One of the boys raised his hand
You mean the martial arts where that freshman exchange student who stands next to Baker won?
A third-year boy asked the guy who was raising his hand.
Edie Sexton won the lighter weight class, and Margo Starkweather-san over there competed in the open-weight division
Did she win?
Yes, she won by a huge margin. I mean, it’s a huge win with so much momentum that she finished all the other pro female martial artists in the finals in just seconds!
What’s with that, won by a huge margin? Don’t exaggerate it.
Err, wait a second, wasn’t she a student in our school until last year?
Margo-san just graduated this year.
That’s right! Margo Starkweather senpai’s just 19, and yet she beat all the top fighters in the country. Even Rudolfo Seiko-san from the Golden Balm Gym was defeated in an instant You like women’s martial arts?
Margo-san asks the boy.
yes, I love watching martial arts, whether it’s men or women
I see. Then, you probably know it already but later, at three pm, Rodulfo-san will also be in the tournament Edie’s holding
eeh? Is that so? I know that they were putting on a ring but I didn’t plan on watching it since I thought that it was just Edie-san and Grace Marinka-san fighting
It won’t be just the two of them. A young girl from Rodulfo-san’s gym and girls from our team will also be competing
Kudou Haruka-san too?
Yes, she will be on the ring too
Kudou Haruka’s a famous high school karate champion so it’s no surprise that a student who loves martial arts knows her.
Today’s game will be televised so everyone should gather in the schoolyard and cheer for them
Margo-san said with a smile.
ooh, seriously?
I’ll go watch it!
I want to watch it too
Let’s go together!
They get noisy in the cafeteria.
Uhm, Margo-senpai’s going to participate too?
The guy from earlier asked Margo-san.
Me? I won’t be participating today
Margo-san replied with a smile.
Huh? Why?
Because if I appear, we’ll have too much extra airtime
Margo-san, who easily beat the other contestants, said.
So I’m just watching for today, Oh, I’ll also deal with the TV crew. Edie can’t deal with them after all
Margo-san’s still 19,
But, Margo-san’s got enough style to overwhelm even old men.
Now that we had some good bread, we should go check on Edie and the girls now
Margo-san stood up
Let’s go
Smiling and looking at Mariko, Tsukiko, Kurose Anju, Erica, Marika, the Matsumoto siblings, Igarashi Izumi, and me.
Right, let’s go
I stood up and then Mariko and the girls stood up too.
Erica, Marika, then the Matsumoto siblings.
You’re not coming?
Margo-san asks Igarashi Izumi.
i.
You might want to follow us and get to meet some folks on TV
Margo-san said.
O-Okay, I’ll go
Igarashi Izumi also stood up.
Leaving the school cafeteria, immediately;
Uhm, we were nervous earlier, so I’m sorry
Matsumoto-san, the elder, Maki-san, approached me with her sister, Miki-san.
No, it’s okay
Were they worried that I got angry?
Also, thank you for the delicious bread. And the drinks too
Thank you, it was delicious
The little sister bowed to me along with the elder.
Sorry for the late thanks
Sorry
Oh, these sisters can say their thanks properly.
On the other hand, Igarashi Izumi’s just staring at Matsumoto-san, then turned around.
The leather jacket girl doesn’t say her thanks.
Well then
The cafe outside the school cafeteria where Kana-senpai and the girls are working is filled as usual.
Margo-san, let’s go around this way
Going through the cafe is closer to Edie and the girls, but.
I suggest that we took the long away around so we avoid interfering with Kana-senpai’s work.
Going out?
Out?
Mitama and Kinuka, who were doing a street performance to attract customers to the cafe sensed that we were leaving the cafeteria so they rushed to me.
Wait, that’s Anjou Mitama?
Igarashi Izumi seems to know about Mitama, who appears in Yukino’s show every week.
I’ll be fine. I have Tsukiko Kurose-san, and Margo-san with me
I speak first so Mitama and Kinuka don’t say that they’ll come and guard me.
You girls can continue guarding this place
Roger that
Roger!
Mitama and Kinuka bowed, then.
We’ll leave this to you, Kurose Anju
You’re in charge
eeh? Me?
Kurose Anju looks troubled as the Anjou sisters stare at her.
Don’t worry, everything’s an experience!
Experience!
Well then, Anjou Mitama will return to her post. Excuse me
Excuse us!
Mitama and Kinuka runs off like a ninja and returned to their original spots.
What was that?
Igarashi Izumi’s dumbfounded.
Kou-sama’s surrounded by people that you see on TV
Tsukiko told Igarashi Izumi.
You seem to doubt Marika-san and Fujimiya Reika-san, but.
Huh, Tsukiko.
Tsukiko should see through Igarashi Izumi’s mind with her Miko power.
Rei-chan did send off Marika to her school back then.
She purposely went in front of the school, telling the schoolgirls there that she’s a relative of Marika’s.
We thought that Marika’s status in school would get better if Rei-chan, who’s become a national celebrity on TV now, introduce herself as a relative of Marika.
Igarashi Izumi and the Matsumoto elder are students in the same school as Marika, so.
They may have not seen Rei-chan in person, but they should’ve heard the rumor that Marika and Rei-chan are relatives.
There’s no lie in what Marika-san told Matsumoto-san
Tsukiko said.
What? What did Marika tell Matsumoto-san earlier?
Let’s go
Margo-san urged us and walked.
I talked to Marika.
Why won’t you tell me what exactly do you want with me, Marika?
I asked her directly.
Sorry, I.
Marika replies.
I just wanted Kou-kun to see Matsumoto-san as she is before I tell you anything
As she is?
And I want Kou-kun to see with his own eyes that Matsumoto-san is truly a wonderful person
Oh, I see.
The Matsumoto sisters are, from what I guessed, in need of money, and scholarship to continue their music studies.
Marika wants me to ask for Minaho-neesan’s support for her friends.
But, if she just mentions that the sisters have money troubles, so help them, then.
I’ll see them as siblings who want money.
She thinks that I won’t try to understand the Matsumoto siblings apart from the thought of if I should help them or not.
Okay, Matsumoto-san is good friends with marika
In the end, I should get to know Matsumoto-san as Marika’s friend.
Talking about money can be for later.
Yes, she’s a precious friend of mine
Marika looks me in the eye.
Takahata-san, thank you
Hearing our conversation, Matsumoto Maki-san’s eyes turn moist.
Miki-san bows to Marika too.
Okay, I get Matsumoto-san’s case, but.
I looked at Igarashi Izumi who makes a sullen look.
What kind of relationship do you have with Igarashi-san?
From how I see it earlier, she’s not close to Marika at all.
I don’t know much about Igarashi-san either
eeh, Marika?
She heard me talk to Matsumoto-san that I’ll introduce her to Kou-kun, and she came along
So Igarashi Izumi’s not a friend of Marika, yet she just came along without permission?
I’m sorry when I mentioned today, she said: I’ll go too
Matsumoto Maki-san looked down and said.
Oh, she’s not friends with Marika, but Matsumoto-san’s?