After the final match, Ikki and Stella who had collapsed were carried to regeneration tanks in the infirmary. They were given treatment there.
When Ikki finally regained consciousness, it was around midnight.
"This is….."
He opened his eyes to reveal a ceiling of patterned tiles. Ikki immediately realized it was the infirmary where he had slept the night before. He also noticed the presence of the silver-haired girl sitting beside his bed.
"Good evening, Onii-sama."
"Shizuku…. Ah, I see… that time I passed out in the ring…."
"How do you feel? Is there any place that hurts?"
During that, Ikki turned his mind towards his body. Certainly, a heavy feeling of fatigue still remained. But…at the same time there was also a sense of fulfillment.
"That's right… I won against Stella…."
That terrifyingly powerful knight. As he was convinced it was not a dream, Ikki clenched his fist.
"By the way, where is Stella?"
She's here."
The voice came from the opposite side of where Shizuku was sitting. When Ikki turned his head, there were figures of Arisuin sitting on a folding chair and Stella lying in a bed like him.
"It looks like even someone like Stella would be sleeping soundly at this time."
"Stella…"
Ikki looked closely at Stella who was lying down. Her breathing when asleep was normal and her complexion was good. It seemed she had suffered no lasting damage.
"Thank goodness."
"Says the guy that cut her down."
"D-Don't phrase it in an unpleasant way…."
"Ufufu, I'm sorry." As he apologized, Arisuin stood up from his chair. Then, he started to speak to Shizuku. "Well then, Ikki has woken up so should we return to the hotel about now? It's already quite late."
Shizuku nodded in reply. She was also thinking of leaving after waiting for Ikki to wake up after all. "Yes. …Onii-sama. A change of clothes has been placed next to the bed. Tomorrow morning, I'll come wake you up before the award ceremony, so today please rest your body at ease."
"Will do."
"And…." Shizuku held Ikki's bony hand between both of her small hands and smiled broadly, "Congratulations. Onii-sama. Up until now, Onii-sama today was the coolest." She congratulated him on his victory.
"Yeah…. Thanks."
"The celebration is still for tomorrow, let's do it after we get back to Tokyo. I'll introduce you to a good place."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
"Just leave it to me. Later."
"Today, please just rest your body at ease." After saying that, the two left the infirmary.
In the infirmary there was a faint moonlight shining inside. Only Ikki and Stella remained. The only sound during the silent night was the ticking of a clock and Stella's soft breathing when asleep. Ikki's eyes were naturally drawn to Stella who was sleeping on the bed next to his.
"………I……kki……"
Suddenly, Stella was calling out Ikki's name. Was she awake? Thinking that, Ikki left his bed and came close to her but Stella who was lying on the bed was still apparently in comfortable sleep while breathing softly. She was just talking in her sleep. Ikki who was a bit disappointed sat down on the folding chair Arisuin was on before. Just what kind of dream she was seeing? While thinking that, he could never understand even when he was staring at her sleeping face. But….
There was a feeling in his chest that kept coming and going. The fulfillment of this day. The expression of the girl he competed with desperately together while he was overcoming the peak his limits. Her burning eyes. Her ferocious smile. Her presence that was nothing but magnificent, Ikki had remembered it.
Thump, thump.
When he remembered any of it, his heart was beating fast. It was because this girl was here that he was able to become this strong. Because this girl had faced him and fought against him so seriously.
"Stella…."
Whenever he remembered her, he became drowned in his love for her that was overflowing from within him. As that emotion stirred him up, Ikki slightly rose from his chair. He was leaning over Stella on her bed. Then, he gently touched her cheek. That was, something he should not have done.
"Ah…. I….kki…. funyuu~"
Even in her sleep she could tell that it was Ikki's hand. She smiled in her sleep and nuzzled against his hand like a cat rubbing her smell on him.
At Stella's action, Ikki felt something rumbling around in his brain. ---What a cute living thing. His heart was pounding so loudly already and his blood was boiling. His body temperature was rising and his throat was dry. Then, his eyes were naturally drawn to Stella's moist…wet and shining lips that was in front of him and bathed in moonlight. He wanted to hug her tight immediately. He wanted to kiss her. …He couldn't wait for her to wake up. Wanting to kiss the person you love was natural. After all, Stella had allowed it every time they did. With such convenient excuse and after KO-ing the feelings of guilt of stealing the lips of a sleeping girl, Ikki was drawn into Stella's lips like a bug attracted by a flower…
"Itadakimasu…."
"Huh? A meal?"
Her eyes popped open wide and their gazes met. It was at such a short distance that they could feel each other breaths and were very close coming into contact.
Ikki's face was right in front of her the moment she woke up. The situation was enough to cause Stella's brain to boil--
"M-Morning, Stella."
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
"GUH!!"
Her knee struck his solar plexus in a flash.
"I… I'm sorry! Ikki! I… I really hit you hard… are you okay?!" Stella asked while patting Ikki's back as he was prostrating on the floor trembling from the pain. Ikki then replied,"Y-Yeah… fine… I'm really fine….", but his face was dripping with a cold sweat as if not looking fine. Seeing Ikki's expression like that, Stella began to feel guilty with her eyebrows drooped.
"Auh… I'm really sorry, okay? B-But it's because Ikki was at such position…."
"Yeah, just now was about 200% my fault. So don't worry about it." After Ikki reminded her like that, Stella finally stopped apologizing. And then she realized she was in a room she didn't recognize at all.
