It has finally begun.
The selection match for the Seven Star Battle Festival.
Vermillion's first opponent is Momotani, who's also known as "The Heavy Tank"!
His "Goliath" is a very rare armor device, and he releases a Heavy Charge from it.
Will we get to see it explode today?!
Go, Momotani!
--No one can beat you in close-ranged combat!
--She lost to an F-rank!
--Show her the pride of a senior student! --She lost to an F-rank!
--Show her the pride of a senior student! --Unlike those loud people up there, you seem to understand your situation.
This is an actual fight.
Naturally, if you jump in, you'll get more than hurt, unlike when we fight in our phantom forms.
Think hard before you make your decision.
I-I give up!
Winner: Stella Vermillion!
The Worst One IV
An A-ranked knight really is so much stronger.
Her opponent was disappointingly weak, so it's nothing to brag about.
Oh, Shizuku.
Well, as far as today's concerned, Shizuku is right.
I heard you two won your battles too.
Yes! Thank you for that.
You were both awesome!
Kagami! Don't scare me like that!
I'm sorry. You are first years but still had sweeping victories.
So when I saw you together, I couldn't help it.
Who are you?
Oh, excuse me! I'm Kagami Kusakabe from the newspaper club!
I'm trying to be the best journalist!
Oh, the newspaper club.
So you hear a lot about the rumors going around at school?
Well... I'm a journalist and not a gossip reporter.
But sure, I hear some things...
Oh my. Sounds like we'll get along well.
Can I call you Kagamin?
Sure!
I'm back, Ikki.
Stella...
Congratulations. I saw the email alert.
It's me, you know. It was to be expected.
I'm sure.
You've been watching his video the whole time?
Yeah. I thought I'd get used to his timing.
Was it "Area Invisible"? His technique?
Not only his appearance, he can also make his sense of presence and smell impossible to detect.
It's a perfect stealth camouflage.
Yeah. It's one of the features of his device, Oborozuki.
It's a tricky one.
Beating up his enemy from a safe place.
I don't like the way he fights.
If you were his opponent, he would withdraw from the battle.
What?
With your specialty of wide-range attack, you can easily overturn his Area Invisible.
He never chooses to fight against opponents like that.
He doesn't?!
His way of fighting is so far from knightly, so he was nicknamed "The Hunter."
"Chicken" is a good enough name for a guy like that.
But for you, he's a tough one.
Yeah. It's the worst opponent as far as compatibility of my skill.
Are you gonna be okay?
Are you by any change worried about me?
N-no!
I just don't want you to lose to a guy like him!
I see.
Wh-what?!
I'll be okay. I've found a way.
I'm going to win for sure.
Y-yeah. Right.
I know you will.
Yeah.
I can't lose no matter what.
Hi Ikki.
Alice...
I just wanted to talk to you. Do you have time?
Sure. What is it?
Is it true that there was bloodshed between you and Shizuya Kirihara last year?
Last year, the Kurogane's head family had connections with the director of the school at the time,
who was looking for a reason to expel me from the school.
So Kirihara thought I was a great target.
Hey, is it true that you can't attend actual fighting classes because your ability score isn't high enough?
Yeah?
Really... I know.
Do you wanna have a duel with me right now, right here?
If you can put up a good fight against me, the teachers would have to recognize your ability.
No thanks. I have no intention of having a duel.
Don't say that.
I'm just worried about you as a classmate.
Oh, what's wrong? Why don't you fight?! I'm doing you a favor, you know?
You gotta make your move,
--because otherwise no one will help the Worst One.
--If I summoned Intetsu there, --because otherwise no one will help the Worst One.
then it means I responded to his provocation.
Even if I take any actions to avoid the fight, I thought it might be taken as a will to fight.
So you didn't resist at all?
Yes. Because of that, I wasn't punished.
So tell me Ikki.
If the situation around you hadn't changed this year, what would you have done?
I'll just have to let people see my strength.
That's all.
No matter how many years it takes.
I see. I understand that well.
Ikki...
You're too used to getting hurt.
What?
Strength is tolerance after all.
It's an act of accumulating stress.
That's why your mind will always scream out before it reaches its limits.
Anger, sadness, irritation...
In a variety of forms.
But you...
You tolerate too much of everything, so you can't hear that scream anymore. That's why...
you can always keep a calm smiling face.
Sorry Alice, but I don't understand...
Really...
I just hope that one day, someone will show up and hear the scream of your heart for you.
As a friend, I really do hope so.
There's still some time until your standby hour.
What do you wanna do? Do you wanna see the ongoing battles?
No. I'm going to the waiting room.
I want to focus on my fight.
Oh, Onii-sama. Your shoe lace...
What? Oh, thank you, Shizuku.
Be careful.
Due to the selection match taking an actual fighting format, your life is at risk.
Form of Consent
tnesnoC fo mroF
If you understand it and still wish to participate, push "Agree" button.
Agree
Accepted
Wow, you're such a man, making an instant decision like that!
