A Life Kept Simple (DxD/Hentai Chaos Gacha OC-SI) — Chapter 35 (Patreon)

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Kyouka Shiraishi

She managed another step before her foot sank several inches into the dirt, then another a few moments later. Kyouka’s back felt like someone had parked a truck on it, and her legs were shaking, despite moving better than Murata had earlier. The grass underneath her feet had been flattened into the ground several metres behind her, and it was all his fault. Liban Crocell stood across from her, breathing heavily with his sword held out, eyes glowing gold.

Kyouka glared at him. “...Can you turn this shit off?” She took another step. His expression tightened, almost making the godawful pain and pressure worth it. Kyouka had lost track of how long they’d been at this. 

Long enough for everyone else to fuck off up the mountain, apparently. Miyata was fighting the dragon dude, demolishing the old temple to rubble before tearing a path of destruction out of view. Seto dragged Murata away, flying off with Saki and Leona. Of course, then the Buné guy turned into a giant dragon and flew away with Miyata howling and clinging to his scales.

Then they left her here to handle this handsome asshole. Seeing him up close, the horny part of her couldn’t help but appreciate his good looks. Long golden curls and a perfect face that she only saw in doujins. Of course, her guy friends were all good-looking, but in a normal way, even if turning into devils had pushed them closer to the eerily perfect beauty that Mary possessed. This Liban guy was like a storybook prince come to life.

Her knees buckled, and Kyouka caught herself on one hand as the pressure intensified. According to Ravel, he was half-human like Mary, which meant he had a sacred gear—Gravity Jail, to be specific. It allowed him to increase the gravity on anyone in eyeshot. In this case, her.

“Ghh—!” Her fingers dug into the dirt. The lion-like claws made that easier, at least. She was stronger, faster, tougher, and every one of her senses had been dialled up enough that she could hear Liban breathing from across the field.

And that was before Kyouka upped the ante with demonic power, making her stronger than most devils in her ballpark. Unfortunately, punching up was a bit of a running theme with this match. Just like how her elevated base power was barely enough to bring her up to par with Liban, who was a tier stronger than her. He raised his sword. Kyouka’s ears twitched, watching the demonic power gather along the blade.

She tried to throw herself sideways. Under normal circumstances, she’d have cleared several metres. Instead, she sort of aggressively fell over as a crescent-shaped wind blade screamed overhead and tore across the plateau. The weight vanished right as she hit the ground. Her claws tore chunks out of the ground as she launched herself forwards. Liban’s eyes snapped back onto her, and the weight returned. Kyouka’s foot slammed into the ground hard enough to crater it.

She kept going, demonic power flooding through and out of her, the colour of gold. The weight receded enough that it wasn’t going to stop her. Her claws swept for his face, sparking against his sword. She attacked with the other hand. Liban knocked that aside too, turning his sword and opening a shallow cut along her forearm in the same movement. Kyouka ignored it and front-kicked him. He stepped back, and her heel missed his stomach by inches. Liban thrust. The blade slid past her ribs after she twisted away and punched. Liban ducked underneath it and drove his shoulder into her chest. Kyouka barely moved, grinning. Her forehead smashed into his nose.

Liban stumbled backwards with a grunt. Kyouka lunged after him. Her claws came down—and the pressure returned. She dropped onto a knee with a growl under her breath. Liban retreated immediately, one hand going to his broken nose.

“Oh, come on!” Kyouka huffed out. “Get back here, you coward!”

He wiped his nose, tweaking it with a wince. “...You’re trying to tear my face off. I think I’ll keep my distance.”

Painstakingly, Kyouka pushed herself upright. She was beginning to fucking hate swordsmen. Arima did this shit too. Unlike him, though, there wasn’t a humongous gap in strength to grapple with. Better yet, while he was much stronger than your regular Joe, being a half-devil and all, Kyouka was just that much better thanks to her trusty belt, even if they were about even once you factored demonic power into the equation. It took all her advantages plus demonic power, plus a promotion to Queen to break even with him.

