Upon returning to the dormitory, I heard about Mathias from Frank and Cedric.
Then, when I got home, I was reading manga in bed.
I was thinking I was getting hungry when I heard a sound from the next room, and heavy stomping footsteps approached.
“Big Brother!”
The door opened, and Toko in her uniform entered the room.
“What’s up? Did Herbology end?”
“It ended! But that’s irrelevant! I’m going to knock Mathias flying!”
Toko came over to the bed, shaking me.
“Knock him flying, I say…”
“That bastard! Setting aside others, to insult my own parents too! I was about to give him a taste of the Toko Punch!”
What a weak-sounding punch name.
“Well, it’s more like a duel or an exercise anyway. It’s trivial.”
Fights between the nearby kids are more straightforward than this.
“That’s inevitable. Magic might lead to fatalities, and the teacher definitely won’t allow it anyway.”
“Yeah, I guess…”
“But I will knock him flying! I won’t accept losing!”
“Alright, alright.”
“Toko”
“Yeah?”
“You should lose.”
“Huh?”
Toko gives me a look like I’m crazy.
“Though fighting Sharl is inevitable, you should lose.”
“What are you talking about? Of course, I’ll win. No matter how strong the president is, I’ll crush her completely!”
Why did Sharl do something like that?
Is she defending Mathias?
“Are you serious?”
“Of course! I carry the name of La Folle!”
“I can’t really cheer for you…”
“Why not! Cheer for me! Oh, it’s because the president is beautiful, isn’t it! You pervert, Big Brother! Baka, baka!”
Toko says absurd things and storms out of the room.
“Phew…Sharl, what are you going to do, shall I ask you… oh?”
As I was about to call Sharl, a ringtone came from my phone; it was from her.
“Hello?”
“Ah, Tsukasa? Is this a good time?”
It’s definitely Sharl.
“I’m fine, but what’s going on?”
“Sorry… Can you meet me somewhere?”
Checking the time, it was just past two.
Maybe around five in Astral, but because of the time difference, it’s still the afternoon here.
“Sure.”
“I’m waiting at the park.”
“Got it.”
As I hung up the call, I changed into my sportswear and went downstairs.
“Mom, I’ll be going for a run.”
“Alright. See you!”
After telling Mom, I left the house and hurried to the park. When I arrived, Sharl was sitting on a park bench in her uniform.
“Sharl”
I call out to Sharl who was looking down.
“Ah, Tsukasa… ”
When Sharl looked up, I sat next to her.
“Long time no see”
“Yes… I’m sorry for everything.”
Sharl bows her head and apologizes.
“No, it’s fine with me. I was planning to fight Mathias anyway.”
“I should’ve stopped it earlier.”
“Not really. That guy would’ve clashed with someone sooner or later anyway.”
I think it was Ilmera or Yuika he was dealing with.
“Yes… I’m sorry.”
“It’s not just about me. What are you doing, Sharl?”
“Uh… I thought I should stop it.”
“Well, you know, just let guys have their little fights. Even if it’s someone from a family you’re close to, do you really have to go this far?”
Frankly, I think Mathias should keep his distance. It’ll only harm Sharl’s reputation.
“Maybe… Sorry. Before I realized it, I had already thrown a gauntlet at Toko-san.”
“You don’t have to apologize… What are you going to do now? Can we make it like it never happened?”
“That’s impossible. Since I’ve already challenged her to a duel.”
If I tell Toko, she wouldn’t cancel it anyway…
“Are you going to fight La Folle?”
“That’s how it seems… ”
She’s going to do it…
“Can I ask you straightforwardly?”
“Sure.”
“What are your chances of winning?”
“Almost none… She’s better than me in both magic power and skill. I can’t beat her with magic.”
If she can’t win with magic…
“Melee combat?”
“If there’s a chance, it would be that. Mages are usually weak in close combat.”
Sharl in a melee fight…
The girl with zero athletic ability versus Toko in close combat…
“Sharl, let me tell you something. Since I’m in the same class as La Folle, I know she’s incredibly skilled in close combat.”
She’s also trained in the same martial arts as I am.
“Yes… I take back my earlier statement. My chances of winning are nonexistent.”
If you can’t win with either magic or martial arts, that’s the result…
“Maybe we should make it like it never happened? Or, could we appoint a proxy?”
“That’s impossible due to the relationship between Iver and La Folle. Also, in duels, proxies are appointed sometimes. But, we’re a warrior family… ”
That’s not allowed.
“I see…”
“Yes… ”
Toko and Sharl…
My younger sister and my friend…
One is the obnoxious half of a pair of arrogant twins who only knows reinforcing spells, while the other is gentle, beautiful Sharl, who even helps me with my studies…
Yeah, there’s no comparison.
“Sharl, the duel is on Saturday. We have five days. Within that time, I can teach you martial arts countermeasures.”
“Eh?”
Sharl looked up.
“That doesn’t mean you’ll win, and I don’t expect you to master them. But knowing and not knowing makes a huge difference.”
“But…”
“What is it?”
“No, never mind… Isn’t this duel actually a 2 vs 2 battle between me and Mathias versus Toko-san and you? Like a battle between C class and D class?”
What? Is that true?
“How the hell should I know? I just plan to knock Mathias flying; I don’t recall opposing you.”
If we were enemies, why are we having a pleasant conversation at the park on the day of the duel?
“Yes… Is it really okay?”
“It’s fine, totally fine.”
If Toko says anything, I’ll just share the pocket money Grandpa gave me, and that’ll cheer her up.
The source of this wisdom? Because it works for me.
“Thank you…”
“Alright, so let’s start the training. Go change.”
“U, understood!”
Sharl stood up and ran out of the park.
I watched her retreating back.
“Her running speed is still terrible…”
Is she okay?
At this rate, I’ll have to visit Toko’s room the night before and keep her awake.
Thank you for reading.
If you found this work ‘Interesting!’ or ‘I want to know what happens next!’, please consider bookmarking the story or leaving a ★★★★★ rating as it would greatly motivate me to continue writing.
Thank you very much!
