It's not a bad idea to team up with you, but... Unlike last time, I've got a good amount of money from the box office and I've got a prize for third place, so that's not a reason. He betrayed me last time with the prize money.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Futa. I thought about signing up with you too, but since you have so many friends around you, I didn't think you'd call on me. You're not good enough to work with me.

I'm not even sure if I'll be able to do it with you.　You're even dumber than I thought. There are many other candidates but that's not one of them. There's no way you and Master will ever team up. Yes, there is no way.

It's a little late for that. I could have teamed up with you, but... But then we wouldn't be able to play. We've decided to only play official games. ...... It makes me want to slash him from the back.

I'm not sure what to make of it.　It's not a bad idea for a gentleman to make a passionate offer, but I'm going to have to decline. I'm afraid I'll end up targeting you during the match. I don't want to lose, either.

"Huh?　Sorry, I have a prior engagement. Even if I didn't, if I could have a go at you, I'd take that first. I'm sure I'm the only one who's drunk enough to do that, but where are you going?

"Hey, what's wrong with you? You look like you just spent a lot of money on a girl you didn't like. I'm not sure.　There's no one to partner with?　I'm not sure what to do with it, but I'm sure it'll be fine.

I'd be happy to work with you if you'd be willing to work with Huta. I'll take Bob.' 'Hey, hey, hey, that's too much for me. I already have a partner. I'll kill you if you're a woman." "I'll kill you if you're a woman." "I'm a ...... man, d*mn it.













I don't think I have any friends.

　I'm not sure if it was Ruri's sober comment that hurt me the most, but Futa vaguely muttered something small.
　I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

What if you teamed up with him?
Are you sure?　Are you sure you want to do this?　We'll go out with Randy and me.
...... You're more trapped than I thought.

　I'm not sure what to do.

I don't know what to do, seriously.

　Futa looked more distressed than she had imagined.
　He's sitting at his desk with his cheek resting on his shoulder, staring at her.

　It's your own fault if you don't have anyone to pair up with.
　If you just want to win the tournament, you can get a suitable partner.
　If you just want to win, just go to the registration desk and pull in some slackers.

　--I could have said something like.

"...... huh.

　Sigh.

　Yes, it's not hard to win.
　I'm sure Futa is capable of that.
　I'm not trying to quantify his skill, but he lives in a dimension that isolates him as a champion.
　Prim, Izuna, and Ocean Big Wave.
　Everyone was a strong fighter, even she could see that.

　And yet he's isolated.
　Then you can imagine his strength just by working backwards from there.
　Pasta doesn't know much about the warrior's strength, and she doesn't know much about how to beat Futa.

　Still, I can sort out the information from the situation.

　And the conclusion we can draw is that it's not impossible to win.
　I don't know how much time I'll have to care for my partner, but it won't lead to immediate defeat.

　Rather, the question is--.

"...... Ruri's not wrong.
"Guffaw.

　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few things to do.
　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

"Sober. Yes, it's plain. I'm not an undefeated emperor yet, and I should be selling my strength. I don't think he's going to be bashed for winning.

　I noticed a box of cupcakes by my desk and opened it with excitement.

What you need to do now, then, is to win in a way that looks good. You know what you need to do now, after all the hard work you put in last time to make your game look good.
...... Yeah. Yeah, thanks for that.
I'm not looking for a thank you.

　A gentle smile, even though he was cursing.
　Pasta glares at you with pursed lips.
　It's not that. What she simply wants to say is--.

"...... still has the heat from that time.
"You too?　...... Me too.


"It's for the audience. ！！！！！！！

　What are you laughing at with such a happy and emotional face?
　You can't afford to smile when you have no friends.

　--I'm sorry, but I don't think I should have said that. It certainly sounds like you have a lot of heat left in you.

　But it's not. It is not heat that remains. It's more like warmth, and that's not important either.

"The presence of the 'commentary brother' is imprinted in the audience. That was enough to establish a certain level of popularity. Why is he so strong, and why is there such a strong guy here? And now the audience knows. If you're ......, what's the next new thing you want?
"Newness. Just ......2on2 is new.
Yes. You can't rely on inertia at the box office. If I were the manager of the Colosseum, I would never run it in a routine like you said. Spectacle is entertainment.
Entertainment: ......

　I said "spectacle" instead of "sword fighting" because I include myself in it. Physical performance is certainly an entertainment that captivates children (and some adults).

