Chapter 9: Sonata vs Rin - Poor Sports?

(Featuring AKB0048's members Kanata Shinonome, Sonata Shinonome, Shiori Arisawa, and Darksider's Azrael.)

An hour of cleaning up later...

Shiori, with her eyes widened in amusement, shot out, "Eeeehh? Rorona done goof in concocting an Animal Voices' recovery Potion?! Damn..."

"Yeah...so that's that." Cordelia shrugged.

"Nyaaaah..."

Cordelia, Shiori, Kanata, and Azrael heard a slightly angry mew. They turned around just in time to see Cat Rin and Sonata facing off in all fours!

"You think you are cuter than me?" Sonata growled.

"Nyaaa!" Rin gritted her teeth, her eyes glint with determination.

"Oh nyah?" Sonata frowned.

"NYAH!" Rin screeched.

"YAAAAAAAHHHH!"

"NYAAAAAAAAAAROOO!"

Both Sonata and Rin pounced and scratched each other in a cloud of dust. The team members present looked at the ensuing ball of dust in amusement as a drop of sweat appeared upon their foreheads.

"Uh...literal catfight?" Nozomi wondered.

Both Sonata and Rin faced each other a few minutes later, panting and all out of breath. Their clothes and caps all caked with dirt and dust from the catfight.

"Alright, that's it! You think you're cute, eh? Why don't we fight against each other in a race? Nyah?" Sonata growled.

"Nyaaah..." Rin growled back.

"Wait, what? Race?" Kanata wondered.

"There's an Adventurers' Marathon taking place later in the day together with today's Arland Carnival taking place. Ya know, pretty much like the Alanya Beach festival." Cordelia explained.

"So that explains why the Guild felt so packed today..." Azrael replied calmly.

Both Rin and Sonata raised their left and right paws respectively.

Adventurers' Marathon - Arland Carnival

"And here we are at the Arland Carnival's Adventurers Marathon! I am your host Chiharu Sakuragi!"

"And this is your co-host, Zephyr! This is definitely a heated atmosphere as everyone's pumped up for today's marathon, which is part of Arland's tradition since the founding of the Republic itself!"

At ground level, Rin the Cat stretched her limbs and ruffled her hair and cat-like ears. Sonata rubbed her 'paw' with glee as she stretched her limbs.

"Um...Sonati...Are you sure you can win this?" Kanata wondered.

"I will win! Rinny thinks she's better than me at being a cat. HA! I will show her! Hmph!" Sonata pouted.

"C'mon...it's just a game...right? Yeah, sure there are prizes to be won and all but, wouldn't it be great if we can take part in this together?" Kanata sighed.

"It's more that winning! I wanna prove that I am a better 'cat-girl' than Rin! No one does better than me, nya!" Sonata pouted.

On the other team...

"I don't know...with the amount of participants up to the thousands, Rin might get lost come a few minutes..." Umi replied in worry.

"She doesn't seem in relenting either." Hanayo sighed.

"Hey there..." Chris arrived at the starting line after landing on the ground with her Genesis Flight System. "Heard you all getting ready for the marathon too?"

"Yup. Although Sonata and Rin might be getting a bit too competitive for their own good..." Eri replied in worry.

" All this time I have been behind the wheels and racing for Team Audi; Alito and I wanna find out just how it feels to race in foot in a relaxed marathon such as this!" Chris chuckled.

"Well...you being a goddess-human hybrid since your awakening years ago will certainly boost your chance in winning." Honoka replied.

"Nope. We are planning to do this race without any flight equipment. We just wanna experience the marathon, for what it's worth." Alito shook her head.

"We have certainly raced in a car, but racing on foot without the buffs of being a goddess-human hybrid? I want a challenge on that!" Chris chuckled as she began stretching her arms and legs.

"Wait...you mean to say that you have never entered a race on foot before?" Shiori wondered.

Chris and Alito nodded.

"Not even once?" Shiori replied and got the same response.

Both Rin and Sonata looked at Chris and Alito in amusement and laughed shortly.

"No offense, Icy and Windy-sensei, but reading about running on foot will only qualify you as a novice runner!" Sonata giggled.

"I never claimed myself to be good in running on foot, despite being a combat instructor back in Akibastar, yes?" Chris simpered.

The reality hit both Rin and Sonata like a bus on a brick wall; they almost forgot that Chris and Alito were one of the best, if not the best, combat instructors around. That would mean lots and lots of running...

However, Sonata forced a smile upon her face as cold sweat poured down her forehead. "Ha! But it is a marathon, ya know? Marathon is not just plain running or intense running as compared to the running exercise back in Akibastar! It's a good thing I have experience for at least two years when there's a Summersonic Beach Triathlon - AKBINGO Edition! "

"Well...you're right. A marathon is much different from your usual run-of-the-mill running, flying around, and slaying heartless creatures everywhere at about 120 miles per hour. Still, that won't stop us from learning and understanding the joys of Humanity, right my love?" Chris simpered, to which Alito gave a warm smile.

"Heh...at least we nyaaaow we ain't gonnyaa lose to Chris and Alito-sempai, then! Nya!" Rin purred.

"Um...you do realize by Chris and Alito's logic that means they have nothing to lose in terms of them participating in this competition?" Azrael asked.

However, the Angel of Death's advice fell on deaf ears as Rin and Sonata continued taunting each other about how one was better than the other.

"I don't think they get the message..." Azrael sighed.

"Well...sometimes my sister needs a kick in the butt, I guess?" Kanata shrugged.

"Talk about sister love, huh?" Chris chuckled.

"Love, especially between siblings, hurts...A LOT." Kanata grinned. "But you're right; let's have some fun today!"