Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan - Volume Zero - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: A Lady's Chivalry 

Part 1 

There was a certain boy (let's call him Boy A) who had two working parents. In the mornings, the three members of the family left for work and school at the same time, regularly enough that it was basically a family rule. But they didn't come back together. The dad's work involved a lot of overtime, and the mom had a part-time job as a supermarket cashier. Often both came home at around eight at night, so it was Boy A who gets back first. He wasn't old enough for school clubs or cram school, so Boy A always went straight home. Even if he stopped by at a friend's house, curfew was at six, so he'd never end up returning home later than his parents. Boy A would come home and take out the clothes his mom had put in the dryer that morning, or whatever. Then he'd wait alone in the brand new house, alone for hours until his parents arrived. That was his day. 

And on that day, like the rest, he waited. There was nobody else in the house. On that day, the wind was strong starting in the afternoon, blowing whooo~ almost like a typhoon. It was the chilly wind of winter, its fierce sound echoing in the two-story wooden house like… like the growl of some huge beast. Hearing that bleak and unending noise, the boy became strangely unsettled. He should already be used to watching over the place, but now being alone was suddenly dreadful. It was like a monster was growling, and roaming just outside the walls, shaking the windows and trying to get in. Panic seized him. But no matter how helpless he felt, his parents were at work. He couldn't be selfish enough to ask them to come home early because of scary-sounding wind. He was old enough to know that, and besides he was a man, even if a young one. It was too embarrassing to say out loud. So the boy, suppressing his feelings, hid himself in his room on the upper floor and finished up his homework. Hours passed that felt twice as long as usual… 

Jingle jingle, click… 

The sound of keys, and the door opening… 

"I'm home." 

He heard his mom's voice downstairs. The dread drained from Boy A's body and vanished. When he turned his attention, he no longer heard the growling of the cold wind outside. The thing that made him afraid was already gone, so he ran down from his room to the lower floor to welcome his mom back. He saw the kitchen lights downstairs. She must have turned them on. After coming back from her job as cashier, it was normal for her to go straight to the kitchen to start making dinner. 

Ring, ring… 

On his way to the kitchen, the phone in the hallway sounded. It was a bit annoying. Why couldn't the call come earlier, and given him the relief he needed then? But his mom would get mad if he didn't pick up, so Boy A reluctantly picked up the handset. 

"Hello, ___ speaking…." 

With all the practice of a latchkey child, he waited for the voice on the other side of the line. 

"A-chan? It's Mom. The rain's coming down, so could you bring an umbrella to the market?" 

"AAAHHHHH!!!" 

Part 2 

The student council room was lit by a single candle's flame, and all the space from wall to wall was filled by Stella's high-pitched scream. Hagun Academy student council vice president Utakata Misogi, whose story she had interrupted, spoke with candid exasperation. 

"Freaking out before we even get to the punchline is… something that makes storytellers cry, you know." 

"B-B-But his mom on the phone! Then who's in the kitchen!? It's way too scary~!" 

On one side was Stella, attached shakily to Ikki's arm with tears in her eyes. Touka sat nearby with a face equally pale. 

"I-It's fine, Stella-san. There's also the possibility that the one on the phone wasn't real…." 

Touka suggested that positive interpretation with shaking lips, but…. 

"Well, no one knows what happened to him that day. He was never seen again, reportedly." 

The two girls trembled at Utakata's eerie voice and screamed in despair. Watching them, Ikki gave a wry laugh. 

If Boy A was never seen again, the vice president wouldn't know this story to tell it…." 

But it seemed Stella and Touka were far too rattled to notice something this simple. 

Why were they here in the dark student council room? Some days ago, the Hagun Academy Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival had ended with the match between Touka and Ikki. The closing ceremony and the transfer of the school flag between team captains had occurred, and the school term was basically almost over. The student council business regarding the representative selection battles, including the affair during the Okutama training camp, were settled for the time being, so Utakata created a plan to recognize everyone's services. Gathered in the student council room, they were passing the hot summer under air conditioning and with food, treating each other to bone-chilling ghost stories. And he had also invited Ikki and Stella, who helped the student council with the matter in Okutama. 

At any rate…. 

Ikki had no idea Stella was so scared of ghost stories. 

"I didn't expect you to be weak to something like this, Stella. Back then, you were so hyped up about the Okutama giant, so I thought you'd really be into this kind of thing too." 

Compared to Stella's usual unyielding spirit, she was now acting in a very girlish way, and it made him smile. 

"Because… you can beat up a giant, but not a ghost… right!?" 

"…Oh. Right. Now I get it." 

Well, he loved the headstrong Stella too, so it was no problem. 

"Okay, now it's Kanata's turn." 

Utakata, who was finished with his story, slid the small dish holding the candle in front of him over to the student council treasurer Kanata Toutokubara to tell the next tale. 

"Make us shiver, Kanata-senpai!" 

"Yes, please leave it to me." 

Returning a nod to Renren Tomaru, the student council general affairs manager, Kanata straightened in her seat. At that motion, Touka and Stella gulped and held their breaths. But while the two of them were miserably shrieking, they were paying more attention than anyone else. If they were to firm up, there was no way they would panic so. Perhaps the part of the brain that would revel in this common stimulus was starved. Kanata smiled at their serious gaze and full attention. 

"…I've mentioned before that I'm not very familiar with ghost stories, so I prepared something this." 

