Unease & Impermanence, Part 2

Having already returned to school after their student patrol, Takako led Chihiro to the school's dojo and quickly laid claim to a section of it. She'd heard plenty of rumors about the class under hers, including how two of them had quite the sword arm. One of them practiced some bizarre mix of kendo and brawling like some delinquent from a manga. The other, the girl before her, practiced a much more traditional form of swordsmanship. As for whether they were as skilled as those rumored claimed... Frankly she didn't believe it.

Even supposing the rumors were true, she was determined to show her superiority.

As for Chihiro herself, she trailed behind quietly as her mind clawed for an answer- what exactly was the source of this anxiety? It was only a spar, so why was this sense of foreboding even stronger than when fighting actual criminals? She couldn't understand it, but deeply wanted to. She didn't want to bring external burdens into a spar, but without a proper reason it would be rude to decline... She could only take a deep breath and steady herself. Even if she wasn't calm, she had to be.

'My burdens are mine to bear.'

She looked to her sword and whispered in her heart 'mother, grant me strength one more time'. It was something of a ritual. Something she'd often done when going into difficult battles.

Her unease only grew stronger.

As the stood across from each other, both understood that a sparring match with practice swords wouldn't work. Neither bothered to suggest it as Takako's quirk would simply destroy them.

Takako drew a sword from her left hand and took a fighting stance: "Draw your sword, Mitsurugi. We'll start without quirks at first. Feel free to use yours if you can't keep up."

Curiously, Chihiro's stance was nearly identical: "Thank you very much, Amahagene-senpai."

With no warning or starting signal, the two broke into a furious clash of steel. Even without their quirks, the two were truly powerful swordswomen. Takako's every action was violent like a storm without losing any elegance. She wasted no effort on mind games. Her every swing was honest, pure, and overwhelmingly violent. She put her pride on display through her swordsmanship.

Chihiro was much the opposite. Her speed couldn't compare to Takako without her quirk, nor did she have as refined reflexes. For every string of attacks Takako sent her way, Chihiro could only respond with one... And yet the very fact that she could do that was itself proof of her mastery. Her every move seemed simple- harmless, even. Her every swing concentrated her full strength into the blade, leaving nothing to leak out. Every attack was meticulous, appearing at the perfect time and the perfect place.

At times it was like Takako's mind was being read. As if her opponent was reacting to the moves she herself hadn't even chosen yet, or as if she was being made to make those moves without realizing it. It was eerie. Almost supernatural. But more than anything else, it was humiliating.

If Chihiro wanted to read her moves, then she'd simply keep going faster until her opponent couldn't keep up!

Under such an intense onslaught, it seemed even Chihiro couldn't keep up. It was like trying to defend against three or even four swordsman at the same time. She could only back up, borrowing the extra space to avoid the attacks she couldn't parry... But that was hardly a winning strategy. It placed her opponent out of Chihiro's reach and only served to surrender the initiative fully to Takako.

The first part of the match was basically over now. Takako simply needed to press a bit harder- to chase after Chihiro faster than she could retreat.

It was in the split second after she fully committed to a lunging slash that Takako's eyes went wide. 'Something's wrong!'

Rather than stepping back, Chihiro was stepping forward. Rather than parrying, Chihiro's sword slipped just over Takako's own. It was perfectly timed and perfectly spaced. Takako's sword would be out of the way before Chihiro fully stepped in, and by the time Takako could pull back her arm it would be too late- she'd put too much momentum into that last attack.

'No, the real mistake was the distance.' If Chihiro was standing where Takako thought she was, that forward lunge would have been the correct move.

She could only bear the indignation and save the mystery for later.

A blade erupted from Takako's upper arm, blocking Chihiro's incoming attack, and with it she signaled the start of the real battle!

A sound akin to the hum of a tuning fork radiated from Takako as she let her momentum take her- her lunging slash had turned into a shoulder charge as three more swords burst from her shoulder!

