A week had passed since the chaos with Choka, and the academy had seemingly returned to normal. Students went about their daily routines, and Leo had been able to slip back into his schedule without much fuss. Despite the drama that had occurred, it seemed that most people had either forgotten or chosen to ignore it.
As Leo walked toward class that morning, he was in a peaceful state of mind, appreciating the crisp air and the quiet atmosphere. His thoughts, however, were interrupted when he spotted someone standing ahead on the path.
It was Mary Kikakujou.
She stood tall, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Her presence was intimidating, as always, and Leo could sense the tension in the air even before she spoke.
"Leo," Mary called out, her voice steady but filled with an underlying intensity. "We need to settle things between us. I challenge you to a duel."
Leo blinked, somewhat surprised. "A duel? Now?"
"Yes, now," Mary replied, her tone firm. "No spectators, no interruptions. Just you and me, on the school grounds. I won't take no for an answer."
Leo could see the determination in her eyes, the same determination that made her one of the most respected and feared warriors in the academy. It seemed Mary was serious about this, and there was no way he could back down.
"Alright," Leo nodded, agreeing to the duel. "Let's do this."
The school grounds were empty, the usual bustling crowd nowhere to be seen. It was just Leo and Mary, facing each other in the open space. The tension between them was palpable, and even though no one was around to witness the fight, the weight of the moment was undeniable.
Mary unsheathed her sword, her movements precise and elegant. Her eyes narrowed, focusing entirely on Leo. "I won't hold back," she warned, her tone cold and sharp. "You'd better take this seriously."
Leo smirked, stepping into a defensive stance. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
Without another word, Mary lunged forward, her sword flashing through the air with lightning speed. Leo barely managed to dodge the first strike, feeling the blade cut through the air where his head had been just moments before.
Mary was relentless, her strikes coming in rapid succession, each one more aggressive than the last. She attacked with precision, aiming for Leo's weak spots, but he was quick on his feet, dodging and weaving out of the way.
Despite her fury, Leo could see that Mary was calculating each move carefully. She wasn't just attacking blindly—she was testing him, trying to find an opening in his defense.
After dodging several more strikes, Leo saw his opportunity. He sidestepped one of Mary's slashes and quickly closed the distance between them, throwing a quick jab toward her midsection. Mary blocked the punch with the hilt of her sword, her eyes widening in surprise at Leo's speed.
"You're faster than I thought," she muttered, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "But speed alone won't be enough to beat me."
With a swift spin, Mary delivered a powerful kick aimed at Leo's side. He raised his arm just in time to block the blow, though the impact still sent a jolt of pain through his arm. Mary was stronger than she looked, and her attacks carried a lot of force.
Leo knew he had to be careful. Mary wasn't just a skilled swordsman; she was also a brilliant strategist. If he wasn't careful, she'd outmaneuver him and take him down.
As the fight continued, Leo realized that Mary's endurance was incredible. She kept up her relentless assault, showing no signs of slowing down, while Leo was starting to feel the strain of the fight.
But then, he saw it—a brief moment of hesitation in Mary's movements, a slight falter in her step. She was starting to tire, just a little, and that was all Leo needed.
Seizing the opportunity, Leo rushed forward, closing the gap between them once more. Mary swung her sword at him in a desperate attempt to stop him, but Leo ducked beneath the blade and landed a solid punch to her stomach.
The impact knocked the wind out of her, and Mary staggered back, dropping to one knee as she gasped for breath.
Leo stood over her, catching his breath as well. The fight had been intense, but it was clear that he had the upper hand now.
As Mary sat on the ground, trying to recover, she looked up at Leo with a strange expression. Her face flushed slightly, and she narrowed her eyes.
"You're not going to do the same thing you did to the others, are you?" Mary asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
Leo blinked, confused by her question. "What? What do you mean?"
Mary let out a short, bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Don't play dumb. I've heard the rumors. You're a pervert, aren't you? Are you going to take advantage of me now that I'm weak?"
Leo took a step back, his eyes widening in shock. "What? No! Of course not! What kind of person do you think I am?"
Mary rolled her eyes, still sitting on the ground. "Right. Sure. That's what they all say. Go ahead, do whatever you want. I can't fight back right now anyway."
Leo groaned in frustration, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not going to do anything to you, Mary! I won the fight, that's all. I'm not some pervert."
For a moment, there was silence between them. Mary stared up at him, her expression still skeptical but slowly softening. Finally, she sighed, letting her guard down just a little.
"Fine," she muttered. "But you're still an idiot."
Leo couldn't help but chuckle at that, shaking his head. "Yeah, maybe. But I'm not a pervert."
Mary didn't respond immediately, simply sitting there and catching her breath. Leo stood awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to do next.
The fight had ended, but the tension between them hadn't completely disappeared. There was something else in the air now, something unspoken, lingering between them.
But that was a problem for another time.
For now, Leo simply offered her a hand, helping her to her feet. Mary accepted the gesture, though she still gave him a wary look.
"Next time," she said quietly, "I won't lose so easily."
Leo smiled, giving her a nod. "I'll be ready."
A/N:
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