Chapter 90

Exusiai was walking backwards on the treadmill, trying to increase her exercise to shrink her belly.

After hearing Croissant's words, Exusiai thoughtfully reminded 𫮃, lest Texas be seen wearing the Dolypod headphones in a couple of days.

It's the kind with a pair of corners on top.

"Texas would never do that, Exusiai, you're overthinking it."

Sora took out two bottles of water from her bag, intending to give them to Shirou and Texas, and also said a few words on Texas's behalf.

"I know she won't do it internally, but it's uncertain what she'll do externally."

"Exusiai jumped off the treadmill and said."

"... That's hard to say."

Hearing Exusiai's words, Sora felt... that there seemed to be no problem.

"Hiss... You guys are scaring me, please stop talking."

Croissant, sitting in front, felt a chill run down her spine after listening to their conversation.

Stop talking, stop talking. If you keep talking, she'll be sleeping outside after dinner tonight.

Seeing Croissant's anxious look, the two of them found it somewhat amusing.

"Croissant, let's record one more time, the last time."

Texas brandished her sword and said.

"Alright, want to change the perspective?"

Croissant turned her head and immediately changed her expression.

"Need not."

Texas shook her head, took a deep breath, and assumed an attack stance with two training swords in hand, facing Shirou.

"Trace on─"

Shirou displayed the same practice swords in his hand. The two swords Texas held were custom-made according to the weight and size of her lightsaber, while Shirou simply Projection them onto his hand.

After all, it's not appropriate to teach Texas a sword technique from scratch; it's better to continue improving upon what she already knows.

Therefore, Shirou always tries to practice with his opponents using Texas swordsmanship, occasionally adding his own insights into swordsmanship.

The effect was quite good. After several practice sessions, Texas's attacks became increasingly sharp and tricky, and Shirou could be hit by Texas if he wasn't careful.

"Are you still hitting me? How many times has this happened?"

Seeing that the two were about to continue sparring, Exusiai picked up her water bottle and gulped it down before looking at them.

Texas is getting stronger, and the rest of Penguin Logistics need to find a way to keep up.

At least for Exusiai, she needs to catch Texas' offensive rhythm in order to avoid accidentally hitting allies while she's firing away.

"It's been more than ten times, hasn't it? Look, Texas is covered in sweat, while Shirou has only broken a sweat."

Croissant said as she set up her phone.

Just as the two were talking, Texas and Shirou's twelfth sparring session of the day officially began.

Texas charged forward first, launching an offensive, while Shirou remained on the defensive.

Of course, Shirou wasn't just defending; while using Texas's deadly swordsmanship, he was also observing how Texas used her swordsmanship.

The waving of hands, the movement of feet, the twisting of the body.

With each practice session, Texas's movements became increasingly streamlined.

"Snort."

Texas swung her sword, but Shirou blocked it with his own.

Just as Shirou was about to attack her with another sword, Texas mimicked Shirou's move and kicked the sword with a side kick. However, the sword in Shirou's hand was not kicked away; the attack trajectory was just slightly off.

"The accuracy is a bit off."

Shirou took a few steps back and said.

He had deliberately changed his posture just now, otherwise if Texas had kicked his hand, it would have hurt for days.

Texas is ruthless; knowing she might not be able to kick it off, she just kicked the hand.

Seeing Texas panting after just one round, Shirou realized that his opponent's stamina was probably running low.

After all, it's been twelve times already, and it's the main attacking position; anyone would get tired in that situation.

"I've already gone up."

Giving Texas a little time to catch her breath, Shirou chose to attack.

This was his first offensive move of the day.

The goal wasn't to directly defeat Texas, but simply to let her experience her sword.

As Texas herself said, her swordsmanship was purely for killing.

Every single one of them was heading straight for a fatal wound.

Although I learned to back down a bit during my years at Lungmen, I still couldn't break my long-standing habits overnight.

"Tsk."

Faced with Shirou's attack, Texas clicked her tongue in surprise, then imitated Shirou's defensive posture.

After one, two, and three times, Shirou's speed increased, making it difficult for Texas to keep up.

After all, defense is much harder than offense.

Let's stop here.

Sensing that Texas was slowing down, Shirou quickly stopped.

Unlike the previous eleven times when he directly held Texas's sword against his own to force her to surrender, this time Shirou stopped immediately.

As it turned out, Shirou was right.

After he shouted "That's enough," the sword in Texas's left hand immediately fell to the ground.

Texas's left-hand fingers twitched slightly.

Thanks.

