I stood there thinking about going further, except my legs wouldn't move. After standing at the entrance to the infirmary, I walked back to the waiting area.
I was going to enter and see how my brother was doing, but it doesn't seem like my place to get involved. After all, following up a speech like that and waltzing in right as they start hugging seems awkward, I should just go and wait for my next match.
...
"Touma Winter is the winner!"
That match was just as easy as the first one. Bowing and turning around scratching my head out of boredom, I glanced over into the stands, they finally came out of the infirmary.
Mother and Father both wave and give thumbs up to congratulate me. Isamu watches them and shamefully waves too.
It's unfortunate that Isamu didn't last long. Though, as harsh as it sounds, I wasn't expecting him to win the tournament anyways. I know his limits.
Now, what am I to do, can I just lose on purpose so we can go home sooner? I think as I walk through the North entrance passing by the next contestant.
This is so boring. Just then my thoughts were cut off by the sudden sense of familiarity that rushed through me.
Quickly turning around out of curiosity, the only person there was the contestant. This girl. With long sky-blue hair that shined in the sun as she walked out with confidence.
"Do I know her from somewhere?" I muttered to myself.
Since those participating can't watch from the arena entrances after fighting, I hurriedly went up to the audience to see her fight in particular, but after arriving, the battle had already concluded.
"Was I too slow?"
More time passed of me mindlessly waiting and my boredom growing.
Another victory. Are any of these kids strong? I suppose they are in a sense, but I'm just stronger. I sort of wish I could go and fight in the other colosseum.
I looked over to the opposite entrance I came out of, and there she is. Waiting. Seeming to have curiosity in her eyes as I do.
I tried to catch her match again, but after getting stopped by some kids and curious adventurers I missed her match again.
Again? From what I can gather she must be strong if her matches are going faster than the length of the other matches.
...
The semifinals have arrived and this kid I'm up against looks like he's killed a man before.
Well, bring it.
...
"Winner Touma Winter!"
Well, compared to the others, he was much stronger.
He gets up, gives me a dirty look, and walks off. I also take my leave, walking through the corridor and passing the girl again.
"See you in the finals." She says while having her focus on the arena and not turning my way.
"Make it interesting," I respond in kind.
After her expected win in the semifinals, a short 15-minute break was permitted, and not knowing what else to do in the meantime, I went and talked to my family to perhaps get some intel from them.
"What... Do you like her?" Father teases.
"As if," I respond with an air of irritation.
"You guys have seen a majority of the matches, right? What do you know of that blue-haired girl and her fighting skills." I ask more clearly.
"She's fast," Isamu says.
"Yes, she is quick, she seems almost as fast as you, her sword skills look refined but don't seem to be on par with yours. However, compared to the other kids she is stronger. Watch yourself." Father explains.
"Very well," I say.
"You gonna ask her out afterward?" Isamu teases next.
"Shut up," I answer blatantly.
With the 15-minute break over with, the finals were about to begin.
"Coming from the north entrance, Touma Winter!"
The colosseum erupts in cheers.
"Wow. That's louder than when I first walked out for my first match."
I arrive in the middle of the arena, and the proctor continues.
"...And from the South entrance!"
Now then, come forward mystery girl.
"Fuyuka Caerulean!"
That name...? I've heard it somewhere before... But where?
She walks toward the middle of the arena and stands across from me. Our eyes meet and a faint image flashes in my mind that I can't quite see clearly.
What the hell?
"Touma Winter, are you okay to compete?"
I guess, I looked a little troubled that the proctor felt the need to check on me.
"Yes sir, I'm fine."
"Okay then."
He turns his attention away from me.
"Fuyuka Caerulean, are you ready?"
"Yes." She responds.
"Touma, are you ready?"
"Yes," I say.
"Begin!"
It all went quiet with the cheers seeming to fade away for a moment, and in a split second, we meet in the middle. Starting the fight immediately with a test of strength.
To continue with trading strikes without any of them connecting... After a minute of the battle going back and forth, we both take a few steps back.
This girl is definitely stronger than any of my previous opponents, and she moves way more gracefully than the others do. She even dodged some of my simple combos that defeated the other opponents too. Actually, it wasn't that she just dodged them, it was more like she expected them.
"You've been studying my moves during previous matches, haven't you?" I ask.
"You caught on quickly." She responds.
"Well, it was pretty obvious, I always saw you in the corridor during my matches. However, that's quite impressive for you to recognize my attacks after only seeing them once." I point out.
"It wasn't easy. You move quite fast; it was difficult trying to keep up with you."
"So, do you think you can beat me?" I ask, curious about her answer.
"I've learned not to underestimate my opponent, no matter who they are. Besides, you seem stronger than what meets the eye."
I wonder if she realizes just how right she is.
"However, even though I watched you fight, you haven't seen any of my matches. Yet, you seem to be a step ahead of me."
Trading strikes with this girl was more interesting than I thought, even while I threw in some moves she hasn't yet seen, she still managed to get around them. Even the proctor could only stand back in awe as the two 10-year-olds face off with such integrity.
With the look in her eyes, she's also taking this completely seriously. With every step and thrust she makes, I can feel her movements becoming sharper and quicker as time passes.
However... Sorry to cut it short, but I'm getting bored. Time to kick my speed up a notch.
In less than a second I'm in her blind spot, surprisingly she just barely manages to whip around in my direction.
It's impressive that she could react to that speed, but it's too bad it wasn't fast enough.
Off-balance and trying to get her sword in front of her, a powerful thrust with my sword connects to her stomach and puts her on her back.
She's strong, and she doesn't have a big ego. She's frustrated, not at me, but at herself. She will make a fine swordswoman when she grows up.
"It's over! The Winner of the 10-year-old division is, Touma Winter!"
The crowd erupts in cheers. My family jumps from their seats with happy looks on their faces, thrilled by the outcome of my battle.
Fuyuka stands up and walks up to me with her hand on her stomach.
"Sorry about that," I tell her.
"It's fine, the other kids held back knowing I was a girl, except you... So that was a good fight, Touma Winter."
She reaches for a handshake.
"But I'll win next time."
"We'll see," I say as I reach back.
As soon as our hands touched, A small yet sharp pain shot through my head as a memory came through.
It was the same image as when I made eye contact, but it was clearer this time. I remember now... It's her... She's one of the silhouettes from that dream.
Although she's different from her dream counterpart, Her hair and eye color are the same. She's just younger.
Noticing I look a bit perplexed, Fuyuka speaks up, "Are you alright?"
"Oh, yeah. Sorry, just started thinking about something."
With my landslide victory, I won first place. Fuyuka Caerulean in Second, and the killer-looking kid, who I fought in the semifinals, in third place. We were given medals along with varying cash prizes for how we placed.
I stood on the first-place pedestal looking toward the audience seeming like I'm totally fine. When in reality I'm trying to make sense of this.
There's no way it's just a coincidence. Could she really be the same person from that dream, just younger? If that's so, it still doesn't make sense that I saw her through the eyes of some person named Minoru. Yet, I'm still stumped, because in that dream my voice was very similar.
Oh whatever, I don't care anymore. It's highly unlikely I'll ever find a reason for... practically any of this. I was transported to this world where magic exists and I'm being congratulated for fighting other kids with a deadly weapon. Nothing else should surprise me anymore. Forget it. I'll probably meet her again anyways.
...
Following the award ceremony, we walked through, exploring the city streets, and went out to a local restaurant.
I expected Isamu to be in a sorrowful mood during this time but he was doing better than I thought. I wonder what he will do now.
We ended up staying the night in Osraed at an inn and left the following morning making our return back home to Aria.