Could You Mean Me?

"Thank you so very much, Amagiri-senpai."

Behind the stage, Kiririn Ditou was thanking Ayato Amagiri.

"Thank you for agreeing to such an unreasonable request."

Having said that, Kiririn Ditou bowed politely to Ayato Amagiri.

"You don't need to go that far, Ditou-san." Ayato Amagiri hurriedly said, "I didn't expect you to make such a request, but I don't think it's unreasonable."

"I-Is that so?" Kiririn Ditou said timidly. "B-But I suddenly asked you for a match... You must have found that troublesome, right?"

"I was confused, but not troubled to that extent." Ayato Amagiri shook his head with a wry smile. "It's just that I don't know why Ditou-san suddenly wanted to challenge me."

It was not Kiririn Ditou who answered that question.

"Didn't you defeat Kiririn during the Phoenix Star Martial Festival? It wouldn't be strange for Kiririn to seek revenge against you, would it?"

The one who said this was a girl walking toward them.

She had long, vividly colored hair like flower petals, and her entire bearing carried an air of sternness and seriousness as she approached.

At the sight of the girl, Ayato Amagiri let out a surprised sound.

"Lisfeld-san?"

Her full name was Julius-Alexia von Lisfeld.

She was the First Princess of the Kingdom of Lizantania, Kiririn Ditou's partner during the Phoenix Star Martial Festival, and the fifth-ranked student of Star Guidance Academy—the Blazing Flame Witch.

"After the Phoenix Star Martial Festival, you really seem to have become much stronger. Compared to when you fought us before, it's like you became a different person." Julius stared intently at Ayato Amagiri and said aggressively, "Since then, Kiririn has always wanted to fight you again. She was just too timid to bring it up."

"Ah..." Kiririn Ditou immediately lowered her head in embarrassment.

"So that's how it