Update: No chapter today I had something really important to do for my family that suddenly came up and it looks like it will take all day. Thanks for your patience and continued support.
Enjoy.
Chapter 14: Animosity and Pride
The murmuring in the stands wouldn't stop. Who could blame them? It was hard to imagine Yatsuhashi losing to another first-year, yet there he was flat on his back with a sword pointed at his face.
"Hell, yeah!" The combined resonance of Ulivia's and Ike's cheers did little to break the mood.
"Yats...lost?" In the short time Fox and Velvet had known Coco, they never expected her to sound so lost.
"Everyone loses once in a while; stop acting like your favorite store closed down."
"Yeah, but how could he lose to that guy?" pointing her finger at Alter. "Sure, he's undefeated, but it's not like the people he's fought were all that good. Plus, all his wins are by ring out or some technicality."
"And now he's done the same thing to Yatsuhashi, so what does that tell you?"
"No way...you mean all that stuff about him holding back was true?"
"It was so obvious I could see it. Jeez, Coco, you really threw Yatsuhashi to the proverbial wolves or, in this case, wolf."
Velvet gasped, "Look at their aura levels!" The trio focused on the screen. Yatsuhashi was still green at ninety percent, but Alter's…
"He didn't lose a single percent?!"
Fox nodded, "Just like in all his other matches, except this is the first time he's damaged an opponent." A drop of sweat slid down his cheek, "This guy's been playing all of you. I always wondered why he fought like that."
"Fox, what do you mean? He's just a lot more skilled than we thought. There's no reason to be so tense."
"It's not his skill, Velvet." Being blind had never been an extreme handicap for Fox. With his sight gone, Fox became an expert at sensing the aura of others. Coco had a large amount and was quite strong, but in the presence of Alter, he could barely feel her's. To top it all off, Fox estimated he only perceived the surface of Alter's aura. He dared not try to find out how much Team ASUR's leader had, fearing he might be crushed by it. Believe it or not, what really disturbed Fox was Alter's partner Tomoe, the sensation of her aura left him terrified.
[=]
Alter held his hand out to Yatsuhashi, who expressed surprise but smiled and allowed himself to be helped up. Yatsuhashi glared at him critically before his face softened. "You beat me. I'll be sure to remember this defeat, and until the next time we cross swords." The show of good sportsmanship was followed by a bout of applause from the spectators, now over their disbelief. Unsurprisingly enough, the target of the cheers was Yatsuhashi.
"Good job Yatsu!"
"You'll get him next time."
"At least your muscles are still big."
Ms. Goodwitch's heels clicked as she approached them, her eyes devoid of anything but professionalism. "You both performed well. This is the first time I've seen either of you exert that amount of effort." That was only true for Yatsuhashi. Alter hadn't shown the same level of power he used against Tomoe and that Newtype Beowolf. "Still, there is much that you must improve on. Mr. Daichi, you need to not be so engrossed with your weapon. I understand it is the focal point in your arsenal, but there is more than one path to victory. Twice, you had the opportunity to win that bout but tried to finish it with your weapon. For example, both times you had a hold of Mr. Starverse instead of attacking with your sword, it would've been more effective to have thrown him out of the ring or wrestle him into submission. A feat like that would be easy with your tremendous strength." Yatsuhashi nodded and thanked Ms. Goodwitch for the advice. "As for you, Mr. Starverse, please stay focused while in the midst of combat. Becoming distracted can prove fatal in most instances."
"Right." A sudden chill passed through his body. There was no mistaking who was emitting such bloodlust. His eyes caught Tomoe's fuchsia orbs lidded in sinister pleasure.
[=]
He didn't think anything could annoy him as much as Tomoe's smile. How she could go from murderous to teasing in the blink of an eye was a mystery. Her lips curled the more his frown deepened. "Is there something on your mind, Alter? I'd thought you'd be more pleased after such a victory. There's no reason to be upset."
"Yeah. You were great; now everybody knows your super strong. See Nash? What did I say?"
"Mmhm, now I know why Ike and Carly were so confident he would rescue you."
Alter ignored their praise, "I know what you did."
"Why, whatever do you mean?" Alter's was cut off before he could answer.
"Hold it." Behind Alter stood Coco, hands on her hips and a less than chipper air. "Don't go feeling so good about yourself. You've been fooling everyone about how good you really are, so Yats was caught off guard. I wouldn't be too proud winning in such an underhanded way. Alter faced her; the whole class was now watching. Underhanded? How? Yes, he had been deliberately holding back in all his previous matches. Still, it wasn't his fault if someone underestimated him.
