[Now then, moving on to the second match of round two, we have another rare sight, a match between two all-male teams. Despite being the youngest competitor in this match, the A-rank player Blue freezes everything, forming the unique team known as the Omenjers. Facing them is the superbly coordinated team built around the C-rank Kazama player, the Gōfū Fighters. Both teams showed excellent movement in round one, but commentator Ranbu, how do you see this match?]

[Gōfū has appeared in other tournaments several times, so their experience is quite considerable. On top of that, Kazama’s skillful close-quarters combat using wind manipulation should pose a threat to Blue, whose fighting style centers on long-range attacks.]

[Oh. Then does that mean the Gōfū Fighters have the advantage?]

[No, not necessarily. Gōfū’s first match was close enough to be called a narrow victory. Because of that, their stamina and magical power likely haven’t fully recovered yet.]

[I see. In that respect, the Omenjers didn’t expend anything at all in their first match except for Blue and even Blue still looked relaxed. Hm, this is shaping up to be a completely unpredictable match. Everyone, no blinking allowed.]

"Waaah!"

"Kazama-kuuun! Do your best!"

"Blue-chan! Fiiight!"

"Higumaru-chaaaan! Look over here!"

[A-amazing, that’s an incredible amount of cheering and even for the newly participating Omenjers members. I can understand Kazama since it seems a cheering squad came from the Special Zone, but…]

[Blue is a top-tier A-rank, after all. It wouldn’t be strange if he already had a fan club.]

[Then Higumaru is… as expected of the mascot character from the hugely popular anime Magical Girl Puripuri? Or is it the charm of the person inside?]

[Hibiki-san. There is no ‘person inside.’ You mustn’t crush children’s dreams.]

[That was a slip of the tongue. Now then, the head referee raises the flag at center field. And then…]

"Match, start!!"

[It’s begun! Kazama charges out immediately! Wrapped in wind, he closes in on the Omenjers at incredible speed! Is his target Blue?]

[He’s likely boosting his propulsion with aerokinesis. If he can slip into close range, it becomes Kazama’s domain. This is exactly as predicted.]

[He successfully closes the distance in one burst! Blue is in trouble… oh, wait, what!? What happened!? Kazama fell!]

"Kyaaa!"

[A scream rises from the stands! What is it, an accident!?]

[This is… his foot! He tripped on soil that appeared at his feet. Someone’s ability… the Omenjers’ bear created an earthen protrusion.]

[So he stumbled over that and fell down.]

[The bear player was a geokinesis user.]

"Aaah…"

[Ah, so close! Blue’s Ice Needle barely misses Kazama by a step and Kazama retreats for now. As if to return the favor, Tamura throws small stones with psychokinesis!]

[Good support. Thanks to that, Kazama managed to retreat safely. But—]

[Ah! Now Tamura’s hands are covered in soil! He pushed too far forward and got caught by the bear player’s soil kinesis!]

[If his psychokinesis proficiency were a bit higher, he could have supported from a safer distance. What a shame.]

[And here, mercilessly, Blue’s Ice Needle cuts Tamura down! Shimomura deploys an aquakinesis shield, but Blue brute-forces through it, freezing the shield itself!]

[As expected of an A-rank. A D-rank simply can’t stand up to that.]

[However, the Gōfū Fighters don’t give up! Kazama charges in again! This time his movement is far more zigzagged!]

[By not revealing his path, he can respond to both soil traps and Ice Needles. A good approach.]

[As expected of a team with plenty of tournament experience. Do Omenjers have a counter—eh!? W-once again Kazama is down! What!? This fall is different from before!]

[He fell on his back. Did something hit his head? It looked like nothing was there… but I did hear something like cracking. What was that? Ebisu’s ability?]

[Knocked down twice, Kazama can’t avoid it this time! He’s incapacitated by Blue’s Ice Needle! The remaining Shimomura decides he can’t win and forfeits!]

"Waaaah!!"

"Blue-chan, you’re amazing! Be my groom!"

"The bear-chan is incredible too! I want him to be my son!"

"Ebisu-chan, do your best!"

[The forfeit was unavoidable. They were up against a superior cryokinesis user. Rather, I’d like to praise Shimomura for making such a calm decision.]

[With this, the Omenjers advance to round three! Just how far will this up-and-coming team climb? My expectations are rising!]

[Blue’s ability goes without saying, but the bear’s clinging geokinesis is troublesome. Despite that young appearance, it hides terrifying potential. And Ebisu’s ability still hasn’t been revealed. They have plenty of potential to keep winning.]

[Expectations are high! Now then, the next match is…]

* * *

With most of round two finished and round three about to begin, a very peaceful silence filled Kurato and the others’ waiting room.

"…Ku-chan, this."

"Shh."

Kurato raises his index finger straight toward Keita, gesturing for him to keep quiet.

"Yanagi-san, please."

Kurato bows to Yanagi standing behind them and she nods knowingly.

Quietly carried out in Yanagi’s arms is Raito, resting his small head on her shoulder. His sleeping face is utterly peaceful.

Kurato and Keita simply watch the two figures leave.

"…Well, after using that much power and fooling around in the waiting room, this was bound to happen."

Running out of stamina before magical power.

Kurato smiles wryly at the defeat born of youth.

"Mm-mm! Mmmm?"

