Heroes in the Fabric of Rebellion

Chapter 13

Sayaka turned back, her smirk widening as she flipped her racket into her hand.

Sayaka: "You know what? Let's make this official. A two-on-one tennis match. You two against me. You up for it, or are you gonna run away like scared little first-years?"

Ryuko, already bristling with irritation, stepped forward, cracking her knuckles.

Ryuko: "You're on. And when we win, you're gonna tell me everything you know about Satsuki and Yuuki."

Deku hesitated, glancing between the two girls.

You: "Wait, are we really doing this? I mean, tennis isn't exactly a fight."

Sayaka spun her racket with flair, her eyes gleaming.

Sayaka: "Oh, don't worry. At Honnoji, everything's a fight."

Within minutes, the makeshift court was set. Sayaka pulled off her jacket, revealing a sleek, upgraded Goku Uniform adorned with tennis motifs. Her racket shimmered with an almost metallic glow.

Sayaka: "This racket is woven from the same material as my Goku Uniform. Every swing, every strike—it's powered up to the max. Hope you're ready!"

Ryuko picked up a standard racket from a rack on the sidelines, tossing another to Deku.

Ryuko: "Yeah, yeah, keep talking. We'll still wipe the floor with you."

Deku caught the racket nervously, glancing at Ryuko.

You: "I don't think this is gonna be as easy as you think..."

Sayaka served first, the ball rocketing over the net with blinding speed. Ryuko dove for it, barely managing to hit it back.

Ryuko: "Tch! That's insane!"

Sayaka chuckled, her return shot slamming into the ground near Deku. He lunged forward, activating a flicker of Full Cowl to return the ball.

You: "This isn't just tennis! She's fighting like it's life or death!"

Sayaka's relentless strikes pushed the two of them to their limits. Every swing from her racket sent shockwaves through the air, her enhanced uniform giving her incredible power.

Sayaka: "What's the matter? Can't keep up?"

Ryuko growled, gripping her racket tighter.

Ryuko: "Don't count us out yet!"

Despite their best efforts, Sayaka quickly built up a lead. The score was now match point, and she wasn't holding back. She twirled her racket dramatically, charging her next swing.

Sayaka: "This is it! Game over!"

She unleashed her full strength, the ball glowing as it screamed across the court like a comet.

Ryuko braced herself, but Deku's voice rang out.

You: "I've got this!"

He surged forward, Full Cowl enveloping his body. Using 30% of One For All, he slammed his racket into the ball with a force that cracked the air. The ball rocketed back toward Sayaka, catching her completely off guard. It hit the ground inside the court, winning the point.

Sayaka stumbled back, her racket clattering to the ground.

Sayaka: "What the—?!"

Ryuko grinned, pointing her racket at Sayaka.

Ryuko: "Yeah, that's right! We won! And I'm just getting started. I'll take down every single one of you freaks until I get to Satsuki and Yuuki!"

The triumphant moment was short-lived. A blur of movement came from above, and suddenly, Satsuki herself appeared, her sword drawn.

Satsuki: "Bold words for someone who can barely handle a match."

Ryuko barely had time to react before Satsuki was upon her. She raised her racket defensively, but the force of Satsuki's strike sent her sliding back.

Ryuko: "What the hell?! You're fast!"

The clash intensified, but Ryuko was clearly outmatched. Her arms shook as she struggled to hold back Satsuki's blade.

Satsuki: "You're not ready. This fight is over."

With a final push, Satsuki disengaged, stepping back and sheathing her blade.

Satsuki: "Come back when you've learned to control your anger. Until then, you're not worth my time."

She turned and walked away, her presence as commanding as ever. Ryuko dropped to her knees, panting heavily.

Ryuko: "Damn it... I wasn't ready."

Deku rushed to her side, offering a hand.

You: "Ryuko, are you okay?"

Ryuko slapped his hand away, forcing herself to stand.

Ryuko: "I'm fine. And I'll show her. I'll get stronger. I'll take them both down."

Sayaka, still recovering, gave them a slow clap.

Sayaka: "Well, that was dramatic. Guess I'll be seeing you two around."

She sauntered off, leaving Ryuko and Deku standing together in the wrecked court. Mako, who had been hiding behind a bench, popped up with her usual energy.

Mako: "That was amazing! You guys are like a super-duper action team! I bet we'll be the coolest trio in all of Honnoji!"

Deku sighed, already dreading what might come next.

You (thinking): This school... it's like a battlefield. If Ryuko's determined to fight Satsuki and Yuuki, I'll need to stay close to her. We can't survive this alone.