Awakening?

After the death match ended, we quickly went our separate ways.

Arin had passed out after using up all her strength throwing her shield, and Ian had gone off to rest, too.

Then, the next morning. As usual, I ran into Ian on my way to school.

“Are you okay?”

“I'm feeling a bit better. That hurt.”

“You should've been more careful.”

That's what I said, though I never would've expected her to send the shield flying like that.

“Arin was stronger than I expected. Both her actual fighting ability and her ability to adapt on the fly.”

“I never would've thought she'd throw her shield.”

“Speaking of which, where's Arin?”...