「I’ve heard about it. Well then, come fight with me」
Those eyes closely resembled a ones of a carnivorous beast eyeing its prey. He was completely receiving unjustified resentment, and Harold also didn’t want to take him on looking at his behavior, but still Harold convinced himself that it was for the sake of gaining precious real battle experience.
「Don’t touch me acting all familiar, you small fry」
「You’re more than motivated, huh. Then, prepare immediately」
Looking at Harold who came out after changing his outfit, Tasuku, Itsuki and many people sitting in the spectator seats of the 2nd floor gasped. Although the boy who was only 140 cm tall was wearing a clean, brand new dougi, no innocence could be felt from his behavior. Harold was emitting an intimidating pressure which pricked one’s skin.
「Is this the weapon?」
「It’s as though it’s a stick」
「Well then, are you ready?」
「Don’t ask foolish questions. Let’s start already」
(I don’t feel like losing)
「Weapon is the shinai. Including the head and face, attack to the vitals, and also usage of magic is prohibited. No time limit. The match will conclude when any one of you is unable to fight or gives up. With the exception of these, it’s equal to real combat. Are there any problems with the rules?」
「None」
「Are you saying that this is equal to actual combat? It’s considerably lax」
「Although you’re dissatisfied, no matter what I want to avoid any large injuries. Unless you put armor, it has to be at least this much」
「……….Well fine. For today, those conditions will do」
「I’ll leave the first hit to you. Give it your all」
「……..」
Towards Itsuki’s attitude which could even be called complacent, Harold unexpectedly didn’t respond. It was just to the extent of raising his right eyebrow by a little. Maybe it was because he was calm enough to accept it as worthless behavior, or maybe because of quite anger which suppressed his irritation.
「Both parties, take your stance………..Start!」
「!?」
「If this were a real death match, you would have already been dead. Aren’t you glad, that I wasn’t serious」
「…….Right, it’s like you’ve said. I apologize for underestimating you」
(Even he was searching for a rival with whom he can compete with his all, huh? Like me)
「And this time, I want to request from my side. Please, fight with me for real」
「Are you an idiot. From the start, this contest was for the sake of doing that」
「………..Ah, that’s right, huh」
「If you still want to fight, hurry up and pick up your weapon. If it’s just that much, I’ll wait」
「Thanks. But I’ll take the first move next, alright?」
「Fuhn, try it. If you can keep up to my speed that is」
「I’ll show it to you」
『We know』
「Here I come!」
Itsuki’s conjecture hit bull’s-eye. He instantly predicted where Harold’s destination would be, and the slash he fired off at the empty space became a counter that attacked Harold who appeared there.
「Tsk!」
「What’s wrong? You have just been defending」
「Your breathing is getting ragged and seems to painful」
「That could be said for the both of us」
(Got you!)
「Eh?」
「Guu!」
「That’s it!」
But different to that, the feeling of fulfillment which he couldn’t obtain until now was satisfied. I finally obtained the thing I’ve always wanted- he was experiencing a floating feeling like that.
(So this is the thing where we mutually cultivate each other, a rival, huh. Although I lost, it doesn’t feel bad)
Let alone feeling bad, he was even feeling refreshed.
「Aah, I’m tired. Can you lend me a hand?」
「I don’t remember knocking you down so hard that you wouldn’t be able to stand. Due to sheltered upbringing, your endurance isn’t enough」
Towards Harold who extended his hand even while being cynical, Itsuki smiled.
「I’ll retrain from the basics. That’s why let’s have a rematch again」
「Fuhn, I won’t lose to you again. I’ll repay this debt for sure」
「What do you……….」
Harold was speaking as though Itsuki had won. When he saw that Itsuki didn’t understand, Harold muttered 「Idiot」 and replied with displeasure.
「To think that you were a bird brain who didn’t even sufficiently grasp the rules of the match. It was stated beforehand that the “weapons are shinai”. Do you think that the last attack, the palm strike, which knocked you down was an attack from the shinai?」
「………」
Except for Harold who had won.
「Ku, haha…….」
「What’s so funny?」
「No, I just thought that you are strong」
「Is that sarcasm, you bastard. I’ll rip that tongue off」
「Don’t say such a scary thing」
(Well well, it seems as though we’ve exchanged places. Harold-kun might have the charm to draw people)
(Harold-kun is a rival and my brother-in-law, huh………Such a future might not be bad)
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