"Kidouin! Are you that Kidouin?!" Hearing Ikki's greeting, Stella, Shizuku, and the others immediately understood the identities of the young man and woman before them. And among them, the one they paid the most attention to was naturally Kidouin Kanata.
Kidouin Kanata, the B-rank Blazer ranked second in Hagun Academy, known as the Crimson Lady. She was renowned for her excellent combat ability, having previously been specially summoned by the government as a student to actively participate in suppressing numerous ability-crime organizations led by Rebellion>, dismantling many of their bases, making her a truly outstanding student Blazer.
"What nonsense is the Vice President talking about? I didn't do anything at all! I almost even got into a fight with him!" Shirou said with a smile, looking at the two standing beside Ikki.
"Is that so? Since Emiya-kun says so, then let's assume it is!" Looking at Shirou drinking water at the table, Mitou Fuyuma couldn't help but exclaim, "Hagun Academy in the future is truly filled with talent!" With that, he left with Kidouin Kanata.
After Student Council Vice President Mitou Fuyuma left, everyone turned their attention to Ayase.
"Ayatsuji-senpai." Hearing Ikki's call, Ayase trembled, then awkwardly averted her gaze, as if trying to avoid Ikki. But Ikki still asked, "Do you have any connection with those unfriendly-looking students?" The other party knew Ayase's name. However, Ayase wasn't a famous Blazer. So they must have known each other privately.
But their relationship couldn't be described as friendly.
This was clear from Ayase's expression.
"If you don't want to say, you don't have to force yourself to answer. It's just that when they came to talk, Ayatsuji-senpai's attitude was very unusual. If you have any trouble with them, I might be able to help." As Ayase's friend, Ikki wanted to help her.
Ayase hesitated before answering Ikki's question. "The thing is..." But at that moment, the sound of a message from a student handbook interrupted their conversation.
It was a text notification. And the notification rang simultaneously from both Ikki's and Ayase's pockets. The sender was the Selection Battle Executive Committee.
"Oh no!" Looking at the text message in his hand, and remembering the simultaneous ringing from both their phones, Ikki immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. "Ikki's opponent for the eleventh selection battle has been officially decided. Opponent: Ayase of Class 3-1."
"The timing of this message is just too bad." Ikki knew very well that Ayase must have received a message with the same content. At this moment, Ayase's face instantly lost all color. She said, pale-faced, "Um, I'm sorry! My roommate messaged me to go back immediately, I have to go!" Ikki knew very well that this was definitely a lie.
But he couldn't stop her.
"Hmm, I understand. See you tomorrow." Looking at Ayase hurriedly running out, Shirou walked to Ikki's side, patted his shoulder, and said, "She probably won't come."
"Ah, I have that feeling too!"
"Although I haven't met her many times, I can tell that she carries many burdens, and this Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival must be very important to her!"
Hearing Shirou's sigh, Ikki paused, then suddenly asked, "I remember, Shirou, when you project someone else's Noble Phantasm, don't you see some of their experiences?"
"That's right, there is indeed such a thing."
"Then do you know about Ayatsuji-senpai's situation?"
"Me? Of course, I do!" Looking at Ikki, who was a little excited after hearing his affirmative answer, Shirou suddenly said, "But I don't intend to tell you, because you solving everything alone is useless."
"What do you mean?"
"It means you go investigate yourself! Ayase's past is tightly intertwined with that Swordsman Killer. It just so happens that the other party is also very interested in you. Let's solve these two matters together!" After leaving these words, Shirou left the family restaurant,
leaving only a bewildered Ikki to slowly ponder.
Looking at Ikki's dazed expression, Shirou sincerely felt:
"Riddlers are truly interesting!"
________________________________________
In the following days, everyone's lives became peaceful again. After becoming siblings with Stella, Shirou officially took over the role of chef in his dormitory. As a result, Ikki became the dormitory's sanitation ambassador. From that day on, Stella, Shizuku, and Nagi Arisu, conquered by Shirou's cooking, came here continuously every day. It was also from then on that Shirou and the others ate all three meals together as a group of five. With various chores distributed, their relationships grew even closer. And as time passed, Ikki's match with Ayase was approaching.
On the day before this match, after receiving an invitation from Ayase, Ikki went out late at night with her. Then, he returned utterly exhausted. Looking at Ikki, whose limbs were weak and who had to lean on the wall to walk, Shirou said with a smile, "Good job, Ikki! So that's how you save helpless girls!"
"Your body isn't doing so well either. It's only been this long, and you're already completely drained!"
"I don't believe you can't tell that this is the after-effect of using Ittou Shura."
"Of course I know that! Midnight Ittou Shura!"
"What the hell is 'Midnight Ittou Shura'?!" Ikki, who had used all his strength to climb onto his bed, said weakly, "Ayase-senpai tricked me. She suddenly jumped from the rooftop. To save her, I used Ittou Shura!"
"Ah, that? I saw it!"
"But what should I do?! Should I report her?!
Ayatsuji-senpai must have already set up traps in tomorrow's match arena, right?!"
"Did you figure out her ability?"
"Yes! I figured it out!" Ayase's ability was the concept-interference type, Wound Expansion. Through this ability, she could expand the sword wounds inflicted by her Noble Phantasm, Scarlet Claw Blade. She could freely make the sword wounds on an opponent's body bloom, no matter how small, turning them into severe injuries.
However, this was only when used on humans. Her ability could also be used on space. By lightly cutting the air with her Noble Phantasm, Scarlet Claw, and then blooming the marks left on the air at a specific moment, she could instantly create a vacuum blade the so-called Kamaitachi phenomenon. This was Ayase's Noble Art, Gale Claw Mark>.
Through this ability, knowing that her normal means couldn't defeat Ikki, she would inevitably lay down blade marks in the middle of the arena. When the battle came, she would then expand the slashes using her ability. To defeat Ikki, she had certainly thought a lot!
"I don't intend to interfere with her matters. After all, she's your disciple; go deal with it yourself!" Hearing Shirou's heartless words, Ikki couldn't help but smile. Yes, she was his disciple! Thinking this, Ikki's eyes suddenly became determined.
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The next day. Looking at Ikki, who returned during the class break with a smile on his face, Shirou asked,
"Seeing you so happy, did you sort it out?"
"That's right, it's all sorted. I really bothered Oregi-sensei quite a bit for it!"
"Good that it's sorted!" Shirou redirected his gaze back to his book. As Ikki passed by him, Shirou suddenly asked, "Since you can handle everything, I won't be coming to watch the match!"
"Don't worry, I won't lose before I face you."
"That's good!"
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter