Part 1
Akari walked through the city of Seisen alongside Touma. Tomorrow was the start of the tournament.
"Sorry about the misunderstanding with my family…" she said, a little embarrassed.
"You don't have to apologize," Touma replied. "It's obvious you're all really close."
She gave him a warm, gentle smile.
"We are. My mom and dad have been together since high school. And my big brother's always been there for me."
"That other guy… is he your cousin or something?"
Akari tapped a finger to her chin, as if trying to define the relationship between her brother and his best friend.
"You must mean Tanaka."
"Those two have been close since they were kids… ever since Makoto got into a fight with some thugs who tried to kidnap him."
"Whoa! That's insane… He sounds like a shōnen manga hero."
"I'd say he's more of a reckless idiot," she laughed softly. "But yeah, Makoto's always been impulsive."
"He protects the people he cares about… even if it means getting hurt."
"Even when he knows he can't win…" she added, lowering her gaze to her clenched fist.
"That's… amazing," Touma murmured. "To have that kind of strength… to protect the ones you love."
Akari suddenly slapped him on the back—so hard he nearly left his body.
"Come on, don't get all serious on me!"
"Sometimes salvation comes from action… and sometimes, just the right words."
"It's not all about fists, you know."
She paused. Her expression softened.
"Even a frozen heart can start beating again…"
For a moment, her thoughts drifted to Shizuki… and to Touma.
But seeing how quiet he had gone, she shook her head vigorously and slapped both her cheeks, snapping herself out of that melancholic spiral.
"What am I even saying, fu fu~! The Tsubasa family is as loud and united as ever!"
Touma noticed the shift immediately.
From the moment they met, Akari had always been energetic and carefree… but lately, she'd started to lower her guard.
Bit by bit, she was revealing the real Akari.
"Hey, Touma… what about your family? Your parents? Do you have any siblings?"
The question caught him off guard. Like he didn't know how to put into words something he'd buried for a long time.
"Well…"
"Ah—sorry! Maybe I shouldn't have asked that—"
"No, it's okay. Really," he said, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. "My parents passed away a long time ago… in a Nulvoid event. I was five."
"I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to—" Akari murmured, lowering her head.
"Don't beat yourself up," Touma replied with a faint smile. "There's no way you could've known."
"Besides, I have Hina. She's like a sister to me."
"And her dad—General Fujimura."
"They're both like family. I grew up with them… and with a cousin too."
Now Akari understood. That strong bond between Hina and Touma—she had suspected it before, but now everything made sense.
"That must've been really tough…" she said softly.
"Honestly… I don't know," he said, looking up at the sky. "In some ways, I think I had a pretty good childhood."
Akari watched him in silence.
She had a feeling.
Touma wasn't the strongest.
He wasn't the smartest.
But he had something else…
It was something she knew very well.
That unwavering warmth.
That light that never goes out.
Like the memory of a hug from someone… who's no longer here.
Then, without warning, Touma held out a small box.
"Oh right—I almost forgot. The real reason I invited you today… I wanted to give you something for your match."
He handed her a paper bag. Akari took it, confused.
"What is this?"
"Some gifts. Open them!" Touma said, practically bouncing with excitement.
Inside the bag, Akari pulled out a pink teddy bear onesie—the very same one she'd lost the last time she saw him.
"This is…"
"Yep! Your favorite pajamas. Took me a while to track it down… but I finally did it!"
Akari nearly burst into tears from the joy, hugging the onesie like it was a long-lost friend.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Wait, there's more. Open the box," Touma added, even more hyped.
She opened it with a smile—and inside, she found a belt. A custom belt with a pink teddy bear for a buckle—a miniature version of a champion's belt.
"What's this?"
"A surprise. It's a belt to help you when you're feeling vulnerable."
She didn't quite get it, but the little bear on the buckle sparkled in her eyes.
"Touma, I…"
He smiled and scratched his head, sheepishly.
"It's nothing. I know you're super strong… but I thought it'd look good on you during the tournament."
Akari hugged him so tightly he almost lost consciousness on the spot.
"Akari… can't… breathe…"
"Too bad. You'll just have to deal with it. Thank you for everything, Touma."
And so the two of them stayed like that for a while. Even as Touma began to turn slightly purple… just before he passed out.
. . .
Some time later, Touma woke up lying on a park bench—his head resting on Akari's lap.
"Huh…? What happened? Where am I?"
Akari looked away, avoiding his gaze. No way she was going to tell him he'd fainted from a hug.
"You just… fell asleep."
Touma blinked, then realized the situation—and tried to sit up—
But Akari held him in place, effortlessly.
"You can stay like this a little longer. I don't mind."
He couldn't exactly run away either.
"Well… if you say so," Touma muttered, clearly flustered.
"Also… there's something I wanted to ask you."
"Hmm?"
Touma looked at her, puzzled.
"Would you be my analyst for the tournament?"
"Your what?"
She shot him a glare.
"I can't believe you've been at this academy for three months and still don't know what an analyst is."
"They teach that stuff in Professor Duval's class! I… kind of zone out sometimes…"
Akari crossed her arms and sighed.
"Yeah, I figured. Anyone would get distracted in Duval's class."
"Anyway… an analyst is a combatant's support partner."
"They study combat patterns, analyze skills, plan strategies… all that brainy stuff."
Touma furrowed his brow.
"Do I look like a brainiac to you?"
Akari nodded enthusiastically.
"I want you to help me… just like you helped Tokisaki in her match against the president. Will you?"
Touma looked at her, processing her words.
"If you don't want to, it's fine… I know I'm not her."
"It's not that," he said softly, lowering his voice. "I just wonder… what good would my help even do?"
"I already told you. It's not all about brute strength."
"You're strong," she said, gently tapping his forehead, "up here."
Then she lowered her finger, tapping his chest.
"And here."
"That's why… I think we make a pretty good team," she added, with quiet sincerity.
Touma blushed, just a little.
But she was right.
He couldn't let her face the arena alone—even if it was just an exhibition match.
And she had no one else to rely on.
"I'll do it," he replied with unexpected conviction. "I'll be your analyst. Or whatever else you need."
"Thank you… I knew you'd understand," she said, offering him a warm smile in return.
And so, with a quiet promise between them, the two of them sat together, gazing up at the sky.
Because on that beautiful morning in Tenryu… no more words were needed.