Yoko's class was divided with mages and close quarters. Yoko and Kenji were placed into close quarters while Haru was placed into the mages. The academy had lessons where the students will spar with each other to check their progress.

Since this is a spar, permanent injuries weren't allowed. The winning conditions are if your enemy surrenders, unable to battle, or cornered. That means if you knock down an opponent and thrust a sword in front their neck, they lose.

Of course, they only use wooden swords.

As for the mages, the condition to win is to disable your enemy. Whether it be making them lose all their mana, restraining them with magic, or cornering them. The close quarters fights were more intense but in terms of danger, the mages had more dangerous fights.

They also wore uniforms fit for combat.

"Alright, Yoko can you spar with Kenji?"

The instructor was a burly man.

"Yes!"

Yoko stepped onto one side of the practice field and Kenji walked on the other. Their distance to each other was about fifteen meters. This would allow each of them to scan the enemy's movements before making contact. But there were also those like Yoko who could cover that fifteen meters in the blink of an eye.

A sword was not her forte but it wasn't too far from her weapon, they both had the same method of slashing and blocking.

Yoko held the sword and prepared a stance, she had taken a sword many times because of these lessons but in actual combat, she prefers to use her dual daggers or a short sword if required.

And luckily for her, the wooden swords given could be chosen if they wanted short swords or long swords. Yoko chose the former while Kenji chose the latter.

Many became intimidated by Yoko's stance, in fact she actually has a title within the academy.

"As expected of the Dark Queen, as beautiful and feisty as always."

One of the boys who had just finished his spar spoke. There were several spars going on at the same time but most of them focused on this battle. To watch Yoko who had shown superb skill and to see the transfer student, Kenji's skill.

Kenji held the sword and made a stance but nobody seemed intimidated at all.

"Begin!"

The instructor yelled and when his voice dropped, Yoko's mind sprung into action.

Judging by his stance, he'll run forward but focus on defense. Then, after he blocks me, he'll deflect it and strike.

They weren't using real swords, just one fatal strike and they'd win.

As Yoko predicted, Kenji ran while holding a defensive stance. Yoko ran for an attack, she had already made several scenarios and decided to use the best one.

Yoko slashed down but Kenji swung his arm after receiving the attack. With their weight difference, Yoko was flung but it was all going according to her plan. Her hands landed on the floor and she twisted her body. She aimed a kick towards his neck, it would be a win if it hits but unexpectedly...

Kenji threw away his sword and grabbed Yoko's leg.

"You're right, this is close quarters and not a sword fight."

The air around Kenji changed and Yoko felt a chill down her spine. She used her other leg and Kenji had to let go to block.

Kenji picked up his sword once more and Yoko did the same. This time, when Kenji made a stance, alarm bells rung in Yoko's head.

Yoko leaped sideways and rolled. She looked at her previous position and saw a scratch on the floor, it was a scratch from being sliced.

"Oops, I accidentally used too much force."

Kenji still had his sword in its previous position and everyone was bewildered.

"Oi, did you see that?"

"Not at all..."

The other students conversed with each other.

"I saw his hand blur and then a huge wave of wind had sliced the stage..."

One of the top students for close combat said so.

"But isn't using elements against the rules? Also, he's a fire attribute not a wind..."

The instructor furrowed his brows.

"No, he didn't use an element. That was pure physical power."

The instructor raised his hand and wind gathered.

"This is how wind gathered with mana feels. But I didn't feel a thing from that."

Everybody nodded and Yoko gulped.

"Sorry sorry, I accidentally used too much force."

Kenji waved his hands and prepared another stance. Yoko didn't lose heart and stood up. He may have shown great power but it wasn't his win, not yet.

Yoko covered their distance in an instant. Kenji thrust forward but Yoko spun and arrived right in front of Kenji who still had his sword away from his body. Yoko slashed down at his neck.

With this, it's my win. Yoko thought and calmed her body but that was a huge mistake.

Yoko stopped in the middle of her attack and her sword was stopped a finger's height away from Kenji's neck. Yoko looked down and saw that Kenji's other hand was on Yoko's stomach. It was a palm strike.