Kanata quietly slid a single tablet PC past the remains of the delivered pizza they had been eating, and with a thin finger she tapped on an icon on the liquid crystal display to start a video. What appeared on the screen was… a sickroom-like chamber palely lit by a nightlight. Next to a bed located in a corner of the room behind a hospital curtain, there was a human anatomy model. Ikki recognized the layout of the room. 

"This is the infirmary, isn't it." 

"Kana-chan, what's this footage?" 

"It's a recording from the infirmary surveillance camera, which Madam Director gave to me a few days ago. Well, you'll be able to see it in detail, so I'll refrain from speaking." 

Kanata turned her gaze to the table, but only the unchanging image of a deserted infirmary could be seen. What was about to happen? 

"Maybe the anatomy model starts moving by itself?" 

"Once again, you're going with a cliche, Stella." 

"Maybe we'll see some students do phys-ed self-study!" 

Utakata's words were slapped back by both student council secretary Ikazuchi Saijou and Touka. 

"Vice President, that would not be a ghost story, but a dirty one." 

"And it'd be an awful thing to bring to the student council room." 

Seeing that take place, Kanata smiled with her usual dignity. 

"President, please be at ease. It's not that kind of recording. Ahh, and now it begins." 

She murmured this while her gaze fell on the table, and as she said… 

"Huh!?" 

Within the still image of the infirmary deep in the night, something moved. A clank… and then the desk, bed, chair, medicine cabinet… all began to tremble slightly, then to shake. The desk's legs began to rise as if dancing. The bed threw off its pillow and sheets. The chair began to circle the infirmary room on its rollers. The glass windows of the medicine cabinet flapped open and closed, tossing out its contents like a mouth guffawing. 

"W-W-What is this…!? Earthquake!?" 

"No, if that were true, the camera would be jerking around." 

As Ikki said, the infirmary was being shaken as if by an enormous earthquake, but the view of it was not. This meant the surveillance camera and the building it was installed into were not moving. 

"Th-Then what is this…." 

As Stella's face became pale, the footage again showed something startling. The infirmary items that had already been violently in motion began to float in midair. They flew freely around the room, with the chairs bashing the fluorescent lights and the bed crashing noisily into the windows. 

"Wha…." 

It was clearly supernatural. Even Ikki sucked in a breath, at a loss for words. And in the next instant, the image was abruptly shrouded in black. Did the camera break? For a second they thought so, but they immediately realized it was not the case, because the noise was still there and the darkness in the image… began to quiver. 

Yes, what Ikki and the others saw was…not the room, but a huge, bizarre, black-pupiled eyeball glaring reproachfully back at them. 

"NGHAAA!!!" 

Touka and Stella's harmonized screams drowned out the audio. 

"Then surveillance camera broke, and the video was cut off." 

"K-K-Kana-chan!? W-What was…!" 

At Touka's stiff question, Kanata shook her head. 

"I don't know." 

"Huh?" 

"This was taken ten days ago. Every day since, desks have been flying and windows breaking on campus, and things like what's on this footage have happened in the dead of night. I hear the teachers are patrolling, but despite their searching we still don't know the cause." 

Being informed by Kanata that this was an actual crime scene, and realizing that what they just saw might happen again only a wall away, everyone found their faces hardening even more. It was no longer just a ghost story. 

"I'd suspect that this poltergeist activity is caused by a student with psychokinetic ability, but… since you said the teachers were on the case, they must've already followed this line of investigation, right?" 

Kanata nodded gently at Ikki's question. 

"Yes. But it seems that none of psychokinetic Blazer students were responsible." 

At Kanata's words, Stella gulped. 

"Th-Then it really is the work of a ghost?" 

Kanata's reply suggested a possibility even worse than a ghost. 

"That, or perhaps the work of an intruder beyond the academy's knowledge." 

"But Kanata, why'd you bring this?" 

"Well, the truth is when I told Madam Director about the ghost story party in the student council room today, she said, 'Instead of a story, wouldn't something real be more interesting? Since we have this footage, go show everyone and have them look for the culprit.' and gave me the recording. How kind of her, wouldn't you say?" 

Kanata smiled, probably thanking the Board Director wholeheartedly for providing something to share at this gathering. But everyone else in the student council made sour expressions. 

"Hmm… she really does see us as a means to take care of odd jobs." 

"That's really dirty of her, the middle-aged woman." 

"Middle-aged women are dirty. It's written so in the Tale of Genji[1]." 

"Renren-san, Vice President Misogi… I believe there are surveillance cameras in the student council room too." 

At Ikki's mention, the two's expressions froze, but by then it was already too late. Moving past that, Kanata looked at everyone present in the dark room. 

"It's true that they're small jobs, but searching for a poltergeist in the school at night sounds fun, like a trial of courage, right? How about we all do it together?" 

"…That's true. I'll join in." 

The one who agreed to the proposal first was Ikki. He was grateful that Kanata had brought this up in an effort to interest everyone, and besides, it was relevant to him as a student of the academy. He did not want to ignore a responsibility and leave handling it to the student council. But… Ikki looked toward Stella sitting next to him. 

"Stella, if you're that scared then I guess you won't participate?" 

Choosing to join might make it hard for Stella to refuse, so out of consideration he did not neglect this follow up statement. Stella took quick advantage of Ikki's lifesaving gesture, replying with a relieved face. 

"Th-That's right. I think I'll stay here with Touka-san and wait for everyone else." 

But… though she was scared like Stella, Touka did not choose to stay. 

"N-No, I'll join too. It's a problem that we students must not ignore. I'm the student council president, so if Kurogane-kun's willing then I can't refuse!" 

Despite shaking mightily, Touka spoke with her lips pressed together tight. She seemed to be pushing her dread aside with her strong sense of duty. And after Touka spoke…. 

