Ayano tried to keep her mind clear as she trained, but it was proving difficult. She had too many things that kept popping into her head. She was curious about her new acquaintance, but also she wanted to know more about why Genos was hiding her enemy and what he planned to do with the Class A hero. Of course, the subject that managed to push to the forefront of her thoughts was Sonic.

Sprinting through the forest, dodging trees and basically chasing his after-image, she found herself unable to stop thinking about what Saitama had said. She had wanted to believe that Saitama was wrong, but he was absolutely right. Sonic was obsessed with beating him and that seemed to be what was driving his every decision now.

The girl blinked and saw three shuriken flying toward her. Twisting to the side, she narrowly dodged them and got behind a tree. It gave her a second to catch her breath as she tried again to push away the bothersome thoughts.

He wants to beat Saitama, but…it's impossible, right? Saitama isn't on his level. He's more on level with a monster. A demon. Something inhuman. Does Sonic really think he can match him? She felt a rush of air beside her and crouched to avoid a blade swinging where her head had been.

Ayano moved swiftly and hooked an ankle behind his as she grabbed for his arm. She intended to throw him onto the ground, but knew him well enough to anticipate his next move. In a second, she found herself sprawled on the forest floor with a foot planted on her chest. His blade was pointed at her face and he scowled.

"You're slowing down," Sonic commented. He tilted his head, grey eyes narrowing down on her as he studied the girl. "You're distracted."

"I'm…I'm fine," she protested. The hero struggled to try to free herself, but he pressed a bit harder on her sternum until she went still.

"What's distracting you? Are you thinking about Amai Mask?"

Her eyes closed as she tried to calm herself down. It was proving difficult; she was now flustered because he was starting to lean down toward her and she was frustrated that he had noticed that she was distracted. I can't tell him. I…still haven't told him about my new friend. I can't. He would be angry and he might go after Garou if I tell him.

"Tell me." The scowl twitched at the corners and slowly rose into a grin. "Unless you want me to interrogate you. I don't think I've showed you any interrogations techniques before. That could make this an interesting afternoon."

She gulped and shook her head, fearful of what exactly he might do. "I…was thinking about you," she muttered, turning her head to the side. She still watched him from the corner of her eye, but she could feel her face starting to turn pink.

"You were thinking about me?" There was a teasing tone to his voice as he said this. The blade was sheathed and he stepped back before holding out a hand to pull her to her feet. "Am I a distraction?"

"…k-kind of…" This was said under her breath and she pushed up her glasses. "I just…was wondering. Why is it so important for you to beat Saitama?"

"Are you serious?"

"I just want to know. He isn't a ninja. He isn't competing with you. So why-?"

"Because he's strong," Sonic replied simply. "And I want to be stronger. I was humiliated by him before and I'm determined to not let it happen again. I intend to be the strongest. So if that means beating him down, then so be it. I'll train until I puke blood as long as I'm able to finally defeat him."

She nodded in comprehension. It made sense. It just made her feel a little uneasy with how obsessed he was. This was an obsession that seemed to overshadow any other thought when it surfaced. She remembered that moment they shared in the alley the previous day; it had been ruined by him abruptly talking about getting stronger than Saitama.

"The same goes for you and that metal nuisance he calls a disciple."

"It…does?" Ayano followed him as the man started walking deeper into the forest at a normal pace. Clearly, he intended for them to take a short break while this discussion happened.

"He had to save you before. Didn't that make you angry? Didn't you want to show him that you're strong enough to save yourself?" he challenged, not looking over his shoulder.

She remembered it clearly. Ayano had nearly been killed by a monster and Genos swooped in at the last second to defeat it. She had hobbled away from the scene full of pain and embarrassment. Her hands curled into tight fists at her sides and she nodded now. "Yes. I do…want to get stronger than him."

"So we're going to train until you can beat him." Sonic came to a stop in a clearing and unsheathed his blade again. "I want you to defend yourself using your anti-cyborg swords. Since they weigh less than your usual weapons, you need to get used to handling them."

Ayano did her best to defend herself using both swords. Her mind felt clearer now as she found herself focusing on the sole idea of becoming strong enough to beat Genos. She pictured the blond cyborg sparring with her instead of Sonic and it made it easier for her to consider counterattacks.

Shift P.O.V

Are you still thinking about me? He grinned and blocked a counterstrike aimed at his side. Sonic liked the ferocity behind her attacks, but he was bothered by the idea of her thoughts being focused completely on Genos. Even if he had caused this.

During their time apart, after she had broken up with him, Sonic knew where she went. He knew why she went. He still remembered Genos interrupting his attempt at getting her back and whisking her away to Saitama's home. What happened in the apartment, he did not know. Things could have happened between his student and either of those heroes.

He thinks they're friends, he thought as his grin spread wider. He probably thinks that Ayano is his best friend. She belongs to me, though. How sad!

Sonic's eyes widened as he felt the slice of a blade through the skin on the side of his cheek. Shallow, but enough to draw blood. He leapt up onto a high tree branch and pressed a hand to his cheek. It came away red and he frowned.

He was angry with himself now. He had been careless. Distracted. To make matters worse, he had just gotten annoyed with her being distracted so that made this look even worse. Wiping away blood, he rubbed the sticky crimson essence between his fingers and the amusement returned.

