Seiken Tsukai no Kinju Eishou Volume 4 Chapter 2

Chapter 2      The foreign students of Akane Academy

After school.

Among the many students that returned to the dormitories, that worked diligently in their club activities and that were just going out alone or with someone――Moroha gathered at the third martial arts stadium.

Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno where to his left and right, the three of them were wearing their combat uniforms.

Moroha was one of the thirteen regular member of Strikers within the academy.

Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno were reserve corps members, and after school, special training waited for them every day.

Moroha and the girls sat down on the concrete floor and had a friendly chat with one of their seniors who came earlier.

There was still time till it started, the attendance wasn't the best.

They formed a circle around the center of the arena.

– So, is it true that there's a troubling girl that transferred to first year?

And, the third-year student Taketsuru Uisuke laughed eloquently like the breeze of summer.

He was a C-Rank s.h.i.+rogane of the same regular troops like Moroha.

– Troubling girl you say? I'd say she's more like a weird girl…

When Moroha responded with difficulty,

– Well, the question is more about why she came rather than her personality.

Taketsuru shrugged his shoulders by doing a befitting pose as if hardly joking.

– Even senpai says so…?

– Obviously! I'm not going to forget Lightning Empress' bad behavior at the time of the training camp!

Even though smartness was sunk deeply into Taketsuru's mind, he roughened his usual voice and att.i.tude.

That was understandable.

The thing that happened during Strikers' training camp. Lightning Empress, who was also the Head of the Russian Division, didn't let Suruga Andou, Head of the j.a.panese Division, to act.

The result――various political ulterior motives squirmed, the Strikers were isolated and forced to have a deadly battle against an unprecedented demon named Fortress.

– If it wasn't for Haimura, it wouldn't be strange to say that many people would have died. I can't believe why the j.a.panese Division has said nothing until this very day about such conduct from Lightning Empress!

– I think that's because the j.a.panese Division is a politically moderate party.

s.h.i.+zuno, with her same lack of expression, calmly pointed out to Taketsuru who couldn't hide his deep resentment.

– If you were to turn on each and every way of the extremists Russians, then you are not going to have a choice but to go to war again, don't you think?

Hmm… Taketsuru mumbled.

– You're right. I'm still hot for war, sorry for that.

He cooled down his anger, raised his hands and gave up. Finally, with such a pose, their senior started looking like a senior.

– However, even if there's that, I still think that a foreign student coming from Russia is suspicious.

When s.h.i.+zuno said that calmly, both Taketsuru and Satsuki nodded zealously.

Moroha thought that that should be nothing special.

Then from behind him,

– That's no good, you know? That understanding isn't good enough!

It had been a while since they heard the voice of their female senior.

It was a carefree voice with no limits, like the sky of the southern lands. Her verbal expression was a little peculiar.

Moroha and the others remained sat down and looked at her.

She was a third-year student studying abroad from America, she came to where they were with big steps from the entrance.

She was also a regular member of Strikers.

Her captivating tanned skin similar to milk chocolate was impressive.

Her platinum blonde that made one come to one's senses was contrastive.

And also, she was tall!

Approximately the same as captain Isurugi. 190 cm. Her body shape was like the one of a volleyball player that hadn't lost its flexibility while still being sensual.

Her bust was big. It was a bit inferior to s.h.i.+zuno in terms of proportions, but there was a height difference of 30 cm between them. Her bust size was three times larger than s.h.i.+zuno, it had a precise appeal.

Her name was Sophia Mertesacker.

From her father's side of family, her grandfather was German-American and her grandmother English-American. From her mother's side of family, her grandfather was African-American and her grandmother Irish-American… so, as one would expect, the person that was born with a mixture of races was an exotic beautiful girl that gave a multinational feeling.

– Satsuki is unreliable, s.h.i.+zuno has to work harder and I feel bad for Moroha.

Sophia jokingly waved her index finger to the left and right.

– Why am I unreliable, Sophisenpa――guaah!?

– What do you mean?

Although it was a joke, s.h.i.+zuno pushed Satsuki aside who got immediately exasperated and asked.

– Each nation Division of the White Knight Organization is competing in a friendly way to the public, but they were never allies. All the members should be suspicious about foreign students, whether they are Americans or Russians.

– Why is senpai herself telling us this…?

s.h.i.+zuno went to the heart of the matter, half amazed.

– Because it's true. I cannot help but advice everyone who is cute.

– Sophisenpai is love.

Satsuki got inspired and caused her eyes to s.h.i.+ne.

Friends were practically nonexistent, she was a can't-be-helped komattachan*, but Sophia was frank from the beginning, and that got her to treat her tenderly.

– But if you say that, aren't you also in a bad spot?

– Yes, that's possible.

Taketsuru returned an advice, and Sophia showed a pondering att.i.tude.

But she immediately smiled after she was quite indifferent and,

– Well, we'll think about it when the time comes.

– You have to find a clear solution though…

– The j.a.panese often use the expression "Simple is best", but I think those words are very good. I also want to live a simple life.

The smile of Sophia was tremendously bright as she did a triumphant pose with both hands.

Her huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s bounced with that.

Moroha knew no other woman than Sophia (aside from s.h.i.+zuno) to whom he was troubled because he had to avert his eyes even when they just did the usual thing.

– By the way, why is Sophisenpai wearing a T-s.h.i.+rt today?

He asked while casually averting his eyes to the wrong direction with Taketsuru.

Sophia only wore a king-size plain T-s.h.i.+rt that was like a dress while all the gathered were wearing combat uniforms as a matter of course.

