Although it was a round-robin tournant, aning that even if you lost, you could still continue to compete, according to the predictions of Yuuri Oreki, to beco the representative of Hagun Academy and attend the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, it was highly likely that one would need to win every single match.
In other words, even losing just one match could result in losing that coveted spot.
Of course, Eiji wanted to attend the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. He wanted to face more and stronger opponents, to continuously break through his own limits.
And his senior sister undoubtedly wanted to attend the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival as well. Last year, she narrowly lost to the Seven Stars Sword King, only making it to the top four. This year, she surely wanted to reclaim her honor.
If the two of them were to face each other, one of them would inevitably have to leave the stage, withdrawing from the dream platform that every student knight aspired to.
If they were legitimately chosen as opponents, then whether it was Eiji or his senior sister who had to leave the stage, it would be acceptable.
But if it was due to Eiji's fatal misfortune that the two of them, who didn't need to face each other, ended up as opponents, leading to one of them having to withdraw in disappointnt, that would be truly unacceptable.
Eiji was confident that if the six strongest individuals were to be selected from Hagun Academy, both he and his senior sister would definitely be among them, participating together in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
Therefore, he couldn't let misfortune cause either himself or his senior sister to withdraw unnecessarily.
With this determination, Eiji headed towards the school building.
On the first floor of the fifth teaching building, Eiji found the office of the Executive Committee responsible for the representative selection battles and knocked on the door.
"Co in."
A calm and elegant voice of a young girl ca from inside, sounding sowhat familiar to Eiji.
Upon opening the door, a noble young lady dressed in a pure white gown appeared before Eiji.
"Miss Kotokubara?"
Eiji looked at the girl in surprise, "Why are you here?"
And she was bent over her desk, looking very busy with work, with piles of student lists and other docunts stacked beside her.
"Nangou-kun?"
Kanata Kotokubara slightly raised her head, a hint of surprise appearing in her erald-green eyes.
"I am the chairperson of the Executive Committee, responsible for handling various issues during the selection battles, so of course, I am here. Also, please call senior sister properly."
Last ti at the dormitory entrance, she had noticed that Touka's junior brother, although appearing very steady on the outside, didn't seem to care much about etiquette, treating people quite casually.
Sohow, he didn't seem very Japanese, and his na was also very peculiar, as if randomly combined.
However, she didn't like the intricate Japanese etiquette much either.
"What brings you here?"
"I want to pull so strings."
Kanata was imdiately stunned, her exquisite face, not inferior to Princess Stella's, filled with confusion.
This When people want to pull strings, do they usually express their intentions so directly?
Shouldn't they usually be timid, or keep smiling flatteringly, begging the other party to agree? How co when it cos to you, pulling strings can be done so righteously?
"Sorry, as a knight, I won't let anyone pull strings."
Although surprised, Kanata calmly refused.
Considering he was Touka's junior brother, she refused quite politely.
Can I go through the front door then?
Eiji really wanted to say that, but considering he needed to ask for a favor, he decided not to joke around.
"Don't say that. Let explain the situation first, then you can decide..."
Eiji sat down on a chair opposite Kanata and began to explain his predicant.
"Blah blah blah... do you understand?"
"I understand."
Kanata nodded slightly.
She roughly understood Eiji's idea. Due to his extre misfortune, he didn't want this misfortune to affect his senior sister, so he wanted her to help by not letting him face his senior sister when selecting the match list.
In other words, if Eiji unfortunately encountered Touka, she would secretly help him choose a different opponent.
"But, I still refuse."
Kanata's expression remained unchanged, showing no signs of wavering.
"Assuming your story is true, I sympathize with your misfortune, but if misfortune is your fate, then trying to avoid it is futile. Why not accept your misfortune and prepare to face it?"
Did I co here to discuss philosophy with you?
Eiji was speechless.
Fine, if you want to discuss, I'll discuss with you.
"I don't agree with that. Even if misfortune is my fate, I have no reason to submit to it. If there's a possibility to avoid misfortune, why should I willingly accept it? Isn't misfortune sothing that only befalls us when it's unavoidable?"
"—Before making any effort, why do you assu that misfortune is inevitable?"
The direction of the conversation suddenly beca strange.
But this was indeed Eiji's most genuine thought.
He was never one to submit to fate. Otherwise, the mont he was reborn as a baby, he would have chosen to bow to fate, and might have even committed suicide.
"...No matter what you say, I won't agree."
Kanata pondered for a mont, still firmly refusing Eiji.
"If you can defy fate, then show . Besides, I don't think Touka will lose to you, so there's no need to help you."
So stubborn.
Kanata seed to firmly believe that there was no need to resist fate. There seed to be so story behind her, and for so reason, she was convinced that Eiji was no match for his senior sister.
Since Touka wouldn't lose, there was no need for her to help alter the match list—whether Eiji lost or not was irrelevant to her.
"Fine then."
Seeing her resolute attitude, Eiji could only nod dryly and get up to leave.
"..."
Watching Eiji leave, Kanata fell into deep thought.
Resisting fate?
She had never thought about it, as a mber of her family, receiving the family's blessings ant she had to give sothing back to the family.
She shook her head, dispelling so distracting thoughts, and imrsed herself back into her work.
But what if he could really show the possibility of resisting fate?
Kanata's hand, which was signing docunts, suddenly paused, and such a thought unexpectedly popped into her mind.
At that ti, what should I do?
In this matter, Kanata was not wrong.
After all, Eiji was the one asking for a favor. If she didn't want to help, that was her prerogative. Eiji wasn't unreasonable, so of course, he wouldn't hold a grudge against her.
At this point, he could only hope that his usual luck wouldn't fail him in this matter.
However, during this negotiation, Eiji realized one thing—
Kanata seed to be burdened with a fate that she, too, couldn't defy.
***
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