So why the fuck was his sword always where she wanted to go?!

Kyouka pointed a claw at him, taking another step. She frowned. The first time he’d caught her with this bullshit, she’d hit the ground face-first. She hadn’t been able to lift herself at all. Liban could’ve walked over and stabbed her in the arse if he’d wanted to. Luckily, Seto fired an arrow at him while he was escaping, giving her a momentary reprieve. But now? Was he flagging? It had been a while. Smiling, Kyouka straightened another inch.

Liban grimaced as the pressure completely vanished, replaced by his surging demonic power as he brought his sword up, howling frost buffeting her as she readied herself to charge at him. Kyouka ripped her hand out of the ground, taking a fistful of dirt with it as she closed the distance. She threw it at his face.

“Seriously?” His sword flashed. The clump exploded apart. For a fraction of a second, his eyes followed it. Kyouka lunged, crashing onto her hands and knees.

Her lips spread over her fangs. “What’s wrong? Performance issues~?”

Kyouka laughed. Liban immediately sent a volley of icicles at her. She rolled aside, considerably faster now. She came out of the roll on all fours and sprinted. His eyes snapped back, flashing gold. Gravity crashed onto her. She stumbled and kept running anyway, much slower than before. Her claws dug furrows through the ground whenever she needed another point of contact, but she could move.

The sword came down. Kyouka swiped. Her claws hit steel hard enough to make Liban’s entire arm jerk backwards. She came in with the other hand. He turned with it, and his blade flashed across her side. Pain burned along her ribs.

“Ah—fuck!” She kicked him in the stomach. His boots carved through the dirt before he caught himself. Blood ran down her side. “Dickhead.”

Kyouka attacked before he could come up with an answer. Her claws met the sword again. Kyouka spun with her next miss and whipped her heel towards his head. Liban ducked underneath it and raked his sword across her thigh. In return, though, her claws caught his shoulder. Blood sprayed, putting him on the backfoot for once. But Liban’s sword came around.

She threw herself backwards and felt the tip slice through the front of her tank top. Kyouka landed several metres away. The fabric had split down the middle. Her tits flopped out of the shirt’s confines, leaving her magically muscled upper body completely open in front of the whole Underworld.

The remains of her tank top hung uselessly at either side of her collarbone.

“...Huh.”

“I-It was an accident,” Liban said quickly. “I was aiming for your torso!”

Kyouka’s annoyance steadily gave way to amusement. Here stood this stupidly handsome guy, sword in hand, bloody from half an hour of trying to beat the shit out of her… and he couldn’t even look at her.

“Are you blushing?”

“I am not! Mid-combat wardrobe malfunctions happen all the time!”

“You totally are.” She cackled right up until Liban’s eyes flashed gold. Kyouka’s knees bent. She forced herself another step forward, craning her neck to see Liban staring determinedly at her face.

She laughed wearily. “...Eyes up here, huh?”

“I am trying to show you some basic decency.”

“With my lovely G-cup titties bouncing right in front of you? I’m disappointed~!”

His nostrils flared, his face growing progressively redder. He looked away, just for a moment, but it was all Kyouka needed. Liban’s sword came up, and her claws crashed against it. She attacked again. He gave ground, catching one hand on his sword and slipping around the other. Kyouka kicked. Liban twisted away. His eyes started glowing again, but Kyouka immediately stepped right into him. Liban jerked backwards as if he’d been burned, and the glow around his eyes faded. Instead, he swung his sword.

Kyouka’s ears twitched above her head. She swiped. Liban blocked. He was still better with that fucking sword, but now every time he tried to settle his gaze on her, she crowded him again. When he ducked a punch, she followed him down, centered, in all her half-nude glory.

Liban sprang back with a loud huff. “Would you stop that?!”

“Stop what?”

