kscans

Chapter 158 - One Unseen, One Seen

"Well, um... it was an honor to meet you...!!"

"Fufu... you're exaggerating. You're always welcome, so please don't hesitate to come again."

With Haru-kun or by yourself—Ui-san smiled and took her hand.

Next to Sora, who was spinning her eyes and flailing about, her emotions from earlier likely overflowing once more, I watched her regain her usual composure and felt a sense of relief.

In the end, it must have been about an hour since then.

Whether she noticed Sora's slight change in demeanor partway through or not, the wonderfully eloquent Sword Saint took control of the tea party with her overwhelming aura of calm.

With the two of them, she who could easily captivate her fans, a veritable incarnation of 'tranquility,' I relaxed with the tea she had prepared herself, while Sora was engrossed in conversation the entire time.

—And so.

Ui-san, for her part, must have found the innocently attached Sora adorable, because the two women, now mutually fond of each other, looked as if they could go on for hours... but of course, that wasn't possible.

Even though she said she had more time than usual, there was still a limit. The current real-world time was just past 6 PM—Sora too, but it seemed it was about time for Ui-san to log out.

I should probably log out once for dinner myself... I have to go on that bird hunt tonight.

If I don't deliver the additional materials soon, I can't predict what will happen to the mood of the indigo girl who cut off contact after a mysterious insult—in the end, just how much is "a lot"...?

"Haru-kun."

"Ah, yes."

Just as I was thinking I should check with Nia again, the Sword Saint's voice called out, likely having finished her conversation with Sora.

As I headed toward her, my partner, who seemed to have taken a full HP loss, came flying towards me as if to escape. Seeing her hide behind my back to conceal her reddened face, Ui-san and I exchanged a peaceful smile.

"About training from tomorrow, it's as we discussed yesterday. If you come whenever you have time, Haru-kun, I will always be available to practice with you."

"...Again, thank you so much for everything."

When I bowed my head, she returned the bow with a "Likewise." Really, I wish I had something to offer in return... At the very least, to repay her kindness, I will do my utmost to learn from her.

"Well then... Haru-kun, one last thing."

Just outside the already open gate, as a final word before seeing us off, Ui-san beckoned me closer.

Given the distance and the gesture, she likely wanted me to lend her my ear.

Sora is attached to my back, so I wonder if there's any point in whispering—but thinking that, I bent down and brought my ear to the petite Sword Saint's mouth.

"—You were concerned about the end of the match, weren't you?"

"Hah............"

More than the breath on my ear, the content of the whisper made me gasp. It was, precisely, the reason my heart had been unsettled this whole time...

What she thought, seeing that, she who would be teaching me from tomorrow. Sensing the answer to that, my body tensed—and for some reason, Ui-san smiled softly.

"I found it quite favorable."

"...Eh."

Given her personality, I didn't think she would genuinely express disappointment. And yet, I couldn't immediately accept the words of affirmation so easily given.

Seeing me like that, Ui-san tilted her head cheerfully and continued.

"If you'd like to hear the details, we can talk about it again another time. But more importantly, please try asking Sora-chan."

The moment her name was mentioned, I felt a twitch from my back—well, yeah. At this distance, Sora can probably hear too.

In fact, Ui-san? You did this in the guise of a whisper so she would hear, didn't you? I'm starting to get it now, that you're a 'master' in many ways, not just in martial arts.

"...By the way, what should I ask her?"

With a wry smile and a sigh, I sought guidance from the person who made me feel like I could never win, in every sense of the word—

"Let's see... then—how about asking for her impressions of her first match?"

The Sword Saint said, and smiled serenely.

◇◆◇◆◇

"So, Sora-san, what are your impressions of your first match?"

"Is there no intermission...!?"

On the way back through the bamboo forest, after being seen off by Ui-san—or rather, not even a minute after we started walking.

Perhaps she didn't expect such a quick and direct question. She gave a flustered reaction, but... well, you know? You heard it too, Sora-san.

It would be hard to keep up the pretense of not knowing, when you were fully aware I would ask, wouldn't it?

If there's a topic, I'll touch on it without hesitation. I'm also so curious about something else that I'm grateful for the distraction.

Without thinking too deeply—regarding the topic that made Sora's expression change, there must be some reason for her to react that way.

And even as her partner, I have no right to carelessly reach into her personal affairs. Furthermore, I have no intention of prying.

