Seraphim and Minerva

Even though Mineva's whimpy punch in Seraphim's shoulder didn't hurt, the white haired girl still felt pain; though it was in her heart. When Minerva cried like that and had that terrible look of horror and sadness, guilt continued to sink into Seraphim, feeling absolutely awful for tricking Minerva like that. She really did it for a good intention, but she didn't think it would have ended up this way; especially with Minerva getting so upset with her.

Then, as she wrapped her arms around Seraphim and started to cry, she would embrace her lightly, hands around the small of her back and rubbing her soothingly, trying to calm her down gently. "I'm... really sorry, Mine-chan." Seraphim said from the bottom of her heart, her kind words sounding tender and loving, doing all she could to once again comfort the girl. "Sera-san wasn't trying to trick you, and would never take advantage of Mine-chan's secret... Sera-san just wanted to be sure of something... she promises not to hurt her again... not ever." And with that, her hand rose a little higher towards the back of Minerva's head, gently stroking her hand through her orange hair, and holding her close.

Minerva sniffled and hugged Seraphim tightly before rubbing her eyes on Seraphim's shoulder. She then backed away and looked up into the white haired beauty's one eye. "I..." Her lips quivered. Her eyes lowered and she fell limp again.

"Sera-San....'" She began. "Please don't make me hit you again..." She said. "I tried so hard not to... I really tried but I couldn't... I couldn't stop myself..." She looked up slowly. I... I'm sorry." She then bowed her head. "Why would Sera-San strike Mine-chan like that?" She questioned.

"I... think I know..." She heaved a sigh. "Sera-San wanted to see if Mine-chan could use that strength that she had when she punched her to block Sera-San's punch, right?" If Seraphim really wasn't traking advantage of her, it would be the only explanation. "But... I didn't even want to punch Sera-San. And you only dared me to Punch you, once I met your dare I was only Mine-chan who is much too fragile for one of Sera-San's attacks." She sniffed. "If Sera-San had dared me to block that punch, then Mine-chan would have but how could Sera-San know?" She looked up with wide eyes.

She really didn't have much control over herself when it came to this, did she? Seraphim had trouble grasping the concept, and so, instead of trying to work around this whole driven strength she got from a dare, Seraphim just told herself to never dare Minerva to do anything, that made things easier. Continueing to keep the fragile girl close, seeking only to comfort her as Seraphim's hand slowly rubbed along her back and her other arm was around Minerva's waist, she subtley gave the girl a kiss on the forehead when Minerva looked up at her, wanting her to just calm down and show her peace.

"That was why... I just wanted to find out because I.. well..." Seraphim trailed off a bit, finding that she was slipping in the manner of how they were speaking, losing a bit of the formality since she just wasn't too used to it, and gradually was just speaking like herself again. "Mine-chan, I wanna help you. I want you to be able to protect yourself, and I jus' think it might be good if you let guide you. ..Train you. That way you can stand up for yourself." Her words were serious, but every now and then, Seraphim trailed off, unsure of herself in saying this, because she doubted Minerva would want to do this. Personally, Seraphim had nothing but good intentions, but she really doubted this adorable girl would ever want to hurt someone else, nevermind practicing for that sort of thing.

Minerva looked up at Seraphim and smiled as she was coddled by the bigger girl. "I..." She lowered her head. "Mine-chan knows Sera-San only wants to help. I don't think there's much hope for Mine-chan. I don't want to fight people... I try to leave... As long as I am at least trying to complete the dare then I can do what I want but if I try to slip a match or go home..." She sighed and hugged Seraphim. "Mine-chan only wanted to be strong like other people. She wanted friends and wanted people to think she was great and to not be picked on but she never wanted it to be like this."

As Minerva listened, Seraphim was starting to get the right idea of what would be right for the girl. She definettly needed to learn how to fight, but perhaps not in the way where she would get into a conflict, but just enough to defend herself. Perhaps just some self-defence than? It could work, Minerva may not have realized it, but she had potential. Seraphim always beleived that no matter what, anyone had potential if they just put their mind to it, and Minerva was no different. In fact, the girl had more than she may have thought, after all if she managed to hurt Seraphim in the ring like she had earlier, than that was enough for Seraphim to beleive there was room for something special in her.