– That's right! I want you to listen to this, Moroha!

Sophie looked up at the ceiling all of a sudden and lamented with an overreaction.

– Did something happen…?

– You all went to the sea while I returned home, right!?

Oh, it was that.

Moroha, Satsuki and Taketsuru turned such face.

s.h.i.+zuno remained expressionless… or rather, like this was no matter for her.

– How unfair, you went without me! If I knew it was the sea, then I would've made an excuse to remain in j.a.pan!

– You say unfair, but Sophie ended up having a vacation on the west coast while we were crying, secluded in a mountain last year and then you shamelessly boasted about it, isn't it?

– Last year is last year! This year is this year!

She came up with a terrible reason.

Moroha and the girls who didn't know about last year's h.e.l.lish secluded mountain found she was right, but Taketsuru looked extremely daunted.

– I also wanted to have a good time with everyone! I wanted to boast about my new swimsuit!

– D-don't tell me senpai…

– It's that don't tell me, Moroha!

Sophia put a hand on her T-s.h.i.+rt and threw it off skillfully.

A sensational swimsuit――was hiding below that.

The design itself was an ordinary triangular bikini, but the physical beauty of the wearer was amazing.

Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and her b.u.t.tocks were like oversized fruits, they bounced with even the slightest movement,

Her tender and glossy tanned skin produced a s.e.xual feeling that couldn't be completely showed by a j.a.panese.

Was she concerned about the thickness of her belly and so she was enlivened because her waist was narrow? She wanted their gazes to cling to her.

Sounds of saliva being swallowed were heard from everywhere while looking at her completely exposed limbs.

Moroha and Taketsuru were just barely able to hold their ground.

– What do you think you're doing, Sophie-senpai!?

Satsuki stood up with a grinding noise and tried to hide the front of Sophia with both arms and legs.

But Satsuki, who belonged to the pet.i.te category, the size of their bodies were very different so she wasn't able to conceal it.

Seeing that she was becoming irritated,

– Eh? Did I do something wrong?

Sophia stared in puzzlement.

– I-i-i-isn't Sophie-senpai ashamed of wearing a biking in a place like this!?

– Eh? Is my swimsuit so unsightly?

Sophia received a shock,

– It's the opposite, the opposite! If everyone looks at such figure of Sophie-senpai, then all of them will be bewitched!?

Satsuki made a cross mark with her hands as if saying NO!

In fact, most of the male seniors were keeping up appearances while they looked like they couldn't stop stealing glances from time to time. Moroha somehow resisted the temptation and averted his eyes, but he couldn't blame them.

He understood the feeling.

– I'm glad! I want everyone to see me and praise me more!

– Sophie-senpai, you should be shyer!

– But I do have to? If you weren't thinking that this is charming, then I would have no choice but to escape, feeling ashamed. But I'm proud because I was able to get delighted!

Sophia was very, very happy, she acted flirtatiously with a lot of playfulness.

It wasn't voluptuousness. Even though it appeared that she showed off s.e.xual desire that was full of cheerfulness, but it wasn't in that sense.

She could hear the sound of saliva being swallowed from everywhere.

(Because she's from another country, her sense of values are different?)

Moroha whispered to s.h.i.+zuno who was next to him as he averted his eyes.

(That seems to be case. But because I'm a reserved j.a.panese, I thought of not wanting to show myself other than Moroha?)

That's why, don't worry. It's what s.h.i.+zuno appeared to say.

Moroha varnished over it by involuntarily clearing his throat.

He wanted to ascertain that his cheeks weren't getting red.

– Doing such a thing, Sophie. It'll turn into a problem again if Kanzaki comes. I mean, aren't you fed up with this thing, this confrontation between j.a.panese and American female molesters?

On the other hand, Taketsuru shrugged his shoulders cheekily, he persuaded her to change her clothes before ero demon vice-captain came.

– NO! I'm not a b.i.t.c.h like Tokiko! There's no way I can do that, I'll be absolutely embarra.s.sed doing something like fis.h.i.+ng men!

Even ero demon vice-captain was not good for the American standard.

Moroha learned something new.

– Ups, sorry. n.o.body wants to be confused with her.

Taketsuru apologized with sincerity to Sophia who protested while getting red like an innocent girl,

– Okay then, I'll correct myself. Are you going to stop before Isurugi comes and drops his anger? Hmm? Also, we didn't go the training camp just to have fun, if you had been there with that completely carefree att.i.tude, you would have ended up getting a good scolding, you know?

Moroha, Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno nodded towards Taketsuru's skillful persuasion.

– I see, but it's not that I'm here just to have fun, you see? I'll seriously do intensive training in swimsuit.

– Uh oh.

This action was done by Taketsuru, he covered his face with a hand and with a refined gesture.

– I really mean that, Uisuke. So, and until our free time is over, why don't we have a long-awaited match?

– Alright. I'll show you the results of the training camp.

– Don't take me lightly just because I'm in this state, so are you prepared?

Sophia gave a hand to tempt Taketsuru into joining her.

Moroha, Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno looked at each other's faces and made some s.p.a.ce like saying they agreed to it. They moved to the mortar studying seats that surrounded the arena.

The same was true for the other seniors.

A cheerful mood was sprayed by the entry of Sophia, but it became a tensed thing all of a sudden.

There was not even a single male senior that had a lewd look on his face. Their expressions changed promptly.

All the members gathered here were reserve corps members or regular troop members of Strikers.

The elite of the elite of Akane Academy.

Those soldiers sat down in the studying spectator seats one after another, and turned their very curious eyes towards the arena.