"Come to think of it… where is this?"
"The Bay Dome's infirmary. It seems we were carried here after the match,."
"Oh, it's because it's my first time being sent to the infirmary during this tournament that I didn't recognize it." She muttered, then made a deep sigh. "…That's right. I lost, huh."
Ikki could feel the discomfort in Stella's words. Just as he had felt the fulfillment of winning against Stella after waking up, there seemed to be feeling of regret recurring in her chest. After thinking about it, he had a feeling that there was no way he should be here.
"Uh, um… should I step outside for a bit?"
"Hm? Why?"
"Well… as expected we just finished the match today, so I thought me being here might be unpleasant."
"Not at all." Stella replied to Ikki's suggestion without hesitating nonetheless. "Ikki, could it be that you thought I would cry? I wouldn't do something so wasteful."
"Wasteful?"
"That's right. Sure… there is feeling of regret burning inside me, but I'm not going to do something wasteful by crying it out. It's because this feeling of regret is a power that will make me stronger. I have to store it, burn it as fuel, then build it up so that I can come back and beat you next year."
As Stella declared it, she smiled which her white teeth could be seen. It was a powerful smile. It seemed that she was serious. Her feelings had already changed towards revenge for next year. That optimism of hers made him think again - what a strong girl she really is.
"…As expected of Stella."
"Also, it's not just regret by the way."
"Eh?"
"My prediction, it's because it wasn't wrong so I knew for sure."
Her prediction was she felt that if it was with Ikki she could go anywhere no matter how high. Considering the gap in their talents, the expectations were too heavy for Ikki. However, Ikki responded to her expectations in such simple form. That they would go anywhere together. For the man she loved the most to be the strongest man was the greatest happiness possible. That was why as she reached down to him on the floor for a handshake,
"Ikki. From now on always, always be my number one, okay?" she said while showing signs of embarrassment.
That was, ---not good. Extremely, not good. From those words, Ikki's heart, which had settled down once from the trouble just now, had fired up. To the point of no return already.
"Eh?! Kya!!"
In the next moment, Ikki ignored Stella's outreached hand and gripped her shoulder, and like that he pushed Stella's body down onto the bed behind her.
"I… Ikki….?" Stella who was taken aback by what was happening, looked up with a surprised face at Ikki who was hanging on top of her. Ikki was reflected in Stella's eyes… his face was brighter red than her eyes.
---Embarrassment.
As he was thinking of what he should say, it looked like his face was about to catch fire. But…. even so, it seemed that this feeling bubbling up in his chest could not be concealed again. So Ikki forced his stiff throat to move and said the words out.
"Um…. S-Stella. That time when we went to Okutama with the student council, what I said in the mountain cabin… do you remember? About … doing lewd things with you, is something I can't do without having even met your parents."
"Y-Yeah… I remember. …It made me really happy."
Really happy. He groaned softly at those words. It was really something unthinkable that he had said. No, at that time it was exactly what he truly felt, and he felt confident in it… but now… it was already impossible. So,
"After trying to look cool like that before, it really is difficult to say though…" Ikki said to Stella in an apologetic tone. "That… please forget that I ever said that!"
"---Huh?"
She didn't understand immediately the meaning of those words. But, from the way that Ikki was holding her down and from his face flushing bright red even to his ears, the words just now had connected with her brain's response and eventually, --she understood what he was trying to say. In an instant, Ikki's 'fever' had spread to Stella as well. Her cheeks were hot, spreading even to her ears, and her voice became half an octave higher.
"That, t-th-that, C-C-C-COULD IT BE~~~~!?"
"W-Well… that's… what it means…."
"~~~~~~~~~!!! J-Just… Just wait! Wait! W-What are you saying all of a sudden, Ikki?! Are you serious!? I mean are you for real!? The strong Ikki who didn't lose to temptation even after seeing my immodest appearance, where did he go!?"
"He died."
"Died!?"
It was a very harsh way of phrasing it, but Ikki couldn't say it in any other way. After all, right now he was not sure anymore how he should show some restraint in front of his charming lover, since he couldn't understand his feelings completely at the time. So--
"Today, when I fought against Stella, when I reached my limit, I thought about it. If I were to stop here, you would go on ahead alone. Then… you would find and compete with someone stronger than me. But… when I imagined it, I really didn't want that. My head was going crazy with hate for whoever that 'someone' was. I don't want anyone else to have any part of you. I want all of you to myself only. It was that one feeling that drove me forward. That feeling… lit a fire in my empty heart. And then, that fire even now is still not gone…!"
Ikki wouldn't stop. The next words out of his mouth, even though he understood they would decisively progress their relationship, he had to say those few words. He didn't care about appearing cool. Almost pestering, pleading. Directly from his heart, --he said it.
"Right now, I want to make love to you, Stella….!"
"…………………." At those words her scarlet eyes, which Ikki was reflected in them, were largely shaking. The emotions in them were shock, bewilderment, turmoil, and--
"Is that a no…?"
"Stupid Ikki…."
Overflowing delight. As Stella smiled a little, she reached up her hand against his cheek, and pinched him gently.
"…Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for those words?"
That's right. She had waited the whole time. She was truly happy when he said that they could not do such things without greeting her parents first and that he wanted to treasure their relationship. But, that happiness did not change the feelings of what a woman would want their most beloved man to seek from her. If Ikki wanted to, at any time--she had always thought of it. So,
"So… right now… I'm really happy..!" Warm tears overflowed from her scarlet eyes. That sparkle, which acknowledged her whole self, had become like courage for Ikki and pushed his back forward.
