Uploaded On: 11th December 2024.

Woe is Me
Surging Underestimation

Ducking fast, Natsuki freezes up as collateral damage rebounds across the arena. The Archmeister's conjoined blades have torn across the adjacent pillar to then emit a locking system. Natsuki hears it futilely, for next, the air is perplexingly strained from her lungs. Wheezing, her materialised guns fly from her grip to quickly vanish into the ether.

"W-what's—Shizuru?!" Winded and bewildered, the appointed Headmeister's brain slowly processes what has just happened. To her disbelief, Shizuru has flawlessly deceived her. In kin to a renegade otome, the Archmeister feinted her blades to extend. By hitting the pillar behind Natsuki, they were reeled in to snare around her.

Caught within the blades like tree roots growing inside a chain link fence, the usually stoic Natsuki panics.

"Finally—" The Archmeister pants as she draws Natsuki close. "—you always were a slippery one, Headmeister."

The emphasis added onto her new title sends Natsuki's heart soaring furiously. No. She must calm down, this is one of Shizuru's more typical ploys. If she fails—"—I'm glad you think so?" Oh, how lame of her. Natsuki winces at it all, not entirely sure whether it's through embarrassment, pain, or both collectively.

"And so am I." Nearing deadly closer—as though she isn't already—Shizuru eyes Natsuki's face hungrily. As quickly as this commences, it diminishes as though it never happened in the first place.

Natsuki realises what has happened too late. To her horror, a drone is beside them and has clearly broadcast the entire thing. Having been flushed by the heat of battle, an incomprehensible aggravation overcomes Natsuki. "Y-you did that on purpose!" She accuses, only to release a shocked yelp.

The blades suddenly release, making her plummet towards the arena sand. Launching her levitational bands just in time, Natsuki, totally stupefied, stares at the Archmeister prowling closer. Though Shizuru is indeed a woman, the feat almost seems inhuman, as though Natsuki is being hunted.

All too soon, this reminds her of their chaotic first months together. Shizuru had love-bombed—no, love-nuked her—senselessly. The sheer perplexity and first experiences of romance had utterly blown her off her feet.

The audience seems to understand what's occurring as well: all is silent within the arena.

"You are not forfeiting?" Her Archmeister asks, the hint of a taunt whispering beneath her heavy accent.

"Not anymore."

Within the blink of an eye, Natsuki finds her personal bubble bursting. The Archmeister has once again completely caught her off guard.

"Perfect." Shizuru practically purrs, arcing her double-naginata skywards towards Natsuki's torso.

With sheer instinct, Natsuki materialises a pistol into existence. But this is not all, for an icy bayonet is now hooked to the muzzle. Astoundedly Natsuki double-takes the thing but is left with milliseconds to parry Shizuru's attack. Both stare at the element's new transformation in surprise.

"T-there's a face I don't see often." Natsuki remarks, throwing the Archmeister a nervous grin. In actuality, Natsuki's unsure whether she's even seen this expression before. Nevertheless, she shall wholeheartedly treasure it. "I thought you dislike dropping that mask of yours?"

"Oh?" An almost predatory look fixates upon the Archmeister's face before almost immediately dropping again. Her gaze hardens solely upon the appointed Headmeister as though dissociating their audience away. Out of focus, out of mind…

She's in trouble. Mid-flight Natsuki twists around, and as her robe's ribbon-esque tassels extend, her world is turned upside down. Metaphorically and literally.

"You cannot escape so easily, Natsuki."

The hot breath against her neck sends a chill down her spine. Somehow, Grandmeister only knows how, Shizuru has pivoted within the air alongside her. The movement had been so fluid that she hadn't noticed at all. "S-Shiz—"

Ribbons tangle around her body keeping her seized. The chaos of the audience, the drone's flashing camera—it all circumnavigates erratically within Natsuki's frayed psyche.

This woman is a menace!

"A-are you making fun of me?" Natsuki stresses, finding herself wholly ensnared against the Archmeister. But Founder, it's so embarrassing. This entire 'battle' is being broadcast across the world! How can Shizuru be so fine about this? "Y-you are, aren't you?!"

A sincere laugh escapes from the Archmeister. "We are in my element, Natsuki, I cannot help myself."

This reply confuses the appointed Headmeister greatly. Is this a play on words? Is Shizuru warning her of her next move—careening her head forward, she then launches it back. Headbutting the Archmeister squarely, the ribbons unbind themselves with a gale-like echo.

It appears the clue was indeed true, for Shizuru's element has been unlocked and spirals around.

"W-where did you learn that, I wonder?" The Archmeister grapples with her composure, pressing a palm to her skull.

"Never underestimate your rivals: wasn't that what you once said?"

'...underest—' Shizuru speechlessly watches Natsuki hovering several feet above her for a moment. Oh, of course. The realisation slowly filters onto Shizuru's face. "I should have known that Haruka—" A bullet soars through the sky and almost grazes her temple. Stiffening up at the ear-wrecking shot, genuine surprise now hits her.

It's not just herself who is shocked by this outcome either. Throughout the misty arena, Shizuru spies the audience. Any other time they would be ravenous with excitement, but today? Shifting her eyes along the crowd, Shizuru quickly returns her attention to Natsuki.

The frosty aura accentuates the Headmeister's physique, making Shizuru's heart clench confusingly. As the bitter cold embraces her, Shizuru's instinct snaps her back into reality. This is because another revolver has been summoned and both aim straight for her heart.

A sharpshooting cannonade commences from Natsuki. It is clear now that she wants to win their duel.

Rightwards Shizuru swerves, but bullets reign supreme. Fleeing leftwards, the same is bombarded within her path. "So it is like that." She murmurs, her breath transforming into condensation within the frosty arena. After all these months of training Natsuki, she turned out so brutal and unladylike. Though she cannot find herself caring, especially not when her blade ricochettes across Natsuki's bayonet. Neither as she dodges a bullet aimed point blank at her chest. Nor as their materialised energy sparks an eruption of surging power between them.

Both are sent flying and smash into separate pillars.

As the sand, dust and frost settles, silent disbelief is their reward from the audience.

Whence the heat came, now ice freezes it over.

A/N: I'm medicated now and for the first time in my life I feel relatively "normal". Well, if feeling completely neutral is considered normal. With any luck this means I'll be able to write more now. Here's hoping my brain no longer wants to murder me.

It's kind of sad though knowing I'll be on these tablets for the rest of my life. I clearly can't function without them.

I'll be focusing on Woe is Me for the time being.

4z7z: I have the same thoughts about Natsuki's cannon. It never sat right with me. She's essentially a tank attempting to be a sniper. Try looking up gun hybrids, they were very much a thing in history! Henry VIII had some wacky stuff in his collection.

luvnanofate: Natsuki being challenged not to get flabbergasted by Shizuru is set to fail!