The moonlight beat down on the makeshift tennis court Lin had created within the academy grounds. A shimmering, almost invisible barrier enclosed the space, humming faintly with contained energy. Inside, Kojo and Yukio moved with a speed that blurred the edges of their forms, their rackets flashing as they traded powerful shots. A crowd of students pressed against the barrier, their murmurs a constant undercurrent to the rhythmic thwack of the ball. Excitement hung in the air, thick and palpable.
Kojo, his brow furrowed in concentration, lunged to his left, his racket a blur as he met Yukio's powerful serve. The ball screamed across the net, a silver streak against the vibrant tiles of the court. He returned it with a sharp crack, sending it deep into Yukio's court.
"So," Kojo called out, his voice surprisingly steady despite the exertion, "about the Trial…"
Yukio, her movements fluid and graceful, met the ball with a force that belied her calm expression. The return shot was a missile, aimed squarely at Kojo's chest.
"The Trial?" she echoed, her voice even. "What about it?"
Kojo barely managed to get his racket up in time. The impact reverberated through his arm, the ball rocketing upwards with such force that for a terrifying moment, he felt like he was being pushed off his feet. He stumbled backward, catching himself just before he went out of bounds.
"You don't seem… angry," Kojo observed, his chest heaving. He served the ball back, a gentler shot this time, giving himself a precious second to recover.
"You have every right to be, you know."
Yukio sighed softly as she prepared to receive.
"It's alright, Kojo." Her voice held a hint of weariness. She struck the ball, a controlled shot that landed just inside the baseline.
" Things were solved in the end so so there's no use dwelling on it." Yuki replied.
"( But you know,I was expecting you to descend on Kojo earlier.)
" What do you mean descend on me?"
(Where have you been all week? I haven't seen you around.)"
Yukio returned Kojo's next serve, her eyes focused on the game.
"Paperwork," she replied, her tone dismissive. "It's a long story."
"(Paperwork that takes a whole week?)" Sysia's voice held a note of disbelief. "(It must have been rough.)"
Kojo and Yukio continued their intense rally, the ball flying back and forth like a silver lightning bolt. Finally, Kojo managed to place a delicate drop shot just over the net. Yukio sprinted forward but couldn't reach it in time.
"I have some questions for you later," Kojo said, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.
Yukio nodded, retrieving the ball. "I have something to show you as well, Kojo." Her gaze was unreadable.
The murmur of the crowd intensified. "Did you see that last shot?" one student whispered excitedly.
"Kojo's moves are incredible! "
"But Yukio's power is on another level," another countered.
"She's so fast!"
" I wish I could smell the Archsaints clothes after."
" Ew, pervert."
" What is wrong with you."
" Hey,don't get close to me. Shinē!"
" But Kojo is quite the looker though."
" And he's strong, I kinda hope he ends up teaching my class."
" Hey!"
Valeri, standing near the edge of the barrier, her arms crossed, scanned the crowd. Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed several familiar faces among the spectators – faculty members. And then she saw her – the assistant vice chancellor, her presence radiating an air of quiet authority.
Things were definitely going to change, she thought, a knot forming in her stomach.
As for the game,the two players seemed to be having a hearty conversation within the field but their movement speed and the small waves of force that came from their shots distorted the sound. Even if they could hear,the barrier that had been erected prevented any sound from their conversation getting out.
" It must be that elfs doing." Valeri mummered glancing at Lin. She seemed completely unfazed by the incredible speed and power on display, her expression serene. It was different for them; even keeping track of the ball was a challenge.
Lin stood within the shimmering enclosure, her arms folded, her gaze fixed intently on the two figures battling it out on the court. Valeri's eyes flickered back towards Kojo. He seemed remarkably comfortable around their Archsaint, almost… familial.
Kojo paused, catching his breath. "What's the score, Lin?"
Lin's voice, clear and even, cut through the excited chatter of the students. "It's a draw. One game point to decide the winner."
Kojo nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. "Alright then." He focused, a faint purple aura flickering around him. He was about to tap into his 'Accelerant' ability, to glimpse the immediate future, to anticipate Yukio's next move. But as the familiar sensation began to build, the world around him shimmered, colors distorting and blurring. A sharp pain lanced through his head, accompanied by a high-pitched ringing in his ears. The aura vanished, his ability forcibly deactivated. He stumbled slightly, clutching his temples.
"What was that?" he muttered, disoriented.
A small, almost imperceptible smile played on Yukio's lips. She tossed the ball high, her serve even more powerful than before. The ball was a blur, hurtling towards Kojo with terrifying speed. He reacted instinctively, swinging his racket. Instead of a direct hit, at the last moment, he subtly flicked his wrist. The ball connected with the end of his racket, imparting a vicious curve. It sailed over Yukio's outstretched racket, seemingly destined to land in the far corner for the winning point.
Just as a triumphant grin spread across Kojo's face, time seemed to grind to a halt. The excited murmurs of the crowd froze mid-syllable. The snowflakes hung suspended in the air. Everything was still. Except for Yukio.
With a casual flick of her wrist, she tapped the seemingly frozen ball with the tip of her racket. A visible ripple distorted the air around the point of contact. Kojo's eyes widened in disbelief, his body still locked in the frozen moment.
Yukio turned and walked away, her movements graceful and unhurried. As she took a few steps, the time snapped back to normal as she deactivated her 'Timeless World'.
The frozen ball, now imbued with a strange, unseen force, slammed into Kojo's gut at the speed of sound with a deafening thud. The air rushed out of him in a strangled gasp, and he doubled over, coughing and clutching his abdomen.
Lin immediately lowered the shimmering barrier. "Game," she announced, her voice neutral. "The ball hit Kojo before his racket. Therefore, the point, and the match, is a draw."
Kojo looked up, his face contorted in pain and disbelief. He saw Lin give Yukio a small, almost conspiratorial fist bump. He cursed under his breath.
"Lin, you could have stopped it when you used your… time thing!"
Yukio turned, her expression cool.
"You were trying to use some future sight ability to cheat as well, Kojo. Consider us even now."
"(Did you know he was going to do that?)" S
Yukio shrugged, a hint of a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Who knows?"
"(Come on, you totally knew!)" Sysia insisted. "(Then why didn't his 'Accelerant' work?)"
Yukio offered a cryptic smile.
"Let's just say I have a… sensitivity to such things. And I recently discovered it works across dimensions." she said with a shrug
Kojo stared at her, a mixture of frustration and awe in his eyes.
Yukio continued, her voice matter-of-fact. "And as for future sight… in a way, the future is just a long chain of cause and effect. I seem to be… immune to that."
Kojo could only look at her, a silent question hanging in the air – Just how strong are you?
Sysia burst into laughter. "(Weren't you just saying your type was strong women?)"
"Shut up, Sysia," Kojo grumbled, pushing himself to his feet. He limped forward, rubbing his aching abdomen. The draw felt less like a tie and more like a subtle, yet decisive, defeat.