CHECKMATE.

FREDERIC.

There was something oddly relieving about taking classes. When I was on my desk and taking notes, work was the only thing that ever entered my brain. The very prospect of that was so alluring to me. Sometimes I wished I could just work forever, away from my memories.
Away from her.
Field classes were what I was initially looking forward to the most. The prospect of getting into arena matches and training exercises to test my skills? nothing short of thrilling. But all that was on my mind when I stepped into the gym was Anya's cocky smirk and confident face last night.
The same cocky smirk she was still wearing when I entered the field.
Though, my nervousness was already diffused the second I saw her black cat ears. I grinned, walking up to her.
"I suppose you must be....felinin' pumped." I laughed at my own joke, wowed by my own comedic genius. Clearly not amused, the sorceress rolled her eyes, brown irises tinged with frustration at my comment.
Her face flushed, visibly annoyed.
"I'll have you know I did this on purpose." She was clearly trying to hide her embarrassment but the stammers in her voice betrayed her. I laughed again, relieved to see that she'd been cut down a peg. If I didn't know better, I'd dare to say I even found her cute. But she was no innocent girl. She was a traitor, a traitor I was determined to apprehend.

Realising Anthony was looking for me I turned away from her, shaking my head furiously. Now was not the time to get distracted by her. If I wanted to catch her in the act, I needed to lay on the pressure.
"Meet you on the battlefield, Mazhar."
She scoffed, standing still as I walked back to my side. "I doubt you'll even last a day."

"What was that all about?" His eyes were turquoise, clearly confused at me. I laughed nervously, Noelle staring at Jimmy sternly as I did.
"He's judging you." She remarked, annoyance all over her feathery face. "The nerve of that thing."
"Don't worry about it, Ant. She's just an acquaintance of mine." I lied, trying my best to seem legitimate. Though to be fair I wasn't lying about knowing her.
It's just that I knew her as my enemy.

I watched his eyes shift from turquoise to yellow to green to brown yet again. Confusion, frustration, and thoughtfulness. Not a good sign.
"Cool." He smiled, though I could tell he was a little off.

During all of our years of growing up together, Anthony and I had never hidden anything from each other. Since we were young we'd always been 100% upfront and honest about everything. But ever since that incident...I'd had to hide more and more until I felt like I was betraying his trust. But it was all for the greater good. I had to do this.
I had to do this for mother.

"H-Hi guys." We turned to face Imai. The glasses wearing Rook gave us a fragile wave, her poodle in her arms wagging its tail with excitement. It seemed to have grown more and more accustomed to us overnight. Just like Imai, it just needed time to get to know us.
"Hey Imai!" Anthony waved back, the tension between us two dissipating into thin air. I smiled at her, giggling a little as a let the poodle lick my hand.
"What's this little guy's name?"
"Her name is Haruka." Imai smiled warmly, letting us pet her for a few minutes before placing her down on the ground. Instead of hiding behind her owner's legs she walked around all of us in excitement, tail still wagging.
"I think she likes you guys."
We nodded, trying our best to contain ourselves so as to not collapse over the cuteness.
"That's great to hear."

"FIRST UP. IMAI MAKOTO."

The brunette perked up at her name being announced, messing with her long hair nervously before ushering Haruka to follow her to the battleground.

"Welp, guess they're starting with me." She wobbled over to the steps, voice shaky, clearly anxious. Haruka rubbed her face against the Sorcerers leg in an attempt to comfort her, and that action was enough for us to realise she needed some encouragement.
"Don't worry Imai. You'll do great." I reassured her, Anthony giving her a thumbs up. She smiled weakly, taking off her glasses and handing them to me, green eyes shifting from nervous to confident.
"Take care of these for me, will you?" Her tone was oddly determined and steady. I could only nod in surprise at her sudden change in mood, her glasses laying in the palm of my hand. As she walked up the steps her hands reached behind her back to brandish her dual blades, Haruka slowly beginning to grow and grow. I looked at Anthony knowingly, the two of us realising we were right as the dog transformed into a wolf twice the petite girl's size. As the other student entered, visibly nervous to compete with her, she grinned, hopping onto Haruka and readying her blades.

"Now it's time to have some fun."

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Even with my initial readings, I couldn't help but be startled by this sudden development. Sure, I expected Imai to be a little rasher then I thought, but I didn't think she was a full blown brawler. She rode Haruka like a horse, hopping on and off whenever she felt like it to get in close range with her opponent, cloak flowing with the wind as every sword strike reverberated through the room. Since she was so aggressive, it was no surprise that she'd decided to prioritise using Light magic to enhance her strength more then anything else. Sparks of kinetic energy followed her every move, her eyes cold and driven as she dealt every decisive move. That poor Dark-Knight Sorcerer didn't stand a chance. He fell to the ground, incapacitated, his moth familiar lying unconscious beside him. With that the bell rung and the battle concluded, Light Sorcerers being given their first point of the day.
Almost as though she were broken out of a trance, Makoto looked around in confusion, awkwardly running down the stairs and narrowly tripping on the last. Without thinking I ran to her, letting her fall into my arms. At this point, holding girls who'd tripped was routine for me.

She looked up, face flushed and hair messy.
"S-sorry." fumbling, she grabbed her glasses, hastily putting them back on and standing on her own.

"Damn, Imai! I didn't know you were such a beast!" Anthony gave an impressed whistle, placing his arm around her shoulder, something which got Imai even more flustered.

"I-it's nothing. I..." Her face was completely red.

I couldn't help but stare at the pair quizzically. I suppose they had more in common then they initially thought.

"But seriously, those moves were incredible! You have to teach me sometime!"

"Th-Thank you...."

I sighed, unable to hide the smile on my face at their shenanigans. My eyes travelled to the match board, realising that I was last.

My opponent was Anya.

I grinned, sitting back and watching the show as the next match unfolded.

Time to put that human in her place.