Taketsuru and Sophia made their quiet fighting spirits sway and began a careful warm up.

Far away from being a grave mood, there was a feeling of tension like being excited that filled the martial arts stadium.

It would be a lie to say that Moroha wasn't affected by it.

This was Strikers' routine.

This was also Moroha's routine.

Satsuki was in the seat to the right of Moroha,

– It's no surprise that Sophie-senpai is superior, huh?

She questioned with an excited look.

She couldn't hide her excitement while being able to see a match between regular members.

– Yeah. It's what it gets to form when you are allowed to practice with a partner of higher skill like Sophie-senpai*.

– Moroha, you ecchi! Stop with the worn-out jokes!

– Hey, that's a false accusation, you know?

*TN: It's a play on words. 胸を借りる = mune o kariru means what is written above (… allowed to practice…) but it literally means borrowing the chest/b.r.e.a.s.t.s, so in this case, borrowing Sophie's b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

It's not like he had any intention of saying a clever thing or something.

– Why are you saying foolish things? It's about to start.

s.h.i.+zuno, to the left of Moroha, called their attention, exasperated.

Though s.h.i.+zuno herself wasn't neither interested nor enthusiastic about watching the game. She was already showing signs of nodding off while sitting.

Moroha gazed steadily at the arena with Satsuki while smiling wryly.

The dreary round-shaped arena surrounded by concrete floors and walls.

Two soldiers faced each other.

A dark amber-colored heat haze was caused to rise up from the whole body of the s.h.i.+rogane Taketsuru.

It was an intricate colored prana.

It looked like shades of colors were constantly converging.

He concentrated that energy into his ID Tag and made his own specialized weapon manifest.

It was a strange-looking weapon in which the blade of the long sword was divided into seven blades and were connected by a long chain.

The one who named it, called it Rensas.h.i.+chijin*.

*TN: Chained seven blades.

Amber-colored prana spread throughout the corners of Rensas.h.i.+chijin from which one didn't understand how many meters it was able to extend.

*Turn*――

The tip started moving automatically like it was a living thing and raised its head.

It swayed like a snake, the moving body of the chain clinked, undulated, crept and threatened with its sickle-shaped neck.

During that time, Taketsuru himself didn't make a single movement.

He just stood in one place as he grasped the handle of Rensas.h.i.+chijin.

– It really looks like a living snake. Taketsuru-senpai's Mercury* is amazing no matter how you look at it.

*TN: Formed by 辰星 = s.h.i.+nsei.

– There's no guy in this school who's superior to senpai in Light Art techniques.

Moroha threw an interjection to Satsuki to show he was paying attention.

The light technique of Taketsuru was controlled freely as if he was making blood and flesh circulate in an ordinary steel weapon.

Its name was s.h.i.+nsei.

It was cla.s.sified as one of the 5 Star Techniques like Venus* that made destructive force dwell into a weapon and Jupiter* that radiated destructive power from a weapon.

*TN: 太白 = Taihaku (Venus) and 太歳 = Taisai (Jupiter).

And so, Mercury was a telekinetic force so to speak.

He freely manipulated what he touched. Unlike Venus that was extremely logical, as it should be fine if he put prana in his weapon with all his strength, with Mercury he needed sense and practice to master it. If one were to become a skilled technique user as Taketsuru, one would make a submerged dragon in seawater and try to leave it idle to give people a ride.

– Moroha, can you do that?

– If it's about using Mercury, I can use it to my own convenience. But if it's about being able to do cat's cradle and bowknots with chains like Taketsuru-senpai, than I guess it's impossible to do so?

– Still, it's cooool, isn't iiit? I also want to learn quickly soooome greeeat light techniques.

– That'll depend on how Satsuki follows her example.

Moroha pointed to Sophia.

She was standing imposingly around 5 meters away from Taketsuru.

She neither adopted a stance nor she made her weapon manifest.

However, when coupled with her more than blessed physique, her standing figure was imposing, her majesty was unusual.

She was also a s.h.i.+rogane. The color of the prana she was cladded in was a vivid yellow like her eyes.

It couldn't be kept within her body because of too much joy, the colored prana reflected in the eyes of Moroha was like it was singing a eulogy of life to the limits of its voice with impetus.

The raised sickle-shaped neck of Rensas.h.i.+chijin. Was it going to attack from the left? Or from the right? It continued swinging the chains as if leading astray.

But Sophia showed no concern at all.

She stood there, stepping firmly on both legs like a big tree.

Her eyes were always looking straight, she wasn't intimidated by Rensas.h.i.+chijin.

– How long are you going to keep acting like a snake charmer? That means you gained nothing from the training camp.

She even had the leeway to shrug her shoulders with exaggeration in the middle of the match.

– Here I go!

The underestimated Taketsuru showed a smile mixed with exaltation and bitterness and roared.

He manipulated Rensas.h.i.+chijin, elevated the sickle-shaped neck higher and higher and made the point of the blade swoop down, aiming at Sophia from there.

The confrontation had begun.

The strange-looking snake composed by chains and blades made the binding parts of iron and iron to clink, and attacked while sounding.

The amber-colored prana spread throughout from everywhere, it was ominously slippery like the scales of fish.

Sophia, before this attack――didn't move as expected.

She entrusted him with the task to hit her, she was just going to accept it composedly.

When going through her arrogance and all, the amber-colored snake stabbed its end in the right breast of Sophia.

For an instant…

*Boing*

– She repelled it with her booooooooob!?

Satsuki did a half-rise to her feet in the audience seats and screamed.

– No, she repelled it with High Durability*.

