Barely managing to parry, Arina attacked back shortly after, only trying to disarm Yuki of course. Though her attack seemed to not trouble Yuki at all, as she barely made any movement yet still blocked all of Arina's rapid attacks. She just slightly sighed as she continued her defense.
"You know… I think the problem is that you don't want to hurt me. Which is a good thing, of course. But then again, it prevents you from going all out."
"But I don't want to hurt you?!"
"Yeah, yeah, of course you don't. But look at it this way, if you don't try to hurt me, you lose. If you try to hurt me, it is a draw. So trying to hurt me doesn't actually end up hurting me, just gives you the little boost you need to get even. Make sense?"
"I… I guess… So are you trying to hurt me right now?"
Their swords kept colliding, one swift swing after the other parried by Yuki only for another to follow. Though she never attacked when she made an opening. Just kept defending like it was to keep their conversation going.
"Eh, of course not. This is only training after all. What kind of teacher tries to hurt his little student."
"I'm not little…"
"Figure of speech, silly."
"Whatever… So if I have to try to hurt you to get even, doesn't that mean I have to know that that's the exact amount of push I need in the situation? I mean, otherwise I could just end up hurting whoever I fight even though I just wanted to get even so no one would get hurt…"
"Hmm… Yeah, that's tricky. I guess if you want to prevent hurting the other at all costs, you'd have to always hold back to then correct estimate how far you need to go. Only that leaves you vulnerable for the time you need to figure it out."
"What if I'm willing to take that risk?"
"Well but wouldn't you fight to protect someone? If so, then you don't necessarily risk your life but theirs. I guess in the end it depends on your priorities. Do you just want to not be the direct cause of harm to anyone, or do you want to prevent people you love from getting hurt? Because they are opposites."
"I… Don't know how to answer that…"
"Well you better figure it out. Because otherwise… It might be too late when the time comes."
With that, she disarmed Arina, her training sword hitting the ground and Yuki poking her with her own sword against the shoulder.
"It's up to you. That's all for today."
Arina left without saying anything.
On the next day, Arina was quiet as well. She wasn't the energetic type, but also not the silent type. But Yuki chose to not comment on it and instead begin with what she had planned.
"Okay, only today and tomorrow remain and then the competitive exam begins. You may failed to notice, but we have made incredible progress in the past few days. I'm actually kinda proud…"
"…Really? Thank y-"
"-Of myself for being such an outstanding teacher and mentor. No thanks needed~"
"Ah…"
"Anyway, I'm sure you remember our first day of training like it was yesterday!"
"I guess…?"
"Well, you will be happy to hear that today will be the exact same!"
"…"
"Do I get a yay please?!"
"Yay…"
"No, now I want two!"
"Yay yay…"
"Eh, could've had more enthusiasm but it'll do. You know the drill, 200 pushups in 10 minutes go!"
"Yes…"
Having visibly given up any form of resistance, and knowing talking back would lead to even more pushups, she started with no hesitation.
To her surprise, she found herself struggling a lot less with keeping up the speed. Although Yuki's cheerleading most likely had nothing to do with that, she couldn't help but feel like it was Yuki's work. When she finished, she just barely made it in time. Maybe she even took slightly too long, but to her surprise again, Yuki didn't start telling her how disappointing and embarrassing she was as a person.
"That'll do… Great work! Now 300 km in 2 hours was it?
"I don't think there was a time limit the first time…"
"Well, now there is."
"But I made one round barely in 4 hours…"
"You're right. I forgot how much you sucked at that!"
"That I even managed that was-… Never mind…"
"Yeah, that's right! Now let's see… I think fair would be, one round in 3 hours. So you have to do two in 5."
"That's hardly-… Okay…"
"There you go, that's the spirit! Now go, go, go!"
Arina's exhaustion from just remembering the last time was written all over her face. But she went on to do it anyway, once in position.
She managed to finish the first round in 3 1/2 hours, and as she was about to continue, Yuki stopped her.
"Alright, alright. No second round needed."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. No talking back. You did alright, I guess. See you tomorrow. I've got a big surprise for you then."
"That was it then…?"
She looked rather skeptical, but was convinced when Yuki just left her.
The final day had come, Arina was prepared for the worst. Whatever Yuki's surprise was, Arina couldn't imagine herself going to like it.
"Hey, Arina!"
"Hey, Yuki. So, what's the surprise?"
"So eager, a little patience please!"
"Uh, sorry…"
"You are forgiven! Now then, without much further buildup for my great final day plan… Ta daaa!"
She presented a golden, bright sword laying on the ground.
"That's… Just the same sword from the other day."
"But this time if you can lift it you can keep it!"
"But I can't lift it…"
"Just give it a try! Go on."
