Mash's team, having defeated Karin (Call Sign: 02), races toward Mirror's storage.
"Almost there! Dungeon clear in sight!" Momo cheers.
"Don't jinx it, sis," Midori warns.
"It's fine! The shutter—" Momo starts.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shakes the area.
"Earthquake!?" Momo yelps.
"You jinxed it!" Midori snaps.
"Akane broke out. Hurry," Mash says, recognizing the blast.
Worried for their allies below, Mash speeds up with the Saiba sisters.
Akane, trapped earlier, used explosives to escape, leaving Maki and Kotori dazed.
"Didn't want to wreck school property, Yuuka, but I broke the shutter. Where's Game Dev?" Akane asks.
"Why'd the staff's mass increase? How'd he kick back an anti-material round? How's he fine!?" Yuuka rants.
"Yuuka?" Akane prompts.
"Sorry, lost it. Karin lost."
"She did?" Akane asks.
"Turned the staff into a glove, caught bullets, threw one, and broke her rifle."
"Just threw it!?" Akane gasps.
"They're heading to the vault. Please, stop them."
"That's a lot to handle after that story—" Akane starts.
The floor's lights and comms die.
"Yuuka!?" Akane calls, unanswered.
"They cut power and signals!?" Akane panics, her face paling.
"They went this far… and catching anti-material rounds!? Why's our leader gone now!?" Akane grumbles.
Mash's team enters a windowless, sealed area, pausing to catch their breath.
"Utaha and Hibiki's blackout plan worked, right?" Momo asks.
"Should have. Past this point…" Midori checks.
"Engineer Club's prep is clutch. Let's go all out," Mash says.
"Yeah! No one's—'Finally here!'" Momo starts.
"No more flags, sis!" Midori snaps.
"Didn't mean to!" Momo protests.
A woman appears: ash-gray hair, sharp blue eyes, seductive smile, dynamite figure, mole on her left chest—Asuna Ichinose, Maid Club's Call Sign: 01.
"Took you long enough! Welcome, Game Dev and Sensei!" Asuna beams.
The Saiba sisters feel a chill, but Mash—
"Evening, I'm Mash Burnedead," bow.
"Why greet!?" Momo shrieks.
"Grandpa said to greet new people," Mash explains.
"She's the enemy, here to stop us!" Midori yells.
"They're not bad. Might be friends later, so greeting's good," Mash says.
"Too honest!" Momo groans.
"Look, she's confused—" Midori starts.
"Mash-sensei! I'm Asuna Ichinose, 17, Millennium third-year, birthday March 24!" Asuna grins.
"She greeted back!?" Midori gasps.
"We're enemies, right?" Momo asks.
"Yup! But it's rude not to return a greeting," Asuna says.
"Exactly. We get along," Mash nods.
"You're nice, Sensei!" Asuna beams.
"Not really," Mash shrugs.
"Glad we're getting along!" Asuna cheers.
They bond oddly, but Asuna's face falls.
"Sorry, work's work. Gotta fight," Asuna says.
"Fair. I'm a Sensei, so I have to fight too," Mash replies.
"Let's do this!" Asuna readies Surprise Party; Mash clenches his fists.
"No grudges?" Asuna asks.
"Nope," Mash says.
As they square off, the Saiba sisters step back. Then—
"First strike wins!" Asuna fires, charging.
Mash dodges right, throwing a chop.
"Faster than me!" Asuna slips behind, aiming her gun.
Mash grabs for it, but—
"Nope!" Asuna catches his hand, trying to throw him.
"Caught!?" Momo gasps.
"Here we go—huh?" Asuna strains but can't budge Mash.
He's not moving, despite my strength… stronger than I heard! Asuna thinks.
"Hup!" Mash pulls, aiming to slam Asuna down.
"No dodging that!" Midori cheers.
"Sensei wins!" Momo yells.
But—
"Your left hand's free, Sensei," Asuna smirks.
"!" Mash reacts.
