--before the second round of the tournament. Pasta's home.

　The lawn in the garden is carefully maintained, and the large flat surface is perfect for wielding a long sword.
　You don't have to worry about damaging the surrounding plants and flowers, even if the house belongs to your employer.

　It is only a short time before the sun rises.
　The time when my employer is working.
　A short time before dusk and sleep.


　And one more thing.
　The time when the employer is dealing with an intimate visitor who does not need an escort. That time when you are dealing with him is your free time.


　That's why you haven't seen her, even though she often comes to visit. She was working out hard, pretending to be watering flowers.

　If you ask me what the point is in hiding her, I don't know.

　I know that that man is a monster who can see through everything once he meets you, and that he is a man who is too powerful for my current self.

　But...

　--Step in. Swing up. The sound of the wind reaping is surely sharper than yesterday.

　I also know that showing my desperate efforts will never work in my favor.
　If we run into each other in the first round, we might be able to catch each other off guard. Even if that is not the case, in order to catch up with the champion waiting on high - no, in order to defeat all the warriors who stand above you, you must not miss even the slightest accumulation.

　What does it matter if you are inferior in strength?

　If you believe that a contest of strength is the essence of sword fighting, then why don't you just take a physical test and be done with it?

　No matter how inferior you are, you can win with the training you have accumulated and even with luck on your side.
　That's the only way I know how to win, the only way I'm allowed to win.

　I have a partner. I have a target to defeat.
　I can reach out for the same goal.
　Then maybe I'm blessed.

What are you doing waving a stick around at this hour?
"...... pasta

　I started with kata practice and then adjusted my technique to suit myself.
　I'm still growing. I'm still growing. I'll probably get a little taller.
　Even if I couldn't have the body of Aylin B. Smiles or Prim Lancaster, I hoped that I could manage to build up my body to the minimum level of a warrior.
　As a result, I don't know how it worked, but I must have grown a little taller in the past half year.

　Height is another piece that I have accumulated.

Is it that late?
Yes, it is. How can you see so well in such a state?

　Looking around, the world is pitch black.
　I guess I was just looking at the flash of the blade in the starlight. I put too much into it.

Here.
Oh, thank you.

　Even though the Red Season had just begun, the pleasant heat of the Fresh Season was nowhere to be found.
　At this hour, it was already chilly. At least I can stay in a T-shirt like Leafy because my body is warm.

　It must be a little chilly for someone like the girl in front of her, who had just come out from her desk job. The gown draped over her shoulder reminded her of the season and the time.

　A glass of water was handed to me as if to force me to drink it.
　After swallowing it all at once, Leafy sighed as if she was comfortable. It seems that her body needed more water than she thought.
　The sensation of quenching the thirst that was sinking into her bones was pleasant and refreshing.

I told you it was okay to leave. You said I could come out, but you're really into it.
Of course you are. I'm a warrior, I'm a fighter.
"...... swordsman.

　Pasta's eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance, and he gently tucked his red hair behind his ear and looked up at the sky.
　Aside from the light leaking from the room, the only thing that illuminates this place are the stars.

　There were many stars shining one by one. The intensity of the light varies, like scattered jewels, but also like a clear distinction between the leading and the trailing stars.

Only one can be the champion. Only one person can be a champion, and only a few swordsmen get noticed. Wouldn't it have been better to run away and open a dojo than to be in such a serious world?
"If I ran away, I wouldn't even have a dojo.

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it. I don't know if I would have been able to open the dojo properly.
　At the very least, my father-in-law would not have allowed me to do so, and more importantly, no one would have wanted to open the door to me with my sword still broken.

　I'm not sure if I was even able to discern that at the time.

"Hmm?

　After that, I glanced at the girl in front of me.
　I'm not sure if she was worried about me or not.

"Are you worried about me?
"What?　No, of course not.
Thanks.
I know you're in denial, but do you have ears?

　I smiled a little at her as she looked up at me as if I were a threatening kitten.
　Whenever I think about it, her swearing has always been somewhat pseudo-evil and conducive.


　Maybe this time it was a pep talk, maybe it was a consolation prize.

