Editing Ultimate Antihero:Volume 1 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 7===

“……eh?”

Sumika’s expression was taken aback from the sudden words.

In contrast with that girl, Homura straightforwardly looked at Sumika’s eyes and announced one more time.

“What are you surprised about. I’m sayin’ that I’m giving up the game here.”

He abdicated this match. That was his will.

“Why, is that…”

“What do you need me to say eh. …I never thought that there will be someone other than me that is able to summon evil god (Great Old One), although it was only a portion of it, and even properly control it. I heard that you are an excellent magician, but I never imagined that it will be this much. Just now I clearly understood. It’s still impossible for Ichinotani to defeat you. It’s my loss. My bad for sayin’ whatever I like about you. Sorry.”

Homura acknowledged his own mistake and lowered his head.

That act made apparent that this battle was over.

“……Master. I’m sorry.”

Chikori apologized guiltily toward Homura who was lowering his head to Sumika.

“What are you sayin’ sorry for?”

“Because… even though Master thought that I could win against Sumika-san and made me strong …I betrayed that expectation like this.”

What Chikori was talking about was not about the match.

It was about her heart’s readiness.

Homura’s words that said Chikori could win against Sumika, Chikori herself didn’t believe it at all.

She didn’t doubt that Sumika was far stronger than herself.

She didn’t intend to be ashamed or withdrew that thinking of hers, but she felt that such thinking was a betrayal towards Homura who bet on her victory.

That was why Chikori lowered her head deeply towards Homura. But,

“There ain’t anything you have to apologize for. Ain’t Ichinotani used up all your strength already till the end?”

That’s right. Homura surely had seen it.

If Chikori went easy and gave the victory to Sumika, that was a betrayal, but she didn’t do anything like that.

Rather until the end she gave her all without sparing anything.

That action, even after Chikori had understood that she was defeated―was none other than for Sumika’s sake.

Homura saw everything. That was why he understood everything.

Therefore he smiled faintly,

“Aren’t you a fine woman.”

He brushed gently the chestnut colored hair of Chikori and rewarded this kind girl.

“Fuau……”

Chikori was tickled and shut her eyes from that.

And then after Homura brushed her head twice, three times, he once again turned to Sumika,

“Hoshikawa Sumika. As promised, I’ll leave the leadership of the 101st to you. You got no complain of that right?”

Like that, he fulfilled the promise that he should fulfill.

“Eh, ah, …yes.”

Sumika’s reply was somehow awkward.

Surely her feelings were still unable to catch up in regards to this sudden conclusion.

Homura smiled a little towards such girl,

“I too don’t have any complaint toward someone this competent. I’m going to work properly as your subordinate so …well just give me any order you like.”

Saying that, Homura got down from the ring.

And then he calmly walked between the escaping onlookers, and left the training field alone.

Staring at that leaving back, …Sumika thought.

The doubt covering her heart was stronger than the happiness of having Homura recognizing herself―

(…Something, is strange.)

There was something, that she couldn’t comprehend.

In the end, …could this possibly be anticipated?

A magician of that level, a master of that degree, mistaking one’s own power like that.

Could such a thing possibly happen?

No, not only that.

From the words that he said in the end, she couldn’t feel even a little bit of attachment from him towards the position of leader.

While telling her to do it.

While raising even the object of the bet.

As if―

(As if from the start, he planned for this to end like this……)

“……–!”

The moment that hunch brushed inside her head, Sumika started running.