"Alright. Let's do this!" said Guina, locking eyes with Jessyka.
Moments after Guina finished her sentence, Jessyka dashed straight toward her. As she closed the distance, the redhead threw a punch aimed right at Guina's face. The student council president tilted her head slightly to the right, letting the punch glide right past her cheek.
"Hehe."
With a small chuckle, Guina grabbed Jessyka's arm and shirt. Using her judo experience, she swiftly threw the girl to the floor.
"Gah!" Jessyka hit the ground with a small cry of pain from the impact.
"Ippon, Miss Jessyka," Guina said with a faint smile. "You need to be careful when you rush at your opponent. They might catch you off guard."
Still on the ground, Jessyka smirked.
"I agree, blondie."
Before Guina could react, Jessyka's legs wrapped around her front leg.
"Damn—"
Using her arms for support, Jessyka pushed herself backward and pulled Guina's leg along with her. The president lost her balance, and before she could recover, Jessyka bent her knees, planted her hands behind her, and kicked Guina square in the stomach with both feet.
"Ugh!" Guina groaned as drops of saliva flew from her mouth, hitting the gym floor. Koff! Koff!
While Guina coughed, Jessyka stood up and glared at her.
The crowd could be heard:
"President!"
"No, President Guina!"
"Whoa, that one looked bad—I didn't even see what the redhead did!"
"Don't give up, President! You can do it!"
Koff! Koff!
Guina coughed a bit more, then steadied herself, wiping her mouth with her sleeve.
"That was a dirty move, Miss Jessyka."
"Don't complain. You're the one who made the rules."
Once Guina had recovered, Jessyka charged again—this time aiming a punch straight at her stomach. Guina blocked and tried to grab her once more, but Jessyka swung her left arm down like a hammer, aiming for Guina's head. The president dodged backward, but Jessyka lunged forward, slamming into her and knocking her down, landing right on top of her.
"Got you," Jessyka said with a grin, drawing her fist back for a direct hit to Guina's face.
Quickly, Guina grabbed Jessyka's shirt and used her left leg as leverage to flip her backward.
"Phew… that was close," Guina said, exhaling in relief.
Jessyka got back on her feet just as fast as Guina stood as well.
"You won't beat me by just grabbing, witch."
Guina, stop playing around and finish this already!
Guina took a deep breath and looked straight at Jessyka.
"Alright, Miss Jessyka. Here I come."
She moved into position and charged forward. Guina aimed a strike with the palm of her right hand open, but Jessyka countered by punching the palm with her left fist. Guina closed her hand, pulled Jessyka toward her, and tried to hit her with the left palm—but Jessyka grabbed that arm with her right hand and smashed her forehead straight into Guina's.
"Urgh!"
The sound of pain echoed across the gym.
The crowd began commenting again:
"What a primitive fighting style."
"Looks like the redhead's just flailing around, but somehow it works. How's that possible?"
"It's not pretty, but I'll admit—it's effective."
"So, uh… when are they gonna start making out?"
"Yeah, not a single wardrobe slip yet. That's what's really shocking."
"…" The girl next to him glared.
"Hey, don't look at us like that! We're here for the art!" the boy said proudly.
Jessyka and Guina faced each other again, panting, both holding their foreheads.
"Hey, blond viper, are you sure what you're doing even counts as part of your martial art?"
"Well, Miss Jessyka… sometimes we have to improvise, don't we?" Guina gave a small smirk and winked.
"Too bad I still haven't managed to hit your face…"
"…" Guina blinked, confused. "Miss Jessyka… have you been trying to hit my face this whole time?"
"Of course! I said I'd wipe the floor with it! And besides, that pretty face of yours is getting my Sekai's attention! I need to ruin it so you can't charm him anymore!" Jessyka said, clenching her fist tightly.
"Uh…" Guina was left speechless.
"Alright, break time's over!" Jessyka charged again.
Miss Jessyka is extremely possessive of the boy. She's aiming for my face so I can't win his affection… Maybe I can use that… thought Guina.
Don't do anything stupid, Guina!
Jessyka rushed in, swinging her left arm at Guina's face. The president blocked with her left hand and tried to grab her again.
That's odd… her arm feels limp… Guina thought.
Taking advantage of Guina's open guard, Jessyka twisted her body and placed her right hand on the floor. Using both her own momentum and Guina's, she aimed a double kick straight for the president's face.
"What the—!?"
