SxD: Weiss’s Exasperation 

Weiss Schnee had no idea how she had ended up here—standing on a Beacon training ground at night, watching Issei Hyoudou repeatedly punch a

Weiss Schnee had no idea how she had ended up here—standing on a Beacon training ground at night, watching Issei Hyoudou repeatedly punch a training dummy like his life depended on it.

It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t strategic. It was just pure force.

BOOM!

The dummy was reinforced to withstand Huntsmen-level training, but every one of his blows sent cracks running through it. Weiss folded her arms, unimpressed.

“You’re over-relying on brute strength,” she critiqued, watching his movements. “That kind of reckless fighting won’t work against skilled opponents.”

Issei, panting lightly, turned to her with a grin. “Yeah, but it works great against Grimm, doesn’t it?”

She scowled. “That’s not the point! You need discipline, strategy—”

CRACK!

The dummy exploded. Weiss flinched as splinters of training material scattered across the field. She turned back to Issei, who looked at the remains of the dummy and scratched the back of his head.

“Uh… whoops?” He offered sheepishly.

Weiss sighed, rubbing her temples. “You are unbelievable.”

Issei grinned, completely unfazed by her exasperation. “Hey, I’m just sayin’—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” He gestured at the remains of the dummy. “Well… okay, that one broke, but you get what I mean.”

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose, inhaling sharply. “That’s exactly the problem! You have no control, no finesse! What do you plan to do if you fight someone who isn’t just mindless Grimm?!”

“Uh… punch ‘em harder?” Issei says with his limited fighting experience that he remembers.

She almost screamed.

“Hyoudou, combat isn’t just about hitting something until it stops moving! You need technique!”

Issei waved a hand. “I mean, I could do technique, but—” He flexed an arm, the muscle definition obvious even under his uniform. “Why would I, when I’ve got these bad boys?”

Weiss stared at him, completely dumbfounded. “You cannot be real.”

Issei gave her a cheeky wink. “I’m very real. Want to feel?”

She turned bright red.

“I—absolutely not!” Weiss sputtered. “I am trying to help you, you—!” She groaned, rubbing her temples. “Never mind. I don’t even know why I’m bothering.”

Issei chuckled. “Aw, don’t be like that, Ice Princess. I appreciate it, really! You’re cute when you’re all serious.”

Weiss groaned louder. Why was this idiot in her life?!

Weiss turned on her heel, desperately trying to compose herself. This was supposed to be a training session—a way to gauge just how hopeless Issei truly was at combat beyond brute force. Instead, she was dealing with this.

“You could at least pretend to take this seriously,” she huffed, crossing her arms.

Issei wiped some sweat from his brow and smirked. “Hey, I am taking it seriously! I’ve been workin’ hard!” He stretched his arms behind his head, causing his shirt to pull slightly against his chest.

Weiss’ gaze flickered down before she caught herself, cheeks heating up.

He didn’t notice—thank the heavens—but she still mentally scolded herself. Focus, Weiss!

“Look,” she said, trying to regain control of the conversation. “Raw power can only take you so far. A truly skilled fighter knows how to use that strength efficiently.”

Issei tilted his head. “Efficiently? You mean, like… not breaking the training dummy?”

“Yes!” Weiss threw up her hands. “That dummy was designed to endure Aura-enhanced attacks, and you still shattered it! That’s not efficiency, that’s just—just barbaric!”

He scratched his cheek, looking more amused than chastised. “I dunno, I think it’s pretty effective.”

Weiss groaned. This man is impossible.

Issei suddenly grinned. “Wait, I get it! You want me to be all refined and knightly, huh? Like, ‘En garde, milady!’” He mimed holding a rapier, giving an exaggerated fencer’s stance.

Weiss’ eye twitched.

“Stop that.”

“Or maybe—” He shifted his stance, attempting a dramatic twirl. “I should fight all elegant-like, just like you, Princess?”

His foot caught on the debris of the destroyed dummy. He tripped, flailing wildly—

And instinctively reached for Weiss to steady himself.

“Wait, wait, wait—”

Too late.

With a very undignified yelp, Weiss was yanked forward. She collided against his chest, their faces mere inches apart.

Silence.

A long, agonizing silence.

Issei blinked. “...Wow. Your hair smells really nice.”

Weiss shoved him back so hard he nearly tumbled over.

“You absolute moron!” she shrieked, her face glowing red. “That was your fault!”

“Okay, okay, totally my bad!” Issei held up his hands in surrender, but he was still grinning. “Didn’t know you were so soft, though—”

“Shut up!”

She spun on her heel, marching away before he could say anything more idiotic.

Behind her, Issei just chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

She was fun to mess with.