The boy stumbled back in surprise. He clutched his bag in front of him already reaching inside it.

He fumbled for a weapon, but wasn't able to pull it out.

But he was a bit too slow.

The girl grabbed him by the collar of his coat, lifted him into the air and threw him back onto the road-like path.

'Woah!' He saw the world around him spinning.

THUD!

The boy gasped for air as he landed on the ground, 'Dang it! Gahhh! It hurts so much!!'

His back stung! He could feel all the bruises that got on him through his clothes, rubbing against the floor.

The boy writhed on the ground in pain. He wondered why he hadn't broken any bones.

He glanced up to see the girl staring at him in apology.

"Oh, I am so, so sorry!!"

She lifted him up, carefully this time, and patted him down, even adjusting his glasses.

...

Now the boy didn't know what to think.

"Uhm... you okay kid?" The girl asked bending down to see him eye to eye.

He was still feeling the pain of the throw all over his body so he wasn't able to respond.

But if he could, he would most likely shout: "What do you think?!"

The girl waited for him to get his wits about him, she sat down removing her gauntlets and checking whether they were fully functional.

After checking both of them, she moved on to her boots.

'What is wrong with this girl? Doesn't she see me as a threat at all?'

When he was fully able to move his body again, he reached for his bag--

"Yoink!"

The girl grabbed the bag and held it to her face, "You also reached for this before, didn't you??"

The boy gritted his teeth, "Enough of these games!!!"

The girl turned to him in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

The boy looked up in irritation, "If you're going to eliminate me then do it already!!"

The girl seemed to find what he said amusing, "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you." She gave him an easy-going smile.

To prove her point, she dropped the bag she was holding on the ground, allowing the boy to grab it.

"Why?" He asked her slowly backing up.

The girl answered evenly, "I like you."

...

"..."

What?!

"What?! Are you okay in the head?" He exclaimed.

The girl laughed loudly at his reaction, "Hahahahahah!!!"

"Don't think too deeply about it, dude." She held her stomach in mirth.

"Hey, " The girl held out her hand, "let's team up."

The boy looked down at her hand, "Why would you want to team up with me."

The girl put her hand to her chin, "Hmmm..."

"That's because..."

"It's...."

"The..."

"..."

"..."

"WILL YOU JUST GET TO THE POINT!!!!!"

The girl broke out in laughter again, "I'm sorry, you're just so easy to tease!"

At this point the girl was rolling on the ground and getting herself dirty. Though she didn't seem to mind.

"Well..." She said as she got up, "you'll see."

The boy was silent for a while. 'Is there really any merit to teaming up with this barbarian!'

He turned around, thinking for a while.

They stayed like that, sitting in front of the darkness in front of them.

Occasionally the boy would turn around to look at the girl, only to find the girl staring at him with a smile on her face.

At least an hour passed like that, with neither of the two looking at each other.

It was quite awkward, at least for the boy.

"Ugh..."

The boy turned to the girl.

"After... after mulling it over for some time..."

"I accept your offer."

She smiled in return, "You won't regret this choice."

She stretched out her hand.

The boy grabbed her hand in a handshake. "I hope so."