Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan - Volume 6 - Chapter 6.1

Chapter 6: The First Battle's End 

Part 1 

Once Stella had left, Arisuin heaved a huge sigh of relief as he leaned on the railings. 

"Well, she had me worried about what was going to happen for a while there." 

"Exactly. It was already enough that Onii-sama’s match was such a nailbiter." 

"Umm, sorry?" 

Ikki flashed a wry grin at the jibe. 

The safe victory of their close friend lent to an air of peace between the three. Kiriko Yakushi on the other hand, having no contact with Stella for her part, seemed quite shaken by the match's explosive denouement. 

"That was an amazing technique, to be able to burn an area as large as the entire ring in a single instant. If one were to attempt to dodge by vaporizing oneself or something, the vaporized cells might be annihilated altogether. It was really fortunate that we could see it this early." 

"Honestly, I share that sentiment. It seems it would be best to avoid using Aoiro Rinne as much as possible when fighting against Stella." 

However, evading a technique possessing such an extreme area-of-effect that it could casually cover the space of the ring using martial arts alone was impossible. Shizuku sighed as she pondered such unreasonableness. 

"No wonder she had walked in so confidently and called for a four-on-one match." 

Shizuku turned to Ikki, as though expecting his approval. 

"She really gained a ridiculous ability from her special training with the Yaksha Princess." 

He however shook his head. 

"...No, I don’t think that’s the case." 

"Eh?" 

What was wrong? It was that Shizuku had referred to Bahamut Soul as the ridiculous power that Stella had gained. 

"Bahamut Soul wasn't something that she gained from her special training with Saikyou-sensei. She could already do something like that when she had just started school." 

"I-Is that so!? But we never even saw it once!" 

"Of course. Such an indiscriminate technique could never be used when there were bystanders around, could it?" 

Kurono concurred with Ikki's statement. 

"I agree with that. Most likely, as Muroto-senpai noted, Bahamut Soul is a Noble Art that resembles a loud shout in that it discards control right from the start. Thus, it isn’t a technique that requires anything special, or any special training—it’s something anyone can use. Even though you could call betting on the people around her to cover for her and just cut loose ’growth', it’s a little lacking for a week’s worth of special training." 

"So her training didn’t bear fruit?" Shizuku asked. 

Ikki shook his head again. 

"That’s also wrong, I think. When she was entering the ring, she had a confidence, a spirit that wasn't present in the Stella who had been defeated in battle with Ouma. So she did gain something from that training with Saikyou-sensei that allowed her to get over the shock of defeat, but that is not Bahamut Soul." 

Which meant that— 

"Stella has only shown us a fraction of her strength." 

Everyone shivered a little, starting with Shizuku. She remembered. The momentary illusion that had appeared during the battle. The form of the towering dragon behind Stella. Ikki’s idea was no impossibility for someone whose pressure was enough to create such an image. To be stuck in the same Festival as such a person could only be considered a nightmare. 

Shizuku and company’s strained expressions were thus only normal,bBut the one who had first mooted the idea of that nightmare, Ikki, had a different expression. Hardly stiff at all, he instead allowed a small smile onto his face. 

You really are beautiful. 

Of course, she was an opponent against whom considering the path to victory alone could give one a headache. But more than that, Ikki was glad. Glad that she was able to safely bounce back, even stronger than before. 

I didn’t know that being weak could be so painful....

He did not want to see Stella distraught like that. It made his heart hurt. He wanted her to always hold herself high, shining like a star in the sky. This was the Stella that he wanted to pursue. 

I want to be closer to her than anyone, and yet I want her to be further from me than anyone... I'm plenty selfish, huh. 

Even as he thought thus, the administration committee announcer's voice came over the airwaves. 

TEveryone, your attention please. We will now have a twenty minute intermission while we clear and repair the ring. Once that is complete, we will proceed with the Block D matches. D Block representatives, please gather in your waiting rooms.

The first to react at that announcement was Kurono. 

"I'll make a move here: They'll probably need my ability to repair the ring." 

Taking another drag out of her cigarette, she leapt down into the ring. The next to move were Shizuku and Kiriko, both entrants in D Block. 

"Shall we go then, little sister?" 

"Mm. I'm tired of waiting anyway." 

Both of them had traded their observer's calm for their respective 'battle modes'. Perhaps it was due to watching Stella's match, but both their eyes shone with a prodigious will to fight. 

