Ira-san won.

''That guy came up with a crazy idea too but that may have been the only way Ira could counter the Peyerkantar.

　Currier-san is impressed.

'Sorry, Bok I think I'm going to cry a bit...'

　The one who said that with a choking feeling was senior Ray, who covered his mouth with his hand.
　She was probably impressed by Ira-san's struggles.
　She was especially close to Ira-san, so maybe she was also impressed.



　Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes.

''Huh.......I don't think I'd be this happy if I won.......''

　Lei-senpai really cares about Isla-san........

''But is Isla okay?　It's an explosive technique, even if it's less powerful, right?　And at such a close range...

　Currier-san looks worriedly at the top of the battle table.
　Ira-san and Chairman Dristos on the battle platform were just now going back to each other's waiting room.
　They seemed to be able to walk and didn't seem to be hurting too hard in any way, but.......

　I got up.

''I'm going to go for a while.''

　Mr. Currier nodded.
　He seemed to understand without telling me where we were going.
　We walk out of the auditorium into the hallway and head to the waiting room.
　The destination is, of course, Ira-san's waiting room.




'At any rate, thank you for your hard work, Ira-san.

　Once again, I say a few words of thanks and wrap a bandage around Ira's arm.
　I apply a burn medicine like ointment to the burn area.

''Thanks--ah, it was........''
'Oh, sorry. Was that too strong?
No, it's okay.......heh.......

　Ira-san looked somewhat happy.

　So far, there are no other contestants in the waiting room other than Ira-san.
　And in front of the waiting room is a person from the Holy Tree Order standing guard-like in front of the waiting room, but it seems that during this Seibutsu Matsuri, I'm being recognized as a member of the same position.
　As soon as I told them my business, they let me through.
　There was a sense of face-passing.

''You won that President Dristos, right? I can understand why you're so happy.
'What?　Ummm....well that's part of it, but I'm just....happy that Kurohiko came to see me, I mean....
'I was happy to see Ira win, too. But it was an amazing match I was a little worried about it.

　I finish wrapping the bandage on my arm.
　Next I prepare a white thin cloth that looks like a bandage.
　It's called a healing cloth.
　It can be used similar to a bandage, thanks to a special fluid with an adhesive that comes off naturally.

　I carefully applied the thin healing cloth to Ira-san's cheek.

''Okay, well........I guess that's pretty much the end of the treatment for the wound.
Thanks, Blackie.
No, it's just an inexpensive way to do business. Above all, I'm like Ira-san's partner during this holy war festival. So this is a natural duty.

　Ira touched the healing cloth on his cheek with his hand and looked deeply moved.

'What's wrong, Miss Ira?'
'I still can't believe I beat that student council president... haha... weird, right?　I was so determined to win, I thought I was going to win...

　When you suddenly improve in some capacity, you may feel a strong gap between you and your old self.
　This has happened to me.

'That feeling, similar to confusion, is probably a natural one. I used to have a feeling of incredulity that I was able to defeat that Cyclops.
By the way, that time........Kurohiko saved me, didn't he?

　He smiles bitterly.

'As it turns out, though,'
Wasn't it cool when you were with Kurohiko?
Haha I just remember being desperate, that's all I remember.

　Ira looked at the hand with the healing cloth on it.
　Somewhere, with eyes looking into the distance.

'Somehow that day seems like a long, long time ago... it hasn't even been a year yet... it's a strange feeling...
There's been a lot going on.

　So many things have happened since I came into this world.
　The good and the bad.

"Hey, Kurohiko.
Yes, sir.
I know this is a very insidious request, but I have a very big goal for myself at the moment. Will you listen to me?

　I nodded, yeah, as I dropped to my knees.
　Ira-san clutched the open flippers.

'I want to be like Kurohiko.

Like me?

　Ira-san smiles as if to mend her embarrassment and scratches her head.

''Haha........but of course I know it's a reckless goal, right?

　Ira-san looks at the match long sword that is standing up.

