After getting cleaned up from there match, Nonaka changed into the t-shirt and jeans she had brought with her. Luckily the owners of the convention hall were apart of the audience for the tournament, and were so freaked out by their match that they weren't going to charge them for the damages they caused. They paid Erik the prize money that he earned from winning, and while they didn't come out and say it they did imply that they were both banned form the building.

Nonaka's stomach growled angrily. She had never been so hungry in her life. "Ugh, "

"Wow, that is loud." Ruby said.

"I feel like my stomach is eating itself." Nonaka groaned.

That was when Erik approached them, now wearing a different green shirt that wasn't torn up. "I know that feeling. Come on, I know a good place. My treat."

"Are you sure you can afford it?" Asked Jason. "My sister's been eating half her body weight every day."

Nonaka gave him a grumpy look. "I just got paid, remember. Besides, price won't be a problem."

Erik and his friend, whose name they learned was Gary, led Nonaka, Ruby and Jason down town. There destination was a casino with an all-you-can-eat buffet.

"Are we even allowed in there." Ruby asked nervously.

"You don't need to be of age to eat at the restaurant. And they have food of all kinds, so it's great for everyone." Erik said.

Nonaka practically jumped for joy before running inside with a sudden burst of energy.

"Um, " Ruby said. "You didn't hit her too hard, did you?"

"Shes just like that now." Jason deadpanned.

They ate together in a group, Nonaka eating more than enough to feed five people. Erik was the opposite, however, eating little over plate. In fact he drank water more than anything. Nonaka ate with such a primal ferocity that people stared at her in disgust, but couldn't bring themselves to look away.

Erik's friend Gary had said. "I don't think I ever saw someone eat so much."

Erik had shrugged, the only one not disturbed with Nonaka's gorging. "At least I'm getting my moneys worth."

"Careful, that was almost a joke." Ruby teased.

At one point Nonaka had started to choke, only to pound on her chest to dislodge it and then continued eating as if it hadn't happened.

"And you wonder why mom and dad are worried about you." Jason had said, making her look at him with her mouth full, shrugging before continuing.

By the time Nonaka had finished the others were long done. She sat back in her chair with a sated sigh. "Ruby, we got to come here again."

"I don't think I'll be eating ever again after watching that."

"Aww."

"Nonaka." Erik had said, fairly stern. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" He nodded towards the exit.

She looked at him, puzzled for a moment. "Sure."

They walked through the exit and out the door. It was starting to get late, dusk was on the horizon. "Nonaka, something about what Fu said is bothering me."

Nonaka looked at him confused. "Which part? It was kind of lot process. I don't think any of it sunk in yet."

"Just before he left, he mentioned that there were others like us."

Nonaka looked him with realization. "He did." She said. "But how many do you think there are?"

Erik shook his head. "Dozens, hundreds? The numbers aren't what concern me though. We can't guarantee they're all as nice as us."

"This is you being nice?" He looked at her with a serious expression. "It was a joke."

"With this much power, we can do anything. People could get hurt, or die. If there really are others like us, I think we should seek them out."

"Seek them out? And then what?"

"Make sure they're not dangerous."

"And if they are? What are we supposed to do?"

"I hope it doesn't come to that." He looked at her again. "And besides, you can't tell me the idea of fighting other Z-Souls bearers doesn't excite you."

Nonaka had to admit that the idea was exciting. Really exciting. In fact, she could feel the excitement of the soul inside of her fueling her own. "A little, but besides that. What are we supposed to do if they are bad, and how would we even find them."

Erik looked at her, his eyes widened momentarily before going back to normal. "I have no idea. We found each other by chance and we could only sense each other once we were in the same room." They he paused. "Sense. I don't know, but I'm going to work on something and get back to you."

They both looked up towards the orange sky. "The idea that there are others, its scary." Nonaka said. "But also exciting. How does that work?"

Erik chuckled. "I wish I could answer that."

"I guess we should exchange numbers then." Nonaka said, handing him her phone. Then he handed her his own and they entered each others numbers before exchanging them back. "Its getting late." Nonaka changed the subject, suddenly embarrassed.

"You're right. Should probably get home."

The two went back inside to tell the others that they were leaving. Then they parted ways, both groups going back to their respective homes.

"Nona." Ruby said when she was ready to head to her home. "Please try not scare me like you did today. I don't think my heart can take it."

Nonaka laughed. "I'll try Ruby." She said before they hugged and parted ways.

"They're not going to be happy." Jason said as they approached their home.

Nonaka shrugged before they entered their house. Their parents were waiting for them. "Nonaka." Her father said sternly. "Explain." He held up his tablet to them, and on it was a video of her fight with Erik that someone had been clearly recording.

"Well, I'm not sure where to start." She said sheepishly.

Her mother went to her touching her face, making her wince. "You're covered in bruises!" She said with worry.

"Yeah, he hits pretty hard."

"Whats happened to you?"

"Mom, dad!" Jason spoke up. "I have no idea how, or why, but Nona's got super powers. Like, full on comic book style."

"How?" Her father asked.

Nonaka struggled with whether or not to tell them about the encounter that she and Erik had with Fu. She decided to go with an edited version.

"Its called a Z-Soul." Nonaka said. "That night I fell out of bed last month, well that was when the Z-Soul latched onto me. It's what gives me these powers. I wanted to test them against someone who knows how to fight, and I met someone else with the same powers."

"I don't even know what to say to that." Her mother said. Then she left for the kitchen, moments later bringing back an ice pack and holding it up to her face.

"Ah!" The cold stung her bruised face.

Finally her father said. "You're grounded."

"But!" She tried to protest.

"For six months."

"Six months!" She said in outrage.

"You should be focusing on school, not some fairy tale about super powers."

"But they're real!" Jason spoke up.

"I don't care if they're real. That doesn't change what I said. Six months. Now get to your room."

"Yes dad." Nonaka said defeated. She shuffled her way to her room, dressed for bed and laid down. She had so much running through her mind and was feeling so many emotions that she couldn't sleep. She was thrilled about her fight, prideful of her performance, eager for a rematch, nervous that Fu was watching her, terrified of someone bad obtaining these powers, and saddened by her parent's reaction to everything.

The Z-Soul within her pulsed. It was almost as if it was trying to comfort her. Oddly it was working, and Nonaka let it lull her to sleep.

In her sleep, Nonaka failed to notice two familiar energies pulse far away. Two more Z-Souls had awakened.