A slash that accelerated at a speed that surprised even me.

　Currier-san, who had a faintly empty face, quickly raises her sword.
　The blade and the blade touch each other.
　And the next moment--

-Oh!

　My sword shot was swept away behind Currier-san with ease.
　I lost my balance and stepped on the tatara.

''T........!

　I managed to stay on the verge of falling down.

'I'm sorry. I meant to take it like a normal person, but I just........let it slide backwards.

　After saying that, Currier-san looked at me quizzically.

''You don't have any experience with swordsmanship, do you?

　As I regained my stance, Currier-san asked me something like that.

'None,'
Hmmm... it doesn't look like you've learned much swordsmanship, but...

　When he said that to himself, Currier's eyes would be able to guess what was going on.
　And.

''Well you're going to have to put some more thought into it. I'll take it all in this time. Also, I'm going to go easy on you, but I'm going to hammer it in lightly, too.
Okay. Well then, please.

　Again, he readies his sword.
　Currier-san also readies his sword.

''Oh, and I'll tell you one thing. Unlike that Arkwright family's daughter, I have never learned proper swordplay. It's all in my own style.

　Currier-san, the stance is the same as before, but the air is different.

That's why you may develop some strange habits. If you want to learn proper swordsmanship, you'd better get that instructor to teach you. My sword is, so to speak, something that was created naturally through my frantic wielding of it to survive.
I'm...

　I put more pressure on my hand that grips the handle.

'I want to learn from you, Currier,'
All right. All right.

　The gravel on the dirt scraped against the soles of my shoes with a chill.

"Here we go.

　Increase your focus.
　From there.

　While swinging my sword, I closed the gap between us again at once.

　The blade I let go, drawing a gentle curve from downward to Currier-san's abdomen - her sword received the blow without danger.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.

　That doesn't stop the offensive, I continue to hammer my sword into Currier-san.
　I'm going to throw everything at him.

　I'm sure this person will be able to take it all in.

　That sense of security enveloped me.
　That's why........it doesn't matter if it's awkward.
　Anyway, for now - I'm going to give it my all, I'm going to give it my all!

　--The speed of the sword swing is increasing.

　The speed of the sword swinging is increasing.
　It's kind of fun to be able to do this.
　The joy that has been bubbling up.

　And as soon as their sword blades collided with each other and bounced off each other, Currier-san struck from her side.
　I quickly pull back on the blade and catch the sharp blow.

　--Heavy.

　That's how I felt after receiving her attack.
　My hand gripping the hilt feels a slight numbness.

“--…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………â

　..........
　All right, now, I'll go--

　That's when.

　--Eater...

　....What?
　Eat, huh?
　What.....

　--Eaters.

Eater.

　Something's going to change.

　My sword.
　It's like.
　Mr. Currier sent me a message.
　Hurled at me.
　Sword shot, please.
　As if to entangle them.
　That's what it feels like.
　Mononi--

　Eat, eat, eat-- eat!

　My slash, which has become even sharper, begins to have momentum like a whirlwind.

''Huh?　You.........?

　Currier's voice, tinged with confusion.

　Fun - easy.
　Comfortable--comfortable.　

　The sound of the sword and the sword echoing together, the feel of it, is really, really--comfortable.

　A moment later - Currier Versteyn's sword muscle shows a change.

　I'm going to eat the first part of it.
　Naraba--

Tsk!

　The next moment.
　There was a loud, metallic sound.

"..........　

　The last thing I did was shoot a sideways slash.



　The sword that I should have swung off........spun around, spinning like a propeller on the ground in the corner of the training ground.
　And in front of me, Currier-san, who had a somewhat stern expression on her face, was staring at me in the same posture in which she had swung the sword away.

　.........eh?

You........you really have close to no experience with swords, don't you?
Or rather, it was my first time in a mock-up.
You're not lying to me.

　Mr. Currier releases his stance and lowers his sword.

'Oh well. That's enough for today.''

　He clapped.

'No, brilliant.'

　It was Instructor Isabella.

'I mean, you guys could have been a normal A group, couldn't you?　Yeah, and also...

