Which then, Kuroyuki took a cat-foot stance.

    …I''m surprised. Her form is excellent.

    “A Nekoashi-Dachi (猫足立ち). This is a Karate-Do (空手道)." I answered.

    "…In just one glance…?" Kuroyuki inadvertently murmured.

    Oh, I was correct.

    "That''s because you had a solid form. Are you perhaps, skilled in karate…?"

    Somehow, Kuroyuki''s eyes looked up for a split second.

    "…A little." She answered after blinking twice.

    She''s humble than I thought.

    "A Kumi Kata (組み方)…? It''s Judo (柔道)?"

    "………………"

    Kuroyuki then switched her stance without replying.

    A standing technique— tachi waza (立技).

    Back stance— dwi-kubi (???).

    Horse stance (马步) with her fists on the side of her ?h?st, pigeon-toed.

    Left horse stance (左马步) with her fists lowered to her waist.

    Dragon stance (龙步).

    Figure of the three parts (三体式).

    The flicker.

    Rocking back and forth— the ginga (jeen-gah).

    Knees bent and waist hinged.

    A fighting right grip stance…?

    …A natural-looking spin…?

    "…Now, what are those twelve stances…?" Kuroyuki asked after she finishes her demonstration.

    …So, my tip is a total of twelve stances.

    “Starting from the tachi waza (立技)… that’d be Aikido (合気道), then Taekwondo (跆拳道), Wing Chun (咏春), Tai Chi (太极), Bā Guà Zhǎng (八卦掌), Xìng Yì Quán (形意拳), Muay, Boxing, Capoeira, Wrestling…”

    "…And the last two?"

    "Your right grip is more solid compared to your left grip Judo… if there''s another martial art similar to that, then it''d be Sambo." I said. "As for the spin… I really had no idea."

    "…A pity," Kuroyuki replied. "…You would''ve gotten a perfect score."

    To be honest, I don''t really care about that.

    I know I''ve seen that spin somewhere… it wasn''t just a simple spin— it was meant to dodge your opponent''s strike while countering it by twisting their limbs to lock them…

    "Systema?" I inadvertently answered.

    Kuroyuki then stares at me with her eyes widen.

    "…And… you got a perfect score." She said. "…And with just one glance in each form."

    Is she pouting? She is, is she?

    It''s all thanks to my dad''s research journal that I''m able to tell in just one glance.

    "Did Blaze knew all of those martial arts…?"

    "…Perhaps there''s more," Kuroyuki added, with an unsure look.

    "These third-rate martial arts had their own weakness… but if he mastered them, then he could compensate the weakness by switching to different styles…!"

    "…Indeed. He''s nearly impregnable if you rely on martial arts alone." Kuroyuki told me. "…He could be your worst match."

    "Then… what about Persia, whose 3rd in place?"

    "…I could only say that she''s indeed the young mistress from the Silverlight family— and probably, my worst match."

    "Right… you had zero resistance against magic."

    "…Do you think she''s only good in magic?" Kuroyuki asked me.

    "Even if magic can''t work on me, but— nope, not at all," I replied.

    "…I saw you pushing her away from the sword I threw."

    "She''s trying to shield me from it."

    "…Shield you…?" Kuroyuki inadvertently murmured. "…She could easily block an attack like that with just one of her cards— like a barrier."

    Kuroyuki formed an ice card and ice sword, demonstrating it to me.

    The card was solid, as if it was stuck to a wall, with the sword falling to the ground after it hits the card.

    "That easily?" I inadvertently murmured with surprise.

    Kuroyuki then gives a thought with her fingers placed below her chin.

    "…Did Persia say or do anything strange to you?"

    "Yeah, tons."

    "…?"

    Kuroyuki was dumbfounded.

    "…Like what…?"

    "Like how she m??n?d like an animal in heat when I touched her, like how she wants to take off her clothes even if she''s embarrassed, like how she squeezed herself and wants to spoiled like a princess—"

    "…Stop!" Kuroyuki raised her voice. "…Mnn, I suppose those are strange indeed…"

    She had such a bitter and pained look.

    "…Seems like you weren''t able to escape from her clutches either," I said.

    "…Ngh……" Kuroyuki nods.

    As expected from Persia.

    "…I still don''t understand why she is opening up to you," Kuroyuki told me. "While we were working together as First-Year Student Council Members, she was much more straight and serious, like a noble lady— it took her two and a half months to behave as such monstrosity."

    "Monstrosity…?" I muttered. "…Your vocabulary, Kuroyuki."

    It felt like Kuroyuki is trying to stop me from getting close to Persia, not because she''s perverted— but it''s because of another reason entirely.

    "…I was just stating the facts." Kuroyuki retorted. "…To be honest, I don''t want you to stick close to her. She''s planning something."

    …She literally said it.

    "Don''t worry, Kuroyuki," I told her. "No matter what Persia is planning, I''m sure she''s is not a bad person."

    "…Why do you sound as if you knew her for ages…?" Kuroyuki asked.

    "Friendship isn''t about logic."

    "…You only met her for about a day."

    I could only deliberately heave a sigh.

    "I don''t know— I just somehow knew."

    "………………"

    Somehow, I could tell that Kuroyuki had hints of sadness in her eyes. Maybe she was reminded of ''him''.

    Anyways, I thought Persia told Nightwalker that they are merely colleagues.

    …In other words, she lied to Nightwalker.

    But, for what reason she had to lie? What''s more, it''s on such a trivial matter. It''s like she''s trying to make me doubt her over and over...

    "Wait, isn''t Persia your friend?" I asked.

    "…F… Friend…?" Kuroyuki seemed reluctant to say those words. "…We are friends…?"

    She looks even more surprised than me.

    Why wasn''t I surprised?

    "Then… am I your friend?" I asked.

    "…I… I don''t know."

    "Hah…?"

    I was expecting Kuroyuki to deny our friendship. But instead, her hesitant, innocent reply completely blew off my mind.

    "Ha… hahahaha…!"

    I couldn''t help but make some laugh coming from the bottom of my heart while trying to hide it with my hand.

    "W-What''s with that? Hahahaha— Ow…!?"

    When I knew it, Kuroyuki threw a light low kick on my left shin to hide her embarrassment.

    "… It''s… It''s not like you were that much different from me…!" Kuroyuki retorted, with her face redden.

    "Then… how do you become friends with ''him''?" I asked. "Maybe you could give it a try between us?"

    "…Maybe not," Kuroyuki replied. "…You will definitely regret it."

    "Try me." I boasted.

    "…Then, are you ready to throw away your life?" She asked.

    "…Eh…?"

    I was completely surprised by her sudden statement.

    "…Before Lu and I became friends... I—"

    I have deeply regretted my boast ever since then. Because of this, I would always remind myself to take Kuroyuki''s words carefully.

    "—almost killed him for three times.”