"Delivery to the First Star - Spectacular Remix".

　The flashy music is a blessing song that proves who the winner is.
　Since this is not the final, there will be no confetti or fireworks (fireworks). However, the match was so exciting that it was rather uncomfortable to be so.

　The referee declared the winner.

　Lilac stood there in a dumbfounded state, and Aylan's face was twisted in humiliation.

　The girl with the broken spear in her hand was now waving to the audience, her victory assured.
　--Now, I can knock her down from behind.

　She tried to raise her clenched fist, but stopped.

　It was not because he sensed that Mion, who seemed to be on guard, was about to intervene.

　In the Colosseum, I'm sure.
　No, until recently, I would have had no hesitation about the "victory" I was about to gain. But for some reason, it felt so empty.

　For the first time, I looked at the cheers of the crowd.

"Their eyes, really, were curious. Then I wondered if they really wanted, enjoyed, or looked down on you for killing each other.

　The unvarnished emotions of those cheering Prim's victory and perhaps wailing over Lilac's defeat.


　I look at the woman in front of me.

"The eyes of one who looks you squarely in the eye and holds a weapon. "Are they the eyes of a cornered beast, struggling to survive without killing you?

　I thought I'd crushed him badly once. In fact, I faced Arawn with hatred. Despite that, her emotions on the stage of "sword fighting" were too honest. It's not something flimsy or easy.

"You should see it again for yourself.

　He shook his head at the words of the past that he recalled.

"......

　If there's one thing I know for sure, it's this.

　If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that I'm defeated.

　Aylan quietly turned away and walked away to the entrance gate.
　The "Let's do it again" that was thrown at him as he noticed his back was not worth listening to.

　--If I didn't think so, I wouldn't have been able to do it.


　The winner of the first game was "Stardust".


　The winner of the first match was Stardust, and the potential winner, Princess Garden, disappeared as if it had never existed in the first round of the preferential quota match.













　--Arena Spectacular.

　A lively intermission between matches.
　Pasta-chan, who is no stranger to this kind of talk, is the one who keeps the party going.
　Listening to her cute voice and the bustle of the crowd through the muffled sound of the walls, a girl wanders down the officials' corridor.

　With her hand against the wall, she braced her trembling legs.

　It wasn't that she was out of energy or exhausted.
　I just couldn't muster up the strength.

　The two words "defeat" loomed large in front of me.

　I had only ever been defeated by champions before. "The one who was said to be the strongest in the kingdom.

　Even though I wasn't the one who put the blade to his head and decided the fight...

　Defeated?　Even lower than the last semifinal?

　That can't happen.
　That's unacceptable.
　Above all. We've been working so hard to get ready for this match with the champion.
　And now it's all gone.

　You said you were looking forward to it.

".......

　I bite my lip, suppressing the emotions that are about to burst forth.

　Regret, emptiness, and helplessness.
　The taste of defeat is so bitter.
　Pathetic, suffocating...

　Ah, so...

"Miss Lilac.

　I didn't want to see you just now.


"...... Futa.
Yeah. Oh, they're paying me off.
......, huh?

　If you ask me, there's no sign of anyone in the corridors around here.
　Even though I'm not feeling well, Lilac and, most importantly, Futa are here. So there's no room for anyone to get in.

　Perhaps the guards on guard would have taken care of that.
　Ben is the one who has such tact and is aware of the proximity of Lilac and Futa.

　I guessed that - but shook my head, saying it was inevitable.

"Did you come here to laugh at ......?
"What kind of swear word is that? No, of course not.
Then why?

　You got my hopes up so high. You were all hyped up about winning the next game, and then you couldn't even make it to the game and lost.

　The more I talk about it, the more miserable I feel. The more I speak, the more miserable I am. I feel as if I have a needle in my throat, the pain I feel as I spit out every word.

　As I clutched at the wall, his arm extended gently.

Of course you were worried. When I saw you standing there right after the game, I couldn't sit at the commentary table.


"What are you doing?

　Futa's hand ran down Lilac's arm and touched her shoulder, which was covered with light armor.
　Futa is always so unpredictable.
　He might even lend a shoulder, mistakenly thinking that he was too exhausted to walk.

　That's what I thought, but...

Oh, ......
"I'm not saying I know how you feel, but... I've been there. I've seen it happen after a fight.

　That's a story for another time.
　I remember the first time I was denied the power to fight that I had finally acquired.

　However, I'm sure that her current situation is a different vector from the misery and helplessness that Futa felt.
　I don't want to talk about myself.
　Right now, I just want to make the person in my arms feel better.

Excuse me if I'm being disrespectful.

　If I didn't like it, I'd push him away. That's what I thought.

"No one's looking now.

　I whisper.
　Her silver hair falls in front of Futa's eyes as he looks down.

　The warmth of her bosom as she gently pressed against it.
　You can't see the expression on her face as she buries her face in your chest.

"...... I am...
Yes.

　You can't see her face as she buries her face in your chest.

I didn't mean to let my guard down. But ...... I thought I was.
"......
"I can't lose here.

　Aylin and Lilac.
　They're not the kind of faces that would just disappear at a place like this. That's for sure.

　But this is a tag team match.
　It's understandable that something unexpected would happen.

　However, there are some emotions that can't be sorted out because defeat is not directly confronted.

It's only natural that I'd have a match with Futa. ......
Yes.
So why are you here?
Yes.
I don't even want to think I was conceited. ......!
...... Yes.

　In fact, there is no doubt that I was conceited.
　I didn't intend to be defeated except in the match with Futa.
　But why should I be blamed for that? Lilac wasn't the only one who thought so. Even Prim and Izuna have their sights set on the top.

　Lilac carefully prepared for each team, and did not take them for granted. In that sense, they are not conceited.
　If there is such a thing, it is a matter of mindset.
　Somewhere, I must have been thinking. As I said earlier, there was no way I could lose.

　But still, there are feelings that you don't want to admit.

　Because if I admit that I was conceited, then...

　--I'd be admitting that I'm just a spectacled fighter.

　I'm sure the man in front of me doesn't understand why I hate that so much.

　If you're looking up at him with moist eyes, you'll see that he's not far away, and his simple face is just smiling gently.


I thought I could ...... change it. ......
"Change ......?

　The murmurings will not reach Futa, of course.
　Nor do I intend to let him. Because I have not reached that height myself.

　I wanted to think that I had the ability to change the flag of Spectacula - its symbol, the two swords that represent the supreme sword - from that sword.

　I wanted to think that.

　--Not yet. Again. I didn't get it.

"Master Lilac.

　A hand gently placed on the back of my head. Big and warm.
　I'm afraid to allow anyone to touch the back of my head, but it's so natural that I don't feel bad about it.

I'm always, always waiting for you.
I'll always be here." "......?

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to take a look at your own personal life.

　It's enough warmth to break down the emotions you've just endured by biting your lip.

"Ugh, .......
"You did your best, Lilac-sama. I'm not proud of it. So let's get together again before the next time.

　I know I look so pathetic in tears.
　Even though she knew that her crying was too pathetic, she couldn't overcome the feeling of misery, sadness, helplessness, and defeat that came with it. This is surely an important part of what makes her a warrior, and that is why there is a next time.



　I'll be back for the next competition .

　Let's just get it all out for now.

　Futa just held her in his arms and nursed her until she felt better.





I'm not sure what to say.
I'm not sure what to say.


　I remembered something else.


The other day I told him that Tsuneyama Jujitsu would never be able to play with two swords. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one. ...... It hurts, Lilac-sama.

　I'm sorry. I'm sure you're right.