𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 | 𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘶𝘺𝘢 𝘵. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

020. | ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡʜᴇʟᴍᴇᴅ ᴘᴛ. 2

Yuzuha could sense Kana's anger and pain as she listened to Erina's taunts, and her own heart ached in response. She knew how much the people Kana cared about meant to her, and how much Erina's words were hurting her. She gripped Kana's arm tightly, holding her back and silently pleading with her not to react. She knew how volatile her emotions could be, and she didn't want her doing something rash in the heat of the moment.

But Erina continued on, finding only amusement in both Yuzuha's and Kana's reactions to her relentless taunting.

"And all you'll be able to do is watch," she continued, her tone almost gleeful now. "You'll be too weak to do anything. Too weak even to cry for help. "Because that's all you ever were," she said, her tone growing more biting. "Weak. Useless. And completely helpless. And soon, that's all you'll be again."

Kana could feel her chest constricting with each word Erina uttered, each mocking jab digging deeper and deeper into her vulnerabilities. Her body trembled, her resolve faltering more and more as she heard the words that echoed her own fears.

She went silent, her expression stoic and her body tensing as she tried to restrain the emotions that were surging through her. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, her knuckles growing white with the effort of holding back.

The rage that filled her was like a wildfire, burning hotter and hotter with every scathing word that passed Erina's lips. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she fought to keep her composure.

Kana's thoughts raced as she listened to Erina's taunts, her mind whirling with a barrage of negative thoughts. She felt a deep sense of responsibility and guilt, the weight of her own weakness and helplessness pressing down on her like a heavy burden.

What if she really was useless and weak? What if she really did get her friends and loved ones hurt? The thought was sickening, a fear that sat heavy in her stomach and threatened to overwhelm her completely.

Erina observed Kana's demeanor closely, a cruel smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she saw how the other girl's calm facade was slowly faltering. She knew she had hit a soft spot, and she was going to exploit it for all it was worth.

"Looks like I hit a nerve," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "The bold Kana finally went silent. Did I strike too close to home?"

Yuzuha, still holding Kana gently behind her, stepped forward slightly, her eyes narrowing at Erina with a protective glare. "All you do is talk," she hissed. "You're just a coward, afraid to actually face Kana in a fight because you know she'll kick your ass again."

Erina's smirk widened at Yuzuha's words, her confidence returning in full force. "Oh, I do more than just talk," she said, her voice dripping with smug superiority. "And don't forget what happened last time. I got Kiyomasa to give her a taste of what she really needed - a good beating and a lesson in her place."

Her eyes glinted with malicious glee as she continued. "You think you're protecting her by holding her back like that? You're not. You're just prolonging the inevitable. She'll learn her place soon enough, one way or another."

Kana's thoughts spiraled as she listened to Erina's words, her heartbeat quickening as the memory of getting beaten by Kiyomasa came rushing back. The shame, the pain, the powerlessness - it all came crashing down on her like a tidal wave.

Yuzuha, sensing Kana's distress, reacted sharply to Erina's words, her grip on Kana's arm tightening. Her eyes flashed with anger and protectiveness as she clenched her jaw.

Erina gestured towards her friends with a smug grin, her eyes glinting with malicious amusement. She relished in the faltering demeanor of Kana, seeing the impact of her words taking effect. "You'll see," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "With my words alone, you'll be broken and helpless when you see your precious friends walking towards a deadly fate. And it'll all be your fault, won't it?"