kscans

Chapter 232 - View: Real Side + α

—On a certain online message board.

'I don't understand anything anymore.'

'They've finally started using slow-motion effects, something you rarely see in the original broadcast…'

'I'll ask again, is this for real? Is it really confirmed that Acrobat = Sword Saint's disciple?'

'Pretty much confirmed. His movements are exactly like Shukuchi.'

'No way he's an imposter. He seemed to be on good terms with Irori-kun.'

'Actually, thinking about it that way, it makes sense why they were so in sync.'

'That duo is so shippable!!!'

'Ui-chan, you got a disciple…! I'm so happy for you…!!'

'Chan????? I told you to use -sama.'

'Here come the hardcore followers.'

'Look at the screen, you guys. This is definitely going to be a legendary episode in Arcadia's history.'

'Even with the slow-motion edit, I still have no idea what's going on…'

'Stop running on air like it's normal, stop leaving afterimages.'

'Hey, I think that guy just closed his eyes. Acrobat probably can't even see properly when he's moving like that, can he…?'

'Then how can he stop his attack and switch to dodging? Does he have precognition or something?'

'From an old man, sixty this year. I'm rooting for him as if he were my own grandson, so please forgive me.'

'That's forgivable.'

'From a grandfather's perspective, I guess it can't be helped.'

'Ugh… in deference to the Sword Saint who loves her grandpa, I have no choice but to forgive…'

'I get that the conversation drifts to the Sword Saint, but let's face reality, okay?'

'Is this even reality?'

'Maybe we all died from a seizure because we were too excited for the Four Pillar War…?'

'So you're saying I'm dead, and so are all of you?'

'It's so otherworldly that even the audience is starting to bug out, lol.'

'Just seeing Iris-sama's smile is enough to satisfy me.'

'This.'

'This right here.'

'I've permanently saved that awkward smile to my memory while writhing on the floor.'

'If only we could hear a bit more of their conversation…'

'System-chan seems really determined not to pick it up on the mic, huh.'

'Are they talking about something private… Wait, did they know each other before?'

'They just introduced themselves. It's probably their first time meeting.'

'Having a conversation that System-chan decides not to pick up on their first meeting…?'

'Hey, is Acrobat really only two months into this? I kinda want to quit being a light warrior now.'

'I know exactly how you feel, but is he even a light warrior at this point…?'

'In the sense of a warrior with light equipment, he doesn't fit that description at all anymore, right?'

'At least, the light warriors I know don't swing around greatswords and great axes.'

'Whoa.'

'That's insane.'

'Yeah, well, they certainly don't make the waterway explode by missing with a sword swing…'

'Yep, uh-huh… this is definitely the Sword Saint's disciple.'

◇◆◇◆◇

—At a certain gathering of university students.

"Kaede, remember to breathe."

"…Hh… I-I am breathing…"

"Good. Now, blink too."

"I don't want to…!"

"Your eyes are bright red. Do it."

"Toshiki, any luck?"

"Well, no response to my messages, as expected. Calling him… if this is for real, interrupting him would be a seppuku-level offense, so no way."

"Ahh… right, let's not."

"……………………It's probably real, right?"

"…………It's gotta be real."

"…Hey."

"…Yeah."

The young man and woman sitting side-by-side looked at each other and nodded.

""—Tomorrow, we capture him, no matter what.""

And next to them, the two girls sitting together,

"—Kaede, you've stopped breathing again. Breathe properly."

"—I can't…!!!"

—though one was caring for the other, both had their eyes glued to the 'screen.'

◇◆◇◆◇

—At a certain gathering of a grandfather and his grandchild.

"You know, Yui."

"…What is it, Grandpa?"

"I don't think I've ever seen you make a face like that before."

Her grandfather's face held the same expression of deep affection she had seen countless times—

"…………It doesn't seem like I'll be able to help it for a while."

The 'granddaughter,' looking embarrassed, blushed ever so slightly and,

"Please don't look at me so much."

—as if she had no time to hide her face, she continued to watch the heroic figure of her 'disciple' on the screen, looking simply, utterly happy.

◇◆◇◆◇

—At a certain gathering of two best friends.

"………………Nia-cha?"

"…………………………………………………………………………"

"Hmm…"

She called out to her, but her friend, frozen in her lap, in her arms, didn't even twitch.

"Looks like she's a goner."

Seeing her friend staring, unblinking, at the screen, she came to that conclusion…

Stroking her head as if soothing a younger sister, she too—turned her attention back to the major event unfolding on the screen.

◇◆◇◆◇

—At a certain family gathering.

"—…"

On either side of the girl who silently watched 'that figure,' the two adults were in a similar state of stupefaction.

"…I don't know much about this, but I can tell that what he's doing is incredible."

One, her 'Knight,' was clearly bewildered by the sheer absurdity that far surpassed her imagination.

"Y-Yes, that's right… ah, that's a correct assessment."

The other, a 'known young man,' couldn't hide his amazement at the boy's ridiculously rapid growth.

"…Is your Knight always like that?"

As the woman, whose hand had been held tightly for a long time, asked the question while seeming to just watch in silence,

"…—He's always like that."

Never looking away, the girl murmured her reply, filled with emotion.

"He's my partner—always showing me a smile that says he's having more fun than anyone else."

◇◆◇◆◇

"—He's really going at it…"

Whether she looked up or down, a starry sky was reflected in both directions in this peculiar field—several hours had passed since the Four Pillar War began.

'She,' bored, continued to wait at her own base… listening to the echoing sound of a 'sword' from afar, she murmured to herself as she relaxed on a sofa she had brought with her.

"—You can go and watch, you know."

It was a comment made to the words she had unconsciously let slip. From right beside her, the other player, who had also come to the field with just the two of them and was equally bored, spoke up.

The man, who had hair of a similar crimson—no, a deeper crimson—tied back, probably made the suggestion purely without any ulterior motive, but…

"I'll pass. I wouldn't be able to watch calmly anyway."

"Hah, losing your character on a national broadcast would be too embarrassing, huh."

"Shut up."

She retorted, but unfortunately, he—her 'boss'—was right. If she went to 'cheer him on,' it was obvious she wouldn't be able to control her emotions.

She had no way of knowing who the wielder of that familiar 'sword' was fighting now, but—

"…Do your best."

If that's you.

Simply wishing for the wielder's success—the weaver of legends looked up at the starry sky and mouthed a silent cheer that would never reach him.