The two students stood ready for Suzuki's whistle and what grew was a tension in Dahlia's back as she could feel a sultry whisper in her ear that caused her to internally freak out. She can't find it but she can still feel it, she can't explain it but she can understand it somehow.
What that understanding is though seems to escape her for the sound of a whirring sounds out and the two students on the field rush at each other.
Upon the whistle of Suzuki the two students immediately raise their hands, palms facing the other. Dahlia watched as Shinji's hand started to glow orange than red as the air began to ripple and a flame burgeons only to be grasped by him and held like a sword as the fire strikes upwards to form a blade.
He charges forward while blasting rays of flame from his free hand at Suto. Suto, in response, moves his hands in a rising motion which causes a wall of ice to spring up in response that absorbs and caves to the intense heat of Shinji's flame.
This gives Shinji time to close the gap where he swung through the steam caused by the clash and aimed for where Suto was only to find him gone already circled around his wall and raising a field of standing icicles to shoot up and attempt to impale the red head from below.
Shinji leaps over to avoid it barely and then shoots out a burst of flame towards Suto's leg at which he responds by raising a platform of frost under him that elevates him over the fire and launches him over Shinji. Suto swipes his hand on his journey over, leaving a trail of hazardous icicles on the floor around Shinji forcing him to slash them away with his sword, creating another plume of steam and giving Suto the opportunity to reach for his arm.
Just as he was about to touch Shinji though, planning to freeze his arm and winning the spar, Shinji ignites brightly and swings his leg upwards to kick Suto in the stomach that launches him over Shinji and falls on the dirt grasping his stomach and heave, a searing scorch mark on his black shirt.
"That's match!" shouts Suzuki as he runs over to Suto.
As Suto is still reeling and foetal from the kick, Suzuki puts his hands on his body and an energy begins to pulse through him into Suto. Soon Suto's agonised expression eased as his pain faded and his stomach healed. He sits up to where Shinji had reached out to pull him up.
"You good man?" asks Shinji, smiling like a fool.
"Hgh, yes." affirms Suto with a slight smirk back.
Suzuki asks Suto as well if he is fine and he reaffirms that he is alright.
"Here I'll help you over Suto, didn't mean to kick that hard but you caught me off guard with that leap!" Shiji admits with a smile on his face.
"I saw- ngh, someone online did something like that and thought I could try it." the stoic boy groaned, still reeling from the kick.
As the two boys return to the bleachers, Suzuki commends them.
"Excellent work boys, you especially Suto for that quick footing on avoiding the sword. Next, Tenha and Panoi, you're up." the teacher instructs.
The girl stepped up and stood in their positions where the previous two fighters were. Tenha, the blue pigtailed haired girl shouts over to Panoi, "You mind not shouting too loud? Last time I had to wear a cochlear for a week."
"Only if you promise not to mess up my hair." the girl with striped stockings shouts back
"Deal!" she calls back with a smile.
Once Suzuki blew his whistle, the two remained in place as they both made their move. Unlike the previous fight which lasted about thirty seconds, this one happened in five as both at once unleashed their power.
Panoi let out a yell which she intensified by turning her hand like she's turning a knob on an amp as the vibrations rushed towards Tenha. She on the other hand raised her hand and pointed it in a finger pistol as electricity crackled through her body and a bolt of lightning shot out of her finger.
It was a true quick draw, but as both made their attack, dust from the shockwave of the yell settled, Tenha is the one who is blown back while Panoi is still standing, having just evaded the bolt. Of course she was not unscathed, her black tank top was burnt around the hip where the bolt just grazed by it. Tenha took the most damage though as she was flung back ten feet from her starting position and onto her back.
Suzuki calls the match and heads over to Tenha who was feeling dizzy from the shockwave. Panoi headed over to her and checked in.
"See made sure you'd only have to wear it for one day." the girl chuckled.
"What?" Tenha joked as if she was deaf.
As Suzuki healed her ears and a scrape on the back of her head, the two went back to the bleachers and rested whilst coach Letty went over to discuss what they could do better. Once more Suzuki called out two names.
"Burrus, Tansol, time for your turn."
Burrus shakily stood up and skittered hurriedly over to his spot while Tansol headed to his. As they both reached their position, Burrus quietly but strained said out to Tansol.
"I-I hope to have a nice ma-atch."
"What was that?!" Tansol shouted.
"I-I said-"
*WHIRRRR!*
Suzuki blew his whistle and the match began. Immediately Tansol ran forward, raising his fist to hit Burrus in the face who then whispered out a few words.
"He-lp me shadow friends!" he cried, shutting his eyes.
Burrus clasped his hands and running out from his shadow were pitch black rabbits which dashed towards Tansol. The first Tansol dodged out of the way while the second he couldn't but just as it seemed he was going to be hit, he swung and punched the shadow rabbit, shattering it to pieces.
He continued to swing and kick at the incoming rabbits as he began to advance while Burrus began to step back. At the standstill Dahlia leans to Panoi and asks her a question.
"Are the rabbits that fragile?"
"Oh no. Normally you can't touch them, but they can touch you. It's just that Tansol has the power to cancel other powers he touches." the girl explained.
"Ah!" said Dahlia, concerned, "Is that so?"
As Tansol continued to strike the rabbits Burrus soon started sending bunnies, then squirrels, then rats. Until eventually he becomes exhausted from the amount of expenditure of his power leaving him tired. Tansol, too tired but still brimming with energy, rushes over to Burrus.