*TN: 金剛通 (Kongoutsuu) Diamond, adamantine, vajra (indestructible substance).

Moroha pulled her hand and made her sit.

– Calm down.

– Even Moroha was laughing because of that, you know?

I'm sorry, Taketsuru-senpai. That was a bit interesting.

– Don't you think that even a mosquito is a bit better at kissing than you, Uisuke?

– Shut up, you iron wall!

The two kept fighting while speaking ill of each other in the arena.

Taketsuru brought back Rensas.h.i.+chijin. At the same time, the chain connected to the seven blades changed its color to a red-hot iron and shrunk its size rapidly. It ended up changing into a single sword.

– Honestly, I feel disappointed. If that's all you have, then why don't we make this match end already?

Conversely to him, Sophia rushed this time.

Her speed wasn't great, but each step left a footprint in the concrete.

That impact should be compared with a giant elephant or a dump truck, it was a heavy charge that would even cause people to scatter only by doing a ramming attack.

– I haven't shown the results of the training camp yet!

Nevertheless, Taketsuru didn't choose to evade it, he went head on to intercept her.

The sword in his hand changed color to a red-hot iron again and stretched like a candy then transformed into an iron spear in an instant.

He had it at the ready in his hands and stuck it out like drawing it through his hand.

Taketsuru's spear handling was nimble, the spearhead raised buzzes.

It hit the mark, like it was absorbed into the pit of the stomach of Sophia…

– I'm saying that this isn't different from the first semester!

… Sophia grabbed the spearhead just before that.

A dreadful physical strength――she stopped it easily with her proud Super Strength.

Moreover, it wasn't just that.

With a movement that appeared to be certainly simple, she lightly raised the spear with one hand.

The body of Taketsuru was holding it on the other side.

– Wai….

There was no way he would lose his one and only specialized weapon, so Taketsuru clung to his spear with a pale face.

Sophia rotated her body in that place and spun Taketsuru vigorously as she looked happy saying「Here we go!」.

One spin, two spins, three spins… she wasn't stopping!

– Uwa… Taketsuru-senpai was turned into a toy.

Satsuki in the audience seats wiped cold sweat due to her outrageous power.

– That's because Sophie-senpai is a tank type.

Moroha explained.

It was considered the greatest power even in Strikers.

And toughness was among those three points.

She was a B-Rank Savior, a powerful person regarded as the s.h.i.+rogane ranked next to captain Isurugi within the school.

All foreign students whose qualities were valued in their native countries were sent to Akane Academy, but among them, Sophia was a high-grade outstanding talent.

– Satsuki is a tank type just like her. By applying a founding strength diligently, you should be good to aim to be a s.h.i.+rogane like Sophie-senpai.

– Eh. h.e.l.l no.

– Why not?

– Because being a gorilla like――that's not it, I want to fight more gorgeously!

Satsuki cleanly pointed to the arena.

She got tired of Sophia showing off how she was throwing Taketsuru and the spear violently.

Just like that, Taketsuru inevitably crashed into the concrete wall surrounding the arena.

However, Taketsuru wasn't someone to be taken lightly. He wasn't a C-Rank just for show.

Even if he was caused to blow off, that didn't make him to be fl.u.s.tered, and made the spear in his hand to transform. When it colored like a red-hot iron, it expanded vertically and horizontally, and after a moment it became a huge cus.h.i.+on.

What kind of material was that thing made of? Even though he struck the wall with a tremendous momentum, it wrapped up the whole body of Taketsuru softly and Taketsuru easily escaped from the critical situation.

Furthermore, the cus.h.i.+on that was transformed without carelessness was turned into a steel hammer to prepare for the pursuit of Sophia.

– Aa～h Enou～gh! The battle style of Taketsuru-senpai is super flashy～. I also want to fight like that! In that case, I don't think that I'll do something like pretending not to lose even when standing next to Nii-sama?

– Well, that's…

Moroha turned scornful eyes at Satsuki writhing in agony in the audience seats.

All s.h.i.+roganes could make their weapons manifest by putting prana and a strong image in their ID Tags.

It didn't mean that they were summoning the real thing that was somewhere.

The ID Tag――was an artifact created by the American Division of the White Knight Organization that responded to the imagination and prana and reproduced the source in the memory and brought them in their hands.

If the loaded imagination and memory were strong, one could make any kind of miraculous arms.

Taketsuru's battle style was an application of such nature of the ID Tags.

When he put new images in quick succession, it would make the ID Tag to react many times during a battle, causing it to change into weapons or armor one after another.

That couldn't be imitated by most s.h.i.+roganes. Because it was difficult to imagine multiple solid memories that could make a weapon appear. One had one weapon which one was most proficient at, and one usually trained with that image every day, and that was generally the best one could do.

Once he comprehended how difficult Taketsuru's style was, Moroha shook his head in denial to Satsuki.

– Tanaksensei said it in cla.s.s, didn't he? A strong image is necessary, so it's preferable to use the weapons that we are most attached to, that have a connection with us and that we can remember clearly from the ones we used in the past.

– But isn't absolutely convenient to be able to manifest various weapons?

– No, it's better to train your image so that you can manifest the most powerful weapon, that's the easy method.

Moroha implicitly appraised Taketsuru's style as the wrong, though he felt sorry for him to a certain extent.

Look, Moroha pointed to the arena.

Sophia started going after Taketsuru that was driven close to the wall.

Taketsuru intercepted her by brandis.h.i.+ng the hammer without hesitating.

The hammer carried an amber-colored prana and emitted a dim brilliance.

Ancestral Arts' Light Technique, Venus.

