Chapter 25

A light gray three-piece suit fit Ikki's well-trained physique perfectly, complementing his temperament and build.

"Does it really suit me?" Ikki, who rarely wore suits, looked at himself with a hint of doubt.

Arisugawa smiled and clapped his hands, "It suits you! It suits you very well! It completely accentuates your figure, Ikki."

"Is that so?" Ikki looked at Arisugawa, who was also wearing a suit.

His slender build, elegant demeanor, and handsome features made Alice look like a host.

"By the way, where's Miohua?" Ikki glanced around the room.

"Are you looking for me?"

The bathroom door opened, and Luo Mio stepped out.

Arisugawa's eyes lit up when he saw Luo Mio, and he clapped his hands.

"You look perfect, Miohua!"

He wore a dark blue shirt with a light blue tie, a white tuxedo jacket over it, light gray trousers with a white belt, and had removed his red-framed glasses, his hair styled in a gray ponytail as usual.

Ikki looked at Luo Mio and praised, "You look great, Miohua."

Upon hearing Ikki's compliment, Luo Mio rolled his eyes and said narcissistically, "Who do you think I am?"

System: Your teacher's avatar is handsome, what's it to you?

Luo Mio: ...

Luo Mio: I asked you a question and you didn't answer, but you're quick to insult me, aren't you?

System: You gonna do something about it if you're not happy?

Luo Mio: ...

Fine, I'll remember this. Just you wait.

"Ring ring ring..."

Arisugawa's Student Handbook rang.

"Shizuku wants us to hurry," Arisugawa said to Luo Mio and Ikki, putting away his Student Handbook.

"Welcome to the banquet, Mr. Todou, Mr. Arisugawa, Mr. Kurogane."

At the entrance of the banquet, a beautiful hostess bowed slightly to Luo Mio and the other two.

"This is your proof of entry, please keep it safe."

The hostess handed each of them a business card.

Each card was engraved with their name, academy, and Blazer rank.

"Please take your seats now."

The hostess gestured for them to enter.

After entering the banquet hall, Luo Mio said to Arisugawa, "Hey, Alice, did you see that? The hostess was flirting with you just now."

As the most handsome of the three, Arisugawa had attracted the attention of many young women on the way.

Arisugawa rubbed his temples with a slight headache, "But, I'm a girl on the inside."

After hearing this, Luo Mio and Ikki instinctively took a step back.

"Hey!" Arisugawa glared at both of them.

"But the banquet venue is quite large," Luo Mio observed, looking around the hall.

The spacious banquet hall could accommodate all the participants from the seven academies.

"Ah, I see them," Luo Mio's eyes landed on a section of the hall.

Stella and Shizuku stood there in beautiful gowns, along with Touka and the student council members.

"We've kept you waiting," Luo Mio walked over and greeted everyone.

"You're late," Stella said with dissatisfaction in her eyes.

"We just arrived, Elder Brother," Shizuku said, holding Ikki's left hand with her delicate, tender hand, her eyes full of adoration. "You look very handsome, Elder Brother."

Ikki looked at the adoration in Shizuku's eyes and patted her head, "You look very beautiful too, Shizuku."

Her black vest, which didn't reflect light, had exquisite lace ruffles embroidered like petals on one side. Her low-cut gown revealed her fair and tender shoulders. Her elegant makeup harmonized with Shizuku's youthful face, making her look stunning.

And only Arisugawa could have dressed Shizuku so beautifully.

"Thank you for your compliment, Elder Brother," Shizuku replied with a ladylike curtsy.

Luo Mio, watching from the side, suddenly nudged Ikki's right side with his elbow.

As if realizing something, Ikki looked back at Stella, who seemed a bit jealous.

"Of course, Stella, you look very beautiful too."

Her exquisite and beautiful face was lightly made up, her scarlet evening gown revealed her snow-white shoulders, and her crimson hair was let down, cascading behind her. Her slender legs, clad in high heels beneath the scarlet skirt, exuded the elegance of royalty with every move, befitting her princess status.

Stella's face flushed red after hearing Ikki's praise, and she then huffed, "Of course."

"It fits you perfectly, Miohua."

Touka's voice rang out from behind Luo Mio.

Touka was wearing a pure white, backless evening gown. Her usual glasses were off, and her chestnut-colored twin braids had been let down and re-tied into a side ponytail that draped over her right chest. She was adorned with delicate lace lily patterns on her chest and wore elegant white high heels, looking like a refined, mature woman.

"You too, Sister, you look amazing!" Luo Mio exclaimed, giving Touka a thumbs-up.

"Thank you."

"It's been years, Miohua." From behind Touka, the student council vice president, Mibarai Awa, greeted Luo Mio in a black suit.

Luo Mio replied to Mibarai Awa, who he had played with since childhood and was two years his senior, "Ah, it's been a while, Brother Awa."

"Sister Kanata, it's been a while too." Luo Mio turned and greeted the beautiful, blonde woman in a ladylike gown standing beside Mibarai Awa.