Keita seems to be saying something.

"Hm? Why are you talking while covering the bear’s mouth… ah, I see."

"You don’t have to be quiet anymore."

It seems he faithfully followed Kurato’s order the whole time. He didn’t need to hold his breath too.

"Puhah! Hey, Ku-chan. What about the next match?"

"…Let’s see."

The next match.

This team battle allows three versus three, but that’s just the maximum. It’s perfectly allowed to participate with two or even one person.

In fact, there are two teams in this tournament participating with only two members. Even in official matches, teams sometimes deliberately rest one member to conserve magical power.

In a sense, it’s a tactic.

That’s why Keita is asking whether they should enter the next match with just the two of them.

"What do you think, Keita? Do you want to keep going?"

Thinking back, Kurato more or less dragged Keita here. There’s no need to force a fight on someone with such a gentle personality.

Raito must have truly enjoyed himself too, which is why he got so excited and fell asleep from exhaustion. The purpose of participating in the tournament has been more than fulfilled.

But—

"If Ku-chan’s doing it… I still want to fight!"

Keita opens his eyes slightly and looks back at Kurato with sparkling eyes.

"I see. Alright, got it!"

At his clear determination, Kurato nods firmly.

Perhaps he has unknowingly awakened a sleeping lion.

"The next opponents are clearly a higher class."

One C-rank and two B-ranks. A team of university students and high-schoolers with proven results. Their chances of winning are close to zero.

Even so—

"Let’s go! Bear. For Blue too. O-oh! I mean… Bear!"

In the nearly empty waiting room, only their voices echo softly.

Heat can be felt.

So much heat that it feels as if the crowd’s passion is reaching all the way here. Amid the pouring gazes and cheers, Kurato stands naturally.

This posture is best. It’s less tiring and keeps just the right amount of tension.

Looking around the stands, it feels like walls of people are writhing.

Front, back, left, right, everywhere is packed. The grassy field is as large as a soccer pitch, making the venue’s capacity unimaginable.

‘Roughly thirty to forty thousand… incredible.’

While Kurato is overwhelmed, Keita waves back as the women call out to him.

As expected, another chorus of high-pitched "So cuuute!" erupts.

[Now then, the next match is Team Raika led by Kannagi versus the up-and-coming team, the Omenjers… however, Omenjers’ Blue is absent.]

"Eh!?"

"Blue-chan isn’t here!?"

"I came to see Blue-chan…"

"Then go home! I came to see Bear-chan!"

"No way! I’ll watch Bear-chan too!"

[A stir runs through the stands. What on earth happened? Let’s ask team leader Ebisu.]

A woman suddenly appears in front of Kurato, clearly having teleported in.

She holds out a microphone. Kurato takes it and checks that it’s on.

[U-um, sorry. B-Blue reached his physical limit and has withdrawn.]

‘That was close. I almost said his real name.’

Kurato’s heartbeat pounds so hard he feels it might transmit through the mic.

"Eh!?"

"Is Blue-kun okay!?"

"What happened!?"

The audience doesn’t seem to have noticed, but they look even more worried.

Kurato wanted to keep details vague to protect Raito’s dignity, but leaving these people worried wouldn’t be right.

He speaks into the microphone again.

[There’s no need to worry. Blue simply fought until exhaustion and entered a rest state. A warrior’s rest, you could say. Sorry for the concern.]

"Ahh!"

"That’s a relief!"

"He fell asleep! Blue-chan is so cute!"

"Ebisu-kun is so reliable!"

"Like a working adult! So cute!"

‘What? Working adults are cute? What does that mean?’

Well, the misunderstanding seems cleared up.

Kurato returns the mic and faces his opponents.

[Thank you, Ebisu. Despite being so young, that was a very solid explanation. Now then, the head referee has entered the field. Round three begins. Team Raika placed third in the previous tournament. With B-rank Hayashi replaced by Kannagi’s younger sister Sasane, how will that play out?]

[Sasane moves well. They might aim for third place or higher this time.]

[And the Omenjers, missing their A-rank Blue. With only two D-ranks remaining, how will they fight?]

[I think both have excellent qualities. I want them to stay calm and show everything they have.]

"Do your best, Omenjers!"

"Ebisu-chan, win!"

"Bear-chaaaan!"

"Hoi hoi♩︎"

At the cheers for Bear, Keita raises his hand and hops.

"Kyaaa! So cuuute!"

The cheering is overwhelming. My ears hurt.

Thanks to Keita, the stands feel completely like home. The cheers for Team Raika are almost drowned out.

"Bear, it’s about time."

"Roger, bear."

At Kurato’s voice, Keita gets ready.

The referee’s flag—

"Match, start!"

It drops.

The opponents don’t rush in.

[Oh? What’s this? Only Sasane moves forward while Kannagi and Motoyama fall back.]

[They’re probably planning to let Sasane handle it alone. Three against one would look bad.]

[I see. This is a chance, Omenjers!]

Yeah. This is a good situation.

"Go, Omenjers!"

"Win, please!"

"Bear, bear, bear!"

"Bear, blind her!"

"Bear!"

And the battle continues.

* * *

Memo

Team battles can be entered even if there are missing members.

When someone defeats an opponent of a higher rank, it is called a “Giant Killing (GK).”