When one transformed one's prana into destructive power to then pour it into the weapon, one caused one's offensive ability to dramatically increase.

Unlike Mercury, where an extra component called telekinesis was added, this was a powerful technique only because it was unparalleled.

There was also the principle of「Attacking is easy, defending is hard」, so even this should be trouble for Sophia. If that was the case, then how was Sophia dealing with it?

– I love simple battles like this!

She clenched her right fist and punched the approaching hammer of Taketsuru directly.

*Boom*

A tremendous sound resounded and shattered the martial arts stadium as if the building was destroyed by heavy machinery.

The punch of Sophia smashed the hammer of Taketsuru in very small pieces.

The punch hit directly the right shoulder of Taketsuru that got carried away, he was blown away and crashed into the back wall, and yet, the unstoppable body of Taketsuru bounced like a ping pong ball and flew to the center of the arena.

Sophia turned her right arm proudly and knocked down Taketsuru from the front without using any weapons.

The applications of Super Strength to get superhuman strength and High Durability to make the body harden joined together.

Ancestral Arts' Light Technique, Destructive Fist.

*TN: 崩拳 = Kougen.

– Agh….

Taketsuru, who had crashed lying face down, tried to stand up but he failed a lot of times.

His shoulders were smashed, his left arm hung down loosely.

His body that suffered the impact of the crashes convulsed, there was no strength in his legs.

Moroha said in the studying seats.

– The circ.u.mstances that Taketsuru-senpai had in his previous life are unknown to me though. I think he was a s.h.i.+rogane that fought exchanging ordinary weapons one after another and not with sharp swords and the like. That's why Taketsuru-senpai can't manifest powerful weapons, and that's also why he had to train the image of countless "ordinary" weapons to make up for their weaknesses, it's truly a lamentable fighting style…

He intended to talk calmly, but his respect for Taketsuru exuded from his tone of voice.

Satsuki also understood it, and took care of her own lively mood.

(It's not like I dislike Sophie-senpai, but I want to support Taketsuru-senpai)

How much did he spend just in image training? Taketsuru's resoluteness made Moroha felt relieved and to not lament the handicap, because he had learned a style that no other person for the sake of victory can imitate at all. Maybe that was what they call the temperament of the j.a.panese.

(Can he do a comeback… from here?)

The question was whether Sophia was aware of that or――

– Uisuke. Isn't your prana weaker than before the training camp?

Sophia didn't try to go and finish off Taketsuru, she just c.o.c.ked her head in puzzlement there.

– As expected of her sharpness…

Moroha covered his face with a hand in the studying seats.

– You seem to be planning something. I wanted to tell you because this is a game.

– Tsk. So you can't be deceived, huh?

Taketsuru, who was crouching, stood up abruptly.

The loosened left arm was really crushed, but it was a bluff that he couldn't stand up.

– Although I wish you had kept being negligent, that way you would have come to deliver the final blow.

Taketsuru snapped his fingers with his safe right hand.

Thereupon, small lights appeared between Taketsuru and Sophia and blinked.

– What's that?

Satsuki asked in the studying seats and Moroha explained.

– They're threads. Threads much harder than a piano wire that run from one wall to another, he was able to stretch it around like a river in the s.p.a.ce between him and Sophie-senpai. She would have been seriously injured if she had gone to put an end to him.

– Such a dangerous thread, where did it come from? Shouldn't the ID Tag have broken them before? Even Taketsuru-senpai can't restore the ones that were broken, right?

– Yeah, it's not that the ID Tag made them change. That's Taketsuru-senpai's Mars*.

*TN: 螢惑 = Furigana reads Keikoku.

Another light technique cla.s.sified within the 5 Start Techniques.

Mars.

It was a super advance technique that transformed one's prana into a phenomenon that was one's foundation.

There were several users of it, even in Akane Academy.

If it was lightning for captain Isurugi, then Taketsuru could produce a strong thread with his own prana.

– I know what Mars is, but when did he lay it out like that?

– It appears that Sophie-senpai also noticed it?

Moroha raised a finger and put it on his lips like saying "listen closely".

The two people returned their awareness to the arena.

– I take off my hat to Uisuke's dexterousness.

Sophia shrugged her shoulders with a half exasperated and half astonished look.

– When I thought that your prana was weaker than before, you just spread a part of it  thinly and widely in the surroundings, didn't you? I've never heard how someone can cleverly act like that. And also, you can instantly stretch a string around with Mars anywhere within the limits of that thinly scattered prana――in simple word, it's a trap technique similar to an invisible spider web, isn't that right?

– Tsk. I was hoping you couldn't see through to that level. It's my defeat.

The att.i.tude of Taketsuru was gallant, applauses that weren't feeling sorry for him were transmitted from all the members that were studying by observation with eloquence.

– I see, so this trap technique was the result of the training camp? That's certainly interesting.

Sophia poked the thread lightly and licked the drop of blood that rose to the surface of the cut pad of the finger.

– However, it's a shame that the hardness of the crucial Mars isn't stronger than before the training camp.

Then when she carelessly stepped forward into the stretched, dangerous spider web of Taketsuru.

Was she going to commit suicide!? Surprised individuals appeared one after another. Taketsuru also opened his eyes wide.

When he noticed it, Sophia's prana shone brilliantly.

Sue advanced, tearing off the threads of Mars while defending herself with High Durability that raised its output.

– I would have been in danger if I was careless, but now I exactly understand that this is a trap.

– Wait, Sophie!

– Why are you getting fl.u.s.tered, Uisuke? Don't you want to see why your technique was defeated?