In a few seconds, he had Ayano pressed against a tree. Her blades discarded on the grass at her feet. Both arms pinned above her head; her wrists held tightly in one of his. The blade in his hand pressed lightly at the neckline of her shirt and he felt the girl tense in his hold.

"You drew blood," he started.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to actually-!"

"You drew blood," he continued. "And now you're interrupting. Who's the master here, Ayano?"

Her pale face flushed pink and she bowed her head. "…you are…"

"And you're…?"

"I-I'm your student."

"I should make you pay a penalty for drawing blood. But I don't even know what would make a good punishment for this. I don't want to make more scars; you have plenty of those. Maybe I should teach you a different way." He sheathed the blade and leaned down, bringing his face inches from hers.

Ayano bit her lower lip, her body trembling as he pressed closer. "Sonic, I…I'm sorry. I keep getting distracted today. I should have been focusing instead of worrying, but…I just…can't help it. I can't-"

"Maybe I should make you focus on something else, then. If training is that boring that it can't hold your attention. I wonder what would be able to keep you focused." His free hand slid beneath the hem of her tank top and started to inch up along her stomach.

Her breathing hitched and she writhed a little. Sonic's fingertips glided gently over her stomach and up her ribs. His touch was light enough that it almost tickled. Her breathing got a little heavier and her eyelids fluttered closed.

He leaned down to the side of her neck, lips pressing there and feeling her pulse racing. The ninja's hand tightened around her wrist as his free hand moved a little higher. The tips of his index, middle, and ringer fingers dipped beneath the hem of her bra and he felt her hips push forward against his.

As much as he wanted to give in to his own temptation and do something, he was determined to keep training until the sun set. Drawing his hand back down her chest, the man's lips moved to her ear. "The next time I catch you distracted, I'll give you something to be distracted by."

Shift P.O.V

Ayano blinked and found herself alone in the clearing. Trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach, she crouched down to grab her blades and listened for any sounds that might indicate he was about to attack. It was silent.

Okay. He's right. No more distractions. She turned in a circle, attempting to determine which direction to go in. Every direction seemed to be similarly calm so she just went north.

The hero made a conscious effort to move as quietly as possible through the forest. She kept her senses open; listening for sounds, wary of any change in scent, eyes focused on the greenery ahead. When a rain of shuriken came down from above, she heard the rush of air and twisted sharply to avoid them.

She heard it again and this time she crouched to roll beneath a fallen tree that was being held above the ground by the branches of other trees. The projectiles planted in the bark and she held her breath as she listened to the soft rustle of the leaves above her. He's…holding back. Making noise on purpose so I can hear him. I need to do something now before he does something else.

Ayano held completely still, listening carefully for any change in his position. Her mind raced as she tried to think of what she could do. There was a soft rustle as he landed on the ground in front of her. For whatever reason, Ayano abruptly remembered one of the things Garou had taught her the previous day.

Surging out from beneath the fallen tree, she tackled him with both arms around the man's waist. Ayano shifted her weight and threw him onto his back against the fallen tree, her blades sinking into the bark to either side of him and pinning him down with one knee pressed against the bark beside his right hip. The hero leaned down, her face stopping inches above his and her honey-colored eyes wide with alarm.

"I…I did it?" she murmured, more to herself than to him.

Sonic stared up at her for a moment before a smirk took form on his face. "There it is. Your speed's a lot better when you focus." A hand reached behind her and he pressed against her lower back. "I'm almost impressed."

"Y-you are?" Ayano quivered as she felt his fingers trail along her back and bit her lower lip.

He had them turned in a matter of seconds so that she was being pressed against the tree with her leg wrapped around his waist. "I am," he confirmed, fingers threading into her chocolate-brown hair. "Where did you learn that move? I didn't teach it to you."

It was true. Sonic had taught her a few hand to hand combat moves, but they were mostly for disarming someone. Ayano felt her face starting to burn. She knew she could not tell him about her new acquaintance. Sonic would definitely go after Garou, even if she barely knew him. Even if they were just acquaintances. She did not want to start trouble.

"I…saw it in a manga," she lied. "At Saitama's. He had action manga and…one of them had a fight scene where the opponent used a move like that."

"Hm." Sonic moved back and let her stand. He looked off toward the setting sun, his mouth turning down into a frown as he realized how late it was getting. "We're done for now. Let's go back to the camp."

She nodded and followed him to where they had set up their tent. The dog was waiting there for them and wagged his tail excitedly when they approached. Ayano greeted him with a smile and set about filling the food bowl before turning to the fire pit.

Sonic was working on starting the fire for them to cook on. He glanced toward her briefly. Their eyes met for an instant. The ninja's grey eyes were a bit narrowed. As if he was deep in thought about something. The grin that took form when he looked away was just a little unsettling.

Ayano sat on the ground across the fire pit from him, watching him work. I impressed him? Really? It…felt really good to be able to pin him, though. I felt strong. Not Saitama-level strong, but…like a Class S level of strength. She looked down at her fists and allowed herself a small smile.

"Don't get used to being on top." Warm lips brushed the side of her ear and sent a shiver down her spine. Sonic pressed against her back, arms wrapped around her. "I don't like being on bottom. But you know that from experience, don't you?"