Ruria and Meifa: Bonus

On returning home, Ruria was thoroughly in high spirits.

"… Fu-fu-fu! Honestly, Naoto-sama is so mean…

"We were completely fooled, weren't we! Meifa.

"But I noticed. That kind of match management, the eye for reading timing.

"That deep insight…

"A talent of that caliber — it could only be the new S-Class rank 24, Akai Naoto-sama!

"Fufufu, if it weren't me, no one would have noticed.

"But I've seen through it!

"This being the case, let's keep pretending not to have noticed.

"And when Naoto-sama himself reveals it — 'I knew all along!'

"is what I'll say to him.

"Fufufu, looking forward to it! He'll surely be surprised!"

Ruria carried on in high spirits like that.

"… Fufu."

A deceived Ruria was cute, but a high-spirited Ruria was even cuter.

For Meifa, this was results-good-no-matter-what.

But the fact that only Ruria was the one being deceived, and that she didn't even realize Meifa hadn't been deceived, was also cute.

That was what Meifa was thinking.

"… Ahh, but, amazing! That deep insight, that perceptiveness! Did you see? He so brilliantly pointed out flaws of ours that we'd never noticed until now…! Ahh, truly, hearing it laid out, everything is exactly as he says!

"We can grow stronger, much stronger!"

"That is… exactly so. I too was still inexperienced. My head bows deeply to his observations.

"I apologize for today."

"Honestly… Meifa. This is on both of us. Reflecting is fine, but moping isn't allowed.

"Improve what's bad and move forward.

"There are two of us. Even what one wouldn't notice, two of us can.

"… Yes, actually I'd noticed that while Meifa was using Leaf Dance, you'd be standing stock-still.

"But since those were always battles we could win, I worried needlessly about disturbing Meifa's concentration while you were managing the leaves, and didn't point it out.

"Hearing Naoto-sama say it brought me up short.

"… I'm sorry, Meifa.

"Meifa… isn't there anything you've noticed about my problems?"

"… No, Onee-sama, there are no problems I could point out to you…

"… No, I had noticed that you cherish me too much.

"That when I take damage, you become shaken too…

"… But it made me happy, so I left it alone. I am truly sorry."

The two bowed to each other.

"… Fufufu. We can grow stronger, much stronger. Next time we see Naoto-sama, we'll fix every flaw he pointed out, hone our skills even further… and let's surprise him by showing how strong we've truly become!"

"Yes, that's the spirit. Onee-sama.

"I, too, will renew my heart and polish my skills."

"… This message, the topic about interest in S-Class Knights…

"This is an invitation to consider becoming Naoto-sama's Knight, isn't it…"

"Yes, I think so."

"… It's like a dream! If we could hone our skills under such a wonderful Master… how strong might we become!

"That person would surely support my dream of becoming an S-Class Master too! Absolutely!

"Ahh, could such a dreamlike story really exist…!"

"… Is it permissible for an S-Class Master to become an S-Class Master's Knight?

"A Knight is normally a C-Class Master…"

"That's, well, true. Let's look into it."

And the results of looking into it…

"At B-Class and A-Class, you belong to an S-Class Master, so there's no need to be a Knight in the first place.

"Become C-Class as soon as possible, become Naoto-sama's Knight, and hone my skills.

"And then in October, become B-Class belonging to Naoto-sama…"

"If you become B-Class 512th, it seems you can become a Master belonging to an A-Class 128th. But this involves luck, so it's tough.

"To begin with, it's unclear whether B-Class 512th will appear in the swap match with C-Class.

"… However, if you immediately become A-Class, it's fine.

"A-Class Master rank 22 Gayus, rank 46 Guenza, rank 70 Rubito, rank 94 Organo, and the one who'd next become rank 128.

"Defeating any one of them lets you become an A-Class Master belonging to Naoto-sama."

"I see! … So first I should aim for A-Class!

"Then win the A-Class Tournament, win next year's S-Class swap match, and achieve the elite course!

"Become Naoto-sama's Knight, and S-Class Master Ruria with her best partner Meifa!

"… Fufufu, it's like a dream.

"This dream… by around this time next year, I'll absolutely make it reality!"

"… Yes, exactly. I shall most certainly make it reality. For Onee-sama's sake."

The two steeled their resolve.

"Now, we can't stay still. Right away, I'll climb the D-Class rankings… win the D-Class Tournament soon and become Eora Champion! There's no time to spare.

"… Or rather, I don't have the luxury of two months of defense matches!

"Should I relinquish the Eora Championship and go to Drefus to beat a C-Class Master — that might be faster!"

"I'll look into it.

"… This month's Eora D-Class Tournament is held on April 15. The Champion match is April 25.

"The Drefus D-Class Tournament is held on April 19. The Champion match is April 29, and the C-Class swap match is April 30."

"Hmm… so the tournament periods overlap?"

"That's how it works out."

"In that case, even though Nato recommended Eora, would it be better to head to Drefus now?"

"But it seems you can specify some date and time preferences.

"Morning and afternoon, doubleheader-style, I think it's not impossible to fight in both tournaments.

"I'll arrange it."

"Participate in both! Interesting! Let's do it!"

For their dream, the two resolved to charge down the harder road.