Notes

I've had this idea pretty much since KOF2001, when it became obvious the writers weren't going to advance this subplot anymore. (You know, kind of like what happened with the Dragon Spirit. ...jerkoffs.) Sure, Athena doesn't want to hurt Sie - but leaving him hanging like this seems way more painful to me. Something really needs to be done here...and this fic is what I'd like it to be.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1 - The Setup

The Psycho Soldiers didn't get involved in many tournaments these days.

Sure, there'd been that King of Fighters fairly recently. But they didn't come around as often as they used to. And the group hadn't made a lot of side appearances, either; Athena was too wrapped up in her career for that. That meant Chin Gentsai spent a lot more time grumbling these days...but the idol was firmly convinced that she could help more people through inspiration, and so far she'd managed to keep her sensei from arguing the point.

It also meant, however, that Sie Kensou hadn't had a chance to confess his love in a while.

(...of course he could've done it in private, you fool! But haven't you been paying attention!? That wasn't what Kensou wanted at all! He wanted the world to know he loved her. He wanted to shout it from the rooftops! And then...if she told him she loved him, too, with the world watching...it would be the greatest day anyone had ever had in their life.

No, he was not going to consider that she might break his heart instead.)

So when he found a charity group looking into putting on a martial arts exhibition, he pounced on it. He brought the info straight to Athena, and he did everything he could to convince her to join. When she agreed he almost fainted, and from then on he spent every spare moment planning out exactly what to say.

Finally, the day came. Momoko and Bao were the first performers; the crowd cheered when the little girl defeated the slightly-less-little boy. Later, Master Chin went up against no less than eight kung fu black belts at once; the crowd roared when he took down all of them without so much as a scratch. A couple more exhibitions followed...and then came the main event.

Athena looked a little nervous as she stepped onto the platform. Sie, of course, was bursting at the seams. The two approached each other, bowed, and stepped back to their places. Athena got into her fighting stance...but Kensou spoke instead.

"Wait, Athena. I have something to tell you," he called out.

He didn't see her cringe.

"I've wanted to tell you since I met you. I think I've even done it, once...but if you answered, I didn't hear it. So I'm going to tell you now, Athena. I...I - "

"Stop, Kensou."

Sie blinked. "...huh?"

"You're going to tell me you're in love with me," she said quietly.

A light gasp went through the audience.

"But I already know it, Sie," she went on, her face grim. "I've known it for years."

Kensou stared at her in slack-jawed silence.

"...then why didn't you say anything!?" he finally exploded.

"Because you're my best friend in the world, Sie. And I wanted to keep it that way. And I knew that if I told you how I felt, that wouldn't be possible.

"Because I don't feel the same way about you. I'm sorry, but I don't."

Kensou's world crumbled before him. His heart sank lower than it had in his whole life. As he fell to his knees, some of the audience actually started to boo Athena, shocked that she'd drop such a bombshell in front of a crowd.

"...however."

"...however?" Sie whispered from his knees.

"I've been thinking about this for a while, now," Athena told him. "And love at first sight...that's not always how it works, you know? Some people go out together for months before they realize they're in love. Years, even. They have to get to know each other, first...and I'm not sure I've gotten to know you that way."

"R...re, really?" Kensou stammered as he stood, hope returning to his voice.

"So here's the deal," Athena finished. "From now on, whenever we have a match, even in training...if you win, we go on a date."

The crowd cheered, and Sie's face lit up with such a wide grin she had to smile...but she wasn't done.

"However!" she said loudly, calming him (and everyone else) down. "If I win, you have to go on a date with someone else."

Kensou's jaw dropped as a few audience members gasped.

"It doesn't matter who. I'll even help you find someone if you want. The point is for you to get to know some people, and maybe find another girl that can make you happy. After a while, if one of us decides we won't work out...or if I start to get jealous," she added, blushing, "...we'll call it off, or at least change the rules a little.

"So. Do we have a deal?"

"Deal! Deal‼" Sie agreed frantically. It was win-win, as far as he was concerned; he knew Athena would always be the girl for him - but another girl could still be fun.

"All right then." Athena dropped into her stance, smiling wide as the crowd went wild. "Come on, Sie. Give me your best shot!"

"Oh, you better believe it, baby!" he cried, dropping into his own with a madman's grin. "New Kensou, comin' at ya‼"

Of course Kensou won the match.

Of course he wondered if Athena threw it.

The surprising part was that he actually asked her.

The more surprising part was when she realized she didn't know.

End Notes

So there's my solution. Even if Athena doesn't love Sie, after twenty years she clearly wants to stick with him. She should at least give him a chance to turn into something more. Makes sense, right? Right⁇

This fic's next chapter is already done, and I'll be posting it soon. But after that it'll be just like any other fic. Updates when I get time and inspiration, and all that. I hate that setup, because it leads to so many dead stories...but honestly, I've already made my point with this one. The rest is just gravy.

See you next update!