Seiju no Kuni no Kinju Tsukai

"Hey, Ira."

Ray visited Ira's room the day he withheld World War II from tomorrow.

Ray says as he closes the door to the room.

"Tomorrow, it's World War II."

"... yeah"

"Oh, what's going on? You don't have the usual energy."

"Huh? Well, do you?

"Speaking of which, I didn't see Crohiko when I went to see the Match Table for WWII."

"Oh, yeah... Krohiko said I had a sudden errand to run. The schoolmaster's maid of honor came and gave me a message from Crohiko."

"Hmm, well. I wonder what it is? Oh, speaking of errands, I saw someone come a while ago who looked like a member of the Knights and leave here in a carriage with Currier... maybe the same errand"

Ray sits next to Ira sitting on the edge of her bunk.

"What have you done, Ira?

Ray turns his hand around his hips like he's playing.

In contrast, Ira responded with a bitter smile.

"Haha... I'm ashamed, Atashi, I think I'm getting nervous."

Compared to World War I, you look a little weak.

"During WWI, Crohiko watched the game for me... even before and after the game, he stayed with me. I was supposed to go check out today's match table, and I was supposed to go check it out with him."

Ray waits still for Ira's words.

"Maybe if I was alone with Atashi, I'd have lost World War I. I also have a special training... part of my feelings, I guess it's big. Today, when I went to look at the Match Table... it got really intense, didn't it? Everyone around me seemed stronger than I was, and I got scared... when Crohiko was near me at the game, it wasn't like that."

Of course, I'm not scared compared to the Four Homicides.

But that's a different kind of feeling than it was then.

It is not a threat to life.

That's - mindfulness.

It's like I'm in the wrong place, that's the feeling.

"Oh well... were you going alone? I thought I was gonna go see it with a flirt with Crohiko, 'cause no one was gonna go see it with Ira. Hey."

"Yes, flirting!?

Hi-ha-ha, and Ira wrapping her flaming cheeks around with both hands.

"But if that's how it was, I wish I'd gone with you..."

"But..."

Ira dropped her gaze on her lap.

"At that time, I didn't think I could just rely on Krohiko. Sure, I'm nervous... but you can't lose out on feelings. If you lose with feelings, you won't win what you can win."

Knock it off, Ray smiles.

"I'm worried... you don't have to."

Ray slaps Ira on the shoulder.

"I'm stronger, Ira."

"... the old Atashi was a child used to giving up. I've always been somewhere in my mind looking for a compromise."

Even during Operation Giant Crusade, a fellow offensive squad who was to be organized because of his rubbing with Bashkarta left, and he was already going to end by apologizing to the Bashkartas himself.

But when I told him the story, he said it seemed like something.

- Um... is there something wrong with that?

And in the end, the giant crusade was executed, but then the operation entered an unexpected development.

A giant appeared unfamiliar to the lower echelons, halving the Bashkarta squad, which was hand-finished.

But he did not hesitate to stand up to such an unknown enemy.

That's right.

Even to those four fierce calamities that everyone was wrapped in despair at the time of his appearance, he stood up.

When I first met him, he seemed nice, but more like someone else than he is now.

He changed at a tremendous rate - getting stronger.

"The old Atashi was always looking for a way to escape. But right now, you're always..."

Seeing him like that, I, myself, thought I'd change.

"I'm looking for a reason not to compromise."

Ray exhaled, ahhh, and seemed emotional.

"Honey, I'm stronger. We've been together a long time, so I've got something to put in."

"But of course I'm grateful to Ray, too, right? In retrospect, thanks to Ray, I've been helped a lot."

Punyu.

Ray pressed Ira's cheek with his finger.

"So come on, Ira... which one do you like better, Crohiko or me?

"... Huh? Yep!? I don't know, I can't choose..."

"Oh man, it's Ira around not honestly choosing Crohiko..."

"Or... if I lay..."

"Come on! You don't seem to have to worry about Ira, and I'll be off early in case of tomorrow!

Ray gets up and walks up to the door.

"Ah... you know, Ray"

Ira summoned Ray.

"Hmm? What?

"Hello, are we talking about? Atashi, if you win this Holy Martial Arts Festival -"

So I rethought, and Ira shook her head.

"Yeah, sorry... nothing"

"... well"

I don't want you to inquire. The air must have passed.

Without further inquiry as to what he had tried to say, Ray left the room.

Poop, and Ira rolls over a thin blanket.

Staring at the ceiling.

"If I win this Holy Martial Arts Festival, Atashi, I'm sure I'll feel confident... I think I can be more courageous than I am now. Then Atashi, be brave..."

The words ahead stayed in my head without coming out of my mouth.

Then a while later, Ira fisted at the ceiling.

"Win, never"