Chapter 727 - The Champion (Pint-Sized)
「—…Don't you look even more refreshed than you did after the lunch break?」
「Well, yeah. I managed to get a little nap in.」
And so, the time is just before 5 PM. The Triangle Duo, which has felt both long and short, has now reached its third program, starting with the first semi-final match… and from here on out, it's the beginning of another packed, truly long road.
Honestly, it might have been a good thing I got to sleep, even if it was just for an hour. While I wouldn't say I'm fully recovered, my head feels considerably lighter than it did before the break.
As for the "pillow"… well, setting that aside. I should send my thanks to the alarm clock who dutifully fulfilled her promised role.
Anyway, since I couldn't possibly confess any of that, I gave a vague reply. Hina-san accepted it with a casual "Oh, is that so?" which was fine, but.
Just like after the afternoon break, logging into the venue once again led me to a waiting room. That meant, of course, that my opponents for the next match would be in the same room…
「—Curse you, onii-san! You've gone and gotten better at unnecessary skills…!」
「…Why me, too?」
And so, on the opposite sofa. To avoid the easily predictable uproar, two pint-sized individuals were restrained by "thread." Hah, they can't move. I have my senpai's technique.
The red one was, without question, bound up tightly, but I'd also gently pinned the blue one to the sofa, earning me complaints and a dissatisfied look, but I'd just have to ask for forgiveness.
It's not that I usually care that much… but, well, you know.
Since the memory, or rather, the feeling of our recent interaction is still so vivid on my skin, I felt like a wave of guilt would wash over me if they came at me with their usual patting routine—
「Well, let's put the minor details aside.」
「That's not a line for the person committing the outrage to say!」
「Putting the minor details aside.」
「I refuse to be treated the same as Mi-na.」
「Ri-na-cha~n???」
「Putting all that aside.」
「…You've gotten stronger, Haru-kun.」
You're absolutely right, Hina-nee-san. In our faction, if you don't completely ignore the senpai-kouhai dynamic and take the helm sometimes, you'll frequently find yourself unable to move forward.
「For now, the question is what we should do. We both have a pretty good grasp of each other's hands, but I've never fought you guys, directly or indirectly.」
「Is that right?」
「Onii-san and Mi-na fight on a daily basis, though.」
「A life of battle, I see. Very Istia-like, I approve!」
「Yeah, I'm not really in the mood for that right now.」
「Cold shoulder!!!」
「Maybe I should just bind your mouth too, without considering the visuals…?」
「Hmph, bring it on! I'll tell Sora-chan this is an incident!」
「…We're not getting anywhere. Is this my fault?」
「Mmm… I think it's the fault of those two, who get worked up over a single joke.」
Ri-na's listless voice, and Hina-san's voice, watching over them with an amused, guardian-like air. If I could, I'd want to be on their side, but thanks to a troublesome senpai who gets sulky if you don't give her at least a little attention, that's not an option.
And, the turning point in scenes like this is always the same.
「—Well, whatever, who cares?」
Namely, when the red one has had her fun with the horseplay and switches to serious mode.
And so, despite being wrapped up in shadow threads, she's completely at ease. Tapping her feet, she acts as if deciding how to handle the stage is a foregone conclusion.
「Hina-chan aside, the premise is that you're the challenger, right, onii-san? Your great senpai will play with you without holding back, so come at me with everything you've got!」
She declares with a laugh, devoid of any joking.
A smile of confidence, not mockery, appears on her cheeks. Considering her usual behavior, it's undoubtedly an act that should be irritating, but in this case, unfortunately…
「Well, yeah…」
「Fufufu… Let's do our best, as if we're borrowing their strength?」
Neither I nor Hina-san have any objections; we can only agree. The Eastern Wings have the skill to back up such a grand declaration, and to be honest, I can't really see a future where we win.
These two… aside from not being able to move, they have no exploitable weaknesses.
The common sense that casters are prey to high-mobility warriors who close the distance instantly doesn't apply to these two. Close range, mid-range, long range—as long as you're within their line of sight, they're invincible. That's the 'Strongest Artillery Cannon in Arcadia'.
That even Ashe would only try to approach them during a massive battle royale with a hundred people is a clear indicator of their ridiculous threat level.
In other words, in a two-on-two match in a limited area, the difficulty of beating them is already demonic.
In the first Triangle Duo two years ago, they participated as a non-special entry and were eliminated in the first round by the indescribably wicked pair of the Sword Queen & the Castle Lord. But in last year's second tournament, they tore through the competition with overwhelming force to snatch the championship. They're on a different level.
Well, their faces are still those of pint-sized kids, but…
「…Still, isn't having a fixed tag team like this kinda unfair? Shouldn't there be some attempt at fairness?」
Putting that aside, the point is they're insane. D-Block, second round. The Long Legs & Full Auto tag team, who should have boasted an overwhelming number of attacks that none could match, were crushed by an even more catastrophically powerful force. The memory of that hellscape is still fresh and terrifying.
So, when I let slip a half-joking, half-serious jest, I got two reactions at once.
「We're two hearts as one!」
「I don't really care either way.」
A smug face and a listless face. Though contradictory, their timing was perfect, a display of telepathy. Or perhaps, the fact that they occasionally end up like this is part of their charm.
The red one looks at her partner, stunned, with a "Huh???" expression, while the blue one gives her the cold shoulder and starts munching on pretzels she swiped from the party table.
So laid-back, I thought. Just as my mind, nicely relaxed from various happenings, was starting to unwind… a screen lit up in the empty air. In other words, the time had come.
『Thank you for waiting, it's the semi-finals!!! Let's get fired up and get this show on the rooooad!!!!!』
And with the announcer's voice, as boisterous as ever, four figures appeared on the stage.
Ri-na-chan doesn't like sweets.