“Well now, look who decided to get up. You decided that you need more of an ass-beating?”

“Please, that cheap shot was nothing.”

Anna’s current appearance contradicted her retaliatory statement.

Blood was exiting through a gash above the bridge of her nose and running in between her eyes. Her left eye had remained closed, and her nose appeared to be crooked.

As Tsuru watched the standoff, she attempted to convince Anna to back down.

“Stop, Anna! You need to sit down! You’re going to hurt yourself more-“

“Tsuru, it’s fine. I don’t want to see you, or that useless dork, die.”

Max flashed a nauseating grin.

“Look who decided to step up and play hero. I’ve gotta admit, I thought you were just relying on that wannabe for protection.”

Anna responded with a face of conviction and determination.

“I always thought I was stronger than him. Now I know that for sure.”

“Heh, it’s cute that you think you could take me on. A high school girl vs a trained assassin. This should be really fun.”

“Hey, this high school girl is a black belt in karate. I also have training in other fields of martial arts.”

“Black belt? HA. How many kicks did you have to do to earn the belt? Three? Maybe four?”

“Laugh all you want, but you won’t be laughing when you get your ass kicked.”

“You’re right. I won’t be laughing, since that will never happen.”

“Guess there’s one way to find out.”

“You read my mind, babe!”

Max rushed like a cheetah towards Anna, aiming with his fist for a gut shot.

Anna slightly lowered herself, waiting for the precise moment to counter.

Vivid sunlight began to break through the overcast sky. A ray appeared to cross paths with Anna’s open eye, causing her yellow iris to shine like a freshly-bloomed sunflower.

Anna swung her right leg out, moving with such extreme force that the color around the area seemed to momentarily devolve into monotone.

Her foot impacted the left side of Max’s abdomen, which forced him into the wall on his right. Despite the violent crash, he appeared to maintain his balance.

“Damn… That was… a hell of a kick. Since when… did high school girls… become… such monsters?”

As Max struggled to maintain his composure, Anna radiated confidence. She brought her fists up to her face, resembling a boxing pose.

“Are you ready to give up, or should I make you grovel?”

As she sat and spectated the battle, Tsuru was left with her eyes widened and mouth gaping open, seemingly inviting the insects in the area to take refuge.

‘What the hell… just happened? Since when was Anna that strong?’

Max separated himself from the wall and began to run, appearing to repeat the same move that he initially attempted.

“DON’T YOU DARE LOOK DOWN ON ME!”

Anna geared up to counter, but then realized that something was off.

Max dove onto the ground, flipped over onto his back, and swung his legs around with tremendous speed, reminiscent of a breakdance. Anna dodged the trip by quickly shifting to the side. Max swiftly jumped up and lunged into Anna, attempting to tackle her. Anna responded by wrapping her arms around Max and hoisting him up over her head, slamming his back onto the asphalt ground. The slam had such maximal force that a brief blood volcano formed from Max’s mouth.

As Max laid on the ground, appearing to be dazed and winded, Anna walked over him and perched herself on his chest.

“Sorry, you told me to not look down on you, but here I am, looking down on you.”

“Sh…”

“So here’s the deal. I need you to leave. I’m not about to become a murderer, but I’m not going to let you be one either. So don’t make me knock you out.”

“Shu…”

“You could stay just a bit longer if you tell me who put you up to this. That info would be very much appreciated.”

“Shut…”

“So, who is it? Spill it.”

“SHUT UP!”

Max forced himself off the ground, knocking Anna backwards. In just a brief moment, Max had swapped roles with Anna, staring down at her while towering above her.

“You stupid bitch. I’M NOT LETTING YOU RUIN MY FUN!”

Max then proceeded to bend down, grab Anna by her shirt, and drag her off the ground. They were now inches from each other’s face, with the real battle seemingly taking place between Max’s red daggers and Anna’s sole yellow sunflower.

Max shouted directly in Anna’s face, spilling the left-over volcano blood from his face onto hers.

“YOU THINK YOU’RE SO MUCH BETTER THAN ME?! HOW STUPID ARE YOU?! I’M NOT GOING TO LOSE TO YOU!”

With all of the pressure and anger swelling in his mind, Max attempted to release it all by slamming his head into Anna’s. There was a loud, hollow crack noise, and the yellow in Anna’s open eye began to turn white. A noise that was similar to a choking sound escaped her mouth. Her face was covered with agony.

After coughing up more blood, Max once again locked his eyes with Anna’s single eye.

“Huh… How do you like that? You’re done for. Now, be a good girl, and sit down while I go deal with your useless friend.”

After a momentary silence, Anna returned to reality. She looked to the side, appearing to take notice of something. She then redirected her attention to Max.

“You’re… still conde… -scending me, but I… kicked… your ass.”

“You put up a half decent fight, but I won. Stand down, girl.”

Anna’s lips slowly formed into a large and obnoxious smile, as if she had just won a jackpot in an arcade.

“You won? I wouldn’t be so sure about that. After all, I have a greater weapon than you can ever deal with.”

On cue, Tsuru threw herself onto Max’s back, dragging him back from Anna.

“WHAT THE-“

Just moments after beginning the assault, Tsuru dropped off from Max and backed off to his right.

“YOU PIECE OF SHIT! HOW DARE YOU-“

Max suddenly realized that there was a lot less pressure on his arm. He turned to find that he was holding Anna’s shirt, but the shirt’s owner had disappeared.

“The greatest weapon you can have is a friend that can back you up.”

Max turned to his left to find Anna, who was standing confidently with her arms crossed. As she stood there, now down to a simple black sports bra, Anna sneered at Max.

“Come get me, boy.”

——

Savior: Original Story by OneSevenEight

Episode: Framed Perspective - Part 10