Inequality - Great Encounter Battle Arc

Blossoming Flower seemed to pause for a moment in shock at Hiroshi’s words, and then she put her hand to her mouth, and spoke through it, trying to cover the sound of her real voice.

“I-I have no idea who that is!” she blurted out, in a very feminine voice, as if it were exaggerated. Even through her disguise, Hiroshi knew it was her all along. He shook his head and chortled aloud.

“Oh, don’t lie, Wisteria! It is so obviously you! Besides, I looked in the registration booklet when I was searching for Jeremy’s name, and there you were! Wisteria Itsumi! Did you ask Alexander to call you that?”

Wisteria blushed. She knew there was no going back. She had been truly and utterly caught in the act. She had indeed asked Alexander to call her that, as she wanted her identity hidden from not only Hiroshi, but also the audience. She did regret not putting her name down as Blossoming Flower, but it probably would have been rejected, as you needed to go by your real or career name for the Tournament.

Hiroshi only got away with it because Alexander was too afraid to say otherwise.

“Take off the mask, Wisteria! What’s with the get-up? And why did you tell me to go to the Tournament if you were going too?” Hiroshi asked, his curiosity now peaked.

“Oh? What do we have here? It seems as if Shinigami and Blossoming Flower have stopped fighting and are now having a little chat!” Alexander announced to the crowd. They began booing the two of them, begging them to continue their intense battle together.

“Um...well...um,” Wisteria blushed, which she was glad was hidden by her mask, “I thought you were going to think I was a monster. My parents are the only ones that know I have magic, and they refused me to use it, because poor people don’t get blessed with magic.”

“They said I would be treated as a monstrosity, and this Tournament was my only chance to show everyone my skills! I just hate the fact only the rich get diagnosed with magic. I was a lucky person out in the sticks. The system is so damn corrupted. Nobody is equal. The Gods are a facade. This world cannot be saved. It’s why, when I heard of your goal to beat the Gods, I asked you to join in! Please! Don’t hate me! I never meant to lie! I just wanted people to appreciate my powers!” she continued, pouring all her feelings out all in one go, tears rolling down her eyes, soaking into her mask.

She wanted to change the whole world. The countries of Titania and Acebia always favored the rich, not the poor, who needed support the most. It disgusted her. She never liked the idea of the Gods either. She always thought to herself that if the Gods were so great, why did they never assist the poor people, and continue in prospering the wealthy. It was so unfair. She hated it.

“You're not a monstrosity. Don’t ever say that again.”

Wisteria sniffed hard and looked straight into the eyes of Hiroshi. They seemed kind and gentle, while also being genuine and understanding. He was telling the truth.

“Hiro...oshi,”she managed to stutter out, while being on the verge of breaking down. She couldn’t understand it at all. She was told her powers were hideous and that they should be hidden away. So, why out of all people, did Hiroshi, a man with almost no emotion, understand her so well?

“Your powers are wonderful! I can imagine if I had them in my world! You could be saving lives by putting out fires, or even by helping people putting ice in their drinks! You are a really awesome person, Wisteria! I would love to fight you when you’re not holding back!” Hiroshi shouted to her passionately, grinning his teeth into an encouraging smile.

Wisteria could feel her heart beating, faster and faster. She was incredibly confused at the sudden rush of adrenaline and dopamine but decided to not question it for the time being and accept Hiroshi’s offer of a fair fight.

“Okay! Let’s fight for real, Hiroshi! No holding back!” her words came out scrambled in the mask, but she got into a powerful stance to show that she wasn’t messing around. Hiroshi smirked to himself before giving his next statement.

“On one condition...you take off that mask.”

“W-What? Hiroshi, no way! Everybody will see me!” Wisteria squealed.

“And? Who cares? You are an inspiration. Fighting in this Tournament as a person from a poor village, going against all the odds! Show that crowd that beautiful face and smile of yours!” Hiroshi smiled, although he didn’t totally plan on calling her beautiful. Where did that come from?

With a bit of courage, Wisteria took off her mask very slowly and whipped her short hair back and forward. The crowd gasped at Wisteria’s appearance.

“Wow!”

“Isn’t she pretty?”

“That’s not the face I pictured!” Alexander admitted to the crowd. “But yes! Isn’t she gorgeous! You go get him, girl!”

At that moment, Hiroshi’s heart stopped. He had never really taken Wisteria’s features into account before. Now that it had been a week since they last met, Hiroshi couldn’t stop thinking about it. Her eyes were big and green, like an emerald or freshly cut grass. Her nose was small but pretty. Her eyebrows complemented her eyes, and her expressions were adorable, and her lips were smooth, and her cheeks were rosy and bright.

It was only at that moment that Hiroshi realized.

She reminded him of her.

“Oshi, please help me. I don’t want to die here!” 

There was that damn memory again, that cursed the very depths of his soul...