....
Mmmm...

　I confront Kanade.
　Me and Kanade each glare at the other with a grim expression on our faces.
　Fists at the ready, hips slumping lightly, legs straining...
　They stared at each other, sparks flying and looking for an opening in the other party.

''........''
....

　It's been what, five minutes?
　Sweat trickles down Kanade's cheeks and his tail twitches.

　Now!

　He aimed for the time when Kanade's concentration began to break and ran off at once.

''Nyah!''

　It took me by surprise in a brilliant way, and Kanade showed his agitation.
　However, it was only for a short while.
　Quickly calming his mind, Kanade lightly pulled his body back and shifted into an interception stance.

''Nyan!''

　Kanade thrust his fist out.
　It's a wind-swept blow.
　If it hits, it won't be a free shot.

　He twisted his body and avoided it.
　But Kanade seemed to have read it and threw a low kick in continuation.
　He avoids it by leaping.

　Despite the fact that we attacked him, he quickly regained his footing and took control of the offense.
　After all, Kanade is not to be underestimated.
　Not only do we have to avoid him, we have to hit him with our attacks!

Uh-oh!

　Kanade unleashes a kicking blow as he chases after me as I escape into the air.
　There's nothing around me that can be used as a foothold.
　I couldn't regain my stance, and I got a decent kick from Kanade.......which should have been.

'Gravity Manipulation.'

　He used the abilities he gained from signing up with Tina.
　He has used it many times in recent years, so his skill level is high.
　He manipulated the gravity on himself to the right side.
　His body slid to the side and avoided Kanade's kick.

　He continued to use gravity manipulation to normalize the direction of gravity.
　Applying another three times the gravity.....
　With the momentum of falling speed plus three times the momentum of gravity, he released a spinning kick.

''Nyanto!''

　As expected, he didn't expect this one.
　He closes in with more speed than Kanade expected, and strikes a heavy blow!

Nyaaah!
What?

　It's decided........
　Kanade used his natural reflexes alone to block my blow.

　Although he had extraordinary physical abilities to begin with.........
　I felt like I've been getting more polished lately.

That's it!
It's sweet.

　Kanade is loading up with counters but....
　This time, he applied gravity manipulation to Kanade.
　The gravity on Kanade's arm was increased by five times.
　Even so, I couldn't stifle the power of the cat spirit race, but I did succeed in reducing its speed.

　This, the power of this 'gravity manipulation', once again, is outrageous.
　At first, it was difficult to handle and puzzling, but....
　In fact, it's a pretty good ability.
　Depending on how you use it, it can be a powerful weapon.
　Thanks to this, you'll be able to go toe-to-toe with Kanade.

　Avoiding Kanade's counters, he now hits our counter.
　A kick that seems to reap from the side.
　It's guarded, but it's predictable.

　He tangles his legs around a guarded Kanade's arms to block the move.
　He then jumps up and twists his other leg around Kanade's torso, spinning him around.
　With the momentum, he knocked him down to the ground.

''Hmph!

　He thrusts his fist in front of Kanade's eyes as he tries to get up in a hurry.

'There's a winner, isn't there?'
Okay, that's enough.

　When the decision was settled, Suzu, who had been watching the fight, shouted out.
　Hearing that, Kanade threw both arms and legs to the ground.

''Unya, I lost........''
You okay, Kanade?
Yeah, I'm fine...

　I lend a hand and make Kanade stand up.

'Rain, you're strong I don't mean to sound boastful, but I didn't expect to lose.
I've been working out pretty hard lately.

　It had been a few days there since I asked Suz-san to train with me.
　Now, just like we did with Kanade, we had a mock battle with someone every day...
　Afterwards, Suz-san instructed me on what's wrong there and what's wrong here....
　I worked hard at my training.

　Although Suzu's words were soft, his teaching style was relentless and he was a devil of a coach.
　But because of that, I think I was able to gain some confidence in myself.

''Good night. Even though it's training, it's still amazing to beat Kanade.''

　Tania calls out to me.
　Sola and Luna followed suit.

'Sola and the others are growing up, but Rain might be the most grown up.
"Hmm. I'm curious. Rain. What do you say we meet again?
'Has Luna forgotten that she lost to Rain in tatters the other day?
Oh, that was just a bit of a slippery slope.
...Rain.

　Gently, Nina came over and handed me a warm towel.

'Here..........'
Thank you.
Here. Here's one for you, too.
Thanks.

　Kanade was receiving a towel from Tina.
　It felt so good to put the warm towel on her sweaty face.

'Yes, good night.'

　As I was catching my breath, Suz gathered everyone together.

'You guys are growing up pretty good,'
Really?　Am I stronger now?

　Kanade asks, somewhat happily.

'Yes. Kanade has gotten stronger. In the beginning, she only charged head-on, but now she has learned how to play a proper game.
Oh I'm not sure if that's a compliment.
Hmm, it's a compliment.
Hmm.

　Kanade gives me a complicated look.
　Maybe he doesn't feel like he's getting stronger.

'Kanade is getting stronger,'
Whew!

　I popped my head and Kanade jumped up, looking surprised.
　I wanted to make her feel confident, so I did what I always do... did I startle her?

Rayne?　I mean, if someone stroked my head all of a sudden, I would be kind of surprised.......nyah.
Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm just doing my thing.
'Yes, fine. Um, well you were trying to cheer me up, weren't you?　Then it's not something to be angry about... or rather happy about... nyahhh.
?

　There was something strange about Kanade.
　Her face was red and sluggish...or was it...what was it?

"Mmm-hmm.

　Seeing Kanade, who was looking funny, Suzu-san nodded with some kind of satisfied look on her face.
　Then she smiled and popped Kanade on the shoulder.

''Kanade,''
Yeah?　What, Mom?
It seems that training to be strong is important, but it also seems that we need to train to be friends. Would you like me to show you a special way, mother?
'Oh, Mother!　You did that in front of Rain...!
'It's all right. Mr. Lane, these things seem to be so dull.
Well maybe there's no denying that.

　I wasn't sure what they were talking about, but I understood that they were being belittled.

''Well then, we're done with today's special training. Good work, everyone.

　At Suzu's words, we all let out a gasp as if we'd lost our minds.
　The strength drained from my body and fatigue hit me all at once.
　After all, we've been training all morning and all night....

Come on, guys, let's take a bath.　It's already boiling.
Nice one, Tina.

　Tania's face lights up at Tina's words.

'Since we're going to be here, why don't we all go in together? It's too much trouble to wait for every single time.
"Three cheers!　Meow.
Oh, except for Rain?
I know.

　Tania's words made me chuckle.