5 months ago…
In the E.S.C. building's training facility…
"When you're about to get attacked, make sure you have your holy tech ready. If you're even one second too late, you might become a human snack." Kazu said while holding a wooden blade.
Aiko, Aoto, and Fumiko nodded as they readied their weapons.
"Are we going to be able to try our weapons on you? You're totally a curse; I have a bad feeling about it." Aoto said while pointing his wooden blade at Kazu.
However, Aiko whacks him on the head with a wooden axe.
"Oh, shut up about the curse stuff! Why are you so stuck up about it?" Aoto yelps in pain, clutching the back of his head, and lets out a grunt but doesn't say anything.
Fumiko tilts her head while tapping her chin in thought, "I don't know why, but they made me use some throwing knives that explode with holy energy. I'm not that good at throwing, so I think this is just a waste."
She then throws a wooden throwing knife at a target, and it clacks to the ground.
"It's because we need someone to help with aerial attacks as well. These two are close-quarters combatants, and I guess Aiko-chan's battle axe can act as a boomerang because it returns back to her." Kazu chuckled softly.
Fumiko slowly nods in acknowledgement, and she goes back to her target practice.
Aiko walks up to Kazu, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.
"Uhm… Kazu-san, are you sure a battle axe is the perfect weapon for me? I don't think I can swing that hard!" She said while examining her practice battle axe.
"Your weapon is just right. When I saw you fight in the exams, you tend to use your atmosphere to your advantage."
Kazu paused before continuing, "You're a very strategic fighter, and your skills, combined with your mix of range, make the battle axe worthy of praise."
Aiko still looked a bit worried, but she grasped the concept of her weapon's meaning.
Meanwhile, Aoto is busy fighting dummy curses with his sword. Unlike the other two, he doesn't seem to have any problems with his weapon.
"How are you holdin' up, Aoto-kun?" Kazu asked while crossing his arms.
Aoto wiped the sweat off of his forehead and let out an annoyed grunt.
"Wouldn't you like to know? I'm doing fine, no thanks to you." He snarled.
Kazu held his hands up in mock surrender, smiling slightly.
"Alright, alright, don't get feisty now. Man, why can't you be more like your sister? What do you have against me?" Kazu questioned.
Aoto stops his attacks for a moment before throwing his sword to the ground and starting to march towards Kazu.
"The hell did you say to me, you damn blind bastard!? Don't you ever compare me to my sister!" Aoto snapped.
The girls noticed the commotion, and they hastily went over to break up the fight that was beginning to brew.
"Damn it, Aoto-kun! Why do you always have to be so mean all of the time!?" Fumiko spoke up apprehensively.
"You're such an animal! Just let it go, Aoto-kun!" Aiko exclaimed.
The girls pull Aoto away as he's kicking around and growling like a dog.
"Let me at him! I'm not gonna let this guy talk shit and not back it up!" Aoto barked out while trying to break free.
Suddenly, Kazu finally spoke up.
"Let him fight me," Kazu commanded softly.
The girls stopped and looked at Kazu as if he said something forbidden.
"A-Are you sure…? I don't want you two to get hurt because of something stupid…" Aiko muttered while still holding onto Aoto's arm.
When Kazu nods, the girls let go of Aoto, still having a bit of concern in their eyes.
"Alright, you unsighted buffoon, prepare to get-"
Before Aoto finishes speaking, Kazu blitzes in front of him and strikes him with his arm. Aoto's eyes widened as he didn't actually expect Kazu to attack first, and when he tried to block with his arms, he got whacked in the face, making him fall to the ground.
Aoto grunts in pain, and when he gets up from the ground, he notices that his cheek is bleeding.
"You… You made me bleed… I'll kill you!" Aoto screamed as he picked up his wooden blade and struck at Kazu.
Kazu weaves the attempts, and he eventually catches the blade before kicking him in the ribs, making him cough up.
Little did Kazu know that the angrier Aoto got, the stronger his holy energy got, making his attacks faster and stronger.
"Careful, Kazu. He's getting physically stronger. If he wanted to, he could slice your hand clean off." Shaba warned in Kazu's mind.
Kazu doesn't say anything, but he takes Shaba's words into account. Suddenly, Aoto sends out a slash at lightning speed, forcing Kazu to back off.
After a few seconds, blood began forming where Aoto nicked Kazu on the cheek.
"Not bad, Aoto-kun. I'm impressed with your holy energy usage." Kazu praised.
Aoto just scoffed and tossed the wooden blade onto the ground before walking away.
"Are you okay, Kazu-san? You seem pretty shaken up…" Fumiko said quietly while putting a finger to her chin.
"Don't worry about me, Fumiko-chan, I'm alright. It's not everyday where I could get a good training session once in a while."
Kazu paused before continuing, "If I knew about his ability, maybe I would've backed off sooner~."
Meanwhile, Aiko and Aoto are walking to the main hall of the E.S.C. building while she tends to his nose.
"That was one heck of a fight you two had back there; I'm honestly surprised Kazu-san wanted to spar with you!" Aiko piped up.
Aoto lets out a rare but noticeable small chuckle.
"Yeah, I was surprised too. Usually, he would just sit there and act all cowardly… I wonder what got him into the fighting spirit."
Aiko nods, still patting his nose with a cotton pad.
Just then, Aoto says something no one would ever expect from him…
…
…
…
"Honestly… I kind of enjoyed fighting that blindfolded bastard."