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“P-Prize?!” Kyouko snapped.
The word echoed in her head.
Prize.
Like she was something to win.
Something to claim.
Something to—
No.
Beside her, Hana-chan groaned and grabbed her arm.
“Let’s just leave it to the guys,” she muttered.
Kyouko stilled.
Slowly, she turned her head.
“Leave it… to the guys?”
Hana winced.
Ah.
So she did know how this was going to go.
Kyouko gently—but firmly—pulled her arm free.
No.
Absolutely not.
Her gaze shifted.
Sawada-kun stood in the center of the room, shoulders tight, hands stiff around the shinai.
He looked like he was bracing for impact.
Not ready.
Not confident.
Just… trying.
Trying anyway.
Kyouko exhaled softly.
Of course he is.
That was exactly the kind of person he was.
Kind.
Honest.
Far too willing to step forward when he shouldn’t have to.
She loved that about him.
Just not like this.
This wasn’t fair.
It wasn’t even close to fair.
Mochida-senpai knew that.
Everyone knew that.
And yet—
Kyouko stepped forward.
“Sawada-kun?”
Her voice softened automatically.
He flinched.
Turned.
His eyes were wide.
Her chest tightened.
He’s scared.
Of course he was.
“Can you give me the shinai?” she asked gently.
His grip tightened immediately.
He looked like he wanted to refuse.
Like he was trying to figure out how to protect her.
Kyouko smiled.
Soft.
Reassuring.
Sweet.
Completely unnecessary.
“I’ll be fine,” she said.
He hesitated.
Then—slowly—handed it over.
His fingers lingered for a second too long.
Like letting go was a mistake.
Kyouko suppressed a small laugh.
Adorable.
She turned.
Straightened.
And faced Mochida-senpai.
“Mochida-senpai?”
He looked annoyed.
Good.
“Since I’m the prize,” she said, her smile polite—too polite—“you wouldn’t mind if I took his place, would you?”
Silence.
Then—
“What? That’s not—”
“Sawada-kun prefers boxing,” Kyouko continued smoothly.
Still smiling.
Even as something colder settled underneath it.
“There’s no way he’d know kendo.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“That would be unfair to him.”
Murmurs spread.
Mochida’s expression tightened.
Cornered.
Good.
Kyouko waited.
Patient.
Calm.
Certain.
He agreed.
Of course he did.
Oni-chan didn’t raise her to lose to someone like this.
“Three, two, one—”
Kyouko moved.
The first strike landed clean.
Sharp.
Precise.
Mochida barely had time to react.
He swung back.
Too slow.
Too obvious.
Kyouko stepped aside.
Second strike.
He faltered.
She didn’t.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth.
By the time he realized what was happening—
It was already over.
Fifteen to three.
Silence fell over the room.
Heavy.
Stunned.
Kyouko exhaled softly, adjusting her grip before lowering the shinai.
That had been… easier than expected.
Mochida-senpai hit the floor.
She didn’t look at him.
Instead, she turned.
Back to Sawada-kun.
He was staring.
Completely still.
Eyes wide.
Like his brain had simply… stopped.
Kyouko blinked.
Then smiled.
Warm.
Bright.
Real.
She tucked the shinai under her arm and reached for his hands.
(They were soft.)
“Sawada-kun,” she said cheerfully, like nothing unusual had just happened, “let’s have lunch together!”
He made a strangled noise.
Turned bright red.
Opened his mouth—
And collapsed.
Kyouko stared down at him.
Then at her empty hands.
“…Did that mean yes?”
The room exploded into noise.
Cheers.
Shock.
Confusion finally catching up.
Kyouko smiled.
Then, without looking—
She smacked Hana-chan’s hand away before it could poke him.