The air is filled with kicked up dust, filling your nostrils and coating your throat. You just narrowly twist away from Neji’s strike, missing by an inch. Almost immediately, he moves to hit you again—and Lea in his footing open.

Skillfully, you swipe his feet out from under him—but not before he can drag you down with him. You land hard on top of Neji, straddling his hips while he lays on his stomach. “Haha! Got you!” You gloat, wrapping his hair around your fist with the intention of trash talking him directly into his ear. However, as soon as you pull, he lets out a loud unintentional whimper and flushes red. Neji immediately covers his mouth with both his hands, whole body tensing.

After a moment of shock, he kicks you off of him and stands, attempting to regain his composure. “I-Ignore that. It was involuntary.” His tone is strained, embarrassed.