'It's just that I was training with Kurohiko... and I really wish I could be like that... and that's what I came to think...' ...

　Then she folded her hands in her lap and smiled with strong feelings.

'Longing, I guess. That's why Kurohiko is my admirer.......but you know what?　But ... for me, probably more than that--

　At that moment, the door to the waiting room opened.
　Ira cut off mid-sentence and caught sight of a figure entering the room.

'Oh, Cecily!'

　It was Miss Cecily.
　Behind her, Currier-san is also behind her.
　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do that.

''Well........could I have been interrupting you.......?
'What?　I don't think so!

　Ira-san stands up apologetically.

''I'm the one who's sorry for sitting around for so long after the game, right?
'No, don't worry about it. Besides, it's not strange for those of us who still have a game left to play to wait in the waiting room, is it?　But more importantly ... that game you just played was absolutely brilliant.
'Oh, thank you ... it's nice to hear Cecily say that!
When I saw that match, I felt that I could not lose.

　Cecily holds out her hand.

'I'll see you at the final,'

　Although there was a slight languor, Ira also gripped it back forcefully.

''Unh.''

　An unclouded reply.
　There may have been some burning pain in his hands, but he didn't seem to care.
　Maybe he was more happy to shake hands with this Cecily-san than the pain he felt.

　Miss Currier said.

''But that windbag probably isn't a simple matter either, is it?　Well, I'm sure you're well aware of that.
It's true that the Polaris is a powerful unique art form. However, depending on how you fight, it is possible to win - and this is what Ira has shown us.

　Cecily holds the twin swords for the match.

'If you don't give up, you'll find a way.

　I knew one thing from what he just said.
　I haven't drawn up the perfect winning formula yet.
　But I have enough spirit.
　And he has a calmer air than Ira did before the semifinals.
　She was elegant and impeccable.
　There's not a hint of preoccupation.

　..........

　However, I still have the feeling that that was Cecily-san on the outside.
　When it's just the two of us and I, and when we're together with several people like this.
　Both are "Cecily Arkwright", but.......I feel like the weight of what I'm carrying on my back is different.
　Should we call it a weight on our shoulders?

I'll do my best to give Kurohiko a good match.

　So I boldly asked.

"Are you prepared to deal with the [Polaris]?
I've been thinking about how I'm going to fight this fight. I don't know if it's enough, but I'm going to do what I can do anyway.

　Feeling hesitant, I said.

''Um, Cecily-san.......actually, in my own way, that [Polar Sky]--''
Shh.

　Miss Cecily bent forward and put her white fingers to her own lips.

'It's all right. We are ourselves, and we have come up with our own methods of warfare. Above all, you should think only of this tournament, of Isla's victory.
It's a--
Cecily is right. This Holy War Festival, you should focus on winning Isla.

　Currier-san said, and Ira-san followed.

''Oh, Attah.......I want Cecily to win, too!

　Cecily loosens her eyes.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're talking about. So..........I feel that if I were to get advice from Kurohiko here, I would destroy that equality.
Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know what's going on here...
'Hmmm, that's not for you to apologize for.

　Cecily smiled gently, and Currier placed a strong hand on Cecily's shoulder.

''What, Cecily has me with her. Hm ... well, I understand how Kurohiko feels.

　Earlier, I unintentionally almost told him the guess I got from analyzing the 《Polar Sky》 in my own way.
　............
　What is it?
　I felt that Cecily-san was pushing herself too hard somehow, and I suddenly felt that I should take her side here.
　Because of that, I almost mentioned some information that would support Cecily-san in this semi-final.

　



　Miss Cecily put her fist to her chest and lowered her lashes in happiness.

'I'm glad I was able to touch your feelings before the game. How can I put it, I feel as if I have been nourished by you.

　Taking a deep breath as if to reunify her mind, Cecily stretched out her chest and turned her body towards the match field.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you can't afford to play a hapless match, since you spoke so loudly in response to Kurohiko's kindness. Well--

　The expression on his face is already that of a dignified swordsman.

''Shall we go?''