“Getting so close!” He paused, immediately realising he’d fucked up.

“Why?” She stepped closer while he stepped back despite the chasm between them. “Are my tits distracting you~? If that’s the case, you’d better win before I catch you.”

She gestured to her chest, and Liban followed the glance before apparently remembering what was down there and snapping his eyes towards the sky. Kyouka nearly lost it right there, but she needed to stay composed for what came next.

“Because if I get my hands on you, I’m shoving your face right in these.”

“...W-What?”

“You heard me! You’re gonna motorboat these puppies!”

“Why would you even—”

“Better keep me away, Prince Charming!”

“That isn’t—”

Kyouka lunged with a laugh, half-amused, half-enjoying the fight. She wasn’t the most violent kid growing up, but fights were always fun!

“—a legitimate combat technique!”

Her claws crashed into his sword. “Says fuckin’ who?!”

Liban staggered backwards. His sword caught her wrist. She twisted out, swung with the other hand, and forced him to duck.

“Stop trying to—”

Kyouka lunged at him, hands-first. He leapt backwards and stopped dead. Why had he put so much distance between them?

“Pfft~!” Kyouka sprinted across the steppe, running as far as she could with her new advantage. If she wasted too much time, he’d acclimate and they’d go right back to square one. There was only so much titty a guy could look at like a blushing bride on her wedding night. Just look at Seto! The guy was practically a casanova these days.

Kyouka doubled over laughing at the mental image. Her ribs immediately reminded her that this was a terrible idea. “Ow—fuck.”

Liban’s eyes flashed gold at the opportunity. Gravity slammed her down almost face-first before she caught herself on her hands. Kyouka forced herself upwards again at a snail’s pace. Liban was breathing hard. He was actively worried about her getting close, which was fucking hilarious because getting close was exactly what she’d been trying to do for the entire fight.

Finally, she had an in!

Once more, Kyouka dug her claws into the earth. “Hey.”

“No.”

“I didn’t say anything yet!”

“I don’t care.”

“What if I told you I’m not wearing underwear?”

Liban’s concentration broke so violently that the pressure disappeared. Kyouka shot forward.

His nostrils flared, eyes darting about in search of her. “Why are you so uncouth—!” Liban barely got his sword up. Kyouka smashed into it, drove it sideways, and punched him across the face. He stumbled. “Why tell me that?!”

“But I didn’t.”

“...What?”

“I said what if. …Wanna see if I’m going commando, Mr Knight?”

“No!”

“You’ve got a sword. Could tear through these shorts and find out.”

“I am not checking!”

“Then quit staring!”

“I-I’m not!”

Oh, fuck! He actually looked away! Kyouka pounced shoulder-first and sent both of them tumbling across the grass. His sword went spinning away. They rolled once. Liban got a knee underneath himself, but she grabbed his collar, twisting him around before they rolled to a stop. His eyes widened.

“Got you!”

“W-Wait.” She pulled him towards her. Liban planted both hands against her shoulders with a panicked noise, too busy trying to escape her to fight properly.

Suddenly Kyouka let go. Liban lurched backwards from the sudden release. Her fist came around, catching him clean across the jaw as she started to rain punches down on him. He covered up. One punch slipped through and snapped his head sideways. Kyouka drew back for another.

…Something whistled behind her, making her cat ears twitch. She started to turn. The pommel of Liban’s sword smashed into the side of her head before she’d managed to finish the motion. Her body lurched sideways. Something warm immediately ran down her temple, spilling over her eyebrow and into one eye. Liban reached for the returning sword, but fuck that. Kyouka’s hand hit the ground. She let the blow carry the rest of her over, one leg whipping around with her body. Her heel crashed across Liban’s face just as his fingers closed around the hilt.

He went tumbling through the grass, and she landed badly on her side. …Oh shit, her head was fucking ringing. When she wiped at her face, her furred forearm came away red.

“...Dick.”

