Gema Taku rubbed his hands together maliciously. He looked around, his minions - no, club members - following behind him. He made his way up to a gaming console.
"Uh, President…" Pippi Osu, a member of the club asked, grabbing his attention. "Shouldn't we go to the seminar first…?"
"I don't have time for that seminar crap!" Gema snapped. "I'm here to win!" He began to cackle like a madman.
If there was one thing Ayano couldn't care less about… she wouldn't be able to say as there were many, many things she expressed no feelings towards. One of them was video games. Sure, she played them, but it was for her image's sake. In reality, she thought nothing of video games.
Despite that, she was currently standing in the middle of a tournament for a fighting game known as 'Wild Animals'. Why? There was only one reason why.
"Master Saitama!" Genos yelled, running towards Saitama and Ayano.
"Huh?" Saitama asked. He saw Genos. "Oh, Genos, you came."
"I heard there was a large-scale battle taking place today," Genos said.
"Yeah," Saitama agreed. "They said it was going to be worldwide."
"Worldwide?" Genos asked. "If that is the case, why is everyone so calm?!"
"Genos, you're not getting this," Saitama said.
They were interrupted by some loud noises.
"C'mon," Saitama said, walking away. "It's starting."
"Master!" Genos shouted, chasing him.
Ayano kept a nonchalant attitude as she and her accomplices made it to the seminar. There, an announcer explained the rules: everyone had gathered to play an online fighting game known as 'Wild Animals'. There were venues all over the world, and anyone could join in. And of course, the winner would receive 5 million yen. That was what got Saitama to join.
"Here we go, Genos, Ayano," he said, his expression serious. "The battle begins."
"Yes, Sensei!" the disciples chorused, heading into battle.
Saitama had a battle plan. He grinned at his disciples, a devious smirk on his face.
"Listen," he said, pointing to a worker dressed in a bunny suit.
"You see, you can enter this tournament using a handheld device or through VR that tracks your movements," the worker explained. "It's up to you!"
That means Saitama can enter and defeat his opponents with one punch, Ayano thought. It also means I can find other strong people here…
Saitama got up on the stage.
"Round one begins now!" the announcer yelled.
"I feel bad for the spectators," Saitama said, putting on his VR gear. "But I'm ending this with one punch!"
"K.O!"
Saitama slumped in defeat. He had been taken out in one hit! Him of all people!
"That's It for player Saita M and his mean-looking gorilla!" the announcer said.
"Perhaps the game cannot reflect the power Saitama's punch..." Genos mused. He glared at the screen on the stage, which displayed Saitama's loss for all to witness. "Absolutely no class. I will go ask the staff to find your opponent."
"Genos, don't." Saitama said. "That's the worst thing you could do."
"But Master!" Genos exclaimed.
"Use that anger against monsters," Saitama told him.
Genos wrote down that quote, his eyes wide with wonder. "I will take out my rage on monsters."
"Dude, don't twist my words," Saitama deadpanned.
Ayano stared at her hands. Either the opponent Saitama faced is incredibly talented with a joystick, or… no way. There could be someone out there stronger than Saitama!
"Master," Ayano approached Saitama. "At least allow me to enter the tournament to make up for some of your lost pride."
Saitama shrugged. "Yeah, sure. Do what you want."
"I will try to win the yen," Ayano said.
"Do your best," Saitama told her.
Suiryu smirked. He took off his VR, having won another match.
"Where's the challenge?" he asked, putting his arms around his squealing fangirls. "It's too easy to win."
He had gotten so good he had made it into the semifinals. He grinned, walking up onto the stage. The screen behind him glowed.
This is going to be a piece of cake.
"It's time for the semi-finals!" the announcer shouted. "Dragon vs Kitty!"
Suiryu grinned, putting on his VR. He came face to face with an anthropomorphic cat avatar, whose eyes were rather doll-like.
"I bet there's a cute girl behind that avatar," he teased. "Let's see what she's got."
"Wow, Ayano made it into the semi-finals," Saitama said, watching Ayano on the stage. "She might actually win."
Ayano slipped on her VR gear. Most of her opponents had been rather easy to deal with. She was only two spots away from winning the tournament.
She faced down the player known as Dragon. She tensed her muscles, ready to start the fight.
And even if I can't win this fight through physical means… she thought. Info-chan will be there to hack me to victory.
"Do you think Ayano will win, Master?" Genos asked, above the excited chatter. "Dragon has proven himself to be incredibly powerful."
Saitama shrugged. "Maybe. That Dragon guy has the advantage… but Ayano's good at surprising people with her moves. She might manage to pull through."
"Fight!" the annoncer shouted.
Suiryu grinned, sending a barrage of kicks towards Ayano. She hopped back, taking note of his speed.
"Dragon goes right in for the kill!" the announcer shouted. "Will Kitty be able to defend herself?"
"You were right," Genos agreed. "Dragon does have the advantage."
"No, Ayano's just measuring him up," Saitama said. "She'll plan something."
Ayano stepped back. It appears this person is much stronger than the others… I will have to change my tactic.
She felt strings wrap around her hands. She sliced through the air, sending a barrage of punches towards Dragon. He defended himself, staring up at her.
