Belica's Duel (2)
"Um, about what happened earlier..."
Ronari felt her lips drying out. Why had she brought up this topic now? She'd been beating around the bush for ages, just peeking at Ilsea's expression. Unlike her, Ilsea didn't seem fazed at all. Even after... that had happened.
Ronari hid her left hand behind her back—it kept fidgeting on its own. Recalling that moment made her face burn hotter. Did Ilsea just think it was a mistake? It was a mistake, sure. Even she hadn't imagined she'd do something so bold.
Realizing she was dragging her feet too long, Ronari tried to scrape together some words. "Earlier... that..."
But then, a strange noise broke her focus.
*Scraaape.*
It was Ilsea pulling out a chair. He sat at the table and said, "Sit. I've got something to say too."
If he said it like that... she had no choice but to sit.
"..."
*Scraaape.*
Ronari took the seat diagonally across from him. Ilsea poured water from his tin cup and slid it her way.
"Drink."
"Thanks..."
She said it, but what now? Ronari stared down at the cup cradled in both hands. Ilsea's tin cup. The one his lips had touched.
Which side did he drink from...? No idea... Can I just sip it? But if I do...>
Ronari hesitantly brought her lips to the rim. After a few sips, her thirst eased a bit.
...But the real issue started now.
What had been one nagging question before sitting had multiplied. And Ilsea had something to say too—what could it be? Ronari felt even more lost.
Ilsea spoke first. "If you're still mulling it over, mind if I go first?"
"Huh? Yeah...? Uh... sure, go ahead."
Ronari swallowed hard. Cold sweat trickled down her spine. No telling what he'd say.
She was getting scared. On second thought, what she'd done was way too much. They were too close in that moment. Ilsea would step back like always, point between them, and say something like, "Don't do stuff like that again. The thing from this morning."
Her heart sank.
...And that's exactly what he said. Rejection.
"Sorry about that. I got too curious and careless. Lucky no one was around, or it'd have caused misunderstandings."
"Y-yeah, figured... Yeah, me too..."
Ronari nodded quickly, but she had no clue what she was even saying. Her head felt fuzzy. Her gaze dropped for no reason. And her chest ached pointlessly...
"So, if you're gonna try it again, better do it here."
"...Huh?"
Ronari's head snapped up. Ilsea continued.
"No prying eyes that way."
"Wh-what do you even... mean by..."
She realized she was stammering badly but couldn't stop. He'd dropped a bombshell. And he was still dropping more.
"I'm curious about it too. So if you're okay with it, I'd like to keep going."
Vivid images flooded her mind—embarrassing ones so intense she worried her brain might overheat and melt.
Ugh... oh god...>
Ilsea saved her. "Forcing open someone's mana path opens up a lot. You could infuse mana, or suck it out the other way."
"Yeah...?"
"In long fights against groups, you always risk mana depletion. But active absorption changes everything."
Ilsea broke down how her mana exchange idea could spark real innovations. Listening, Ronari relaxed.
Good. Not a rejection.
But alongside relief came annoyance. She'd been agonizing, heart pounding... and he'd just been thinking magic the whole time?
Her cheeks puffed out in a pout without her noticing.
"..."
Oblivious, Ilsea kept explaining. "...So for residual mana recycling too..."
"Got it..."
Ronari's irritated voice cut him off.
"Hm?"
"Fine, let's do it. Mana exchange—long as no one's watching, right? We can do it in the room."
"Yeah."
Ronari shot up from her chair. "Then whatever, call me after class when you've got time! Your call!"
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it...!"
She stomped back to her room, slammed the door, flopped onto the bed, and hugged the blanket tight. Face buried in her pillow, she screamed silently.
Aaaah! Annoying annoying annoying ANNOYING...!!>
Ever since that morning incident, Ronari had been spaced out through every class—morning, lunch, afternoon. Nothing sank in.
And it's all because of him!!>
She almost kicked the bed in frustration but stopped. What would he think if he heard?
"Haa..."
She sighed deeply.
How'd I end up like this...>
Honestly, she still couldn't believe what she'd done. Not just shoving mana into Ilsea willy-nilly, but interlacing their fingers at the end. In the grass. Alone. No excuse.
