CHAPTER 2 — PART 6: EDGELORD IS THY NAME!

Reina slowly pushed herself up, staring at me as if she had just seen a ghost.

Her cheeks were a little pink.

Not much.

But enough.

Enough for everyone to notice.

Katsumi pointed right at her.

"Ha!"

Reina instantly turned her head.

"That was one throw."

"That's all it took to fluster you."

"I am not flustered."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You totally are."

Orime leaned in with a grin.

"Wow. My sister actually got tossed."

"Shut up, Orime."

"Oh, she's embarrassed."

"Say one more word, and I'll throw you too."

Orime laughed.

"You couldn't even if you tried."

Reina narrowed her eyes.

"Wanna test that?"

The two sisters started glaring at each other like they were ready to start a war.

Katsumi crossed her arms, still staring at me.

I could see it in her face.

She was torn between being proud of me and wanting to punch Reina for being too close to me a minute ago.

Then she looked at my stance again.

Her eyes softened.

A little.

"You... actually learned fast."

I scratched the back of my head, suddenly feeling awkward again now that the moment was over.

"Yeah... well... I did pay attention."

Reina sat up fully, still looking at me with that strange expression.

Then she laughed softly.

"Not bad, Yami."

I blinked.

"Not bad?"

She stood up slowly and dusted herself off.

"No. Better than that."

Her grin came back, but this one was different.

Less smug.

More impressed.

"Maybe I really did pick a good student."

Katsumi clicked her tongue.

"Tch. Don't praise him so much. He'll get annoying."

"I already am annoying," I said.

"Yes, you are," Katsumi replied immediately.

Orime snorted.

"At least he's not as bad as you, sis."

"Excuse me?"

Reina and Orime started arguing again.

I just stood there, still a little stunned at what I had done.

I had actually thrown her.

Reina.

The gothic mommy monster of the gym.

And for one brief second, she had looked flustered.

That was probably the best thing that had happened to me all day.

Maybe all week.

I looked at my own hand, then back at her.

Yeah.

I could get used to this.

I stared at my own hand for a second.

Then I looked back at Reina.

My chest was still rising and falling hard, but my mind was already burning again.

I wanted more.

Not because I was cocky.

Because I was hungry.

Hungry to learn.

Hungry to get better.

Hungry to prove I could do this.

I lifted my head and looked right at Reina.

"...Again."

The whole gym went quiet.

Katsumi blinked.

Orime stopped mid-breath.

Even Reina's eyes widened a little.

"Hmm?" Reina said, tilting her head. "What did you say?"

"I said... again."

I clenched my fists.

"One more round."

Reina stared at me for a second, then her lips curled into a slow smile.

"Oho..."

That smile looked dangerous.

Not mean. Not cruel.

Just... interested.

"You want another round already?"

"Yeah."

"You barely caught your breath."

"I know."

"You do realize I'm going easy on you."

"I know that too."

Reina's eyes gleamed.

Now she was really looking at me.

Katsumi crossed her arms, but I could tell she was watching closely.

Orime leaned toward her sister and muttered, "He's really asking for more?"

Katsumi muttered back, "He's insane."

I didn't care.

I took a breath.

"I want to get stronger. So teach me more."

For once, Reina didn't joke right away.

She just looked at me.

And looked.

Then her smile softened a little.

"Well... alright, handsome."

She rolled her shoulders and stepped onto the mat again.

"But this time, I'm not just going to throw you."

My stomach sank a little.

That sounded bad.

Very bad.

Reina pointed at me.

"Come here."

I walked over.

She moved in close right away.

Too close.

My brain instantly started to fail me.

Again.

She slid one hand behind my neck and the other under my arm, guiding me into position.

"Your mistake last time was simple," she said softly. "You were thinking too hard."

"I was not—"

"You were."

"I was focusing."

"Same thing."

She smiled, clearly enjoying this.

"Your body can learn fast, but your face is still hopeless."

"Katsumi, help me!"

Katsumi looked away with a red face.

"Don't drag me into this."

Reina gave a tiny laugh, then pressed her chest lightly against my shoulder as she turned my body.

My whole brain went white.

Again.

She was just so close.

Her hand moved across my back, then her fingers tapped my waist.

"Relax," she whispered. "If you stay stiff, you'll fall apart."

I swallowed hard.

"R-Reina... you're way too close..."

"Oh?"

She leaned in even closer.

"How close is too close?"

My face went instantly red.

Orime slapped a hand over her own mouth.

Katsumi turned bright red too and shouted, "STOP TEASING HIM LIKE THAT!!"

Reina ignored her completely.

Instead, she circled around me and hooked her arm under mine, then moved behind me in one smooth step.

"Now hold still."

I tried.

I really did.

But having Reina behind me, with her voice right by my ear and her body pressing against mine while she adjusted my stance...

