To the Unplanner: Right?! Just don't remind Nomura about it. xD

Everyone want to see what reading one (1) Wikipedia article and watching three (3) YouTube videos on fencing taught me?! Here's a hint: I didn't serve it justice. I chose fencing because A) it's usually associated with elegance, and B) I feel like it's closer to Keyblade wielding that actual sword fighting. Don't ask me why, because that's the only answer I've got. I actually find fencing boring to watch...

Thank you for reading!

"There's no way this month is almost over!" Mog loudly declared as he pounded his fists onto the cafeteria table. "It feels like we just came back from winter break a week ago!"

"That's only because you spent most of that time slacking off." Nin rebuffed with a scoff. "Did you even try to study for the quiz in math?"

"Yes!" came the immediate answer. There was a small pause as everyone gave him a questioning glare, then he shrunk a bit in his spot and mumbled, "No..."

Everyone at the table laughed at his expense. Mog pretended to be angry about it for a moment, before going into a laughter of his own. When they all calmed down again, Affie let out a long yawn.

"Well, I for one am glad the day's almost over. I am so exhausted."

"What did you do today?" Pyra questioned, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"Fencing practice."

"So?"

"Half of my house got paired with Ursus." Affie explained in a flat tone. "I was part of that group."

"Ouch. At least the guys in Leopardus ask for permission before trying to stab your eye out."

"Right?!"

Through all of this, Anora was making rather confused faces at the others. She was more than aware by now that fencing was Daybreak Academy's main sport. It was mandatory to take it as well. Affie was the first to notice Anora's weird looks.

"Oh, you wouldn't know because it's the first time you're practicing with other houses. Would you?" he wondered. Not truly waiting for an answer, he went on to explain, "You see, every so often we have fencing practice with the others- usually with three houses at the same time, but divided in two. Say for example, like today, Vulpes, Leopardus, and Ursus are scheduled to practice together. The houses are then divided into two teams for each house; so then you have half of Vulpes fighting half of Leopardus, half of Leopardus fighting Ursus, and so on."

"It's a pretty dumb way of going about it." Mog noted, pretending to scratch his nose. "But five is a prime number, so..."

"Oh, so you were doing your homework?" Pyra smirked. The look Mog gave her was attached to a very witty remark, but he was unable to say it as the bell started to ring.

"Looks like it's time for Anora and I to get our butts whooped by Ursus." Mog then bemoaned instead. "Wish us luck."

"Good luck!" the rest of the table told them without hesitation.

. . .

Anora didn't know what she was expecting for this practice. It was pretty much the same as usual, students shouting encouragements at each other, the long time it took to get into the fencing suits, and the long wait before you were called up. It was taking longer for them to rotate out, though.

"Next group!" the gym teacher shouted.

Anora took in a deep breath as she came forward. Her heart pounding in her head as she pulled her helmet on. She picked up the épée from the last person and took her place on the gym mat. Her opponent was also on the mat already- they adjusted some straps on their helmet before taking their place as well. Between the other students cheering the match, she could hear Mog's eager voice shout "Kick their butt, Anora!" from somewhere nearby. At the same time, someone else had shouted, "Go easy on them, Ephemer!"

The gym teacher came between the two of them, giving both Anora and her opponent a small nod of acknowledgment. "First to reach five hits on the other, or when five minutes are up, wins." the gym teacher informed them. They then stepped out the way and once more looked between Anora and her opponent. "Now, en-garde." (Anora raised her épée in preparation, as did her opponent.) "Êtes-vous prêts? Allez!"

And thus began the most stressful thirty seconds Anora had yet to experience in gym class. It didn't help that the first twenty seconds were spent acting like they were cats about to lash out at each other. Anora's opponent was the first to make the lunge. The girl reacted by jumping out of the way before attempting to parry. Out of instinct and a sudden adrenaline, Anora did a small feint before going in for her attack. At the first impact, they both froze.

"First point to the left side." the gym teacher announced, motioning to Anora.

Anora blinked as she came to realize that she had struck her opponent in the chest. They couldn't see each other's faces, but they both looked at the épée's point then at each other.

"Not bad." her opponent approved. There was a small sound to indicate that he smirked before adding, "Now I know who I'm dealing with."

"Back to starting mark." the gym teacher reminded them with a blow from their whistle. Anora jumped out of place and immediately went back to start. Her opponent still seemed rather relaxed, walking back to the starting mark with a small bounce in their step.

"En-garde." the gym teacher told them once more, as seeing the two were ready. "Êtes-vous prêts? Allez."

The rest of the fight ended up going into the opponent's favor. Not that Anora's lucky first hit was anything to laugh at- she manage to hit them two other times.

"A house point to Leopardus for winning the match!" announced the gym teacher before turning to the other students. "Now, next group!"

Anora let out a sigh of relief before starting to head back to where Mog was watching.

"You did great." Mog told his friend once she was close enough. "I mean, considering you've only had two weeks of classes. Whoever your partner was went easy on you."

"I hope you're joking. She had me in a legitimate bind for a moment there."

Mog and Anora quickly looked around to see a boy standing next to them. Like Anora, he had yet to change out of his fencing clothes but he had taken his helmet off. His unruly, loosely curled hair was wet from sweat and his sea blue eyes sparkled with kindness matched by his smile. Casually coming up from behind him was girl with long black hair, amber eyes, and pink star shaped earrings; she was wearing the standard gym uniform, which meant that she either already had her fencing practice with someone, or she was going to at a later time.

"Not bad work out there." the boy grinned as he extended his hand out to Anora. "My name is Ephemer, what's yours?"

Anora looked from Ephemer's hand, to the girl behind him, to Mog, then back at Ephemer again. Knowing it was the nicer thing to do, Anora removed her fencing helmet and tucked it under her arm- her short strawberry-pink hair was also a wet down from sweat, despite feeling certain that the match hadn't been that nerve racking now that it was over.

"Anora." she said with a timid smile of her own as she took Ephemer's hand to shake it.

"Anora..." Ephemer repeated. For a moment, a glimmer of joy crossing his eyes "I like it." He then gave a little sniff as he playfully scratched his nose. "Well then, Anora, I mean what I said earlier. You were really good out there; you were very agile, I think I lost track of where you were going twice!"

"He's only being nice." the girl from behind him spoke up. "Told me earlier that he was trying to handicap himself because you're still new."

"Hey!" Ephemer playfully retorted. "Whose side are you on?"

"Not yours if you're going to lie." mused his friend with a smirk. Ephemer pretended to be angry for a moment before quickly melting it into a smile. He then turned back to Anora and Nin.

"It was nice meeting you." he said, mostly to Anora. "I hope we get to see each other again sometime soon!"

Anora, still unsure of what to think of this kid, only gave a small nod in return. She and Mog then proceeded to watch as Ephemer and his friend left.

"That… was something." Mog decided to say. All Anora could do was nod in agreement.