"Do your best both of you. We'll support you from here." 

"Thanks, Alice. But, Onii-sama, you should go and rest. It might affect your performance tomorrow if you push yourself too hard." 

"It's fine, Shizuku. I can't do anything about my magic, but I'm quite well rested up from the time I spent watching Stella's match—moreover, you're my important sister, and it's your match. I'll cheer you on together with Alice." 

"Thank you...." 

Shizuku’s cheeks warmed at Ikki's straightforward gentleness. From behind her, Kiriko shot him an accusatory glare. 

"My~ aren't you going to support me too? Am I such a stranger?" 

"Well, we did only get to know each other yesterday... but of course we will be looking forward to your match as well. I’ve heard, after all, that the White-Robed Knight is just as first-rate a knight as she is a doctor." 

These were his honest feelings. Up till now, she had been of the view that she was a doctor and not a knight, and as such had not taken part in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. However, it had been said of her that if she had done so she would have at least wound up in the quarterfinals, and she had proved that to Ikki during the party several days before. As such, he had deep interest in how a match like hers would play out. 

There was also another reason for this. 

"...I'm also worried about your opponent, Yakushi-san." 

"My opponent? You mean Akatsuki Academy's Shinomiya?" 

Ikki nodded. 

Indeed. Kiriko Yakushi's opponent in the fourth match of Block D was someone Ikki could not ignore—Akatsuki's Amane Shinomiya. 

"Hmmm. I don't think he has that kind of spirit as befits a member of Akatsuki... but why do you think so?" 

"I... don't know." 

"You don't know?" 

"I don’t understand the reason why, but he worries me." 

"Is it love?" 

"No!" 

Ikki nearly did a spit-take as he denied that outrageous misunderstanding. 

"It’s not like that, how do I say this... he just has an indescribable ominousness about him." 

"Ominousness, huh." 

His emotional response could even be said to approach disgust. But Ikki himself did not know why Amane turned his stomach so. If it was because he was part of Akatsuki, which had attacked Hagun Academy, that would be simple to understand, but he had already disliked him even before Amane had revealed that affiliation. Simply put, it was "hate at first sight". Why? He did not understand... and that was what made it ominous. 

"Well, since the Worst One, whose strength lies in perceiving the true nature of others, feels that way... perhaps Amane does have something that we do not understand. I'll bear that in mind." 

"Alright. No matter what, just be careful—" 

Just as Ikki was seeing Kiriko off— 

"Ahahaha—! I finally found you, Ikki-kun!" 

He heard a voice, high like that of a girl, and then someone hugging him from behind. The impact was so small that it might as well have had no weight, and yet it made Ikki suck in a breath. With pale blonde hair, a sweet young face and an affable expression, the one hugging Ikki was none other than their topic of conversation, Amane Shinomiya. 

Part 2 

The umpire, having been knocked out by Bahamut Soul, had been unable to call the victor of Stella’s match, her victory being announced by the commentator and the electronic billboards on-site instead. And of course, with the official television broadcast from the administration committee declaring her the winner, that victory would also send shockwaves through all of Japan. 

This information also reached the medical ward in faraway Tokyo where Touka was watching the match. At her bedside was Kanata, who gave a thin smile as though amazed as they received the news. 

"Well, well, I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything else... I guess when I said she'd backed herself into a corner, it was just my own guilt speaking.” 

"Only in the end did we realize that it was always one-sided, and that she hadn’t shown us all she had. Amazing.” 

"Will she continue like this all the way on to victory?" 

Touka shook her head. 

"I don't think it will be that simple. After all, the Sword Emperor of Wind did manage to completely seal Bahamut Soul. She's definitely one of the favorites, but by no means is her victory a definite thing." 

"So this Festival will be a 'survival of the fittest A-Rank'?" 

"Those two are a definite lock for the win, but they are not yet so outstanding that their clash will be all they wrote for this tournament. Aside from them, there are still others like the White-Robed Knight, Lorelei, Panzer Grizzly and the Worst One—it would not be so strange if any of them were to emerge triumphant." 

"It seems there's still much to look forward to then." 

"Mm... though if I could, I would have loved to take part." 

Touka said, smiling wistfully. She had already accepted her defeat at Ikki's hands, and yet such grudging words were what left her lips. 

I really am a sore loser. 