　That's why Futa should be a big part of the show.

...... Well, it looks like you're doing well.
What's that?

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

　Written on it was an article on Futa.
　There, in an irreverent manner, were the words of a swordsman, describing his thoughts on this spectacle.

A heel is not just a vector for a bad guy. What you need is the luxury of being that kind of strongman.
"......
I don't suppose you're sitting in a square saying, "I don't have any friends," are you?
No, I'm not!
Okay, fine. You're not allowed to be lame. --You're not allowed to be lame. - In that sense, it'd be really fun to work with me and go at it. ......
What?

　I'll team up with Pasta.
　I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.
　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

I'm just kidding. The risk of losing a ...... match is too great. It's not too early to be licking your chops and losing. It's not that I'm asking you to play games, it's that you're playing games.
...... I don't understand.
It's simple. It's simple. When you have a strong brand, people will expect that Futa can do it, or that he will lose. But with his current title as the first champion, he's bound to get slammed for suddenly getting carried away.
I see. ......
I'm not sure what to make of that. Your strength can only be measured on a relative and long-term basis. If the audience could see the difference in strength at a glance, sword fighting wouldn't be a spectacle in the first place.
"I see. I'll just glance at the two of them and see who's stronger and that's it.

　I agree with you.

　"This is psychology," says Pasta, prefacing his statement.

"It's fun because you can't." Haven't you ever experienced that feeling?

　Repeated trial and error. Striving against the wall.
　A memory that's fun because you keep trying to achieve it.

　It's true that I've never had a hard time working out.

I don't know, ....... I don't know. It's all been too hard for me to enjoy.
"That's odd.

　She giggled and smiled kindly with her cheekbones.

Me too.
...... I see. I know.
But it's just us. Did you know that?　We're special.
I know.

　That's not the same as being disappointed.
　We just got a little crazy and laughed at each other.

　It's not a perfect life. That's why I feel a little different from the rest of the world.
　Even so, Pasta studied the sensibilities of the "common man" and thus became a successful businessman.

　On the other hand, he is not susceptible to the thoughts of singular beings like Lilac, and he is not very good at self-analysis. Although she is sometimes scooped up for this.

　She is not bad at thinking of herself as separate from others.



What you can't do is more fun than you think. Many spectators think so. That is, for example, the prediction of who will win. ...... Back to the topic at hand, that's why they still have no idea how good Futa is. I'm not sure I've figured it out yet either. ...... I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

　He sipped his cupcake and gently wiped the wet grease from his lips.

I'd like to have another element. I'm already thinking about ......1, though.
Oh, really?
But this isn't just about you. Honestly, you're better off with one more strength than others.

　Because I'm "plain."
　That's what you mean.

"Then why don't you find a flashy opponent?
"If it's about whether or not your fighting style looks good, then yes. ...... But that's not the point.
How is it possible that in ...... fighting swords, the greatness of fighting swords is not the essence?
I ask you, if that's the case, why did you get all the cheers?
".................. I see.

　As if realizing something, Futa also muttered.
　It's not only because of his ability that Futa's sword was accepted, as you might have heard.

　It's the path he's taken and his position as a commentary brother.
　It was also the sword.

What's important is the feeling. I've said it many times. I'm going to make you and your partner like each other. It doesn't matter how weak you are if you can do that. It's too much to ask for ...... me, though.

　I remember that Corona made the same suggestion to me.
　I can't let her use the Rokujutsu again, so of course I refused.

I'm not going to let her use the recording technique again, and of course I declined. You might be able to find a ...... more popular, stronger, and more luxurious guy there.
...... Okay, I get it.

　It's not just around spectacula, but around people.
　You're hoping for a chance encounter, but at worst you can talk to Bill or Ben and ask them to put you in touch with a guard who's free that day.

　I'll have to do a little more searching on my own. I could use the spirit.

"Thanks, Pasta.

　I thanked her and smiled, and she slumped back in her chair with a mean look on her face.

You're a real pain in the ass to produce.
I'm sorry.
No, it's fine. No, I don't mind. ...... Because, you know. "You know what's fun about not being able to do something?"
That's the opposite of what you just said.
Yeah?　No, it's not. Because we're...



　We're going to win in the end.


　Her smile was as pretty as a flower. But it seemed to be looking back at the sunlight head on.