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Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: The Underdog's Defiant Stand

The arena buzzed with anticipation as the third round of the Rookie Pillars Break unfolded. Shizuku carved her path with effortless grace, and Miyuki's place in the finals seemed all but certain. Yet, for the last of First High's trio, Eimi Akechi, victory was a distant star—glimmering, but maddeningly out of reach. Her opponent? The one she'd prayed to avoid.

"What do I do, Tatsuya-san?" Eimi's voice trembled, her usual spark dimmed. "Facing someone from the Eighteen Clans? I never signed up for this…"

Before the first round, she'd clung to bravado, convincing herself sheer willpower would carry her through. But now, staring down her opponent, reality crashed in like a rogue wave. Airi Ichijo, heiress of the illustrious Ichijo family, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Miyuki as a favorite to claim the crown.

Tatsuya's lips curved into a faint, amused smile. "Tough luck with the draw, Eimi."

"Why do you look like you're enjoying this?" she shot back, her anxious eyes narrowing.

"If you pull this off, you're in the running for the top. Giving up before you start? That's not the Eimi I know."

Her shoulders slumped. "Sure, but… Airi's a favorite. How am I supposed to compete?"

Tatsuya had seen Airi's match. A flawless victory for Eimi was a long shot, but not impossible. He leaned in, his voice steady. "Eimi, do you want to beat an Eighteen Clans prodigy?"

"Of course, if I could…"

"Then attack. Relentlessly. Ignore her strikes, your defenses—everything. Pour every ounce of strength into your offense."

Her eyes widened. "But that'll leave my pillars completely exposed!"

"Honestly? Play it safe, and you're more likely to lose."

Eimi froze, staring at Tatsuya. His bluntness stung, but she'd known him long enough to sense there was more to his words. He wasn't the type to cut her down without purpose.

"Fight unconventionally," he pressed. "That's your edge."

"But… I'm still more likely to lose, right?"

"With that mindset? Even a winnable match slips away."

"Mindset?" Eimi's brow furrowed, her thoughts a whirlwind. What was she missing? What was wrong with her approach? Before she could spiral further, Tatsuya stood, his presence commanding her attention.

"Your strength is your smile, Eimi. Even in the darkest moments, you never lose it. When you sparred with Shizuku in practice, you were grinning the whole time."

"You saw that!?" Her cheeks flushed—she'd thought she was alone. Shaking it off, she steeled her gaze.

"Face anyone, enjoy the fight, and play like you always do," Tatsuya said. "The results will come. And I'll back you up, however I can."

No First High freshman would dare call Tatsuya's support "minor." His humility was a quiet push, urging Eimi to trust her own strength. Whether she fully grasped it or not, her anxious frown melted, replaced by her signature radiant grin.

"Right! With you in my corner, I'll charge that Eighteen Clans heiress like a true challenger!"

"That's the spirit."

Eimi marched toward the arena, her steps brimming with fire—until she froze.

"Eimi," Tatsuya called, holding up her CAD. "You forgot this."

"Oh…" Her enthusiasm had outrun her focus, but Tatsuya let it slide. Win or lose, Eimi wouldn't surrender without a fight. And that, to him, was worth more than any trophy.

The match was a storm. Eimi, heeding Tatsuya's words, unleashed a relentless assault, heedless of her own defenses. Airi, poised and precise, faltered under the unpredictable barrage. The Ichijo heiress, trained in the elegance of conventional tactics, couldn't counter Eimi's wild abandon. When the dust settled, Eimi stood victorious, one pillar still defiantly upright.

As her triumph echoed through the arena, Tatsuya was already moving to the next battlefield. But in the hallway to the waiting room, two figures blocked his path—Third High's finest, radiating confidence.

"Masaki Ichijo, Third High, first year."

"Shinkuro Kichijoji, same."

"Tatsuya Shiba, First High, first year. What do the 'Crimson Prince' and 'Cardinal George' want with me?"

His sharp gaze made them falter, but they held firm. Masaki spoke first. "You know me and George?"

"'Tatsuya Shiba,'" Shinkuro mused. "An unfamiliar name, but one I won't forget. We came to see the genius engineer shaking up the Nine Schools Competition."

Tatsuya's eyes glinted. "Flattered to be called a 'genius' by the thirteen-year-old who cracked a Cardinal Code. But showing up like this? That's… unconventional."

The jab landed, and Tatsuya's height only amplified the weight of his stare. Then, glancing aside, he addressed Miyuki. "Head to the waiting room. This might take a minute."

"Yes, Brother." Miyuki glided past, her presence serene yet untouchable. Masaki's gaze lingered on her, a fact Tatsuya didn't miss.

"Prince," he said, voice dripping with exasperation, "don't you have a match soon?"

Masaki flushed, caught off guard. Shinkuro stepped in. "We're in tomorrow's Monolith Code. You?"

"Not my event."

"Pity," Shinkuro said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I'd love to face you. Though, naturally, we'd win."

Tatsuya spared him a single, dismissive glance before brushing past, as if they were no more than air. He rejoined Miyuki in the waiting room.

"What were they after?" he asked.

"Scouting, Brother," she replied, a soft laugh in her voice.

"Scouting? Why would two big shots care about a nobody like me?"

Miyuki's eyes flashed. "You undervalue yourself! It's only natural they're drawn to the one dominating this competition!"

Her passion drew a wry smile from Tatsuya. He'd only done what came naturally, but her words sparked a realization—others saw him differently. And as if to prove it, Miyuki swept her next match with breathtaking ease, securing her place in the finals.

Masaki, just another pawn to be swept aside? Perhaps not as faceless as the rest… but close enough.

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