The Taekwondo coach stood on the side of the mat and blew the whistle sharply.
"It's time for the bi-annual sparring competition! As always, the first-place winner may choose a prize worth up to two hundred Japanese yen. Second and third place will receive special gifts prepared by the gym. Now—let the matches begin!"
The children, lined up in formation, began their matches in turn, facing off according to a randomized bracket.
Takumi sat in the audience, arms folded, watching calmly as Mizuki moved through her matches with quiet precision.
She was no longer the timid little girl who used to be pushed around just a few years ago.
Her stance was firm. Her strikes clean. Her eyes—sharp with purpose.
[Mizuki, like a sword fairy before her departure, stands alone on the martial path. With blade in hand, she strikes cleanly, the wind of battle whispering her intent: no matter how far she may go, she will not forget the days she trained with you. Her brilliance now is the echo of your time together.]
[But just before her final bout, you notice a flicker of hesitation—something small but strange in her eyes. If left unchecked, it could cost her the match.]
Mizuki made it to the semi-finals. Only four contenders remained.
During her bout with the last boy before the finals, she was briefly slammed to the mat. Though she recovered and won, there was no mistaking the look of pain on her face as she picked herself up.
The coach stepped forward immediately. "Are you alright?"
Mizuki quickly shook her head. "I'm fine."
The coach knelt and gave her a quick check. "Nothing serious. Good." He blew his whistle. "Ten-minute break! Final match: Mizuki versus Taro!"
As the crowd buzzed, Takumi stood and made his way over.
Mizuki was sitting on the floor, cradling her arm lightly. When she saw him approach, she straightened and reported softly, "I won again."
Takumi knelt beside her, scanning her quietly. "Yeah, but what happened in that match? You blanked out for a second. What were you thinking?"
She hesitated for a long moment before quietly saying, "It's nothing. Just…" Her voice dropped lower, barely audible. "Do you remember when we were in kindergarten?"
Takumi squinted at her. "What?"
She flushed and mumbled again, "...when we made a pinky swear?"
Takumi blinked, and a smirk tugged at his lips. "I thought you were going to say something important. Of course I remember. You mean the time I told you to follow me forever?"
Mizuki's eyes lit up. She stared at him, stunned. "You… haven't forgotten?"
Takumi rolled his eyes slightly, then flicked her forehead.
She squeaked and shut her eyes, rubbing her forehead.
"That's the only pinky swear I've ever made in my life," Takumi said, annoyed. "Why would I forget? But you—you're in the middle of a match and almost got hurt because of something like that?"
Mizuki lowered her head like a child who'd just been scolded. "I'm sorry… I don't know why it popped into my head. I just remembered all of a sudden and… spaced out. I won't do it again."
Takumi didn't respond right away. But then, in a rare gesture, he reached out and gently placed his hand on her head.
For the first time.
Mizuki froze, her eyes widening.
"Go," he said. "Beat Taro. If you win this, you're the champion. I believe in you."
Mizuki had never felt such clear encouragement from him. Her face turned bright red, and goosebumps ran down her arms. This was the first time Takumi had ever said something like that to her.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She nodded hard, eyes burning with resolve. "Okay! I'll win for sure!"
By the time she stepped onto the mat again, her aura had changed completely. Her confidence was palpable—twice as strong as before.
Taro, tall and heavyset, raised an eyebrow when he saw her. "What's with that look?"
Mizuki didn't answer.
She simply stared at him.
Her lips pressed into a tight line, her eyes unwavering. Cold. Steady. Focused.
She remembered what Takumi had told her before the match:
"Don't smile. Don't blink. Don't look away. Just stare at him. Stare until he feels guilty."
Taro shifted slightly on his feet, frowning.
The whistle blew.
Mizuki stepped forward, fists raised—not just to win a match, but to prove something deeper.
To win a match, you must defeat your opponent not just with strength—but with aura.
But despite enduring a month of "hell training," Mizuki still hadn't learned how to look intimidating.
Down in the audience, Takumi watched her attempt to look fierce… and covered his eyes with one hand.
Too embarrassing.
She looked more like a pouty kitten than a martial artist.
But then, unexpectedly, Mizuki's wide-eyed, serious expression—taut with fake determination—had a different kind of impact on her opponent.
When Taro landed a solid hit on Mizuki's arm, he was stunned.
She didn't flinch.
Still wearing that same soft, cute expression, lips pressed together stubbornly, she stared back at him unwaveringly.
So cute…How can she be so cute?
His chubby cheeks flushed red.
Mizuki tried to sound fierce, but her voice came out soft and sweet:"Come again!"
Taro, completely flustered, rushed forward again. But this time, his punch lacked its usual force.
Mizuki noticed immediately.
Taking the opportunity, she moved in and—with a clean throw—sent Taro tumbling over her shoulder.
The whistle blew.
Match over.
For a moment, Mizuki stood there in surprise.
"I… won?" she said aloud.
Then her face lit up like the morning sun. She raised both hands and turned toward the audience, waving excitedly at Takumi.
Her eyes sparkled, clearly saying: The method you taught me really worked!
Takumi stared at her in disbelief.
Seriously?
He sighed.
But he knew the truth—regardless of whether Taro was flustered or not, Mizuki would've won in the end. Her spirit in the final match had overwhelmed him completely.
After the award ceremony, Mizuki eagerly dragged her coach to the mall to claim her prize.
The moment they entered the dessert shop, the familiar young clerk spotted her and waved.
"Hey, little champ! Here to look again, or finally ready to take it home?"
Mizuki beamed. "I want to buy it!"
"Oh? You really won?!"
"Yup!"
The coach stepped forward, scanning the payment code as the clerk carefully packed the swan-shaped chocolate.
"That'll be hundred Japanese yen. Congratulations, and welcome back anytime!"
"Thank you, sister!"
Mizuki carefully held the box like it was a rare treasure, a look of pure satisfaction on her face.
That evening, the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the neighborhood in a soft golden glow.
Takumi and Mizuki sat side-by-side on the stairs beneath their apartment building. The dessert box rested on her lap.
"Takumi," she said, holding it up proudly, "this is the prize for winning the championship!"
Takumi glanced at it. "Chocolate? That's such a kid's prize."
Mizuki pushed the box toward him with both hands. "It's for you."
"…Huh?"
"I bought this for you," she said with a serious face. "Last time, when my dad gave me chocolate, you didn't take it even though you wanted it. I know it was because you didn't want me to be sad. So this time, I picked out a nice one just for you. It's compensation."
Takumi stared at her, caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement. Then he laughed under his breath.
"You really are a weirdo. That chocolate back then was all broken. Why would I want that?"
Still, he didn't reject her gift. Without a fuss, he unwrapped the box.
Snapping off the wing of the chocolate swan, he handed one to her and kept the other for himself.
"Here. Let's eat it together."
Mizuki accepted it with both hands. Only after seeing him take the first bite did she begin nibbling on hers.
Sweet.
Her ponytail bounced with every chew, her little heels tapping excitedly against the step as she grinned from ear to ear.
Takumi watched her for a moment, then asked, "Are you really planning to come back here for middle school? There's nothing special here."
Mizuki swallowed her bite and said, "I mainly just want to see you again. Oh—by the way, when I go back to my hometown, can I call you?"
[The Sword Fairy has claimed victory and, as a sign of affection, offers you a rare elixir—Top-Grade Blackblood Chocolate. The two of you consume it together, gaining: Strength +3, Charm +2, Level +1.]
Takumi gave her a sidelong glance.
"Call me if you want," he muttered. "But I might not answer."