My legs almost gave out.

"Yami?" Reina said, now clearly amused. "You're shaking."

"I'm not!"

"You are."

"I'm just tired..."

Reina hummed softly.

Then she smiled in a way that made my soul leave my body.

"Good. Then this next part will be easy."

"Huh?"

Too late.

She suddenly slipped one leg around mine, locked my arm, and pulled me backward into a tight hold.

"W-Whoa!?"

My back hit her chest.

Her arms held me in place.

My face turned the color of a tomato in one second flat.

Reina rested her chin on my shoulder and whispered, "Can you still think now?"

I made a horrible sound.

Something between a squeak and a wheeze.

Katsumi's face went nuclear.

"REINA!!"

Orime turned away, trying and failing not to laugh.

"Oh my god... she's killing him."

Reina smiled like a demon.

"Come on, Yami. You asked for another round."

I tried to move.

I really did.

But she had me trapped so tightly that my whole body locked up.

Her warm breath brushed my ear again.

"Your heart is beating so fast."

"St—stop saying that..."

"Why? It's cute."

"I might devour you whole~."

That was it.

That was the final hit.

My brain completely shorted out.

I heard Katsumi shout something.

I heard Orime laugh.

I heard Reina say something smug.

Then the world tilted.

My legs gave out.

And everything went dark.

When I woke up, I was on the mat.

Amai was sitting next to me with a deep frown.

"Master... you passed out from embarrassment."

I made a weak noise.

Reina was standing nearby, arms crossed, looking very pleased with herself.

Katsumi was red with fury.

Orime was laughing so hard she had to hold onto her stomach.

Reina tilted her head and smiled.

"Well. You wanted another round."

I covered my face with both hands.

This was the worst.

This was humiliation.

This was also somehow my own fault.

Reina crouched down a little and tapped my forehead.

"But... you did ask for it."

I peeked through my fingers.

She was smiling.

And now I was mad about that.

Because she knew exactly what she did.

And she enjoyed every second of it.

This is how most of the training went: every single day, being teased and touched by Reina was like absolute hell.

We pumped iron, then this gothic mommy shoved her wrestling style to me; it even had a name of sorts: Seductress Style...

Why am I not surprised?

After week 3 of mental stress and body torture, we had a little conversation about wrestling names.

The four of us were sitting around after training, still sweaty, sore, and a little too tired to keep pretending we were normal.

Reina was stretching one leg over the bench like she owned the whole gym.

Orime was sitting cross-legged on the floor, grinning as she had already planned something stupid.

Katsumi had her arms crossed and looked like she was one insult away from starting a war.

And me?

I was just trying not to die from the last round Reina had given me.

Then Reina clapped her hands together.

"Alright. Important question."

I groaned.

"Please don't say something stupid."

"Too late," Orime said with a bright smile.

Reina ignored us both.

"We need wrestling names."

I blinked.

"...For what?"

"For all of us, dummy."

Katsumi frowned. "Why?"

"Because we're in a wrestling arc, silly."

"...That... does make sense, but it's really fucking stupid," I muttered.

Reina smiled. "And yet, here you are."

Orime leaned forward, eyes sparkling.

"Hehe~! I already have one."

Katsumi looked away. "I don't care what mine is."

"Liar," Orime and Reina said at the same time.

Katsumi flinched. "Tch."

Reina pointed at me first.

"Alright, Yami. You go first."

I stared at her.

"Why do I go first?"

"Because I said so."

"That is a terrible reason."

"It's the best reason."

I sighed and leaned back.

"Fine. Mine better be something cool."

Orime grinned. "You? Cool? Pffft!"

"Shut up."

Reina tapped her chin, looking me over.

"Hmmm... you're dark, a NEET, moody, rude, and always look like you want to fight the world."

"That's called having a personality."

"That's called being an asshole," Katsumi muttered.

"I heard that." I shot a glare at Katsumi.

"And?" Katsumi just shrugged.

"I agree." Orime burst out laughing.

Reina smiled like she was enjoying this way too much.

"So for you... hmm..."

She snapped her fingers.

"EdgeLord."

There was a pause.

Then I slowly turned my head.

"...What?"

"EdgeLord," Reina repeated, nodding as if she had just solved world peace.

Katsumi snorted.

Orime covered her mouth and tried not to laugh too hard.

I stared at Reina.

"Why the fuck would you call me that?"

"Because you're edgy."

"I'm not edgy."

"You absolutely are."

"I'm just honest."

"You're brutally honest."

"Because people are stupid."

"Exactly," Reina said, pleased. "EdgeLord."

"No. Absolutely not."

Orime was wiping tears from her eyes.

"That is so stupid. It fits him perfectly."

"Traitor," I said flatly.