"Stella…!"
"Ah, but wait!" She pushed back the impatient Ikki forcefully.
"Stella?" Ikki was confused since he'd not expected her to ask him to wait at this timing, during this flow. Stella looked at Ikki with inquisitive eyes and asked.
"Ikki, although you said those things, have you carefully prepared 'that'?"
"'That'…?"
In response, while muttering "I… I'm saying..", Stella let out the words with difficulty.
"I-it's true that I had waited for you to say something like that after all, right? But, we're still students, we haven't gone to properly meet each of our parents, …and I plan to fight against you again next year, so… uhm… it would be troubling if I get pregnant, wouldn't it?"
"……………ah."
Even someone as dense as Ikki would realize it after being told that much. And of course he had not come prepared. Realizing this, he became embarrassed by his carelessness.
"S-Sorry! To think that I… just got so caught up in it..!"
"…..That's what I thought. Ikki, you love making rather sudden moves, huh."
"Uuuuu…." As he was strongly being stared by Stella with criticizing eyes, Ikki groaned in an apologetic manner. It was natural for Stella to be angry. As a man, this was something he should have paid attention to. Yet he had completely forgotten about something so important and let his desires go wild. If there was a hole nearby he'd like to crawl into it. Even if there was none, he would like to dig a hole and then crawl into it. It looked like he would cry at his pathetic self. At any rate, as long as he wasn't prepared he could not force to do it.
"Th…. Then I will hurry and go buy it now..!" Though it was not a cool thing to say, there was no other way so Ikki got up. But,
"W-Wait!" Stella grabbed Ikki's arm. "L-leaving a girl alone after causing her to feel like this is a loss of points you know, a huge loss of points! You don't really have to go buy it right now!"
"No, but…something like that is-"
"It's fine! Just wait a little!" As she said that with a face that seemed embarrassed for some reason, Stella opened her expensive make-up pouch inside the basket that had change of clothes stored on the side of the bed. Then, she grabbed what she wanted after searching for a short while…and after her feelings were somewhat decided, with a quiet voice,
"….Use this." She said as she took out a square, plastic-sealed object from the pouch and handed it to Ikki.
He had never used one, but Ikki had knowledge about it. It was definitely 'that', which he knew information about it. But for such a thing to turn up now….
"S-Stella, could it be, you had prepared it all this time?"
"~~~~~~~!" During that, Stella's face became red as if it would catch on fire.
"It-It-It's not like I was expecting for it to happen all this time, it's not like that, okay!? It's not!! It's just… that… only because I could be well-prepared whenever my lover asked for it! Y-Yeah! This is normal etiquette for a princess!"
(I-It's normal, huh. Princesses are really amazing.)
"C…. could it be that you think I'm a disgraceful woman…?"
"I don't think of such things." Ikki immediately denied back at Stella who had an uneasy look. He would not think of such rude things. In fact, he had learned from Stella's concern what he had missed, and so he was grateful.
"Thank you. I'll properly be more careful from now on."
"You should. ….because it was really embarrassing to buy those."
As he promised and nodded, Ikki took it from Stella's hand. (Huh? It's thicker than I would have thought…) Then it began to unravel down to ten times longer. (What the heck is this?!) It seemed that there were ten packaged together.
W-well, just because they were packaged like that probably doesn't mean they all have to be used at once. It is obvious. It can't be like that.
As he warned his agitated heart, Ikki detached one piece away by ripping the lines along the top with his fingers and the ripping sound of plastic was heard. That was…the signal that preparation was complete.
"…………We're really….. going to do it…. right now….?"
"Y…. Yeah…."
Now that preparation was complete, their hearts once again were filled with embarrassment. He couldn't look straight at Stella's face. Stella was also the same, even though she was checking at Ikki by sneaking quick glances with her moist eyes, they both would look away immediately if their gazes met. They continued like that for three minutes in silence.
(What are we doing….)
They couldn't just keep avoiding each other. Not after all the courage they had already worked up. (At a time like this, the man needs to pull himself together…!) And so Ikki took a deep breath and faced Stella on the bed.
"Stella!"
"Y-Yes!"
"I'm not much…. but I'll be in your care!"
"L-Likewise, please take care of me."
And so as they were feeling many things that seemed pointless, their first night together had begun.
Stella's upper body was laid on the curled sheets of the pure white bed as if being cared for, with the blue moonlight faintly illuminating her. While wearing the simple white one piece dress which must have been put on her when she was admitted into the infirmary, that faint light casted shadows from every curve of her body. That alone was enough to set someone's mind ablaze. It was weird. He should have already seen her in a more immodest appearance but now looking at her like this, he couldn't stop it. He wanted to run his fingertips, palms, lips over every inch of her. Just thinking about it made him nervous and his heart unable to stop racing out of control. It was understandable. Ever since he had come to like this girl, he had longed for this day to come.
"This is embarrassing…." It was probably the same for Stella. Regardless of whether or not her bust was too large for her stature, her chest was heaving up and down from being nervous, but her eyes were looking up at Ikki with a glint of anticipation. She felt anxious and excited from not knowing what would happen to her. The light in her eyes reflected the combination of those two emotions. And so Ikki responded to that. He hid his hesitation and embarrassment, leaned over Stella and extended his hand to her clothes.
