Chapter 624 - Their Respective Flames
And so, one hour later...
"—Ngh... khh... s-sorry, I can't go on..."
"Hey now, you held out for a long time. Nice guts."
After endlessly dodging the relentless onslaught of sand, being toyed with, and getting showered in it countless times, Kanata collapsed as if a switch had been flipped. At that moment, the magic swords, which had been flying about with merciless glee, all stopped dead in their tracks.
When one hears 'little fox,' the famous nursery rhyme often brings to mind a 'mischievous' image, and Ruby certainly has a strong streak of that... but perhaps it's a gift of Sora-san's upbringing.
She's also learning the very commendable trait of being considerate of her playmate. My partner's partner is steadily growing into a smart, good kid, just like Sora herself—but that's beside the point.
"Same as before, you don't have to answer. Just listen while you rest."
As promised, I had been participating in the infinite evasion attraction alongside Kanata, serving as both a model and getting in my own practice. But to be honest, even I get tired doing this. It's no wonder he's on the verge of death.
"You managed to keep moving for an hour while surrounded by a thousand swords. You can clearly feel how much your stamina has improved, right? In other words, your progress is excellent."
Excellent doesn't even begin to cover it. To be frank, he's exceeding all my expectations.
Talent is a factor, of course, but his overflowing enthusiasm is the biggest key. In a virtual world where feelings can become strength, it's no exaggeration to say that the level of one's motivation is directly linked to their rate of growth.
"So, you have my permission to rest easy. We'll start again when you can move."
"...Yes! Thank you very much...!"
Even when I tell him he doesn't need to reply, he almost always says 'thank you' when I praise him. I don't dislike it. He's an overly capable junior, full of drive, diligence, seriousness, and grit.
And so, it was a short break time... and of course, I headed over to...
"Good work, Sora-san."
"You too. ...Though, it was Ruby who did all the hard work."
"Was she really working hard...? I think she probably just thought she was playing."
I went to my partner, who was sitting by the wall of the training room, bored out of her mind aside from the MP she was consuming to generate and maintain the magic swords.
There was no way I could just leave my collaborator and precious partner to sit there indefinitely. As I walked over and sat down beside her, Sora's white fox ears twitched.
She probably isn't aware that they move on their own with her emotions—because we haven't told her.
I don't know if she'd even be able to control them if we did, since they're not a part of her original body and are treated almost like an effect... but to correct such a thing would be a loss for the entire world, so I am firmly resolved to continue keeping it a secret.
When she finds out, I'll just have to get scolded along with the other notable accomplices.
"W-what is it? Why are you staring?"
"Nothing. Just thinking your tails look exceptionally fluffy today."
"...You're not allowed to touch them."
Sora-san hugged her tails as if to shield them from me. While they don't have a hitbox in a combat sense, you can apparently touch them and feel their texture.
Despite my best efforts, I haven't managed to touch them even once, but just seeing that supremely cute gesture from this incarnation of cuteness is an infinite net positive. The fact that Nia and Ashe have been allowed to touch them makes me infinitely jealous, but I won't be greedy.
"Anyway, your teamwork is as amazing as ever. I don't think I could win against you in that form."
"Says the person who didn't get so much as grazed once in an entire hour..."
"That's only against Ruby's control, you know? In a real fight with you controlling them and fighting yourself... the matchup is just too bad for me. I'd have to go for a suicide attack to even stand a chance."
"If you went for a suicide attack, I'd be the one who wouldn't be able to do a thing."
Well, that's just trading one broken ability for another.
My extreme high-speed maneuvering with the star magic [Lightning Gale] is one thing, but more importantly, my [αtiomart -Sakura=Memento-] would just eat her magic swords as if they were spells...
We've both come a long way, haven't we?
"But I guess you still have your own challenges to work on, Sora."
"Ahaha... you're right. Ruby doesn't seem to get into the mood unless I'm in my transformed state."
The 'Training Room' has the same specifications as the 'Duel System,' so there's no need to worry about MP consumption. The reason Sora changed to her alternate form, which is even more MID-focused than her primary one, is simply because their teamwork wouldn't function properly otherwise.
The little fox is still growing up, but she's not there yet. Ruby is fundamentally a creature of moods, and her performance fluctuates wildly depending on her disposition.
However—is it because they're both 'foxes'?
For some reason, her good mood lasts much longer when Sora is in her transformed state. That's why, when we use her 'Possession' ability like this, Sora needs to activate [Trance].
It's a matter of personality... and by extension, individuality, so I don't want to force or correct her.
I called it a challenge, but honestly, there's no real solution. All we can do is deepen their bond over time and hope that she'll one day respond with her full power every time.
"...Kanata-kun is amazing, isn't he?"
After a few minutes of comfortable, painless silence where neither of us spoke, Sora quietly broke it.
I turned to my side and saw a beautiful girl buried in her own tails like a cushion or a body pillow. I resisted the temptation to take a mental screenshot and nodded in response.
"Yeah, he is. There are probably still plenty of guys like Kanata all over Arcadia, outside of the rankers and top-tier raiders."
In a world without end, endless growth is promised.
As long as an unquenchable fire is lit in their hearts, like it is in Kanata's, the number of 'special' people in this world will likely continue to grow, literally without end.
Just like us, who have sworn to keep walking, hand in hand with the partner by our side.
"—...Sora-san, we're in front of someone. Restrain yourself."
"Ah... I-I wasn't doing anything."
For no particular reason, our eyes met. That was all.
And just from that, my partner, who can read the color of my heart, was influenced by my vaguely sentimental mood and gently reached out with her own warmth.
When I stopped her, her small hand hastily retreated... I couldn't tell if it was an unconscious action or not. Probably due to her fluster, both her ears and tails were twitching furiously.
Just as she was on the day we first held hands, my partner is adorable.
And because of that, I can't stop the feeling of wanting to spoil her.
"Well, you know—later."
I took the left hand that had been reaching for me a moment ago and placed it on her head, avoiding the 'no touching allowed' fox ears. Then I stood up, quickly leaving Sora's side and making an emergency evacuation to Kanata's position for both our sakes.
The warmth from my palm felt as if it was seeping into her, intensely hot.
"Yo, Kanata. How are you feeling?"
"C-can I have a little more time...?"
"Take all you need. Rest up."
I'm sure the warmth I conveyed was probably just as intense.
The fact that Kanata, who was still locked in a passionate embrace with the ground, couldn't lift his head was a stroke of luck for the senior who must always maintain a cool appearance.