Chapter 581 - What's at Stake
"—Ghh, ugh… Okay, I'm beat. I surrender."
"…It was a good match. It may be bold of a junior to say, but you've improved again."
One on his knees, the other with the point of their weapon at his throat—…the match had concluded. On the stage, amidst the cheers, two players exchanged words.
"I'm honored by your praise, but… my, the same could be said for you, Irori-kun. It's become exceedingly difficult to even land a single blow."
"I have no shortage of pressure from those chasing me, yourself included. Captain of the Defense."
The young man lowered his blade and sheathed his sword before extending a hand.
His voice, his expression, everything about him was cool and composed. With a faint, defeated smile, [Elephant Three] thought, He's something else, and readily took the offered hand to stand up.
"Well, I think I put up a much better fight than last time… I'll call it good enough."
He said it jokingly… and as they were both people who had been done in by the same person, they exchanged indescribable, wry smiles—shaking their clasped hands, they gave each other a single nod.
"It's the match after next, then. This old man will enjoy watching from the sidelines."
"In that case, please send your silent cheers to our cheeky junior."
His words, and his heart, were unwavering.
"As long as that guy doesn't get nervous and make a fool of himself… I promise to put on a great show."
—And watching the composed figure in the formal kamishimo from the special seats, one person…
"…Looks like the difference in experience will show in their mental game. As expected of a former competitor."
—narrowed their green eyes, thinking of a certain 'favorite' of theirs… and wondering if they should meddle a little, they opened their system window and initiated a teleport.
◇◆◇◆◇
We see each other fairly often, but it's rare for him to contact me. After receiving a message from this friend, I made my way to the waiting room.
The room, which already felt nostalgic, was just as it was when I used it as a challenger in the Four Pillar selection match—and with the same person standing before me…
"The nostalgia is off the charts."
"Haha, it was only four months ago, you know."
It makes me wonder just how far I've come in such a short time. More than sentimentality, I'm filled with a sense of astonishment at my own journey.
"The goddess of victory, Sora-chan, seems to be absent again today, just like yesterday."
"Looks like her plans clashed. She was pouting so much, it was a real handful."
"Your roles may have changed, but I'm glad to see you two are the same as ever."
He says it with a face like he's saying something positive, but he's the same as ever, too. Lotta smiled with the same amusement he always did at my relationship with Sora, then said, "Well then," and straightened his posture.
"The next call won't be far off, so let's get this out of the way. Would you tell me the 'recommendation slot' for our Fourth Rank, the [Acrobat]?"
"Sure. The pool is the challengers I fought yesterday, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Normally, I was supposed to send a message to Lotta… and the other members of the 'Four Pillar Management Committee' today or tomorrow, but since he had some free time, he called me over to "see my face and do it in person."
I didn't have any plans during the break anyway, so it wasn't a problem at all.
"Alright then… my first opponent, he's my only pick."
"…Well, I figured as much. That kid was brilliant."
And my answer, which I had prepared in advance, was delivered without a hitch.
He may have been eliminated in the first half of the tournament and had few opportunities to stand out, but he showed real talent. No one is more fitting for a 'slot' meant to pick up such a gem than the aforementioned Kanata.
And that recommendation right, granted to each of the rank holders, is…
"Then I'll contact him myself."
"Yeah, thanks."
Needless to say, it's a guaranteed pass. Congratulations, Kanata-kun, you're a Four Pillar member now.
"Since you saw him yourself, I don't need to explain my reasons for the recommendation, right? Mr. [Insighter]."
"I'd rather you didn't place too much trust in the 'eyes' that once misjudged a certain someone."
"What are you talking about? You were the first one to approach me."
"The level of my expectations was completely off the mark."
I mean for it to be lighthearted banter, but I can't quite read Lotta. The 'General Commander's Right Arm,' who shamelessly proclaims himself to be the number one fan of the [Acrobat], always heaps an undue amount of expectation on me, so—
"…Alright, now that we've finished with the official business, let's get to the main topic."
"Aha, there it is. I thought it was strange for the busy committee chairman to be 'free.'"
That mischievous, knowing smile really suits him.
This friend of mine really hasn't changed, for better or worse, since the day we met… and I suppose the fact that I let myself be led around by him is also the same as always.
—However,
"I know what you want to say. …It's okay, don't worry."
"…Oh? I see."
I have no intention of letting him think I haven't grown at all.
"I'm aware that I'm the type to be strong when it counts. Even if my head is a mess right now… well, once we're face to face, it'll all blow away."
"Haha, true. Coming from you, who pulled off major feats in the preliminaries, the main tournament, and the war itself with no prep time, that's very convincing."
The match after next. With the sixth match of the second day looming, the pressure is mounting by the second. But this isn't the first time I've been this nervous.
The first time I faced him, I'm pretty sure my knees were shaking.
So it's fine. There's no need to worry… —or so I should think, but…
"But you know, Haru."
For some reason, the anxiety just won't seem to go away. As if seeing right through it, the [Insighter] turned his gentle, mature eyes to me and said.
"This is the first time you'll be fighting an opponent you absolutely do not want to lose to, for your own sake alone."
"…………"
"You, who bases everything on 'having fun,' are challenging someone with only 'winning' in your sights. Isn't this a first for you?"
"…"
"To fight with your very own pride on the line, that is."
That was probably the truth of my feelings, which I hadn't been able to clearly put into words.
He saw through me, hit the nail on the head, and made me realize—and along with the jumbled mess in my head, I felt the tension drain from my avatar's body.
"Of course anyone would be scared. It's a man-to-man brawl with no room for excuses."
"…………You think so?"
"I do—so Haru, it would be a waste to just blow it all away."
This time, I couldn't grasp the meaning of his words, and I lifted my gaze, which had fallen at some point.
His green eyes held their usual kind-hearted smile.
"A battle with your best friend, a battle with your rival, a full-powered battle with your pride on the line against an opponent you absolutely can't lose to… an experience you can't find in the boring real world—"
At the same time, this older friend, who so skillfully fired me up every time we met…
"If the [Acrobat] himself doesn't enjoy it, then who will?"
—as my number one fan, with far too much passion, mercilessly threw his expectations and ideals at me.
"……………Since we're on the subject, let me just say this."
And because of that.
"Oh? What is it?"
"You like me, the Acrobat, way too much. It's starting to get creepy."
"Haha, what are you talking about? It can't be helped. No matter how high I set my expectations, no matter how unreasonable my ideals—"
To this friend, who had been cheering me on before anyone else, I felt I had to respond to his encouragement, if only out of stubbornness.
"—you've never once failed to surpass them."
And so, a simple guy like me is easily inspired.