She should have listen to him, but no, her massive ego was talking, and her pride is at stake. The glove is thrown, and thus the battle between Chinese Cadet Representative and United Nations Aerospace Trooper, ended with the former defeated soundly.
Magenta colored unit sat on the corner of the arena, largely undamaged, but almost out of energy, just enough to sustain physical materialization.
Yui Kotegawa was the young Trooper's name, her face is expressionless, stood proudly donned in the standard configuration of Raphael Revive. It's as seems as the defeated enemy's not worth her gaze.
Huang Ling Yin, often called Rin, was truly humiliated.
"Is that's the best you can do?"
Rin was too shocked to reply. Kotegawa noticed that and her stiff expression had mellowed, and looked at Rin directly in the eyes. She was not looking her down either, it was a honest attempt for a proper eye contact.
"It's sad isn't it? If you let your strength conquer you, there's only sadness and destruction"
Rin managed to get a glimpse of her, confused.
"Hey, Kotegawa, aren't you a little too harsh?"
She looked at him, another Trooper, Gotanda Dan, half covered with his rather massive unit, exposing his upper body.
"You know better than that"
Dan just sighed and carried Rin, who had lost her I.S. as of now, out of the arena. It wasn't until they arrived at the infirmary that Rin regained her logic.
"What... what the hell? Why is that you of all people carrying me?"
"Because it's convenient, captain" he retorted rather calmly, "Besides, you don't want him to see this side of you right?"
"Bah, it's useless" she spat in response " He knew, and he always knew, that's why.... ever since we met, he knew I was weak... that I was this pathetic and miserable"
"That's why he act as if nothing happen, as if nothing changed."
Dan just sheepishly smile and rub his temple "I better leave before my head explode"
Rin noticed that Dan winked at her before he left, turns out, the boy they're talking was right outside, and probably heard all of it it.
"It's all a lie"
"I don't say anything"
"... what if it was a truth"
"Then I will try to believe it" he drag a small chair and sat beside her "If you can't trust your friend, what is the meaning of friendship again?"
She can't reply. He was right, she never trust anyone, she always lying and hiding behind her brute facade, and left broken when that facade shatter.
"I am no God, if you don't say anything, I would never knew... and it's not like I am a saint either"
She raised her eyebrow on that statement, it's a rare time for Ichika to be philosophical, he always been a practical guy as far as she can remember.
"Even now, I still haven't found my true strength and that's why"
A 160 cm long scimitar materialized midair, and he caught it easily. "Chifuyu-nee lend her strength to me, in form of this sword... until someday I could find my own... "
The sword disappear into particles of light as he stood, looking at the warm, serene sunset, painting the sky with gold and orange.
"If I remember clearly, we're having our promise around this time right? You said..."
"If I could improve my cooking skill, you will eat my Sweet and Sour Pork everyday, right?"
He remember it, word by word, somewhat too literal to her disappointment, but he never actually forget.
Rin smiled.
"Yeah, you are right"