"You could always challenge him again once the Festival is over." 

".. .Haha, that might be nice." 

Just as they were about to get into some small talk— 

"Ugh...." 

A groan could be heard from the bed next to Touka’s, before the figure that had been sleeping atop it slowly arose—the somewhat pint-sized Utakata Misogi, Hagun Academy’s Student Council Vice-President, who like Touka had been in a comatose state. 

"Uta-kun!?" 

"...Tou...ka...." 

"You're awake, thas' great!" 

Touka unknowingly slipped into dialect in her excitement. 

"You still hurtin' anywhere?" 

Utakata nodded, though he had a somewhat blank expression, as though he was still finding his bearings. 

"Errr... um, yeah. I'm fine.... This is... the infirmary? Why am I here?" "Uta-kun... you don't remember?" 

Utakata nodded to Touka’s question. 

"Even though it was just illusionary form, the shock from damage that could put a person into a coma for a week or more might have muddled his memories." 

"Yes, that seems so." 

That made things simple, though. 

Illusionary form caused no physical damage to the body itself. As such, memory loss due to brain damage was impossible—the memories were surely still in Utakata’s mind. As such, all they needed to do was explain the situation to him. Touka cleared her throat, and prodded his memory with a voice like one talking to a child. 

"When our school was attacked. We fought and were defeated by the students from Akatsuki Academy. Don't you remember?" 

"Akatsuki... Academy...." 

He mumbled—then his eyes widened, his expression strained as he cried out with alarm. 

"Kanata! Have I really been out for a week!?" 

"Um, yes. That’s correct." 

"You seem to have remembered. That's good." 

"Ah, well... that's true, but what about the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival...." 

"It just started today. Kurogane-kun and Stella-san just broke through the first round without incident. Shizuku is replacing Kana-chan, and her match is about to begin." 

Relating the events up till then to Utakata, Touka had expected that he might be pleased. But he did not respond as expected. 

"What's...—kgh!" 

His face distressed, he shot up from his bed, casting his blanket aside. But his legs though uninjured were still creaking from a week-long sleep. They disobeyed him, pitching him off the antibacterial linen bed and onto the floor. 

"Agh!" 

"U-Uta-kun!?" 

"Please don’t push yourself too hard. You've been out for a more than a week, you know? There's no way you would be able to use your legs well." 

"But I have to tell them! ...That's right, my notebook! Where's my student notebook!?" 

His nose was bleeding, but he was rummaging through the pockets of his hospital gown without bothering to wipe it—quite the rare sight, this urgency from the usually flighty Utakata. But this also meant that this was no ordinary situation. 

"Uta-kun, what's got you so worked up? What do you need to say, and who do you need to tell it to?" 

"They must not... fight him...." 

"Eh?" 

"Akatsuki's... Amane Shinomiya...! They must not fight him! .. .If they do. then all will be lost...!" 

Amane Shinomiya. Of course Touka and Kanata knew that name: he had been one of the Akatsuki representatives who had attacked Hagun. 

Now that you mention it, Uta-kun had been the one to fight him.... 

All her faculties had been expended fighting Ouma, and as such Touka had not noticed the details of the other fights. 

"Is that kid really that strong?" 

Utakata shook his head. 

"Strong, weak... that’s got nothing to do with it. He's beyond that." 

"What do you mean 'beyond that'?" 

"At that time, we thought that he had the power of 'foresight'. But we were wrong. We were mistaken. His ability is not foresight! It's something worse, more brutal... it's absolute power! They mustn't fight him... or even associate with him.... There's no way they can win!" 

Part 3 

"Long time no see, Ikki-kun! Congratulations on your first-round victory!" "A-Amane-kun...." 

Ikki's expression was strained at Amane's sudden appearance. He was already not particularly good at dealing with him, and to add on to that, he had just been.. .bad-mouthing Amane, which left him feeling rather embarrassed. 

But Amane seemed unaware of that, instead hanging off of Ikki like a puppy wagging its tail. 

"I saw the match just now. You were so cool, so I just had to come down to find and congratulate you!" 

"Umm... thanks?" 

"I should be the one thanking you! After all, I was able to watch your match in person—watch you, whom I admire so! There could be no higher joy for a fan! And you really were awesome. You actually managed to do something like stealing Twin Wing’s swordsmanship! You were pretty good during the match against the Hunter too, so I thought that your Blade Steal was an accessory to Perfect Vision... and I was completely wrong!" 