Burrus winces as Tansol hits him lightly once in the chest. Suzuki calls the match and the two head back to the benches. This time Suzuki was critical, citing Burrus for his lack of adaptability and instead trying to rely on his power over his tactics or body. After also commending Tansol for his stamina and reaction speed, he calls the next two names who are to fight.
"Zannos and Yume, both of you get ready."
"Hmph" Zannos mutters as he stands up and stomps over to the spot farthest from the bleachers.
Yume stands as well as and walks to her position. As the two readied, Zannos had an annoyed look on his face but it was hard to tell if it was frustration or disappointment. As Suzuki holds his whistle, the two enter a fighting stance, a professional one though Dahlia wouldn't have the experience to say.
"I'll make this quick and easy." Zannos says.
"Likewise." retorts Yume.
As the whistle was blown the two ran at each other. Zannos was faster and made a swing to Yume's head but despite the thin and lanky form of Yume, she rolled under and dealt a quick blow to the back of Zannos' knee causing him to trip slightly.
As Zannos swung his hand around to backhand her, Suzuki had blown the whistle, the match already over as Zannos was hit. But Zannos ignored the whistle and continued his swing smacking Yume in the face and sending her to the floor. An audible crack from the impact as she was sent tumbling a few feet away.
"Zannos!" shouted Suzuki as he rushed towards Yume.
Shinji and Panoi both immediately stood up and were ready to run onto the field but Coach Letty calms them down as she runs on instead.
Zannos turned and walked away smug as Suzuki tended to Yume's face, a cheekbone seemed to have broken and Suzuki was beginning to heal it.
"What the hell was that!" shouted Panoi as Zannos returned to the bleachers.
Zannos put his feet up on a bench as he said, "A real fight."
"Were you planning to break her neck with that?!" yelled Shinji.
"If I did, her head would be on backwards." the man gruffed.
"Zannos." yelled Coach Letty. "You're coming with me to the principal."
Coach Letty stood with her arms crossed and waited until Zannos stood up sluggish and walked towards the academy.
After a few minutes, Yume is brought over slowly by the aid of Suzuki who seats her on the bench where Panoi and Tenha supported her. Though her face was healed, it was swollen and it was clear where the knuckle made contact with her face as Yume is told by Suzuki not to touch it until the regenerating process is complete.
"I knew that guy would do something like this at some point," said Rolo.
"I swear," grunted Panoi, "If I ever catch that guy doing something like that again, he's going deaf."
Tenha was already on her phone, no doubt spreading the news while Burrus was hovering around the situation trying to sheepishly reassure Yume.
"C'mon Suzuki," said Tansol, "you can't tell me that he deserves to be in the Highlights now?"
"Zannos Tillion will be talked to by the principal and will no doubt be reprimanded for this. Whether or not he will leave the Highlight Class will be up to Litis." he informed.
Tansol shrugged as he sat back down, everyone else though was in a state of frustration. Even Dahlia was angry at Zannos for the sheer blatant meanness of his actions. Suzuki hushed them down and said that they would finish the last match quickly so they can get the lesson over with.
"Dahlia and Rolo, both of you on the field."
When Dahlia and Rolo both went on the field, the girl felt a mix of emotions. The whispering from earlier had not ceased, in fact it had worsened. It now no longer felt like a whisper and more like a quiet scream of invisible glares, but she keeps herself composed and controlled as she stands at her position.
Rolo stands at the opposite end, hands in pocket as he looks over Dahlia.
"You know. I was going to ask if you wanted to make a wager!"
Dahlia could guess where this was going but humored him, "For what?"
"A date! The Palms this weekend." he suggested.
"And why do I have to humour this gamble?" replied Dahlia, insinuating what her end of the gamble was.
"A favour" he says gleefully.
Dahlia thought about it. He seemed like someone who talked to a lot of people; having him tell her what she needs to know about everyone and possibly find anything suspicious is a chance she could take, after all, even if she loses it's just a dinner.
"Convince me better." Dahlia replies hoping to get more.
"I'll only use one hand." he puts his other behind his back jokingly.
Dahlia delved deeper into the thought. She could have him assist in searching for the faceless, yes, there are a lot of uses here with such a bet. The odds of her losing though are difficult to say. Yes she can kill him, but she could only kill him. She can't restrain herself no more than she can restrain him.
"I will accept, on a condition." the brunette negotiates.
An amused smile inches across his face. "What condition?"
"My power is quite destructive so I cannot hold back. If I graze you, please consider that my hit." she said.
"Sure! Must be pretty interesting if you have to set that rule."
Alright, now I don't have to worry about hurting him… too badly.
Dahlia prepared herself, entering a wide stance to maintain balance when the tentacles were let loose. Rolo on the other hand had not entered any stance, instead, he slides one hand into his pocket, as per the bet, and merely smiles as Suzuki raises the whistle to his mouth and-
*WHIRRR*
As soon as it was blown Dahlia unleashed her gift as it bent around her from her back and raced towards Rolo. She was intending to surround him so he can't move without touching the tentacles. And indeed in nothing more than a moment, Rolo was engulfed by the tentacles.
Alright now I will send a second volley, this time limiting his space further until I ca-
"Behind you Dahlia~"
*SNAP*
A painful flick to the back of her neck as she swung her head to see Rolo behind her. No sounds, no warning. Not even a flash of light or any indication of how he got there.
*WHIRRR*
Suzuki blew his whistle, declaring the match over as Dahlia still stood there, the tentacles wrapped around an empty space where Rolo should be. Dahlia blinked, disoriented and confused before Rolo. Instant teleportation she realises.
"See you this weekend Dahlia."