From the stands, watching Croché's tears fall like a river, Wataru couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. There was something truly pitiable about the young warrior who had fought with her whole heart, only to be undone by her emotions.
And Éa… she had said some harsh things. Claiming she had held back on purpose, that she'd been toying with Croché, trying to throw her off balance—it must have shattered the girl's spirit.
Wataru glanced at Éa, expecting to see her calm, triumphant, and untouched. But instead, he saw her drenched in sweat, breathing heavily. Though she had exuded confidence, she, too, had been pushed to her limits.
Not once, though, had she let it show.
Even those who had watched the fight couldn't tell just how close it had been. Éa's bravado was not simply an act; it was a testament to her determination, her iron will to emerge victorious no matter the cost.
"Good job, Éa," Wataru said as he handed her a drink.
