『Finally, the Flying Circus Tournament West Kyuushu branch this spring is starting! Your lovely speaker, Minori from Kunahama High School, is on the line today! …』
Such voice sounded from every loudspeaker in various corners of the coast. The coast that was deserted because of the cold, now bustling filled with people. There are many food booths installed at the seaside. One of them is the famed Mashiro udon and its flying fish sauce.
The weather also looks bright, quite different from the time when the three of us trapped in the gym.
Two weeks have passed since then. In the end, Amamiya never could master the practice I gave to her. Although she had managed to stand still, she would fall the second after. I’ve repeatedly told her to not tilt her body, but that damn habit of her can’t be cured.
As a result, I let her release it only up to 30%. More than that and he’ll start to spinning again. Fortunately, we allowed participating with that.
Only if she didn’t register in the second class …
Well, it' can't be helped now. Just like what Maya said, let bygone be bygone.
『Alright, the first match is about to begin! This match will begin straight to the second class! Sakurako Alice from Shitou Suisan Private High school against Sora Amamiya from Kirihara High School!』
I’m waiting for Amamiya in the contestant’s tent all alone.
What the hell is she doing!? She takes too much time to change costume only! The match will start in another 5 minutes yet she’s still out there!
『Woah! Such an astounding thing happens! Both of them are new athletes whose name never been heard before! Will the legendary event of two years ago happen again!? Also, because the participants of the second class only five people, whoever wins this match will be the finalist! It’s really thrilling, audiences!』
Yeah, it’s thrilling. That damned child still hasn’t come yet, it really is thrilling! I’ll scold her later.
A girl … no, two girls look like running here. They were stopped by the guards, but then they let them off. The one that wears purple and green flying suit must be Amamiya. Then, the another one is …. Maya!?
「Maya! Contestant’s tent is restricted to contestant only, you should know this already!」
「Tee hee~☆」
Answers her while tilting her head and knock it soft. You damn cat.
「You too, Amamiya! What were you doing!? The match is about to begin, yet you just arrived!? Do you plan to lose or—」
「Senpai … I don’t believe it, did you just ask a girl how she changes her clothes? I know you’re a pervert, but please hold it back for a while. We are in the tournament here, be serious of it」
SON OF A BIIIITTTTTCCH!!!
… Is what I’d like to say, but her eyes are full of determination. Regardless of what she said, she is dead serious.
「Okay. After this, I’ll scold you until you hope you never been born. There is no more time, so open your ears wide and hear me. We don’t know your opponent’s type, so use low yo-yo right off the bat. Get the first buoy no matter how. Avoid Dog Fight as much as possible. You got me?」
She nods.
「Good. I’ll command you from here for the rest, so take off now and enjoy your flight」
I take three steps back before she takes off.
「Sora」
Gradually, her feet leave the land. Her bitchy attitude instantly disappears when she’s in the match.
「Hey, Makoto. What do you think about Sora-chan? Is she a good girl?」
Maya suddenly asks. Her tone sounds serious, it’s rare for her to speak like that.
「Good girl? She is nowhere near “good girl”. Her mouth is rotten, her attitude is even worse. Everything she does is nothing but trouble. I should have known she is a troublesome creature since the first time we met. I no longer know how much trouble she made for me」
And I no longer know how many times she bewitched me.
「So if you ask me of what do I think about her, the only answer I will give is this: She is a troublesome kouhai」
In a lot of ways.
Maya smiles wryly.
「Is that so … Poor sora-chan …」
Hm? I think I heard Maya says something, but I better focus on the match that about to start.
[Ffuuuung!!]
A long horn, the sign for the tournament’s start. As I commanded, Amamiya uses low yo-yo right off the bat to take a lead. Unfortunately, our opponent doing the same thing.
It means she’s either a Speeder or All-rounder. Either way, it isn’t a good thing for us. Since we only release our balancer up to 30%, while she releases it 50% or even higher.
