Chapter Text
Hinami falls for the nth time during today’s sparring session. Grimacing at the sharp pain that shot through her abdomen, she grits her teeth and wills herself to stand again, unwilling to give up. Not anymore.
Staring at her through lidded bored eyes, Ayato notes the way his new partner tremble like jelly riding a bike on a bumpy road. “What, liking the feeling of being beaten now?” He drawls, sending a new wave of crystal shards that pierces her shin and already-injured shoulder.
She feels the burn behind her eyes as she crashes into the wall but holds them back. What good would it do now? There’s no one else to fall back against and she is most certain that the boy in front of her would throw her off a building than offer her solace. Hinami stills, drained of energy and blood. When was the last time she had a proper sleep?
Their next mission is coming up and if Ayato has to embark on it with a weak partner, he’d rather go alone. “Weaklings like you should just stay hidden, just like that sister you always look up to.”
He jumps back, barely able to avoid the glowing Rinkaku that somehow seems deadlier than ever before.
“Don’t…” she growls through broken teeth and torn lips, “insult Big Sister!” Standing in all her small crimson glory, Hinami spits a mouthful of blood out, now feeling fired up with renewed energy all thanks to that insult Ayato spat.
“Ho? And why not? Both of you are weak that’s why she’s mingling with the humans and you! What the fuck can you do now? Play house?”
“Big Sister protected me! She fought for me when I couldn’t! She tried her best to make things work! She found strength in places I couldn’t! You have no right to talk about her when you abandoned her after all she did to make life better!”
A hand slams her face against the concrete ground, crushing it hard enough for blood to spurt out of her nose.
“Never ever speak to me like that ever again if you want to live to see that precious “Big Sister” of yours again.” Words dripping with unveiled venom and hatred. With a final shove, Ayato storms off and leaves her alone with her thoughts.
She wonders if she’s a little closer to achieving the strength Touka has.