Chapter 23

The Feelings Between Them is the twenty-third chapter of the Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan manga.

Summary
The chapter begins, with Itsuki Kurogane, the father of Ikki and Shizuku, and the head of the League of Mage-Knight Nations Japan Branch mourning Shizuku's loss, and the fact that Ikki is still undefeated. He fears that Ikki will enter the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival, ruining the reputation of the Kurogane Family. However, Mamoru Akaza, an associate of Itsuki enters, saying that he may have a solution.

Ikki and Stella, along with the student council travel to Okutama, where Hagun Academy's training camp is, to investigate the sightings of a giant. When they arrive, Ikki, Tohka and Utakata prepare food, while Stella and Renren play badminton. During preparing food, Ikki notices something odd about Tohka, which Utakata calls Tohka's source of strength. Utakata tells Ikki that Tohka grew up in an orphanage, where there were bunch of kids with horrible backgrounds. Despite the tense atmosphere, Tohka was able to spread happiness, helping others whenever she good. She even managed to approach a violent child, who's own parents had attacked him. This child is implied to be Utakata himself. Utakata the says that Tohka's source of strength are those children, as she wants to make them happy and proud.

After eating, everyone splits into team's of two, with Ikki being Stella's partner. They find a gigantic mysterious hole. Stella however begins to feel sick, as she has a cold, something she has never had before. Ikki and Stella find a cabin where they stay. Stella, being very exhausted, asks Ikki to remove her clothes, which Ikki does, though embarrassingly. Stella then asks if Ikki wants to have sex with her, Ikki though refuses, after some thinking, saying that he should wait to meet Stella's parents. After hearing Ikki's answer, Stella becomes embarrassed, believing herself to be naughty.