Ryu's delighted that his partner was satisfied with his way of teaching. When he's about to reply to the compliments, suddenly, a girl's voice was interrupting that intention. "Can I join you guys in your training?"

Throwing a cloth and a drink toward the tired boys, Mizuha sits not too far from Ryu, joining in the conversation.

"Mizuha!?" While Verdi's a little bit surprised, he still accepts the goodwill with his hand, likewise for Ryu. "What about your body fatigue?"

"I already had a quick rest in my room." Mizuha appears to changed her clothes too as her previously wet cloth has transformed into a baby blue shirt. Coupled with her short grey pants that are akin to jeans, while it gives her a casual vibe, it also exposes her body line, which makes her look sexier.

This leaves Ryu having a hard time to take off his eyes from staring at her. Especially in some part, because she wears a tank top, he can see her cleavage peeking out from her moderate-sized chest.

Sensing those gaze, Mizuha reflexively covers her breast with both of her hands while tilting her body to the side, staring back at Ryu with an agitated face. "Can you not stare at me intensely like that?"

Flinching off, Ryu immediately redirects his gaze toward Verdi. Who at the same time, looked at him with a shocked expression.

"I didn't know that you're that kind of person..."

"That's why I called him Mr. Pervert."

Ryu ears instantly became a beet red after getting attacked from both sides. He noticed that he just committed something improper and lecherous.

"I'm so sorry..." Ryu apologized while hanging its head down.

"It's fine, let's do our training already." Sighing quite loudly, Mizuha began stretching her body again. Glad that Mizuha decided to brush the matter off, Ryu also stands up from his position, brushing off the dirt on his pants.

"Are you in for the second round?" Ryu extended out his hand toward Verdi, which he accepts it firmly. "Of course, don't underestimate me."

"That's the spirit that I want to see."

"I guess it's turned into 2 vs. 1," added Ryu while cracking his neck.

"Yeah, don't tell me, you couldn't hold us together?"

"Brother is strong, we will definitely be knocked up in a flash if he doesn't hold back!"

It looks like Verdi was the one who triggered hearing the remark that Mizuha gives. At the same time, the original target was currently having his face hidden with its hand.

"You don't need to defend me, it's really embarrassing..."

"For your information, I'm totally joking about that," Mizuha interjected, doesn't want Ryu to misunderstand. Placing a fist before his mouth, Ryu clears up his throat, washing off his discomfort with it.

"Well, what are we waiting for then?"

Even though this wasn't his initial goal, this shift was definitely more advantageous for his team. Not only would Mizuha get stronger faster, but additionally, she could gain better coordination in real-time combat with Verdi.

That's why after confirming that Mizuha's body is ready for the constant training, Ryu didn't think twice about it before agreeing to her proposal.

Following that event, the three of them commenced the sparring match, it's a 2 vs. 1 between Mizuha and Verdi fighting against Ryu. Taking the backline, Mizuha supports Verdi by bombarding Ryu with her arrow. Yet, it seems Ryu's able to dodge them effortlessly.

Still, the precision behind those aims could be considered talented for her age. Thanks to this unexpected schedule, Ryu got a chance to assess her capability. Inside his mind, he can somehow able to map out the appropriate way to guide her to be a true marksman.

***

The time has flown by an absurd pace, it's already midnight when they've finished the sparring. The trio can be seen tired out from physical exertion.

Of course, Ryu was the most tired out of them, he's gasping for breath quite loudly while wiping off his sweat with the cloth that Mizuha lends him.

"I've reached the conclusion of this match."

"So, what do you think?"

Mizuha asked Ryu nervously as he can see her fidgeting with her hands. This made Ryu purposely cough a little before giving her the answer.

"To put it simply, you guys are the worst."

"Ehhh!? What do you mean by that, was my swordplay still lacking?"

"Hey, I know that I'm not as strong as you, however, I'm confident in my archery."

Hearing those denials, Ryu starting to knit his brows instead, appearing to be more annoyed than before.

"See, you didn't know what's the problem you guys have."

Ryu shook its head, giving off a sigh of disappointment. Of course, this leaves the pair to be more confused and stays still in their respective places.

"Listen, you guys didn't use your number advantages efficiently at all!"

"To be more specific, it goes as far as the stage of hindering each other."

Ryu points out his finger toward Verdi with an intense look, in Verdi's eye, Ryu's so imposing that it feels like all of his tiredness was a facade a moment ago.

"From your gesture, I already know that you're worried that Mizuha arrow accidentally lands on you. Because of that, you sometimes give open-book movements to let Mizuha shoots her arrow in."

"That's..."

Not giving a chance to reply to his statement, Ryu instantly inserted another earful of words toward his sworn-brother.

"BUT! Remember! It's an open-book movement, it means that I can also comfortably predict your next move."

Being reprimanded like that, Verdi started to lowers his head, speechless toward the scolding he gets because it's really on the spot.

"Talking about predicting..."

Ryu changed the direction of his finger toward Mizuha, which made her instinctively flinches and takes a step back from him.

"I simply wanted to tell you that I'm a living person."

"Eh??" Didn't understand what's the implication between those words, Mizuha tilts her head to the side. Looking at this, Ryu just rubbed his head, apparently giving up from hoping her to notice by herself what she was lacking.

"Your aim, yeah, I don't deny that it's precise, but you didn't input any prediction at all."

"Look, I'm not a tree nor a practice target that you usually hit."

"Did you think that I'm having a hard time dodging your arrow?"

When she heard this, Mizuha instantly joined in the stance that Verdi currently makes, silently reflecting her action while facing toward the ground. Following that, a silence has descended into the atmosphere. Ryu already finished venting up all of his frustrations, suddenly gave a loud sigh, breaking the quietness.

"Aside from those things, I can tell that you guys are pretty talented."

Finally, hearing a word of praise, the duo raise their head together. The grim expression that they've previously worn had turned into a grin. It seemed they were really waiting for the word of encouragement from Ryu that could boost their mood.

"From now on, we'll train every day in here, from 8 P.M until midnight, understood?"

""Yes, sir!""

"Well, that closes the curtain, next time, please try to fix the things that I have been pointing out."

After giving another salute towards Ryu's statement, Verdi and Mizuha went to their respective places, leaving Ryu alone in the spacious backyard, staring at the starry nights.

"I'll be looking forward to the moment where Dragonewt's name will be going down on history."