[Original/Outdated]Honkai Impact: A Merc's Involvement

Chapter 9: Increased Pressure

"0:02"

In the dazed world that was Alex's mind, as he looked over at the clock he was in disbelief.

Not at the fact that he lost but at the fact that he was just 2 seconds. Two seconds away from at least getting a draw with Fu Hua.

Though he quickly got over that fact cause if anything, he could at least say that he took nearly stood his ground against Fu Hua.

After being pinned down for a bit longer, Fu Hua got off him and helped Alex up as the boy stood back up albeit after stumbling a bit.

"Don't overexert yourself." Reassured Fu Hua as Alex nodded.

"Y-Yeah I know." He said.

"I gotta say, you impressed me." Said Fu Hua.

"I-I don't really see how. If anything, you were in control of the fight the entire time. Any offense I attempted you easily snuffed it out." Said Alex.

"I'm not talking about the actual fighting. I'm referring to your endurance. Previous battles I've had here always ended in less than one minute. Longest I've had was 25 seconds. They always tried to strike first and would be down in one punch. You however somehow managed to get out after taking a punch head on. After all you were just 2 seconds short of a draw." She said.

"Yeah yeah I know. Look can we just go back already? I can barely stand." He said.

Fu Hua nodded as she held onto Alex's hand and walked back to the school as she guided him along.

Eventually after a bit they made it back as Fu Hua lead Alex into the medical room as after a bit Alex was laid down on one of the bed's was had an ice back on his face where Fu Hua had punched him earlier.

"I appreciate your time Alex. I wish you a good recovery." Said Fu Hua as she walked out of the room.

Knowing that he'd be here for a while, Alex took the opportunity to close his eyes and take a small nap.

Alex began to stir as he slowly opened his eyes to see that he was still in the room but, when he looked up instead of seeing the ceiling of the room all he saw was two mounds obscuring his view.

"Wow. Didn't expect these to be the first things you'd look at." Jokingly said a voice which wound up being Himeko.

"Kinda hard not to when they're the only thing in my line of vision." Said Alex with annoyance. "What're you doing here?"

"I came to check up on you after Fu Hua had said that you two had a sparring match. You were sound asleep though so I figured I'd wait for you to awaken. Be grateful that I'm letting you rest of my lap." Said Himeko as Alex frowned.

"Kinda hard to be grateful when it was out of my control." He said.

"Okay no need for specifics just enjoy it. Anyways I can see that she got ya good. Even with the ice pack your cheek's turned purple." Said Himeko.

"Yeah I know. She hits like a large semi truck." Said Alex.

"Well at least your mostly alright. Fu Hua even told me that you lasted almost five minutes against her."

"Yeah I know. I was two seconds short."

"Wow. That certainly is an accomplishment. Anyways you impressed her today so nice going kid. You even got a couple of our students here buzzing all about you." Said Himeko as she walked out.