"W-Wait…." Just as Ikki's fingers were almost at the top button, her small voice stopped him.
"H-hey… right now, I'm… not wearing a bra…, so it's embarrassing so suddenly…, from the bottom…please …"
"S-Sorry…." He automatically apologized in response to Stella's request. Though it wasn't really the time for him to apologize. Nothing made much sense to him anymore. But if Stella didn't like it, then from the top was no good. Starting at the top or the bottom, it was all the same. In that case, it was probably better to make it easier for Stella. After deciding it, Ikki reached out his hand to the button around Stella's knee, and started unbuttoning one by one. It was like unwrapping a precious present without damaging it.
With each button undone, Stella's body was revealed from the bottom. Her round knees. Her very white voluptuous plump thighs. Her crotch hidden by her inner thighs pressed together, and protected by simple hospital underwear. Then, above her pure white stomach there was something jiggling and contracting when she respired.
(Wow…. this is… not good….)
While he was excited to the point that he thought he would be sweating blood as well, Ikki had realized it. He was walking through an unthinkable landmine. Truthfully…he had imagined of unbuttoning them little by little from the top. He expected how it would happen. He had previous experience during the time at the mountain cabin so he was ready. But, he hadn't anticipated things to go this way. Even though it was the same thing, it felt different just from changing the order. As a result he wasn't prepared, and his reasoning was lost little by little as what he saw became more exposed. He wanted to force open her shivering thighs that were closed in shyness. He wanted to rub his hands across that pure white stomach and grabbed the completely clean bottom part with his fingernails. His wild desires were burning him up from inside his whole body. Then…when he undid the button above her bellybutton, fireworks burst in his head. As Stella breathed and her chest rose, her dress opened from the button on top of her breasts to either side. The bottoms of her breasts were exposed with the dress clinging on them.
"……!!" His eyes were fixated on the flattened round white flesh. …Just how soft are they? His boiled desire and curiosity tempted his fingertips.
When the tip of his middle finger touched the skin of her breast, Stella's body shivered. She clenched her eyes closed and clamped her lips tightly together as if to stop from crying out. But she did not resist. So he took it as a good thing. He slightly put more strength to the pulp of his finger. Then, his finger sunk into the soft flesh without resistance. The sensation of the opposite sex that his body never felt before caused a shiver ran up his spine. Next, Ikki's index finger accompanied his middle finger on her breast. He ran his fingers against the line of the bottom of her flattened breast and they slipped into the gap.
"Hyu!"
The underside of her breast was touched. The sensation she felt for the first time made Stella's ruby eyes opened with bewilderment. But she did not make any objection. So Ikki did not stop. He gently slid his fingers in further. Her skin was utterly smooth. Her breast that his fingers were on was so soft as if melting and had a considerable weight. They were warm. His fingers felt like they would melt.
"~~~~~~!!! aah…!"
Stella's body showed a small reaction from having her breast stroked from underneath. An adorable voice leaked out of her moist lips. He wanted to hear more of them. So he turned his finger under her breast and curled it to gently lift it up. In an instant,
"…k, kuu!!"
Stella's entire body heaved, and at the same time the final button of her dress popped off. Then, her breasts that were pushed down bounced off like jelly and her dress opened wide from the impact. But not everything was revealed. The dress that was split to both sides had stopped at the peaks of her breasts. Yes, it got stuck. Barely though. Therefore, although he could not see the peaks, the surrounding parts which were half of her white breasts had been exposed, and their color became more different closer to the peaks.
---It's okay to bite.
Ikki then suddenly remembered the words Stella said a while ago in a similar situation. Yes. That's right. She definitely said something like that before. --In other words, he had her promise. It was already allowed. So there was no need to hold back. Let's bite.
"W-Wait..!"
He wouldn't wait… because Stella said this was okay. He definitely wouldn't wait. As Ikki was about to strip off the clothing stuck on the peaks of her breasts,
"…This is so embarrassing that… it feels like my chest… is going to break…!"
He stopped his movements at her nice voice which was almost a scream she was holding off. He turned his gaze from Stella's breasts to her face, and tears welled up in her wet scarlet eyes as she was breathing shallowly. The amount was not as much as overflowing tears, but her bottom eyelashes were wet, and the feelings included…was fear. Although she said it was okay, as expected scary things were scary. Thinking about it, Stella must have always worked hard before today as well. She gathered her courage and showed him that she was a woman. To be stronger, to be closer, so that they can make love with one another.
Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that? She really had been waiting for him this whole time. Thinking of that devotion, the forceful emotion known as lust that warmed his entire body had faded away. What boiled up instead was love that could even make them feel uneasy. He wanted to treat this girl gently. He didn't want her to have a scary memory of this day that she had always been waiting for. So,
"Stella…."
Ikki took his hand away from her dress and leaned forward, joining his lips together with Stella's lips. It was not a sexual kiss like biting, but a kiss that exchanged each other's moisture like the ones he always did with Stella.
He repeated it several times, and stiffness from Stella's body faded away. The sensation from the usual kiss seemed to reassure her. But-- that was not good. Because today they were not leaving things at the same place. So Ikki…made the kiss deeper.
He slipped his tongue between Stella's lips and invaded her mouth. Stella's body bounced at the sudden sensual stimulation. But this kind of deep kiss wasn't their first. Stella also didn't show any fear. She immediately moved her tongue as well, as if welcoming Ikki's tongue. Just as usual. But… this was the end of the usual.