　Instructor Isabella gives you a wicked look.

"I wonder if he wanted an excuse to be alone with you?　From the outside, it looks like you two trust each other a lot.　What?　Are the two of you guys that close?
'No, sir. .........Please don't get any strange ideas.

　Currier-san immediately denies it.
　Well, it's certainly not 'that kind of rapport' that the instructor is talking about, but........I intend to do my best to build up a deep trust in the future.
　.........
　Hm?

　Currier-san is observing us with a serious look on her face.

'Um, what is it?'
How did you feel when you crossed swords with me earlier?

　Miss Currier asked.

'Well, do you mean your impressions?'
Yeah.
''Well ... Currier-san looks great in her exercise clothes and is really beautiful, don't you think?
...Seriously.

　No, it looks seriously good on you, and it's beautiful....
　Ha, anyway.

'Hmm, what can I say?　It was like this, I felt so much strength, or maybe I was having fun... I can't really put it into words, but it was like that. Maybe Currier-san has a good way of matching it up.
Yeah, right.

　Currier-san puts her hand over her mouth and looks at me in some kind of silent contemplation.
　And then.

...do you have a minute?
Um... what?

　I was perplexed.
　Because.

　I thought I suddenly released my sword and came closer, because Currier-san started rubbing my right arm with both hands.

''Kyu, Currier-san!　What are you--

　While I was in a hurry, Currier-san's ten long fingers touched my arm as if to inspect something.
　Well, a massage?

　Mr. Currier was blindsided.

'The muscle is building up.
Oh, really?

　I've never been a fan of strength training.........

But there's no way in hell I'm going to do this in a day or two...
Oh, my God, really.

　Huh?

　I noticed that Instructor Isabella was touching my left arm.

''...........''

　What the hell is going on here?
　Two hands, flowery?
　I mean, this close to Currier-san and Instructor Isabella........
　I, I can't move, I can't move.

".........Whoa!　Um!

　This time, Instructor Isabella started rubbing my leg.
　I'm not going to be able to get away with it.

I'm sure you've been working out a lot.　That would make some sense for that blow in the mock game.
No, as of yesterday, I got the impression that it was more or less...

　Even Currier-san joins in the touching of the legs.
　The situation of two women touching their legs under the gaze of the two women...this feels a bit strange....

'You.'

　Currier-san looks up at me as she touches my leg with her hand.
　Angularly, I can't help but be thrown off guard.

'What is it, huh?'
The rest of today's session should be spent on swinging and basic training.
Okay, okay.

　Then, at last, the release (?) I began to swing at the training ground.
　Plus, there's a moderate mix of push-ups, sit-ups, and other menu items I can think of as basic training.
　All of them are necessary to avoid becoming a drag on Currier-san.......and to attack the Holy Ruins.
　And training with a proper 'purpose' was a very pleasant thing to do.

　Along the way, Isabella taught me some tricks of swinging, and I continued my basic training, focusing on swinging.

　　　　　　　　　　

　A transparent bell signals the end of the combat class.

'Phew.'

　He lowers his sword and takes a breath.
　But I didn't feel so tired.
　Rather, I was filled with a sense of contentment.

　Then we cleaned up and left the training grounds.

I'll see you tomorrow.....

　Leaving a wink, Instructor Isabella left.

''So, the attack on the Holy Ruins...''

　After seeing Instructor Isabella off, Currier opened his mouth.

'As for me, I thought I'd train you for a while, and then you'd be in your element. After seeing that fight with the goblins, I have a feeling that it's not safe to say that it's only a forbidden curse.

　Currier-san has a good point.
　I have no objection to it.
　In fact, I even feel sorry for making you go through the trouble of training me.

''However,''

　And so, up front, Mr. Currier continued.

'We might be able to get there sooner than I thought.
Am I going to be okay?
I'm going to give it a few more days to see how it goes, but as far as I'm concerned, it's going to be fine. Well, I don't want to force you to do anything. But there are some things that can only be learned in the field.

　If that's what Currier says, then it must be true.
　It may sound strange, but I have a feeling she knows me better than I do.
　So I guess I should put my energy into training myself for now anyway.　

