Chapter 52: Cultural Festival Day One (Tournament Part 4)
Hisui quietly looked at the card she had drawn—the one that would decide her fate—and closed her eyes. The spectators watched, holding their breath.
After a moment of contemplation, Hisui declared the end of her turn.
It was now Pro Tanabe’s turn. Drawing his card, he pondered. He considered what card Hisui had drawn and began calculating the risks.
Eventually, he declared a full assault with all his forces.
"...I lost..."
The card slipped from Hisui’s hand. It was a land card that produced mana but had no other effect. Hisui had not drawn the card she needed to win.
Still, had Pro Tanabe hesitated to go all in, wary of a potential trap, she might have earned one more turn. That was why she’d held her bluff to the very end.
…But he was not the kind of opponent to fall for that.
A single tear slid down Hisui’s cheek.
"...Thank you very much."
That was all she managed to say before covering her face, standing up, and bolting from the venue as if running away.
The ones left behind stood in stunned silence.
“Alice, go after her!”
That was Yuna’s voice. Following her command, I dashed out of the venue in pursuit of Hisui.
I caught a glimpse of her ponytail vanishing into the hallway beyond.
She’s probably headed to the Wiso Club room.
I followed after her.
The door to the clubroom had been left wide open. Inside, Hisui was collapsed over a desk, sobbing. Her wavy black ponytail hung down from the desk.
“…Hisui?”
I called out and stepped into the room.
Yuna had told me to follow her, but now that I’m here, I have no idea what I’m supposed to say…
“Hic… hic… ugh… I lost…”
Hisui was crying like a child.
The sight stirred old memories. When we were younger, Hisui often cried just like this.
“It couldn’t be helped—your opponent was a pro, after all.”
I placed a hand on her head and gently patted it. It reminded me of how I used to comfort her like this all the time, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me.
When was it, I wonder, that I stopped comforting her like this…?
As I kept stroking her head, she seemed to gradually calm down. In a slightly sulky voice, she began to grumble.
“I tried so hard because I thought I’d get to go on a date with you… but I lost.”
So she had been trying so hard so I wouldn’t have a bad time on our date after my careless comment…
I felt a rush of both guilt and gratitude.
“Thanks, Hisui… About that date—if you’re up for it, want to go somewhere together sometime?”
I wanted to make it up to her, so I offered that suggestion.
Hisui, still slumped over the desk, twitched ever so slightly.
“…Just the two of us?”
“If you want it to be just the two of us, that’s fine by me.”
“…Where are we going?”
“Anywhere you want. I’ll go wherever you want, Hisui.”
It didn’t matter if it was the shopping district, the library, or the zoo.
“…Really!?”
Hisui suddenly sat up and looked at me, as if checking my sincerity. Her hair was sticking to her face from the tears, making her look a bit scary.
“Y-Yeah… No second thoughts.”
When I said that, Hisui smiled brightly.
For some reason, I felt a bad premonition about that smile, but I quickly told myself that I was just overthinking it.
“Anyway, we need to get to the award ceremony! I’m sure everyone’s waiting for us!”
The time for external access would soon be over. If we didn’t hurry with the award ceremony, the tournament might not end in time.
“Right…”
Hisui pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, then fixed her disheveled hair before turning to me with a smile.
It was a bright, refreshing smile.
…Yeah. It seemed like she was okay now.
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