Liban staggered upright several metres away, sword back in hand, but Kyouka was already running. He barely got the blade between them before she crashed into him. Her paws knocked it aside. Liban swung again, and Kyouka ducked underneath, blood streaking off her cheek as she drove forward. He tried to bring those golden eyes onto her. She punched him in the mouth, forcing those eyes closed. Liban stumbled. Kyouka kicked the sword arm away and followed him down.

She crossed the distance, dropped onto him, and punched through his hastily raised guard, then grabbed his face. “Ah-ah~”

Liban’s eyes went huge when he realised where she was threatening to pull him.

“WAIT—”

“Yield!”

“Absolutely not!”

“Last chance!”

He stiffened up, squeezing his eyes shut. Kyouka laughed, shoving him away, and drew her other fist back instead, packing it chock-full of every bit of demonic power she had left.

“Should’ve yielded, Prince Charming!”

She clocked him. Blue light swallowed Liban before his head ever hit the grass as a voice descended from the skies.

“Sairaorg Bael’s Knight has been retired.”

Kyouka stumbled with her punch’s follow-through, collapsing face-up beside the patch of flattened grass.

“Fuuuuuck.” Her bare chest heaved with her faint wheezing.

She was going to need Seto to heal the shit out of her. Her legs were fucking dead and, like, all her ribs hurt whenever she breathed. She was covered in dirt, blood, and scratches. Somewhere outside this stupid fake Mount Olympus, the Underworld had just watched her chase Sairaorg Bael’s Knight around a field, threatening to shove his face into her tits. Grinning, Kyouka sucked in as much air as her ribs would tolerate.

“I HOPE YOU FUCKERS GOT A GOOD SHOW!”

Her voice carried across the empty plateau. Fuck, she hoped Seto was around. She didn’t have the energy to flick the bean for a heal, even if she’d bribed Arima into giving her Tantric Healing with a top-notch blowjob despite its poor synergy with her “build.” 

…Or whatever it was the fucking hot-ass nerd was going on about. Now, she’d done her part, topping up by taking the last of Sairaorg Hottie’s Knights off the board. It was up to everyone else to put some goddamn work in.

【—〄—】

Leona Houjou

She ducked beneath a blade of fire and swept one hand across the ground. A jagged wall tore out of the mountainside between them, the earth answering her summons. The flaming spear struck it hard enough to blast the top half apart, showering Leona in most of the rubble. She clicked her tongue. Misteeta Sabnock had been irritating her for the better part of twenty minutes now, and not through cleverness, either. That would’ve been infinitely more tolerable. Leona could appreciate being outmanoeuvred. Instead, he was simply, significantly, stronger than them.

Things were far from sporting, to say the least.

“Saki, left!” she called. The brown-haired girl threw herself aside, narrowly avoiding a fireball. It sailed past her and burst against the cliff behind them. She twisted as she landed, sending a whip of water around Misteeta’s ankle up on the cliff’s edge. He burned through it. The ground beneath him erupted. Misteeta jumped before the stone could catch him, exactly as Leona expected. The moment he cleared her pillar, she snapped two fingers towards him. Yellow lightning cracked through the air. He blocked it, cupping the bolt in his off-hand, and landed, sprinting further up the slope.

“Are you quite finished?” he asked.

“Leona,” Saki panted.

“Shh. I’m thinking.”

Another fireball came screaming towards them. Leona jumped. Saki raised both hands and dragged a wall of earth out of the slope. The fireball smashed straight through it, still forcing her to dive out of the way. Leona landed several metres away, coming to a frustrating conclusion: that this wasn’t working. Well, no. That wasn’t entirely true. They’d hit him several times. They’d even hurt him once or twice. The problem was that every exchange cost them considerably more than it cost him.