Naturally she piercing nothing but air. With the support of her own quirk, Chihiro had dodged with ease, stepped to the side and swung from a different angle. The dynamic of their match had flipped in an instant. For every swing of Takako's arms, Chihiro swung three, four, or more. Combined with her efficiency, it felt like being surrounded on all sides. In return Takako fought quantity with quantity. She'd simply grow more swords- her whole body was a weapon! Even if she was attacked from every direction, she could defend herself from every blow!

The difference in speed was nothing. What truly frustrated Takako was something else- Chihiro hadn't clashed against her swords a single time! She constantly pulled back at the last moment, and never stopped circling into her blind spots. Takako couldn't deny it was effective however. It kept her on the defensive, all while her fatigue slowly grew. Every sword she grew taxed her quirk further as well... However...

"Naive!" Takako's entire body erupted into swords!

She intended to force open an opportunity for herself. Without any safe spaces around Takako, Chihiro was forced to back away, finally giving Takako a chance to face her head on. She leapt forward, fully intent on forcing a clash!

Both of them understood the situation. Chihiro didn't have the time to dodge. She'd have to parry, get distance, and return to Takako's blind spot. Takako was planning ahead as well- she forced a clash and didn't plan on letting it end! She'd press the assault, pin her opponent down, and end this fight in an instant!

CRACK

Neither of their plans came to fruition- Chihiro's sword fractured and erupted into shrapnel as Takako's blade cleaved through it!

Time seemed to grow still as the shards spread out in all directions. The sound of them piercing the air like one final whimper.

Takako slowed down to guard against the shards, while Chihiro's expression cracked, revealing disbelief, understanding, and a deep sense of regret. That strange sense of unease vanished, giving way to simple grief.

'So this is what I was avoiding...'

'I didn't want to let go...'

'No... I still don't want to let go...'

'However!'

'My burdens are mine to bear. I can mourn later.'

Chihiro clenched her teeth and chased Takako through the shower of shattered steel!

As Chihiro pushed her open palm forward, Takako calmly slashed out with her arm. Chihiro didn't stop, instead vaulting over her opponent, her hand gently tracing over Takako's face. Takako turned to face Chihiro, feeling a strong surge of fatigue in the process- clearly she'd been hit by some kind of attack. Chihiro simply charged forward again. Her last means of attack only worked when fighting head on.

Takako once again welcomed her with a swing of her arm, however, this time Chihiro couldn't escape in time. Swords shot up from Takako's shoulders and blocked Chihiro's path. The moment her movement stalled, Takako grabbed Chihiro by the leg and slammed her into the dojo floor before placing the sword in her free hand on Chihiro's neck.

The tension bled from Chihiro's body: "I admit defeat."

Takako stood back up: "You fought better than I expected, but you were too hasty at the end."

Chihiro's reaction was lackluster. She simply started to collect the fragments of her sword.

Clearly she wasn't over the fact that her sword had been broken. Takako looked on coldly: "I can understand your shock, but having your sword broken is nothing to feel bad about. My swords are the sharpest in the world. Nothing this worn down school offers could possibly compare."

Chihiro's hands slowed briefly as she forced out a quiet reply: "I don't use a school issued sword. I use... Used a sword my mother left behind."

The nearby students had listened in and their voices... Takako could practically hear the rumor mill turning. 'First she beats up a cripple and now she shatters the orphan's family heirloom'. Thankfully, they were a bunch of nobodies- their opinions didn't matter. Whether or not the high-and-mighty principal would waste her time over the matter was a different story.

...But perhaps more than that, she felt bad. Just a little bit anyway. Chihiro had been nothing but cooperative all day, yet her losses today were clearly more than her gains... Plus her grandmother often stressed the importance of taking care of one's subordinates... Hmm... Yes- that was all. The leader covering petty expenses was only natural.

Having justified herself to herself, Takako cleared her throat: "Since it's not a school issued sword, why don't I help you get that fixed."

Seeing the hope in Chihiro's eyes at the word 'fixed', Takako added on: "The Amahagene family have the best swordsmiths in the world. It's a small matter for me."

Chihiro gathered the last of her sword's fragments and bowed deeply: "Amahagene-senpai... Thank you very much."

"Good. Then follow after me."

"Understood, Amahagene-senpai."