kscans

Chapter 581 - What's at Stake

"—Guh, ugh… Alright, I'm beat. I surrender."

"…It was a good match. It may be presumptuous of me to say, but you've improved again."

One had fallen to his knees, the other held the point of his weapon to his neck—… With the match decided, the two players exchanged words on the stage amidst the cheers.

"I'm honored by your praise, but… my, my, the same could be said for you, Irori-kun. It's become exceedingly difficult to even land a single blow on you now."

"I'm not lacking for pressure from those chasing me, including you. Commander of the defense force."

The young man lowered his blade and sheathed his sword before extending a hand.

At his cool voice, expression, and demeanor, [Elephant Three] let out a weak laugh. "You're really something," he said, honestly taking the offered hand to stand up.

"Well, I guess I put up a much better fight than last time… I'll call it good enough."

He said it jokingly… After all, they were both people who had been done in by the same opponent. They exchanged wry smiles that needed no words—and with a firm handshake, they nodded to each other.

"It's the match after next, then. This old man will enjoy it from the sidelines."

"In that case, please send your silent cheers to your presumptuous junior."

His words and his heart were unwavering.

"As long as he doesn't get nervous and make a fool of himself… I will put on a magnificent show."

—And, watching the confident figure in the hakama from the special viewing box, one person,

"…Looks like the difference in experience is going to show in the 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 bit, they opened their system window and initiated a teleport.

◇◆◇◆◇

We see each other fairly often, but it's rare for him to contact me first. I received a message from this friend and made my way to the waiting room.

The room, which already felt nostalgic, was just as it had been when I was loaned it as a challenger in the Four Pillar selection—and with the person I was meeting being the same as well,

"This is a huge blast from the past."

"Haha, it was only four months ago, you know."

I can't help but feel a sense of呆れ rather than sentimentality at how far I've come in such a short time.

"Looks like the goddess of victory, Sora-chan, is absent again today."

"Seems her schedule conflicted. She was so sulky about it, it was a whole thing."

"I'm glad to see that even though your positions have changed, you two are still the same."

He says that with a face that looks like he's saying something positive, but he's just as unchanged as ever—Lotta looked at my relationship with Sora with the same amused expression as before, then straightened up and cut to the chase with a "Now then."

"You'll be called up soon, so let's get this out of the way. Will you tell me your 'recommendation slot' pick, our Fourth Seat, the [Acrobat]?"

"Yep. The eligible candidates are the challengers I faced yesterday, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Normally, I would have had until tomorrow to send a message to Lotta… and the other members of the 'Four Pillar Management Committee,' but since he had some free time, he called me over to "do it in person while I see your face."

I didn't have any plans during the break anyway, so it was no problem at all.

"Alright then… my first opponent, he's the only choice."

"…Yeah, I figured as much. That kid was brilliant."

And the answer I had prepared went off without a hitch.

He was eliminated in the first half and had few opportunities to appeal, but he was a gem who showed a spark of talent—there was no one more fitting for this 'slot' than the aforementioned Kanata.

And this recommendation right, one given to each of the Rankers, was…

"Then I'll contact him myself."

"Yeah, thanks."

—needless to say, a guaranteed pass. Congratulations, Kanata-kun, you're a Four Pillar member now.

"Since you saw him firsthand, I don't need to explain my reasons for the recommendation, right? Lord [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 reach out to 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 [Acrobat]'s number one fan, always heaps an excessive amount of expectation on me, so—

"…Alright, now that we've finished with that business, let's get to the main topic."

"Aha, there it is. I knew it was strange for the busy committee chairman to have 'free time.'"

That sly, mischievous smile suits him perfectly.

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 him lead me around is just as unchanged.

—However,

"I pretty much know what you're going to say. …It's fine, you don't need to 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 who's strong under pressure. Even if my head's a mess right now… well, once we're face-to-face, it'll all blow away."

"Haha, that's true. Coming from you, who pulled off major achievements in the qualifiers, the main tournament, and the war itself without any preparation, it'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 is hardly 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. No need to worry…—or so I should think, but,

"But you know, Haru."

For some reason, this anxiety just won't seem to go away. As if seeing right through it, the [Insighter] looks at me with the calm eyes of an older brother and says,

"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 are fundamentally all about 'having fun,' are now facing someone with your sights set on nothing but 'winning.' Isn't this a first for you?"

"…"

"To go into a match with nothing less than your own pride on the line, that is."

That was probably the truth of it, something I hadn't been able to clearly put into words.

He saw through me, hit the nail on the head, and made me realize it—and with that jumble of thoughts that had been filling my mind, I felt the tension in my body (avatar) drain away.

"Of course anyone would be scared. It's a no-excuses, man-to-man brawl, after all."

"…You think so?"

"I know so. That's why, 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 were smiling with their usual good-natured kindness.

"A match with your best friend, a match with your rival, a full-power, all-out battle with your pride on the line against an opponent you absolutely refuse to lose to… An experience you'd never find in our boring reality—"

At the same time, this older friend, who skillfully fires me up every time we meet,

"If the [Acrobat], of all people, doesn't enjoy it, then who will?"

—as my overly passionate and troublesome number one fan, he throws his merciless expectations and ideals at me.

"……………Since we're on the subject, let me just say…"

And that's why.

"Oh? What is it?"

"You like the Acrobat way too much. It's starting to get creepy."

"Haha, what are you talking about? I can't help it. No matter how high I set my expectations, no matter how unreasonable the ideals I place on you—"

To this friend, who has been cheering me on before anyone else, to his encouragement alone,

"There's never been a single time you've fallen short."

—a simple guy like me can't help but feel that I have to live up to it, no matter what.