Amane, his breathing ragged, began to gesticulate excitedly like a little child as he related his thoughts on Ikki's match earlier. 

"And was that Shinkirou? I saw it once on some video site, but it was pretty poor quality and lagged quite a bit since it was taken using a hidden mobile camera. So it’s a technique used to confuse the opponent! You're really amazing, to be able to do something like that even without possessing any special abilities—I'm so moved!" 

Ikki almost seemed to shrink a little. 

"I know, I know, so... please calm down." 

As expected, he was terrible at dealing with Amane. The boy himself seemed to be approaching him in such goodwill, and yet he himself could muster up none. That twisting of emotions left him feeling terrible. He wanted to distance himself from Amane. Reject him. But Ikki said nothing. This was not weakness or cowardice. He did not wish to antagonize someone who seemed to admire him so over some inexplicable feeling of disgust. But— 

"Excuse me." 

"Ah—" 

But Shizuku, who stood beside him, was not one to entertain such thoughts. 

Without hesitation, she leveled a kick at Amane's side, peeling him off Ikki, before interposing herself between them as though to protect her brother. 

"Ow, ow, ow... what are you doing...." 

Amane groaned tearfully, his hands on his stomach. But Shizuku did not back down a step. 

"Please don’t come near my Onii-sama. He doesn't like you, and feels disgusted by you. So could you stop being so familiar? You're troubling him." 

Of all things, she chose to reveal all of Ikki's inexplicable ill-will without a shred of hesitation. 

"Eh... is, is that so, Ikki-kun?" 

"Shi-Shizuku." 

His face steely, he tried to stop Shizuku— 

"Onii-sama, you detest the fact that you dislike someone for no reason. While I love that gentleness, there is no need to waste it on him and his ilk—save it for me instead. And claiming to be your fan after messing up our school like that... I don't see why you should give this weirdo the time of day. If you don't reject him clearly like this, he will just take advantage of you." 

-but was in turn silenced by her all-too-accurate, all-too-direct assessment. "Ugh." 

And in the first place, that he had abetted in the attack on Hagun alone was reason enough to stand Amane in a bad stead from Shizuku's perspective. She harbored suspicions of her own that Ikki had already begun disliking 

Amane even before that incident, but at this point the order no longer mattered. The girlish boy in front of them was an enemy who had done them harm. Nothing more and nothing less. In that sense, Ikki was too stiff, and Shizuku had to reject Amane in her brother’s place. 

"Well, that’s how it is, so please disappear from Onii-sama’s sight. Just as well, they were calling for the Block D participants. Shouldn’t you be getting ready?" 

Shizuku’s eyes shone with an ethereal jade light, her tone becoming threatening. 

".. .Or should I bring you there? You might be missing a limb or two if I do, though." 

Amane gulped, standing up but not approaching Ikki. 

"Ahh... I guess so. I did deceive Ikki-kun after all. Of course you would hate me. I'm really sorry." 

He bowed his head. 

"Rejected." 

Shizuku rebuffed his apology. 

"Urn, I was apologizing to Ikki-kun...." 

"I won't allow you to apologize to Onii-sama, nor will I allow you to talk to him." 

"You’re... too brutal! I mean, you were already pretty frosty earlier, but whatever did I do to earn that hate!? I don't ever remember provoking you...." 

"You do not endear yourself to me by using that androgynous face to tempt Onii-sama, and that sissy voice of yours riles me." 

"Do you have to say such dreadful things!?" 

"In the first place, even if I didn’t go into detail, Onii-sama disliking you is reason enough for me to dislike you as well." 

"Whoa, you're not giving me an island to cling to!?" 

"Are you saying I'm flat!?" 

"Now you're just finding reasons to hate me!" 

Realizing that trying to reach an understanding with Shizuku in her absolute emnity was a futile endeavour, Amane could only send a sidelong pleading look Ikki's way as he spoke again. 

"Shizuku-chan doesn't want to forgive me, but I actually am sorry. So while I did really intend on congratulating you, I came to offer penance for that incident." 

"Penance?" 

"Yes. I would like to make up with you... I'm sure it will please you." Something that would please me? 

His interest piqued, Ikki sought answers. "What do you mean by—" 

[Attention, all Block D contestants.] 

The rebroadcast cut in, drowning his words out. 

