“Haaah,” I sighed, stretching my limbs.

It was the next day, and you know how they told us that the last test was going to be conducted? Yeah, since today is that day we were instructed to form into pairs and fight two against two.

The problem was we couldn’t choose our partner. Many of the students were either groaning or sighing like me. But it also wasn’t going to be chosen by the instructors, so how do our partners get chosen?

Well, it turns out our opponent from the previous match was going to be our partner. So this is how I ended up in this troublesome situation.

“Ugh, this is the worst,” she mumbled, distancing herself away from me.

“Don’t get in my way!” Abigail Basset, pointed towards me.

“Listen here, just because you beat me doesn’t mean anything. I do things my own way,” I replied, swinging my sword.

“Heh, so you do understand! Very well, let’s do things our own way.” Instead of being angry, she surprisedly grinned, ready for the battle.

“Abigail Basset and Taetel Chaim against Princess Ortlinde Azalea Amidonia and Mitsugi Miki.” The instructor shouted.

“Just my luck,” I grumbled, heading to get beaten up.

When passing the instructors, I saw him grinned, placing my hand on my shoulder. “Good luck, you’ll need it.”

“As if,” I retorted, pushing his hand away.

“That’s the attitude,” he chuckled, clapping his hand.

Standing next to Abigail, I scanned the surroundings to see if I could use any to my advantage.

“Begin!” As if to mock me for trying to strategize, he quickly began the match.

You’re crazy if I’m doing this, I’m quitting this.

I immediately dashed at the princess, swinging my sword with full intent to win the match. But before I could even touch a single hair, she disappeared from my sight. Following my instinct, I swung my sword to my left, parring her attack.

Being overwhelmed by her raw power, I was forced to retreat. Yet at the moment of trying, she knocked my sword away from my hand. I don’t know what went through her head, but she discarded her wooden sword.

“Have it your way then!” I shouted, throwing a kick to her face.

She raised her arm, making full impact yet there was no damage present. In response she punched my face, I tried doging but that didn’t go well as I still got hit in the cheek. She then made a palm and moved it upwards right at my chin area. Due to me being dazed from the impact from the last attack, I couldn’t respond at all.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

When the attack connected, my legs lost all my strength and I collapsed on the ground. I breathed heavily as I attempted to stand back up. Each centimeter I moved felt like I was being stabbed with needles, yet I preserved. She watched my actions with an apathetic face as if looking down on me.

Seeing this I gave up, my cheek kissing the grass. I no longer cared, and waited for the match to be over. And it was over as soon as I gave up, it seemed like Mitsugi had beaten Abigail easier than I expected.

As such, the match ended with me being on the ground and Abigail knocked unconscious. It appeared like I was going to be left here to rot, but Mitsugi helped me up, supporting me as I struggled walking.

“I have lost both of my matches, how unfortunate,” I said, disappointed with myself.

“Like you said, this is the princess we’re talking about,” Mitsugi replied, in a way of comforting my loss.

“While that was true, I didn’t know you were this strong,” I expressed my shock since he got embarrassed in his match.

“I mean, when you fight someone way above your level then of course you’ll look weak,” he explained, a bit annoyed.

After carrying me he let me on the ground. Feeling the grass, I plucked the grass since I had nothing better to do since my whole body hurt, especially my legs as it throbbed like it had a heart of its own.

“Damn, she’s a bitch for doing this to me,” I complained, hitting the ground.

“Ey, I wouldn’t really insult royalty, especially the princess,” he looked around if anyone heard it.

“You’re right, sorry for the outburst,” I replied, my anger nowhere to be seen.

“It’s all good, people always let their emotions get the better of them.”

Battle kept going while we talked about a few things. Soon we were joined by a certain girl. “Hello, Taetel, Mitsugi. I’m back from winning my match,” she laughed in a haughty way.

“Louise, you actually won?” I asked, surprised.

“Huh!? You expect me to lose?”

“No, it’s just that I assume you wouldn’t get along with your partner.”

This is just my opinion, but I wouldn’t let anyone disrespect me like that and get away with it. I may or may not sabotage them. Wait, no. I wouldn’t do that, I’m not that type of person.

“Wait…how do you know our names?” Mitsugi asked a pretty good question.

“Oh, I was observing the matches and I heard you two being called,” she responded, pointing at where our battle took place.

“So you saw how I lost?” I scratched the back of my head, not knowing how to feel.

“Hm? Pretty much,” she said, giving a short response.

It is what it is, is all I can say. I’m not surprised—

“Wait a minute since it’s the princess does it mean everyone who could, saw the match?” I came to a terrifying conclusion.

“Now that I think about it, there indeed was a large crowd,” she put a finger on her lips acting oblivious.

“Sucks to be you,” Mitsugi patted my back.

Okay, I now know that one instructor definitely doesn’t like me. He had to rig it so I faced her. What did I do to annoy him? I did miss out on the feedback given by them, but that couldn’t be it, right?

Nah, even if it was there was absolutely no reason to do this to me. The feeling is mutual now, he dislikes me and I dislike him. Class was about to end and I had to force myself to stand despite my pain. But I had to walk it off.

Haaah.