"Oh!!!"
"Tatsuya Nishinomiya is down and unconscious! The winner of this battle is our first-year rookie king, Shirou!"
"Let's cheer for him!"
At the announcer's instigation, the entire Eighth Training Arena echoed with shouts of Shirou's name. "Shirou, Shirou, Shirou!" "Copy Swordsman, Copy Swordsman, Copy Swordsman!" "Hagun's Strongest, Hagun's Strongest, Hagun's Strongest!" Amidst the cheers, Shirou raised his right arm, then slowly descended from the stage and returned to the waiting room.
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"Shirou, you're too strong!" At the entrance of the waiting room, Stella, who had been waiting there since the match ended, immediately rushed over as soon as Shirou emerged.
"I'm not humble at all, so I'll gladly accept your praise."
Shirou smiled at Stella, and the two then walked towards the arena where Ikki's match was taking place. But as soon as they arrived, they saw the three of them already outside. Among them, Shizuku's face was filled with happiness. Even Ikki had a smile on his face.
Seeing this scene, Shirou and Stella exchanged glances, then laughed together. As allies behind Shizuku, Shirou, Nagi Arisu, and Stella were all Shizuku's strategists, offering her advice. Now, seeing this scene, both of them immediately understood that the plan had been completed.
Meeting Ikki and the other two head-on, Shirou teased Ikki, "What's up, Ikki? You defeated Shizuya Kirihara, but why do you look like you've found the love of your life?"
"I don't have that kind of expression!" Under Shirou's torment, Ikki, who had already become the resident tsukkomi, immediately began his task.
"But your face clearly says so! I'm an old fortune teller!"
"Fortune teller? I think you're a baboon!" Ikki, accustomed to Shirou's teasing, skillfully countered. After they bantered for a while, they both burst into laughter.
"Congratulations on overcoming your inner demon. From now on, you'll truly be free as a fish in the sea and a bird in the sky!"
"I owe all of this to you, Shirou!" Their right hands clasped tightly together.
Hearing Ikki's thanks, Shirou chuckled, "Then you'd better quickly improve your strength. I want to see an even stronger you at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival!"
"Ah, I won't disappoint your expectations, Shirou!" Ikki replied under the sunlight. Hearing Shirou's request, he vowed to master the strongest sword to reciprocate Shirou's kindness.
"Alright, since all five of us have won, let's go out and have a big meal to celebrate our smooth progress through the first round!"
"Alrighty!" And so, with the agreement of all members, the group of five left Hagun Academy and headed out of school.
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"Huh? You said you took a disciple?"
"Not really a disciple, just helping senpai correct her movements and guiding her training!" Ikki explained helplessly, hearing Shirou's loud exclamation.
"But isn't that a disciple? What you're doing is clearly what a master does!" Looking at the calm Ikki, Shirou couldn't help but marvel at the coincidence of events. It had been nearly a month since Shirou and the others' first-round battles. In this month, Shirou and the four others had won ten consecutive matches, achieving consecutive victories. This not only brought them closer to becoming Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representatives but also greatly boosted their reputations. Especially Ikki; he was no longer known as the "Failure Knight" but as Hagun Academy's "Uncrowned Sword King." Battle after battle, they showcased their strength and gradually became celebrities within the school.
In such a situation, it was normal for someone to come seeking tutelage. However, it was frustrating that Shirou wasn't there when this person came to seek tutelage, preventing him from teasing Ikki. But then again, who knew he was so popular! To escape dates with girls on Sunday, Shirou's dessert shop had reopened, and business was booming. As for why he wasn't there yesterday, he had just gone to restock essential ingredients for the dessert shop.
"Speaking of which, Ikki, you wouldn't have taken her as a disciple just because she's a senpai, would you?"
Recalling the original story in his mind, Shirou suddenly asked with a smile, "You wouldn't be using the guise of guiding others to plot something, would you?"
"Like, by 'correcting' someone's movements, you end up touching their thigh or something!" Hearing Shirou's teasing, Ikki's face instantly turned red.
"I've told you how many times already, she's not a disciple. And I was really helping her correct her movements, not intentionally touching her thigh."
"You really touched it? I was just guessing!"
"Huh? Didn't Stella tell you?"
"No, why would Stella tell me that?"
"You two talk a lot, don't you?"
"We talk, but she never told me about your stuff!" That's right, for Stella, time spent talking with Shirou was so precious; how could she possibly bring up Ikki's affairs?! Looking at Shirou's bewildered expression, Ikki knew that Stella probably hadn't told Shirou. But if that was the case, didn't he just expose himself?! Ah! So painful! A humiliated Ikki buried his face in his bed, no longer paying attention to Shirou. He needed time to heal his wounds.
Shirou could only shrug helplessly. After all, he hadn't learned about this through Stella; he had learned it through the so-called plot. In that case, he couldn't falsely accuse Stella, could he!
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The next day, Shirou, who was doing morning training with Ikki, met the senpai being tutored for the first time. Her name was Ayase, a third-year senpai.
"Good morning, Kurogane-kun!" After greeting Ikki, Ayase
looked at Shirou and said somewhat shyly, "This must be the famous Emiya-kun!"
"Good morning, Ayatsuji-senpai!" Looking at Shirou's outstretched right hand, Ayase quickly extended her own right hand to shake it. For this famous presence in the academy, she was, in a way, also a fan of his. The reason she chose to seek out Ikki on days when Shirou wasn't around was precisely because of this. Now, seeing her idol, although her outward expression was calm, her heart was already excitedly pounding. After all, this senpai once described herself as "passively passionate."
Just as Shirou and Ayase were talking, Shizuku arrived with Stella and Arisu. Since Ikki's battle with Shizuya Kirihara, the relationship between Ikki and Shizuku had made significant breakthroughs. This led to her coming here every day since then to train with Ikki. At the same time, Stella and Arisu naturally came with her.
"Shirou, good morning!"
"Good morning!" After greeting Shirou, Stella suddenly noticed Ayase on one side. She naturally recognized Ayase; after all, she was present yesterday too. But the way Ayase was looking at Shirou now made her very uncomfortable. This was... the scent of a love rival!
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--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter