Belica's Duel (1)
Even louder cheers erupted from those around them.
Everyone knew Belica's Ranking Tournament rank was high, but hearing the professor say it directly hit different. And this was a Challenge Match between high-rankers, no less. It was only natural for the class's mood to heat up.
"Ehehe..."
Belica scratched her head, looking bashful. Once Ruda confirmed the atmosphere was sufficiently fired up, she vanished without a word.
With even the one in charge gone, the class's chaos amplified several times over.
"Which class is Adelia in again?"
"Sandersonia. She's the top student there."
The academy had six classes per year, each named after a different colored flower. Adelia's class was the orange-flowered Sandersonia. Ours was the red-flowered Lycoris.
Belica gazed contentedly at the classroom where conversation bloomed around her. The queen of gossip indeed. She'd gone beyond spreading it to becoming the center herself.
"Hehe. Everyone loves me too much~ Geez, what a hassle. Born with the fate of fame and all."
Belica Simoni, putting on airs. Was there anything more eye-wateringly pretentious in the world?
I quickly shot her down. "They like the gossip, not you. You're just good fodder."
"Oh my~ Were you trying to knock me down a peg with that? You're way off~ Ilsea-kun~ You're such a hopeless kid."
What the hell? Her smugness had doubled.
"Delinquent boy Ilsea-kun. As the queen of gossip, let me tell you: being good fodder is the essence of popularity and fame."
Belica wagged her finger as she spoke.
"You can't consume the subject of gossip itself. It's always the superficial image the consumer perceives. In other words..."
Right as Belica's nonsense lecture was gaining steam, a voice called from outside the classroom.
"Lycoris's second-in-command, Belica Simoni. Sandersonia's top student formally requests an audience."
At those words, Belica froze stiff. I poked her and said, "Hey. Looks like someone's here to consume you in person. Why not go meet 'em?"
"Ugh... Already so annoying..."
Her face screamed she wanted to die, but she reluctantly stood up.
Everyone buzzed with excitement at this rare face-off between the top two students. No way the (self-proclaimed) gossip queen would sit this out.
As Belica headed into the hall, the rest of the class swarmed after her.
Standing in the corridor, Belica drawled in obvious annoyance, "Here comes Belica, queen of gossip, Lycoris's second, friend to all failing note-takers, and heaven-blessed super beauty~ What's the business...?"
Before she even finished, something flew at her face. A white glove.
Smack.
"Eek."
And then the challenger's resolute voice echoed down the hall.
"Miss Belica. You've surely received the written notice, but I hereby declare once more at this moment: I, Adelia Spencer, as the next heir of the Spencer family, challenge the lady Belica of the Simoni family to a duel via Challenge Match."
The speaker was a petite girl with a cane in her left hand—an impression that stuck. As she'd declared, her name was Adelia Spencer. And true to her word, she was Sandersonia's top student.
With the glove still stuck to her face, Belica replied, "...I figured."
"Do you accept?!"
"No refusal option to begin with, right...? It's a Challenge Match."
As Belica peeled off the glove and pointed it out, Adelia demurely covered her mouth, feigning mild surprise.
"Ah. Come to think of it, yes."
"And Adel... If you're challenging me to a duel, shouldn't you state the conditions first? Like what you want if you win... that sort of thing."
With that, Belica handed the flung glove back to Adelia.
"Ah, thank you... I hadn't considered that. My oversight."
The onlookers gawked at this bizarre, tension-free scene unworthy of a high-ranker duel challenge.
Belica shrugged, steam visibly leaking from her. "Jeez~ If you're just gonna do this, why come at all? We can fight tomorrow and call it done. Can I go now?"
Just as the crowd started to disperse, another white glove sailed toward Belica's face.
Smack.
"Eek."
"There are conditions."
"...?"
"Should I, Adelia Spencer, emerge victorious in tomorrow's Challenge Match, I demand the right to claim Miss Belica's person for one day on the night of the new student welcome ball at month's end, along with her admission to the Elixier Social Club."
Belica scratched her face, looking genuinely troubled. "Again...? Don't you ever get tired...?"
"No. I intend to come calling like this as many times as it takes until Miss Belica returns as a lady befitting her noble station."
As she said it, Adelia shot a clear glance my way, if only for a moment. I pretended not to notice.