"I'll come along, of course. No doubt it's hiding and moving between security rooms. My sixth sense tells me so." 

"How surprising, Vice Prez! I'm suspicious of the security rooms too." 

Saijou spoke up at Utakata and Renren's announcements. 

"You two will only be hiding, I think." 

"Sh-Shut up. And what are you gonna do?" 

"A student council member has no choice but to participate." 

All members of the student council thus declared their willingness to participate in Kanata's plan. As a result…. 

"So Stella-san's the only one who'll stay, right?" 

"Wha?" 

Somehow it ended up with Stella by herself. 

"In the school where a ghost might be roaming, Stella-san will stay and guard the student council room by herself, right? In the pitch-black student council room with nobody else around. Just like the first sacrifice in a horror movie, alone—" 

"I-I guess I'll go after all! It's not something a student of Hagun can brush off!" 

At Kanata's deliberately agitating tone, Stella, with jaw clenched and face stiff, finally switched over to joining. Ikki spoke up in worry. 

"You don't have to force yourself. If you'd like, I'll stay here with you." 

But Stella shook her head vigorously at Ikki's proposal. 

"I-I'm fine! Ghosts don't exist in the first place! Th-That's not scientific…! It's more likely someone's prank! I'll find out who it is and give them a piece of my mind!" 

Kanata let slip a satisfied and slightly mean smile at Stella for putting on a brave face and raging. 

"Hehe, that's the Crimson Princess indeed." 

And thus, Ikki and the others went forth to find the poltergeist, on a trial of courage to explore the dark academy building. 

Part 3 

Though they were going to search the school at night, Hagun Academy was large, and traveling as a group would take a bit too much time. More than anything else…. 

?Having a huge group throws a damper on the whole test of courage thing, right?? 

That was Utakata's view, so they split into three random parties and went off separately. The time was ten o'clock at night, past the time when any students or teachers were left in the main school building. As a result of the random drawing, Ikki was paired with someone unexpected, and all that was audible in the quiet as profound as the deep ocean was their heels hitting the floor. 

Ikki turned his gaze, as if beckoned by the sound. The one walking next to him was a tall lady wearing a white dress and a wide-brimmed hat, Kanata Toutokubara. Nothing was said between them as they walked through the school at night. Or rather… 

I can't think of anything to say. 

With Utakata or Saijou, they'd have enough in common to find a topic. Renren and Touka were opponents he had faced directly, so dealing with them would be relatively easy. Stella, certainly, would mean no shortage of conversation, and even if they did not talk, just being together would make this a fun time. 

But Kanata was the one member of the student council he shared no common ground with. For Ikki, who could not be described as a naturally good conversationalist, this was partner of high difficulty. The atmosphere around her was another hurdle. She felt like a well-bred lady, someone on a completely different level. Rude as it may be, if he compared Kanata to Stella the princess, Kanata was the one who seemed more upper-class. 

And in truth, the Toutokubara family was a wealthy one that, through the Toutokubara Foundation, contributed to all kinds of philanthropy around the world and represented Japan internationally. Kanata was the daughter of that family. Ikki came from an equally famous family, but he was not raised in a way appropriate to high society, so there was no way for him to have the same kind of atmosphere and bearing. 

But… still…. 

He was interested in Kanata Toutokubara as a knight. She was the daughter of one of Japan's prominent and wealthy families, and second place in Hagun Academy's internal ranking. Like Raikiri, Kanata was among a rare class of student knight who had real combat experience from participating in many special missions. Ikki remembered the day they had first exchanged words, and the ferocious presence that gave the impression her white clothing was soaked in blood. And now she was like him, a representative to the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. It was entirely possible that they might face off in front of the entire country. 

So he was interested. What kind of person was she? What motivated her, and how strongly? As a knight who valued understanding his opponent, Ikki's clinical interest was deep. If he allowed this chance to escape, he might not get another chance to be this close to Kanata. 

That… would be a waste, so Ikki decided he would try to come to grips with her. But… 

"Now that I think about it, this is the first time we've been alone, isn't it?" 

Just as he was about to speak, Kanata took the first word, seizing the conversation at the same moment that Ikki was going to step up. Perhaps she thought the mood was bad. 

"…Sorry, I'm not much of a talker." 

"I don't mind. Friendly chatter would be strange in a test of courage." 

Kanata, not appearing especially troubled, gave a characteristically elegant smile. But it only appeared for an instant. She immediately returned to a serious expression, and lowered her voice. 

"In truth, I've wanted to speak with you for quite a while. Perhaps it would dampen the pleasure of this event, but may I ask something?" 

She said something he did not expect. 

Toutokubara-san wanted to talk with me? 

About what? Maybe she was interested in him as a knight, the same way he was interested in her. There was little else they shared for a topic. Well, Ikki was quite ready to take up the matter. He had no reason to deny her or keep her in suspense. 

"Yes. If there's something I can answer, I'll do my best, so please ask." 

"Thank you greatly. Then I won't hold back…." 

At Ikki's acceptance, Kanata spoke the thing she had always wanted to ask him. 

"Kurogane-kun… does a kiss feel good?" 

"…Huh?" 

Part 4 

Ikki's thoughts lurched to a stop at the unexpected question. 

"U…Umm… that's what you… wanted to ask me?" 

"Yes." 

Kanata nodded eagerly at Ikki's response. And as embarrassment shaded her cheeks, she tapped her index fingers together in front of her chest. 