"Fine…"
When she gripped onto the hilt of the sword, she could feel it wouldn't move no matter how hard she pulled already. But she did anyway since she knew Yuki would keep pushing until she gave it her all. Just as she expected, it didn't move an inch.
"See? I told you so…"
"Urgh, fine. Then this way…"
Yuki picked the sword up herself and gave it to Arina. To Arina's surprise, the sword didn't fall to the ground and crush her hand immediately once she took it. It felt rather light now, actually.
"What the… What is this?"
"My gift. You're welcome. Too bad you couldn't lift it yourself… But hey, you can't have everything."
"Uh… I'm sorry. I mean, thank you…!"
"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome. You'll discover it's quality to be far superior compared to a regular sword. Now I gotta go. Take the day as rest day for tomorrow. Prof. Isaac has already shared the details with the exam today after all. So we should assume that tomorrow will go straight into action."
"Rest day… How kind…"
"I know, I'm amazing, bye!"
Arina received the title "Receiver of Divine Gift"
And Yuki just ran off out of sight. Arina headed to her dorm as well, followed Yuki's advice to use today as a rest day. The previous days have been extremely challenging after all.
And so the day of the exam came. Like Prof. Isaac had said, it would be similar to the test exam they held a week ago. With Yamato, Yuki and Arina being the team that turned out victorious, they would have to give it their all this time too. The setting were the woods again, though this time, there were three classes as the teams. Meaning groups of 15, and 45 students in total. And the objective was stealing an object of a team that a person of said team must always carry with them, and bring it back to the base of your own team. What the item is and who carries it is unknown to the other teams.
Yamato didn't do nothing while Yuki trained Arina, of course. He had been talking their class through their differences and motivated them further into reaching class 1.
Ariving in the base of class 3, a basic camp with supplies for a week, the duration of the exam, Yamato and Yuki left to look around first to get a picture of their surroundings.
"Master, I know I've already told you but training Arina was soooo exhausting! I really should get a reward, y'know?"
"Like what?"
"Like marriage~!"
"You must have some extreme dreams if your conscious mind comes up with things like that…"
"Fine. We will stay secret lovers for now~"
"You won't let that go, huh…"
"Never!"
"Yeah, I thought so-"
"-Look out!"
A spear out of dark shadows flew towards Yamato's head, coming out of the bushes.
Before the spear made out of shadows could hit Yamato, Yuki managed to block it with her hand at the last second. If she weren't an Angel, that attack would have pierced through her and Yamato right then and there.
"Looks like I didn't hit…"
A guy stepped out from behind a tree, facing Yaamto and Yuki with little regret for his unprovoked attack.
"Are you crazy?! That could have killed him!"
"Oh, my bad. Guess he's of the weaker kind. I'll adjust accordingly, rest assured. Where are my manners? Class 1, Satoshi Nakata. You are?"
"…"
"That's it… I kill him… Then everyone here who could have witnessed… Then I will have to kill everyone else too…"
Yamato, who hadn't shown any reaction so far gave Yuki a look that she could only interpret as the order not to do whatever she was currently thinking of.
"Ah… Master, your kindness knows no bounds…"
Yamato straightened his clothes and hair, having a casual tone and smile once he turned to Satoshi.
"Oh, no harm was done, so don't worry about it, haha. My name is Yamato and this is Yuki."
"I'm glad. Luckily Yuki was there to save you, you should be more careful when being close to a fight."
"Of course… That's a Class 1 student for me, huh? Just way out of my league."
"Well, at least you are self aware. I like you already. I'm sure we will get along well in the future."
"I'm sure we will…"
"Typical Narcissist… Grown up with a lot of privileges, I assume… Father complex… Distant to his mother… No siblings… Accepts approval from basically a stranger such as myself… I see how it is. His position as the leading figure in Class 1 is based on his status and combat abilities, not his qualities as a leader. I'm pretty sure he is replaceable for their class. Someone is probably already in position for a takeover once he crumbles away…"
"Well, it's clear you are the winner here. Would you be so kind to let us depart for now?"
"Hm… Since you asked so nicely, sure why not."
"Great! We will just go and-"
"Hold on a sec…"
"Sure, is something the matter?"
"…No, just… Yuki was it, right?"
She gave him a disinterested look, but somehow forced a surprisingly convincing smile.
"That's right?"
"Great… See you around."
With that he left the two of them. Yuki's smile faded as fast as it came, and so did Yamato's. He looked at the ground seemingly lost in thought for a moment, then turned to Yuki.
"I want you to…"
She listened intently, as he spoke.
"I can really do that any way I want…?"
"Yes."
"Okay then, leave it to me! What will you do though?"
"Nothing."
"Okay, leave it to me!"