Love Advice and Firefights

Lunch was peaceful for all of five minutes.

Yukari was just about to take another bite when the door slammed open.

"Oi! You started eating without me?!"

A familiar voice rang out, loud and completely uninvited.

Yukari sighed. "Oh no."

Hinote smirked. "Took you long enough."

And there, standing in the doorway, was Cana Alberona.

The brunette sauntered inside like she owned the place, plopped herself down at the table, and immediately started grabbing food like she'd paid for it.

(She hadn't.)

Yukari just stared at her. "Cana, what the hell are you doing here?"

Cana took a sip from her ever-present barrel of alcohol. "I smelled food."

"You live at the guild."

"Your food smells better."

Yukari groaned, rubbing her temples.

Hinote just chuckled. "Oh, let her be. She makes good company."

"She's stealing my lunch."

Cana swallowed a bite of fish and grinned. "Correction: our lunch."

Yukari scowled. "Correction: my fist in your face."

Hinote leaned back, amusement dancing in her golden eyes. "Now, now. No need for violence."

Yukari rolled her eyes.

Cana smirked. "Speaking of violence, I heard about what happened at the guild earlier." She wiggled her eyebrows. "You and Mirajane were alone in a room together, huh~?"

Yukari immediately felt a vein pop.

"Oh my god—"

"Don't even try to deny it," Cana teased, pointing a chopstick at her. "Everyone saw how Mira dragged you off. And you were so red when you came back~"

Hinote nodded sagely. "Indeed. It's about time she admitted her feelings."

Yukari groaned. "Not you too!"

Cana grinned. "Listen, kid. As someone with experience in romance—"

"You get dumped every week."

"—as someone with experience in romance," Cana continued, ignoring her, "I say you need to take the initiative!"

Hinote nodded. "Agreed. If you don't act soon, someone else might."

Yukari stared at them.

Then, deadpan , "...Neither of your relationships have lasted more than a week."

Cana scoffed. "That just means I have a lot of experience."

Yukari turned to Hinote. Hinote just sipped her tea. "I don't need a long relationship. I burn too brightly for most people."

"That's not an excuse!"

Cana leaned forward, grinning. "So? What's stopping you? Mira's clearly into you."

Yukari crossed her arms. "She never said that."

Cana shrugged. "You want her to say it? Fine. Wait until some random guy confesses to her first."

Yukari visibly twitched.

Hinote smirked. "Touché."

Yukari scowled. "This is stupid."

Cana grinned. "This is your love life."

Hinote chuckled. "Which brings me to my next point—"

She leaned forward, golden eyes gleaming.

"Fight me."

Yukari blinked. "...What?"

Hinote smirked. "Let's spar."

Cana's eyes lit up. "Ooooh. Now we're talking."

Yukari frowned. "Why?"

Hinote rested her chin on her hand. "To make you stronger, of course."

Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Since when do our spars ever have simple reasons?"

Hinote chuckled. "Fine. I'll make it more interesting."

She leaned forward. "If I win… you have to ask Mirajane out within the week."

Yukari froze.

Cana cackled. "Oh, I love this bet!"

Yukari narrowed her eyes. "...And if I win?"

Hinote smiled. "I'll grant you anything you want."

Yukari considered this.

On one hand this was Hinote.

Her sensei. Her monster of an adoptive mother.

Winning wasn't exactly easy.

But on the other hand there was no way in hell she was letting Hinote blackmail her into a date.

She exhaled slowly.

Then she grinned.

"Fine," she said. "Let's do this."

Cana cheered. "HELL YEAH!"

Yukari rolled her shoulders, standing up. "Let's take this outside."

Hinote smirked. "Gladly."

The forest just outside of Magnolia was quiet.

Or at least It had been until now.

Yukari cracked her knuckles, standing across from Hinote in a clearing.

Cana stood off to the side, watching eagerly.

"Alright," Hinote said, rolling her shoulders. "You remember the stakes."

Yukari scowled. "Unfortunately."

Hinote grinned. "Good."

Then her eyes ignited.

BOOM.

Fire erupted around her, red-hot flames licking at the ground.

The sheer heat made the air shimmer.

Yukari immediately stepped back.

Hinote's power was immense always had been.

Even after years of training, Yukari still wasn't sure if she could beat her.

But she wasn't about to back down.

Not now she exhaled.

Then she ignited golden fire roared to life around her.

Her violet eyes glowed. She shifted into a fighting stance.

Hinote smirked. "Let's see how much you've improved."

Yukari grinned. "You're about to find out."

And then they charged.

BOOM.

Their flames collided.

Golden and crimson fire exploded on impact, sending shockwaves through the forest.

Yukari moved first "Flame of Dawn!"

A wave of golden fire rushed toward Hinote.

But Hinote didn't even move.

Instead she raised a single hand ,and absorbed the flames.

Yukari's eyes widened.

"Shit—!"

Hinote smirked.

Then she fired it back.

BOOM!

Yukari barely dodged, flipping backward as the fire scorched the ground.

Cana whistled. "Damn. That was close."

Yukari landed, narrowing her eyes.

Fine.

If direct attacks wouldn't work then she'd just have to overwhelm her.

She raised both hands.

"Supreme Dawn Burst!"

A golden fireball appeared then exploded into a hundred smaller blasts.

Each one rained down toward Hinote.

Hinote finally moved.

With a single step forward—

She vanished.

Yukari barely had time to react before—

BAM!

A fist slammed into her gut , her breath left her lungs then she was sent flying.

Cana grinned. "Oh yeah. This is gonna be good."