A Test of Two

A weapon as big as my arm flies at my face. Thankfully using my quick reaction time I'm able to dodge it. Again the weapon heads straight for my head this time I move to the left to dodge it.

The sword repeatedly aims for my face and seamlessly glides away from it again and again. This entire time I try to run back to get out of range but failed repeatedly.

It's not until I find some time to breathe I'm able to jump backward gaining enough space for me to cast a spell.

Hmm, let's go with water or something. There's not a chance I'm using fire or something. Isn't that used more when you actually want to kill someone? I don't really see many cases where you would use it in a fight.

Now with my newly gained distance, I use the time to cast a spell and soon a water ball is flying at my opponent. However, they didn't give me a lot of time and are now in the air in the middle of jumping on me.

Thankfully my magic has the power to push back an even oversized person. In this situation, my underdeveloped opponent stands no chance.

Hmm. Even with the main threat pushed even further back it seems they came prepared and must have cast a spell or two when they were lunging at me. Now I have to figure out how to doge multiple casted balls of magic elements.

Two different types too, the first being Earth and the second being… Fire!?!

I mean granted it's only one fireball and like 6 earth spells but still! Did she not hear about what I just said about fire magic!? Well, I guess not… Seems like a bad habit to assume most people know what you're thinking about.

But I mean hey she's actually getting better at it believe it or not. Even if that's the case because of how much I don't speak.

The earth spells are repelled with my own but just for safety, I make an earth barrier to protect me from the fire spell. After successfully protecting myself I lower the wall but doing so I realize the full extent of my opponent's plan.

As soon as I lower the wall I find myself face to face with a smaller than average cat girl and in her hand two wooden swords even closer to me than she is.

God dammit.

After taking two unavoidable hits to the gut I lay on the ground begging I don't get hit again.

"Why are you lying down like that? You make me feel like I'm the bully here." Mara says as she hovers over me.

I show my disdain by showing her what position she's in. The image of her standing over a graveling person on the ground while she holds those swords really isn't a good look. She must see it too.

"Oh come on don't act like you didn't just do the same thing to me like 30 times today."

Ah- Well you see it may or may not be true that this is like the 31 round and also her first win.

After Mara so blatantly revealed the truth I imminently get off the ground and head over to pick out a different weapon. It seems like 'hands' isn't the best choice so I'm going to avoid choosing that this time.

"What not in a talkative mood today?" Mara says in a cocky tone.

Wouldn't that imply I'm ever in a talkative mood? Come on Mara keep up I'm not that complex.

"And what would be something to talk about?" I ask rummaging in a barrel with a unique sort of weapons.

"I don't know, maybe something easy like. Your future goals, dreams, and ambitions…?"

Was that? Sarcasm? Most of the time I feel like people would be proud to see someone learn from them but I really think none should be learning anything from me. And definitely not my god-grade talking skills.

Even though her questions were supposed to be sarcastic I actually have a simple answer.

"A beach episode," I say, picking a weapon.

"A what wha?" Mara asks with the funniest face I've seen her have.

After making sure my choice is indeed a weapon I take a stance in front of Mara.

"Beach episode. A term used when an episode of an anime takes place at a beach."

Mara stands there with that funny face I mentioned before, she really does pull this face when I comment about things without much explanation. Its face of confusion and bewilderment but over-exaggerated to get her point across.

"What is so special about a beach? Sure we might be more inland than most towns but your biggest goal is to just go to a beach for a day?" Mara asks, still standing normally.

After getting into position I stand away from Mara with my weapon ready.

"No, you don't get it. It's more than that." I respond getting ready to move.

"More than wha-" Mara doesn't get to finish before she realizes what's going on.

Even then it's way too late and in a fraction of time I reach Mara, pairing her weapons which she tried to feebly block me with, and pinning her to the ground.

I guess I can use this time to try and explain my point.

"You see when everything is crazy and something epic just happened or will happen it's always nice to have that episode to help you relax."

"Episode?"

"Yes like for a show, come on keep up. Then during the beach episode, you get to see how the characters talk and react to each other in normal environments. You can even see how their personalities to the environment.

She stays silent.

"Of course, I can't forget the fan service it's known for. I mean my point before could have been totally false and my point would still stand just because of the fan service."

"So it turns out to be a no-brainer when you think about it. A beach episode is all a man could ever want."

"Hey, Akari..?"

"Uhh, yea?"

"Do you mind getting off me? This is kind of embarrassing."

As the dust finally clears shows how I was sitting on top of Mara who was lying on the ground. That part I actually knew.

The fact that I was holding onto her tail instead of her arm was the problem. Seeing how she seems totally paralyzed from me just holding on to her tail I make sure to immediately let go. I also make sure to stop straddling her, that's also important…

Getting up I make sure to brush myself off a bit and Mara does the same, neither of us saying anything. We don't even get back to sparing either. We just kind of stand there…

Man the tension in the air is quite potent. I might have gone a bit too far and lost a catgirl. I know truly the worst punishment. I mean they do say giving something to another and then taking it away is much more painful than not giving it to them.

"I guess you look like a bully now." Mara finally says ending the tension.

"You need a victim for there to be a bully. There's no way I'm identifying you as a victim. Maybe a beast?"

"Ha, a beast? I find myself much more dignified than that. I would say I'm much more like a hero."

"Oh, hero? Well, my mistake M.S knight please accept my humblest apologies."

After saying that Mara goes silent for a second.

"Maybe, maybe not a knight. I don't really like knights that much…" she says, looking at the ground.

Oh no.

"Ok ok, sure not knight then. That's fine, maybe just Mara is just fine food now. Umm, we can keep sparing if you want.

"No, it's fine I was getting tired anyway." She says as she puts her weapons in the barrel.

Why do I feel like I just chose the wrong option in a visual novel? Then again I've played one so this feeling is a first. I mean if you never make an option you can't fail it. Maybe I should have remembered that a little sooner.

At this point, I don't really think that's an option so as Mara wasps away I try and mend what little of a relationship we have.

"We can just say you won that round too."

Mara stops for a second.

"Na it's cool you won but don't think I won't start doing whatever I can from this day on." She says with a smile.

Welp round 32 goes to me I guess.