.

Battle of the Artists

Nagatoro, Sakura, and Yoshi played a card game at the art club room table while Senpai sat at his easel and worked on a fruit bowl still life. Trying something new, the girls played Go Fish instead of Texas Holdem.

"Got any threes?" Nagatoro asked Yoshi.

"Go fish. Got any aces?"

Nagatoro handed Yoshi her aces. "Lucky guess."

Sakura folded her hands under her chin. "This game is so relaxing."

"Especially compared to what we used to play," Yoshi said.

Senpai turned their way. "There's something to be said for playing a game that doesn't require you to strip."

"What's that Senpai-kun?" Sakura teased. "You don't think we look good without our clothes on?"

"No, I'm not saying that. It's not true, and you know it. I'm just saying—"

Nagatoro held up her hand. "This is the part where it's better if you don't talk."

"Uh-oh," Yoshi said. "Sense's in trouble."

"Yo." Gamo walked into the clubroom with a wave before joining her friends at the table. "What's up, crew?"

Sakura appraised her friend's attire. Gamo's skin-tight halter-top sports bra accentuated her ample breasts and left her midriff exposed while her hip-hugging spandex shorts perfectly outlined the contours of her bottom. "Got a date with Ichiro, huh?"

"It's not a date. We're just working out."

"Sparring with big bro," Nagatoro quipped.

"Semi-dressed and ready to go," Yoshi added.

"Pass me those chips," Gamo asked Yoshi, trying to change the subject.

Yoshi handed her the bag. "You look smoking hot. Here, this'll cool you down." She reached into a nearby cooler and handed Gamo a frosty can of Coke.

"Thanks."

Senpai shook his head. "I really wish you guys would treat this place with a little more respect and not like a cafeteria. If the President were to walk in right now, I'd be in a heap of trouble."

Gamo sipped her Coke. "I thought we were cool with her. Besides, isn't she spending all her days at the Tokyo School of Art?"

"She's also a part-time teaching assistant," Senpai said. "She's here one week out of three."

Gamo straightened her posture. "Really? Where?"

Senpai answered, "Um, at this school."

"How come I never see her?"

A female voice boomed from the doorway. "Because you're not an artist."

Senpai whipped his head toward the door. "President."

"Incorrect. You're the art club president now and I'm your Sensei."

"Sensei."

Sana Sunomiya walked into the room. "After all this time and after all of Naoto-kun's successes, you ladies still have no appreciation for this space. It's a place for art and creativity, not a den of iniquity and gluttony."

Yoshi frowned. "Are you saying models don't belong?"

"Apologies." Sana bowed. "I must admit, I've seen your work, as well as that of Miss Video Game and the Cat-Eared Girl—"

"My name is Nagatoro."

"—and frankly, I'm impressed. I sense the love that your modeling efforts exude. Especially, from you two." Sana pointed at Yoshi and Nagatoro. "Still, I wish you would have more respect for this room." She moved her finger. "And your efforts—"

"I'm Sakura."

"I respect your commitment to the art and commend you on your commercial success."

Gamo crossed her arms under her ample chest. "Are you saying I don't belong here?"

Sana crossed her arms under her even-more-ample chest. "That's precisely what I'm saying. This room is a haven for artists, and I'll grant some leeway for those with the courage to share the beauty of their nude forms with the world."

"That's not you," Yoshi teased Gamo. "You haven't done much sharing."

Sakura grinned. "Although I've heard rumors, Gamo really knows how to rock a dog collar and a leash."

Gamo glared at her girlfriends and placed her hand on her chest. "I'm an artist too."

Nagatoro motioned toward Senpai's easel. "Then go over there and show us what you've got."

"That's not my type of art," Gamo replied. "If we had a contest in my brand of art, I'd totally kick Miss College girl's ass."

Sana took a step toward Gamo. "Are you laying down a challenge?"

"That wasn't my intention." Gamo rose from her seat and the two stood breast to breast. "But yeah, I guess I am."

"Consider your challenge accepted." Sana stood her ground.

"What are you suggesting?" Gamo didn't budge.

"I'm saying that I can exceed you in any field of art you choose. Drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, calligraphy. Choose your weapon and we shall duel."

Gamo's lips formed a devious smile. "My expertise is in the Martial Arts, and I challenge you to a contest of Judo."

Sana turned and paced the room. "That presents an interesting twist." She came to a stop. "But I accept your challenge."

"You may not want to do that, Prez," Yoshi said. "She's top-ranked at her family's club."

"I'm quite familiar with Maki Gamou and the Gamou Fighting Gym."

Gamo's mouth dropped open. "You are?"

"The President," Senpai started. "I mean, Sensei is an accomplished practitioner of Kendo Karate."

"Well," Gamo said, "I picked a grappling contest instead of a striking art because I didn't want to bruise that pretty face. But I'll change it if you want."

"No. I've accepted your Judo challenge, and that's what our contest will be."

Nagatoro pulled out a pen and a piece of paper. "Okay, what are the terms?"

"Who's going to be our referee?" Gamo asked.

