Chapter 1169 - Different Neighbors Side-by-Side
"────Your field of vision is a trash video."
"What the hell are you saying, you bastard?"
In the end, there was no way that Irori would give up halfway. The vision-sharing training continued for several hours, mainly with breaks taken in between.
However, in the virtual world where there was a difference between real time and perceived time. The sunset in the real world was probably still far away, and for a training maniac, it was probably 'still just the beginning'...
"...Well, even so, it was a good stimulus. I gained some realizations. Thank you."
"That's wonderful, but."
If a boundary was reached, he wasn't a fool who would line up reckless efforts inefficiently and in vain. As if to show that, Irori let out a breath while implying the end.
Knowing him, there was no meaningless bluffing anywhere in his words.
...In other words,
"Is the gap widening again? Put yourself in the shoes of the one chasing you, you invincible idiot."
If he used this as nourishment to achieve further growth as 【Peerless】, that's what would happen────as I often said in conversations with others, I self-consciously realized that I hadn't caught up to 【Sword Queen (Ashe)】, 【Sword Saint (Ui-san)】, or even Irori (this guy) yet.
Even if it was a public record, what on earth was the meaning of one or two victories or draws... I didn't mean to go that far, but I knew countless defeats that wiped out such things, and I would never forget them. It's not just a hundred or two hundred.
No matter how special I was, I wasn't the only special one in this virtual world.
When on earth would I truly catch up to the seniors who had accumulated time while being special? While the onlookers and the public were praising me, in reality (fantasy), it wasn't sweet, and I smiled bitterly in my heart every day.
That was why, to the complaint that slipped out.
"...Ha."
The friend who only showed his back,
"Put yourself in the shoes of the one being chased by someone like you. You bugged character."
As if to say it was his line, he distorted his cheeks and smiled.
"You say all kinds of things about me, but you, who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge it, are also quite a stubborn person (sore loser). ────In terms of all-around combat power where anything goes, you've probably already surpassed me, though."
Thus, no regret or sore-loser attitude floated on his face. While understanding such a fact together, I, who properly understood the reason why the prideful idiot could smile, said,
"Even if I surpass you in this or that, in the end, if I can't beat you yourself, it's a loss. Senpai."
"...Then, I can't let you gloat just yet."
I spoke honestly with a spiteful mouth, and was gloated at in return.
◇◆◇◆◇
With that kind of situation, for now, today's training was concluded.
"────So? In the end, what on earth is going on with your relationship?"
"Hmm, bizarre and complex...?"
"You say it so easily."
The place was still the training ground. However, at the afternoon tea place we set up by throwing out various things from our inventories, which was more than enough for two men.
"Well, the simple story is 'my loss'. They are all already destructively cute. Each of them is assumed to have a record of destroying the world two or three times."
"What are you talking about?"
We had begun to indulge in a confession-of-romance-troubles-sharing meeting, which was covered in shame between men, and was becoming a regular event just like swordplay. If seen by anyone, death.
Well, the training ground was set to private, preventing others from entering. No need to worry.
"Sorry, but no matter who says what, regarding the single point of having fallen in love, I will protect myself from the bottom of my heart. No, because it's impossible. Who can resist that, are you kidding me?"
"Who are you angry at?"
"Aren't they all true heroines with confirmed routes? Is there even a choice, is it some kind of instant-death trap where favorability automatically rises without limit?"
"...Calm down for now. The one who will want to die when looking back on this later is you."
Therefore, without reservation.
On the day this started, Irori had expressed his gratitude to me to an annoying degree, but honestly, a place where I could expose my inner thoughts was precious and extremely grateful to me too.
Various conflicts that couldn't be told to people had accumulated daily.
"It's fine, since it's you."
If so, when I said it honestly and smiled, the handsome guy distorted his face particularly as if his handsomeness was going to waste, and put his hand on the sword at his waist.
"............And the meaning behind that?"
"If anything, because you are overall more embarrassing than me..."
"Vertical or horizontal, which do you prefer?"
"Haven't heard that one in a while. It's a joke, a joke, hahaha."
While sandwiching such play... no, in this place, play was everything, but.
"Well, whatever. Jokes aside, the fact that I've made up my mind is serious, so wait for the various things I plan to show from here on... and after confirming them, you can insult me or do whatever you want."
"............With insults, is that fine?"
"It's fine. Because I'll absolutely capture what I want, so I don't need anything else."
That aside, if I said what I wanted to say, my chest would clear. Even if it was only a foolish and miserable self-consolation, if I could work hard again with that, it was a bargain.
Having decided to bet on someone other than myself, no matter what happened, I wouldn't regret it────and,
"You... your romance, if compared to common social sense, is probably not something to be praised... but what is it. I can't bring myself to praise it either, but"
"Hm?"
"Goldow said it too. That it's fine for there to be that kind of 'man'."
"Yeah."
"In the same way, I think the number of people who approve of it won't be zero."
"Do you think so?"
"Well, it's just my personal opinion."
"...I see."
It wasn't the kind of story where I wanted to be approved by someone, but receiving such words didn't make me unhappy. Although I needed to admonish myself not to make it a consolation...
Gratefully, while storing it in the corner of my heart.
"And? How about you? Your graduation live is coming up soon, right?"
"...Ah, that is, well, how should I put it."
"How should you put it?"
"............It's a complete mess in various ways. In various ways."
"Oho? I'd certainly love to hear about those 'various ways'?"
For now, let's enjoy the foolish talk with my best friend foolishly.
An important time.