Stella eventually realized. While the action itself was the usual, the amount of time was different. If it was the usual they would have let go of their lips by now, but Ikki wouldn't stop. He wouldn't let go of her lips. He wouldn't let her escape. His tongue crawled into her reasoning, melting it away as if it was candy. He was persistently melting her down.
The wet sounds of their kissing can be heard in the infirmary at night. Their salivas were bubbling from being mixed together, and overflowing from their lips. But, Ikki would not allow them to spill like that. He lift Stella's chin up and poured all of them down into her throat. Stella swallowed the melted fluids of their passion. The burning passion warmed the tissues inside Stella's throat.
Then at the same time, Ikki slid and crawled his fingers from Stella's knee into between her thighs. However, he never touched her crotch. He was uncertain of whether or not he should touch it, but he was stimulated into tracing along the lines between her thighs. His fingers moved slowly starting from near the knees and towards the crotch, back and forth repeatedly. And when his fingers finally reached near the edge of her underwear, Ikki could feel from his fingertips that her thighs starting to twitch. Looking into her eyes he could see that the fear had already begun to melt into passion which made even her vision to become unclear. Her body was hot from the inner and outer stimulations, and flushed cherry blossom pink. Sweats along with sweet scent indicating Stella was strongly aroused were released. It was proof that her heart and body were ready.
"Are you okay now?"
"…….Yeah…."
"If you're scared then just tell me. I will do this as many times until your feelings have calmed."
"……I'm… okay."
It seemed she had no strength. Stella made a smile that looked like she was melting. Her gaze was soft from dizziness, but even so it held Ikki in place and would not let him go. Her braveness was so lovely that Ikki gently kissed Stella three more times. --Then, when their lips separated, he placed a hand on her shoulder,
And took her clothes off.
Under the moonlight, her naked body, flushed in faintly cherry blossom pink, was revealed. The delicate line of her neck. Her slender, feminine arms. And, the part of her that seemed the most contrasting - her breasts that largely jiggled but remained attached to her body, and the cherry blossom pink nipples that became exposed and slightly jiggled from the stimulation of her clothes being removed. At such beauty, Ikki forgot to breathe.
"You're so beautiful…."
His mind was so overwhelmed that only such common words could come out. Even right now he wanted to hold on to her. Half of his body, inside his pants had already become painfully excited. But even so, Ikki had to restrain himself. Even if he forgot to breathe, he would not forget to care for Stella. He held his ground, and proceeded to make final confirmation.
He scooped up some of the saliva on her collar bone that had dripped down from her mouth with his finger and smeared it on her right nipple. He rubbed it with the pulp of his finger. Then,
"Aahh…nnn…." For the first time, a clear flirtatious voice came out of Stella's mouth.
When he moved his fingers away, he could see that the shape of her nipple was clearly different from the one on her left breast. Her left breast had no hand on it, and her right breast was swollen and wet with saliva. That sensational difference hit Ikki's reasoning hard.
--It was agonizing. His breathing was out of order. His forehead hurt. Honestly, it was too painful to endure any longer.
--But, was it okay now? Was it really okay to go further now? He had no experience after all. He had no idea because he had no experience. Though Stella said that it was okay, he wondered if would hurt her if he began now. As Ikki was worrying about it,
--Stella reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then, she spoked as she smiled.
"Thank you… for being so gentle with me. It really is okay now."
Thus, he didn't have to endure anymore. "Ikki, you can do what you want to me, all of them…"
Those words were the trigger. He didn't hesitate anymore. He wouldn't turn back. Under the moonlight, two shadows melted together, overlapping with passion. How much was his, and how much was hers? They embraced each other strongly and deeply that it was not clear anymore. Their voices no longer carried any meaning and their lips were desperately seeking their beloved partner. In the midst of it, Ikki Kurogane… vowed to himself.
I won't let this girl be unhappy.
He would never let her regret choosing the man named Ikki Kurogane. He strongly vowed on his own soul.
The sounds of birds chirping from somewhere could be heard. As if being invited by them, Ikki woke up from his slumber. The morning light shined on his opened eyes. The sky on that day was displayed on the window, and it was perfectly clear that it would make anyone feel good. It was a wonderful morning.
…And yet his body felt completely heavy. He felt like he was sunken into the bed so firmly that it seemed impossible to move. At the same time his consciousness was the same, which his eyes received the morning sun but he was far from having completely woken up. That was not good, and so in order to lead his mind and body to awakening, Ikki took a single breath. Then… a sweet, floral scent tickled his nostrils. Ikki knew that smell. He turned his head to the side, and as if it was natural she was there. Stella's appearance was that her white body was covered in sheets up to her shoulders, and she showed a gentle smile. When their eyes met, Stella's scarlet eyes became squinted from shyness.
"Good morning, dear."
"Ehehe, I had wanted to try saying that once."
That one word made his heart jump and his face flush. The expression of special love that Stella spoke of. The moment he heard that, any sleepiness was blown away and Ikki remembered it. Everything that happened here last night.
(I-I see, of course my body would feel heavy….). He understood everything now, and looked over at the plastic debris. (I can't believe we actually used them all..!)
He wondered what had happened to their fear and nervousness from before. It all happened after the first one was over - Stella was strangely turned on. Once she was in a mount position, it went out of control. Well, one way or the other he also felt ecstatic so it seemed Stella wasn't the only one turned on. ….Even so, there should have been a limit. He never thought of cursing his self-control that had kept going since the school opening ceremony. Since it was this excessive, he wouldn't be able to move normally the next day.
