"Kurogane… huh."
After learning Ikki Kurogane's name, Okita Souji tapped her chin thoughtfully, seeming particularly intrigued by the surname "Kurogane."
Ikki, watching her reaction, didn't look surprised; instead, he scratched his head with a slightly troubled expression.
The name "Kurogane" isn't ordinary in Japan. During World War II, Japan produced two world-class Blazers: [God of War] Nango Toraichiro and [Samurai Ryouma] Kurogane Ryouma.
The Kurogane family, to which Kurogane Ryouma belonged, had been a distinguished family since the Meiji era. Besides Ryouma, the family produced many remarkable Blazers, making it an influential name even globally.
"Why that expression? You think you don't deserve that surname?"
Lowering his head, Ikki suddenly felt a light tap on his forehead. Looking up, he was met with a pair of amber eyes.
Such beautiful eyes. They reflected everything around them with a clarity that seemed to lack any trace of confusion or hesitation.
Realizing he had stared too long, Ikki quickly turned his head, a bit embarrassed.
"Well… My Blazer ranking is the lowest, an F. I'm sure everyone thinks I'm unfit to be a Blazer."
Much less to carry the name of the Kurogane family…
"Actually, I see it quite the opposite."
Okita Souji lightly flicked his katana, producing a resonant hum.
"You have quite a remarkable 'sword,'" she said with a slight smile, her gaze moving from his blade back to him. "As expected of a descendant of Kurogane Ryouma."
For a moment, Ikki could only stare at her, rendered speechless by the way her smile filled his vision.
"But, an F rank…"
Okita Souji opened her student handbook. The roster allowed her to look up some basic information about each student.
Such as their stats.
Name: Ikki Kurogane
Class: First Year, Hagun Academy
Age: 16
Nationality: Japan
Blazer Rank: F
Title: The Failed Knight
Attack Power: F
Defense Power: F
Magic Capacity: F
Magic Control: E
Physical Ability: A
Luck: F
Summary: The only F-ranked Blazer in Hagun Academy. With magic capacity only a tenth of the average, he ranks among the lowest even within the F level and severely lacks the capabilities of a magic knight. Due to insufficient credits, he has been held back and is ineligible for advancement.
Wow, so many Fs.
The lowest stat in FGO is E… wait, E-. But here, the lowest is F.
Which means, judging by these stats, Ikki Kurogane is undoubtedly the weakest. To put it bluntly… a failure.
And…
"If you're F-ranked, how did you even get into this academy?"
Okita Souji feigned curiosity as she looked at Ikki.
Having already seen the storyline, she knew the answer, but she decided to play ignorant to avoid unnecessary complications.
"I defeated the examiner at the time. In exchange, they made an exception and allowed me to enroll."
Ikki replied calmly, stating something most people would find unbelievable.
To be appointed as an examiner, one would need to be a recognized, fully trained magic knight, not just a student knight.
A student defeating a fully qualified knight was one thing, but for an F-ranked student to achieve it… that's entirely different.
Despite witnessing Ikki's feat with their own eyes, most people would still turn a blind eye and continue to look down on him, making excuses like, "It was just luck," "The opponent was weak," or "He must've used underhanded tactics." Anything except the simplest truth: "This F-ranked Blazer is actually powerful."
But…
"Why don't you look surprised?"
"Hm?"
Okita tilted her head in confusion, feigning ignorance at Ikki's question.
Why would I be surprised? I read the script ahead of time.
Of course, she couldn't say that, so instead, she replied with…
"After seeing your 'sword,' it didn't seem strange at all to think you could defeat the examiner."
Her confident tone stirred something within Ikki—a peculiar, pleasant feeling.
Does she… really trust me that much?
Even though this is the first time we've met…
"Oh, I can check my own stats too."
Holding her student handbook in both hands, Okita Souji brought up her own profile.
Name: Okita Souji
Class: First Year, Hagun Academy
Age: 15
Nationality: Japan
Blazer Rank: D
Attack Power: D
Defense Power: E
Magic Capacity: C
Magic Control: D
Physical Ability: B
Luck: C
"You don't know your own stats?" Ikki asked, noticing her interest.
"Where I come from, people only cared about actual combat. It's the first time I've seen power measured by numbers," she replied with a smile. "It feels like playing an RPG."
"Only focusing on real combat, huh… That sounds nice."
If they focused on combat skill rather than rankings, he'd probably have had a much easier time.
No, wait… With his F-level magic capacity, he'd probably still be looked down upon…
"Ah! I just noticed, we're in the same class!"
Okita Souji's sudden exclamation snapped Ikki out of his thoughts. She waved her student handbook excitedly in front of him.
She'd been calm when learning he'd defeated the examiner, but now she was practically bouncing with joy.
"Lucky! Lucky! My luck is always great when it comes to classmates and roommates!"
"Seriously, just because we're in the same class, you're that happy?"
"Of course!" She flashed him a quick glance, her eyebrows raised with a playful smile. "Compared to strangers, being in the same class with a kindred spirit is definitely something to celebrate, don't you think?"
A friend… huh.
Ikki lifted his head to the clear blue sky. There wasn't a single cloud, and the sunlight warmed him as a breeze carrying the scent of cherry blossoms swept past.
Everything felt so wonderful.
He actually started to look forward to his school life here.
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T/N: If we don't get a full stat sheet of Okita in the next few chapters I'll just make one in the translator notes!
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
(IN THE STORY)
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