Yuki's jaw locked at Noel's question, her eyes going wide with fury.

  "That's...not your business," she grated out. "You have no right to bring that up.”

  "Looks like we struck a nerve," Juniper taunted with a smirk, eyes glinting like she was enjoying every second of this.

  Yuki's hands clenched into tight fists, her breathing coming in sharp, angry pants now.

  "Shut. Up." She hissed.

  Juniper's grin widened at the reaction. "Or what?" she said, leaning against the wall with a smirk. "What're you gonna do, psycho?”

  That seemed to be the last straw for Yuki.

  With a snarl of rage, she lunged forward, hand aiming for Juniper's throat again.

  But before she could make contact, Noel leaped forward instead, catching Yuki's wrist in a vice-like grip.

  "No way in hell am I letting you touch her again," she said through gritted teeth, eyes gleaming with protective anger.

  Yuki just let out a furious hiss at the interference, trying to pull her wrist back, but Noel's grip was too strong.

  "Let. Go," she spat out, eyes narrowing with barely restrained fury.

  Noel didn’t budge an inch, her fingers tightening even harder around Yuki’s wrist like a steel trap.

  "Make me," she growled back, voice low and dangerous.

  Yuki's nostrils flared as her free hand twitched toward the blade still lying on the floor nearby, eyes flicking to it for half a second before snapping back up at Noel with renewed rage.

  But Chie was already moving faster than anyone could react, kicking the blade away from Yuki’s reach so hard it skidded across concrete and out of sight.

  Juniper just let out a mocking laugh from where she still stood against the wall: "Ooooh, looks like you're losing your edge~"

  "Sis, back me up," Yuki whispered, but Kaori was already on it, creating blades of pure light before aiming it at Noel's neck.

  Noel didn't even flinch at the blade at her neck, staring Yuki down with eyes that practically glowed in the dark.

  "You really think that's going to get me to back off?" she bit out, every word a challenge.

  Yuki just growled at the audacity, yanking at her wrist again, even though it was clear she wasn't going anywhere.

  "You're really starting to get on my nerves," Yuki spat out, trying to free herself from Noel's iron grip again.

  But Noel wasn't moving an inch, her expression a mix of cold anger and unyielding determination.

  "Oh please," she shot back. "I'm just getting started on annoying you.”

  Yuki's anger continued to burn at being trapped and taunted like this, teeth clenching tight enough to grind.

  "You arrogant little brat," she spat out. "You think you can just push me around like I'm nothing?"

  Noel just met her gaze without flinching, the challenge clear in her eyes.

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  "I can do whatever I want," she retorted, her voice low. "And right now, all I want is to keep you from hurting Juniper or the others again.”

  At the mention of Juniper, Yuki's eyes flicked over to the other girl for a fraction of a second, before snapping back up to Noel with a sneer.

  "You think you can protect her?" she scoffed. "You have no idea what I'm capable of.”

  Noel didn't even hesitate.

  "Try me."

  Her grip on Yuki's wrist tightened even further, knuckles going white as she yanked her forward just enough to make the blade at her throat shift dangerously close to breaking skin.

  Yuki let out a sharp gasp, eyes widening in surprise for half a second before narrowing back into furious slits.

  "You're playing with fire," she warned through gritted teeth, Kaori’s light-blade still poised near Noel’s neck like it was waiting for an excuse.

  Juniper let out another laugh from behind them, voice dripping with mocking amusement: "Ooooh, this is gonna be good~"

  Yuki let out an almost animalistic snarl at the words, her eyes flickering with fury and frustration. "Shut up, smartass," she spat out, still trying to wrench her wrist free from Noel's iron grip.

  "Can't handle a few smart remarks?" Juniper taunted with another smirk, leaning nonchalantly against the wall and watching the two girls with amused eyes. "Oh, poor little Yuki is gonna throw a tantrum~" she crooned innocently.

  Yuki bristled, her face going red with anger. "Why you, ”

  Noel’s grip didn't budge an inch, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. "Finish that sentence and see what happens."

  Juniper let out another delighted laugh from the sidelines, clearly enjoying every second of this mess.

  Chie just shook her head in disbelief while Kaori's light-blade twitched slightly at Noel's throat, as if unsure whether to press further or not.

  The air was so thick with tension it could've been cut with Yuki’s own damn blade still lying abandoned on the floor nearby.

  "What's wrong," Juniper began smugly, "Little daddy's girl can't handle being thrown to the wayside~?"

  Yuki jolted like she’d been shocked, eyes going wide with pure, unbridled rage.

  "DON’T YOU DARE FUCKING CALL ME THAT!" she screamed, voice cracking with fury as her entire body tensed like a coiled spring.

  Noel just smirked right back at her, unfazed by the outburst. "Oh? Did I hit a nerve?" she taunted, tightening her grip even further for good measure.

  Juniper let out another loud laugh from where she stood, clearly loving every second of this. "Looks like someone’s got daddy issues~”

  Kaori's light-blade flickered dangerously close to Noel’s throat now, clearly warning against pushing Yuki any further.

  But Yuki was already moving before anyone could react…

  The next thing anyone knew, Yuki lunged forward, trying to wrench her wrist free again with a roar of frustration.

  But Noel held tight, keeping her vice-like grip on Yuki’s wrist like it was made of steel. "Nice try," she taunted back, eyes narrowing menacingly.

  Yuki just snarled back in return, face nearly red with anger and frustration. "Let. GO," she repeated, struggling again against Noel's unwavering hold.

  "Not happening," Noel said through gritted teeth, not budging an inch. "You're not going anywhere until you agree to not attack Juniper again."

  Yuki let out another snarl of fury, body nearly tensed with frustration, but exhaustion won out, and she let out a deep sigh. "...Fine.”

  Noel's eyes widened at the unexpected surrender, but her grip didn't loosen. "...wait, really?"

  Yuki met her gaze, eyes filled with resentment and anger. "I said fine, okay? I'll stop going after the smartass over there."

  Juniper just let out a whoop of victory at that, pumping a fist in the air. "Aww, you care about me after all~!”

  Yuki's eyes flared at the comment, but she kept her promise, nodding tightly. "Yeah. Whatever."

  Noel just kept her guard up, watching Yuki with wary eyes. "Alright..." she said slowly, starting to loosen her grip on Yuki's wrist. "If you want me to believe you, then there's one other thing you have to do."

  Yuki let out a sharp sigh, eyes narrowing. "And what's that?”

  Noel's eyes never left Yuki's, unwavering. "Apologize."

  Yuki just scowled at the command, fists clenching tight again at her sides. "You...you've got to be kidding me."

  "Not kidding," Noel said firmly, standing her ground. "You're gonna look Juniper in the eye, and you're gonna apologize. Sincerely.”

  Yuki's eyes flickered with something unreadable, like the very word remorse, but it was gone in an instant as she scowled again.

  "Fine," she bit out, voice heavy with disdain. "I...I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for attacking your smart-mouthed ass earlier."

  Juniper let out another chuckle at the forced apology, clearly enjoying this. "I accept your apology," she replied, a smug smirk back on her face.

  Yuki just glowered at her, barely holding back her irritation. "There ya go. Happy now?" she spat out, voice dripping with sarcasm.

  Noel ignored her tone, just taking in her defiant expression. "...almost," she said slowly. "One more thing.”

  That made Yuki's eyes flare again, eyes narrowing into thin slits. "What now?" she spat out, body tensing as though bracing herself for another command.