“Yuli!”
Though I had mentioned stopping by to see Yuli for appearances’ sake, given that Yuli’s schedule was set to wander the bustling festival grounds with her father today, finding her in such a crowded place felt akin to finding a needle in a desert.
It wasn’t until after gathering at the predetermined spot to watch Anne’s match that I finally caught up with Yuli again.
The start of Anne’s match was impending, so I hastened to the competitors’ section.
Squeezing into the crowded area designated for officials and barely managing to take a seat, I glanced around. The scene was an amalgam of faces—students who had shown up to support their friends, professors evaluating student achievements, and even some unfamiliar visitors.
Some individuals were clad in armor, others draped in robes, and still more wore ordinary clothing. Their common thread? The prominent insignia on their garments, representing knightly orders or mage towers.
Griffin Academy is the most esteemed academy on the continent, and this tournament determines its strongest participant. It was likely these guests had arrived to observe potential recruits, perhaps to propose deals to the talented combatants before the tournament’s end—or even to make contact before graduation.
Of course, this is a competition steeped in entertainment through its rules, and there are several uninvolved powerhouses, like myself and Selian, who didn’t participate but are notable nonetheless. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to overlook the sixteen students who’ve reached the round of thirty-two, especially the eight who remain two days in.
“Third-year, Swordsmanship Class 2, Grabel! Please take your position!”
The master of ceremonies’ announcement, though charged with excitement, was rather formal in tone. The boy called Grabel must have been something of a celebrity, as a wave of cheers greeted his ascent to the stage.
“First-year, Swordsmanship Class 1, Anne Clein! Please take your position!”
At the call of her name, Anne emerged from the waiting area outside the tournament stage, her diminutive frame slowly climbing the steps. She was so small, it was almost comical to see how childlike she still appeared at eighteen.
However, Anne’s small stature was overshadowed by her eye-catching crimson hair and, more importantly, the immense greatsword that easily towered over even adult men.
Despite having no previous tournament experience or significant external activities due to her being a first-year, the crowd greeted her with even more applause than the student who’d entered beforehand—a sign of her impressive showing during yesterday’s preliminary matches.
Alright. As far as audience cheers were concerned, our Anne had won!
“Anne, you can do it!”
Yuli, Selian, and I joined the crowd in cheering her on. Though our voices were drowned out in the cacophony, Anne seemed to hear them and looked directly in our direction. Walking toward the center of the stage with an uncommon seriousness, the moment she caught sight of us, her usual mischievous grin returned.
Waving discreetly in our direction so as not to disturb other spectators, Anne reciprocated by lifting her non-sword-wielding hand and waving grandly back to us.
Still, it would have been preferable if she could manage to look where she was stepping while doing so.
Once both contestants faced each other at the center of the stage, they exchanged polite nods under the judge’s guidance, retreated, and prepared for the bout. At least, that’s what should have happened—until it didn’t.
The match ended in a matter of moments. Mid-swing, Anne’s greatsword came down with such force that it split her opponent’s blade cleanly in two.
Even so, Grabel, having reached the round of sixteen, earned respect. Tossing the ruined hilt aside, he raised his fist and barreled toward Anne, undoubtedly aiming either to close the distance and punch her or seize her weapon.
Anne, however, threw her sword at him.
Caught off-guard by the sudden gesture and the weight of the blade far exceeding expectations, the opponent stumbled, unable to evade Anne’s quick jab to his side. With that single blow, he fell unconscious.
Though something seemed to rise from the corner of the fallen foe’s mouth, it’s best we pretend we didn’t see it.
Upon the judge’s decision of incapacity, Anne’s victory was declared. Turning to us, she flashed a radiant smile and stretched out her hand to signal a classic V-sign.
“Hmm… Anne Clein. She’s tantalizing but reportedly the designated heir to her family. Perhaps Grabel would be an easier recruit being of common birth.”
“Her twin brother, Ian Clein, is also said to be skilled; perhaps approaching him could be advantageous as well.”
Amid these murmurs of evaluation nearby, a pang of pride welled within me. Before the next match, I decided it might be better to head back to Anne’s personal waiting room to congratulate her in person.
“Anne, congrats!”
Bursting into her private waiting room, I was unexpectedly greeted, not by her bright voice, but by a pair of panties adorned with adorable bear designs.
She must have been switching back into her regular clothes after removing her armor when we entered, leaving her mid-change in only her leggings.
Even though she and I shared the same dormitory and occasionally crossed paths in various states of undress, stumbling upon this scene without warning threw me off. Turning my head, I struggled not to look.
“Great match. At this rate, you’ll have no trouble making it to the final.”
Unlike my reaction, Yuli and Selian entered the room with utter calm.
True, perhaps it’s strange for someone to get flustered seeing a same-sex friend change clothes.
Gathering myself, I approached Anne, deliberately averting my eyes from the bear-printed underwear.
“Oh, El!?”
Anne, on the other hand, was understandably embarrassed, fumbling with her tights. Caught in an awkward position, she tripped on them and fell onto the floor.
Though her toughened body and use of aura should prevent injury, her pose revealed her bear-themed underwear all the more.
Reacting quickly, Yuli rushed over to help Anne up. As Yuli assisted her to her feet, Anne’s face lit up with crimson embarrassment over the embarrassing scene she’d just displayed.
“So, uh, what brings you here?”
“You came to congratulate Anne on making the quarterfinals, didn’t you? Don’t be so startled.”
“But, well…”
“Oh, come on. What’s there to blush about among friends? Right, El?”
“Umm, uh? Of course not! No reason to be embarrassed.”
“Of course! Even El says so.”
“Th-That’s right. Hehe… there’s no reason to be embarrassed among friends of the same gender…”
Though Yuli’s comment helped Anne relax somewhat, her face remained flushed as she kept sneaking glances at me.
…The way she kept glancing at me told me she was likely suspicious of me. Probably because I had obviously turned away and looked flustered when I first caught sight of her underwear upon entering the room.
For a normal female friend, there is no reason to feel startled seeing someone’s underwear. Her suspicion was justified.
Worse, even as she changed, her furtive glances seemed to test how I reacted, as if trying to probe me.
But there’s no need to worry. I have the masterful acting skills that have deceived both Yuli and Selian.
Fortunately, it appeared that Anne had bought the act of me behaving completely at ease, hiding any embarrassment. Still, seeing how her face remained beet red, she was undoubtedly mortified for having fallen so clumsily.
“Well, I’ll go do the winner’s interview now!”
Having barely finished changing into casual wear, Anne rushed off without so much as lingering for conversation.
If Anne continues her streak to the semi-finals, final, or even secures a championship, she’ll only get busier.
With Anne departing, the sound of the waiting room door closing left only me, Yuli, and Selian.
“Yuli?”
And then came Selian’s frosty tone, likely tied to the topic of punishment we discussed this morning.
…Should I sneak away… no, stay here, Selian?
