Rain walks over to the door of the training room, which is normally propped open, and he closes it after checking that the hallway is clear. He doesn't want to risk exposing himself to passing eyes.
He returns to the combat area of the room, where Ronin is waiting patiently with her training sword already poised, a serious expression on her face. Tess has moved to the edge of the room and is staring at her omniwatch. He asked her to referee and keep track of the one-minute time limit.
He stops about five meters from Ronin and clasps his hands behind his back in a casual stance, then gives her a relaxed smile.
"Alright, Tess...you can begin the countdown whenever Ronin is ready."
Ronin gives him a bewildered expression.
"Rain, you don't have a sword..."
Thoroughly enjoying goading her so much, Rain just smirks back at Ronin and shrugs.
"Eh, I won't need one for this...I'm ready when you are."
He finally sees a trace of annoyance in Ronin's expression, her jaw clenching slightly. Without taking her piercing blue eyes off him, she speaks tersely.
"So be it...Tess, I'm ready. You may start the match..."
Rain sees Tess roll her eyes, presumably at his overly confident attitude, though she's already aware how rigged this matchup is – she knows about his second Talent. Well...she mostly knows. He has a little surprise in store for her, too.
Tess glances between Rain and Ronin and nods, then prepares her omniwatch.
"Alright...the match starts on the count of three. Get ready. One....two..."
Rain activates Uncertain Existence and prepares for his little showing. Thankfully, his body looks completely normal while the Talent is activated...even though it's anything but.
"...three!"
As Tess signals the start of the match, he sees Ronin launch herself at him with blistering speed. Meanwhile, Rain wills his body to move unnaturally, as is only possible when he's using this Talent...and he flies directly up towards the ceiling, his body rotating so he faces the ground.
Thanks to his quick maneuvering, Ronin and her sword strike pass barely under him, and he continues up until he's a couple meters above Ronin's head, floating just below the ceiling.
He watches in blissful satisfaction as both Ronin and Tess stop stare at him in open disbelief, and he flashes them a shit-eating grin. The two girls' voices overlap as they express their shared incredulity.
"You can fly!?"
"How are you flying!?"
The latter question is from Tess, who was no doubt unaware that Uncertain Existence could be used this way. After all, Rain himself only figured it out by experimenting with how the Talent works, and he's never shown it to Tess before.
He chuckles maniacally as he looks down at the two of them, folding his hands behind his head in a relaxed display, then he directs a teasing tone at Ronin.
"It certainly seems that way, doesn't it? What now, Ronin? Your victory feeling...out of reach?"
Of course, he knows that for someone as strong and talented as her, he's hardly out of reach just because he's on the ceiling. Won't it be so fun to drag this out, though…make it dramatic? After all, Bright said she's never seen a Talent like his, so Ronin probably can't imagine its true nature. He can make her think his Talent is just flying, and when she inevitably catches him, she'll be hit by another round of despair as she realizes he's untouchable. Well, untouchable without a soul-damaging Relic, but she won't know that.
He smiles mischievously at the thought of how dumbfounded she'll be.
Ronin glares up at him and frowns disapprovingly.
"Hardly…all you did was buy yourself a few seconds, Rain. I must admit…I'm a little disappointed."
Without waiting for him to respond, she squats and launches herself towards the high ceiling of the training room, quickly closing the distance between them as her sword swings in a wide arc towards him. Naturally, he expected as much and floats away as quickly as he can. She pursues, throwing them into a comical dance of Rain floating around near the ceiling as Ronin leaps viciously after him, trying to hit him with her sword.
After a few seconds, however, Rain notices that she doesn't seem the least bit frustrated by her repeated misses. Just as the confusion sets in, he notices that he's now towards a corner of the room. The realization that he's been lured there by Ronin sets in just as the blonde Legacy launches herself towards Rain once more. He floats out of her way again, but this time Ronin passes by him into the wall, then redirects herself towards him with a forceful kick.
She closes in so fast, moving parallel to the ceiling, that he has no choice but to swiftly fly back to the ground to avoid her strike. However, then she rotates in the air, kicking off the ceiling, which simultaneously kills her lateral momentum and launches her back to the ground…right next to Rain.
He can only watch the ridiculous display in horrified awe.
'I know she's got a God Bloodline, and is probably using full Ichor reinforcement, but…what a monster.'
Rain's quite confident that, without all his ability and strength advantages over her, he'd stand absolutely no chance in a real fight.
He watches as Ronin lands on the ground, already moving her sword in an altered arc at his chest, too fast for him to dodge again. As if in slow motion, he watches as the unavoidable strike closes in on him, a small, rare smile finding its way onto Ronin's lips. His eyes widen in surprise, then…the sword passes harmlessly through him.
As the sword finishes its arc, Ronin freezes, holding it out to her side with a stunned expression. She blinks, her eyes moving back and forth between him and her sword in confusion.
"Rain…what just happened?"
He feels a dark glee wash over him as he takes in her dumbfounded expression, a sadistic grin coming to his face, and chuckles manically.
"Isn't it obvious? You just failed to land a blow on me…tik tok, Ronin."