[Your matches will begin in ten minutes. Please head down to the waiting rooms as soon as possible.] 

Below, the ring had been reconstructed in the meantime, and the Block D matches would soon begin. At this moment Kiriko, who had been silent since Amane had arrived, spoke up. 

"Shinomiya-kun. I'm an outsider either way, and didn’t understand what you were saying, but it seems like it's time. I'm sure the teachers would be pissed if we didn't go to stand-by in the waiting rooms. Don't you think it might be better to save this conversation for later?" 

Amane cocked his head, he question mark floating over it almost visible. And then he opened his mouth. 

"Um... who are you again?" 

Kiriko's eyes widened. That was abnormal—he didn't know the name of the opponent he was about to face. 

"Man, and I took pride in being a pretty public figure too... pleased to meet your acquaintance. I am Kiriko Yakushi, third year at Rentei. Doctor by trade." 

"Ohh. Sorry. I'm not really familiar with any knights apart from Ikki-kun." 

"You should have at least heard my name. I am, after all, the one you'll be facing in the fourth match of Block D." 

"...Oh, really. Can't say I'm that interested." 

Amane flashed an obfuscating smile. It seemed he truly did not recognize Kiriko, and that was certainly not pleasant news in her eyes, which narrowed. 

"...Aren't you rather confident." 

There was little warmth left in her voice. 

"Being begged, I had no choice but to be here... but you’ve piqued my interest a little. I wonder if you can show me strength in keeping with that confidence." 

A silent rage burned within her, clear for all to see. She would definitely go all-out against Amane right from the start of their match. There would be no mercy. 

"Ah... that probably won't happen, I think?" 

But her simmering anger failed to wipe the smile off Amane’s face. 

"What do you mean, I wonder?" 

"Well, I, um, Kiriko-san, was it? I won't be fighting you, so there's no rush to get to the holding room." 

His words bewildered all present. The tournament schedule and matches had already been decided, and they would soon face each other. How could he say something that he couldn't fight her now? 

"What are you saying—" 

Kiriko began to ask—but at that moment, the student handbook in her pocket began to ring. Angered as she was over Amane's disregarding her, she very much wanted to ignore that call, but for the siren-like ring tone that sounded from her handbook. That meant neither a message from friend or family, but a call from the Yakushi General Hospital of which she was director. She could not ignore it. 

"Hang on a moment." 

She fished for the phone. 

"Hello. What's happening? I'm having my match soon—" 

Doctor!

An anguished voice belonging to the Vice-Director—and its present head in Kiriko’s absence—of the hospital, Mio Kajiwara, ripped through the ears of all present. 

TW-We have a problem! A big problem!

Behind her, there were sounds of a panicked tumult that should have been foreign to a hospital. 

Kiriko caught on to that unnatural situation quickly. 

"Wait. What’s going on?" 

The patients’ conditions have worsened greatly—they're in critical condition!

"What...!?" 

Kiriko gasped, her face one of disbelief. She had had to make sure that her patients were in a stable condition and would not take any sudden turns for the worse while she was gone—that had been her absolute condition for taking part in the Festival. That she was here meant that this condition should have been fulfilled. No doctor would simply leave patients whose conditions could deteriorate at any time to their own devices, after all. And indeed she had, as the number one doctor in Japan, judged that there had been no risk of her patients deteriorating for the period of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. 

Unease bubbled up within her. 

My diagnosis was... mistaken!? 

But she quashed it swiftly. This was neither the time nor place to curse her own incompetence. She had to get a hold of the situation first. 

"Who exactly is in critical condition?" 

Mio’s voice shook terribly. 

T A-All the patients!

The color drained from Kiriko’s face. 

"W... What!?" 

rThe staff are doing all they can, but we don't have the manpower or the facilities to deal with this! Moreover, we have no idea how this happened so suddenly, or what might have it caused it... our techniques aren't working at all either! S 0 ....

Kiriko knew it then. This was impossible. It might be reasonable for her to have overlooked one or two people, but for her to have misdiagnosed all her patients—that could not be. So, how had it happened? There could only be one reason. 

"I understand. Send a chopper. I'll be right over." 

rI've already done that! It should arrive in ten minutes! I'm... really... *sob* ...sorry...! It was supposed to be a big match for you....