Yoko had felt impact on her stomach but it wasn't painful so she ignored it. But that palm strike was a fatal attack.

"It's my win."

Kenji said this and took Yoko's arm and took her down. He hadn't put much force into throwing her but she certainly wouldn't feel it.

"Sorry about this, I'll take her to the side to rest."

Yoko had already let go of her sword and was still in a daze.

"W-what did you do?"

The instructor asked.

"I sent her entire force back against her."

Kenji said with a smile as he sat down at the side next to Yoko leaving a speechless instructor.

Kenji rubbed Yoko's back who was breathing heavily.

"Sorry about that, suddenly having your body's force redirected back at you instantaneously would send someone into shock."

"...How?"

Yoko asked after calming her breathing a bit. She was a bit uncomfortable with him carrying her but she couldn't move her legs or arms at all.

"Gentle Fist."

Yoko who heard the unfamiliar term raised her brows.

"It's a fighting style I created through some second-hand knowledge. I used my palm to redirect your body's entire force in the attack towards you with a shockwave."

So that's what I felt when my whole body shook.

"It's useless against those who have weak bodies or weak attack in the first place but it's useful against armor and those who have no defense set up when they attack like I did to you."

Kenji explained nonchalantly but Yoko knew. This fighting style would cause wars if it was known by many.

"...Don't ever teach anyone you don't trust that fighting style."

Kenji smiled.

"Yeah, though other than me there's only one other person who knows how to utilize this. Then two other people who know how to do it yet can't utilize it. It's not easy but it's a good fighting style."

Haru walked over from the mage's side over to the close combat side.

"Hey, Yoko are you okay?"

Haru hugged Yoko and glared at Kenji.

"Yes, rather than hurt, I was paralyzed..."

Yoko said this as she tried her best to explain the sensation that she had felt.

"I see... Still, it's the first time I've seen you lose at close quarters. I knew that Kenji was good at close quarters but I didn't know he was THAT good. I only saw him use magic from afar after all..."

Yoko perked up her ears.

"Wait, how proficient is he at magic?"

Haru placed a finger on her lip.

"I'd say that he's one of the best in the kingdom."

Yoko stared blankly at Kenji.

"...Monster."

"Hahahaha."

"Don't laugh."

Yoko and Kenji exchanged these short words and a sense of rivalry was born in Yoko.

"So how about you, Haru?"

Haru did a guts pose and had a smug smile on her face.

"I finished it in one attack."

Kenji laughed and went over to the instructor. After a few seconds, Kenji left the practice field leaving behind a bewildered Yoko and Haru.

"Where did he go?"

"Beats me. He just randomly disappears sometimes."

Kai was sitting in a cafe with tea in front of him. It was a table for two.

"You're too slow."

Kai said this as he drank a sip of tea without turning around. The one who entered the cafe was Satou Kenji.

"I had to change clothes, I was doing practical training."

Kenji said this as he sat on the opposite side of Kai. Their seat was by the window and a waitress had brought them tea.

"I already ordered for you. So, how's she doing?"

Kai placed his tea on the table and talked with a serious face.

"She's fine. It doesn't look like there have been any attacks on her but in a week, I'd say they'll figure out her identity."

Both of them know who 'they' are.

"Haaa... Alright, I'll do something before that."

Kai sighed and stood up.

"Ah wait, I saw a familiar face there."

Kai turned around and raised his brows.

"Who?"

"Kuroshi Yoko."

Kai's eyes widened but he didn't smile nor have any other emotions on his face.

"Try and find out about Emi if possible but if it isn't possible, then pretend I never asked."

Kai nodded at Kenji's words and left the cafe.

Kenji picked up his tea and took a sip.

"I guess meeting her is only a matter of time now. Erina, I wonder what kind of face you'll make when you see me?"

A smile crept up on Kenji's face and continued drinking tea.

The two met only for a few minutes but the whole cafe felt eerie afterwards.

(A/N: I kind of made a mistake here with the people speaking. Fixed it now. It was only one line anyway.)