"It's embarrassing that I have no experience with these relationships, but… kisses are… interesting. Since you and Stella-san are a couple, I was wondering if… I would understand after asking you…." 

She peeked at Ikki from under the brim of her hat. Hope shined in that gaze. 

"I…I see…." 

She seemed quite serious. Who could have thought that someone so adult like Kanata would ask this question while acting in such a childish way? Ikki twitched at his unpreparedness, but the romantic relationship between him and Stella was already widely known. There was nothing to hide, so Ikki answered Kanata honestly. 

"Hmm… does it feel good? How to put it…? If you do it properly, I guess." 

"It can be done improperly?" 

"When we weren't used to it, well, our teeth bumped together, stuff like that." 

"Oh my." 

Those were the heavy words of experience. Perhaps Kanata was imagining a shameless scene. She was giggling in a strange way. 

"But if done properly, kisses feel good?" 

"That's right. And most of all, it's an important expression of love… so it's also exciting in a way." 

"Speaking of expressing love, is it different from holding hands or embracing?" 

"Those are ways to do it, but I feel kissing is still one rank higher." 

"In other words, kissing is special." 

"Putting it that way seems plain, but it does feel so. Compare to holding hands or hugging, you get happier. Taken all together, kisses have a different kind of appeal and pleasantness. That's what I think." 

Talking so seriously about kisses was a tad embarrassing, but Ikki still answered Kanata despite the blush on his face. 

"I see, I see…." 

However…. 

"Incidentally, when you and Stella-san kiss, how happy do you feel, in detail?" 

"D-Detail!?" 

Kanata charged forward at an unbelievable angle, and she did it with a maidenly expression shining with hope and curiosity. 

"Do I… have to answer that?" 

"If you can, please." 

"U…Urk." 

Having said he would do his best to answer, the sincere Ikki could not go back on his word. He brought the memories of his kisses with Stella to mind, and crafted his next words. 

"W-Well… umm, through touching lips, you can feel the other's warmth, and… the sensation… it feels good, and I like it. And also, Stella begs me for kisses like a puppy, which is really cute… and having someone who wants it like that… makes me happy, I'd say…. It's lovely…." 

W-What am I blabbering right now? 

Ikki's face boiled, and he was steadily losing his grasp on the things tumbling from his mouth, but his was not the only red face. Kanata had her own blushing cheeks and watery eyes as she listened. 

"I-It seems that merely hearing it has made me embarrassed." 

"Then please don't make me say it." 

He could not hold back the complaint. Seeing Ikki this way, Kanata smiled apologetically, but then she immediately mumbled with her eyes closed as if daydreaming. 

"Thanks to you, I now understand that the wonderfulness of kissing is exactly as I imagined it. ….How nice. I'd also like to have such a kiss someday. A kiss as happy as what you and Stella-san share." 

"Nnn… anyway, that's the best answer I can give. N-Now let's get back to finding the ghost. If we just stand around here, it'll never get done…!" 

The inquiry had left both their faces aflame, so Ikki escaped the situation with quick steps. 

And as he did so…. 

?O-Ohh~? Stella-san, even though I told you to stay next to me, why are you falling back so nonchalantly~?? 

?Wha~? But shouldn't we follow seniority? Since you're a year higher, Touka-san, I thought it'd be more respectful to walk a step behind…!? 

He saw the Stella-Touka pair turn the corner ahead of him. 

Part 5 

?No no, don't be so humble. This is where an A-rank like yourself should march grandly in front. Usually this kind of mysterious phenomenon would be the work of organizations like Plasma or Go?gom[2]. And with my control of lightning, I'm better as a guard against surprise attacks from behind. I'll leave the front to you, since your attack power surpasses mine. It'll be fine. I've already checked that there aren't any humans by using my electromagnetic waves as a radar!? 

?If you've already checked, then there's no need to go in, right!?? 

?Th-That's not true. We have to see if by some small chance it really is an actual ghost….? 

?By that angle, you saying it'll be fine is completely wrong! And you're saying you'll guard our backs but you're just using me as a shield!? 

?And if there's a ghost, you'll leave me behind to run away by yourself!? 

?I-I'm not going to do that~?? 

?A lie! Right now your whole body's stiff and shaking. My Reverse Sight won't let such falsehoods pass!? 

?Grr… what an annoying ability….? 

The two were pacing noisily in front of a washroom. It appeared that someone needed to check inside, but they were arguing over who should go in first. 

They're really not good with scary things…. 

Watching this was rather interesting, but not calming their anxiety was a bit mean-spirited. Thinking so, Ikki wanted to call out, but…. 

"H—mrgh!" 

Suddenly, Kanata covered his mouth from behind. Looking back, he saw a rather angry face, bidding him to remain quiet. 

"Ssh!" 

"Pwah… what's the matter, Toutokubara-san?" 

"That's no good, Kurogane-san. You can't speak with such an ordinary tone." 

Kanata spoke wryly at a volume the two other girls would not be able to hear. 

"W-Why?" 

"Because we're on a test of courage, right? Isn't it boring to speak normally? We have to startle them. No, it's my duty as the host of this event to do more than simply startle." 

"E-Err… but they're really scared. It would be bad to take it further." 

"Not so. If Stella-san and Touka-chan honestly disliked monsters and ghost stories, they wouldn't have joined the party in the first place, since we told them it would be about scaring each other." 

"W-Well, that's true…." 

"Even when girls are saying 'I'm scared, I'm scared!!', they still go to haunted houses and watch horror movies, screaming 'Eek' as the while. In other words, those two are currently in the middle of enjoying the thrill of this test of courage. We must not douse that." 

