I didn’t need to defeat Leila, I just needed her badge. I ran through all sorts of options in my head. As I watched Ficia slink away, it hit me: I could use Telekinesis too. I wouldn’t get another chance, so it was worth a try. I spent 500 LP on the skill and concentrated on Ficia’s fallen badge to check that it worked.
Wobble, wobble.
The badge was suspended in the air, rising and falling. Larger objects would be impossible, but it was easy to manipulate something so small. Now I had some kind of chance.
“Ooh, a new skill?” Leila asked. “That little trick didn’t work last time.”
“Yeah, but this time I’m the one using it.”
“I think I know what you’ll do. But can you pull it off?”
Leila beckoned with her fingers. I’d just have to find a way to betray her expectations. I lunged at her with my wooden sword, but Leila moved like a hornet—dodging nimbly before shifting to counterattack. I couldn’t let her break my only weapon, so I quickly drew it back. I’d already seen what her Demon Fist did to Ficia’s boomerang. If I couldn’t use any other weapons or magic, I was done for. I could barely keep track of her sharp punches and kicks.
“Ngh, even if I know what you’ll do, you sure are fast,” I said.
“I have to say, your bladework’s gotten quicker too.”
Leila glanced at her chest to ensure her badge was still there. She wasn’t about to drop her guard. I considered using Telekinesis, but there were no gaps in her defense. Besides, the moment I got my hands on her badge, she’d just kick it away and send me flying.
“I’m clearly at a disadvantage,” I said. “I’ve gotta be bold!”
I pulled back, then followed through with a Power Slash. It was designed to knock opponents off their feet, so it was hard to defend against. Even with a wooden sword, it would hurt. But Leila’s eyes were calm and resolute as she wound up with her right fist.
Thwaaaack!
It was the boomerang situation all over again. My sword shattered, sending scraps of wood flying. We both knew this was it. Lelia checked her badge again. She knew I’d used that move deliberately to throw her off guard. That I was watching for the right moment to use Telekinesis. And she was right. But my target wasn’t her badge on her chest, it was a small fragment of my sword. The smaller it was, the easier it would be to control. I found a good one and focused my Telekinesis on it.
“Nngh?!”
The splinter shot out like a bullet, knocking Leila’s badge from her chest. She was so focused on her badge that she didn’t have time to react.
“I’m not done yet!”
She reached out for the badge, but I crouched down and blocked her way, launching an uppercut at her jaw.
“Ugh…”
She groaned as she twisted away. I had to respect her reflexes, but this time, they worked to my advantage.
Ka-tunk!
The badge fell to the floor behind her.
“Phew. Almost didn’t make it that time.” I grinned.
“That was clever. I never thought you’d use that new power on the wood.”
“If I’d used it on the badge directly, you would have just snatched it back.”
“Either way, I lost this time. You’d better win the whole thing now,” she said encouragingly. “I know you’ve got it in you.”
And with that, Leila gallantly withdrew—accepting her loss without a word of complaint. She really was incredible.
I picked up what was left of my sword. “About half of it is still intact. Might as well keep it, just in case.”
I searched the rest of the second and third floors, but no one was left.
“I think they’re up on the roof,” Ms. Elena called out.
That made sense. I opened the door to the roof and felt the breeze wash over my skin. There was only one student waiting for me.
“Emma. I knew it’d be you.”
“Hiya! You sure took your time.”
It seemed she’d already eliminated the others. Still, the main thing that caught my attention was her clothes. They weren’t the kind of thing she usually wore. Her shoulders and stomach were on full display in a tube top and mini-skirt, and the hem of her skirt was torn. Her battles must have been just that rough. I could almost see something, but it was hard to be sure.
“Y-you’re trying a different style today, huh?” I asked.
“Thought I’d experiment a bit,” she said. “It’s real easy to move in.”
“R-right. S-so I guess we’re the last two.”
