She gathered her courage again and faced her true feelings.
For this battle of young maidens in love, called the "Azure Journey."
March 7th had given it everything she had to win the crown of ultimate victory.
Yet, for some reason.
The joy she had been looking forward to never came.
Seeing how pitiful Asta looked, March 7th felt a pang of regret.
"The winner takes all. Once a move is made, there's no taking it back..."
"I'll bow out, March 7th."
"I won't ever appear before my dear Lin Chen... before Lin Chen again."
Her voice trembled, choked with tears.
The long-haired girl with pink hair raised her head again.
Her clear, lake-blue eyes were already shimmering with tears.
Glistening tear tracks wetted her lovely face.
Her cherry-pink lips had lost their color from how tightly she bit them.
With tears streaming down her face, Asta looked indescribably fragile and pitiful.
Her former pride and smugness had vanished without a trace.
Asta was just like any other girl nursing a broken heart, utterly vulnerable.
"Y-you'd better remember that."
March 7th frowned deeply, stunned and bewildered.
She had no idea how to comfort Asta, either.
All she could do was respond as a victor should.
If crying could solve problems, every conflict in the world would be resolved.
She forced herself to remember how arrogant Asta had looked before.
March 7th clenched her fists tightly.
A moment later.
Asta stood up.
Dragging her weary body along, she began walking beside the water.
On the deserted beach.
Asta's figure looked especially forlorn.
"Hey... where are you going?"
March 7th hurried forward and grabbed Asta's wrist.
She asked with a puzzled look.
"I... I'm going to buy you Azure Love ice cream."
"It's a specialty of Azure Star. It's really good..."
With