Belica, still reluctant, handed back the white glove. "Uh, thanks."
"Well... Adel, if that's all, can you go now...?"
"Yes. With all messages delivered, I shall take my leave. I hope to see you in good health tomorrow, Miss Belica."
"Yeah... See ya tomorrow..."
After that oddly foolish farewell, Adelia vanished as abruptly as she'd appeared.
The crowd, deflated by the underwhelming spectacle, scattered in their own directions.
I stood and approached Belica. She was still rooted in the same spot in the hall, sighing heavily.
I teased her needlessly. "Queen of gossip for sure. Didn't expect you to become the center yourself, beyond just spreading it."
Belica replied, "Hehe... Ilsea-kun. You've grown quite a bit. Even learned to snark at this Belica~..."
Her voice was uncharacteristically deflated.
I glanced in the direction Adelia had gone. "Still, it's been a while. Adel looked healthy."
Adelia and I had known each other since childhood. Close enough to call it that. Though since last year... well, we'd ended up worse than strangers.
Belica said, "From my side, I'd prefer she toned down the health a bit... How vigorous do you have to be to challenge me to a duel...?"
"Whatcha gonna do? Accept it?"
"Told ya earlier? No choice with a Challenge Match. Conditions don't matter, I can ignore 'em... But ugh, the match itself... And losing would make it even more of a pain..."
It was rare for Belica to sound weak about a Ranking Tournament, but I got it. I knew how Adelia fought.
The top spot in an academy class wasn't won by bets alone. And Adelia had fully scouted Belica's abilities, so she'd come prepared. It'd be a brutal fight.
"Eh, just do your best or whatever. I won't be harsh like someone and refuse sparring if you lose."
"Ooh~ Landing snark combos on this Belica? That it? Then get ready~"
She'd already perked up, jabbing my side with her elbow.
"Whatever. Let's go eat."
I shoved Belica toward the cafeteria. As we passed a group of girls, I felt Ronari's gaze, but I missed the timing to say anything. Not like I had to, anyway.
After eating, I parted with Belica and returned to the room. Ronari wasn't back yet—probably still eating.
...Might as well bathe. Gotta recover stamina before heading out tonight. And tomorrow's Ranking Tournament.
I entered the bathroom and filled the tub. Steam soon filled the air. Soaking in the hot water, the fatigue clinging between my muscles seemed to wash away.
"Haa..."
Sitting here like this, the room didn't seem half bad. If it were regular dorms, it'd be rowdy with kids fresh from school right now.
Only... Ronari was beyond that thin wall in the bedroom. Ronari was...
Ronari...
Suddenly, my right hand twitched. Twitch, twitch.
What to call the sensation? Even hours later, my right hand phantomly retained the feeling from earlier. Her body heat, the surface texture, the soft pressure slipping between my fingers. All traces Ronari had left.
I'd felt something like this before. So long ago I'd forgotten when or why...
But one thing I clearly remembered: I'd never defined it.
So I couldn't identify this sensation now, either. Nor did I want to.
I gave up analyzing it again. Knowing for sure would just cause trouble.
Maybe I'd skipped defining it back then for the same reason. Locked it in a deep box in my heart and decided to forget.
"..."
I clenched my fist. Hard enough for my short nails to dig into my palm, as if to crush the unidentified phantom pain lingering there.
I couldn't fathom why Ronari Sharino had acted that way. Maybe no reason at all. Or the exact opposite.
But my narrow vessel had no room for such questions or regrets.
Forget it. Whatever the sensation or emotion, it didn't suit a guy like me.
Splash...
I rose from the tub. After roughly rinsing off, I emerged to find Ronari already back, somehow.
"Back."
"...Yeah."
She answered while slightly avoiding my gaze. I brushed past her to the kitchen. Might as well grab some water after sweating it out.
As I poured water into a tin cup, Ronari hesitantly followed me in. She glanced at the cupboard and asked, "The teacups... not using them?"
"Dunno, probably not dry yet. And they're for tea anyway."
"Yeah, true..."
She clearly had something to say but just hemmed and hawed. I set down my cup and asked, "Spit it out. What?"
"Um..."
She licked her dry lips repeatedly, hesitating, then finally spoke. "About... what happened earlier......"