''Then, if you can, store more knowledge of the Holy Ruins before you attack. When the time comes, knowledge will come in handy.''
'Yes, I will. .........So, um, about today.

　As soon as he changed the topic, Currier-san's eyebrows were frowned at.

''Ah, it was lunch with the Arkwright family's daughter, wasn't it? I see, you're already occupied with that. Good, just go ahead and get going. Hmph, at best, have a good time.
No, it's not that, it's just that today, after class, I was talking to you.
"M
Currier, Mr.?
It's just that I'm... well, I'm sorry.

　Mr. Currier put his hand to his forehead as if to chastise himself.

'And what?'
Actually, I have to go to the library.
Oh, right. ...Oh, you're here to find out about the forbidden curse, by any chance?
Yeah.
All right. Let's save the prep work we had planned for the Holy Ruins Hall for tomorrow.
Excuse me.
What, don't worry about it. I'm just me and I've got things to do.

　Somehow, they fall silent to each other.

'By the way, what is it?'
Yes, sir.

　Currier-san plucked at the fabric around her belly.

'........Does it look that good on you, this?
Yes, of course!
But these are just workout clothes, okay?
'Um, well, so it's okay, I mean, what can I say...'
"...then, hypothetically. Would you be happy if I wore this when we met?
In an ordinary space.
'But these clothes are for intense physical activity, indoors and out, right?　And yet, what's the point of wearing it at any other time?　There are plenty of other good quality clothes out there.
Well, that's just the way it is,

　Miss Currier drops her breath.

'I don't know ... but I get it. You like these clothes, don't you?
Or rather, I like the way you're dressed, Currier.

　Currier-san glares at me with a jittery stare.

'It's not just me, but the Arkwright family's daughter too, right?
It's...
Honestly.
Yes.
Huh, you're a very honest man, aren't you?
I'm sorry.
You don't have to apologize. Besides, honesty isn't necessarily a bad thing. ...Well, I was a little too nasty to poke at you, too. I'm sorry.

　After such an exchange, me and Currier-san separated and headed to our respective changing rooms.

　　　　　　　　　　*

　So I changed into my uniform and got out of the locker room... but...

Well, then, Kurohiko we'll have lunch as we agreed.
..........
'Huh?　What's going on?
You've been waiting for me here?
Of course. I'm the one who asked you to do this today.

　To my surprise, a smiling Cecily was waiting for me in front of the boys' locker room.
　The boys coming in and out of the locker room said, "Cecily Arkwright, why are you here! He gives me a look like that and then walks past, admiringly.

The cafeteria is too crowded with people to be able to talk calmly, so for today, let's eat outside. This is how I have prepared lunch.

　Cecily lifted the basket she was carrying in her hand.

It's a beautiful day and you don't mind, do you?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't mind.
Oh, good. Well, let's get going, shall we?

　Cecily takes my hand naturally and leads me to her.
　The tip of her hair, like a tail, grazed the tip of my nose.
　It smelled good, cool and refreshing.

"!

　..........................
　I think I saw something just now.........
　Someone was looking at me from the corner of the hallway.

'What's wrong?'
No.

　When she hid her figure, her lustrous silver hair danced softly in the air.
　So far I only know of one person with such beautiful silver hair........

''Cecily-san.''
What is it?
It's just the two of us for lunch today, isn't it?
Yeah, just the two of us.

　Although he was gentle, there was something stubbornly uncompromising in his tone.

''..........''

　The option of the three of us together is still no option.

　I mean, I wonder how long Cecily-san will be holding my hand.......
　I'm so worried that I'm going to sweat my hands from the strain.
　But despite my worries, Cecily pulls my hand firmly in hers and walks away.

　...............
　It's a strange feeling.

　I'm walking around the school like this while being pulled by that Cecily-san's hand.
　Right now, neither Zeke-san nor Hyrgis-san are there.
　Indeed, it could be said that it is just the two of us.

　Thus, while being exposed to the curious gazes of students passing by, Cecily took me outside the main building.