December Double Drop!
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"You've got quite a look in your eyes, unknown swordswoman!"Kurashiki Kuraudo burst into laughter, producing a massive, segmented sword resembling the bones of a snake.
"I live for fighting swordsmen and breaking them down piece by piece. Go on, draw your weapon."
As Kuraudo's magical energy began to surge, his intimidating aura intensified, making it nearly impossible for anyone to approach him.
"With eyes like yours, you're not the kind to do something cowardly and back down, right?"
By the time he drew his weapon, most of the other patrons had already fled the restaurant.
A clash between Blazers could mean death even for those just watching from a distance.
Ayase and Kuraudo's gang members shrank back, overwhelmed by his violent aura. Yet, the petite Okita Souji alone remained calm, meeting his gaze without a hint of fear.
In her eyes, he saw neither terror nor excitement.
It was as if she were staring at a vast, tranquil sea—unmoved, unaffected, no matter what you threw into it.
Rather than feeling insulted or dismissed by her impassive gaze, Kuraudo felt his blood heat up, as though it were on fire.
When Okita opened her mouth to respond, Ayase's eyes trembled.
The scene before her overlapped with a painful memory.
Two years ago, in nearly the exact same way, Kurashiki Kuraudo had issued a challenge to her father, Ayatsuji Kaitou.
And because she hadn't stopped her father back then, he was now lying comatose, their family's dojo taken over, leaving her without a home to return to.
Night after night, she regretted it.
If only she'd been braver back then, if only she'd stopped her father, convinced him not to accept Kuraudo's challenge…
Wouldn't everything have turned out differently?
"No!"
Ayase suddenly flipped the broken table out of the way, grabbing onto Okita's sleeve as she stood beside her.
"You can't beat him! Please… don't do this…"
Okita felt a jolt in her heart.
Because Ayase was crying, right there in front of her.
"Please… don't leave me alone again…"
Who were those words really meant for—Okita, or the father who had left her behind?
"Are you trying to interfere, Ayatsuji?"
Kuraudo's face twisted with irritation.
It was like starving for three days only to see a delicious meal laid out before you—then, just as you reach for it, someone pulls it away.
Kuraudo was not the type to tolerate anyone's interference. With a snarl, he raised his massive bone sword high and swung it down.
But in the next instant…
Clang!
Kuraudo's eyes widened in shock, as his sword didn't meet its target.
A dark scabbard had blocked his blade, catching it perfectly at the guard and neutralizing all the force he'd put into his strike.
The hand holding the scabbard belonged to none other than Okita, who was still seated.
Her sudden move left everyone speechless, including Kuraudo and his gang.
Even Ayase stared with her mouth hanging open, wide enough that Okita was briefly tempted to see if she could fit an egg inside.
But… now wasn't the time for egg experiments.
"I'm not going to leave you," Okita murmured softly.
Ignoring Kuraudo entirely, she raised her hand to gently wipe away Ayase's tears with her thumb.
Where her hand had touched, Ayase's cheek felt warm, and her mind started to blank out, as if her brain was overheating.
"So, believe in me just this once."
Those amber eyes, pure as crystal and as mesmerizing as the night sky, reflected Ayase's face with startling clarity.
"I'll come back, and I'll bring back everything you lost."
"So, please… trust me, Senpai."
Ah… what am I supposed to do?
With those eyes looking at her like that, Ayase couldn't bring herself to say no.
Why is she so reckless? Why won't she just listen?
Surely, she understands by now… how much despair and pain I've gone through these past years.
If she knows that, then why…
Why would she say something so gallant?
Ayase's grip on Okita's sleeve tightened, her knuckles white from the strain.
"At this rate… I can't help but believe in you, can I?"
The faint sound of tears in her voice reached Okita's ears, prompting her to smile gently.
"Keeping promises is one of my few strengths."
Okita softly loosened Ayase's grip on her sleeve, then stood up, turning her fearless gaze to Kuraudo, who towered over her.
"And since you've challenged me as a fellow swordsman, I have only one answer for you—to meet that challenge with my own blade!"
"...Hah! This is too amusing!"
Kuraudo's eyes blazed with excitement as he asked, "Tell me your name, swordswoman!"
"Okita Souji."
"Kurashiki Kuraudo."
After exchanging names, Ayase and Kuraudo's gang members stepped back to give them space.
But just as everyone braced for the fight to start…
"I hate to spoil the mood, but do you really want to fight me here?"
Okita held her sheathed Kiku-ichimonji, glancing around. "Could we maybe take this somewhere else?"
"Hah? Are you actually worried about breaking stuff?"
"Damage costs add up fast. But that's not even the main issue." Okita tilted her head, frowning slightly. "Our academy's rules are strict. Using magic or weapons off-campus could get me expelled."
"And how's that my problem?"
"Oh, it has nothing to do with you," Okita said with a smirk. "But… wouldn't you rather fight me on the stage of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival?"
For a brief second, something flickered in Kuraudo's eyes.
"And if I get expelled, my family will probably send me abroad, meaning you wouldn't see me for a very long time."
"Even knowing that, you still want to fight me here? Or do you think… one fight is enough?"
The charged atmosphere stilled.
Ayase and the gang members gaped in disbelief.
Kuraudo's battle spirit… had actually simmered down?!
"Tch! I don't even know if you're strong enough yet." Kuraudo lowered the bone sword resting on his shoulder, clicking his tongue. "If you want to spar with me more than once, you'd better be worth it."
"Then you can rest easy."
Okita's eyes curved in a lazy smile.
"I'm super strong, you know."
And then, as if deciding "super strong" wasn't quite descriptive enough, she added with a playful glint in her eye:
"Strong enough to have no friends."
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