C-Rank Ranked Match — The Popular Loner

“An armament as absurdly overpowered as the White Meteor’s GodAccel — an item of Infinity (∞) rarity — that is what the Infinity Arts are. They are sometimes called an Ultima Weapon. A divine relic that, as of now, only four people in the entire game possess. Yggdrasil’s leader left the team in order to master them.”

“You can’t use the Infinity Arts in Ranked Matches, y’see~. So they’re no good for practicing with.”

So that was why the leader quit the team.

“And so those of us left behind moved on to selecting the next leader.”

“The leader stepping down was fine, really. That person did their job to the letter and all. The problem was this whole business of deciding who came next. Get this — all four of us who were left started going, ‘I’m the one fit to be leader.’”

“Four? Isn’t a team three people in total?”

The way she puts it, that would make five of them, counting the leader.

“At C-Rank and below it’s three, but at B-Rank it becomes four, and at A-Rank, five. In the end, we quarreled and quarreled, and went our separate ways.”

“Back then, Shiina, if you’d just thrown your support behind Tsubasa, we could’ve talked the other two around. The way I see it, the team broke up because of you.”

“If it comes to that, everything would have settled itself neatly had you supported me.”

“You’re pushy, you never explain yourself, and you’re hopeless at communication, Shiina — of course there was no way you could be leader.”

The pushy part, at least, I have to agree with.

“Did you know this, Shiki? Apparently this girl has no friends in real life. She once went and asked the leader, ‘What should I do to make friends?’ — isn’t that just precious~?”

Uh-oh. That one crossed a line. The smile vanishes from Shiina’s face.

“I believe I had more aptitude for leadership than you did — you, who were trying to turn the team into an idol act.”

“Aa-ah, let’s stop, let’s stop. This bickering is pointless, I’m telling you.”

Tsubasa cuts the conversation off and gives me a sidelong glance.

“Let’s get to the main point, shall we, Shiki?”

The main point…? So we weren’t even at the main point yet.

“Like Shiina mentioned a second ago, at B-Rank it’s a four-person team.”

“You — surely you don’t mean…!”

Tsubasa grabs my wrist and forces my finger onto the window’s ‘End Call,’ cutting Shiina off.

“Noisy little girls should stay quiet. —Say, Shiki, why don’t you come join Tsubasa’s team?”

“Join your team, Tsubasa…?”

“Yep! Tsubasa’s team is all but certain to move up to B-Rank in the next Ranked Match. And when that happens, one open slot frees up. That slot — that’s the one you’d slide into, Shiki. Tsubasa would put you to good use, count on it.”

“N-no, but, um, I’m on Shiina’s team, so…”

“Tsubasa can protect you. Tsubasa guards you, you shoot the enemy. Just that, and no one can touch us.”

It’s true our combat styles might be a good match. But still…

“I’m sorry!”

“Ueh? No good? Why not?”

I press my index fingers together.

“I’m… the whole idol thing is kind of… like, I’ve got zero aptitude for it… ehe, ehehe… all those frilly outfits… they’re really not my style… I mean, part of me would like to try one on, buuut…”

“An idol group? Ah, um, that — that’s all in the past! Tsubasa isn’t even trying to build an idol team anymore, honest!?”

“And besides, Tsubasa, you stand out so much… I’m terrible with getting attention, so…”

“That — well, there’s no helping that part! B-but Shiina draws her fair share of eyes too, y’know!?”

“Uhhh, sorry. But here’s the thing, really, before any of that!”

I work up my nerve and put what I want into plain words.

“Me! The other day, I got completely trounced by the Crimson Wings! So I want to shoot down every last one of them!!”

“—?!”

“So I’m sorry! You’re my enemy, Tsubasa!”

Yes! I did great! I got to say what I wanted to say!

“—Or so it would seem.”

Huh? Shiina’s voice, coming from right behind me… wait, when did she get there?!

“My, that was a prompt arrival.”

“I came in a hurry to hunt down the thieving cat.”

— Crackle, crackle. Sparks scatter in the air between the two of them.

Caught between the two of them, I feel all over again just how foul the air has turned.

“I’m surprised, Shiki — I never figured you had that much raw pride in you. And to think Shiina would come rushing to a teammate’s side♪ You must really be a favorite of hers.”

“Yes. She is a diamond egg, one that surpasses even a golden egg¹. Let me say it plainly: Shiki’s natural talent exceeds both mine and yours. Without a doubt.”

H-hold on?! Shiina, why are you provoking her?!

“No, no, that can’t be true~. Tsubasa could win even against Kurenai and Ren.”

“I do not doubt it. Provided they were on the same level.”

“…? What’s that supposed to mean? You always leave your words half-finished, Shiina.”

“She entered the previous Ranked Match at Level 11.”

“Huh…?”

“And even now, her level is only around 20.”

“?!”

Tsubasa pulls up the system screen and checks my level.

“No way… you mean she’s a beginner? How many days ago did you start this game?”

“I started on the 28th, and today’s the 31st, so… this is my fourth day.”

“Then at the time of the Ranked Match you were only on day three?! And it still took both Kurenai and Ren together to take you down?”

Tsubasa’s face stiffens, then instantly breaks into a beaming grin.

“You… I want you after all!”

“Mgyah?!”

Tsubasa hugs me tight. These bodies are supposed to be machines, and yet her soft chest smothers my face.

“Please stop.”

Shiina grabs Tsubasa by the scruff of the neck and peels her off me.

“Give it up already. She is a gem that I found.”

“You just met her a little sooner, that’s all.”

Tsubasa shakes Shiina’s hand off.

“Well, whatever. I did want you as a teammate, Shiki, but you look like you’ll be plenty of fun as an enemy too.”

“Tsubasa…”

“You saw Tsubasa’s iron wall, didn’t you? I do wonder — can you really break through that~?”

Tsubasa turns her back on us and starts walking away.

“I’ll be looking forward to the next Ranked Match, you two. I’ll pound you both flat♪”

Tsubasa hops onto her shield and slides down the gold-crystal slope like it was a snowboard.

Shinkai Tsubasa… the leader of the Crimson Wings. And beneath her are Kurenai and Ren, the two who took me down the other day. I’d been so sure Kurenai was the team’s ace. What a badly wrong guess that turned out to be. To think there was someone even stronger than her.

But even so… I’m glad.

A tough opponent is exactly what makes the shooting worthwhile. Even if it’s Tsubasa I’m up against, I will take her down, no matter what. That iron wall, that invincible defense… as an opponent, she leaves nothing to be desired.