A/N: Once again, special thanks to my beta Crosswood for checking this update (she had the misfortune of having to correct all my horrible grammar mistakes!)

Pride and Confidence

'I don't regret this. I don't regret this.'

I kept that mantra in my head as my amateur opponent entered the ring, her silky blue hair tied up in a tight ponytail, revealing her slender neck for all to see.

I lightly jumped from one foot to another, pumping my fist in the air to flex my muscles for the match ahead.

She knocked her gloves together, to test its thickness and check how they cushioned her knuckles from impact, in effect bringing my attention to her hands… which soon travelled up to her eyes – those glistening green eyes. Had it been another situation, I would have been devoured by those deep forest eyes; taken in by her natural beauty and physique. Not now.

'I'll show her I'm better.' A venomous voice - one which I never knew I had - rung in my head.

I felt the rage grow once again in my chest – the same fury that (despite my better judgment) had driven me to ask for a match with an inexperienced boxer.

'She doesn't deserve her - I'm better. I'll show her.' That same voice continued its chant.

"Just a friendly match, right? I don't think I can hold my own with a boxing champ if it's serious." Her husky smooth voice spoke out to me in the ring, as we begun to circle – lightly bouncing on our feet with our fists raised.

"Yeah, of course. There's no way I would go all out on a beginner like that." I gave her a fake friendly smile, hoping she would feel the snide remark.

"That's good to hear." The edges of her lips pulled to a lopsided smile and a glint shone in her eyes.

"Be careful up there, Natsuki." My beautiful goddess' voice sang out.

Her smooth words soothed the angry beast inside – allowing my rationality to return to its rightful place.

'This isn't right – I should know better.' I chided myself. 'Why am I doing this?'

"Don't worry, Shizuru. I will." My opponent flashed a different smile in my goddess' direction, the latter of whom stood somewhere behind me outside of the ring. I remembered again why I had challenged the newcomer in the gym – a newcomer who I envied and hated for having what I wanted; having what she doesn't deserve.

I have always known that Shizuru-sempai had a girlfriend – a fact that simultaneously encouraged and wounded me. And now that I've met this infamous girlfriend at long last, I couldn't help but challenge her to a match – even if it was unfair, given I was a District Champion and she was just a new member in the gym. I had to show my goddess I was more worthy - that I am better.

"Shall we?" I asked with an edge.

"Sure." She shrugged, taking this match all too lightly "Is there some sort of etiquette we have to go through firs-"

I took a step in and made a quick jab before she could finish her question – her demeanour was growing to irritate me more than her position. Something about the way she took my attitude and actions unnerved me; she didn't find me a threat – in fact it was like she looked down on me; like she pitied what I was doing; that everything was in vain.

She skilfully side-stepped my fist; dodging without panic.

"Guess not" she muttered under her breath.

Finally taking the match more seriously she raised her gloved hands, squaring her shoulder and poised for the next strike. Her posture was non-threatening, almost demure. She kept her body almost side-on, elbows close to appear as small and yielding as possible - but her eyes told me she was on guard. She wasn't looking for a fight, but she wasn't going to be made a fool.

I kept switching my weight from one foot to another, stepping in closer randomly to take shots at her every now and then – all of which she dodged narrowly but completely.

There was something in those eyes – that glint – I didn't like. It made me feel inferior. It made me feel defeated – I wasn't going to be defeated.

As I glared angrily into those eyes I lost my rationality and my sense, and began to increase my speed and strength - my punches and jabs became more serious, as though I was at a proper match - as though the opponent in front me wasn't the beginner that she is.

I saw the flicker of shock when my glove grazed the side of her porcelain white cheek. I moved faster, as did she – dodging left and right – she narrowly avoided or weakly defended against me, taking quick jabs at me very now and then to, attempting to make me back off.

The glimpse of shock stayed for only a moment in her eyes – it soon turned to focus and determination - yet that glint remained securely in those forest green orbs, driving me more helpless and enraged.

I stepped up my game and pushed her back with my repeated jabs. We edged closer to the side of the ring, as my onslaught of punches gave her no time to counter or even get a proper footing.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that my goddess was watching – Shizuru-sempai was watching how I was dominating the match – that my rival was no match, that my rival was not good enough to protect her and that she's not the big bad wolf that everyone makes her out to be.

'I am better.' I told myself.

And that was the beginning of the end… but not for her.

It was a mistake on my part for not focusing on the opponent – however, much later, I would come to realise it would have eventually happened anyway, regardless of my focus.

It was only an instant, a moment in which I advanced too fast and swung too hard, and my offensive had driven my blue-haired rival too far - she instinctively cut off to the side as my arm went sailing past her face. Her own arm went forward, brushing past mine - but not in a straight punch, but as a means to position her arm for a devastating blow.

Her movement were too fast for me to react, so I just watched wide eyed as she reeled her elbow back towards me, promising a broken nose and her victory in my twisted little competition.

But she stopped short, jumping back for no apparent reason, arms slumped to her side, her feet taking several steps back before planting again.

She rubbed the back of her neck with her wrist, looking toward Shizuru-sempai, before returning her gaze to me.

"Sorry," she said, "but do you mind if we stop it here? I don't seem all that used to boxing."

"Uh… Yeah, that's fine." I replied confusedly, as my heart and mind begun to recover from the shock of near injury.

She exited the ring and was immediately greeted by Shizuru-sempai presenting a soft plush towel, and also a pair of red burgundy eyes that shone with immense pride and adoration.

"Ara, did Natsuki end the match because she couldn't bear to lose? You weren't fairing very well for a while." Mirth clouded my goddess' gaze and her words. "Who am I to trust to protect me if Natsuki can be beaten so easily?"

My one time rival huffed. "There was no way I could've beaten her at her own game – even if she was going easy on me, did you see all the trophies? Plus, even if I lost, I can trust you to not only protect yourself but also me as well. In fact - I feel sorry for the poor sucker that tries to fight you."

My long time crush playfully hit her girlfriend's arm as they walked away from the ring, from me.

I realised then what the glint had been – it was confidence. Not confidence in winning the fight, but confidence in winning the meaning behind the fight.

I had no chance – I had lost both the battle and the war.

A/N: Not that ShizNat orientated but I think their relationship still shone through.

Hope you enjoyed the update, more to come later this week (because I was on a roll!)