Texas clenched her fists; her hands were numb from the impact when she parried Shirou's sword.

"Oh, this is really too much! Texas, are you alright?"

Sora, carrying two bottles of water, hurriedly ran over, handed the water to Shirou, and then ran to the side to check on Texas's condition.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Shirou, aren't you tired?"

Seeing Croissant's face contort in rage after Sora rubbed her arm, Texas grabbed Shirou's arm.

Shirou showed no reaction whatsoever, and even tapped her on the head with the end of his sword hilt.

"It's a bit tiring, but still within acceptable limits."

Only Shirou himself knew the exhilarating feeling of Croissant by Croissant after intense exercise, but he tried his best to remain calm on the surface.

Since it involves Magecraft, the consumption of magical energy is greater than physical strength.

Oh right, and the brain too; it's been carefully observing Texas's movements.

He then refined his understanding of swordsmanship, which led to his final offensive against Texas.

"I think it's better to be a little kinder to girls."

Seeing Texas being defeated by Shirou every time, Exusiai felt it was necessary to remind Shirou.

She always felt that Shirou was becoming increasingly rude to them, and if this continued, Shirou would become the kind of person who bullies girls.

"This is sparring, it's normal."

Upon hearing Exusiai's words, Shirou replied.

"But what you did to me and Croissant... Hey, hey, let it go! Let it go! I won't say anything more!"

Exusiai originally wanted to say that Shirou never disciplined her and Croissant, but Shirou, disregarding martial ethics, directly took his training sword and prepared to hit her on the head, which frightened her so much that she quickly surrendered.

"Sister Neng is always courting death."

While Shirou was focused on Exusiai, Croissant escaped to Sora and Texas.

Sora was applying the patch to Texas and giving her an arm massage.

Otherwise, Texas might have trouble even getting chopsticks tomorrow, let alone moving goods.

"Weren't you just reprimanded too?"

Sora still remembers that Croissant was just knocked over; it's really a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

The two of them seemed to enjoy teasing Shirou immensely, and Shirou went from initially tolerating it to now directly taking action.

Didn't you see Exusiai being chased over there? If Shirou hadn't slowed down, Exusiai would have experienced what it's like to be like Newton sitting under an apple tree.

"Don't say anything even if you see through it. Sora, your verbal attacks have been getting stronger and stronger lately. Don't learn bad habits from Shirou."

Croissant was being teased by Sora, lamented that the kind-hearted Sora from before was gone.

If it were someone from before, I would have comforted her and then told her that her behavior was wrong.

Now? It's just as heartbreaking as Shirou.

"I think your problem is more serious."

Texas said, enjoying the massage that Kong was giving her.

If she weren't too tired to run right now, she would have rolled up her sleeves and given the two of them a good beating.

Do you really think she didn't hear the conversation just now?

How can you say she was getting completely dominated? She was clearly on the offensive.

However, Shirou's defenses were too good, and he would often seize upon her weaknesses to launch a counterattack.

Usually, they subdue her instantly, unlike the last attack.

However, from a defensive perspective, she can see it more clearly.

They gave up some opportunities to attack, and out of countless attacks, only one was truly aimed at the vital points.

She can review these later through videos. She also has a small camera on her body. Although the viewing experience may not be great, the first-person perspective will still help her review properly.

But... Shirou's sharp attack just now reminded her of someone.

106 Shirou has been acting strangely lately.

"Texas, Texas? Texas!"

After massaging Texas's hands and calling out three times, Texas finally came to her senses.

"What's wrong?"

Texas, regaining her senses, looked at the empty space that was waving its hands in front of her and asked.

She was momentarily lost in thought; her sparring session with Shirou reminded her of some things from the past.

"Wipe your sweat."

Seeing Texas's state, Sora felt it was necessary to control their sparring next time; Texas was completely stunned today.

Sora handed Texas a damp towel. Normally, she would have helped wipe her down, but considering that Shirou was present, Sora and Texas tried their best not to cause each other any trouble.

Thanks.

Texas took the wet towel and first put it on her face.

The sweltering weather, combined with the heat from exercise, was all carried away by the damp towel, giving Texas a refreshing feeling.

However, it was only temporary; the cooling sensation from the wet towel disappeared almost immediately.

After the towel cooled down a bit, Texas used it to wipe her face and neck.

Because of the weather, the Penguin Logistics team members were mostly dressed in sports vests and shorts, while Texas tied her long hair into a ponytail because she still had to practice.

During her sparring session with Shirou, Texas noticed that Shirou's gaze would occasionally wander, but he remained very focused when necessary.