"I'll tell you what then." Seraphim began to say as she was hugged, feeling like her appreciation for the girl was being returned to her, and it brought a warm sensation in her chest by her heart. "I'll train you in self-defense. That way you can protect yourself and never have to be picked on again. I know you can do it." Putting a strong encouragement in her words, Seraphim never let go of Minerva, but she would look down so her eyes could meet hers with a warm smile of reassurance.

Minerva pulled back and looked up at Seraphim when she began to speak, tiolting her head curiously. "I..." She began. "Mine-chan doesn't know if she can do it." She said softly. "Even just defending myself..." She looked back up. "I have tried to train." She blushed. "Well I guess play wrestling with Kuma-sama doesn't really count but I was determined to not be completely useless!" She spoke with determination in her eyes. "I don't know if I have the will..." She said.

"Ionly wanted to be strong so that I could be a normal girel without being picked on and laughed at all the time. I wonder if I would have not let that happen if I had known how things would turn out." She questioned.

A sigh escaped Seraphim's lips when she heard those words. They were the words of a quitter, and that was just something Seraphim couldn't assocciate herself with. Normally, she would just walk away from someone if she found out that they were simply giving up before trying, but Minerva seemed like she just didn't have the confidence, and would need that before getting started. So, Seraphim planned to give her the right motivation before hand.

"If you're going to quit without even trying, then nothing is going to change. You know, if I had that same lack of confidence and simply gave up on things, I wouldn't even be alive right now. And you never know, somethin might happen one day where you will really need to be ready. Not just for the ring, but for life in general; and I'm going to help you with that." Seraphim's words were determined, and slowly she let go of Minerva, getting to her feet as she settled the girl down on the bench beside where she just was, standing tall with her hands on her hips with pride. "You've got it in you, we just need to find that will. So I'm going to help you no matter what. You just have to promise me one thing: That you'll give it all you can and really try, Okay?"

Minerva seemed almost shocked that Seraphim had called her a quitter. She leaned her hands on Seraphim's thighs and pressed her face forward. "B-But Mine-chan isn't a quitter!" She protested. "If she was she would have left after the first match! or or even during! Mine-chan always tries her hardest during every match!" She then lowered her head in shame. "To someone strong like Sera-San, even Mine-chan's best must seem pretty pathetic. I only wanted to be strong enough to be able to show people I wasn't so weak..." She repeated what she had said to Seraphim earlier but seemed to mumble it more to herself.

Seraphim felt a pity for the girl growing inside her once again, and she let out a muffled sigh, rubbing the side of her head and hear like this situation was becoming a slight headache to her. Just how was she supposed to convince this girl? She knew she could throw in the words 'I dare you', but she would uphold her promise, and not use that to her advantage, it was too cruel to use against Minerva, she didn't deserve being used like that. Instead, Seraphim leaned forth, and placed her hand upon Minerva's chin, hoping to make the girl look Seraphim in the eye as she gently lifted her chin, a calm but confident grin coming to her lips as she did.

"Mine-chan, listen... You can want and wish all you want, but if you don't try to change, nothing is going to happen." Then, her hand slipped away, almost tickling under Minerva's chin as Seraphim backed up, causing her girl's hand to slip from Seraphim's thighs as she got up again, stepping a few feet away from her. Then, crossing her arms, she turned so her back faced Minerva, deciding to give her a harsh lesson right now, not afraid to say what she was about to. "I'm going to be strait with you... You're pathetic. In the ring, you've got almost no talents. You're attacks could barely kill a bug, and honestly, even a rookie kawaii could break you." There was a long pause from Seraphim as she turned back around, letting it all sink in. But when she turned, her smile was already back, almost giving a cheeky grin followed by giving a thumbs up, like she was trying to bring some hope to the girl.

"But that doesn't mean anything. I beleive in you, and I'm going to help you get stronger. Because I know you can do it."

Minerva looked with wide eyes as Seraphim lifted her chin. "I..." she began but stopped as Seraphim stood up. She lifted her head curiously as she was given the harsh truth. Not as stunned as it by maybe she should be, this Minerva knew her fighting skills could only be expressed in negative numbers. This Minerva didn't want to be here and was tricked by herself into a situation she did not desire. She smiled when she was given the thumbs up. "I never knew Sera-San could be corny." She teased with a lopsided grin as she stuck her tongue out. She then looked up with soft eyes. "Does Sera-San want Mine-chan to stay here even after she wins a match?" It was a serious question for Minerva at least.