– Look at your body!

– But if I were to destroy them seriously, won't Taketsuru's pride――Is something wrong with my body?

Sophia looked down on her body.

Her flesh was completely protected by High Durability.  There was no wound anywhere on her charming tanned skin.

But――her bikini was another story.

It was scattered, it was torn up by the threads of Mars.

Sophia was now striding with an absolute perfect nude body.

From the shape of the tip of the b.r.e.a.s.t.s that were in a hide-and-seek game like if they were sunk in the flesh to the most important part that it could only be shown to her future husband were totally exposed to the public.

– Uisuke, you leecheeeeeeer!

– Why it's my fault!? Even though I was telling you to stop doing that!?

Certainly this tragedy could have been avoided if she wore the combat uniform.

Moroha nodded while his eyes were covered with hands from left and right.

The combat uniforms worn by Saviors were also custom-made by the Head of the American Division and their strength increased in response to the prana and mana of the wearers. One could say that it was almost as strong as when one's body was with the alternative High Durability.

– Uisuke is at fault for working out such a vulgar technique!

– Don't come to blame me when it was your fault!

Taketsuru naturally protested, but the panicking Sophia didn't stop.

She hid her huge b.o.o.bs with her left arm and slapped him in the face strongly with her right hand.

She ran away from the martial arts stadium while crying, turning a backward glance to the fainted Taketsuru.

– Even Americans when completely naked get embarra.s.sed…

Satsuki whispered like groaning as she undid the blindfold.

s.h.i.+zuno, at her side, spouted curiously without enduring it.

For s.h.i.+zuno, who had been nodding off half the time as she got bored with the duel of the two, it was an interesting comedy that was worth watching with great delight until the last moment.

– But, even if she loses her cool, it's not Destructive Fist but Saturn* that comes out and represents the personality of Sophie-senpai.

*TN: Formed by 鎮星 = Chinsei.

Moroha said his impression as he got up to go and nurse Taketsuru.

– Umm, Saturn is also one of the Five Star Techniques…?

He nodded to Satsuki's question and explained while moving.

The last slap that Sophia let loose.

That was Saturn――a Light Technique that didn't damage the body, it only attacked the mind, making it faint.

If it was used by Sophia with full power, then he wasn't going to wake up in the next three days and three nights. However, he shouldn't feel too much pain. If it was Destructive Fist instead, then it would have been a near-death experience even if the barrier of Maya was spread inside the martial arts stadium, and that, not even Taketsuru would want to have such a bad experience.

In the studying seats, the other seniors were still talking between them about what happened in the match, they were interestingly staring at Taketsuru's incredible fainted style, their enthusiasm didn't seem to grow less.

Among them, how many seniors were aware of Sophia's tenderness?

Moroha went down to the arena with Satsuki and looked down on Taketsuru who finished with a cheek red and the shape of a palm in it, it still fell somewhat warm.

He carried Taketsuru on his shoulder while smiling――

Then he made his face become stiff all of a sudden.

He felt a feeling as if he was stabbed by a cold blade inside his warmth chest.

It was someone's eyes. His confidence caught up with it an instant behind.

Moroha focused his sight and looked around.

However, he couldn't locate the frozen-like eyes, they were turned around from somewhere just as he thought so.

(It wasn't… Momo-senpai? She's incredibly calmed, doesn't she?)

His inner thoughts caused him to be astonished.

But that was why he was able to have a rough idea of who was the owner of that gaze.

Because there shouldn't be a s.h.i.+rogane that was good at erasing their presence and make Moroha feel uncomfortable in this academy.  That was until a transfer student came today.

– If you want to study by inspection, then you're free to say that?

Moroha raised his voice, and advised to Leshya, the owner of the gaze.

There was no reply.

What happened so suddenly? The only thing that came back was the dubious reaction of Satsuki.

Taketsuru was restored by the effect of the barrier spread in the martial arts stadium, Sofia had changed into her combat uniform and came back and after that the special practice was executed without issues.

Then that ended and went home.

Moroha was walking towards the school gate with Satsuki, s.h.i.+zuno and Sophia today.

Tomorrow was Sunday. Although a new semester had just begun, it was a holiday.

The pace of all the members was light, the three girls were chatting noisily.

– Today I felt that the gazes of all the male senpais where gathering in the chest of Sophie-senpai, more than usual…

– I feel both happy and embarra.s.sed.

– If Ranjou-san were to take off her clothes in front of everyone, will she be able to monopolize all the eyes with that skimpy chest?

– Impo! Sible! I'm not such a cheap woman, you know!? Isn't that right, Nii-sama?

Moroha was startled when Satsuki clung to his arm all of a sudden.

It was small, but the sensation of her chest rich in elasticity was pushed against it tightly.

– Ara? Shouldn't you feel bad for Moroha who is being hit by such thin thing?

Moroha's heart accelerated when s.h.i.+zuno clung to his opposite arm abruptly.

It was plumply wrapped up in the feeling of her soft chest like it was charmed by its large size and yet tensed like it was a miracle.

– Wh-what? You're also not much different when comparing you to Sophie-senpai.

– Even Moroha thinks that a hundred steps are better than fifty steps, right?

While the two girls were holding tightly his arms, Moroha wondered about saying something while averting his eyes from the seductive feeling,

– Even when not quarreling, both Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno are very cute.

The three of them were hugged from behind by Sophia.

「「「Uwaaa」」」

They screamed in one voice, they ended up completely being wrapped up in the chest of Sophia who had long limbs because she was tall.

