Vol 9 Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Morning/Recollection III“Y……Y-Y-You confessed, you said……!?”Although Julis tried to ask as calmly as possible, her voice could not help but sound nervous.“Yes.”Training room before noon. As Saya nodded calmly, Julis and Kirin widened their eyes in shock.“W-Wait, Saya. In other words, does that mean, um…… that you conveyed your feelings to Ayato……?”“That’s what I’m saying.”Even when she asked again just to make sure, the answer did not change.“Y-Yes, I see, that’s right……”It really seemed to be true. As soon as she realized it, an indescribable feeling of anxiety welled up in Julis’ heart.“No, but, um…… and then……”There were many things that crossed her mind that she wanted to ask Saya, but she was not able to easily put them into words.After all, it was a confession.And moreover, it was a confession from Saya, who was a childhood friend for Ayato and, although they had been separated for several years, the closest and most reliable existence to him.From a third party’s viewpoint, even if Saya had bluntly expressly her good will, the fact that she, who should have only maintained their past relationship, took a step forward meant that it would not be strange even if there was something similar from Ayato’s side.And assuming that there could be a similar change in Ayato, it meant that there was enough possibility of him accepting Saya’s confession; and in that case──As Julis’ eyes were spinning around in circles and she held her head, her train of thought ground to a halt.“U-Um! Err, a-and then, what was Ayato-senpai’s reply……!?”Then, Kirin, who was stiff like a stone statue until now, finally came to her senses and asked so with teary eyes while panicking more than usual.(Yes, that’s it!)Julis abruptly came to her senses and nodded vigorously as Kirin asked precisely what she wanted to ask.However upon close inspection, Kirin’s eyes were also going around in circles just like Julis earlier and one could see that she was at her limit.Rather, her feet were trembling and it looked like she would collapse at any moment; her whole body trembled like a wet small animal’s and she seemed to be much more confused than Julis.“He didn’t give me a reply yet.”“Eh……?”“I told him that he can give a reply anytime. I only wanted to convey my feelings.”But in contrast with the perplexed Julis and Kirin, Saya plainly declared so.“I-I see……”Although Julis heaved a sigh of relief for the time being, the next moment she felt irritation to herself.(Why do I have to feel relieved about that……?!)Including the matter of Ayato and Sylvia at the School Festival, there had been many cases recently where her heart had been thrown out of order.(That’s right, regardless of whom he associates with, it doesn’t anything to do with me…… no, well, he’s a teammate, so it isn’t completely unrelated to me; but anyway he’s free to do as he pleases, I have no say in…… no, but, he was the one who came and told me face-to-face that “he wants to become my strength”, so even I can at least make a complaint…… No, no, it isn’t really like I have anything to complain about, but…… Ah!)Julis nearly reached an impasse in her thoughts once again, but as she somehow came back to her senses by herself this time, she shook her head many times as if to shake off these thoughts.“Phew……”Kirin, too, perhaps because she felt relieved at Saya’s words, weakly sat down on the floor.“B-But, why are you expressly telling us that……?”“I just want to play fair with my rivals…… Well, you as well, do your best.”To these words plainly said by Saya, both Kirin, who suddenly hopped from her seated position as is, and Julis, with a red face, shouted.“N-No, I-I don’t really……!”“T-That’s right! W-What are you saying……?!”Looking at Julis and Kirin, Saya nodded expressionlessly.“If that’s the case, it’s fine then. But, don’t regret later.”“Aw……”“Gunuh……”For some reason, Saya’s words today felt strangely heavy.(N-No, no good, no good. Calm down……)Julis’ pace has been disturbed for some reason since a little while ago.As she calmed down her heart by taking a deep breath, she asked a question different from Kirin’s to Saya.“N-No, well, more importantly. I don’t mean to pry too much into a private matter, but why on earth did you do it in the middle of the <gryps>? One wrong move and it could become a seed of trouble within the team…… No, it’s not really like we’re that narrow-minded; I ask just to be sure.”“Yea, about that…… I’m sorry.”Then unexpectedly, Saya honestly bowed her head.“The timing was purely due to my selfishness, so I apologize for it. But──”As Saya said up to there, she stared straight at Julis’ eyes.“It may selfish of me to say this, but I think that when the match will come, everyone shouldn’t be so weak-minded as to be affected by such a trivial matter. That’s why, it’s all right.”“That’s……”Since Julis thought that it was in fact as Saya said, for an instant, she was at a loss for words to return. Both Julis and Kirin could concentrate without problem in a serious match; she had that conviction.This was because rather than keep going on about the importance of the matter, there is the problem of separating it into different part to the very end. Both Julis and Kirin had a place that they were aiming at in the <festa>and a reason why they had to win no matter what.And, Julis knew that Saya did not have any reason to do it.Saya purely fought for Ayato. That’s why she was probably able to take the big step called confession, and no one could blame her for it.“But, only Enfield is different. I might be a little anxious regarding her.”“Eh……? The president, is it?”To these words, Kirin’s eyes flickered wonderingly.Julis had the same expression though.“There’s probably no problem with Claudia. Even considering her personality, I think that she’s the number one person about whom you can come to a clear decision on that area though.”Claudia took a quite assertive approach towards Ayato, and there was no mistaking that Julis was concerned about it; but when it came to how serious she was about her feelings, even Julis could not judge.However, in contrast to Kirin who nodded several times, Saya shook her head with a serious look.“You’re wrong. I understood it right away the first time I met her. Enfield is serious.”“……Hou. Is it an affirmation based on some firm reason?”“Intuition”Though Saya’s reply was very simple, Julis already understood that she could not take it lightly.