Published: March 21, 2026
"Akira!"
"Amelia."
Even in the backstage waiting room with nearly three hundred women, Amelia was easy to spot.
Just the way she turned around made her seem like she had a sparkling effect around her all to herself.
Lattice Nail was beside her, and the two of them seemed to be chatting amicably.
Nearby were the two girls from the hero party.
"Big brother, how do I look? You were curious about what's under my hood, weren't you? What do you think?"
Lattice Nail bounded over to me with a friendly smile.
Behind Lattice Nail I thought I saw a dog tail wagging back and forth.
...A hallucination?
"Yeah, you're more surprising than I thought. Well, you still lose to Amelia."
I said this while patting Amelia's head as she came over.
Amelia purred like a content cat, closing her eyes happily.
If Lattice Nail was a dog, then this one was a cat.
I'm firmly on team cat.
Lattice Nail put a hand on her neatly curved waist and puffed out her cheeks.
"Of course Amelia's off the charts! There isn't anyone prettier than Amelia! But, even if I say it myself, I'm popular with guys!"
"If Rusty would just keep her mouth shut, she's cute enough."
"Eh, does that mean I'm the so-called 'disappointing beauty'?!"
Somehow they had become close enough to call each other by name.
And I strongly agreed that Lattice Nail was a "disappointing beauty."
"Oh, by the way, I still call you 'big brother' because I don't know your name."
Lattice Nail said this as if she just remembered, and I realized she was right.
Come to think of it, I hadn't properly introduced myself.
I had seen her properly with the World Eye, and Yoru had told me Lattice Nail's name, but I couldn't recall ever saying my own.
"A bit late, but I'm Oda Akira. Here maybe Lord Akira Oda is more correct? ...Anyway, nice to meet you."
"Mm! Akira! Got it, big brother!"
"Even after I say my name, the way you call me doesn't change."
I couldn't help but smile at her inscrutable personality.
It would still be a little while before the results were announced.
We could keep talking.
"Lattice Nail's your real name, right? Rusty is a nickname?"
"Yup! Lattice Nail's long, so I made it myself! I could've just gone by Lattice, but Rusty has more charm and is cuter, right?"
True, just "Lattice" didn't fit her personality — it sounded stiff.
"Rusty suits you better. Akira, Rusty is really fun to talk to."
Amelia's expression softened.
Lattice Nail's relaxed way of speaking and personality seemed to have a calming effect.
She had some kind of charisma that drew people in.
"Voting and tallying are complete! Now, moving on to the long-awaited results announcement!!"
I was jolted by the MC's voice coming from somewhere.
My conversation with Lattice Nail had gotten so lively I'd forgotten the contest was still underway.
Amelia and Lattice Nail looked at each other and smiled.
"...No matter who wins, no arguing."
"Yeah! Of course!"
The top five would be honored and return to the stage.
While most of the waiting room folded their hands in prayer, doing nothing but waiting for the results, Amelia and Lattice Nail radiated an unmistakably different atmosphere.
Others hoped to be in the top five; these two desired only the first-place title.
Well, Amelia was probably after the prize that came with first place.
"Now, the results! Fifth place!! ...Entry number 108, Natalia!!"
A woman in an orange dress burst into tears and then stepped onto the stage.
She must have been overjoyed, muttering that she couldn't believe it.
"Next, fourth place!! ...Entry number 25, Ardira!!"
This time a crow-beastman woman in a blue dress snorted and walked onto the stage.
Her expression was deeply displeased, glaring hatefully at Amelia and Lattice Nail.
Well, without those two there might've been a real chance at victory.
Prideful as she seemed, she did have a good face.
Just the face.
"Third place!! ...Entry number 2! Sonora!!"
A woman in a white dress stepped forward timidly.
Maybe her clumsy-girl trait had appealed to people.
At this point more women bowed their heads in resignation.
They must have understood that Amelia and Lattice Nail were the top two rivals.