　Either way, it's not what Leafy needs right now.

"They're all better than me. I know.
"......

　Leafy says, as if she is aware of it.
　Pasta listens to her words in silence, looking unhappy.

The last time I heard about the incident around Spectacula... From what I heard from Izuna, it was a big mess that I didn't know how to handle. --But, you know. But strangely enough...

　Pasta-chan's Yuyake Concert.
　There was a commotion that occurred around it that may have changed the history of the capital.
　There may be consequences. She had been told that, and had spent all her time guarding Pasta, only to find out later that the whole battle had ended outside the spectacle.

　The emotion that came to her heart at that moment would have been "relief" if she had been the same as before.
　But this time it was different.

　I was relieved and thankful that she was okay.

I felt a little frustrated that I couldn't have done something to help.
It was stupid of you to take such a pointless risk.
That's what you say.

　Pasta is not a warrior, and he does not value strength.
　All she wants is the word "victory." That's all she wants.
　But not Leafy.

It's only recently that I realized that. When I went out to dinner with you and Futa. I don't know if I'm getting any stronger, when I complained. I was able to remember exactly what I was thinking when I ...... wanted to do something about the Sakuraga Itto Ryu.
"...... So?
In the end, in order to master the Sakuraga Itto Ryu, you must not be afraid of losing. It's a good idea to know the best people and use them to make a sword that can beat them. When I thought about it, I began to think that it was a shame that I couldn't go out and fight on that night.
"......

　Leafy Lean Glide's goal.
　It is to rebuild the dojo of the Sakuraga Itto Ryu.
　It is not just a matter of becoming a dojo master, as it may be one day.
　After that, he must spread the Sakurahana Itto Ryu, the embodiment of the "strongest sword", to the world. If we can do that, then we can finally "rebuild the dojo".

　No matter what hardships and mortal battles lie ahead of us.

"In order to do that, I need to fight a lot and compete with a lot of warriors. --So, win. The more you win, the more fights you'll have!
"Right. Then you should just fight like an idiot.
What?
Idiots like you on the battlefield are a nuisance to everyone around you. There is no one who is taking the time to cut each other down thinking that they are feeding off the enemy, because it is a world where the winner is the one who wins, no matter how cowardly or sneaky.
............ You're right.
That's right.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.

　You're worried about me, aren't you?

　But it's okay. No matter what comes my way, my sword will never break. Not again.












　--arena spectacula.


...then it's Wildfire versus Wild Hunt!



Let the games begin!



I've waited long enough!　I've waited long enough for this moment to slay you!

　I kicked the floor.
　Leafy leaps forward and plunges headfirst into Izuna Sienzan.

　The silver blade that flashed was a long sword. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that.

I'm not sure what to make of it.
You're right. If he shows an opening, I'm going to break him.
Heh.

　I look up and see a fierce smile.
　I'm not sure what to say.

　Under the piercing blue sky you can clearly see that it's begun. The beating of my heart tells me.

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

　--A fist flies at her.

　You can't draw your sword even though you know it's coming.
　If you free that hammer and axe, a big swing will swallow you and Arrows at that moment.

　But. But with this Sakurahana Itto Ryu sword, it's not impossible to hold down a single mallet axe.

"Arrows!
"Oh, I'm here to bring you tension hotter than a pizza, Izuna!



　Quicker than a clenched fist could shatter Leafy's sword, Arrows, with both swords raised, leapt at Izuna.
　He was not completely hidden behind Leafy, but he still blocked his view and struck a spark.

　With this--

"Yeah, I know.
"Ooh, ！！！！.

　--The black hawk karate of Izuna Sienzan was thrust at the blue sky.
　The target was the abdomen of Arrows, who jumped into the air.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. He can't follow up on Arrows while he's still floating, though.

　Izuna Sienzan is a tremendous warrior, but she is not without her weaknesses.

　She doesn't have the head speed of a genius like Prim Lancaster or the kingdom's strongest, Lilac M. Fangini, who can pull back a thrusting weapon and fire it again.

　He has a very fast attack for this heavy equipment, but it is not the fastest of all swordsmen.