"Don't cry. I was the one who asked you all to call me back if anything happened. And the deterioration of their conditions wasn't your responsibility. In any case, hold the line till I get back. Can you do it?" 

ry, yes! I can!

"That's a good answer. I'm counting on you." 

Kiriko hung up, and then turning to Amane leveled a gaze filled with murderous fury on him, her tone unrelenting. 

"So, may I ask what this is about, Shinomiya-kun?" 

Since the mistake did not lie in her diagnoses, there could only be one reason for this situation: the interference of a third party. 

"What have you done to my patients?" 

"Hey, hey now, that’s harsh. What could I, being in Osaka, possibly have done to people in a hospital in Hiroshima?" 

This third person had created this situation in order to force her out of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. If her patients were to be in critical condition, she would not be able to concern herself with such things as a tournament match. She would have to forfeit. And that culprit was without a doubt the young man in front of her who had just spouted those deceptively meaningful lines. But here he was, Amane Shinomiya, waving his arms about in a flustered manner as he tried to sell his alibi. Indeed, there was very little a person in Osaka could do to people in Hiroshima. Even if they had help from the start, there was no way they could have bypassed the vigilance of medical professionals to induce critical conditions in all the patients in a hospital. 

But this assumed that one was speaking of a normal person. To the side, Ikki recalled something that Kagami had told him shortly before they left for Osaka. 

"Senpai. You called me before to say that you were concerned about the ex-Kyomon student , Amane Shinomiya , correct? So I looked up his intra-school selection results... he had six wins by forfeit in six matches. There's something really weird about that." 

In that instant, all the pieces came together for him. 

"Huh. So that’s it. That’s what this is about... I understand now." "Onii-sama?" 

"In other words... that’s your real ability." 

Part 4 

"Ikki-kun? My true ability... what do you mean? I thought you knew that my ability was foresight? I knew that Kiriko-san would have to retire, but besides that, I didn't—" 

Ikki shook his head. 

"No, that’s not possible. It would be one thing if she misdiagnosed one or two patients, but for her to do that for all of them is simply impossible. And there is no way that you could foresee something that could not possibly happen." 

"Well, this... ahaha, such cruel words, Ikki-kun." 

Amane had a troubled expression. 

"Don’t they say even a wise man stumbles? And I've even performed quite a few predictions in front of you too...." 

He did speak the truth. He had foretold the future against a criminal at their first meeting, and had seen through Arisuin's betrayal. It was now as it was then: Amane was displaying his knowledge of the future. 

"No, you don't actually foretell the future. The order of things is reversed here." 

At these words, the smile that Amane usually had plastered on his face dissipated, a shadow falling over it. 

Arisuin cut in. 

"Wait, Ikki. What do you mean by 'reversed'?" 

"I should have realized this when he defeated Vice President Utakata. The Vice President's ability, Fifty-Fifty, manipulates probability such that he can twist a result that had already been decided. Since the manipulation is limited to what he can achieve with his own abilities, it lacks offensive power, but he should have been nigh invincible as long as he focused on defense. But he lost. He lost to Amane. Someone who lacks any martial ability at all, possessing only foresight. Do you think this is possible?" 

"That's...." 

"Impossible. Utterly impossible. If we assume it were possible, then the only way is to use a probability manipulation technique strong enough to force certainty onto Fifty-Fifty. For example... an ability that can change probability according to your wishes. Like this, all can be explained. In other words, Amane's foresight is not in fact a foretelling of the future. The truth behind the criminal, Alice's betrayal, and now the collapse of Yakushisan's patients... these are all 'futures' that he simply created. Am I wrong, Amane?" 

Having said his piece, Ikki leveled his gaze at Amane, who had not said a word since earlier, merely looking at Ikki in silence. 

"...Haa." 

He sighed, shoulders drooping, and then flashed a resigned smile. 

"As expected of Ikki-kun, I guess. You covered everything that I could say. I was going to reveal it to you together with the my penance, but you’re too good. My poor subterfuge was nothing before the magic mirror of the Crownless Sword King.” 

"So it’s true that you’re the one who did something to Yakushi-san's patients." 

"Ah, w-wait! Wait! That's not it!" 

Sensing Ikki's enmity, Amane quickly added to his analysis of his own ability. 

"It is as you said, but I would like to make a correction. Yes, my ability is indeed not foresight, but I do not wield some god-like ability as Ikki says. You know... I only make wishes." 

"Wishes?" 