Orime grinned. "It's funny!"

Katsumi crossed her arms and looked away, still trying not to laugh.

Reina pointed at her next.

"Alright. Katsumi."

Katsumi immediately sat up straighter.

"...What?"

"I know yours already."

"You do?"

"Yes."

Katsumi looked nervous now.

That was kind of funny.

Orime leaned forward. "Ooooh?"

Reina grinned at her.

"You're the wannabe hero type. Strong, brave, loud, but you overthink everything and get insecure the second you feel behind."

Katsumi's face went red.

"I do not—"

"Yes, you do," I said.

She shot me a glare.

"Yami, shut up."

"No, he's right," Orime said.

"Knew it," I muttered.

Katsumi looked ready to explode.

Reina held up a hand.

"So your wrestling name should be..."

She thought for a second.

Then her face lit up.

"Starflare."

Katsumi blinked.

"...Starflare?"

"Yeah," Reina said. "Because you want to shine so badly. You want to be seen. You want to prove yourself. You're like a little firework that keeps trying to become a star."

Katsumi stared at her.

For once, she didn't look angry.

Just a little embarrassed.

"A... firework...?"

Reina tilted her head. "Did I miss?"

Katsumi looked away hard. "...No. It's just dumb."

"You like it."

"I do not."

"You do."

"I hate you."

"Sure you do."

Orime clapped. "That one actually sounds cool!"

Katsumi immediately looked at her. "I didn't ask for your opinion."

"Still cool."

"Shut up."

Reina turned to Orime next, smiling a little softer.

"Now you."

Orime straightened up like she was waiting all day for this.

"Me! Me! Me!"

"Yes, you."

Orime puffed out her chest proudly.

"I already have a name, but I want to hear everyone's opinion!"

"I'm bright, cute, playful, and everyone loves me!"

Katsumi made a face. "You're also loud."

"And annoying," I added.

Orime gasped.

"Yami!!"

"What? You are."

Reina laughed. "She is."

Orime pointed at both of us. "You guys are mean."

"Correct," I said.

Reina rubbed her chin.

"Hmm... you're like a flower, but also like someone who would throw a party in the middle of a fight."

Orime gasped again, delighted.

"That is so me!"

"Yeah," Reina said. "So your name should be... Sunpetal."

There was silence.

Orime blinked.

Then she smiled bigger.

"Ooooh! That's cute! It's even better than 'Orime-sama!'"

Katsumi stared at her. "Orime-sama?"

"Yeah! That was my name!"

"Jesus Christ... So you like your new name?" I asked.

"Yeah! It's pretty!"

I frowned. "It sounds like something a little kid would wear on a necklace."

Orime turned to me, offended.

"You say that like it's bad."

"It is bad."

"No, it's not."

"It is."

"Shut up, EdgeLord."

I glared at her.

"Don't call me that."

"You hate it because it fits."

"Fuck off."

Reina laughed so hard she had to lean back.

"Oh, this is great."

Katsumi looked at Reina with suspicion.

"Wait. You haven't given yourself one yet."

Reina smirked.

"Oh, I already have one~."

Katsumi's eyes lit up a bit. "I'm curious now."

Reina stood up slowly and struck a pose like she was already on a stage.

A little too dramatic.

A little too much.

As always.

Then she pointed at herself with a smug grin.

"Seductress."

There was a dead silence.

I stared at her.

Katsumi stared at her.

Orime stared at her.

Reina waited for applause like a complete idiot.

Then I spoke.

"That's not a wrestling name. That's just your normal behavior."

Katsumi snorted.

Orime collapsed laughing.

Reina put a hand on her chest like she was wounded.

"Yami!!"

"What? I'm serious."

"You asshole."

"I know."

Katsumi crossed her arms and muttered, "It does fit, though."

Reina turned slowly.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Katsumi looked away.

Orime was still laughing.

"Seductress is perfect for her," Orime wheezed.

"I hate all of you," Katsumi said.

"No you don't," I said.

"Yes I do."

"You're blushing."

"I am not!"

"You totally are."

"Shut up, Yami!"

Reina smiled as she had just won everything.

"See? Team names!"

I groaned.

"I still hate EdgeLord."

"You'll get used to it," Reina said.

"I'd rather get hit by a truck."

"That can be arranged," Katsumi muttered.

Orime gasped again. "Wow, we're really a family now."

"We are not a family," I said.

Reina smiled and leaned in a little.

"Oh? Then what are we?"

I looked at all three of them.

At Reina, smug and dangerous.

At Orime, bright and annoying.

At Katsumi, red-faced and ready to fight the world.

Then I sighed.

"...A pain in my ass."

Silence.

Then all three of them burst out laughing.

Even Katsumi.

Especially Katsumi.

And for some reason, that made the whole damn thing feel worth it.