The Qualifiers concluded without a hitch.
Incredibly, our team managed to win every single match, passing the League A Qualifiers in first place!
With Ray and Amelia on the team, success was to be expected, but even so, joy is joy.
In these Qualifiers, the top two teams from all leagues combined are granted seeds. Since our team came in second overall—missing the top spot by a narrow margin behind Team Forst—we successfully secured our seed.
As a result, we will be joining the Main Tournament starting from the second round.
"Phew... I am exhausted again today..."
I have returned to my family home and reported our results to my father. It seems he watched every match, and he praised me most highly.
Specifically, he said, "The radiance of your muscles was truly magnificent!"
It is true that our team possessed both exceptional coordination and exceptional muscles.
That is something both we and others would acknowledge.
Ray goes without saying, but even Amelia has developed wonderful muscles recently as a result of her training.
She herself said, "I've been getting a bit muscular lately, and I'm not sure how I feel about it..." but I am certain she will realize the brilliance of those muscles one day.
Naturally, I need not speak further of the brilliance of Ray’s physique. His are the supreme, pinnacle of muscles.
Furthermore, my own muscles have been reaching an exquisite state lately. I owe it all to Ray.
"Big Sister! Let's take a bath together!"
Just as I was thinking of bathing alone, my younger sister, Tiana, approached me. She is still young, but I feel her beauty has been growing more refined lately. I am sure she will become a great beauty when she grows up.
"Yes. Of course."
"Yay! Hooray!"
However, her rambunctious nature remains unchanged; I hear she often troubles the house maids.
I also learned that she watched the tournament with our father and was quite excited.
I did not know my family was watching, but I believe I fought in a way that did not bring shame to the name of the eldest daughter of House Algren.
"Phew... I really am tired today."
"Good job, Big Sister! I'll wash your back for you!"
"That would be a great help."
Tiana then washed my back. Afterward, we switched, and I washed Tiana’s back before we both soaked in the tub together.
Since her body is still small, she fits perfectly on my lap. However, she has grown quite a lot compared to the old days.
"Hey, hey, do you think you can win the tournament!?"
She asked me with sparkling eyes, and I gave her my honest thoughts.
"Yes! Of course! With Amelia and Ray there, we are invincible!"
"Invincible!? Amazing! But, I know Amelia-chan... who is Ray?"
"Ah... th-that is..."
If I recall, Tiana still believes Lily—Ray’s female persona—is an actual woman.
I could tell her the truth, but I decided I should not, if only to avoid destroying her dreams.
So, I decided to talk about Ray as a separate person. I told her exactly how I had been spending my time with Ray until now.
"Could it be, Big Sister... that you like that Big Brother person~?"
Tiana said this with a smirking grin, but as her older sister, I had to maintain a firm attitude.
However, the moment I heard those words, I could feel my face turning bright red.
"Wh—!? N-no, you are mistaken! Ray is, well... we are on the same team, so we are simply close friends!"
"But you looked so happy while you were talking about him."
"Ugh..."
Recently, in addition to being a tomboy, Tiana has been getting quite precocious. To make matters worse, she stared intently at me, interrogating me.
"Th-that is a completely separate matter!"
"...Is it?"
"Yes. You will understand this as well when you grow up, Tiana."
"Heh~. Is that so~?"
She seemed convinced for now, but a certain sense of unease remained in my heart.
After finishing the bath with Tiana, I returned to my room.
It is a simple room, but one's own room is the place where one can truly feel at ease.
"Phew... I have finally settled down..."
After getting out of the bath, Tiana started running around the house and played tag with me. Naturally, I scolded her, but she didn't listen and just kept running while laughing.
I really should have been more firm with her, but my younger sister is simply too adorable.
"Even so..."
Prompted by what Tiana said, I considered it once more... Am I... well... interested in Ray?
N-no!
It is not as if I have become like Amelia or Rebecca-senpai. But, well... the more I get to know Ray, the more I feel like I cannot just leave him be.
He is always resolute, calm, and collected. Yet, he is also lacking in common sense in some ways and can be quite airheaded. Given his background, that is only natural, but why does he occupy my thoughts so much?
"Could it be...?"
I allowed myself to become slightly conscious of the doubt in my heart. When I did, my face turned red enough that even I could tell.
Our first meeting was when he was cross-dressing. I was utterly stunned then... but his quality was more beautiful than an ordinary woman's, which truly surprised me.
From then on, my impression of him was more as Amelia’s close friend. Since we attended different academies, there were few opportunities to meet.
However, seeing how Amelia changed, I wanted to change as well.
That is why I invited Ray to participate in this tournament on the same team. From there, I began spending more time with him, and my opportunities to get to know him increased.
As for me, I have no intention of getting in Amelia’s way, so I naturally intended to devote myself to supporting them. Originally, I planned to cheer on Amelia’s love.
But the more I learn about Ray, the more I can understand why Amelia is attracted to him.
"Hm? I can understand...?"
I lay down on my bed and stared at the ceiling.
Then, my thoughts gradually became clear.
"No way? No way, no way, no way!"
Th-that is impossible!
I have not even had my first love yet, and I do not know how to define this feeling.
However, whenever I think of Ray, I cannot help but feel my chest grow warm.
I-if... and this is purely hypothetical... if, by some sheer chance... what if we were to become lovers? How would I feel then—?
"——————————!!"
My face was likely redder than it had ever been before. No, not just my face. My entire body felt incredibly hot.
This feeling is surely... well, a momentary lapse of judgment!
It is definitely not that I am a "Maiden in Love"!!
"L-let's just sleep... Thinking too much is not good!"
With that, I decided to go to sleep. It is not good to dwell on such things any further.
However, even though I kept telling myself to sleep, all I could remember were my memories with Ray.
Especially lately, Ray has seemed strangely brilliant, or rather, charming... and my eyes are drawn to his muscles whenever I catch a glimpse of them... Wait! What am I thinking about again!!?
Ah! Goodness!
I am most certainly not a "Maiden in Love"!
I am a "Fighting Maiden" right now!
Ultimately, however, it was not until several hours later that I was finally able to fall asleep...