“Fuck!”

Bankotsu’s back slammed against the unforgiving earth, the cool blades of grass brushing against his skin as the force of the impact nearly knocked the breath out of him. For a moment, it left him dazed as he stared up at the sky.

“Alright, alright, you win,” he conceded, raising his hands in surrender as they fell limply beside his head.

His gaze shifted to you, standing over him with that familiar victorious glint in your eyes—the reason he found himself sprawled out on the ground yet again.

This had become a familiar routine between the two of you—engaging in sparring matches whenever your group settled down for the night. It was your way of keeping sharp, testing each other’s skills, and pushing your limits.

Tonight, even after your resurrection, was no different.

The two of you had drifted away from the others, finding a secluded spot near the lake to clash steel. And once again, you had managed to bring him down, leaving Bankotsu staring up at the sky, defeated but not entirely surprised.