"So that's how it is…." 

Kanata's explanation was certainly convincing, and it was reasonable for scary stories to make a listener afraid. As she said, calling to them out of kindness could reduce their fun, and that might be unwanted. Ikki criticized his own thinking, and held off from joining up with the two girls. 

"But how should we scare them? Make a huge noise from behind?" 

Upon being asked, Kanata gave a wicked smile. 

"Hehe… well, please leave that to me, the host." 

Part 6 

"Y-You won't give up, will you Stella-san? …Kuh." 

"O-Of course not. Heading in first… don't make fun of me. Guh…." 

The two of them had been standing there bickering for about three minutes, but all the quarreling had decided nothing. Going in circles for so long only worsened the mood. Neither one had energy left to continue this unproductive argument, so the one-year-older Touka made a suggestion. 

"F-Fine. Then how about this? We'll both yell 'Is anyone there?' into the washroom. If there's no answer, then doesn't it mean there's no ghost?" 

"Nice! Let's go with that!" 

It made no sense at all, but the two were so wilted that they completely ignored reason. Both girls turned to the pitch-black washroom and gathered their voices to ask…. 

"Is a ghost in there~?" 

…Well, there were no such things as ghosts, and since Touka had already used her electromagnetic waves to check that no people were inside, of course no reply came back. So… 

"No one~" 

A reply came back. 

In an instant, eyes widened and sweat beaded on the two girls' foreheads. 

"I-It said no, right?" 

"Th-That's right. Ah… good. I was wondering what we would do if there was." 

"Y-Yeah. I like ghost stories, but the real thing is… is no joke, huh…?" 

"V-Very much so. Ahaha…." 

Tremble tremble tremble. Their knees knocked, and their faces drained of color. Something indescribably strange had evidently just happened, making it hard to disregard the abnormal like they had up to now. 

"B-By the way… even though there's nothing inside, we just heard a response…." 

"We did… didn't we. From right behind us." 

"I…I wonder whose voice that was…?" 

"I-It has to be our own voices echoing back at us muffled and distorted, saying something or other!" 

"Y-Yes, I see, something or other!" 

"That's right! Compared to an unscientific explanation like ghosts, that's much more realistic! So… on the count of three, let's turn around and look!" 

"…G-Got it! Then I'll count…. One. Two. Three!" 

The two steeled themselves, and turned to look over their shoulders on that signal to see— 

—an empty hallway, lined with windows that, here on the third floor of the school, showed only the darkness outside. 

"So it really is just an echo—" 

There was nothing, ghost or otherwise. Of course not. 

"I found you…." 

…Except for a white-clad, black-haired figure of a woman reflected in the nearby window, standing behind the two girls. 

"GYAAAAAHHH!!!" 

Stella and Touka screamed like seized chickens, and fled from the school building with the speed of a whirlwind. 

"H-Hehe… ahahaha!" 

Back in the hallway the ghost arched its back and erupted in laughter. 

"W-What an amazing sound! 'Gyah", even though they're girls! Hahaha!" 

The black-haired ghost laughed loudly and grabbed its own hair, peeling it off to reveal blondeness that shimmered in the dim light. It was only Kanata wearing a wig. While the two girls were looking down from the hallway, she had donned the wig and used her ability Diamond Dust[3] to control invisibly tiny fragments of her blade, dispersing and scattered them in the air. Using the diffused reflections of those fragments, she had made her image appear in the space behind the two girls. 

”…Could this be the reason you prepared the wig?" 

"But of course. It took so much work to get this trial of courage happening, so as host I wanted them to have an interesting time. Besides… it was fun for me too. Hehe… ahaha!" 

Those words allowed Ikki to understand why Kanata had provoked Stella into joining them back in the student council room. She had planned on scaring the easily startled Touka and Stella, to the point of making specific preparations. 

Wow, what a terrible hobby. 

It was refreshing how meticulous she was. And moreover, Ikki had no inkling before of Kanata's prankster side, just as he had not expected her to ask about kissing. The difference from her usual adult image reminded him anew that people could not be understood without thorough interaction. 

"Ah… my stomach hurts…. Oh? Kurogane-san, what's the matter? Is there something on my face?" 

"N-No. That's not it…." 

"Were you thinking that I'd be more adult?" 

"Eh?" 

Ikki trembled at having his inner thoughts being so accurately pinpointed, and Kanata did not miss that reaction. Her expression turned elated. 

"Hehe. Bullseye, right?" 

"Is it that obvious?" 

”No, I get this misunderstanding often. At home, I'm trained to not let anything show, and with my height, it's led people to call me the Scharlach Frau. But in reality, I'm not lady-like at all, you know? I love pulling pranks. In the past, I've always gone along with Utakata-kun's tricks." 

"Tricks?" 

"Swapping the oolong tea in the refrigerator for noodle sauce, for instance." 

"H-How simple! Simple but evil!" 

"And so like Utakata-kun, Touka-chan spanked me often as well. Her palm hurts quite a lot~!" 

Laughing, Kanata spoke happily of older days, letting Ikki learn something new about her. His image of Kanata had already been shaken, but despite her elegant air in her usual life, her inner disposition was apparently that of a prankster. He was surprised, but maybe this surprise was itself proof that she had always been this way. 

"How unexpected. At least, it's very easy to see Vice President Misogi in such a scene." 

"Hehe… are you disappointed, seeing me as such a childish woman?" 

"N-No. I just think you're… a little easier to talk to." 

Given that honest answer, Kanata's lips relaxed happily. 