“Hmm……”──Then, the training room’s door opened there, and Ayato who was wearing training gear and with sweat streaming down his forehead, walked in.“Sorry, guess I barely came on time……? I was immersed in my independent training.”Seeing as he was breathing slightly heavily, he probably ran his way here.“Ayato, good morning.”“!…… Ah, Saya. Good morning.”Saya ran up to Ayato with a smile, and Ayato gently greeted her as usual.But, Julis did not overlook the nervousness that ran on his face, although it was just for an instant.“It’s all right, even if you didn’t rush, everyone hasn’t gathered yet. Come on, Ayato.”Saya took out a towel and handed it to Ayato.Was it their imagination or did it feel like Saya was closer to Ayato than before? Although there was originally the fact that they were childhood friends and that closeness of Saya was more like intimacy between family or siblings, the atmosphere was somewhat different now.“……Yes, thank you.”On the other hand, the attitude of Ayato, who received the towel, was, though just only a little, awkward. One could guess that he was obviously conscious of Saya. But, one could also see that their relationship was by no means advancing into the bad direction.“Errr, then I’ll wash this towel and return it later, so……”“No, it’s fine. You don’t need to worry about it.”“No, I can’t do that.”“……Boo, I’m saying that it’s fine.”Saya, who pouted and tried to take the towel, strongly glued to Ayato.“Ah……”Then, as she noticed it, Saya abruptly separated her body. Although her expression did not change, she slightly blushed and cast her eyes down.It was not a reaction that Saya would have made before (before the confession, that is).Julis and Kirin were looking at such Saya and Ayato at a distance.“……W-What’s wrong, Kirin? If you have anything you want to ask Ayato, you should just go ask.”“Eeeh!? I-I-I don’t really have anything……”Kirin curled herself up with a face which seemed like she would cry anytime, but even so she timidly opened her mouth while looking up at Julis with upturned eyes.“D-Does Julis-senpai, er, um……”“I-I don’t really anything to ask. Yes, that’s right. Absolutely nothing!”“Aw…… I-Is that so? I’m sorry……”“N-No, it isn’t like I’m angry, you see?”Julis hurriedly comforted Kirin and then greatly exhaled so as to relax. It was to no avail in any way though.“……But she goes have courage. We should honestly praise her for that.”“……Yes.”The form was different, but Julis understood all too well the fear of taking the first step in order to change something.Saya’s determination deserved her respect.“By the way, you say that everyone hasn’t gathered…… it’s already time, right?”There, while Ayato checked the time on his portable terminal, he looked around in the training room.They should have scheduled to carry out a strategy meeting today in preparation for tomorrow’s semifinal. It could be said that Team Yellow Dragon, their opponent of the semifinal, was definitely their most powerful enemy so far.Especially the strength of Woo Xiao Fay alias <hagun>, who was their (Team Yellow Dragon) greatest battle potential, was overwhelming; and defeat would be inevitable should they challenge him without taking any measures. The spearmanship, Taijutsu and Star Senjutsu that he displayed in the second round── even though even only one among these was enough a threat, Xiao Fay possessed all of them.“That’s right, but the President isn’t here yet……”“To think that she’s late; that’s quite rare.”To Kirin’s words, Julis continued as such.As far as Julis remembered, there has never been a precedent in the past where Claudia came late at the appointed time.“Oh, I’ve got a call. Speaking of the devil, how…… Hmm?”When Julis took out her portable terminal, she knitted her brows. It was an unregistered number.As she opened a space window while feeling dubious, a terminal screen in blackout state was unfolded.It was voice communication.『……! Ah, thanks god! It’s finally connected!』Moreover, the sound was very bad as there was too much noise. Even so, Julis was familiar with that voice.“……This voice, is it Laetitia?”Although they were acquainted, it was not to the extent that they would contact each other directly.『That’s right. There is no time, so I’ll go right to the point. Is Claudia there?』“What is it, out of the blue? ……Well whatever, she hasn’t yet come here today.”『Ah, I thought so……!』A voice filled with anguish leaked out from the other side of the window space.“What the hell is going on? If you’ve business with Claudia, you should just call her directly.”『It’s because I can’t do it that I’m calling you like this! Anyway, please go look for her at once and ensure her safety!』“Her safety, you say……? Wait, what the hell do you mean by that?! What are you talking about!?”From the sense of urgency transmitted by the voice, Julis guessed that it was not trivial matter.Ayato and company, who were listening to the conversation on the side, kept quiet with serious expressions.『Even this line, which I took measures against the Sinodomias, will hold safely for still around 30 seconds. So, I will tell you only about my business. ──Galaxy has taken action.』“!”With that alone, they were able to roughly understand the situation.“I got it. I don’t know the details, but I give you my thanks.”『And one more thing, there is something that I want to tell Amagiri Ayato.』“To Ayato……?”When Julis made an eye signal, Ayato also gave a small nod and stood beside Julis.“What do you want to tell me?”『That is──』 ＊ Quite a time has passed after having watched the .“Claudia, this is a present for you.”Claudia stared, as she was unusually surprised from the bottom of her heart, at the case that Isabella held out while saying so. After all, for as long as she could remember, this was the first time that she got something like a present from this mother of hers.Claudia was bought things she wanted and, while being a child, she was given an almost inexhaustible amount of funds; but that and this were different stories.“What on earth is this sudden turn of events?”When Claudia asked so while smiling wryly, Isabella kindly answered.“Nothing special. It will be your birthday soon, right?”“That’s right, but……”“Well anyway, look at this.”Isabella released the lock of the case that she put on the living room’s desk before the perplexed Claudia.“This is……”Seeing it, which was stored in the case, Claudia unintentionally held her breath.“Yes, it is