"Coco, you don't have to get so worked up."
"Not now, V." Coco pointed at Alter, "You, me, in the ring. Leader vs. Leader." She grinned, confident he would accept.
Too bad for her.
"I refuse."
Coco growled and slid her shades down, "What was that?"
"I said I refuse. I'm not interested." Coco stepped back, baffled. Never had she been rejected so callously before. Actually, she hadn't been rejected ever. And what was that about being not interested? He clearly didn't know who he was talking to. Everywhere she went, she left people in awe of her.
"I see. Now that you've been exposed, you can't catch anybody off guard." She smirked, "You're scared of getting your ass kicked and running away like a coward. Hah, some leader you are." His team and CIAN glared daggers at her.
"That's it. I've had it with this bitch!" Alter was pushed aside by a furious Ulivia. "Who the fuck do you think you are, huh? If you wanna fight so bad, I'll gladly beat the ever-lovin' shit outta ya."
"Oh? So the one who sleeps for most of our classes thinks she can take me on?" Rail was quick to retrain Ulivia before she could lunge at Coco.
"I have a suggestion." Their attention shifted to Tomoe, who sat politely as if she was unaware of all the commotion. "How about we make this fun?"
"What do you have in mind?" Coco asked, her brow quirked.
Tomoe's pink lips curved, "We'll have a best of three series. Both teams will select one member to fight, and the first to get two wins will be the overall victory. Since Alter already defeated Yatsuhashi, our team already has one win. Also, since I've already fought earlier today, I won't be participating. How does that sound?"
Ulivia's teeth bared in a vicious smile, "That's what I'm talking about, Tomoe! Whaddya say, Rail?"
"I'm in."
Tomoe looked down toward the stage, where Ms. Goodwitch had oddly been quiet. "Is that alright with you, professor?"
The blonde woman thought it over before pinching the bridge of her nose. "While I believe this is extremely childish. This would still be using valuable class time, so I see no problem with it. However, both leaders must agree."
"I'm game," said a grinning Coco. She glanced over her shoulder toward her team, "How bout it, guys?"
"Sounds fun."
"Um, I guess it's ok."
"Alter?" He scowled at how satisfied Tomoe looked.
"Do what you want."
[=]
Ulivia and Coco faced each other from opposite sides as Professor Goodwitch repaired the stage with her semblance. Once again, the audience was humming with excitement. This time the support for who they wanted to win was more even. Ike sat forward, eyes fixated on the both of them. "I can't believe we get to watch two hot babes fight it out. I freaking love this school."
"Of course, that's the thing you're focused on," Nash said flatly.
Coco smirked.
"What the hell's so funny?" Ulivia asked.
"Nothing. Just thinking how you're totally my type. Say if you're not too bent after I win, I'd love to go out clubbing with you."
"Heh, hope you keep that same energy when I'm shoving my foot up your ass."
"Kinky."
Ms. Goodwitch coughed and pushed her glasses up. "If you two are done flirting, I'll go over the rules now." Ulivia brows drew down, drowning out the professor. She knew how Coco fought; that minigun of hers' would be a real problem. Ulivia would be outmatched in firepower, but if she could shoot first, it would give her the advantage. She didn't doubt her opponent wasn't thinking the same thing. The viper Faunus leered'So the edge goes to who can draw faster huh? I got this in the bag.' Greedy Tyrant was already in her gun mode, the same as Coco's weapon. "Begin!"
They both aimed firing simultaneously bullets colliding and ricocheting. Greedy Tyrant couldn't possibly keep up with Gianduja's rate of fire. Ulivia cursed and rolled to the side while reloading before Coco's bullets could overcome her. She ran as the storm of ammunition followed her; Coco paused, re-aimed, and fired once more. Ulivia had no choice but to jump; this was her chance, however. Changing her assault rifle into a serrated sword and dove toward Coco. If she couldn't win in a shootout, hack and slash had to do. Ulivia swung do, but the girl in shades lifted her massive gun with amazing dexterity and blocked her. Coco allowed her blade to scrape down the weapon in a flash of sparks. Ulivia never witnessed Coco maneuver Gianduja like that. The brown-haired fashionista used her gun's weight to push Ulivia away and then took aim.
Ulivia grimaced.
"Oh fuck me."