I still need a bit more ideas for the painting I'm trying to portray to end up a masterpiece (if possible). Well, in my eyes anyway. It'd be cool if you guys can give me some of your own visions of what you would like added to the story. I'm debating on whether I should add two new characters from the MHA series into the story to not branch out too much and turn it into a jumbled mess. Sorry for rambling and I hope you stick around!
Hey- Normal talking
Hey- Kazuto's inner monologue
'Hey'- People thinking
(Hey)- Inner circles mean places or time skips
~Flashback~
(Wednesday- Two days before the Tournament: Evening)
This was a night like none other. The night was still, no sound was heard in the oddly quiet streets. Horrifyingly so. Then, there was the wailing of an alarm that drowned out the silence.
"Run you idiot! They won't be able to catch up to us!" a shrill voice broke the silence as his partner, a burly man with a brown mustache and black eyes took off running with the money.
"Shut up Teo. We're almost there!" the man shouted to his skinny, brown-eyed partner.
"It's still too far so shut up you meatheads! Focus on trying to escape!" a voice, that of a woman, roared to the fighting duo.
"Sorry boss!" they shouted in fear.
"I'll make you feel sorry alright…" she muttered lowly until she saw a dark shadow by a tall building. Its eyes peering at her soul, taking her breath away with a single glare.
"I guess we're too late." she gritted her teeth in frustration.
"Don't you have anything better to do Rosalia?" the dark shadow asked mockingly. "I mean come on! Can't the Hero branch get a clue that you guys are better behind bars?" he asked in mild frustration.
"Not really. Heroes are only in it for money and fame. They suck." Teo stated with a smirk.
The figure just tilted its form, making it seem as if it shrugged carelessly.
"You've got a point there." the figure smiled behind its mask. "Only difference is that they actually contribute to society somewhat. Don't take this personally guys. It's just how life goes!"
With that, the shadow shot out with nothing but a small whisp in the wind.
"Let's get him!" the muscle-headed man shouted with a battle cry as he and Teo tried to attack him.
(Three minutes later)
Later on, the three would-be thieves were hanging next to a light post with their faces set in scowls. Civilians swarmed the area pointing at a figure on top of the pole, their eyes shining with awe.
"You didn't put much of a fight there guys." the figure shook its head in exasperation. "Especially when your cute little boss over there stood there watching carelessly."
"I was afraid damn it!" the redheaded thief shouted in indignation as people were whispering and snickering beside them. "And don't call me cute!" she screeched with a blush.
"Is that a new superhero?" a childish voice asked his mother in glee.
"I guess so sweety." the mother nodded with a smile.
"Hey dad look!"
"He looks so cool!"
"He looks so hot!" a teenager squealed beside her equally squealing friends.
"I know!"
"I think I'm in love!"
The figure, thanks to its mask, was able to hide his growing blush at the remarks.
"Well fuck..." he whined behind his mask lowly. "Eraser is going to be pissed. And my actual inauguration will be tomorrow too!" He shrugged carelessly as he heard the police sirens roaring closely. "Can't do anything about it now."
The figure threw a smoke bomb on the ground. When the smoke dissipated, he was nowhere to be found.
"So cool..." the little kids looked on in awe.
(Kirigaya Household)
"So..." Suguha started with a cheeky grin. "I've heard there's news talking about a brand new superhero in town. Wonder what that's about..." she stated not so discreetly at her sleepy brother.
"Huh?" her ravenette counterpart asked in boredom, trying to shake the cobwebs of sleep off his system. "That's cool."
Coming back from the kitchen and sitting on the sofa, he finally registered his sister's words.
"Wait...what?" Kazuto asked in alarm.
"Yep. Just as you heard. There's news covering this new 'Dark Superhero' or something." the girl quoted. "Watch." she grabbed the remote and turned on the television.
{Deinah here. This just in, a teenage girl was able to record a robbery happening late at night. When it seemed as if the people were getting on a van, a figure swooped in and defeated the criminals!"} a woman waved her hands around comically with a grin.
A newsman beside her added on.
"If he's not breaking criminal cases, he's breaking hearts!} the man smirked with a low whistle as the camera zoomed in on the figure with its hair swaying freely in the wind as it stood on a pole. (Itachi pose the day of the massacre)
{"That's right John! Given time, this new superhero will be the bachelor of all women's hearts!} Deinah smiled cheekily.
"How the hell did it go from regular news to this!?" Kazuto started freaking out comically.
"That pose looks so cool!" Suguha grinned dumbly as she fawned over his hero costume. "I couldn't quite see how your costume looked like, but seeing it like this...it's awesome!"
"It's not a costume!" Kazuto defended with a growing blush. "It's armor fit for my frame!"
"It would've been better if you had all ANBU armor though..." the girl puffed out her cheeks with a huff.
"Ugh. You weeb..." he muttered with a smile.
"Says you!" she shot back with a small glare.