She was unable to endure not wanting to blend with them while looking how Moroha and the girls were close. It was an impulsive behavior, the physical contact that Americans like.

Furthermore, because Moroha was in the middle, the size and elasticity of the big American bust of Sophia was touching him bouncingly.

The remaining September's evenings of heat and humidity.

The three that had heat were wrapped up in her limbs, her nasal cavities were tickled by the fragrant body odor of the three that still rose up. Moroha sweated profusely.

Around 80% of the cold sweat was due to being bewitched.

– This is nice, it's been a long time since I felt this! You're so, so cute.

Sophia ended up starting an infinite loop by rubbing her cheeks together with Moroha, Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno then Moroha again as if they had become babies.

((Oh dear…!))

That complexion suspended on Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno at the same time.

Sophia also had "USA size" feelings of deep affection towards her kouhais, and once it had come to this, she wasn't going to release them so easily. She wasn't satisfied.

The idea was to rub their cheeks that were showing not-so-great-expressions for a while――

Then they heard a hard voice suddenly, as if tearing the gentle autumn breeze.

– I see, so this is the phenomenon called moteki*?

*TN: Period of life when one is enjoying more romantic attention than usual.

A tone of voice from which they couldn't surmise any emotions.

It was Leshya who appeared unexpectedly right ahead of them where no one was there until just now.

Since he was entwined with the captivating girls and the majority of his attention was directed towards them with embarra.s.sment, Moroha couldn't even detect her approach.

Sophia also got surprised and stopped rubbing their cheeks, then became firm.

While Satsuki had her eyes and mouth opened, s.h.i.+zuno stared at her as the temperature of her gaze cooled down,

– I understood once again that it is very difficult to become the girlfriend of Haimura Moroha.

Leshya reacted with composure to those gazes and continued her outrageous words.

– What's your deal, transfer student!?

– Don't you know that ambushes as a hobby are bad?

After they heard that, Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno got angry right away.

– I only have business with Haimura Moroha.

Leshya didn't give a glance at them and made her way through the anger of the two with those words.

– … business with me?

Moroha confirmed while feeling that the girls on both sides were clinging to his arms even more strongly.

*Sharp gaze*, the glint in the eyes of Leshya got sharply.

Like a swordsman that went to war.

If he was a weak-of-heart guy there, then he would have been overawed with that much.

Leshya, at that moment, told him directly as if going to the heart of the matter.

– I want to have a date with you tomorrow.

The coldest breeze of today ran from left to right.

Moroha was speechless.

Satsuki was also speechless. s.h.i.+zuno was speechless too.

As she saw that n.o.body could react, Leshya,

– I heard that you will be resting tomorrow, but am I mistaken?

– No, that's correct…

Moroha groaned. It's not that he was particularly troubled by the meaning of that.

– I haven't planned anything in particular, but I don't mind having a good time…

He moved his eyes and looked at Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno.

The two were putting their strength into clinging to his arms even more tightly. It was already tighter than a kansetsuwaza*.

*TN: Locking technique in judo.

A silent protest of this level existed?

Moroha sighed,

– Then why don't we do this? Let's have fun with everyone. A sort of warm welcome.

– Moroha!?

– Ara, that's a good idea.

– Even you!?

Satsuki reacted like she received a shock with the words of Moroha first then she was simply shocked towards the unbelievable words of s.h.i.+zuno that came without a moment's delay.

– What are you thinking, Urus.h.i.+bara!?

– I just thought that it was better to talk about this fast, you see? If Elensan goes on a date with Moroha and Ranjou-san is mixed in it, if Elensan sees the harmoniousness of older brother and little sister, then Moroha having something like a girlfriend… Elensan should at least be able to understand that he doesn't want to have one now, don't you agree?

– O-oh, I get it….

Satsuki was amazed while nodding to the explanation of s.h.i.+zuno.

– ――eh, you're not going?

– Yes, unfortunately, I have practice scheduled for tomorrow. Nii-san gets fastidious when I skip out.

s.h.i.+zuno replied regrettably.

This was often the case with s.h.i.+zuno, the daughter of the n.o.ble Urus.h.i.+bara family.

– L-leave it to me! I'll protect Moroha perfectly!

– Yes, I'll trust in you.

Satsuki and s.h.i.+zuno shook each other's hands solidly while ignoring Moroha. That was an unusual sight.

– Err, that's too much, so why don't we have fun like we usually do…?

Moroha behaved modestly,

– That challenge, I accepted it. I will mobilize my own ability and prove that I am worthy of being Haimura Moroha's girlfriend.

Even Leshya looked interested somehow, and a.s.sented stiffly.

– Okay then, then that thing will be…

He accepted it, Moroha announced his decision with a trembling voice.

Although he only proposed so while thinking to get through with it in the best peaceful way, the conversation went to the wrong side somehow.

Satsuki and Leshya glared at each other, they gave off sparks with their gazes.

Moroha wanted to cover his face with his hands. But his left and right were being embraced, he was obstructed to do so.

– Ufufu, gentlemen also have hards.h.i.+ps.

Sophia remained as a spectator with the dignity of a senior then put her chin on the top of the head of Moroha from behind as she stood on her tiptoes.

Even though he was poking fun at him, he didn't have energy to object.

(Why did it turn out like this…?)

Such thought was getting strong.

Naturally, to say nothing of――he didn't have the leeway to notice that the eyes of Sophia, who chuckled to herself looking happy outside of his line of sight, that is, on top of his head, were swaying charmingly.

Akane Academy had a system where all students lived in dormitories, but Leshya lived alone in an apartment.

She judged above all else that it was impossible to stay right in the middle of the enemy lines.