He sees Ronin clench her jaw, and she immediately takes another swing at him, but Rain just stands there with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a smug smile on his face as it passes harmlessly through him. Ronin frowns, then begins striking at him all over his body in rapid succession. His head, his chest, his legs, his arms, his feet…she even strikes at his groin once, causing him to wince at the thought…but they all pass harmlessly through him.
Eventually, he hears Tess's voice call out, her tone heavy with amusement.
"That's it…pffft…time's up!"
Ronin scowls, her face uncharacteristically severe.
"This is ridiculous…"
He smirks at her.
"Lady Ronin, revered daughter of Fated Blade, don't tell me that you're…a sore loser?"
Her face tenses, and her tone becomes a little bit more refined, but her pale blue eyes are still locked on him disapprovingly.
"Of course not. I'm merely…pointing out that this wager was disingenuous from the start. A farce. Your Talent is categorically absurd, and I never stood any chance of winning."
He rolls his eyes.
"I was very clear about the rules, and the fact that I'd be using a Talent you knew nothing about. I didn't lie…you just agreed recklessly. I mean, you chastised me about underestimating you, without even considering that you might be doing the same. Besides, didn't you give Nik a whole speech a few weeks ago, about how the only dishonor in combat is death, and the only honor is victory?"
She blinks, her tone becoming flustered.
"Well…I…"
As she trails off, Tess comes sauntering over to the two of them, a beautiful but teasing smile plastered on her face. Her emerald eyes study Rain approvingly, and she speaks with exaggerated regalness.
"Ah, well said, Champion Rain. As the fairly appointed and totally impartial judge of this wager, I rule in Champion Rain's favor. Champion Ronin, I hereby order you…to pay up."
Ronin remains silent for several long moments, dejected-looking, then she responds in a soft voice.
"Very well…I will answer one question, Tess."
Rain feels a small pang of guilt at the abnormally pathetic behavior, but Tess just smiles in satisfaction. She begins tracing her lips with her finger thoughtfully.
"Hmm…yes, but what to ask. I have lots of questions about your abilities, of course. The fact that Rain said you asked if he had two Talents, the strength and speed you just displayed…it makes me more than a little curious about your Bloodline. On the other hand, I'm also quite interested in the real purpose of these tea parties you insisted on having with Rain, and desperate to learn how you knew about my Nature attribute…"
He sees Ronin's whole body tense as Tess trails off, though she remains silent. It's easy to imagine why she's nervous…Tess might find out that she has a debilitating Quirk he's been suppressing, and/or that she has a God Bloodline. He's sure that Ronin doesn't want anyone else having that information.
Tess continues to stare at Ronin, who is watching her solemnly, and her eyes appear conflicted as she considers what to ask. Eventually, she lets out a sigh, and her expression becomes serious.
"But I've decided I'm not going to ask you any of that…you can keep those secrets."
His eyes widen as he stares at Tess in open shock, and Ronin appears to have a similar reaction. His expression becomes bewildered, his tone openly confused.
"Tess…"
Tess cuts him off with a sigh, then she looks at him with a strange expression and shrugs.
"I already know why you arranged this question for me, Rain…it's clear that my reservations about this alliance, and your refusal to tell me anything about Ronin, have been uncomfortable for you. You thought less secrets would put my mind at ease, and I'd trust her a bit more as a result. That right?"
He raises his eyebrows, shocked.
'Was I really that obvious?'
Rain scratches his cheek sheepishly. He recognizes that it was a bit…manipulative.
"Uhm…I mean…yeah, but I thought I was being subtle. Are you mad?"
She smirks and shakes her head.
"No, I'm not mad. I understand why you're helping Ronin, why you won't answer a lot of my questions about her, and why you'd want to fix the friction that causes. Actually, I appreciate that you were trying to give me the answers I want. At worst, I'm a touch offended that you thought I wouldn't know what my own boyfriend was up to, but I'll forgive you for that."
He sighs and gives her a relieved smile. Ronin, who has been listening with a conflicted expression, finally speaks hesitantly.
"Tess, it's true that I'd rather not answer those questions, but I will uphold my agreement. You are entitled to ask whatever you want, especially if Rain truly went through all this trouble to arrange it. I insist that you don't simply waive my obligation."
Tess glances at Ronin calmly.
"Don't misunderstand…I have every intention of holding you to your word, Ronin. My question just won't be about your abilities. Knowing that Rain was trying to set my mind at ease, and he's willing to have you answer those questions…that's enough. I see no reason to pressure you to trust me in that way."
Ronin's eyebrows raise, then she narrows her eyes cautiously at Tess.
"I see…then what is your question?"
Rain gives Tess a curious look, choosing to remain silent.
'Yeah, I'd like to know that, too.'
Tess stares at Ronin evenly for several moments.
"I want to know what your goal is…what is it you're truly striving for, that you've enlisted Rain's help to accomplish?"
Ronin becomes puzzled.
"I am fighting back against the clans…I want to survive. I have told you this."
Tess purses her lips.
"No…that's not true."