Kouhei steadied himself, every muscle in his body pulled tight, like a bowstring drawn to its very limit. His chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths, his eyes locked on Yuzuha, waiting to see what her first move would be. The air around them felt heavier with every passing second, so thick it was almost hard to breathe, like even the atmosphere was straining in anticipation of the clash about to happen.
Even though deep down Kouhei believed he could win, there was no denying the risk. If he miscalculated even once, if he let his guard down for a single heartbeat, he might very well lose his life. That thought, as grim as it was, kept his senses razor-sharp.