Saki’s sacred gear was proving completely bloody useless, but it wasn’t her fault. Misteeta was simply cheating. Now, Leona was aware that using one’s own sacred gear exactly as intended didn’t technically constitute cheating, but she was losing, so she’d elected to interpret the rules differently. The half-devils of Sairaorg Bael’s peerage possessed sacred gears. Misteeta’s own, according to Ravel Phenex, was called Trick Vanish. It allowed him to seal off an opponent’s ability for a limited time, and he’d sealed off Second Skin twice already.

If sacred gears were so powerful, why couldn’t she be born with one!

The translucent layer finally returned to Saki’s skin. Finally! She immediately stepped between Leona and Misteeta. Leona gathered lightning into both hands, ready to stall until Saki’s sacred gear could adapt to some facet of Misteeta’s magic.

Suddenly, the sky turned orange. The mountain itself blocked whatever was happening on the other side, but the entire sky above it had… caught fire? A low roar reached them several seconds later. There was precisely one person on their side who considered that an appropriate amount of force.

Saki swallowed. “Isn’t Mary with her?”

“She’d better not be anywhere fucking near whatever that is, otherwise—”

“Sairaorg Bael’s Rook has been retired.”

Leona’s mouth fell open.

“Sairaorg Bael’s Queen has been retired.”

Immediately, her eyes snapped back towards Misteeta. He was still looking away, undoubtedly shocked that the two strongest members of Sairaorg’s peerage, aside from the man himself and his sacred gear, were out of the match. Saki stamped. Water flooded out of her feet, swallowing Misteeta’s legs to the knees before frosting over. His head whipped around far too late.

Leona punched both hands upwards, and a stone pillar erupted directly underneath him and caught him centre mass, shooting him into the air and carrying him higher up. Bringing all the demonic power she had left to bear, Leona thrust her hands to the sky. The clouds above darkened to the point of ominous darkness. Yellow sparks ran along the surface. Her legs felt unsteady, and she could feel a fresh coat of sweat pushing past the surface of her skin.

Nonetheless, she plunged her hand down and let loose the lightning. The bolt caught Misteeta before he’d reached the top of his ascent, and he slammed back into the pillar, thoroughly destroying it. Misteeta landed amongst the rubble, one knee hitting the ground.

Saki made a panicked noise. “D-Did we—”

“He’s getting up,” Leona grunted out in exertion.

He pushed himself upright, because of course. Still, his clothes were beyond singed, the oversized white and gold hooded cloak he wore in tatters, save for the hood. Blood ran down one arm.

Leona smiled. The blubbery layer around Saki suddenly vanished. Why? Misteeta hadn’t done anything! His sacred gear, taking the form of a purple stave, was still on the floor!

Saki looked down at herself. “Again?”

“No, he didn’t do it.”

They both looked at Misteeta. His own confusion lasted barely a moment before a fireball swelled to life in his palm, but Leona frowned. Second Skin had returned, then disappeared, but Misteeta hadn’t sealed it. Her eyes widened.

“Oh! What if your sacred gear adapted to his?”

“By… turning itself off?”

“Sealing itself,” Leona corrected. She opened her mouth to continue, but Misteeta hurled the fireball, cutting her short. When she dodged it, the fireball veered around, only it wasn’t going for her… “Saki, watch out!”

She spun and threw both hands upwards. The mountainside lurched, and a vast stone wall exploded out of the ground. Leona stumbled backwards, shielded in its shadow, several times larger than anything Saki had created before. She closed her eyes, stretching out that fledgling sixth sense she had yet to get used to…

“...I didn’t mean to do that.” Saki slowly lowered her hands.

“You’re stronger!” Leona said with an elated laugh. “Second Skin sealed itself, and now you’re stronger!”

“I-It adapted to his sacred gear?”

“Yes, I think so!”

The wall exploded under the fury of a single lightning bolt. Leona ducked behind Saki as chunks of rock flew everywhere.

“Leona!”

“You’re the stronger one now!”