　And - at the very least - Leafy can handle the 'minimum' of a top fighter.

I'm not sure what to do.

　He drew the sword that had been catching the hammer axe. A moment of interplay.
　I'm sure you've heard of it.
　It's not as if he's stronger without the hammer axe. It is the use of the visible threat of the hammer axe that makes Izuna Sienzan.

　Then, right after the black hawk karate that he unleashed on a non-Leafy opponent. The answer is no, because the hammer axe is now free and he can use it against Leafy.

　In return, he aimed at Izuna's arm.
　It's a big but very fast blow, swung with such force that it cuts off the arm.

　So far, it was a brief exchange.

　If you can sink Izuna here, all the better. If not, I have a series of blows ready for the next one. Plus, it'll give us a strong card to play to show that we're capable of this level of coordination.

　That's why Wind Earth Note's cut-in was rather a welcome development.
　In the original plan, we knew that Wind would not stand still for this long.
　I had assumed that she would show up to help Izuna, who was being targeted by two people.

　But...

"Sorry, Leafy Lean Glide.

　That name was definitely engraved in Izuna's mind.

　This man had never been careless from the start.

　And I don't overestimate him either.

"With your speed, I can follow you with my eyes.

　Even if you can't draw your fist.

　Even if you can't pull back your fist, you can at least take a step back and half turn your body to avoid the cutting edge.

Yes.
"The length of the blade, the speed at which it fires, the angle. You can't avoid it even if you know everything about it - you'll have to get your skills up to that level before you can attack me with a sword.
There is no such person as ！！！！.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's not that I don't like it.
　But I don't think this was a half-hearted attack. I knew that if I didn't get interfered with, I would never lose.
　He was astonished to find that he had been able to deal with a move that he had thrown with the assumption that Wind Earth Note would intervene.

...... would have been the last place I would have gone!
"Oops!

　But what does it matter because the first sword was defeated.
　I'll continue to hit him with a series of blows. The beauty of the sword is that it is not limited by its length, but by its speed and number of moves. It is long but light. It is this contradiction that makes the sword the ultimate weapon.

　The sword flash, aimed at the moment when Izuna's black hawk karate was blocked, did not leave Izuna with a moment to spare.
　I'm not going to let you down. Leafy is not just inferior.

"Arrows!

　I shouted as I was about to deliver another blow.
　It was not in the plan, but she would go on the offensive once more. She thought about it, but the strong presence she felt behind her made her cower for a moment.

"I'm sorry, I can't do it again.
"Really?

　A dull thud echoed in her back.

　It is not hard to imagine that the sound is the sound of an object colliding with an object.
　I thought he was going to cover Izuna Sienzan.

　But it was simpler than that.

　Wind Earth Note had simply left the two of them to Izuna, and had come to "catch" the one who had an opening.

　This is a partnership that can only be accomplished with the absolute presence of Izuna.

　This is not the same as the collaboration that Stardust performed, but it is a kind of arrogant violation of the strong to crush the one that Izuna failed to crush.

　Wilderness Storm Blade. The storm of the blade is a beast of greed that will return all to the wilderness.


"But it will be done.
Hey. I got your back.

　But then there's the second part of the plan.
　It's true, Izuna Sienzan is powerful and Wind-Earth Note is an unknown quantity.
　But the game is just beginning.
　I know what they're capable of.

"Don't mess with me, tough guys!



　Leafy laughs.

　Facing her is Izuna.
　Behind her, Wind and Arrows are facing each other.
　Two pseudo 1-on-1s have been created.
　It's a game of strength, without the element of luck.

　Showing his teeth, Leafy held up his sword against Izuna.

　--The cherry blossoms are weeping.



I'd like to go up against it. I've always wanted to go toe-to-toe with one of those.
I'm honored, Izuna. It's a great honor, Izuna. Let me see how far I can go against you now!　


　The Sakuraba Itto-ryu is not an offensive sword.
　It's a defensive sword that can take on any fury.

　--No matter what comes my way, my sword will never be broken. Never again.

　Now, Leafy's "wish" collides with the biggest obstacle of all.