(We'll need to be more careful next time…)
It was a mistake for him not to consider about Stella's trained body. As Ikki was cautioning himself, he asked Stella, who seemed to have sustained actual damage more than himself.
"Is your body okay?"
"It still quite hurts. It might be hard to walk without feeling the pain. Ikki, you're surprisingly a brute. Doing those things to a girl during her first time.
"But I shouldn't be the only one to be blamed for that, right? I'm sure of it"
"W-Well… that's true."
She probably thought she overdid it too. She averted her eyes that looked embarrassed.
"Couldn't you heal it with your dragon regeneration?"
"I could, but… I want to stay like this for a while."
Her reply made him tilted his head. If she could heal it, then she really should. Ikki would feel guilty about her always feeling pain, but--
"After all, this is proof of being loved by Ikki."
Being told such things with such face filled with happiness made him speechless. Even though they made love to each other so much last night, she was so lovely that it hurt him.
--What a cruel woman.
He had to control himself. He shouldn't get drowned in it. Even as he decided this, he knew that he needed to do the same thing she strongly did to him. By any means, he needed to express this love or else he wouldn't feel good. He wouldn't feel good if he didn't let her know how much he loved her. With that in his mind, Ikki's hand naturally reached Stella's cheek. Stella didn't resist. She could feel Ikki's feelings being transmitted to her from the heat on the palm of his hand, closed her eyes, and moved her lips slightly forward. As if being drawn in by those lips, Ikki moved his face closer and his lips….,
It was when their lips were about to meet.
"Onii-sama. Stellsan. Are you awake already?" During the knock, Shizuku's voice from outside the door was heard.
"HYU!?!?"
In that very sudden situation, they both let out a weird scream. And unfortunately it was heard by Shizuku and Arisuin outside.
"It seems that you are awake."
(I-Ikki! Hurry and go to the other bed!)
(Ah, Stella's robe is…)
(There's no time to put it on! Pick it up and hide it! I'm hiding the trashes on the bed after all!)
(Okay, I get it..!)
Ikki grabbed the fallen robe from under the bed, jumped into the other bed, and hid it under the sheets. In that same moment the door to the infirmary opened, and Shizuku and Arisuin entered.
"Good morning, Onii-sama, Stellsan."
"Did you two sleep well? ….Oh?" Arisuin stopped as soon as he came into the room though. "Hmmm. Aaah. I see…."
His mouth made a somewhat meaningful smile. At his expression that looked like he had guessed everything, Stella began to sweat rapidly.
"W-W-W-W-What are you grinning for, Alice?!"
"Hmmm? No reason. I was just thinking you two had so much fun last night."
"W-W-W-W-W-We didn't do anything!!"
Shizuku managed to slip in the words "What do you mean?" during Stella's objection.
"Even though it seemed you two had fun fighting each other."
"Oh, …y-you meant that."
"That?"
"N-Nothing!"
(Stella… your behavior is too suspicious.)
It was not good at this rate. Thinking that, Ikki addressed Shizuku to draw her attention away from Stella.
"Shizuku, thank you for going to the trouble of coming to wake us."
"No, there is no need to thank me for something this much. …Actually I would like Onii-sama who did his best to rest at ease more, but considering the time of the award ceremony I thought it was probably better to have breakfast soon."
"Y-Yeah. Well then, I need to be ready by getting dressed, so could you wait outside?" He somehow managed to maintain his expression even though he felt pain and guilt while his little sister was being concerned for his entire body. Ikki suggested Shizuku to leave and she did not have any problem with it.
"I understand. I will wait outside then. Let's go, Alice." She said that as she turned back. --With this, now they could…
"By the way, Stellsan. It's been bugging me for a while, but what is 'that rubber ballon-like thing' that fell under your bed?
"EH!?!? No way! I should have picked up all of them----ah!"
Stella peeked under her bed and there was nothing. But the careless words that came out of her mouth had provided enough detail for confirmation.
"Stella…."
"Uh-oh~"
While the males gave despairing sighs, the girls' faces grew pale. One was going pale from panic, while the other went into a rage that made her pale.
"I see. I see…. As I expected, it was that, huh. I thought something was weird about you two …"
Shizuku made a smile that only reached her mouth but her eyes glowed with green demonic fire, even as the temperature in the room all around her fell below freezing temperature. With cracking sounds, frost spread across the glass windows of the room, despite it being midsummer.
"Sh-Shizuku…. Uh-uhm… this is…..well-". During it, Stella tried to somehow reason with her much though,
"Oh, no no. It's fine if you don't finish, really. Basically it's that, right? Last night, after having faced Onii-sama in an earnest contest, when Stellsan seriously thought about how she intended to express her intent to reward him, the two of you must have been 'Dragon Fang-ing the Ittou Shura of the Night'-"
"H, hey?! I think we can find a better time to tell you about this properly…"
"Any last request?"
"No-"
"I see. So last requests are not needed."
From the start, there was nothing they could say to persuade Shizuku once she was on fire. In the next moment, the green magic light coming out of Shizuku blown away all the windows.
"Well then, right now, DIEEEEEEEE!!!!"
"KYAAAAA!"
"Wai-, Shizuku, Calm dow-"
"SHAAA - - - -"
"Yikes, sorry it was nothing!"