Up to junior high school, all matches are conducted in phantom forms,
so many kids surprisingly hesitate at this point.
I've finally got a chance to fight in an official match, so I have no hesitation.
Wow, so cool! Seriously cool!
You're Nene Saikyo, aren't you?
Oh? You know my name?
Demon Princess of the KOK Top League.
There's no one in this school who doesn't know you.
Well, I guess so.
I also heard that you and the Director have known each other for a long time,
and that you will be working as a part-time instructor this year.
Yes, yes, that's right.
So...
How about it? Maybe tonight...
I can give you a special private lesson.
W-well...
Damn you. What are you doing to my student?
Whoa! You scared me! Don't do that, Ku-chan.
I almost killed you accidentally.
I won't be killed by someone like you.
More importantly, what happened to the commentary and supervision for the third match?
Oh, you know...
It was such a depressingly miserable fight, so...
Go back to your post, you walking public indecency.
O-okay! Don't pull me!
30 more minutes. I better concentrate.
I finally made it this far.
This is my first official match.
I endured so much,
and I was finally given this chance.
There's no way I can lose.
--Wh-what's... this?
--Ikki Kurogane. It's time for your match. --Wh-what's... this?
--Ikki Kurogane. It's time for your match.
Please enter the battlefield.
It's already that time?
Look at this! The biggest field in the school, the Great is packed with spectators!
The fourth match is finally about to begin.
This is Hangetsu Tsukuyomi giving the play-by-play,
and we also have Instructor Nene Saikyo as a commentator!
Hello.
Now this match cannot be missed!
One is someone who, even as a first grader, made it to the Seven Star Battle Festival last year.
A C-knight, Shizuya Kirihara!
Shizuya!
He's so cool!
And the other is someone who, even as an F-knight, won the mock battle against Vermillion!
Ikki Kurogane!
I can't believe you actually showed up.
That means I can beat you up like a rag doll, right, The Worst One?
Do it if you can.
It's time to hunt
Oborozuki!
Come to me, Intetsu.
Let's go ahead!
Wow, such scary stares.
That's not how you look at your ex-classmate.
The battle has already started, Kirihara.
Huh. I don't like people who are so uptight.
Then may I...
There it is! Area Invisible!
We can't see Kirihara anymore!
It really is a tricky ability, but...
There's a way to beat this!
Kurogane hammered the arrow down!
There!
Is that a part of the school uniform?
Did Kurogane find Kirihara?
Hmm-huh.
Kiriyan's Area Invisible can't make arrows invisible.
Kurobo calculated his location by looking at the locations of where the arrows came from.
Oh my goodness.
Maybe you really intend to win this battle.
I wouldn't be here if I didn't.
You still haven't changed, have you?
It's really... really annoying.
Then shoot as many arrows as you want.
I'll take each and every one of them down.
For the Worst One, you have a smart mouth.
Oh, right. From now on, I'll tell you where I'm shooting you.
First, your right thigh.
Next, your left arm.
Wh-why?
Well, well.
Unlike a piece of shit like you, I'm a genius, you know?
There's no way I'm going to stay the same forever!
This year, my Area Invisible can make even the released arrows stealth.
It's not perceptible until it hits you.
You got that, moron?!
There, left hand!
Unbelievable! Kirihara has gotten stronger since last year!
This is bad...
Yes. Onii-sama's plan has been foiled completely.
Left thigh coming!
Why didn't he make a move immediately after the fight began?
What?
He knew his enemy was going to disappear, so he had the best chance if he made a move then.
But taking time to read the opponent is his sword style.
Do you know how much he gets wasted by just bracing for an invisible enemy?
I can't believe he didn't make an easy decision like that.
It's not that he didn't do it.
He couldn't do it.
Huh?
He couldn't make such an easy decision. That's how nervous he is right now.
Nervous? Don't be silly.
He wasn't acting nervous at all...
I'll be okay.
I'm going to win for sure.
Ikki is not the kind of person who's sure about battles.
When you think about what he had to go through to get a chance at this official match,
he couldn't have been acting normal like usual.
That's right. There's no way he wasn't nervous.
That was... the scream from his mind.
Why couldn't I notice it?
I was the closest person to him.
Get it together, the Worst One.
Your graduation is on the line, isn't it?
The new director gave a bug like you some tough conditions.
Huh? What does he mean?
Only he has a requirement for graduation?
There, left elbow.
Come on! Winning at the Seven Star Battle Festival is the only way for you to graduate, isn't it?!
Winning? At the Seven Star Battle Festival?!
He's out of his mind!
He's Rank F, isn't he? Is he serious?
Oh no, they're laughing at you. Aren't you mortified?
Hey, why don't you declare in front of everyone that you'll absolutely win at the Battle Festival!
Huh. He's miserable.
A Rank F talking about winning? Impossible.
Just because he beat a Rank A by dumb luck.
There's a rumor that the match was fixed.
Seriously? I guess a Rank F is always a Rank F.
