Chapter 21 (2/2)
”The winner is Mel!”
Before I realized it, the referee's voice sounded out
As it ended a little faster than I thought it would, I felt a little unsatisfied as I sheathed my sword and descended from the arena
”Yo, Jou-chan”
Kuroitsu-san called out tomy sweat
”……today you're quite a”
”Thank you very much I'm happy to hear that from Kuroitsu-san”
I s him However, a wrinkle appeared on Kuroitsu's brow as he ca a solemn expression
The difference in our enthusias that, it felt like I'd unintentionally make a bitter smile
”Stop it……looking at your expression, I thought you were okay, but your swords that it's gone cold……”
As he said that, Kuroitsu's facial expression seriously became more and more solemn
”……say, Jou-chan Can I ask you one thing? Though itdifficult for Jou-chan to answer”
”There are things that I can answer, and those I cannot though”
”Why did Jou-chan take up the sword?”
”……I haven't ever taken Kuroitsu-san's sword though?”
”Not that kind of 'take'! Why did you decide to learn the sword?”
I wonder why he was asking about so like that
Although such a question sprung up within me, it was not an especially hard question to answer
”……because my mother was killed”
That's why I unconcernedly answered with the truth
Even though I answered simply because I was asked, for some reason, Kuroitsu-san momentarily made a surprised face
”Did I say soe?”
”No……”
For a brief moment, he appeared to be at a loss for words
”I just wanted to try asking why such a sirl like Jou-chan would take up the sword”
However, by the ti the usual Kuroitsu-san
”There's no need for Kuroitsu-san to feel responsible”
That was precisely why I spoke back in the same way as usual
”Naw, I can't Though I'm part of the Army, the fact that we couldn't protect one of our country's citizens has been brought before ive myself……even if I know that it's i by myself……does the General know about Jou-chan's circumstances?”
”Yes He knows, so he has been teaching me the sword”
”I see……sorry for stopping you”
Right at that tiather It seems that the mock battles had ended
”No, it's fine”
And so, Kuroitsu-san and I headed towards father