Tetsu's breath came in short, rapid bursts, his body dripping with sweat as he faced off against Raven. The arena roared around them, but all he could focus on was the dark, calculating stare of his opponent. Raven hadn't slowed down at all. In fact, he looked like he was just getting started.
Tetsu grit his teeth. "You're not bad, but I'm not giving up that easy!" he shouted, planting his feet hard into the ground.
With a pulse of energy, the kinetic amplifiers Eri had built into his boots surged to life. Blue jets of propulsion flared at his heels, launching him forward like a missile. His fist connected with Raven's forearm, the shockwave rippling out with a boom loud enough to make some of the audience flinch.
"Punch harder, move faster," Eri's voice echoed in his head. The amplifiers were doing exactly what they were designed for—supercharging every strike and step.
Tetsu kept going, launching into a furious barrage of attacks, boosted by the built-in propulsion in his gloves and boots. For a moment, it looked like he was turning the tide.
But Raven wasn't done.
With eerie precision, Raven parried Tetsu's next hit and brought his knee up into Tetsu's chest. The air left Tetsu's lungs in a grunt, and before he could recover, Raven spun with a crescent kick, launching him backward.
Tetsu skidded across the arena floor. Sparks burst from his boots—the right kinetic amplifier flickered erratically, glowing red.
"Crap…" Tetsu muttered, staggering to his feet. His gloves began to spark too. The tech was overheating. He had pushed Eri's gear past its limits, and now it was beginning to fall apart.
But he didn't stop. He couldn't. He launched forward one last time, letting out a yell as he threw a haymaker aimed for Raven's chest.
Snap!
His glove cracked at the wrist. The propulsion died out mid-punch. Raven ducked and retaliated with a sweeping kick followed by a heavy punch to Tetsu's side, sending him flying into the wall of the arena.
BOOM.
Silence.
Then the match was called.
"Winner: Raven of Team Darkshade!"
Tetsu lay there, breathing hard, his body aching. As the medics approached, he waved them off and stood up slowly. His gloves hung loosely around his wrists, partially broken, the metal scraped and scorched. His boots sparked a final time before powering down completely.
He walked out of the stadium tunnel, head low, feeling the sting of defeat.
But just outside, someone was waiting.
Eri.
She stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot lightly. When Tetsu looked up and saw her, his face burned red. He rubbed the back of his neck, staring down at his busted gloves.
"I'm sorry, Eri," he said quietly. "I broke it. I really am… I tried to hold back, but I had to push it. I—"
Eri stepped forward, cutting him off with a light flick to his forehead.
"You idiot," she said, smiling. "It's fine. You fought with everything you had. That's what they were made for."
Tetsu blinked, caught off guard.
"I can make another one. Better even," she added. "Besides… that was a pretty awesome fight."
Then, without warning, she leaned in and kissed him gently on the cheek.
"You earned that."
Tetsu's entire body froze.
His cheeks turned bright pink. "W-Wh-What was that—"
His knees wobbled.
"Oh no, don't faint on me, dummy," Eri sighed, catching him just in time.
She wrapped his arm around her shoulder and started walking him toward the infirmary, Tetsu's eyes wide and dazed.
"You good?" she teased, her voice laced with amusement.
"Y-Yeah… totally fine…" he muttered, cheeks still on fire, his temperature climbing like a rocket.
"Right. And I'm a talking bear."
As they disappeared into the hallway, the medics glanced at each other, confused at how a boy who just got thrown into a wall looked more lovesick than injured.