"Yes, just wishes. I cannot change every little thing about fate. I only wished to have 'a dramatic first meeting with Ikki-kun’, for 'the assault on Hagun to go off without a hitch', or 'it would be troublesome to have to fight'. Just that. And when I do so, everything will change such that it will eventually go as I wish, but without my knowledge. For me, whose nickname is "Bad Luck" 111 , this is my true power —Nameless Glory m ." 

Ikki and company's expressions became strained. 

"What... that's... insane...." 

"So, what, could you call the moon to crash down onto the earth if you wished for it?" 

Amane cocked an eyebrow in displeasure at Shizuku. 

"Scary—I would never wish for that to happen; wouldn't it be terrible if that were to come true? After all, there has never been a single wish of mine up till now that has not come to be." 

No one could suppress a shiver at the matter-of-factness in his voice. At how confident he was that he was able to do such a thing. They could not help but be more wary of him, who could overturn the common sense of destiny in that manner. 

A weight descended on the conversation... before Kiriko took a step towards Amane. 

"In other words, your ability to have any wish come true can also be put as an impossible amount of luck, huh." 

"That’s absolutely correct. Just that it takes a roundabout route to fulfilling my wish, and that the method by which it fulfills it something unknown to me." 

Amane pressed his palms together in apology. 

"So really, I didn't mean to or predict that I would endanger the lives of your patients. Sorry about that." 

And yet it felt like he was apologizing for someone else; there was no guilt in his tone. In fact, he did regard it as someone else's business. He had only wished to not have to fight Kiriko. He had not wished to take the lives of her patients. It wasn't his fault. 

But such an attitude would of course anger Kiriko. In an instant, a trio of scalpels found their way into either hand. 

"So what if I just killed you here and now, and return that evil fate to normal?" 

Her tone was even, but the anger roiling forth from her eyes said that all she wanted to do was to attack Amane right there and then. But he merely shrugged, unfazed by the pressure she exuded. 

"Of course my death would nullify the effects of my ability, but I wouldn't recommend it. After all, if that were to happen, I would wish to not die. From my experience, there are a lot of ways that this could make you not fight me. For example, if an earthquake were to strike this place that is all but filled to the brim with people, and there were a great many casualties, you wouldn’t be able to spare the time to fight me, no?" 

"Can you really do that?" 

"Well, I'd rather not of course. But if it comes down to it, I'm not taking responsibility, so I'd rather you not push it...." 

"...Tch." 

With a click of her tongue, Kiriko ended their exchange and dismissed her scalpels. She could not tell whether or not Amane spoke the truth. But there was one thing for certain: if she stepped out right now with the intent to kill, then his words might just come true. That was a risk she could not take, as one who called herself a doctor. That was her bottomline. 

Seeing that Kiriko had lost the will to fight, Amane continued speaking, turning from her to face Ikki. 

"Well, now that everyone understand why I'm in no rush to go to my waiting room. I'll continue; I'd really like for Ikki-kun to accept my repayment for last time." 

Ikki did not meet Amane's eyes, his brows furrowing as that feeling of distaste welled up within him again. 

"As I said before, I wanted to tell Ikki-kun about my true ability as penance for having deceived him up till now... I was already seen through though, how embarrassing. Of course, I didn’t think I would be able to pay back the debt of having cheated him for this long with just that." 

He spoke with an amiable smile. 

"So I thought about it. What would make Ikki-kun happy? What could I do to make him happy?" 

Ikki felt the hairs of his skin stand on end at that. He had a bad feeling about this. That he must not let Amane finish speaking. But Amane was not to be stopped. 

"And so, I remembered. That if Ikki-kun couldn’t come in first at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, he wouldn’t be able to graduate! Terrible, isn’t it? To not acknowledge a knight as strong as Ikki-kun. As a fan of his, how could I take that? Totally unacceptable. So, that is my present to Ikkikun...." 

His smile turned as incandescent as his words were unbelievable. 

"...First place at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival." 

"Wh-Whaa!?" 

"What are you saying...!" 

Shizuku and Arisuin both looked shaken, their voices trembling, but Amane merely cocked his head to the side. 

"Is it really that shocking? Isn't it a lot simpler than causing an earthquake, or causing the moon to fall to the earth?" 

His smile broadened as he pressed in on Ikki. 

