at each other and said, "He didn't ask me.

"What?

　I'm not sure why, but there's a maid in a fistfight pose.

You're the preferential one, right?
What do I know?　How am I supposed to know that this little guy can beat Izuna?
You're inexperienced, kid. ......
Who the f*ck are you?
"The maid is a swordswoman in exile. ......
No, no, no, no. Seriously?
No way.
I'll take you down!

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
　I'm sure you've got a lot of questions.
　If you think so, you are in the maid's trap.

The maid is actually stronger than you. ......!

　The maid swayed.

I'm not a swordsman and I'm not going to lose.
I don't know.　The maid is a skilled magician. ......!
I'm not sure what to say.

　Leafy looks at Futa as if to ask for help, but...

It's for real.
You're serious?

　Leafy's eyes widen in astonishment, and the maid begins to shadow him with her fists.

　But .

I'm just a handy guy who does basic housework.
But...
"Wow, ...... wilted. ......
Why are you saying that, Futa-sama? ...... I wanted to play with Leafy more.
"Don't play with people, you f*cking maid. ......!

　I'm sure you'll agree that it's a great idea.
　I'm not sure if you've seen this before.

　She turned her head to look at one of them, who was staring at her with his cheekbones.

"...... What's wrong with you, loser?
"What's wrong loser?
"Hey, Pasta, you're looking good.
"You look fine. You don't deserve my attention.
"You've got a lot to say, don't you?

　The expression on Leafy's face as he sighs is certainly not sorrowful.
　Although the regret of losing the finals is still strong. She had already sorted out her emotions in the arena.

But I'm sorry, Pasta. I didn't win.
"It's arrogant to apologize. I never said I wanted you to win.
Did I?

　It's only because I'm not depressed that I can say I'm sorry for my decision this morning.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not.

I'll see you there. I'll see you through in your own way.
"Oh. ...... I'm not going to lose.

　I'm not going to lose. And.

　But still.

　I'd rather say.

"...... Pasta, you're the one who's feeling down, aren't you?
"No, I'm fine, I'm fine.
Really?

　Lack of energy, lack of vigor.
　Lack of energy somehow. That's the impression I get.
　Leafy tilted her head, wondering if she was tired after all.

　Normally, Leafy would be a bit more cynical about losing.
　Calling her a loser was more than enough, but it wasn't particularly damaging either.

　I looked at the man who was my brother, a little worried about his lack of energy.
　He, too, was a little concerned, and he tucked his chin slightly.



　Then we'll be fine.
　I'll leave the rest to my brother. So, Leafy sighed.

　Her mind was in order, but her body was already at its limit.

　Leafy Lean Glide's martial arts tournament was over.

　Let's go to bed early today and get back on track tomorrow.

　Oh, but... I'll change the pillowcase myself tomorrow.

　There's a difference between getting things in order and getting them out.