“Yup, seems like. How long has it been since we fought each other?”
“Ages…for sure. You always beat me too.”
I was always too slow against her daggers and Wind Magic.
Emma had a wooden dagger in each hand and a sharp look in her eye. “Now I’m the underdog,” she said.
“It’s basically no holds barred. Let’s let our skills shine.”
I timidly approached, but perplexingly, Emma began jumping in place. It was probably some kind of warm-up, but as a side effect, her boobs bounced like crazy. In that revealing top and miniskirt, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“Well, lemme do a little warm-up first,” she said.
This time she started stretching. When she leaned forward, I got an eyeful of her cleavage. When she stretched left and right, the hem of her skirt fluttered. I could see her white thighs. If it went just…just a fraction higher…
I shook my head, trying to rid my mind of such base desires, but taking my eyes off my opponent was dangerous. She could attack at any moment.
“A-are you done yet?” I asked.
“Almost. Hnn!”
It was almost like she was pushing her breasts together for some reason.
My sense of reason was losing to my baser instincts, and I couldn’t fight when my lower half was so…“energetic.” To make things worse, Ms. Elena was right there. How embarrassing would it be if she thought I was turned on in the middle of a fight? I pulled my hips back, trying to hide the change as much as possible.
“Hope you’re ready, Noir!”
“Wait, now?!”
I was hoping she’d keep stretching until things settled down a little…
I parried Emma’s fierce attack with the remains of my sword. It wouldn’t last much longer. She was putting me on the defense, trying to get me to withdraw while I was still in this awkward position. She fired off a roaring Wind Strike and took my badge off with it. She’d aimed so well that it didn’t even touch me.
My badge flew several yards and was about to fall when I frantically focused my mind to keep it in the air. It floated less than five inches off the floor.
“You nearly got me there,” I said.
I retrieved it and put it back on my chest.
“Wh-what was that skill?” Emma asked. “You got a new one, huh? Well, you’re not the only one who’s learned new things.”
She kicked up on seemingly nothing and moved through the air.
“Huh?”
“It’s a Wind Kick! When I kick up, the wind supports my leg!”
It was clever, and she was giving it her all, but it was difficult to respond. I was still trying to hide my shame. I reflexively fired a small Stone Bullet, but Emma just kicked it away and lunged at my chest with her dagger. My badge nearly hit the ground again, but I focused my Telekinesis on it.
“Again?!” Emma shouted.
I barely made it in time. I picked it up and made a break for it.
“It’s my turn now,” I said, firing a Water Drop at her feet.
Emma was too quick for it to actually hit her, but that wasn’t what I was trying to do. My real objective was to get the floor wet. After that, I swapped to Iceball. Again, Emma dodged it easily, but that wasn’t really the point. The water I’d just laid down froze over.
“Ugh, it’s so slippery,” Emma complained.
As a bonus, it would lower her body temperature too. Emma was fairly defenseless as she focused on keeping her balance, so I fired a tiny Stone Bullet at her chest.
“Ah!”
Her badge clattered to the ground, and I hurried forward to stop her from falling.
“Here, take my hand.”
“Thanks! Even if we are enemies.”
“Well, not anymore.”
“Oh, right. You really are strong, Noir.”
“And you’ve grown so much, Emma. If I hadn’t had Telekinesis, you definitely would have won.”
“Eh he he he! I’m glad I got to show off my new skills, at least.”
Her smile was adorable, and up close, her sex appeal was insane. She’d sure grown in other departments too…but I decided to keep that to myself.
Ms. Elena clapped her hands. “Congratulations, Noir. You’re the King of the School Year.”
“Hooray! I won!”
I balled my hands into fists and pumped them in the air. It was a close fight, but somehow, I’d made it.
“By the way, why do you keep standing like that?” Ms. Elena asked with an impish grin.
All I could do was laugh awkwardly.
“I…guess I should be happy about that too,” Emma mumbled, looking bashful.