Chapter 154: A Strange Fan!
"A fan?" ×2
Shiro and Stella exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
Stella had never expected that simply going out for dinner would lead them to one of Ikki's fans.
Ever since Ikki became famous in such a strange way, crowds of fans surrounded him wherever he went.
It had made moving around Hagun Academy incredibly difficult for him. He had even missed Shiro and Touka's match because his fans trapped him along the way.
So Stella did not doubt Amane's claim.
At most, she privately marveled that Ikki's fanbase had already grown so large that even a representative from another academy was among them.
Shiro, however, found Amane's excuse far too strange.
At Hagun, nearly all of Ikki's fans had been inspired by his story to some degree.
Some had even become more diligent and started imitating Ikki by waking early every morning to train.
Yet Shiro could not detect the slightest trace of training on Shionomiya Amane, a person who claimed to be "Ikki's biggest fan."
Furthermore, according to Ikki's earlier description, when the criminal swung a knife at Amane, his first reaction had actually been to crouch down and cover his head.
Even the weakest Blazer was far beyond an ordinary person who had lost control in a fit of rage.
And Amane was supposed to be one of Kyomon Academy's representatives.
Rather than genuinely panicking, Shiro suspected he had simply prepared for every possibility.
Then there was the strange ability that had separated Ikki from them earlier.
'The infiltrator inside Kyomon Academy is probably this guy.'
However, these clues alone were not enough to confirm it.
There was still the possibility that Amane had an accomplice.
Shiro needed just a little more evidence.
With that thought, his gaze shifted toward a man purchasing food at the distant counter.
Meanwhile, perhaps out of curiosity about this supposed "fan" of Ikki, Stella spoke first.
"Um... You said you're one of Kyomon Academy's representatives, right?"
"Then why haven't we seen you once during the training camp? Didn't you participate?"
Amane gave her an innocent and adorable smile.
"Just call me Amane. We're the same age, after all."
"Besides, having a princess speak so formally to me makes me incredibly nervous."
"As for your question, I really haven't participated in the training camp, so naturally you wouldn't have seen me."
"I only came out today because I was asked to bring some refreshments to the upperclassmen attending the camp."
"Eh? Since you already came all this way, wouldn't it have been fine to participate in the training too?"
"Ahaha... I'm actually different from all of you."
"I'm not interested in the Seven Star Sword Art Festival. I barely have any strength, and my technique is terrible."
"I was only selected because my ability is unusual."
Academies like Hagun and Bukyoku, which selected representatives based on actual combat results, were extremely rare.
Even Hagun had only adopted this system after Kurono became director this year.
Previously, Hagun had been like most academies, selecting Festival representatives based primarily on their Blazer abilities and ranks.
So it was actually quite common for students like Amane, who had no personal desire to compete, to be assigned as representatives by academies seeking prestige.
"So was your ability also the reason you grabbed that criminal before I could?"
Ikki recalled how strangely precise Amane's timing had been and could not resist asking.
"Hmm? Why would you think that? Maybe I was simply lucky."
"Process of elimination."
"You grabbed his arm at far too perfect a moment."
"Unless you're highly skilled in martial arts, there's no way you could've acted exactly when he lowered his guard."
"But judging from your body and what you just said, you clearly haven't trained in martial arts."
"That leaves your ability as the only possibility."
"Wow! As expected of Ikki!"
"To think you could figure out I used my ability from something that small. Your observational skills really deserve their reputation."
After hearing Ikki's analysis, Amane immediately showed a surprised expression.
"But unfortunately, even though you guessed correctly, I can't tell you exactly what my ability does."
"My teachers specifically warned me not to reveal it. Sorry about that."
Ikki was about to warn Amane not to depend too heavily on his ability when he suddenly noticed a bearded man holding a tray and staring at their table with a strange smile.
The appearance of the earlier criminal immediately flashed through Ikki's mind.
His muscles instinctively tightened, preparing him to intercept the man at any moment.
Only after observing him for a while did Ikki realize there was no murderous intent or hostility in his gaze.
The man did not appear to be carrying a weapon either.
Only then did Ikki relax.
It was difficult to blame him for being jumpy after everything that had happened today.
"Ikki, what's wrong?"
Amane, sitting beside him, tilted his head when Ikki suddenly fell silent.
"No... It's nothing..."
Looking at Amane's face, Ikki suddenly understood why the man had been staring at their table like that.
Even if the man could not see Stella's face because her back was turned toward him, Amane's appearance was equally deceptive.
To anyone unaware of the truth, he looked exactly like a cute and slightly airheaded girl.
So that man had never intended to do anything to them.
He had simply spotted a cute girl while eating and could not stop staring.
Judging from that foolish grin, he had probably already decided what to name their future children...
The realization left Ikki somewhat speechless.
Everything he had been about to tell Amane became stuck in his throat.
"Oh! Right!"
Amane suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly reached into the bag behind him.
At that exact moment, something unexpected happened.
Perhaps because the bearded man had been staring at Amane too intently, he failed to watch where he was walking.
Just as he reached Amane's side, his foot slipped.
The tray flew from his hands.
Ice-cold cola and freshly cooked, scalding-hot food hurtled straight toward Amane's face.
…
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