"IKKI- -! Why did you move back there- - - -!
"It's, not, my problem"
"MUSHAAA - - - - - - - -"
And so a bloody blizzard devastated the infirmary.
At long last the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival came to an end.
"From among the 32 people selected from the eight schools of Japan, only one has made it to the top. All of those matches ended with yesterday's final match. The 26 matches were carried out intensely. They were magnificent and I remember every detail of them."
The head of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival's steering committee Kaieda Yuuzou made a speech at the venue where the excitement from yesterday had not yet cooled down. Everyone's eyes were not at Kaieda, but were at the curve-shaped podium in front of him. To be precise, at the place where the competitors would go up to. They were eagerly waiting, for the appearance of the ones who would be crowned as the victors, the leading actors of this tournament. Shinomiya Amane who was one of the two who were at third place had committed a bad foul play by continuing to attack even after the match ended, and Kurogane Ouma who automatically won third place had left yesterday for Osaka. They were not at this place, but the remaining two, Kurogane Ikki and Stella Vermillion, were in the waiting room.
"G-Good grief, haa, haa! Stupid Shizuku, she went too serious! Anyone else other than me would have died, really…!"
"Are you okay, Stella?" Ikki stroked the back of Stella who was slumping in her folding chair and gasping for breath. Stella had kept being chased around by Shizuku until just now.
"Honestly, I managed to get away from her just now but I'm really scared of later."
"Next time I'll explain to her too." But at these words, Stella adjusted her breathing after taking a deep breath and,
"No, it's fine", she refuted back.
"Why?"
"Making Shizuku understand is my responsibility."
"That's not true, this is our-" But at Ikki's words, Stella shook her head sideways.
"Sorry. I know that. I know, but I want to do this alone." Stella had made up her mind long ago. It was natural. Because she was the girl who loved Ikki that much, she was taking him away. This was something she had to finish on her own.
"If it's not like that, I won't be able to face Shizuku with pride. I can't let you help this time."
Ikki showed his understanding at Stella's words. It was very much like a girl's responsibility. Ikki just couldn't help but loving this part of her. And so, Ikki encouraged Stella who was being like this. "…Okay. Good luck."
"Why are you saying like it doesn't involve you?"
"Eh?" Ikki obviously felt confused at her reply because a moment ago she said she would do it alone. But Stella had a good reason for saying that it involved him too.
"Don't you remember? You were told after the match with Touksan, right? What my father said."
"……..ah".
After being told that, Ikki remembered too now. The scandal that had erupted around Stella and the ethics committee's rampage. At the end of that incident, the King of Vermillion, Stella's father, had sent a message to him through Stella, "After the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival is over, come and meet me at the Vermillion Empire."
"R-right, that happened…." It certainly involved him. It would be right to say it was a do-or-die situation for him.
"Speaking of which, I already booked a flight for a week from now."
"Eeeeeh?!?!"
"It was already decided from the start, right?"
"W-Well yeah, but.. my…my heart isn't ready! Can't we at least postpone for a week?"
"If the country's army can hold out another week, then it's fine."
Did that mean that a war would break out if we don't go within a week?!
"Don't tell me, I may be the second princess, but you're not going to run away after you deflowered a nation's princess, are you~?"
"Uu…."
"My father is just as scary as Shizuku, you know~. Good luck, d~e~a~r ♥."
There was no getting out of this completely. There was no other way but to accept this.
"I…. I'll do my best…." Ikki nodded as he felt cold sweat breaking out all across his body,
"And now we will carry out the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Festival's awards ceremony. Everyone here, please give a round of applause to the winners!"
Just as their talk had reached a resting-place, Kaieda was calling them out. During this Stella rose from her chair as if leaping out of it and turned to face Ikki,
"Well then, let's go, Ikki", she said and reached out a hand to him. The winner and the runner-up would be awarded separately. So, at least she wanted to be welcomed together when entering.
"….Okay." Understanding Stella's feelings, he took her hand. Then, they made their entry from the same gate while holding hands. Instantly --
"WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
After they had just waited, round of applauses and cheers rained on the two.
"Ikki-kun! Congratulations!!"
"Ahh! Look! They're holding hands!"
"Woohoo! You two look great together!"
"Your highness Stella! You will get your revenge next year for sure- - - -!"
"You two were really amazing- - - -!"
As they were being welcomed, the two were walking down the aisle towards the stage while holding hands. Eventually, the two stood on the stage with Kaeida, and the voices of the tens of thousands of people soon became smaller and quiet, creating formal silence in the end. After waiting for the silence, Kaieda announced the name of this tournament's runner-up.
"Hagun Academy, first year, Stella Vermillion."
"Yes". Stella, whose name was called, let go of Ikki's hand and walked towards Kaieda.
"In the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Festival, you left behind brilliant achievements and reached second place. For that, I hereby award you this. …Congratulations."
Stella took the certificate Kaieda presented in both of her hands and bowed. She then turned back and bowed to the audience. The audience returned the favor with huge applause without any words. During the applause, Stella faced the winners' podium and stood on the second highest place. ---While very dignified, it was done masterfully. As expected, she was used to being on stage. Then as silence descended upon the ceremony once again,
"Hagun Academy, first year, Kurogane Ikki." It was finally Ikki's turn.