Therefore, and once she had established a firm promise of date with Moroha and parted from them, Leshya got on her way back home alone.

Satsuki, who seemed to have very misunderstood that she certainly was the same boarding student, was surprised, she did a nonsensical howling that said「How sly!」, but this conversation was already included between the Russian Division and the j.a.panese Division. If someone wanted to protest, it was her.

Leshya quickly went to a shabby apartment that was around 2 kilometers away from the academy.

Her way of walking was「unnatural」with a fixed velocity, unchanging posture and a constant pace like a well-balanced industrial good that attracted the eyes of the people.

When coupled with her silver hair swaying by the wind and her beautiful face and figure, most of the people on the road looked back.

For Leshya, those gazes where the same as roadside stones. She completely ignored them.

However, that wasn't the same to say she wasn't cautious. Even if she were to be a.s.saulted all of a sudden, she would be able to deal with them immediately.

Leshya clearly recognized that j.a.pan was the enemy territory.

She wasn't negligent like a thread that was always strung up.

That was why Leshya didn't fail to notice the uncomfortable feeling of a black dog that appeared from the side.

It quickly crossed over the pedestrian crossing while waiting for the traffic light.

The biggest cause of discomfort was the extremely human-like expression that such black dog showed.

With a face that looked like it was showing an unpleasant grinning,

『Hihihi, your mission seems to be doing well, isn't it?』

It talked to her in Russian.

Because it forcibly used the vocal chords of the dog, it was extremely difficult to catch its words.

Its voice creaked.

『You saw it. Kondrat?』

However, Leshya was used to this why of communication.

She also switched to Russian and replied fluently.

『What now? You were able to arrange a date with Haimura Moroha as planned』

It was an unrelated language to the people walking down the road. They didn't think that it was possible for a dog to speak human language, so they just pa.s.sed by while looking with curiosity at the girl who had a cryptic talk with the dog.

Leshya understood and continued with audacity.

『I have heard that Ranjou Satsuki will also come with us and that calms me instead. I have never been on a date and it would be awkward to be just the two of us. I was fine to try and attack Haimura Moroha resolutely, but he was quite bewildered. Rather than he being cautious, he felt that my approach was very clumsy so I was genuinely confused』

『Hihi, that can't be helped. There's no need for the expert murderer Leshya to move and make a tsutsumotase* abruptly. The cultural barriers aren't that low after all』

*TN: 美人局 = Badger game; scheme in which a man and a woman trick another man into a compromising situation for blackmail.

Leshya nodded to the severe critique of the black dog.

In fact, she felt that it wasn't angry towards her.

『Are you sure this sluggish way of doing is correct? Isn't it better to a.s.sa.s.sinate him without warning?』

『I've investigated in advance with my own eyes and ears and you'll be doing this because I concluded it's the best option』

The black laughed proudly with "So it's decided, isn't it?"

『Haimura is strong. Strong like a monster. When it comes to his fighting ability, it's impeccable, you won't find gaps in it, you won't bring him to a certain death, no matter how much of a "man-eater" you are. At least not while I'm unable to hold the conviction that I can always win. So, in order to ensure the a.s.sa.s.sination, it's absolutely necessary for us to strike the single weakness he has』

She listened for a moment the meaning of the strategy that was repeated again by the black dog.

He tried to persuade her in an easy-to-understand manner.

Leshya brought up the weakness of Moroha as if repeating it to show that she understood.

『Haimura Moroha's weakness are the ones close to him』

The black dog nodded with satisfaction hearing so.

『That's correct. He seems to be the type that can't be cold-hearted towards his family, friends, girlfriends, companions, those types of people. In this case, you first have to slip into his bosom. If you get to be his girlfriend, perfect, but if you feel inclined to be just a friend then that's very good too, and then once you have estimated that he has relaxed his guard around you, set up his a.s.sa.s.sination. I'm sure his blade will grow dull and dull until it's no longer a menace for Leshya. Hihihihi, if there's a sad fate where the Ancient Dragon has finally appeared, then wasn't it because he was born and raised in an unstimulating country called j.a.pan? His mentality is different from Russia's disturbed, deceptive and coldhearted heaven-sent child Leshya』

Leshya put a grim look in her eyes while the black dog talked proudly.

She bit her lips during and after those lines.

『Anyway, I understood. I will do my best to get close to him』

Leshya answered to make him stop instead of plugging her ears.

The black dog nodded greatly again,

『Yes, I'll be looking forward to it. Your approach was so clumsily splendid that that type of trick will make him more cautious if you were to thoughtlessly show your arts of coaxing and he were proficient at it』

『But I will properly prepare for a lesson about j.a.pan's way of dating today』

『Hihi, I overlooked Leshya's mistake. It's a pity that you can't show that admirable figure to your precious younger brother, huh? However, if you are able to calmly say that it won't take half a year or a year to accomplish this difficult a.s.sa.s.sination event, then that will make me speak fondly of you to Vasilisa Yurievna. That will certainly grant you a break to be with your little brother and your family in private』

The story of her little brother came out, the grim look in the eyes of Leshya abated a little.

A calmed sigh leaked from her well-shaped lips.

The strained mood she was cladded in became less tense if a hole was opened.

『… I feel indebted to you, Kondrat』

When she answered, the black dog that was supposed to be next to her disappeared. She lost sight of it.

Leshya looked for it in a hurry, then when she turned around, she found its figure following the way it came, it was crossing the pedestrian crossing.

Leshya retightened herself and walked, making a close resemblance of industrial goods again and this time she rushed to get back home.