My only advantage here is that Hiroto hasn’t really seen me fight at all. I’ve only practiced a few moves in class, so he’s probably assuming I’m nearly as helpless as I was on that first day. He’s eyeing me calmly as he takes his place on the mat.
Please let him underestimate me,I prayed.
Swinging his elbows back and forth, loosening up, he watches my stance. I hope I don’t look as terrified as I feel. Realizing I’m not going to make the first move, he gives the slightest of sighs and charges me. This time, I don’t flinch. I watch his eye movements as he looks down at my ribs and I know he’s going for a kick to incapacitate me right away. He probably thinks of it as merciful.
As his foot comes up for the blow, I surge forward, sliding to my knees and punch up at his crotch with everything I have. My fist lands solidly and I hear a chorus of “Oh,fuck!”from the male portion of the class. Hiroto’s face pales as his mouth drops open, but I can’t trust that this is enough. As he bends over, clutching between his legs, I bring up my elbow and slam it into the back of his neck, and he blacks out for a moment, dropping to his knees.
I’m feeling horrible about this, but I cannot lose. Keeping my fingers as stiff as I can, I slam them into his unprotected throat.Oh my god, that hurts so much!I’m pretty sure I broke at least one finger, but his pale face abruptly goes brick red and he falls sideways onto the mat, out like a light, still clutching his privates.
There’s no applause, not even a polite round of golf claps. I get it. This was all dirty, even here in combat there’s some code of honor about not trying to permanently damage anyone. But… there’s also not anything specific aboutnotfighting dirty. Backing away, I hold up my rapidly swelling fingers.
Definitely broken.
“I told you to keep your fingers stiff on the throat punch,” Lucca whispers, holding my wrist and looking at the damage.
“You should check on Hiroto,” I said, feeling like pond scum right now. He’s still on the floor in the fetal position, but he’s groaning as he regains consciousness.
“Those kinds of moves are contemptible, Miss Aslanova,” Professor Zimmerman Is Not Pleased.
“I know, sir,” I said, “but you told me I had to be the last one standing. With a month’s preparation. Isn’t it one of your favorite sayings, to do whatever it takes to get out alive?”
His gaze travels from me to poor Hiroto, who’s writhing slowly, like a turtle flipped on his back.
“You pass,” he says reluctantly, and now there’s applause. Not a huge amount, but definitely there and I notice that Ania Jankowski is the one that started it. She nods to me and gives me a brief wink.
This might be the best day of my life.
Chapter Thirteen
In which Tatiana and Lucca celebrate. Hiroto eats muffins and cradles ice packs.
Lily Allen - Fuck You
Lucca…
I don’t think I have ever seen anything as fucking hot as sweet Tatiana decimating Hiroto. And watching Zimmerman’s smirk slowly die was the second-best highlight of the day. He knew he couldn’t match her up with one of the very best fighters in class, it would have made his bias too obvious, but I’m sure he thought Hiroto would take her out within thirty seconds or so.
She’s trying not to wince or grin and failing at both as the class breaks into applause. Based on how badly her hand is swelling, she’s broken at least a couple of fingers, but I’m so damned proud of her.
“We should probably go get your hand looked at,” I said, grinning at her. “Keep your fingers rigid, remember?”
“Believe me,” she says, “I was trying.”
“You did so well,piccolo bacio,I’m proud of you.” I know we’ve just outed ourselves to the class, and with the gossip network as well-defined as the one here at the college, every student will know we’re together by dinner, but I can’t stop grinning as I kiss her forehead. If we were alone right now, I would have already ripped those tight bike shorts off her with my teeth and my face would be buried in her pussy.
“I think you should check on Hiroto,” she says, looking genuinely sorry as she gazes at him, curled up like a potato bug on the mat. Zimmerman’s already barking orders to a couple of his friends to pick him up off the floor and help him get checked out by Dr. Giardo.
“Let’s go ice your hand, maybe you won’t need to go to the clinic for a splint,” I said.
“Good,” she whispers, “because I feel bad enough about punching Hiroto in the groin. I don’t think he’s going to want to see me for a while.”
“Well, we both know the dick punch is your signature move,” I agree, making her slap her hand over her mouth to smother her laugh.
Tatiana…
“Behold our champion!” Mariya shoves open my door without knocking, holding up a bottle of champagne. “Our conquering hero!”
“Shhh…” I laugh, pulling her in and closing the door. “Taking away Hiroto’s ability to father children doesn’t seem like something we should be celebrating.”