"She's sending multiple blows in his direction!" the announcer shouted. "Wow, she's fast!"
Suiryu grinned. Heh, this chick is pretty tough. I might just have some fun here.
He leaped into the air, raising his leg. "Dark Body Flying Dragon Kick!"
Ayano saw a tornado of purple energy racing towards her. She defended her face, glancing up.
"Whoa, there he goes!" the announcer yelled. "His kicks have incredible speed!"
He is very strong, Ayano thought. Can I handle him like this?
She raised her own legs, jumping backwards.
I will fight fire with fire, she thought.
She used kicks of her own to knock Dragon back. The audience gasped.
"They're slugging it out!" the announcer yelled.
Suiryu grinned, straightening his form.
"Dark Body Phoenix Rising Fist!" he yelled, charging towards Ayano.
She defended herself from the fists, but they were starting to get faster. She breathed in, a foot slamming into her abdomen. She stumbled backwards, almost falling over.
Info-chan… she thought. You know the signal.
She got back up, and charged towards Suiryu. The two began exchanging blows, Suiryu holding the upper hand.
"Dragon is coming out on top!" the announcer exclaimed. "Can Kitty survive?"
Even Saitama was mildly intrigued now, leaning forward to watch the match.
She looks tired, he thought, watching Ayano move around. But she won't go down without a trick up her sleeve.
And then Suiryu's avatar glitched. He froze mid-kick.
"What the Hell…?" Suiryu asked. "What's going on here?"
"Dragon has frozen mid-kick!" the announcer proclaimed.
"What's going on?" Suiryu asked the staff. "Why has it glitched?"
"We don't know!" they admitted. "There's some kind of bug in the program! I think it's a system overload!"
Ayano kept a small smirk on her face as she ruthlessly destroyed Suiryu. His avatar was unable to help him win the fight.
"What! Hey!" Suiryu shouted.
"K.O!" the screen declared.
Suiryu scowled. He could feel Kitty's smirk through the screen, and he loathed it.
His fangirls stared up at him, somewhat disappointed. "We were going to fight over who gets to kiss you first!"
"Where is this Kitty?" Suiryu asked a staff member. "I want to talk to her."
"I don't know," the staff member admitted, laughing nervously. "We don't want any trouble."
"Dang, not bad," Saitama said, nodding at Ayano. "I suppose she got lucky there, but you never know."
Ayano adjusted her VR gear, smirking to herself. The crowd was chattering excitedly.
"Now it's time for Kitty vs 'Otaku'!" the announcer yelled, pointing to an anthropomorphic dog character on the screen. "Whoever wins this goes into the grand final!"
Ayano leaned forward. Just this round, and then it's time for the finals.
"Ready?" the announcer shouted. "Fight!"
The player known as 'Otaku' dashed towards Ayano. Before she could blink, they annihilated her with a few kicks. Ayano was at a loss for words.
"Down in seconds…" the announcer said, bewildered. The audience had gone dead silent.
"I wasn't expecting that," Saitama muttered to Genos.
"The winner is the player called Otaku!" the announcer proclaimed.
Ayano removed her VR gear, her expression void of any emotion. She stepped down from the stage, avoiding eye contact with the audience.
"Well, you got in third place," Saitama said, shrugging at her. "That's pretty good, I guess."
Who is that Otaku character? Ayano thought. Those moves were far too fluid for someone with a handheld device… I must track down this person.
"All right!" the announcer shouted over the cheering crowd. "We've reached the finals! Let's all find out who's truly the strongest!"
Gema grinned. He had made it into the grand final. And now, it was him vs a koala avatar. He had seen some of her moves, and he had to admit she had skills. He wouldn't underestimate her. He was going all out.
He gripped his handheld device, staring at the screen. The crowd started up again.
The koala player that defeated Master Saitama vs 'Otaku' that defeated Ayano, Genos thought, scowling. I am intrigued to see who will win this battle.
"Ready?" the announcer yelled. "Begin!"
The characters moved so fast that it was hard for anyone to keep up. Both of them had fluid movements that were difficult for the eye to track.
"Whoa, they're both so fast!" the announcer exclaimed. "They're at equal footing!"
I knew she was strong, but I'm not going to lose, Gema thought, gritting his teeth. I'm the master of video games! I am… THE OTAKUUUUUUUUUU!
"IT'S A DRAW!"
Gema fell to his knees. The fight had been going on for so long that the annoncer decided it needed to end as a draw or it would never end.
The audience booed. Gema was tempted to join in. He wanted to claim the prize all for himself! But the announcer was adamant with his decision. He invited both winners to the stage. The koala player was revealed to be a tall man with tanned skin and blonde hair hidden beneath a hat.
"We'll have to half the prize," the announcer said. "But a big congratulations to both our winners! They both used handheld!"
Everyone clapped, though glancing at each other. Ayano stared at Gema.
Gema Taku, of course, she thought. I should've recognised he'd be here…
The winners shook hands, though Gema was giving King the stink-eye.
"Let's battle it out in our homes one day, idiot," he said. "And then I'll show you who's boss!"
