"Sheesh. After Stella-chan beat 'em up so soundly, I thought things would calm down, but something this ridiculous still happened." Yuudai Moroboshi, having seen all of Kuraudo’s match from the blue gate waiting room, expressed his astonishment. Since he had competed with the Crownless Sword King himself, Moroboshi understood that the imitation was the real deal. Neither the sharpness and clarity of the technique nor that tactical discernment were any different from the genuine article. To be the complete equal of the knight he had lost to... ahh, what kind of nightmare was that? "Even if you beat Kurogane, she'll be waiting in the third round, so you watch out, alright?" Laughing loudly, Moroboshi slapped the shoulder of Byakuya who was making a complicated face. Byakuya responded with his honest opinion. "Yuu... are you encouraging me or pressuring me? Which is it?" "I'm making fun, of course." "Go home." "Fine by me. Not like you need any cheering up." Moroboshi spoke nonchalantly, but they've known each other for quite a long time. Because Byakuya knew that Moroboshi was here out of worry no matter what was coming out of his mouth, Byakuya had no need to speak so hardheartedly either. "All things considered, Shiro, you're is the same as ever, ignoring the match after the next, focusing on the board in front of you." Moroboshi casually glanced at the shogi board Byakuya had spread on an equipment table. "This is my way of warming up." "Ain't martial arts and brainy games just like water and oil?" At the question, Byakuya laughed as if it was a little bit funny. He thought it was just like Moroboshi to think so, being the type to adapt to situations with a wild animal's sensitivity. "As far as I'm concerned, a duel is a mental game, not a martial arts bout. A battle starts with knowing the opponent's moves and understanding his approach. And by comprehending the opponent's principles, one can see one or two steps ahead—but that's just the most basic of basics. There's opponent's physique of course, and how his personality affects his way of thinking in battle. How he uses his skills in every situation. His coordination patterns. The details of how his sight shifts and affects his movements. The opponent's breathing. If I analyze and scrutinize all the data—I can see how the fight ends before it even starts." "Ho? Then you can already see the checkmate?" At this question, Byakuya didn't meet Moroboshi's eyes, though his mouth curled into the tiniest smiles. "In twenty three moves... the Crownless Sword King will use Shinkirou to escape to the right, and that'll be my win. Undoubtedly." . .1 wouldn't assume that guy moves the way you'd think if I were you. He ain't got a widely variable ability, but his way of using it is pretty diverse. He might still be hiding something." At this warning, Byakuya realized that this was the reason Moroboshi had come here: along with everything else, to help out a classmate. Byakuya was glad to receive his friend’s thoughtfulness, and in return — "It’s as you say, Yuu. He's a knight whose ability doesn’t seem like much, but he’s a trickster who uses what he has in all kinds of ways. It will likely be difficult to grasp each and every one of his moves. However, the next match is different." Byakuya was denying Moroboshi's concern upfronh with a powerfully confident voice. "What do you mean?" "Within the bounds of the next match, it will be very easy to predict his moves. Because you see, the Crownless Sword King has a fatal weakness." A fatal weakness. At Byakuya’s phrasing, Moroboshi could guess the meaning.
"...You talking about the limits of his ability?" "Yes, exactly. His ability is extreme concentration of personal strength to use it all within a short span of time. And when he does so, he can't moderate it to let him to use it a second time within the same day. A very inflexible characteristic. In other words... because we will have two consecutive rounds today, he won't be able to use his ability carelessly." "Ya sure say that confidently. If there's two rounds then he could also use it in the first one, you know. That means yours." At Moroboshi's words, Byakuya shook his head. "No, that won't happen. Because Sara Bloodlily can produce multiple imitations of him who use Ittou Shura, he will definitely save his own for that match. And more than anything... there's a reason he must reach the top of this tournament." "A reason...?" "If he doesn't become Seven Stars Sword King, then he won't be able to graduate, or become licensed as a mage-knight." "What the hell!?" At Byakuya's words, Moroboshi's face became colored with astonishment. "Why would something like that be true!?" "It seems his family is holding him back, since they don't want to be known for producing an F-Rank. Apparently he needs a way to get the title without their consent." "...No way." Being a student from a different school, Moroboshi hadn't known this condition imposed on Ikki. Flowever, Byakuya had thoroughly researched Ikki, so all of Ikki's burdens, his complicated family situation, and even this absurd promise had been dug up. And this was why Byakuya was sure that in the next match, Ikki wouldn't use Ittou Shura. "Certainly, if he was facing off against the previous national champion, he might need to go all out and use his trump card, but he's always aiming for the top. He has no choice in that. And moreover... against an opponent who can reproduce his powers, he can't afford to lose his trump card. Not if he wants to win through to the end, that is." At that moment, the announcement calling for Ikki and Byakuya sounded. "Alright, I'm off." With that, Byakuya left the waiting room, and continued down the dim path to the ring where spectators were watching intently. Seeing his figure appear, the hall erupted in cheers, but none of that sound reached Byakuya. None of it reached him in his focused state. Such unnecessary information glided past his attention, unworthy of his notice. The voices of the audience, even the scene of the outside world did not enter his senses at all. Right now, what existed in Byakuya's senses was a wide, silent, pure white world. And in its center was a single thing making his blood pulse, Ikki Kurogane. Both eyes behind Byakuya's glasses narrowed, and studied the opponent. Ikki was... very focused, with a straightforward gaze that contained neither nervousness nor fear, and no trembling heart. Even in Ikki’s concentration, he did not forget to relax. For anyone looking forward to battle, this was certainly the ideal physical state. Byakuya saw this, and found it was splendid. Were it otherwise, that would be a problem. If the opponent wasn’t present at best condition, if the opponent couldn't use his mental acuity to the utmost— This twenty-three move game won't finish perfectly." This was as an important to Byakuya as the victory itself. His aesthetics weren't about simply fighting and victory or defeat. What he longed for wasn't an uncivilized brawl, nor was it just comparing techniques. What he wanted was a higher level match of mind versus mind. Ikki Kurogane—if it was this boy, he'd definitely get that. In this silence, they'll play one move after another, a duel matching wit against wit. A conflict not unlike sharp haggling. And these twenty-three moves will be a beautiful thing spoken of for years. So —
And now, C-Block's second round second match begins! LET’S GET STARTED! —come, let this arena be the stage for their supreme chess game! Eye of Heaven Byakuya Jougasaki's memory cut off there, disconnected as abruptly as a TV signal. What remained was the void of ignorance. But before his consciousness fell totally into darkness, he heard only two words echoing — "Ittou Rasetsu."
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