A Date?

Ying Yue sidestepped at the last moment, her movements impossibly graceful despite the crushing gravity. My blade missed its mark by a fraction, and before I could recover, her counterattack came swift and precise.

Her foot swept under mine, knocking me off balance. I tried to steady myself, but it was too late. My body tilted, and I crashed to the ground, the air knocked from my lungs. Before I could even think of a way to respond, her blade hovered inches above my throat, its edge gleaming dangerously.

"Really?" she said, raising an eyebrow, her voice light yet sharp. "That's your big move?"

I blinked up at her, heart pounding in my chest, half-expecting her to finish the job. Instead, she sighed, the tip of her blade retreating as she flicked it back into its sheath with a practiced motion.

The crowd's cheers seemed distant, like a muffled echo, as the announcer's voice boomed over the arena. "The winner of this match: Ying Yue, the Shadow Lotus!"

I stayed down longer than necessary, catching my breath and trying to ignore the sting of defeat. "I see you've mastered the art of ruining someone's day," I said dryly, though the frustration in my voice was hard to conceal.

Ying Yue tilted her head, her eyes flickering with something unreadable. "It's not my fault you make it so easy," she remarked, her tone almost teasing.

"How considerate," I muttered, pushing myself up to my feet. My side throbbed with pain, and the weight of my katana felt heavier than ever. I had to lean on it like a crutch to steady myself.

She glanced at the sword in my hand, her gaze sharp. "Try pointing that in the right direction next time," she said, a cool smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

"You mean away from the floor? Noted," I replied, forcing a grin despite the ache in my body.

Without waiting for my response, Ying Yue turned and walked toward the waiting area, her dark mist swirling around her, vanishing into the shadows.

Leeon, ever the commentator, appeared at my side, his smirk somehow both irritating and oddly comforting. "Well, that went about as expected," he said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy.

"Glad I could entertain you," I grumbled, wincing as I sheathed my katana, my legs barely holding me upright.

"Hey, don't sell yourself short. You're still standing, more or less," Leeon said, his tone light, though there was a faint edge of genuine concern beneath his usual bravado.

I glanced down at my legs, feeling like they might give out at any moment. "Barely," I muttered.

"Thanks, Leeon. Your wisdom is a shining light in my otherwise miserable day," I deadpanned, sarcasm thick in my voice.

We walked back to the waiting area together, but I couldn't shake the image of Ying Yue from my mind. She had been so effortless, her movements so fluid it was like she was dancing rather than fighting. How could someone so terrifyingly skilled be so... aloof? So detached?

As we neared the hallway leading to the changing rooms, I spotted her up ahead. She was leaning against a wall, standing as if detached from the world. Her posture was relaxed, almost casual, and the black mist that seemed to follow her was swirling lazily around her, disappearing in the faint breeze. It was hard to believe that the same woman who had just put me on my back without breaking a sweat was now acting so casually.

I stopped in my tracks, unsure of whether I should even bother talking to her. What would I say? Was I setting myself up for more humiliation? Leeon would have a field day with that.

"Not tired of winning yet?" I called out, trying to sound casual as I approached, leaning against the wall beside her. My side still ached from the fall, but I was determined not to show it. I had a reputation to uphold, or what little of it was left.

Ying Yue didn't immediately respond. She glanced at me from the corner of her eye, her expression unreadable. The faintest curve of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Maybe. But it's more fun watching others try," she said, her tone light, almost playful.

"Ah, so you enjoy the suffering of others," I quipped back, mirroring her smirk.

Her gaze sharpened, and for a moment, I thought she might respond with one of her usual biting remarks. But instead, she merely shrugged. "Not suffering. More like... inevitable disappointment."

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the depth of her words. "You really know how to kill a mood, huh?" I said, more out of habit than anything else.

Ying Yue tilted her head slightly, studying me with an expression that was hard to decipher. "Someone has to be," she replied, her voice as composed as ever.

The silence stretched between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was... different. Something about it felt natural, as if we both understood the unspoken tension lingering between us.

Finally, I broke the silence, feeling strangely bold despite everything. "Look," I started, then paused, unsure of where this sudden surge of confidence was coming from. "You free tomorrow?"

She didn't respond immediately, instead looking at me with that same unreadable gaze. I held my breath, bracing for the rejection I was sure was coming.

"Free for what?" she asked after a beat, the faintest hint of curiosity in her tone.

I scratched the back of my head, the words awkward on my tongue. "You know, lunch? You've got a day off before the finals, right? I thought maybe we could grab something... unless you're too busy plotting world domination or something."

A small, amused glint appeared in her eyes, though she masked it quickly. "You sure about that?" she asked, clearly not buying my nonchalant act.

"Well, you do seem to enjoy being gloomy," I shot back, leaning against the wall with a half-grin, careful not to wince. "Why not try a change of pace?"

Ying Yue's lips twitched, but the expression disappeared as quickly as it came. "Fine. I'll go," she said, her tone still cool, but there was a subtle shift in her demeanor. "But don't think anything weird."

"Yeah, I wouldn't dream of it," I replied with a dry smile, trying to hide the fact that my heart had picked up its pace. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"

She nodded, and for a brief moment, her eyes softened just a touch. "Don't get too cocky. You still have a long way to go before you're ready for me."

I smirked, not bothering to hide my growing amusement. "I'll try not to disappoint."

She turned, her black mist trailing behind her like a shadow, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching her leave. A strange, inexplicable feeling stirred within me something more than mere attraction, something deeper.

As much as I hated to admit it, I found myself looking forward to what came next.