Chapter 21

Shizuku's Challenge is the twenty-first chapter of the Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan manga.

Summary
The chapter begins, with Shizuku reminiscing about her childhood in the Kurogane Family. Due to her outstanding talent, everyone would always forgive her everything and let her do whatever she liked, which annoyed Shizuku. However, Shizuku's brother Ikki was the only one who scolded Shizuku, getting punished himself for the action. Because of this, Shizuku became to adore Ikki, wanting to always be by his side and give him all her love.

The scene then cuts to the present, where Shizuku's selection match is about to begin. Shizuku's opponent is the student council president, Touka Toudou, who is one of the Top 4 student knights of Japan. As the battle begins, the fighters remain still, waiting for others to make a move. Ikki, who is in the audience tells Stella of Touka's "invincible trump card", her Noble Art Raikiri, which is an ultimate close-range technique, that even the current Seven Stars Sword King is afraid of. Touka then charges at Shizuku, who in turn freezes the arena with Toudo Heigen and attacks Touka with multiple Water Prison Orbs. Touka blocks and dodges the attacks, launching her own lightning attack at Shizuku who defends with Shouha Suiren. Touka strikes Shizuku with multiple attacks but is unable to hit her. Shizuku then freezes Touka's feet and drops a giant bolder of ice on her. Touka, however, manages to destroy the boulder and free herself. The audience is impressed by how equal Shizuku and Touka are, but Utakata Misogi notes that Touka is yet to get serious.

Touka then suddenly moves in front of Shizuku, without Shizuku noticing, and almost manages to hit her. Touka does this again, this time injuring her. Stella is confused by Touka's movements, but Nene Saikyo appears and explains that Touka is using a movement technique called Trackless Step, which hides her movements from the opponent. Ikki having previously seen the technique notes that it will be very hard for Shizuku to defend against it, thinking that she will most likely lose. Stella though encourages Shizuku to keep fighting.

Shizuku, fueled by her want to stand beside Ikki in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival, refuses to give up, and uses Byakuya Kekkai to summon mist that covers the entire arena. This mist hides Shizuku from Touka. Shizuku then activates another of her techniques, Hisuijin, which compresses water on the edge of Shizuku's Device, making it longer and more deadly. Shizuku the charges for Touka, believing she will be unable to defend against her liquid blade. When Shizuku is about to hit Touka, Touka activates her ultimate ability, Raikiri, which destroys Hisuijin and the mist covering the arena. The attack also defeats Shizuku, who loses the match and her chance to fight in the Festival.