"That's good. I can only be here with everyone for another year. In my time left, I wanted to be friends with everyone and pass the moments having fun." 

"Ahh, I see. You're all third-years, so you'll be graduating." 

"Yes, that's true too, but…." 

Kanata's tone darkened. 

"Actually, once I graduate from school, I'll be getting married." 

"M-Married…?" 

Ikki was shocked by this sudden statement. And at the same time… he noticed something strange in it. 

But didn't you say you haven't been in a relationship with anyone?" 

"Yes, I haven't." 

"If not, who will you be marrying?" 

"I don't know." 

"H-Huh?" 

Ikki was confused for only a moment by that reply. 

No, it can't be…. 

He had also escaped a famous family, and so he understood instantly. 

"Meaning it's someone your family decided on. Isn't that right?" 

Kanata nodded quietly. 

"Marriage between wealthy families, betrothals in order to create ties and bring in up-and-coming hopeful young industrialists, they're quite common among the upper-class. My marriage will be one of these… perhaps a foreigner from Southeast Asia, or a businessman from France, I believe. Whichever it may be, I'll likely be emigrating to my husband's country, so I want to have as much fun as I can while I still have carefree days before my graduation in Japan." 

"Is that… how it is…." 

"Hehe, and so I'm very grateful to you." 

"To me?" 

"Yes. I was able to have a very valuable conversation today. Given my position, I can't be free to love. But I'm still a girl, so I've always wanted to know what it's like to be in love. How does it feel? And… thanks to you, I know how happy and wonderful that is now." 

Ikki could not reply to Kanata's bright smile. Because of his early life, one question came to mind. Was she not being forced to obey her family, without following her own feelings? And… marriage was an important part of life. To have that be chosen by the family…. 

Kanata was not a close friend. Their relationship… could be described as quite superficial. This was a comment he should perhaps keep to himself. And yet…. 

"Aren't you… bitter about it?" 

He was concerned for this girl, who had listened to him talking about his and Stella's relationship with eyes shining. Was she not sacrificing herself for her family? 

"Bitter…? Well, that's—" 

Crack! 

But as Kanata was about to reply to his question, a sharp sound echoed, and the window to the classroom they were standing in front of split open. 

Part 7 

White cracks suddenly appeared in the glass, and in a blink, glass in the hallway windows from one end of the wall to the other all burst apart. 

"Watch out!" 

"Ah!" 

Shards flew like daggers. Ikki, with outstanding reflexes, immediately took action to avoid them, pushing Kanata flopping down to the floor. 

"That was dangerous… are you okay?" 

"Y-Yes. Thank you." 

Because of Ikki's fast response, Kanata had not been injured. 

"B-But umm… your hand is…." 

Kanata turned her face and the direction of her gaze. It immediately became obvious that Ikki's outstretched right hand was flattening her full bosom. 

https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:Rakudai_V0_114.jpg 

"Uwaaahhh!" 

As soon as Ikki realized this fact, a sensation of uncommon softness traveled from his palm to his brain. Ikki hurriedly removed that hand and tried to explain. 

"S-Sorry! Th-That wasn't on purpose!" 

"Hehe, it's fine. I know that." 

Ikki was a person of virtue, so Kanata understood the situation without needing him to explain. 

"I'll keep it a secret from Stella-san, okay?" 

"That'll really help…." 

"But unfortunately, it looks like our fun test of courage ends here." 

Muttering this with disappointment, Kanata looked toward the classroom whose window had first broken. 

It could not have done so without reason. The poltergeist seen in the recording should be found within. 

"Here we come, Francesca." 

Standing up, Kanata manifested her Device, a rapier formed from transparently pale glass. Grasping it in her right hand, Kanata raised it horizontally, and thrusted it into her own left palm, but the blade of Francesca was rather fragile, and it broke into dust as it entered to dance as glitter in the night air. This was the Scharlach Frau's preparation for combat. She spoke to Ikki with a voice not at all like the schoolgirl she had used a moment ago, but the dignified voice of a knight who has answered many special summons to straddle the line of life and death. 

"I'll assist. Shall I leave the front to you?" 

"…Yeah!" 

Kanata's effective range was mid to close, while Ikki was only capable in close range, making it the correct choice for him to proceed first. He had no complaint. 

"Come forth, Intetsu!" 

Ikki charged into the classroom with his Device in hand. What came into view was the same as depicted in the recording. Chairs, desks, cleaning tools… everything inside the classroom was dancing and circling in midair. And in the middle of that commotion, a single small shape was standing. With a white cloth over its head like a curtain, it could not be viewed clearly, but there was a slit where its head would be, and a pair of blazing eyeballs glared through at Ikki. 

Those were doubtlessly the same eyes last seen in the video footage. 

It's you…! 

"Hold it right there! If you surrender, I won't get rough—" 

But before Ikki could complete his demand, the criminal turned to face Ikki, and all of the classroom's chairs and desks dancing in midair were launched at him in unison. His field of view was covered by a barrage of flying furniture. No intent to surrender could be found. 

"In that case…!" 

Ikki launched himself forward. He did not protect himself against the desks and chairs raining down. Why? Because Kanata said that she would assist him. And so—none of the malice aimed toward him could possibly reach. 

Before the dozens of desks and chairs thrown by psychokinetic power could strike Ikki, they were all cut to shreds that dispersed in the air. It was the power of Kanata's Diamond Dust, a Noble Art that manipulated many invisibly small blades. Even now, those blades whirled around Ikki like a rock shredder, slashing apart everything that would touch Ikki into millions of tiny pieces. 

