Misc Ikki

Ikki had never felt that before, that uncomfortable experience of someone getting close without him being able to react. It was probably some kind of classical martial art, perhaps a variety of footwork from an ancient Japanese martial lineage. He didn't know exactly what kind of trick it was, but―
"…Uh, it's no good if I don't concentrate on the match in front of me right now."
Short footwork that uses eye-to-eye contact with an opponent to make distance hard to measure. It was an interesting technique, but there was probably no way to practice it at the moment, so he had to suppress his interest for now and continue preparing for his important match.

================= After getting stabbed through every part in his body:

There was a place she wanted to reach together with him―that was why Stella put all of her feelings into her scream. It wasn't just Ikki himself that believed in Ikki Kurogane's worth anymore. In that moment―
*Pow!* Ikki punched his own cheek with enough force that the sound could be heard from afar.
「Wha!?」
Everyone there shouted in astonishment at this sudden, eccentric act. What the heck was he doing? Under the questioning gazes, Ikki―
"Thanks, Stella. You really put life back into me."
―slowly, but with strength, stood back up.