Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5 – Duel

「You are, Tendoji Ayato, I presume?」

Souji timidly starts a conversation with the hero’s little brother who the girl (twin-tails) is flirting with.

「What of it?」

「Will you have a duel with me?」

Tendouji Ayato is surprised to be asked so straightforwardly that he widely open his eyes, but he immediately replies with a smile and a nod.

「Sure, why not, I’ll accept your challenge.」

「Wait Ayato!? Your partner is――」

The girl with the twin-tail hair style is fl.u.s.tered and she tries to stop them. However, Tendouji Ayato paid it no mind and went over towards the teacher. Afterward, Souji followed suit.

「Sensei, may we have a duel.」

「Understood, Tendouji Ayato-kun and…… you, right?」

Kyouko is surprised to see Souji’s face, but right away she shows a serious expression and calls over the other teacher.

「Kimura-sensei (木村), can you be the referee for their duel.」

「Yes, leave it to me.」

The male teacher called Kimura showed a strange smile. The two are then invited to the center of the sports ground (field).

「I heard that’s Tendouji Setsuna’s younger brother.」

「Seriously!? I can’t miss this.」

The surrounding students, who had been clumsily fighting with their fantasy/ illusion weapons, along with the other teacher stopped what they’re doing to observe the hero’s younger brother.

Naturally, n.o.body sees the unknown person, Souji.

「Souji lay the beat down on that pathetic lady-killer!」

Well, except for his trusted friend Eisuke who he had met today.

「Good luck.」

Souji lightly waves his hand to his friend, before summoning Tonbokiri.

As if it was a fantasy, the weapon materialized in the palm of his hand.

「Armitize!」

Tendouji Ayato materialized his fantasy weapon, a one-handed sword that he wields using both his hands.

It is a western sword with beautiful decorations. However, it is difficult to determine the sword’s origins just by looking at it.

(Now that I think about it, this is my first time fighting an unknown opponent.)

Souji had dueled against his master (grandfather) many times but he had no experience dueling anyone else.

While being excited by this new experience, Souji rotates his spear in a half circle to where the pointed b.u.t.t-cap of the spear is facing Ayato.

（It should be alright if we have the phantom armor, but just in case.）

In all seriousness, trying to use a spear to stab at a living opponent is indeed frightening.

Although, a third party probably wouldn’t see it that way.

「What? Does this person not know how to use a spear?」

「Are you not taking this seriously; you’re the worst.」

The girls who fell for Tendouji’ Ayato’s looks thoughtless began to heckle Souji.

「Please wait, I’m only――」

Because they disagreed――Souji wasn’t given a chance to explain himself.

「Hiyaaa！」

Without waiting for the referee’s signal, Tendouji Ayato charges forward.

(Oh s.h.i.+t!)

Although he was caught unprepared, Souji readies his spear.

This may only be a test, but they came here to fight.

It is disgraceful for someone from a martial artist family to look away from their opponent during the middle of a match.

「Seiyaa!」

Even though his opponent is human, Tendouji Ayato swings down his weapon without mercy.

When Souji had caught the unfaltering attack on his spear, he felt that something was off.

(Huh?)

「Hiyaaa！　Hayaaa！」

Tendouji Ayato shouts out his battle cry and begins to rain down a barrage of sword slashes one after another.

He swings the sword down with all his strength as if it was a metal bat.

There was not a hint of any martial arts skill behind his attack. The guy moved like a complete amateur.

「Are you really Tendouji Setsuna’s younger brother?」

As Souji easily handles the attacks, he asks a question.

And thus, Tendouji Ayato looked up and raises his voice even louder than before.

「Do not mention my sister!」

「Eh?」

While being bewildered by Ayato’s response, Souji continues to handle the barrage of slashes.

Compared to his grandfather’s spear that seemed to freely move like a serpent, Tendouji Ayato’s sword is moving so slowly that a dragonfly could rest on top of it. For Souji, it was a simple feat to avoid the attacks.

(How disappointing.)

Although it is impolite to his opponent, Souji couldn’t help but be disappointed.

Not only had she protected j.a.pan, she was the first in human history to obtain a fantasy weapon.

He had thought that the younger brother of the hero would be just as strong, but in reality, Ayato is merely an amateur.

(No, it was my selfish thought.)

Souji reflexed on his shameful way of thinking.

By having a biased viewpoint of the 『hero’s younger brother』, Tendouji Ayato, it resulted in Souji having an excessively high expectation of Ayato.

At his own convenience, Souji had held expectations for Ayato and suddenly it became disappointment; he also had not taken into consideration the social pressure that Ayato felt nor how the loss of his sister had affected Ayato. Souji thought his own actions to be disrespectful.

「Sorry.」

「What!?」

Tendouji Ayato shows a doubtful expression to Souji’s sudden apology and continues his attack.

However, the spear user who has already seen through his opponent’s skill is no longer on defense.

Souji stops the slash and kicks Ayato in the stomach.

「Ugh!」

「Hey, using your feet to attack is cowardly!」