35 Naive Girl (1/2)

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Ayame felt a heavy presence pressing down on her. Her hand started trembling. She held her sword with two hands and tried to shake of the heavy feeling by releasing her own presence. It helped suppress the trembling but she could still feel the pressure closing in on her as both of them got in position.

The audience didn't know what to think. From their perspective, it looked like an obvious mistake when Kazuya dodged too early and lost a point. From his amazing performance, something felt off but they couldn't quite figure it out. They wondered what he was going to do now that his perfect streak had been broken by non-other than the previous champion.

”BEGIN!”

”[Overhead slash!]” Ayame wasted no time and attacked. Kazuya on the other hand remained still.

”[Playtime is over]” a voice spoke up in Ayame's head, the shock caused her attack a second delay which Kazuya didn't fail to take advantage of. With a light step forward, he used the sword in one hand and hit Ayame's hand. The strength of his blow made the bamboo sword in her hands fly out of the dueling area causing a stir.

”P-point Kouzuki!” The referee stuttered. Ayame's bamboo sword flew in his direction but he evaded.

”Y-you just…” Ayame was flabbergasted. It wasn't because of what happened to her sword but to the direct message in her mind.

”[I just confirmed your suspicions. What about it?]” he shrugged ”[I can even teach it to the robot girl. It's a basic skill and that's all there is to it]” He turned around and went back to position. Ignoring the stunned Ayame, he waited for the next round to begin.

”Go Kazu!” Mei cheered. Kazuya looked over after hearing her. ”Stop playing around and finish it so we can go home!” he gave her a nod and faced Ayame who got her sword back.

”You heard her. The test is over hmm…” he stopped to think. ”I think I'll call you naïve girl” hearing him, Ayame had mixed feelings. She was glad that she had been acknowledged since she knew that Tomoyo was called 'robot girl' by him but being called 'naïve' by someone younger than her felt like an insult.

”You sure are confident” Ayame still thought it was fair game. He might have scored a point after he caught her of guard like she did to get a point.

”Unless you reach the same state you were in with the fight with the robot girl, you won't be of much use to me as a sparring partner. Do you remember feeling everything move slower?” his words made Ayame shiver.

”!!” As if he had read her thoughts, he bluntly told her about the experience she had, this was why she wasn't disappointed after losing to Tomoyo. She felt like she had found a breakthrough after that bout.

”If it wasn't for her reaching the same state, the robot girl would have slowed down too. That is only the initial stage of both your potentials though” Kazuya looked at the referee and waited for the signal. Ayame knew that she wouldn't get anymore out of him so she got in position.

”BEGIN!”

This time Ayame stood still. She knew that Kazuya would try to finish this so she chose this method to make use of all her abilities. With her reflexes, she was going for a counterattack. The disadvantage of Kazuya's one handed style was the side left open when he attacked. That was her target.

”Not a bad plan” Kazuya lightly stepped forward to initiate an attack. He couldn't help but admire this naïve girl's clever tactics and focus.

Due to her intense concentration, Ayame felt something warm inside her gushing forth. Time had once again looked like it was slowing down. She could clearly see the light step that her opponent used to approach. With the sword on Kazuya's right hand, Ayame immediately took advantage of the situation and targeted his unguarded left.

”[Impressive. You actually returned to this state]” A voice sounded in her head.

The slow-moving Kazuya didn't move slow in her vision anymore. He immediately sped up and met with Ayame who had begun her counterattack. A strong force to her bamboo sword threw her off her stance. She immediately looked at the supposedly unguarded side of her opponent. Her eyes couldn't help but open in surprise to find Kazuya's sword was now in his left hand.

”(This power on a non-dominant hand?)” she thought as she jumped backwards to regain her stance.

”[I forgot to inform you. I'm ambidextrous]” Kazuya's voice appeared on her mind together with a light chuckle.He immediately gave chase and Ayame couldn't help but defend. His continuous flurry of strikes gave her no chance to counterattack as he kept switching the sword between both hands at unpredictable times.

All those who were watching couldn't help but rub their eyes or pinch themselves. Ayame who had an epic duel against Shiroyuki Tomoyo was getting pushed back like this. Even Jirou and Miyamoto had never seen this style of fighting before. They knew that Kazuya followed a non-traditional style but this was just out of their expectations.

Tomoyo watched every moment of the battle. She felt a little envious. Kazuya had never showed or used this style against her. She felt that this was his original way of fighting and felt inferior to Ayame for not being able to go against it.

Ayame who kept getting pushed back waited for an opportunity for a counter-attack. She was hoping for his stamina to deplete. She only needed one opportunity and it came not long after. Kazuya's flurry of strikes suddenly stopped. She gripped her sword tight and repositioned herself to strike back.

”Point Kouzuki!” The referee's declaration stopped Ayame's thoughts as she turned towards the referee. She followed the referee's vision which were under her feet. That was when she realized that she had already gone out of the dueling area. She had been pushed back this far and instantly lost the match.

”I…” she looked towards Kazuya who had already removed his headgear. She didn't know what to say but was surprised to see a smile on his face.

”Thanks. That was a good spar. I finally got to break out a sweat” he was in a good mood. He held out his hand to shake hers.

”A spar huh…” Ayame took off her own headgear along with the cloth to let down her hair. She glanced towards the stands and found the person who Kazuya looked at earlier. She extended her hand to shake Kazuya's hand but immediately pulled him towards her.

The whole arena froze. Mei and Kyouko stood up in shock as Ayame pressed her lips on Kazuya's forehead. She looked at Mei as if challenging her before letting him go.

”You…” Kazuya was a bit dazed as he touched his forehead.