Be My Partner

"Duel concluded."

"Winner: Azer."

When the mechanical announcement of victory and defeat echoed loudly above the entire stage, no one present could react at first.

"...Huh?"

Toudou Kirin stood there blankly, her face full of confusion, unable to make her next move for a long time.

"...She lost?"

"Gale Blade Lightning... lost?"

"No way..."

Many spectators seemed unable to accept such an abrupt result, staring at one another in disbelief.

Under those circumstances, Azer recalled the Black Furnace Magic Sword and returned it to its Activation Device form as he spoke.

"That means I've fulfilled what I promised, right?"

Only then did Toudou Kirin snap out of her daze.

"I see..."

Looking at the boy before her, Toudou Kirin revealed a wry smile.

"At that final moment, you didn't use Hot Wind to accelerate yourself again, did you, Senior?"

That was why Toudou Kirin, who had not felt any heat, had been unable to react in time.

"Couldn't be helped." Azer shrugged. "Since I knew the Hot Wind surrounding me would be noticed first whenever I got close to my opponent, continuing to use it like that would only waste Star Power."

"It would be one thing against someone on Arctite Vanken's level, but against an opponent like you, with such keen senses and exceptional reflexes, it becomes an impossible flaw to conceal."

"I should thank you for making me realize the problem with that move."

If not for Toudou Kirin, Azer truly would not have noticed that using Hot Wind for acceleration had such a major flaw.

Thus, Azer's gratitude was entirely sincere.

Toudou Kirin, seeing that, could only smile wryly. Before long, however, the girl showed an expression of relief.

"Congratulations on becoming Seidoukan Academy's Ranked First, Senior."

Though she had lost, though everything she had done before had become pointless, Toudou Kirin was surprised to find that she was not sad in the slightest. Instead, she felt as though she had been freed from an invisible restraint.

Thanks to that, Toudou Kirin's expression became much more relaxed.

Then—

"—That's right. That expression."

Azer suddenly said those words.

"What?"

Toudou Kirin could not help but freeze.

Azer smiled suddenly and said slowly, "The expression you have now is far better than the one you wore when I first met you."

Hearing that, the scene of their first meeting immediately flashed through Toudou Kirin's mind.

Back then, her expression must have been very heavy, very unpleasant, for Senior to say something like that, right?

"That kind of heavy expression really doesn't suit you. It was also rather hard to watch." Azer stared at Toudou Kirin. "Especially when I know exactly what you've been carrying."

As someone familiar with the original story, Azer had known from the very beginning what Toudou Kirin bore on her shoulders.

Therefore, when he saw this young girl before him wearing such a heavy expression, pretending he had seen nothing became impossible.

She had won the duel, yet she was not happy in the least.

She was clearly the academy's Ranked First, yet she could not feel pride or joy from the bottom of her heart.

Thinking of all that, Azer had said those things just as they were about to part ways.

Was it sympathy? Or pity?

Azer did not know, nor did he wish to think so deeply about it.

In any case, he had wanted to test the strength of the academy's strongest fighter. He wanted to stand on the world's greatest stage and make this life as exciting as possible. Challenging Toudou Kirin had simply been inevitable sooner or later, regardless of whether this had happened.

That was why Azer had spoken those words without hesitation.

"Seeing your expression now has put me at ease as well." Azer smiled. "So I should congratulate you too, Toudou."

At those words, a glimmer of tears appeared in Toudou Kirin's eyes.

She did not know how to describe how she felt at that moment.

"Senior, I..."

Just as Toudou Kirin was about to say something, Azer interrupted her.

"Next, I'm formally inviting you."

Before everyone present, on Seidoukan Academy's greatest competitive stage, Azer directed his gaze straight at the girl before him.

"Be my partner, Toudou Kirin."

Those words did not merely leave Toudou Kirin stunned. Every spectator present froze as well.

Once they recovered and realized what Azer was doing, nearly everyone widened their eyes.

"Partner...?"

Toudou Kirin was both flustered and incredulous.

If she had not misunderstood, what Azer was doing now was...?

"That's right. Just as you think."

As though he had seen through Toudou Kirin's thoughts, Azer confirmed it.

"This season's Star Martial Festival is about to officially begin. In about a month, the Phoenix Star Martial Festival, held in the summer of the first year, will arrive as scheduled."

"I intend to participate in this Phoenix Star Martial Festival."

"For that, I need a partner."

The Phoenix Star Martial Festival was a partner competition for teams of two.

To participate—or rather, to register—the foremost requirement was forming a two-person team.

Azer wanted to make this life as exciting as possible, so there was no way he could miss the Phoenix Star Martial Festival.

The reason he had approached Toudou Kirin in the first place was because he had intended to invite her to form a two-person team.

"You want to save your father, don't you?" Azer earnestly said to the stunned Toudou Kirin. "Then forming a team with me and winning the Phoenix Star Martial Festival would be the fastest way to fulfill that wish, wouldn't it?"

As long as someone won any Star Martial Festival, the victor could make a wish to the Six Integrated Enterprise Foundations and have them assist in fulfilling it.

Given the Integrated Enterprise Foundations' position as virtual rulers of the world, having them help Toudou Kirin rescue her father from prison would be effortless.

Of course, that was only if they won.

"I know it won't be easy."

Though he said that, Azer wore a fearless smile.

"But I think that with our strength, if we join forces, we should be capable of making it happen. Don't you?"

One was Seidoukan Academy's current Ranked First.

The other had just defeated her and was about to become the next Ranked First.

There was no need to elaborate on how powerful a duo formed by these two would be.

"Will you?"

Azer extended his hand toward Toudou Kirin.

At that sight, everyone in the arena held their breath, watching the scene with excitement.

"Don't agree, Kirin...!"

Faintly, from somewhere in a corner of the spectator stands, someone seemed to cry out anxiously.

Unfortunately, no one paid him any attention, including Toudou Kirin.

The girl looked at the hand extended before her, her expression timid.

It was not as though she had never considered participating in the Star Martial Festival.

Just as Azer had said, because of the Integrated Enterprise Foundations' promise, for any Star Vein Generation old enough to participate in the Star Martial Festival, if they had a wish that absolutely had to be fulfilled, then finding a way to win the Star Martial Festival was the quickest means of making that wish come true.

Toudou Kirin had once considered entering the Star Martial Festival, claiming victory, and then wishing to the Integrated Enterprise Foundations that they release her father.

But she knew that with her own abilities, winning the Star Martial Festival would not be easy.

This was a competition where students from all six academies competed on the same stage!

Even if she was Seidoukan Academy's Ranked First, the other academies also had their own Ranked Firsts, did they not?

Competing against those people, Toudou Kirin did not dare guarantee that she could emerge victorious.

That was why she could only obey her uncle.

But now...

"If it's with Senior..."

A surging emotion erupted within the girl's heart.

By the time she came to her senses, she found that she had slowly extended her hand.

Then, cautiously, she placed it in Azer's.

"OOOOOOOOOOOH...!"

At last, a belated cheer erupted throughout the Comprehensive Arena.

This day was destined to cause a sensation.