All these people who do nothing but give up on themselves...
And they're mocking the battle...
Next is your organ.
Everyone. Kurogane is discouraged, so please cheer him up!
There, the Worst One!
The Worst One!
The stupid, Worst One!
--The Worst One! --The stupid, Worst One!
--The Worst O-- --Look at the Worst O--
Shut up!
Don't you mock my favorite knight!
Ikki! What are you doing, looking so miserable?!
Why are you almost giving up already?!
I like you when you're looking up!
You need to stay cool in front of me at all times! You idiot!
Thank you, Stella. That was good encouragement.
Being scolded by a girl pepped you up?
Don't be arrogant, Ikki Kiurogane.
Why was I fixated on catching the arrow with my eyes?
Then I guess I'll aim for your happy brain next.
If it hits, you're dead.
There was only one thing I could do from the beginning.
Itto Shura!
Can you avoid it with a technique full of flaws?
Remember, the order of the pains I received and their directions.
There, there.
The depths, the angles...
--You'll get hit! --And his words, and his tone of voice...
You're gonna die!
That's what I thought.
I knew you would definitely change its direction.
N-no way! You mean, you can see it?
I can't see your shape or shadow.
But I know.
Is that even possible?!
Wha--
Your process, the depth of pain, the emotions in the tone of voice...
They're telling me everything about you.
I just trace them back.
At the end of it, you're definitely there!
I got you. I won't let you go ever again.
Seriously? He really did it, that boy!
Wh-what's happening, Saikyo-sensei?
How did Kurogane find Kirihara?
The Sword Steal.
Kurobo can reveal the "logic" of his opponent's technique.
In the same way, he just got a hold of the thought of Shizuya Kirihara.
It should be called ...
The Perfect Vision.
I saw through your caliber.
He's cheating!
Are you ready, Kirihara?
With my strongest I will beat your strongest!
Million Rain!
Wait, wait. Stop!
Stop it. Stop! Don't!
I know, let's play rock, paper, scissors.
We're friends...
right...?
That's a blade with a sharp edge. It could kill me!
I could die!
Okay. I can lose. I'll admit to losing!
I don't like pain!
I was off by one millimeter.
I still have a long way to go.
Shizuya Kirihara is unable to fight!
The winner is Ikki Kurogane!
Th-the game is over!
Ikki Kurogane!
The man who couldn't even take classes last year won the official battle for the first time!
--Wooooooow! --He did it!
--Wooooooow! --Onii-sama...
That's something!
He did it.
Ikki!
Medical team! Please take Kurogane to an IPS capsule immediately!
I knew I couldn't miss this year's selection matches.
Oh, Shizuku? Aren't you going inside?
That part of you, I really love it.
No! You kept looking at me while I was drooling?!
Are you nuts? You asshole.
--You stupid dumbass! It's all your fault! --Stella, calm down.
What are you doing?! Letting a guy like that beat the hell out of you!
I'm really sorry. I keep embarrassing myself.
I made you worry.
I-I wasn't worried!
Stella.
I like you, Stella.
Huh?
I'm so glad that I met you.
I-i-idiot! Wh-what are you talking about?
I said I liked you before, but what I meant was your way of life and your aspiration...
that kind of st--
I know. But I really wanted to say it to you now.
It's not fair.
What?
Being honest all by yourself. It's not fair.
Close your eyes.
Ah, why? Are you gonna punch me?
Just close your eyes, I said!
Y-yes, ma'am.
D-don't get me wrong. It was because I...
I wanted to... do it...
You mean, you like me too?
I'm letting you be pushy just today, you know.
Hey, Stella. When I'm with you, I feel like I can be strong beyond measure.
Let's go together. To the highest knighthood.
And in the final battle to decide who takes the top,
I want to fight with you.
Bring it on. I won't lose to you next time.
--It's a promise. --It's a promise.
"Ikiru nowa ma no michi, Megutte koete" Life is a road of evil, I go around and over
"Deaishi wa sadame ka, Mezame no chi wa makoto no yume" What I encounter, Is it fate? The land where I woke is the true dream
"Shinawa yori too hibi" Going back further than the days of myths
"Watashi wa honoo no tori" I'm a firebird
"Ou no kata o hanare" I left the shoulder of the king
"Guren no sora ni tonda" And flew into the crimson sky
"Nante negai tabi nano" What a long journey
"Kioku wa suna to mai" Memories hover around with sand
"Ima wa anata no ude" Now I'm in your arms
"Yatto yasuragi oboetemo" I finally learned peace, but...
"Mada tsubasa o tsurugi ni kae" Still I turned my wings into swords
"Aisuru wa shuradou, Kugutte ochite" Love is a road of the demon, I go through and down
"Matoshi wa hiiro no toge no yoroi" What I wear, It's scarlet armor with thorns
"Kono namami ga shi no hana nara" If this flesh and blood is the flower of death
"Anata no ken de sakasete hoshii" I want your sword to make me bloom
The Experience of the Princess