Did you hurt your wrist in the semifinals earlier?

　No words of denial came from Cecily in response to Currier Versteen's question as he came into the waiting room.

'You are very good at seeing through it, Currier. Yes, I think I've twisted it a bit.''

　Currier gets down on one knee.

'Let me see.'

　Cecily shows her left wrist.
　She could see the swelling.
　Carefully, Currier touched Cecily's wrist gently.

'How is it?'
I don't feel much pain.

　I'll put a little more effort into it.

What's this?
Not really.
Does it hurt?
Yeah.

　Step by step, you will put more effort into it.
　Then.

Hmm?

　Cecily's eyes tightened around Cecily's.

'That's going to hurt ... a little bit.

　Loosen up.

"I'm sorry that hurt. I'm sorry.
No.

　Currier ponders.
　Cecily asks.

'What do you think?'
'It's a delicate point. I'm not in such a heavy state that a match is absolutely impossible, but...

　But can we let them do something reckless?

　The stage is set for the final match of the Holy War Festival.
　Her opponent is Ira Horne.

　Considering Cecily's character, I don't think she would accept abstaining here with open arms.

''Just in case, let's hear it?　I'm not going to abstain--
No, sir.

　A crisp, unclouded, immediate answer.
　Breathe.
　It was an obvious answer.
　On the outside, she is a girl who seems to be an aggregate of beauty mixed with fragility.
　However, Cecily has a stubborn side to her.
　Was Kurohiko's stubbornness contagious?
　Or maybe it was his original personality.
　Either way, abstaining seemed to be an option.

''Okay I'll put this potion on first.

　An ointment to ease the swelling and pain.
　It's something Currier has been carrying with him since he's been traveling.
　He applies the medicine to Cecily's wrist.

'I will bandage your left hand, which is holding the sword, before the match. Is that all right?
Yes, please. And ... thank you, Currier.

　Cecily's expression softened, perhaps because of her relief at being allowed to participate in the tournament.
　It seems that she really wanted to be in the final after all.
　While applying the medicine, Currier asked.

''Once again I ask you.......why are you so committed to the finals?''
I'm just trying to catch up with Kurohiko and you as much as I can.
Is that really all you've got?
What do you mean?
To Isla...

　Currier was a little embarrassed at the mention of it.

''Well ... you don't have any special feelings as a woman or anything?''
　Do you mean, do you have feelings like that?
Well, well that's pretty much the kind of question I'm asking.

　Cecily gave an unclouded smile, just like her earlier answer.

''I also thought at first that I would have such feelings after all.......but for some reason I can't seem to get those feelings for Ira.......''

　Currier snorted, strangely pleased.

'Humph I know that feeling too,'
'She's so straightforward that it's a bit depressing...'
At first I thought the sweetness that comes from his goodness would be fatal, but that's the kind of person who takes the initiative to support and protect those around him, but because he's so straightforward, those around him are cheering him on. I can't help but feel like I want to.
It's a little bit like a blackberry, isn't it?

　Although she had said that she couldn't feel those emotions, Cecily's smile revealed some complicated emotions.
　After all, she must be feeling far away from Kurohiko at this Holy Martial Arts Festival.

''That injured wrist........''
What's wrong with my wrist?
It was actually Kurohiko that I realized I might have hurt him.
Blackbeard?
'That guy told me after the game that it was kind of bothering him. He said it was kind of bothering me and I'm ashamed to say I didn't realize it.
Well, Kurohiko....

　The complication vanished slightly from Cecily's expression.

'So I'm looking at you properly too, that guy.
Hmm... you said you weren't going to support me, didn't you?

　A deep, warm light lit up the sky-blue eyes that were no less than jewels.

''Oh, I feel like I'm somehow unbeatable.......to Ira, to Kurohiko.......''

　Currier stood up.

'But in the final, we can't afford to lose. Right?'
Yes I'm going to do my best to win.

　Then Currier talked about the Pseudo-Sky.
　Because Cecily still didn't understand what the thing was.
　Cecily said, 'I see,' and agreed with Currier's story.

''It's just that........it seems that the thing isn't something that can be activated at will, like Koudelka's inherent technique. That's why it might be difficult to cut off your reliance on that thing in the final match.
'Also, Ira's abbreviated speed now could be tricky. No, of course, the swords will need attention too...
''Neither I nor Currier understands even Ira's sword habits........''
'Straight trajectory attacks are particularly fast and sharp. But that doesn't seem to mean that he's not good at attacking with curves. In a way, it's seamless.
"More importantly, Ira has that Kurohiko around... I didn't expect Kurohiko to be such an observant schemer...

　Haha, Cecily sighs deeply.

''I'd like to see that perceptiveness demonstrated elsewhere, though...''
Yeah.
Also, I'd like to see him show more of that finesse in his dealings with us...
Agreed.
..........
..........
Hey.
"Mm.

　It was kind of a delicate air.

　--Sinful guy, that guy too.

　Currier pulled the conversation back to the Holy Martial Arts Festival.

''Anyway, in the end, we'll just have to bring out what we've cultivated so far.
Yeah.
Well, you've got a wrist thing. So, even if you lose, don't worry about it--

That's not an excuse.

　Cecily forcefully states.

''I couldn't win because of my injured wrist.......I have no intention of making that excuse. Besides, it's the same with Ira, who was injured in the semifinals.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm afraid I said some things I didn't mean.
Hmm, I understand. I know that was just out of concern for me, but I'm sure she's the same way.
Same?
I know, I know.

　Cecily looked at her left wrist and said.

'If Isla had a wrist injury like I did she would never use it as an excuse to lose.