The criminal could not hide its shudder at seeing this. It immediately turned, and with very agile movements—it leaped through another classroom window that opened to the outside of the school grounds. But this was the third floor of the school building. Jumping out was not safe even for a Blazer. Being in such a hurry… was this a self-destructive act? 

No. The criminal under a white cloth went into freefall, and then floated upward gently. This was psychokinesis, using its poltergeist power on itself. 

It wants to escape through the air!? 

Such an escape would make it difficult to catch. If he jumped out the window after it, the one who would self-destruct was Ikki. So he slowed down, without another option— 

"Kurogane-kun! Don't stop! Keep chasing it!" 

If he followed it through the window like this, Ikki would fall. Surely Kanata understood this, and yet she was telling him to continue, shouting with confidence and determination. In that case— 

I'll trust her! 

Pushed on by her words, Ikki ceased slowing down, and without hesitation followed the criminal through the window, stepping into open space. And when he did, his feet came into contact with something solid. 

This is…. 

He saw faint, indistinct, transparent footholds being formed under his feet. There was no need for wonder—it was Diamond Dust being gathered there. Stepping on those footholds, Ikki again jumped upwards, and as he did so more platforms appeared, guiding him into the night sky. 

Amazing. Making such a quick judgment after seeing the enemy's movements. 

Clarity of judgment that combined a changing situation with one's own repertoire to choose the best action moment by moment. Observational powers able to grasp Ikki's physical ability and predict his footsteps, creating footholds with the optimal timing and spacing. This was the knight with Hagun Academy's second highest ranking. 

As Ikki appreciated Kanata's capability, he borrowed her power to chase the criminal into the sky. The criminal eyed Ikki coming from behind, and tried to use its power to stop the pursuit. But…. 

"Do you think I'll let you!?" 

It likely did not expect this approach, and its reaction was a touch too slow. Faster than it could unleash a psychokinetic blast, Ikki aimed at the criminal and threw Intetsu from his hand. 

The black swordpoint neared. Naturally, the criminal lashed out with psychokinesis to try and knock it away. 

"Haa!" 

That opening was what Ikki wanted. With all his might, he stepped forward powerfully enough to break the foothold Kanata had made for him, and shot forward with greater speed, striking the criminal in the body as if gouging into it. 

"I got you!" 

He held the criminal with both arms, cloth and all, clutching so that it could not escape. But now they were even higher in the sky than the school's top floor, about fifty meters above ground. With the criminal in both arms, he could not fall safely. 

But Ikki was confident. He had a quick-witted and effective partner. There was no problem leaving the fall entirely to her. 

"Diamond Storm."[4] 

Kanata, sent countless blade particles to the ground Ikki was falling toward, churning the earth and filling the air with powder that acted as a cushion, catching him. 

"…As I thought." 

While marveling at the performance, Ikki looked toward the criminal in his arms. It made no indication of movement, as if the blow had taken all breath from it. 

Also… it was so small. Could it be a young child? With that question in mind, Ikki pulled off the cloth, and… 

"Whaaaaa!?" 

…gave a cry of surprise. 

Part 8 

"What!? Th-The culprit was… a monkey!?" 

Stella yelled in surprise at seeing the offender Ikki had caught, now held in a cage. Indeed, it was actually a wild monkey. 

"But can a monkey, or actually can any animal use Noble Arts?" 

Touka was the one to reply. 

"The more distant from human, the less chance there is, but there are some examples." 

The magic of a Blazer was the power to impose one's will upon the world. Humans across history used magic to gain influence, but they were not the only ones to leave their names on that history. Sometimes unique non-human beings holding magic appeared. 

"Didn't the heroes of bygone eras have warhorses that galloped across battlefields, and didn't they fight legendary beasts that held such power? At least that's what modern mainstream scientific thought concludes, apparently." 

"Huh. I didn't know that…. Anyway, I guess it was a false alarm… ah?" 

Stella suddenly noticed the bandage wrapped around the monkey's back leg. 

"Was it injured?" 

"Yeah. It was already like that when we caught it." 

Ikki did not notice at first either, but with a chance to look closely, he had seen the deep bite mark on the monkey's leg. 

"It was probably chased out of its troop for using a unique power. You can see it's a young one. Wandering around this place by itself… wouldn't that be the reason?" 

"I think it must've been trying hard to defend itself." 

Like it was an ugly duckling. A wild animal would be out of place in human society, so up until now it had not shown itself except at night, probably hiding out of fear of humans. After being caught and given food, it was so calm it almost felt like a pet. Maybe all that ruckus before was simply self-defense. Hearing Ikki and Kanata's statements, Stella furrowed her eyebrows sullenly. She probably wanted to get even for being thoroughly scared. But…. 

"If that's the case, then I'll forgive it this time. Appreciate my mercifulness." 

Stella relinquished the idea of revenge, and did not sink into dark thoughts. She only poked the monkey inside its cage on the forehead, and when she did… 

"Kii!" 

Her extended finger was caught and held by the monkey's small hand. 

"S-So cute…." 

But glancing sideways at that saccharine sight, Utakata spoke to Touka with a serious face. 

"Taking into account the property damage, this guy was caught by Kouhai-kun and Kanata, right? Since it's a 'Unique' that could be harmful to humans, aren't we supposed to put it down?" 

"…Yes. That's an obligation held in common by all nations of the League." 

"Wha! W-We can't do that! Isn't that just cruel!?" 

Stella paled at the exchange between the two student council members. But Ikki knew that this question was already settled, so he spoke up. 

"It's fine, Stella. That's something Toutokubara-san already took care of." 

