Result of Team Duel

The clash of wooden weapons rang sharply through the village square as Alica swung tirelessly, each strike losing more force as her stamina drained. Her breaths came heavy and uneven, while Chris remained steady, his wooden spear held with calm precision.
"Alica, I think you should give up now," Chris said with genuine concern.
"Just shut up," Alica snapped back, breath growing heavier.
Chris's voice softened but held firm, "Maybe it's time to end this."
Chris braced himself as Alica's wooden sword came crashing down. He skillfully parried the strike with his spear, then swiftly countered with a powerful kick to her gut. The impact forced her to stumble back several meters. The villagers gasped and murmured, some stepping back, others whispering encouragement.
Chris moved cautiously toward Alica, eyes sharp. She clutched her stomach, grimacing in pain but her spirit unbroken. As she went to lift her wooden sword, Chris stepped firmly on it, pinning it to the ground, his spear pointed at her.
Alica's eyes blazed with frustration, anger bubbling inside, but the outcome was clear—Chris had won. The villagers exchanged looks of sympathy mixed with admiration.
Sarah stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Alica's head. "That was a great fight. Both of you have improved, but Chris is still stronger for now."
Alica scowled but listened as Sarah continued kindly, "You're stronger than I was at your age. I didn't even know how to hold a wooden sword properly. Losing is part of learning, and if you grow from this, you'll become unstoppable."
Chris nodded in agreement. "I wasn't as strong as Alica when I was her age."
Alica's anger softened slightly, and she scanned the battlefield looking for Shirou and Cherry, but they were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are Shirou and Cherry?" she asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
Sarah glanced around, "They're not here yet... the match must still be going on somewhere else."
Nearby, Shirou darted about, narrowly dodging the chained wooden knife Cherry wielded. Villagers watched with bated breath, some cheering as skill met skill.
"What are you doing? Running won't win!" Cherry taunted.
"If I win, you have to do whatever I say," Cherry added with a challenging smirk.
Cherry lunged again with her chained wooden knife but failed to land a hit. Shirou found himself trapped in a corner against the village wall, the crowd encircling them in silence.
Cherry vanished briefly using stealth, ratcheting up the tension. Shirou closed his eyes to focus.
As Cherry threw the chained wooden knife again, Shirou caught it, yanked sharply, throwing her off balance. Seizing the moment, he stepped forward and struck her stomach hard with his wooden sword.
"Ouch! That hurts!" Cherry exclaimed, rolling away, surprised and wary.
Just as Cherry realized the match was still not over, she lifted her head—and saw Shirou already pointing his wooden sword at her, breathing heavily but determined.
The villagers around them were stunned, confusion and shock spreading through the crowd. Cherry, the third strongest fighter in the village, being defeated by a mere child—it was a sight none had expected.
Whispers filled the air, a mix of disbelief and awe, as the young warriors continued to shape their destiny before their eyes.
Alica stood frozen, eyes wide with shock and amazement. "Shirou won? But how can he be able to defeat Big Sister Cherry?" she whispered, disbelief and admiration mingling in her voice.
Chris shared her surprise, his eyebrows raised. It wasn't just Alica—everyone was stunned that Shirou had managed to overcome Cherry.
Sarah stepped forward to explain gently, "Shirou didn't win because he's just stronger. He took multiple hits but learned Cherry's fighting pattern through each strike. Then, he cleverly led her into a cornered area where Cherry could only attack directly in front of her. That gave Shirou the advantage he needed to defeat her."
Chris's eyes widened with admiration. "That's incredible deduction skill for such a young fighter," he said, nodding appreciatively.
Alica, on the other hand, felt a swirl of jealousy mixed with shock. She was amazed by Shirou's sharp mind and skill, and it stoked a competitive fire within her. "How did he even figure all that out so quickly?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with surprise and a hint of envy.
Shirou slowly lowered his wooden sword as Cherry suddenly leapt toward him, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
"Whaaa... Shirou, you're such a skillful, bright kid," Cherry said, her voice warm and proud. "I always knew you were the cutest, but to see you this strong... You've made me proud to be your big sister."
Just as Cherry leaned in to kiss Shirou, he quickly used the handle of his wooden sword to tap her in the stomach. Cherry tumbled backward, rolling left and right, a surprised laugh escaping her lips.
Chris stepped forward with a wide grin. "So, the only remaining challengers are you and me, Shirou."
"But," Chris added, eyes narrowing slightly, "I don't think you're in any condition to continue."
Shirou panted heavily, the exhausting fight against Cherry having sapped most of his energy. Sarah stepped forward with concern, prepared to call the match. But Shirou interrupted her, remembering the words of his late mother Eliza:
"A war is not over until one opponent falls. As long as I'm standing, I am not going to lose."
Sarah smiled softly, recalling how Shirou had fought her fiercely at camp—never giving up until the very end.
With renewed resolve, Shirou and Chris took their battle stances once more. But this time, Chris rushed aggressively toward Shirou, switching the pace.
Shirou bent backward gracefully, evading the strike, and while dodging, he kicked Chris's wooden spear hand. Chris stumbled, losing balance. Shirou stepped forward and swung hard at Chris's stomach.
Chris struggled but defended with his wooden spear. Yet the force of Shirou's strike was so powerful it snapped Chris's spear clean in two.
Gasps and murmurs of amazement rippled through the crowd. Alica and the villagers watched in awe, impressed by Shirou's skill and tenacity, just as they had been during his fight against Cherry.
But then Sarah's voice rang out gently yet firmly, "It is over. Shirou has lost."
The impact of the fight finally caught up with Shirou. Though he stood strong after his final strike, exhaustion overwhelmed him as he tried to steady himself. His legs wobbled uncontrollably, his vision blurred, and he collapsed forward—unconscious, but far from seriously harmed.
Alica and Cherry rushed to his side instantly, faces filled with concern. Cherry knelt down and gently shook Shirou's shoulder. "Shirou! Stay with us!" she urged, her worry clear but hopeful.
The crowd held their breath, relieved that his collapse was from sheer fatigue, not injury.
Sarah declared, "This match is over. And as everyone can see, Chris is the last one standing. That means Cherry and Chris win this team duel."
Though the announcement was clear, no one felt truly satisfied. The victory carried a strange weight, the unease lingering heavily in the air.
As evening fell, Shirou slowly regained consciousness, feeling the gentle sway as Chris carried him. The group was heading home, voices low and calm.
"So, you're awake now," Sarah said softly, warmth in her voice.
Shirou nodded, already accepting the results of the team duel.
Chris smiled gently but with concern. "You know, Shirou, I think it's fairer to say the match was a draw rather than Cherry and I winning outright. You gave us your all."
Shirou shook his head. "Loss is part of life. If I learned anything from this, I grow—just like my late mother said to me."
Alica smiled softly. "That's exactly what my mom told me too. Your mother must have been amazing."
Cherry nodded enthusiastically. "Yup, yup! That's why Shirou's such a great kid."
Shirou's chest swelled with pride at their words and the memory of his late mother Eliza. Her spirit seemed to shine through him, a source of strength and hope for the battles yet to come.