"Yes!" During the silence, he replied with a clear good voice and walked forward. Though he was not used to being on stage like Stella, he had good posture. His appearance was dignified and powerful, which was as good and didn't lose to Stella's. Once Ikki stood before him, Kaieda awarded him.
"In the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Festival, you stood on the top after winning through fierce battles. For such accomplishments, I hereby award you this certificate and the title of 'Seven Star Sword King'. ….Congratulations."
Along with the certificate was the title of the strongest student knight in this country. …It was what Ikki had always continuously aimed for. In a moment, various thoughts were recurring in Ikki's mind. Meeting Kurogane Ryouma. The days of training since then. The memories of entering dojos and the taste of blood from being almost killed many times. Being continuously held back for a year at Hagun Academy. Then, his chance meeting with his most beloved girl - Right now, a resolution to those days had been formed. The path of carnage he walked through was never wrong.
"Thank you." With many thoughts filling him, he accepted the certificate. But there was no applause. Everyone in attendance knew after all, that the winner still had something left to do.
"Kurogane."
Shinguuji Kurono, the chairman of Hagun Academy, was waiting beside Kaieda and she handed something over to Ikki in order for him to fulfill his duty. It was what Todou Touka entrusted him with as the representative leader of his school - Hagun Academy's school flag. What should he do with Kurono's alma mater's flag? Ikki of course understood even without being told. It was what he had promised. He entrusted his certificate to Kurono and received the school flag in exchange. He then stood next to Stella, on the top of the winners' podium… the summit of the Seven Stars, and raised the flag high towards the sky. —-Immediately after,
It was as if the applause was pouring down on him like waterfall and the cheers splashing over his whole body.
"Kurogane-kun, you're the best- -!"
"All hail the new Seven Stars Sword King!"
"Next year, I will be cheering you again- - - -!
"You looked cool! Ikki-kun!"
It wasn't just from the audience seats. The cheers were also coming from outside the venue. They were also blessings that came from tens of thousands of people he didn't even know. And of course, they weren't just from people he didn't know. Those who Ikki knew also gave their blessings to him who was standing on the top.
"You're looking good now-!"
"Hmph."
Arisuin waving his hand, and Shizuku applauding mildly beside him with her cheeks puffed out like a hamster that had too much to eat.
"Kurogane-kun, congratulations!"
"…….Hmph."
Kurashiki Kuraudo who diligently came to this place and standing with his arms crossed as if bored, and also Ayatsuji Ayase who wanted to attend the awards ceremony for the person she was indebted to by forcing herself as someone associated with Kuraudo.
"Thank you! Kurogane-kun!"
"As expected of the man who defeated me, Runner's High!"
The student council members who had done their best to protect everyone during the Akatsuki attack. And-
"Yo, Kurogane! I won't lose next year so be prepared-!"
"Are you planning to fail a year, Yuu..?"
"Ah…. you're right. I won't be here next year. What should I do…"
"Even if you were here what were you planning to do?"
The rivals he competed with for the top, on the stage of this Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.
Accepting their blessings, Ikki had made a decision. --Become strong. So that he would not be ashamed of the blessings and the 'Seven Stars Sword King' title he received. More than now, always from now on. Then--
With these celebrations, the final program of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival came to an end. Kaieda then began to speak towards everyone present.
"Well then…I now announce the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Art Festival to be o-". However, it happened during that time.
"""HOLD IT RIGHT THEREEEEEEE!!!!"""
In an instant, dozens of voices belonging to the same girl, overlapping each other, had echoed throughout the venue, and dozens of people's forms jumped over the fence and rushed towards the ring. Everyone in the venue was shocked at the sight. It was because it was so sudden, but more than that it was because the dozens of intruders were girls that had the same face.
"W-What?!"
"The same person, that many!?"
Of course, the adults immediately responded to this situation. In order to calm the situation down, they were trying to catch them. But just as the girls were captured by the adults, they disappeared like smoke one by one. It was a Noble Art that created clones of herself. The girls split herself up and broke through the adults' line of defense. She slipped into the front of the podium where Ikki and Stella were standing. The two became dumbfounded at the face of the intruder. But that was expected. After all, the one who intruded was,
"You..!"
"Kusakabe-san?!"
She was their classmate and friend. Kusakabe Kagami of the Hagun Academy's Newspaper Club. Just what is her intention? They were going to ask, but before they could Kagami had already brought out a camera in her hand.
"Stellchan! Get beside Senpai! It's no good if you stay in that place!"
"…….!!" Stella and Ikki understood what those words meant in no time.
"Stella!"
"Okay..!"
As Kagami aimed the camera lens towards them, Stella's face that was dignified until now had turned into a smiling face like a blooming flower. She jumped onto the top of the podium where Ikki was standing. Ikki caught Stella without staggering and supported her body.
Kurogane Ikki's chivalry would continue from now on. He would walk beside his irreplaceable and most beloved rival. At the appearance of the two standing as equals, everyone in the venue gained an understanding as if the final piece of a puzzle got into place, thinking 'Ah, I see'.
It was the conclusion of the battle. Even if the outcome was difficult to shake and remained as a record, these two should be together like this. From now on, always. --Forever.
"Okay! Cheese!"
Author: Jason_WanderHello I am a 20ish working guy who enjoys reading,Video Games, Hunting,target shooting and many other outdoor and nerd activities. I am currently working on learning Japanese so that I can read both Novels/Manga I am interested in and to also help translate for others to enjoy. A way of giving back since I have enjoyed the labors of so many other translators.