...Why? Seriously, why?
She couldn't make sense of it. Every action was impulsive. She'd gone weird.
Probably since getting that teacup.
Lying there, she turned her head toward Ilsea's room.
I'm a mess, and you're just chilling like always...>
That hand-hold had taken guts too. All for nothing.
Now she'd be stuck doing "excuse" mana exchanges nonstop...
"Ugh..."
Another sigh.
Wait...
Hold on—this is a regular, legit chance to hold hands, right?>
The thought made her giggle.
"Heehee..."
Ronari pictured Ilsea's hand—rough, callused, bumpy, but warm. Recalling the feel, she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. Ilsea's.
She stared at it. To her, it felt like a mini-Ilsea. Grimy, frayed, pattern faded to traces.
But it still smelled like him, still soft. Like the Ilsea Alerzar she remembered from before.
She buried her face in it.
Good...>
And thought,
...You've always been you.>
After Ronari retreated to her room, I lingered in the kitchen, staring at the tin cup she'd left.
...Wasn't planning this.
Ended up making an unplanned promise on impulse.
"Hoo..."
I sighed, burying my face in my hands.
But those images still lingered.
"...You're hopeless, you know that."
What the hell was I thinking?
......
The next afternoon in the Grand Arena. After my match, Belica was prepping to take the stage, taping her wrists with bandages.
"Stone-faced Ilsea shows up to watch me? Wonders never cease~ You done already? Bet you won."
I perched on the bench in front of her and nodded. "Yeah. Low-rank opponent this time."
"Ehh? Should've saved 'em for a challenge match. Pick a high-ranker. That's how you climb fast."
"Dunno... Ranking up hasn't brought good luck lately. Like that Gideon guy."
Speak of the devil—Gideon popped up beside us.
"You call me?"
...Yeah, that saying's real.
"Didn't. Beat it."
"As if. Can't miss a show like this. Right, Bel?"
Gideon tossed it to Belica. She paused mid-wrap, tilting her head awkwardly.
"As gossip queen, I get it... but even I find this attention overkill..."
Yeah, the crowd on her was intense. Packed spectator seats. I'd have forfeited from exhaustion before stepping up.
Belica scanned around, eyes uneasy.
"...Hey, gimme."
"Huh?"
I grabbed her hand and took over the taping.
"Oh my~ What's this? Stone-faced Ilsea again~?"
"Eyes up top. Match is starting soon—they'll call you any second."
"Weren't you the one whining about stares? What if someone sees?"
"This much is fine."
"Oh my~..."
Gideon, watching, chimed in. "Ugh, can't watch. You two married or what?"
Belica smacked him. "You and your big mouth~"
I pulled her back. "Hold still. Almost done."
"Eek..."
"And Gideon, you know I got dumped, right? Why say dumb shit like that? Asking for a beating."
"Oh yeah. Poor guy's got no luck."
Gideon and I chuckled as I finished her taping.
"..."
I knotted the end on her left wrist and let go.
"There. Done."
"Uh... thanks."
I handed her both swords too. "Don't get cocky. You're the one who needs to watch out. Adelia's analyzed you thoroughly. You have no clue how much she's improved this year."
"Y-yeah."
"You've got the numbers edge, but assume she's hiding something till the end. Got it?"
Belica's reply was half-hearted. "Yeah."
...Tough as nails sometimes, this one.
I bumped my fist against her sword-grip fist.
"Win. If you do, I'll grant one wish."
"For real?"
"No crazy stuff."
"For real? Gideon heard! Everyone around did! No take-backs!"
Finally, Belica perked up like usual. Right on cue, the announcer called her.
Sophomore Swordsmanship Major Duel Specialist, Belica Simoni—to Stage 1!
"Watch for me when you get back!"
Belica leaped onto the stage. Gideon eyed me.
"You sure you can handle that? She'll demand something ridiculous."
"Told her no crazy stuff."
Then her opponent was called.
Sophomore Magic Major Elemental Arts Frost School Specialist, Adelia Spencer—to Stage 1!