...Enjoy...

I stretched out, feeling several vertebrae pop as Prof. Oobleck said, "Today's exam has now concluded! You are free to leave!"

With that, the classroom disappeared just as quickly. I stood up, hearing Sierra say, "Alright…now that written exams are over, let's get on with training for the fun stuff!"

I nodded, making a motion to leave the classroom with my team until I felt something tug on my sleeve. I turned around, seeing Ruby tugging at my shirt as she asked, "Umm…be careful…okay?"

"Huh? What for?"

"Saber," she said, "he's…well…kinda out to get you."

I blinked, chuckling a bit. Did it seem like a joke? Yeah. But speaking as to which our rocky relationship started out, and the fact that he's obsessed with Ruby, I'm not taking any chances. I pulled her into a hug and replied, "Don't worry; I'll be fine."

I could feel her embrace me and say, "…I don't wanna lose you…."

"Me neither, Rubes," I replied.

Just then, I felt something grip my shoulder. I turned my face, seeing Sierra, who said, "Don't worry; we'll be there if something does happen."

Metal clashed against metal as I quickly deflected one of Lima's strikes, immediately turning my attention to Hotel, jumping over his horizontal slash, then back to Lima's vertical chop, deflecting that as well as I tossed a sword up. Hotel's lance began to blow as I teleported upwards, grabbing onto my sword as I threw my second sword at them, hearing an audible "CHING" as it landed between them. I came flying down, teleporting from Hotel's bullets as he began firing at me, landing right next to him as I swung my sword towards his neck. I heard Lima's weapon cock back as Hotel stayed frozen in place.

"…That's not nice, Lima," I said, disengaging and turning to face her. She smiled, changing her weapon back to axe mode as I sheathed my swords. I could hear Hotel sigh and say, "Damn kid, you're too good now."

I smiled, turning to face him and replied, "Naw; you're just out of practice."

I could hear Sierra clapping next to me as she said, "Looks like your old agility is back, eh?"

"Yeah, I guess," I replied.

Suddenly, the doors slid open. I turned in curiosity. Aren't we booked in here for the day?

Only, it was someone that I probably should've expected.

Saber.

And his team.

"Seriously, Saber," Windsickle said, "this is ridiculous."

"Shut up, Wind," he replied, heading straight for me.

I raised an eyebrow in surprise as he immediately drew his weapon, pointing it straight at me. Sierra made a move, only to stop as I stuck my hand out and asked, "Need something?"

"Yeah," he replied, "I need you to get out of this school."

I blinked, unimpressed. I shot a glance at Windsickle, who sighed and shrugged, shaking his head as he said, "He's stopped listening to me already."

"Ah, let them fight," Rusty said, putting a hand on his shoulder. I sighed, even more unimpressed as Saber said, "I challenge you to a duel!"

"…for what?"

"For," he stated, "Ruby."

I looked at him, unimpressed and annoyed.

…Seriously?

"…fine…I guess…," I replied. Sierra looked at me and asked, "Are you sure?"

"If he'll get off my ass about it," I replied, "damn straight, I'm sure."

With that, my sword handles clicked into place. Sierra pulled out her communicator and set the settings and rules, bringing up a hologram screen as she said, "You two know the rules."

I felt my aura shield form around me as his sword glew an uncharacteristic red.

I guess he's mad.

Sierra raised a hand as our two teams took their sides. Dagger had her hands on her weapons as did Windsickle and Rusty. I glanced back at Hotel and Lima since Sierra was technically unable to assist me.

"Ready?"

We both immediately took form as she said, "BEGIN!"

Immediately, we charged each other, our swords meeting and disengaging just as quickly. I regained my footing from our disengagement, seeing him charging head long towards me. I raised my sword, seeing sparks fly as our swords connected.

"I HATE YOU!"

My eyes widened in surprise as he pushed me back. I kept my gaze on him as he charged me again, his sword's runes glowing even more intense as I raised my sword, hearing his sword clash again with mines as sparks filled the air.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

I was outright surprised as we exchanged blows, feeling his emotions surge into me as we finally locked together.

"YOU'RE WEAK, DELTA!"

Despite his anger, his face stayed calm as ever. I sighed and said, "…I know how you feel."

"…What are you talking about," he asked me. I let out a grunt, forcing him back as I straightened my posture, looking right at him. I half-lidded my eyes as I pointed my sword at him.

"…I hated you…for so long…," I said, "so much that I felt jealous."

"Shut up," I could hear him say.

"I wanted to be like you," I continued, "I wanted to stay close to her, too."

"Shut up…!"

"But now I know," I finished, "it's not how long I've known her."

"I said…."

"It's about how much I've gotten to know her, that I love her."

"SHUT UP!"

He suddenly released an aura wave. I channeled some of my aura into my blades, easily cutting the wave in half. There were explosions to either side of me as he began to back off, almost shocked that I had deflected his ultimate attack so easily. I began making my way over to him, pointing my weapon at him.

"What's wrong Saber," I asked, "didn't you want to kill me?"

Suddenly, I felt something behind me, causing me to turn around to see Dagger with her weapon drawn, headed for my neck. I leaned forward, dodging the attack as I elbowed her in the side, bringing my sword up and hearing a "CLANG" as Saber's runes continued glowing an intense red. I sighed as Dagger lunged forward for an attack as well, only to get stopped as a sickle landed in between us. I followed the chain that was connected to it, seeing Windsickle with his hand out in front of him as he said, "Dagger, don't get involved."

"Shut up, Wind," she replied, ignoring the order as she ran head long for me. I sighed, glancing back at Saber as he motioned to punch me.

"This is ridiculous," I breathed out, tossing my second sword into the air as she charged me again. I teleported out of the dead lock, grabbing onto my sword as he swung and missed. Dagger's eyes widened in fear as her momentum would take her to landing on her brother. Suddenly, Windsickle's chain came flying through the air as it wrapped around her, causing her to get yanked back as he let out an exaggerated sigh. I spun in the air, landing on my feet as I raised my swords in an X, blocking a downward slash from my opponent.

Thanks, Windsickle.

I drew one of my swords back, motioning for a stab as he leapt off the ground.

Got you.

I tossed my sword up with him, teleporting onto my feet as I aimed my free sword on his spinning body. I could hear him let out a gasp of surprise as I landed a downward slash of my own, hearing a "CLANG" and an explosion against the metal floor. I could hear whistles from my team as Sierra said, "Time!"

I blinked, unimpressed as I pulled my sword off of him, seeing him gasping as his sword sat on his chest. He had one eye closed as I heard Dagger running over.

"Saber!"

I looked up, sidestepping as she futilely tried to attack me. I grabbed onto her by her stomach, pulling her back to her feet as I said, "Maybe you should pay more attention to him than to me."

Dagger's eyes widened as she turned to me, glaring. I gave her a sorrowful look and said, "…I'm…sorry…."

Her eyes sharpened as she turned to her brother, who was just getting up. I could hear his labored breathing as he said, "W-wait…Delta…!"

I turned to face him and said, "Ruby's…special to me."

His eyes remained in a glare as I said, "I don't…want to lose her."

I could see his eyes, despite the glare, begin to soften up as I continued, "It's not about trying to impress her. It's about sharing your secrets with her. Your pain with her. Understanding her."

I smiled and finished, "And loving her…no matter what kind of opposition you may face."

With that, I turned to my team, walking up to them. Immediately, Lima walked up to me, giving me a kiss on the cheek as she asked, "…unharmed…?"

"Unharmed," I said as Sierra and Hotel walked over, each giving me a fist bump.