"Ah―"
Stella's eyes opened wide. Her scarlet pupils shined bright, as if finally understanding something. As if accepting something.
"Hehe, hahaha."
Stella's apologetic look vanished and she burst out in laughter.
"Yes, that's right. I wouldn't give up. Even if I'm burnt badly, why should I give up?"
After hearing Ikki's words, Stella remembered that she was the same years ago.
"So that's the reason. It's true, we don't need to worry over reaching our dreams. If my efforts are useless even after I've given my all, then that's that, but we can't decide they're useless before we even try."
"Exactly. No matter how much I lack talent, and how many people say I'm hopeless, I won't give up on myself because of that. Especially since I hate to lose."
"Though I didn't think there was someone else who hated to lose as much as I do."
Saying that, Stella started to laugh again. It was a laughter that sounded very surprised, but very happy.
She relaxed and raised her hands.
"…Ahh, I lost. I put you on my own silly scale of prodigy and mediocrity, and didn't see the real you. It was impossible for me to win with these presumptuous, half-hearted feelings in the first place. It's my complete defeat, Ikki."
In speaking those words, Stella felt somewhat liberated. She had no more doubts about Kurono's advice. Ikki was a person who shared the same spirit, and he was stronger―that was exactly why she could learn from him, and if she followed him she'd surely become stronger herself. With honest conviction, from the bottom of her heart, Stella was thankful for meeting Ikki. How could she not be, when she crossed the world for this?
And Ikki, after seeing her bright expression, felt that Stella had come to understand him. She seemed satisfied with his replies. In that case―
"Then, since we've reached an agreement here―shall we discuss that other important matter?"
"Huh? Which one?"
"Well, I mean… I won the duel, right?"
"Of course. Even though I hate to lose, I'm not so unreasonably stubborn that I'll deny it when it happens."
"Then that means Stella-san is my slave from now on, right?"
"…Eh?"
Stella's eyes suddenly grew big, like a dove shot with a pellet.
"Don't you remember we made a bet? Whoever loses will submit to the winner, and obey any kind of order."
Instantly, Stella's complexion went boiling red, then paled to bluish white. It seemed she completely forgot about the deal because so many things had happened.
"So since I won, let's get started right away―"
"Wh, th-th-that was, that! A fi-figure of wo-wo-words, and, like, I just got too excited, and…!"
"Hmm, I wonder what I'll demand first. You'll listen to anything, right?"
"A-A-Anything!? N-No, th-that's, th-th-that's, I did say I'll do anything, but anything's not alright! Totally not alright, right!?"
Stella dove into a corner of her bed and covered herself with blankets, as if trying to hide from Ikki. What did she say about not being unreasonably stubborn?
"Eh? Then Stella-san, you're going back on your word?"
"Ugh…."
"Well, if you're that unwilling, it's okay. Ahh, I guess Vermillion's imperial family can't keep its promises?"
"Aa, ugh…."
"It's a bit disappointing."
"Wa-Wait a minute!"
As expected, Stella reacted to Ikki's shameless taunting. Creeping out of the blankets, she glared at Ikki with half-crying eyes.
"Who says we can't keep them!? Fi-Fine! I'll become your slave or dog! I'll do whatever you want! I'll do indecent things too! You pervert! Idiot! I hate you!"
"You came up with this and now you're mad about it!?"
…Well, maybe I was a bit too mean.
Ikki wanted to chastise Stella for speaking carelessly and betting herself so easily, but he seemed to have overdone it. From the beginning, he never intended to make Stella his slave. His real request was―
"Then here's an order. Stella-san, be my roommate."
―for them to live in this room together.
"Eh… that's… that's all?"
"Yeah. I was thinking while we fought that we might be able to have a peaceful relationship, and I wanted to become friends with Stella-san too. Rather than an order, it's more like a wish."
Ikki wanted to know more, and more deeply, about this girl whose spirit resembled his own. At his words―
"Fuah…."
―the girl who was thinking the exact same thing felt her brain boil over.
"Y-You, ju-just… just what are you… calling me pretty… and that you want to be friends… to an unmarried princess like it's nothing. Really, you really have no delicacy at all…."
Maybe she couldn't look up straight at Ikki anymore. Even her ears were dyed red as she averted her gaze. On the other hand, Ikki took that reaction as anger.
"Ah, th-then you don't want to? Making you live together with a boy, sorry for saying something so rude. Let's go find the chairman. If we beg, I think she can manage at least another room―"
"Wait!"
Stella grabbed Ikki as he was about to leave.
"…It's fine."
"Eh?"
"I-I said… I don't mind it!"
"Eh? It's really okay?"
"I-I'll tell you this, but it's only because it's an order! I'll be troubled if you think Vermillion royalty are liars. That's all, I say! I-It's not like I-I'm doing this because I want to be friends with you even this much!"
Stella stood up after throwing glances all over the place. She really expressed it in a roundabout way… but Ikki understood that she was consenting. That made him very happy.
"Then let's get along from now on, Stella-san."
"…It can't be helped, so I'll be in your care… hmph!"
Stella shook his hand while looking the other way. Her hand was far smaller than he had imagined, and far warmer.
Just as they finally worked out the roommate issue, the dormitory bell rang. It was the signal for eight o'clock.
"Ugh, it seems like I slept quite a bit. Guess it's too late now."
"Is there something inconvenient about eight o'clock?"
"The dining halls here close at eight. What am I going to do about dinner?"
The curfew is at nine. I guess I should go to the supermarket and buy something. But my body hurts after using Ittou Shura, so I really don't want to cook….
It was scary to think what would happen if he sliced off a finger. Ikki folded his arms in worry, but Stella proposed a solution with a strangely excited voice.
"I-If that's all, then I'll make something."
"Eh? Is that okay?"
"I mean, Ikki is… my ma-master though I'm very reluctant about it… and it's a maid's duty to cook when the master wants a meal."
"…Erm, can't we just forget all the talk about being master and slave?"
"Th-That's no good! Royalty never break a promise! S-So stop being reluctant and let me serve you!"
What an outrageously great maid she was. And to be honest, Ikki was at that age when a girl's homemade cooking was rather appealing.
"I understand. Then let's go to the nearby supermarket together. I'll at least do the buying, Stella-san."
"Mu―"
…Huh? Why's she pouting this time?
"…That's not allowed."
"That, being?"
"That 'Stella-san' thing. Ikki is the master here, and on top of that you're older, so it's weird for you to add an honorific. Say it without the '-san'."
"Err… I shouldn't. I mean, Stella-san is really a princess…."
"And who is it that wants to be friends with this princess?"
"Uh…."
"Isn't it weird for friends to be so formal?"
Well, that's indeed the case, but―
"Isn't it weirder for friends to be master and slave?"
"This is one issue, that is another."
"Eeeeehhh!?"
"In any case!"
Stella pointed a finger, *stab!*, at the tip of Ikki's nose.
"I won't reply if you don't call me Stella."
She declared it in an adorably angry way, but at the same time she sounded quite embarrassed. Ikki didn't want to address a princess in an unfitting manner… but it was true they should become friends, so refusing her now would be bad too.
"…Heh. I get it, Stella."
In the end, Ikki gave in. Or rather, Stella had been leading him through the conversation for a while now. What an outrageously great maid she was!
"Yeah. Then let's go, Ikki! I still don't know much about Japan, so be sure to escort me properly."
"Yes, yes."
But even though he called her name with no formality at all, if it made her so happy, he'd have to speak this way from now on. Captivated by Stella's smile, Ikki arrived at that conclusion with a grin of his own.