Guina barely managed to throw herself to the side before the strike landed.
It's impossible to predict her moves… She doesn't think ahead—she just acts! Guina thought.
Jessyka stood up, breathing heavily.
She's getting tired. She's strong, but all those wild moves put too much strain on her body… Guina stood up again and faced her.
"Looks like we're nearing the end, Miss Jessyka."
"Yeah… warm-up's over. You were a decent opponent, blond viper," Jessyka said, taking a deep breath. "But now it's time for me to claim my reward."
"What!? What do you mean—!?"
Jessyka lunged at Guina again, throwing her right arm forward for another punch to the face.
We've already done this before, Miss Jessyka. It's not going to—
Before Guina could finish her thought, Jessyka lowered her right arm and went for Guina's neck.
Wait, that's not my fa—
Reacting on instinct, Guina brought her left leg up in front of her body to push herself back and protect her neck. Jessyka used the opening to spin around completely, kicking Guina's leg out from under her. As the president lost her balance and began to fall, Jessyka used her momentum to deliver a spinning kick right to Guina's cheek. The impact sent the blonde flying backward.
"Urgh!"
Guina groaned in pain, her hand going to her face as she hit the floor.
From the stands:
"President!"
"No, President!"
"Oh my god, she took that one full on the face!"
"It's not looking good for her…"
Sitting on the bench near the court, Sekai watched nervously. Of course, he didn't want Jessyka to lose—but he didn't want to see Guina get hurt either. He clenched his fists and stayed silent.
"Haha! Finally hit that pretty face! So, what do you say? Wanna keep going? I'd love that! Haha!" Jessyka laughed loudly. She looked genuinely satisfied—like her soul had just been cleansed.
Guina! You can't lose! Do something, fast!
"Oh my god, you're so annoying. Can you shut up already?" Guina muttered.
Guina?
"I told you I'm going to win, so stop nagging me, damn it!" she muttered again.
Then do it quickly.
"Well, well… finally showing your true colors, huh, viper?"
"That wasn't meant for you, Miss Jessyka… but whatever." Guina stood up, still holding her face.
I need to mess with Miss Jessyka's head so she loses her focus… but how…
"Haha! Whether you're talking to yourself or not, it doesn't matter. Time to smash that pretty little face of yours," Jessyka said with a wicked grin.
I've got it! Guina thought.
"So… this is how you felt when you used to torment people, huh?"
Jessyka's grin vanished into a serious glare.
"They said it was just for attention… but maybe you liked it, didn't you?"
"Shut up," Jessyka said, her tone dark and eyes locked on Guina.
It's working. If I can throw her off, I'll have a chance! Guina thought.
"What did they call you back then again…?" Guina touched her chin, pretending to think.
Jessyka's eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh right—Little Pepper!" Guina said with a teasing laugh.
Jessyka's expression hardened.
Alright, now I—
Before she could finish her thought, Jessyka dashed forward. The president raised her guard. Jessyka closed the distance quickly and tried to punch her in the face, but before Guina could react, she felt a crushing hit to her ribs.
"Ugh!"
Guina gasped in pain. Before she could react to the punch, Jessyka spun around and kicked her in the ribs with a kick. Guina collapsed to the side. Jessyka grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the face, then kicked her repeatedly while she was down.
What the— Guina thought, barely processing what was happening.
"Jessyka, stop!" Sekai shouted from the bench, horrified by her behavior.
The crowd was frozen, watching in shock.
Jessyka yanked Guina up by the hair, raising her fist for a final blow.
Guina! Guina! Do something!
"Ugh… wha—" Guina, completely exhausted, couldn't think of a way out.
I don't think I can take another hit… she thought, her right eye barely open.
Jessyka is about to deliver the finishing blow. The storm outside the gym grows stronger, and the wind begins to howl more fiercely. The gym doors, which hadn't been properly closed, burst open with a loud crash.
BANG!
Instinctively, everyone's attention—including Jessyka's—turned toward the doors that had been violently flung open by the wind.
Now!
A green aura flared around Guina. In an instant, she vanished and reappeared behind Jessyka with superhuman speed. Before the redhead could understand what happened, Guina hit her neck with a knife-hand strike. Jessyka collapsed immediately.
When everyone in the gym turned their attention back to the girls, Guina was standing, panting, and Jessyka was lying unconscious on the floor.
"Did… the president win?" Sekai thought, stunned.