Friendly sparring

Takumi was waiting outside his apartment for the girls to be ready. The door finally opened and Yuriko stepped out first, wearing a facemask and an oversized hoodie.

Takumi: a hoodie and a belt on top?

Yuriko: This is the latest fashion trend, well, it was some months ago, but i dont care, i like it

Amano walked out wearing Takumi’s shirt and pants, a cropped hoodie on top, presumably Yuriko’s, her horns were barely covered by a baseball cap, and she was also wearing a facemask

Takumi: Hey, what happened to you recovering your strength? shouldn’t you be able to manifest your own clothes?

Amano: you see, my clothes are way too different from normal human clothes

Takumi: why grab my clothes tho?, just grab clothes from your priestess, or get in the plushie

Amano: I wont be able to fight properly in plushie form!, and I'm afraid I've outgrown Yuriko’s size…

Yuriko: shush, you’re wearing my hoodie and my cap

Takumi: whatever, just dont act weird and follow me

They arrived at the dojo, earlier than usual. The master was sitting in lotus position, hunched over

Amano: you did end up taking us to some ruins

Takumi: the dojo is not in ruins, we’re just going through a bad streak

Yuriko: Who's that old man? is he dead?

Takumi: That's my master, and no, he probably just fell asleep while meditating, just leave him alone. We'll spar on this side so we don't step on him by mistake

Amano: a dojo huh? Yeah, I can see this place has witnessed many battles, the energy here is great, it's getting me pumped up!

Yuriko: What energy?, this place is depressing

Master: Most interesting, who are your parents?

nobody noticed when the master woke up and walked behind Amano. She threw a back kick in a startled reflex, but the master just deflected it without effort

Amano: woah! my apologies. When did you get there?, i did not detect you at all. You must be pretty strong. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Amano, deit—

Takumi: a fellow student from university!, same for that girl over there

Master: i see, these must be the girls you told me about the other day heh heh

Yuriko: huh? What did you tell him?

Takumi: that you’re entitled and annoying. anyway, master, we were just about to have a sparring match

Yuriko: Amano, let me fight him first, he’s been getting away with insults for too long

Amano: but i’ve been looking forward to this moment for so long, let me go first, it’ll be over quickly

Takumi: you guys talk like you can beat me, how about you both come at me?

Master: how about I join? that way the small one can get her revenge while i test the big one heh heh

Amano: i like the idea, you seem pretty strong too old man

Takumi: you guys fight on that half, this half is ours

The 4 fighters got into position, Yuriko glared at Takumi with eyes not of friendly competition, meanwhile Amano felt like the old man was not looking at her face but checking out her entire body.

As soon as the match started, Amano dashed towards the master, she was sure she had hit him square in the stomach with a kick, but it was like hitting air, the master didn’t go anywhere, yet he remained untouched. She thought he just got lucky but after trying a flurry of hits, she realized that the man was deflecting and dodging her strikes with almost imperceptible efficiency

Meanwhile, Takumi was surprised at how much stronger Yuriko’s hits were compared to their fight in the alleyway. He was on the defensive, trying to find an opening in her unpredictable and acrobatic offensive. Striking was not working so he resorted to grappling, he let himself be struck by a kick, harder than he expected, got a hold on it, and started his takedown technique. Yuriko was taken aback, she was clearly not used to being grappled, but intuitively backflipped her way out

Yuriko: Is that even allowed?

Takumi: if you don't know how to punch, kick, and grapple, do you really know how to fight?, use your kiseki code, perhaps you’ll have a chance that way

Yuriko: big words for someone who can't land a hit. you’re not worth my kiseki code

Amano was getting tired of being embarrassed by the old man, the proud deity of fighting was looking goofy, swinging at the air trying to hit an old man

Amano: (he is very precise, moving only enough to make my attacks useless… in that case, i’ll force him to spend more energy, you can't move out of the way if i own the way!)

Amano got closer and continued her attacks, not aiming directly at him, but now through him, a strike finally landed, and before she could celebrate in her mind, she was instantly swept off her feet, only her fast reflexes allowed her to land like a cat

Amano: haha! punished instantly, you truly are strong, i missed fighting so much!

her attacks got more relentless, now more attacks were landing for both parties. As for Takumi and Yuriko, they were both trying to adapt to each other, she was trying to strike in a way that wouldn’t be so easily caught, and he was constantly pushing forward trying to get a hold of her, and when he did, she would struggle a moment figuring out how to get out, rinse and repeat

Yuriko: stop grabbing my clothes! Do you want to undress me? lecher!

Takumi: stop flicking your strikes then!

before they could resume, the alarm rang, signaling the end of the round

Yuriko: if this was an official match, i would have won by points

Takumi: as if!

Master: Very interesting, what style do you young ones practice?, it looks familiar, yet so foreign

Amano: “style” ?, hmm, i dont know, i just listen to my instinct, its in my nature, im the deity of fighting after all

Master: “deity” huh?

Takumi: That's what she says! see? told you, they think so high of themselves

Master: it appears so heh heh, its normal for a tengu to act like that

the master revealed Yuriko’s cap in his hand, he tossed it back to Amano, the atmosphere got tense, they didn’t expect to be found out so quickly

Takumi: tengu? that girl just likes to cospla—

Master: I touched her horns many times when we were fighting, i know real horns when i touch them heh heh

Amano: I guess there’s no hiding it from you, but as i said before, im not a tengu, im Amano, deity of fighting, raging storms, and devouring, you’d be wise to pay your respects, and keep all what you’ve seen a secret

Master: Ah yes, the deity of fighting, raging storms, devouring… fury and defying the heavens, Amanozako.

The name rang like a familiar tune in Amano, a mix of pride and dread stirred inside her.

Master: But, if you were truly her, I would not be alive right now. As you may know, deities are extremely powerful beings

Amano: thats… a long story

Yuriko: “zako” ? her name is just Amano, A-ma-no

Master: Besides, Amanozako is said to be especially vicious, and you seem to be a well mannered, polite young lady. There's another being that could coincide with you, called Amano—

Amano: dont say it!... please, i dont like that name, for some reason…

Amano put her hand on her chest and her gaze avoided the eyes of the others, Takumi and Yuriko were confused at the sight

Yuriko: stop tormenting her!, as her priestess, I will not allow this nonsense

Master: my apologies heh heh it was not my intention to upset you lovely ladies. I just couldn’t help but remember the past, a time when deities walked among us. I thought I'd never get to see it again

Takumi: master, we would really appreciate you kept their identity a secret, i’ll properly explain

Master: You can have my word of honor that I will take their secret to the grave. in return, i would really appreciate if you guys did a few things for me, like fixing the barbell, and the hole on the roof heh heh heh

the atmosphere loosened a bit, everyone present knew how important “word of honor” and “word of deity” promises were

Master: Hmmm I don't understand, I thought the miracle war had come to an end, why does she still have to hide?. if she’s still alive, it means she is from the winning side, but then…

the master’s eyes stared blankly into nothingness, he mumbled and paced around the tatami while Amano covered her horns and tried to understand what was happening

Takumi: It's been a while since this happened

Yuriko: Is the old man alright?

Takumi: i think so, he acts like this when people ask him stuff from the past

Amano: what happened in the past? and what does it have to do with “deities walking among us” ?

Takumi: Why are you asking me? you’re a deity, aren’t you supposed to know?

Amano: It's… it's a long story

Yuriko: one that could put you and your master at risk