「Faster your movement. Force her to take a shortcut into the second line」
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Amamiya doesn’t answer, but she follows my command. She tightens her body and dives even sharper. She creates a big gap between her and her opponent.
「Tch」
Our opponent gives up and take a shortcut. Good, our bluff works. The first point is ours, yet now they guard the second line. And to pass it is not an easy job.
[Diing!]
『Point Amamiya! 0-1』
Amamiya flies high to neutralize the momentum, and then she does a wide scissor while lowering her height.
「Wise choice, Amamiya」
That’s what I say to her, but her movement is sluggish. No, she wobbles? This is a bad sign.
Our opponent, a girl named Alice, just stand still without following her. Is she planned to cut it later? Sorry, but we can’t allow it.
「Now!」
Right in front of Alice, Amamiya quickly jumps upward, then do a Sonic Boost straight to the second buoy. Her movements make a right triangle with her contrail and the stage line.
Alice, who is too late to realize, forced take another shortcut to the third line.
『Point Amamiya! 0-2』
Once again, Amamiya flies high after touches the second buoy. Honestly, I’m worried. What if she failed back then, her stance is still unsteady and all. But I hope it was a useless worry.
It’s okay. Our options are plenty, we will win this fight.
[Bzzt!]
The sound of two Anti-gravity membrane heard in the air. Dammit, Amamiya got caught when she jumps after the Wide Scissor. She was too close to Alice.
「You are indeed quick, but you still wobbling like a baby!」
「Amamiya! Avoid the Dog Fight!」
『I understand!!』
After shouts in the intercom, she flies even higher.
Even so, Alice still able to chases her.
This makes it clear, she is an All-rounder. Dammit!
Amamiya can’t stabilize her stance. If this continues, she will be caught in a Dog Fight.
[Diing!]
Alice managed to touch Amamiya’s back
『Point Alice! 1-2』
「Here comes another one!」
The differences between Amamiya and Alice is highly visible. Alice moves roughly, yet fast and agile. It’s almost impossible to predict her flight direction. While on the other hand, even though her movement is not that plain, she is still able to predict and her bad stance only adding another minus point to her.
[Diing!]
『Point Alice! 2-2』
Dammit!
「Amamiya, dive! We lose her from below!」
Amamiya agrees. She dives soon after until she is near the sea. And then, with Sonic Boost, we will—
「Oops, I won’t let it!」
Alice twists her body and …
No way …
Air kick turn!? Straight from overhead!?
How could she did that from a fixed position!?
[Diing!]
『Poin Alice! 3-2』
Amamiya plunged into the sea. While Alice does another Air kick turn towards the third buoy.
She looks like a monster who can do Air kick turn as much as she pleases.
[Diing!]
『Point Alice! 4-2』
God Dammit! So this is the end? Do we have another way to win this fight?
[Diing!]
『Poin Alice! 5-2』
Is this the power of someone who masters her wing?
『Senpai …』
I hear Amamiya’s voice, along with the sound of splashing water.
「Amamiya! Are you okay!?」
『… there is something I want to try …』
Amamiya explains her plan to me, short and clear.
「NO! I will not allow it! You can’t even fly with 40% off, I won’t give you the permission to release more!」
『Senpai … Do you understand what is the meaning of “flying” in Flying Circus?』
「What? What are you say—」
Before I know it, she already did it. She releases the balancer until 60% and then flies straight to the next buoy with her maximum speed.
「Stop, Amamiya! Stop it!!」
She is too reckless! If she slopes even a slightly bit, she certainly will start to spin!
「Oya? You’re still alive?」
Alice flies heading to the next buoy, while Amamiya chases her from below. She is very close to the sea.
『Sorry for the wait. Come on, take another point from me』
That damn dimwit! Why does she provoke her!? Is she really going to do that!?
「Oh, you want to give it to me? Well, thanks for the meal then!」
Again, Alice does another Air kick turn to attack Amamiya.
「Eh!?」
Alice attacks nothing but air.
Amamiya’s gone?
