He grazed her, but she managed to get behind him. Hayato cursed himself for letting her do that, and tried to whirl swiftly, bringing around his own sword as she raised hers up. Lifting both arms above her head would leave her torso wide open...

No. Her attacks were too strong, if he went for a mutual exchange she'd cleave him in half. He lifted his weapon in both hands again and, when he felt contact, dropped to one knee so as to hopefully lessen the momentum. His wooden sword split in two with an echoing snap, and Hazel's blade came down with a meaty thud on the shoulder of his sword arm. If it had been the other shoulder, the one that had been hit before, it probably would have broken it. As such, he was going to have two bruises, and be twice as sore.

He fell back on his rear, breathing hard, looking up at the tip of Hazel's weapon. For a few moments they stayed like that, as it was clear that the fight was over. He sighed and shook his head.

"I admit defeat. Geez, you're really on another level." He stood up, retrieving the broken sword and wincing as one of his shoulders popped. "How many Special Assignments have you done?"