Misteeta came through the rubble. Fire and heat wafted along his off-hand, and he pulled it back. Saki immediately swept both arms sideways. Water trailed from her fingertips, created via magic and manipulated through waterbending in a volume she’d been nowhere near adept at controlling ever. He blasted the water apart, and steam flooded the slope. Leona grabbed Saki by the wrist and pulled her back.

“Whatever Second Skin normally needs from you, you’re getting it back while it’s sealed.”

Saki coughed through the steam. “Really?!”

“Do you have a better explanation right now?”

“N-No!”

“Then mine wins.” Leona smiled.

This changed things, quite a lot, actually. In spending the entire fight preventing Second Skin from adapting to his attacks, Misteeta had apparently just taught it to adapt to being sealed instead. Leona wasn’t sure how much stamina Saki had left, but if it was anything comparable to her, then they’d only get one shot at this. That being said, it was time for some wonderful cheating of their own!

“You up to take point?” she asked.

Saki looked towards the ridiculous wall she’d just created. “I think so?”

“Excellent!” Misteeta emerged through the steam. She raised her chin. “Let’s try that again, shall we?”

A burst of fire tore past her shoulder as she ducked. Saki slammed both hands into the ground. Stone ripped upwards beneath Misteeta, forcing him into the air. He corrected immediately, jumping off. Leona hurled a lightning bolt against his side before he could take flight. He grunted, twisting in midair, and rolled across the ground. Fire burst out the soles of his feet, sending him high once more.

“Now!” Leona yelled.

Saki thrust both hands forwards. Water flooded into him, sending him through the forest. He burst out of the thicket and barrelled through the earthen wall Leona raised. Saki attacked from behind. Misteeta turned, a gale blooming around one arm. Leona stamped. A clump of earth swallowed his foot, hardening just enough to make him stumble. Saki’s water caught him across the face with a punch.

“S-Sorry!” she squeaked.

“Don’t apologise!” Leona hit him with another lightning bolt.

Misteeta staggered. Stammering out another apology, though this one was towards Leona, Saki raised three stone pillars in succession, sending them forwards to converge. Misteeta shattered the first two, but the last hit his shoulder when he tried to twist away. As he veered, he hurled a fireball at them, but Leona used the dregs of her demonic power to block it with yet another earthen structure.

When Misteeta broke through the wall, they separated to the left and right. Saki attacked immediately, water surging uphill as they pushed him back. Despite retreating up to the high ground, Misteeta answered with fire, steam bursting across the mountainside. Leona moved through it, her palm wreathed in lightning. It flashed from her hand. Misteeta stepped right to avoid it and straight into Saki’s range. Erecting a wall behind him, she punched him flush, sending him through it and tumbling onto his back. Leona raised a pillar underneath him. He jumped over it before it could get too high.

Lightning came down. Misteeta twisted away from the worst of it and landed. Saki froze both his legs, but he instantly melted through the restraints. So, Saki reinforced it. His demonic power surged hard enough to crack the ice around his legs, both of them vying for control. He’d break free in—

“Three!”

Saki backed away.

“Two!”

Misteeta’s fire intensified, roaring to life around him in a momentary aura.

“One!”

The ice exploded.

Leona dropped both hands, hollowing out the ground beneath him. The hole snapped shut around him up to Misteeta’s waist. Misteeta slammed both palms into the ground, widening the hole enough to hop out. Saki dropped into a low stance and moved. Water ripped from the forest below, and the grass, drawn in from everywhere she’d hurled it, answered her summons all at once. The torrent curled around Saki before surging forwards. Misteeta erupted in fire. Water crashed into him, and the steam swallowed everything in the thickest plume so far.

Leona couldn’t see much, but that didn’t matter because she knew exactly where he was. She pointed towards the middle of the steam, her hand trembling as a final desperate cry descended from the heavens. The bolt struck whatever it collided with, throwing her backwards. For several seconds, all she could hear was ringing, then Saki coughed somewhere nearby.