No, she’s not gone. It was a Blaster roll, she rolls herself so she will be on Alice’s top.
[Diing!]
『Poin Amamiya! 5-3』
And it hit!?
「Heey, how did you dodged that one?」
Alice who has just come out of the sea flies approaching Amamiya. It seems like she is annoyed by how her attack from the blind spot could be dodged. It was as if Amamiya knew when she is going to attacks.
I can hear Amamiya’s satire laugh.
『I can see you, though, reflected on the sea』
So that’s it, I never thought of that.
『And now is my time to retake the lead!』
Amamiya does a Sonic boost. Ah, she wobbles!
Thank god, she makes it. Just a slight mistake and she’ll spin like an idiot whirlwind.
「Oops, I won’t let it!」
Alice provoked by it. She chases Amamiya with all her might, intending to take another point from her back.
[Bzzt!]
Good, she managed to parries it.
Instead of heading to the next buoy, that idiot challenges Alice to do a dog fight. Thanks to it she and Alice romp in the sky. Really, sooner or later she’ll lose it and starts to spin, yet she wastes her time for “playing” in the air.
Just look, how joyful her face is.
[Diing!]
「Point Amamiya! 5-4」
Really … just how many times you planned to bewitch me?
「Amamiya. Hear me. Okay, I agree with that plan of yours. Now, let me tell you how to get out from the Dog Fight and get the next point in one move. Got it?」
『… Got it』
「Good. Just let thing things be like that for a moment. Head to the fifth buoy, let Alice follows you from the top. Keep your speed and increase it bit by bit. Lower your altitude. Change your track slightly to the right. As my command, we’ll be going to do “that”」
『 “That”, senpai!? That, “that”!?』
I can hear an excited tone from her, along with her panting voice.
Of course, she’s all on the blue now.
「Yes, that “that”. So I hope you willing to cooperate with me now. Is it a yes?」
『Yes!』
And so, Amamiya follows my command.
「You wanna run away from me? Sorry, but that won’t happen!」
Alice keeps her distance with Amamiya, she is an easy prey now. Touching her will be a piece of cake.
It is because she is wobbling.
Even so, we bet it all on her agility.
It is now or never.
「More on the right! Remember to gradually increase your speed!」
She doesn’t answer. It’s because her position is dangerous, Alice is approaching her.
She needs an extra concentration.
But, please, hold on!
Just a little bit!
Come on …!
… NOW!!
「DO IT, AMAMIYA!!」
Amamiya secara tiba-tiba menghilang. Dari mata Alice, dari kamera, dari mata setiap orang yang berada di sini. Inilah bagian terbaiknya, ketika semua orang panik kehilangannya.
And so, Amamiya disappears. She vanishes from Alice’s sight, from the camera, from everyone in here who watches us.
This is the best part, when everyone panics when loses her, the table turns.
「It’s another Blaster roll!」
Alice turns around.
[Diing!]
『Point Amamiya! 5-5』
Unfortunately, you’re wrong. This is far different from Blaster roll. Amamiya manages to strike Alice’s back with a swift, and then vanishes again.
「Where are you!?」
Alice turns again, following her contrail.
[Diing!]
『Point Amamiya! 5-6』
「WHERE!?」
Alice turns even again.
[Diing!]
『Point Amamiya! 5-7. Game set! The winner is Amamiya Sora from Kirihara High school!』
I almost can’t believe it, we won. Even with such a reckless style, we won. Even with an off and unstable balance, we won. Even if I said it we’ll win, we won. Furthermore, it’s on the Second Class! We are going into Final!
「Hey, Makoto. Do you understand what is the meaning of “flying” in Flying Circus?」
Maya who was unusually silent since then let out a voice.
「 ‘Flying’ in Flying Circus means to fly without bound in the boundless sky. I realized that when we saw that match two years ago. That is why I stopped Flying Circus, my wings were bounded. Far different from Sora-chan whose life is so free」
Her eyes are looking at Amamiya, who is approaching us with teary eyes.
A boundless sky, huh?