Having defeated Maid Club's Callsign 02, Karin Kakudate, Mash and his team raced toward the mirror's storage vault.
"We're almost there! Dungeon conquest in sight!"
"Don't jinx it, big sis!"
"It's fine, the shutter's—"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed.
"What!? An earthquake!?"
"Ugh, you jinxed it!"
"Let's hurry. Probably Akane breaking out."
Mash recognized the blast, urging them forward. Worried for their allies below, he knew they couldn't waste the time they'd bought. Carrying the Saiba sisters, he picked up speed.
Akane, freed by her own explosives, stood amidst dazed Kotori and Maki.
"Phew, I didn't want to wreck school property… Sorry, Yuuka, I broke the shutter. Where's Game Dev now?"
"Why's that staff heavier? How'd he kick back an anti-materiel round? How's he unharmed?"
"Yuuka?"
"Sorry, I lost it for a sec."
"Karin lost?"
"Yeah, turned his iron staff into a glove, caught the bullets."
"Anti-materiel bullets? A glove? What?"
"Threw it and smashed Karin's sniper rifle."
"Just threw it!?"
"They're heading for the vault… Please, stop them."
"That's a tall order after hearing that!"
Suddenly, the floor's lights went out.
"Yuuka? Yuuka!"
No response.
"They cut power and comms!?"
Akane's panicked expression deepened, cursing her absent leader.
Mash's team reached a windowless, sealed chamber, pausing to catch their breath.
"That blackout means Utaha and Hibiki's plan worked, right?"
"Yep. If we pass this point…"
"Nice job, Engineering. Let's go all out."
"Yeah! Nobody's—'Finally, you're here!'"
"Stop jinxing, big sis!"
"I didn't mean to!"
A woman appeared: ash-gray hair, sharp blue eyes, a bewitching smile, a striking figure with a mole on her left chest—Maid Club's Callsign 01, Asuna Ichinose.
"Took you long enough! Welcome, Game Dev kids! And Sensei!"
The Saiba sisters froze in slight fear at her cheerful grin. Mash, unfazed, responded.
"Good evening, I'm Mash Burnedead." Bow.
The sisters faceplanted, scrambling to protest.
"Why're you greeting her!?"
"Grandpa said always greet new people."
"That's true, but she's the enemy here to stop us!"
"They don't seem bad. We might be friends later, so skipping greetings felt wrong."
"You're too honest, Sensei!"
"Look, you're confusing her…"
But Asuna wasn't confused.
"Mash-sensei, right? I'm Asuna Ichinose, 17, third-year at Millennium Science School, birthday March 24!"
"She greeted back!?"
"We're enemies, right?"
"Yep! But it's rude not to return a greeting."
"Exactly, we're on the same wavelength."
"You're a good guy, Sensei!"
"Nah, not really."
"Glad we're hitting it off!"
Somehow, Mash and Asuna bonded. But her smile faded.
"Sorry, work's work. Gotta fight, Sensei."
"No problem. It's my job too."
"Alright, let's do this!"
Asuna readied her Surprise Party rifle. Mash clenched his fists.
"No hard feelings?"
"Yep."
As the Saiba sisters stepped back, Asuna struck.
"First move wins!"
She fired at Mash, charging forward.
"Hmph."
Mash dodged right, swinging a chop at Asuna.
"Faster than me!"
She slipped past, aiming her gun at his back. Mash reached to crush it, but—
"Not so fast!" Grab!
"She caught him!?"
"Gotcha! Time to throw—huh?"
Asuna gripped Mash's hand, trying to hurl him backward, but he didn't budge.
(He's not moving, no matter how hard I try… He's way stronger than I heard!)
"Hmph!"
Mash yanked her forward.
"Whoa!"
"She can't dodge that!"
"Hit the ground, and Sensei wins! Yes!"
Mash aimed to slam Asuna down, but—
"Sensei, your left hand's free."
"!"
Bang bang bang!
"She shot in that position and made him let go?"
"So close!"
Asuna fired from her left hand, forcing Mash to dodge a headshot. She spun, gaining distance.
(Gotta attack.)
"Your turn, Sensei. Bring it!"
Mash closed in, throwing light punches and kicks.
"Here, there… now low!"
"She's dodging Sensei's attacks!?"
"Like she's predicting his moves!"
"Haha, no future sight here!" Bang bang!
Asuna fired at the ground, pushing Mash back.
"I just think, 'He's coming from here, right?' and dodge."
"Instinct?"
"Probably!"
"Our position too?"
"Yup!"
Asuna's physical prowess was high, but her terrifying intuition was her true strength. She dodged Mash's attacks by gut feeling alone.
"…This is a problem. That's some serious skill."
"I'm shocked too. You're dodging by a hair… but, Sensei?"
"Hm?"
"You're not going all out, are you?"
"…Caught me."
The sisters gasped. Mash was holding back because Asuna was a student. He couldn't go all out against a pupil.
"You're going easy 'cause I'm a student, right?"
"N-n-no way!"
(He's totally flustered…)
"But it's not just that… What's on your arm?"
"This… I can't take it off, no matter what."
"Really?"
"Yeah, without it, I'd be… dangerously unstoppable."
Mash's face darkened with a memory. Asuna nodded, raising her gun.
"I'm touched you care, but holding back is risky!"
"Your instincts are incredible."
"Right?"
"Then… keep dodging."
Mash attacked relentlessly. Asuna dodged, reading his moves, but—
(Faster… his attacks are getting faster?)
Her dodges grew sluggish. Mash closed every gap, leaving no room for counterattacks.
(I'm… out of breath? My stamina's fading?)
No matter her instincts, without stamina, she couldn't keep up.
"No matter how much Asuna-senpai dodges, Sensei doesn't let up. That's it—wear down her stamina so she can't dodge!"
"Pure musclehead logic, but…"
"…It's a brilliant strategy!"
Asuna's movements slowed. In a split-second pause, Mash grabbed her arm.
"Gotcha."
He yanked her forward, flipping her over his shoulder.
"Hngh!"
Thud!
Asuna hit the ground hard, unable to move.
(Draining my stamina to stop my dodging… Amazing, Sensei.)
"Sorry, we have to keep going."
The Saiba sisters cheered, rushing to Mash.
"It's fine, I lost fair and square. Can't move… Sensei?"
"Yes?"
"Next time, let's meet as friends, not enemies."
"Totally, with the whole Maid Club."
"Promise? …Right, everyone?"
"Everyone?"
Click.
"Yes, everyone, Sensei."
At the entrance, Yuuka and Akane stood with a swarm of robot soldiers, guns ready.
"Stalling tactic—tricked!"
"I meant to take you down too, but… sorry, Akane, I failed."
"No, you did well."
"Checkmate, Sensei!"
"…Wow."
Just as Mash celebrated, they were cornered.
What fate awaits Mash and his team? To be continued.
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