"You know the rules," Sana said, "as do I. If one of us fights unfairly, the other will know. I suggest we grapple until one of us yields."

Gamo glanced at the clock. "No time limit?"

"Our match will be a test of strength, will, and endurance."

"Where?"

"Right here. We have mats in the closet."

"When?"

"Right now."

"What if we go longer than the twenty minutes we have left?" Gamo glanced at the door. "I kind of have to be somewhere."

"If neither of us has yielded by the end of today's club period, we'll resume our battle tomorrow at the place where we left off."

Gamo chuckled. "I seriously don't think you'll last five minutes, but yeah, okay." She extended her hand. "I accept your terms."

Sana shook Gamo's hand and walked to the closet. She returned with a stack of interlocking rubber tiles with which Senpai and the girls created a four by four meter Judo ring.

"Is this acceptable?" Sana waved her hand over the rubber square.

"It's fine, but it won't give you much room to run around. Another thing." Gamo ran her hand along the length of her body. "We're not properly dressed. We should each be wearing a gi."

Sana unbuttoned her blouse. "I prefer to fight in the manner of the ancients." She undid her skirt. "Unencumbered." A minute later, she stood on the Judo ring totally naked but for the elastic ties placing her mane in a ponytail.

Gamo's jaw dropped. "What the hell?"

Sana crossed her arms, propping up her generous breasts. "Do you yield?"

"Hell, no. We haven't even started. But I'm not going to fight like that."

"I won't require it of you," Sana replied.

"Fine." Gamo kicked off her socks and shoes and stepped onto the mat. "Let's do this."

The girls met at the center of the ring.

Nagatoro acted as the referee. "Okay, ladies. Here's the deal." She glanced at the clock. "Are you two sure you want to do this? We only have a few minutes left until the bell rings."

Gamo rubbed her hands together. "She'll be crying for mercy way before then."

Sana smiled. "Go for it."

"Okay, then," Nagatoro said. "As you both know, Judo stands for 'gentle way.' No punching, kicking, or biting. Understood?"

"Understood," both fighters replied.

"There's no time limit. You fight till someone yields. Understood?"

"Understood."

Nagotoro dropped her hand. "Begin."

The two girls circled each other on the mat, bending forward, arms extended. Gamo lurched forward. Sana dodged and attempted a counter, which Gamo easily deflected.

When Gamo lurched forward again, Sana dodged again. Gamo faked a third lurch, then dropped to her knees, wrapped her arms around Sana's calves, and dropped the nude girl to the ground. Gamo tried to capitalize on the take-down and pin her opponent, but Sana rolled away out of her grasp.

After getting faked out, Sana fought more cautiously. The next time Gamo lurched forward, Sana lurched forward as well and the fighters struggled breast-to-breast in a bear hug. After a minute of struggling, referee Nagatoro told them to break up.

"This really sucks," Gamo said as the girls circled each other. "It's nearly impossible for me to get a decent hold of you because you're not wearing a gi like you should."

"Your idea of clothing doesn't offer much in the way of gripping opportunities either. But I'm sure your outfit pleases your boyfriend."

Gamo's cheeks flushed. "I don't have a boyfriend." She shot forward, grabbed Sana's wrist, and twisted her arm, forcing her to the ground on her belly. Before Sana could react, Gamo grabbed her other arm and wrenched it behind her back, totally immobilizing her.

Sana struggled, kicked, and twisted, trying her best to escape, but Gamo wouldn't release her.

"Do you yield?" Gamo barked.

"No, I do not." Sana twisted her hips and kicked her legs in an effort to break the hold.

"No, you don't." Gamo shifted her weight onto Sana's back. "It's over. You can't get out. So give up already."

"I have not yet begun to fight."

The bell rang. Gamo looked up at Nagatoro and asked, "What now?"

"We said if one of you didn't yield by the end of the period, we'd resume tomorrow."

"Release me," Sana said.

"Admit you lost."

"I did not lose. I'm simply not fighting because I'm following the rules."

Gamo released Sana's arms and got off of her back. "Dammit. I beat her."

Nagatoro shook her head. "She didn't yield."

Sana walked to the table, picked up her bra, and started getting dressed. "We'll resume this contest tomorrow, as agreed. Unless, of course, you choose to resign."

"No way. I'm not quitting. I'm better at this than you."

Sana pulled on her panties. "As you mature, you'll find that success requires more than mere skill. It also requires tenacity, endurance, and perseverance, qualities I believe you sorely lack, Maki-kun. It would be wise for you to resign from our battle now to avoid future embarrassment."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Madam President." Gamo dashed out the door.

"Sensei," Sana corrected her opponent out of earshot.

Nagatoro addressed Sana. "I don't think you'll be able to beat her. She's the top-ranked female at her gym."

"And you didn't give her much competition," Sakura added.

"I was studying her style and probing her weaknesses." Sana buttoned her blouse. "And I am more confident than before that I will prevail over this Martial Artist."

Author's Notes: I guess I shouldn't ever write 'The End'. While writing the last arc, I got to know Gamo better, that is, my version of her. Which inspired me to start another arc. Go figure. Let me know what you think. - S.K.