Bang bang bang!
"She shot from that position, forcing him to let go?" Midori gasps.
"So close!" Momo groans.
Asuna fires at Mash's forehead, forcing him to dodge. She spins, gaining distance.
Gotta attack, Mash thinks.
"My turn? Bring it!" Asuna taunts.
Mash closes in, throwing light punches and kicks.
"Dodge, dodge, low!" Asuna evades.
"She's dodging Sensei!?" Momo gasps.
"Like she's predicting his moves," Midori says.
"Haha, no future sight!" Asuna laughs, firing at the ground to push Mash back.
"I just guess where he's coming from," Asuna says.
"Instinct?" Midori asks.
"Probably!" Asuna nods.
"Our position too!?" Momo panics.
"Yup!" Asuna confirms.
Asuna's high physical ability is outshined by her terrifying intuition, dodging Mash's attacks effortlessly.
"Trouble. She's strong," Mash says.
"You're shocking too. I barely dodge… and you're not even serious, are you?" Asuna asks.
"Busted," Mash admits.
The sisters gasp. Mash is holding back—Asuna's a student, and he can't hurt her seriously.
"You're going easy because I'm a student, right?" Asuna says.
"N-N-No way," Mash stammers.
So obvious, the sisters think.
"But that's not all… that thing on your arm?" Asuna points.
"It's… something I can't take off," Mash says.
"Really?" Asuna asks.
"Yeah. Without it, I'm… dangerous," Mash says, his face darkening.
Asuna nods, raising her gun. "I'm glad you care, but this is getting dangerous!"
"Your intuition's crazy," Mash admits.
"Right?" Asuna grins.
"Then… keep dodging," Mash challenges.
Mash unleashes a flurry of attacks. Asuna, reading his moves, dodges fluidly.
Fast… but I can keep up. Just keep dodging… wait, Asuna senses something.
The more she dodges, the faster Mash's attacks become.
Getting faster!? Asuna panics.
Her dodges slow; Mash closes gaps instantly, leaving no openings.
Huff… huff… stamina's fading, Asuna gasps.
No matter her intuition, without stamina, she's done.
"Even if she dodges, Sensei's wearing her out!" Midori realizes.
"Brainless, but brilliant!" Momo cheers.
"Too good a plan!" Midori adds.
Asuna's movements dull. She stumbles, and Mash seizes the chance.
"Gotcha," he grabs her arm, pulling her into a shoulder throw.
WHAM!
"Ow!" Asuna hits the ground, too damaged to move.
He drained my stamina to stop me… amazing, Asuna thinks.
"Sorry, we have to move on," Mash says.
The Saiba sisters cheer, approaching.
"It's fine. I lost. Can't move," Asuna says. "Sensei?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time, let's meet as friends, not enemies," Asuna smiles.
"Totally. With the whole Maid Club," Mash agrees.
"Promise? …Okay, everyone?" Asuna calls.
Click.
"Yes, everyone, Sensei," a voice says.
Yuuka, Akane, and a swarm of robot soldiers appear at the entrance.
"Time stall—tricked!" Momo yells.
"Meant to down you too, Sensei. Sorry, Akane, couldn't," Asuna says.
"You did great," Akane replies.
"Checkmate, Sensei!" Yuuka declares.
"Wow," Mash says.
Celebrating Asuna's defeat, Mash's team is now cornered.
What's next? To be continued.
Thoughts
Asuna might be too strong here… worried about her strength and tone. Sorry if off! Mash's fights are forced but fitting his style!
Comments, ratings, activity reports—please! They keep me going!
Large dog-like girls? Love them.
Struggle with fight scenes. How do pros nail it?
Asuna's Strength
Asuna's intuition and agility are canonically high, but I may have amped her up. Her playful, carefree vibe clashing with deadly skill fits her C&C role. If her tone feels off, it's my take on her chaotic energy meeting Mash's absurd strength. Thoughts on her portrayal?
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