CH 80

『The long event is finally coming to an end! The seed determined before the match is player Siegfried, so it’s player Suzuka VS player Ayane in the semifinals!』

TL. A seed is a competitor or team in a sport or other tournament who is given a preliminary ranking for the purposes of the draw. Players/teams are “planted” into the bracket in a manner that is typically intended so that the best do not meet until later in the competition, usually based on regular season record.

『Suzuka and Ayane… I’ve heard that they’re real friends, but Suzuka’s been telling everyone that they’re lovers… How the hell am I supposed to deal with this… ?』

『L- Lovers! ?』

『Ah, no, it’s just what Suzuka herself says in the thread, so I don’t know what is really going on』

『Is that so… I wish I could be with you, Brakija-san… Is that okay… ?』

『H- Haa! ? ! ? Ba! ! G- God, what are you… ! ?』

『───』

The audience was buzzing. I guess it was because of the various bombshells that had been dropped.

『Ehh. For some reason, these two started flirting with each other, so I, the administrator, will handle it. Okay. Let the match begin!』

「「……」」

I gaze into Suzu’s eyes.

「… W- What’s wrong… ?」

「…」

「A- Are you… angry… ?」

「…」

「I’m sorry for calling you my lover without permission! ! !」

Suzu apologizes for some reason. Huh? I ask, tilting my head.

「Why are you apologizing?」

「Eh? B- Because lovers…」

「… I mean, I like you as a friend, but I don’t like you like that yet. I don’t know… I guess」

「… I see…」

「B- But… I was… I was happy, you know?」

「Uu! !」

「… I can’t give you an answer right now, but someday I will」

「… Un」

「You just have to be patient with me for now, okay?」

「… Hmm?」

「I really like you」

I can feel myself getting red in the face. I didn’t think that just saying “I like you” would make me feel this way… Lover… huh.

「Hmm? … Suzu?」

「…」

「Eh? What’s wrong?」

「……」

───Dosa… !

「Suzuuu─── ! ? ! ? ! ?」

「…」

『W- What an ending… I’ve never seen a semifinal like this before…』

『… Haa, haa… We’re back… We’re here! Why did Kyou become such a monster…』

『Brakija-san?』

『Ge! ! Wait! Hold on! ! Sit down! !』

『No, thank you. On the contrary, would you like to be my dog?』

『Oi! I didn’t know you were that kind of a character! ?』

『Now, come here, please』

『No! I want to see the match! !』

『Then why don’t you just watch it from my lap?』

『Wha! R- Ridiculous! I’ll neverrrrr sssssit on your lap! !』

『… Please take your lovers’ quarrels over there』

『Why! ? Huh? No, no, no! ! Why are you pushing me! ? S- Stop! ! Really! Please stop! ! Iyaaaaaaa! ! !』

『Fufufu』

『───』

After the shouting died down, everyone’s time began to move.

「Ha! Suzu! ! … Huh? Where’d she go… ?」

I looked around, but Suzu was nowhere to be found.

「… What should I do… ?」

『Let’s see. Player Suzuka has been forced to log out due to her critical condition, so it’s decided that player Ayane has won the match』

「Eh…」

By my words… ? … I wonder if she hated it that much…

My mind was boggled. I see. I don’t want Suzu to hate me…

Up until now, I didn’t care if people hated me or not… It’s only Suzu… I don’t have such complicated feelings…

In this state, I returned to the waiting room.

────────────

Ryouka’s side

「Uu…」

I was given the forced logout procedure. When I sat up, I saw that my lounge wear was covered in blood. A nosebleed. I’ve been hit by love.

「That smile is a crime…」

I muttered a few words and left the bed.