Leona pushed herself onto one elbow.

“...Saki?”

“Here.”

“Did you hit him?”

“I think so.”

“I couldn’t see!”

That had been perfect. Actually perfect. Saki’s attack had landed completely, and Leona had put everything she had left into that lightning bolt. Smoke covered the slope, obscuring the result, but just by the fact that there wasn’t that lovely voice announcing their win… Leona felt her stomach clench with dread.

Misteeta Sabnock walked out of the smoke.

“No, I reject this.”

Saki collapsed onto her back. “C-Can you do that?”

Leona wished she could. Misteeta’s robes were half gone. Blood ran down his face and both arms. Burns covered his skin, and one shoulder hung lower than the other. But he was walking and had demonic power to spare. Leona’s legs gave out when she tried to stand. Saki wasn’t in better shape. Second Skin had returned, meaning she was completely out of juice to keep the adaptation going.

When Leona raised her hand, a pathetic spark jumped between two fingers and vanished.

“I’m… sorry.” Misteeta stopped several metres away.

Leona glared at him. “For what?”

“This match. It was arranged to make an example of your King. I know that.” Misteeta looked between them. “You both deserved a fairer match than this. I take no pleasure in what I’m about to do. …Will you surrender?”

Saki made a tired noise beside her.

“...No.” Leona raised her chin defiantly.

Misteeta smiled as his demonic power began to swell. “I think I’d like to be friends with you when this is over.”

Leona clenched her fists. She hated this. That he was perfectly pleasant and kind of cute was perhaps the most irritating part. “Saki? Next time, we’re winning.”

“I hope so,” her friend mumbled morosely.

“Mary Naamah’s Rook has been retired.”

“Mary Naamah’s Queen has been retired.”

【—〄—】

Leona opened her eyes to a ceiling, sitting up slowly.

“Slowly, dear,” her… mother said. She turned to see her mother sitting beside her bed in an ivory dress.

“Mama—”

She was engulfed in her mother’s ample bosom.

“Oh, my darling! You were magnificent!”

Even when the hug was over, her mother still kept both hands on Leona’s cheeks, looking her over as if seeing her for the first time. Leona glanced sideways, blushing at the focus on her mother’s face.

“Where’s Saki?” she asked.

“In another room, fast asleep. You were incredible,” her mother continued. “Leona?”

She looked down at the blanket in her lap, knocking a frustrated tear loose onto its velvety surface. She wiped her eyes, but more tears followed, trailing across her forearm. Absolutely not! Why wouldn’t the tears just stop?!

“Sweetheart.” Her mother’s expression softened immediately. “It’s alright. You’re safe.”

“I’m not scared!” Her voice cracked humiliatingly. “We had him, Mama. We fucking had him!” Leona scrubbed at her face, angry enough that it only made things worse. “We did everything right! I figured him out, Saki got stronger, the entire plan worked, and we hit him with everything! There wasn’t a single thing we could have done better. And he just—”

Leona gestured furiously at nothing in particular.

“—stood up!”

Her mother pulled her against her chest. She buried her face against her, crying with pure, undiluted frustration while her mother’s hand stroked through her hair.

“Regardless, you made me very proud.”

Leona sniffed. “I lost.”

An explosion came from the television. Leona looked around her mother to see that the Rating Game was still going on. The feed was currently on Murata and Seto, both huddled behind a rocky ridge while great chunks of it disappeared beneath a barrage of magic. Seto shouted something at Murata, who simply shouted back, neither of them looking like they were having a good time. She wiped her eyes with the heel of her palm, escaping her mother’s clutches to lean back against the headboard as another chunk of their cover turned to dust.

Leona huffed out a smidgeon of her frustration. Her mother laughed softly, scooting over to better stroke her hair. She crossed her arms over her frustratingly flat chest, focusing on the television. 

“Ugh. After everything I’ve been through, they had better get over themselves and win, Mama!”

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