"What do you mean?" 

"One of the organizations managed by the Toutokubara Foundation has a facility specializing in the custody and protection of Uniques. We contacted them once we realized this little guy would need to be taken in, so they'll come to pick him up straightaway. If it really is a Unique that poses a threat to humans, it has to be taken into custody anyway…." 

Fortunately the two of them had not been injured, so according to Kanata, putting forth the Toutokubara name would allow for this lenience. At those words, Stella patted her chest in relief. 

"Ah, so that's how it is… that's great! Kanata-san's family really is amazing. They do things like this, and support the institution where Touka-san and her family came from." 

She agreed with a voice of admiration. At her words…. 

"…I guess so." 

Ikki nodded back… but he remembered his exchange with Kanata. After catching the monkey, Kanata had immediately called her family using her student datapad, and asked for the monkey's protection. 

?—Yes. Then please process it. Yes. Thank you very much. Goodbye.? 

?How'd it go?? 

Kanata nodded to Ikki's inquiry. 

?It was worked out. I hear that Father will see to the negotiation directly. This little one won't come to a bad end.? 

?That's good. Being the ones to catch him, it'd keep me up at night knowing he might be euthanized.? 

Ikki rubbed the head of the monkey he was holding. 

?…But how amazing. They even have a facility to protect Uniques.? 

Uniques were creatures with extremely dangerous powers, much like this one. Mundane methods could not secure them well, so a dedicated facility needed both sturdiness and large space, as well as the power of knights that could pacify them when necessary. Even a government would find the high cost difficult to work out, making euthanasia the common practice instead of captivity. Ikki was surprised that the Toutokubara Foundation operated such a facility, but for Kanata, it was natural that the family would devote such resources. 

?We Toutokubara are old nobility with names etched in history, from back before the French Revolution. The precept of noblesse oblige has been carried down in our blood for many generations.? 

The rich give to the poor—but while the words were easy enough to say, not many took them seriously. The Toutokubara family, even as the name and country and era change, was one of the few that not only spoke of noblesse oblige, but acted. Even if some of the people heartlessly insulted them as hypocrites, they continued in this way through the years. Kanata was sincerely proud of that. 

?You asked before, didn't you? What I was bitter about marrying for the sake of the family? Yes, I'd be lying if I said I haven't felt that way. I wanted to have a love like I imagined it. If I could, I'd stay in Japan with Touka-chan and the others, and live as a knight on my own… but my respect for the Toutokubara spirit I've inherited is more important. There are many problems in the world that only money can solve. Children who've lost their parents, or were thrown away, can be raised in institutions that need money. Safeguarding places where those with unique powers can live takes an enormous amount. That's difficult to do with my own power, but the Toutokubara family can accomplish it. They have the will to act. And I don't believe it's a sacrifice to give my life protecting that.? 

To provide strength for many people, over the life of a single knight. Kanata was not going to waver from the path she chose. 

?That is the path of the Toutokubara, and the path of knighthood that I, Kanata Toutokubara, will walk.? 

Her voice was calm, strong, and beautiful as a bell ringing in the night. Hearing her, Ikki knew that his concerns were unneeded. And he knew of Kanata's strength. 

"…She really is amazing." 

Ikki gazed in admiration at Kanata as he remembered back. What she carried was honor born of human strength. 

That gaze was a bit careless though. 

"Oh dear oh dear~? I wonder why Kouhai-kun's looking at Kanata with such fiery eyes… ah! Could it be? When they were alone together, they did something that they can't tell Stella-chan—" 

There was someone right here who loved making things complicated. Ikki raised his voice to protest, but— 

"Wha!? W-W-What are you saying, Vice President Misogi! I would nev—ah." 

His retort stumbled in the middle. Something like that did happen, something that Stella could not be told… the fact that he and Kanata were the ones frightening her outside the washroom. 

"Whyyyyy are you stammering just now~?" 

Brilliant red embers cracked from Stella's hair as she pressed Ikki for faltering. He could only speak candidly. 

"Ah, no, you're mistaken Stella. You're making a huge misunderstanding right now. …Toutokubara-san. You can speak up for me, right!?" 

He implored the main offender, who smiled softly. 

"Shh. That's a secret between us~?" 

Placing an index finger on her lips, Kanata bade Ikki be silent in what was quite a suggestive way. 

"Wha…!" 

Ikki saw the mischievous gleam in Kanata's deep blue eyes, and knew his error. 

Sh-She's having fun….! 

He had not told Stella about Kanata's temperament, and now it was far too late. 

"Ikkiiiii…." 

Stella summoned Lævateinn in her right hand. All composure vanished from her eyes, leaving only fury. There was only one thing he could do. 

"S-Sorry!" 

"Ah, he's running." 

"Stop right here—! What're you keeping a secret—!?" 

"I'll talk! I'll talk! Just calm down and put away the sword—!" 

"Do you think I'll calm down about this—!?" 

Afterwards, a rumor made the rounds about a female ghost wandering the school trailing a huge sword. But that was a different tale. 

References 

1 The Tale of Genji: A classic of Japanese literature whose themes include the interaction of sexual relations and political power in the Heian court. 

2 Plasma or Go●gom: Team Plasma from Pokémon or Gorgom from Kamen Rider Black. Both are criminal organizations. 

3 Diamond Dust: This uses the kanji 星屑の剣, hozhikuzu no ken ("Sword of Stardust"). 

4 Diamond Storm: This uses the kanji 星屑の斬風 hoshikuzu no zanfuu ("Cutting Winds of Stardust").