Just a partner, but still a partner. When she needs to tell me—or when she wants to, Sora will tell me herself.

Let me be conceited. I believe we have already woven that much trust between us.

That's why, what I should be looking at now is not that, but this.

"Well, I wasn't going to bring it up again myself, but... when my teacher tells me to, you know?"

See, I have a stance of at least trying to obediently follow the teachings of my predecessors.

Things like "Don't go for an agility-focused build," or "Normal people should wear armor," or "All Weapon Aptitude is trash," those kinds of already established values are up for discussion if they're challenged head-on.

At my words, Sora-san muttered, "Teacher..." under her breath, not even trying to hide her envious side-eye... I get it, but is that really your first thought?

Because their combat styles are too different, she was told, "I don't think I can be Sora-chan's teacher." My partner, who couldn't hide her jealousy, kept saying, "Unfair, unfair."

"She did say she's always up for a match, right? You'll get to fully experience the Sword Saint for yourself soon enough, Sora-san—so?"

I cut short the drawn-out question and asked for an answer again. As if to say, "I was trying to change the subject because it's hard to answer," Sora made a troubled expression and turned her face away.

"............I... I might not be very good at PvP... at fighting people."

And so, she did give me an answer. The girl spoke hesitantly—but, um... for someone to say they're bad at it after all that, what does that make me, the one who was thoroughly cornered?

She didn't get a chance to shine this time, but on top of all that, this girl also has a broken support magic (Scareless) and a healing magic (Qualia Veil).

Furthermore, her equipment is all pre-upgrade. Her skills are almost unchanged from a month ago, so to be honest, the conditions were overwhelmingly in my favor, and I still ended up like that.

I've thought it over and over, but my opinion hasn't changed.

Sora is far more 'special' than I am.

"D-don't stare at me like that...!"

"My apologies."

I must have been staring too intently, because she gave me a light glare before hiding her face even more—sensing what was coming, I held out my right hand, and Sora, who had been about to reach out with her left, stopped in surprise.

"Hah—... h-hah...!?"

Her hand frozen at a distance where it was about to touch mine, Sora's face turned red in confusion—it's not that I don't have my own thoughts about casually touching, but regarding this with her, I've already decided in my heart that it's a "sign of trust."

On this matter, I won't hesitate anymore.

Perhaps for the first time when we were both calm—I reached out my hand and took Sora's, which had stopped midway.

"Ha-Haru...!?"

"—And so?"

Taking the stopped Sora's hand, I started walking again. Walking half a step ahead with my eyes fixed forward, I prompted my partner to continue.

After that, neither of us spoke. For a while, the only sound was the rustling of the bamboo grove in the wind—

"............I guess you wouldn't notice unless it was you, would you?"

When the silence was finally broken, those were the first words Sora spoke.

"Notice... sorry, what?"

Not understanding her intent or what I should say in reply, I tilted my head, and I felt the strength in our joined hands tighten slightly—

"—I... wasn't able to attack you once."

"Nn—... huh?"

I genuinely didn't understand her meaning and turned to look at Sora.

With her face still downcast—how should I describe it? The girl had a strange expression that was neither positive nor negative.

"In the end, it wasn't 'attacking.' Nothing changed from before—I was just 'showing' you. At that time... when you hesitated at the end, Haru, I realized it."

"............Well, I guess you would figure it out."

I was prepared for it, but hearing it from her own mouth still stings a bit...

"...Don't make that face. I was the same way, you know."

I felt a tug on my hand and stopped.

"It's not that I could swing my sword at a person. It must have been because you were my opponent—somewhere in my heart, it seems I thought, 'It will never hit you.'"

Saying that, Sora smiled bashfully.

There was no self-deprecation in it, which was a relief... but that's why, sensing the flow of the conversation, a certain feeling welled up from the bottom of my stomach.

"So, um—aren't we two of a kind? Because, I'm sure..."

That feeling was none other than—

"—I could never seriously point my sword at you..."

—embarrassment.

""............""

Why does the wind have to stop at such an inconvenient time?

We, who had fallen silent in the stillness, could sense each other's feelings more than ever from the warmth of our joined hands—and without a word from either of us, we began to walk.

As we walked through the deep green forest... neither I, nor Sora, of course.

Could meet each other's gaze for a long time after that.

---

No comment on the sweetness.