Kuden'en Kanata smiled elegantly, "Yes, it's been a while, Little Mio."

Then, the other two student council members behind them, Usamaru Renren and Saishiro Rai, also came up to greet Luo Mio.

Usamaru Renren then looked at Ikki and said, "So you're the Kurogane Ikki that Touka was talking about."

"Hello, Senior Usamaru," Ikki said with a slight bow.

"If Touka hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known our academy had a student with such superb swordsmanship," Usamaru Renren said, her eyes fixed on Ikki.

Ikki scratched his head modestly, "I'm just quite accomplished in swordsmanship."

"There's no need to be so humble. I can feel that sharp sword aura emanating from you," Saishiro Rai said, waving a hand.

"Right, where are the other participating students from Hagun Academy?" Luo Mio interrupted their conversation, asking Touka and the others.

"Everyone else is further ahead," Mibarai Awa pointed towards the deeper part of the banquet hall.

"Then let's go over there."

Luo Mio and Ikki walked behind, while Touka and the others led the way.

After a short walk, they found all the participating contestants from Hagun Academy gathered in a section deeper within the banquet hall.

Not long after they entered, a discordant voice rang out.

"Oh my, isn't this Kurogane Ikki?"

Luo Mio and Ikki looked towards the source of the voice.

A boy, also dressed in a light gray outfit, greeted Ikki with a smile.

Luo Mio's eyes flickered.

This person seems to be...

Ikki stared at the boy who had approached and said, "It's been a while, Kirimura."

Kirimura Seiya... Ikki's classmate from last year.

A second-year student with a somewhat unpleasant personality, and also a participant representing Hagun Academy in last year's Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival.

"I didn't expect you to participate in this year's Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival," Kirimura Seiya said with a smile, then his lips curled into a mocking tone. "With your pathetic strength?"

"!"

"!"

Stella and Shizuku, who were walking ahead, heard this and instantly glared at Kirimura Seiya with displeasure.

Ikki listened to Kirimura Seiya's taunt, his expression calm as he remained silent.

As Kirimura Seiya engaged them, students from Hagun Academy and other surrounding academies also looked over.

"Hey, 'Hunter,' did you see who that guy was talking to?"

"Mhm, an F-Rank."

"That's an F-Rank from our Hagun?"

"An F-Rank is actually participating in the selection battle."

"Pffft-hahahaha..."

"Hey, keep your laughter down."

The surrounding people's laughter, mockery, teasing, ridicule, and other malicious tones and sounds emanated softly from their eyes and mouths.

"These guys!" Stella's fiery temper made her instantly annoyed. As she moved to step forward, Touka held her back.

"Senior Touka..." Stella asked, confused.

Touka shook her head and pointed towards Luo Mio.

At that moment, Luo Mio, who was standing nearby, stepped forward.

"Oh my, isn't this the famous 'Hunter,' Senior Kirimura?"

Kirimura Seiya's glasses narrowed as Luo Mio stepped forward to speak to him.

I remember him. He was the one who had a sparring match with President Todou the other day. And he's her brother.

"Is there something you need? Junior?" Kirimura Seiya plastered a smile back onto his face.

"Actually, I watched last year's Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival. Why did you forfeit in the second match, Senior Kirimura? I really admire you." Luo Mio, with his somewhat feminine face, blinked and looked innocently at Kirimura Seiya, speaking with a sarcastic tone.

Because anyone with eyes could tell the reason for his forfeit, but having him say it out loud made Kirimura Seiya's expression turn slightly unpleasant.

"Senior, why aren't you saying anything?" Luo Mio pressed further.

"Ahahaha..." Kirimura Seiya laughed awkwardly.

It was at this moment that a commotion arose from the crowd at the entrance to the banquet, and the gazes of the surrounding students shifted with it.

Seeing that Kirimura Seiya's attention had been diverted, he let out a slow breath in his heart, glaring fiercely at Ikki.

Ikki paid no mind to Kirimura Seiya and instead looked towards the entrance of the banquet.

Six figures were seen parting the crowd and arriving at another area deeper within the banquet.

Upon seeing the six figures, Luo Mio, Ikki, and Stella's eyes narrowed.

These were the six individuals from "Akatsuki Academy" who had attacked Luo Mio's group that day and appeared on the screen to make their announcement.

"Ah, isn't this Classmate Kurogane and Classmate Miohua? Long time no see," Amamiya Shion of Akatsuki Academy said with a gentle smile upon seeing Luo Mio and Ikki.

"Yeah, long time no see, Classmate Amane," Ikki replied in a flat tone.

"Come on, don't be so cold."

"Don't get so excited, Bad Luck." From behind, Tadara Yui, dressed in a formal gown and wearing a mask, walked over.

"Your murderous gaze, you don't hide it at all, Classmate Tadara," Luo Mio said, looking at her.

"Well, I am a Killer, after all," Tadara Yui shrugged and spread her hands.

"Clang—!"