An Unavoidable Fate

Even though the system is round-robin, participants can continue playing even if they lose. However, according to Yuuri's speculation, if a participant wants to represent Hagun Academy and attend the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, they likely need to win all their matches.

In other words, even if a participant loses just one match, they might lose that spot.

Of course, Hoshiharu wants to attend the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival to face more and stronger opponents, and to continually break through his own limits and capabilities.

Touka surely also wants to attend the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. Last year, she was defeated by the Seven Stars Sword King and only made it to the top four.

If the two of them fight each other, one of them will surely leave with sadness and withdraw from the ideal stage that all Students Knight dream of.

If they are legitimately chosen as opponents, whether Hoshiharu or Touka leaves the stage, it is unacceptable.

However, if due to Hoshiharu's fatal misfortune, the two people who need not face each other become opponents and have to feel sad because of a loss, then this is very unacceptable.

Hoshiharu is confident that if the six strongest from Hagun Academy are chosen, he and Touka will certainly be among them and participate in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival together.

Therefore, he cannot let himself or Touka stop here for no reason because of misfortune.

Hoshiharu made up his mind and walked towards the teaching building.

On the first floor of the fifth teaching building, he found the Executive Committee office where the representative selection competition was being held and knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

A calm and graceful voice of a girl came from the door, making Hoshiharu feel familiar.

After opening the door, a girl from a noble family wearing a clean white dress appeared before him.

"Totokubara-san?"

Hoshiharu looked at the girl in surprise, "Why are you here?"

She was still crouching in front of the desk, looking like she was working seriously. There were also many student lists and other information piled up on the desk.

"Nangou-san?"

Kanata slightly raised her head, and a bit of surprise appeared in her emerald green eyes.

"I am the executive committee chair, I am responsible for handling various issues during the selection war. Of course, I will be here. Please call me Senpai."

The last time Kanata was at the dormitory door, she found that although Hoshiharu looked very stable on the outside, he did not seem to care much about etiquette and appeared much more relaxed in dealing with others.

"What brings you here?"

"I want to use the backdoor."

Kanata was momentarily stunned, and her gentle face filled with confusion.

When someone wants to use the backdoor, do they usually reveal their intention directly?

Isn't it generally necessary to act shy or ask the other party to agree? How can one confidently walk through the backdoor?

"Sorry, as a Knight, I won't let anyone use the backdoor."

Although surprised, Kanata calmly refused.

Considering Hoshiharu was Touka's Junior Brother, she declined politely.

'May I use the front door?'

Hoshiharu really wanted to say this, but remembering he would ask for help next time, he decided not to say anything.

"Don't say that, let me explain my problem clearly first, and it's not too late to make a decision..."

He moved to the opposite side of Kanata, pulled a stool, sat down, and then spoke about his difficulties.

"Do you understand?"

"Understood."

Kanata nodded slightly.

She generally understood Hoshiharu's thoughts. Because he was too unlucky, he didn't want this misfortune to affect Touka, so he wanted her help to prevent him from meeting Touka when choosing the battle list.

In other words, if Hoshiharu met Touka, Kanata would secretly help him reselect his opponent.

"But, I still refuse."

Kanata's expression remained unchanged, her face unwavering.

"I believe what you said is true. I sympathize with your misfortune, but if misfortune is your fate, you cannot avoid it even if you want to. How about accepting your misfortune and preparing to face it?"

'Did I come here to discuss philosophy with you?'

Hoshiharu was silent.

"I disagree with what you said. Even if misfortune is my fate, I have no reason to accept it. If there is a possibility to avoid misfortune, why should I accept it? Isn't misfortune happening because it cannot be avoided?"

"—Why do you think misfortune cannot be avoided before an attempt is made?"

The conversation suddenly turned strange.

But this indeed was the most honest thought in Hoshiharu's heart.

He had never been a submissive person. If not, he would have chosen to submit to fate when he was reborn as a baby, and he might have even committed suicide.

"...No matter what you say, I will not agree."

Kanata thought for a moment but still firmly refused Hoshiharu.

"If you can avoid your fate, just show me. After all, I think Touka will not lose to you, so there is no need to help you."

Very stubborn.

Kanata seemed to firmly believe that there was no need to fight against fate. It seemed there was a story, and for some reason, she believed Hoshiharu was not a match for Touka.

Since Touka would not lose, there was no need to help change the list – whether Hoshiharu lost or not, it had nothing to do with her.

"Goodbye."

Seeing her firm attitude, Hoshiharu could only nod flatly, then stand up and leave.

"..."

Watching him leave, Kanata thought hard for a long time.

Rebels against fate?

She had never thought about it. After all, as a member of the Totokubara Family, if she received help from the family, she had to give something back to the family.

She shook her head to dispel some troubling thoughts from her mind and continued to immerse herself in her work.

But what if Hoshiharu really showed that he could fight against fate?

Kanata's movements suddenly stopped again, and this thought suddenly emerged in her mind.

At that time, what should she do?

❀❀❀

In this case, Kanata was not wrong.

Hoshiharu came to ask her to do something. If she did not do it for him, it was understandable. He was not unreasonable and, of course, would not hold a grudge against her.

Now that everything had turned out this way, he could only hope his luck would stop dealing with this matter.

However, during this negotiation, Hoshiharu saw one thing—

Totokubara Kanata seemed to be burdened by a fate she could not avoid.