"Aren't you happy, Ikki-kun? I will use my ability to wish... for your victory! Like this, you'll be able to become the Seven Stars Sword King with hardly any effort at all! Isn't it great? Your hard work up till now will finally be rewarded! Do not fret: neither the Crimson Princess nor the Sword Emperor of Wind are a problem before my Nameless Glory! I will take out the rest of the competition, making sure that you will certainly become the Seven Stars Sword King! Well, that might incur the wrath of Rebellion, but that's fine. I would do anything for you, Ikki-ku—" 

In that moment, with a thud that resounded through the participantreserved stands—Ikki pushed Amane away with all his might. 

Part 5 

"O-Onii-sama!?" 

"I-Ikki...-kun..." 

Everyone, whether it was the people around him or the suddenly floored Amane himself, was dumbfounded at the usually gentle Ikki's sudden violence. But to Ikki himself, it was a most reasonable course of action. He had long been unable to reconcile his unreasonable distaste for Amane, but now, finally, he could understand why he felt that way. 

".. .All this time, I didn't say this, because no matter how I thought it over, I couldn't understand why." 

But at last he could speak from his heart. He glared at Amane. 

"I hate you." 

Amane's eyes widened as he trembled. He probably could not understand why he was being rejected by Ikki. It was for Ikki's own sake, after all, that Amane had wanted him to become the Seven Star Sword King. 

But for Ikki, this was the last straw, that last thing that allowed him to throw away what reservations he might have had about Amane. For Amane was trying to take something most important to Ikki away from him. The work he had put in up till now, and all that that meant. Including the promise he had made with his beloved, the promise that had seen him through many times. In that moment, his mottle of emotions gave way to a clear disgust, to the point where there was no longer a need for a reason to feel that way. Ikki spoke with undisguised fury in his eyes. 

"You try to mess with my battle, and this will not be settled with just a push or a shove." 

Amane stood in silence with his head bowed, his expression unreadable under his fringe. Perhaps he was crying. Fie turned on his heel, facing his back to Ikki and the others. 

"I understand." 

Then, turning around—he smiled more brilliantly than ever before. 

That was unexpected. Ikki’s face showed as much. Even after being rejected in that manner, his attitude had not changed in the least. 

"I will not wish for anything Ikki-kun wouldn’t wish for. I promise!" 

An ominous feeling seized Ikki, like a worm crawling about his heart. Amane seemed as friendly he had always been in both appearance and tone, and yet— 

"As expected, Ikki-kun is cool... you will never accept a victory that you didn’t earn with your own two hands. My, I'm becoming more of a fan!" 

—his eyes were different. Or rather, Ikki only noticed now that Amane's eyes were different. He had subconsciously refused to meet those eyes up till now, preoccupied as he was with that unknown feeling of disgust he had borne toward him. But now that he had made his stand clear, he could look him in the eye... and so he noticed. 

While Amane showered glittering praises upon Ikki, the depths of his skyblue eyes held a quagmire of spiralling darkness, threatening to suck a person in. 

"When up against opponents of overwhelming power, you give your all, sacrifice everything, and fight to the bitter end. It's so cool... I envy you. How stoic, how spartan a living! Weaker than everyone, yet desiring victory more than anyone—and for victory’s sake, you burn your soul as you advance, without any regrets, no matter how torn up you become as a result! That's the Worst One! And you know what, Ikki-kun? You know what? I. Love. You. For. It." 

A negative chaos. A dark swirl of hate, revulsion, enmity, malice, murderousness.... A whirlpool deluged by myriad negativities, so much so that one could no longer tell which was his original thought. His lips steepled into a smile even as his eyes bored into Ikki, filled as they were with despair, malice, and a hatred against the world itself, drawing the selfsame ill-omened arc as the red crescent moon. 

"And so... and so... hurt more. Bleed more. Cut more. I will cheer for that Ikki-kun until I grow hoarse. I want to see you break, break, and break as you keep on defying your fate!" 

For the first time, Ikki was afraid of Amane. This was no longer disgust. No longer rejection. He was afraid of the young man in front of him. Of the hatred he held for the world, hidden deep within his eyes. And above all, the way that gaze was affixed upon himself. 

"So... keep working hard, okay?" 

And with that last show of support that no one echoed, Amane left, that unfailingly friendly smile still on his face. But having experienced the unfathomable darkness that lay behind that smile, Ikki's hands trembled, as though they were frozen.