Just then, their parents opened the door with groceries in hand.
"What's with all the commotion?" Midori asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh nothing." the girl smiled sweetly. "We were just discussing the new superhero."
"Ah." Minetaka nodded. "We saw it on the news this morning. Not only is the person a new superhero, but he's so young too! Now that's impressive."
"Impressive or not, it's a dangerous stunt. Where are the parents of this young upstart? Wouldn't they be worried?" Midori questioned in worry.
'If only you knew mom.' both Suguha and Kazuto exchanged looks.
"I'm sure they're cool with it." Kazuto stated with a smile.
"Maybe, but still..."
"Hey kids. Why don't you help us with the groceries?" Minetka asked with a smile of his own, cutting Midori from her musing.
"Okay!" both kids chirped.
(Unknown Place: Wednesday: Evening)
"How come I always get this job?" a voice whined out in the dark. Her figure covered by the night sky only made her slit-like eyes shine a bit more. Yellow eyes filled with mischief and madness were visible within the darkness.
"Honestly..." she blew a bang covering her right eye in mild anger. "I know I'm good at espionage, but can't a girl catch a break!?" she shouted in mild annoyance.
It was short-lived until the sound of an alarm was heard.
"Nevermind..." she purred out as she saw a small figure. "My black kitty is out to play!"
With that, she skipped her way onto the scene. With the phone in hand, she started recording what would then be considered the most botched robbery in history.
"They didn't stand a chance," she murmured with a mixture of disappointment and glee. "Oh kitty, why must you waste your time on them?" she inquired with a sigh filled with longing.
"Now, to see how the world will react!" she grinned as she uploaded it on VideoViral. (my version of youtube XD)
"Till we meet again my little Kuro!" she blew the retreating figure a small kiss as she skipped happily to her hideout. "We're just getting started!"
(Day of the Tournament)
The roaring of the crowd caught the contestants off guard. It seems that people weren't kidding when they all heard of big named companies and industrial business workers coming to scout out the best competitors. For what exactly, many don't know nor care. If they were to get their names cemented into the minds of the better-known companies in UA, it would be a win in their book.
"T-that's a lot of people." both Alice and Eugeo stuttered with a gulp.
"Don't tell me that after all that hype, you guys are going to chicken out." a voice behind them teased with a smirk.
Suddenly, being nervous was in the back of their mind as they glared at their friend who had his hands folded with his back against the wall. That insufferable smirk still on his face.
"S-shut up!" the exclaimed in indignation.
"Aw you guys are meant for each other!" he cooed mockingly.
"Says you." Eugeo huffed. "At least I'm not clueless!"
"Clueless?" Kauto tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Of what?"
Before Eugeo could yell at him, Alice elbowed him in the ribs.
"Forget it." she huffed angrily.
"O-kay?"
"Anyway..." Eugeo started off with a shaky grin. "We were going to ask you about-"
"Well well well. We meet again it seems." another voice broke the silence with a bit of aloofness. "And here I thought you'd try and chicken out... Kazuto Kirigaya." the person didn't smirk, but you could see mirth dancing within his yellow eyes. (If you want a reference to his voice, it sounds like Karma from Assassination Classroom but with a bit more aloofness [if it's possible].)
"Me?" the ravenette inquired with a smirk. "Never. Why? Afraid to fight me?" he taunted.
"Ch. As if." the bluenette smirked back. He turned to look at his two other friends. He ended up sizing Eugeo. "And who's this? A fan?" he taunted right back. However, there was something about this guy that irked him for some reason.
"I'm Eugeo Gesualdo." said person bowed with a smile. "I'd be honored to fight you."
"Hmph." Kai scoffed. "As if you'll be able to beat your first opponent anyway. By the way...who's the cutie?" he looked at Alice with a smile.
"Cutie?" Kazuto asked innocently as he looked behind Alice, who fumed at his indirect insult. "That's just Alice though..." he finished as Alice sent him a glare that made him start to sweat.
Meanwhile, Eugeo started shooting Kai heated glares that went utterly ignored.
"Name's Kai." he smirked as he grabbed Alice's hand and gave it a tender kiss. "Kai Asmotheos."
Acting quickly, Alice took her hand back with a strained smile. "Nice to meet you. My name's Alice Zuberg." She shot the snickering Kazuto a glare that had him bite his tongue in sheer fear.
"Ahem. Since we stated our names, why are you still here Asmotheos?" Eugeo asked with a twitching brow.
"Man why so serious?" Kai smirked knowingly. "Just trying to size up the competition. If you know what I mean." he finished with a whisper into his ear that made Eugeo grind his teeth as Kazuto looked at his retreating form.
"Don't think this will end the same as it had before Kirigaya. This time, I'll be the victor. That's a promise."
"We'll see about that." the ravenette mused to himself.
"That guy pisses me off." Eugeo snarled.
"I wonder why..." Kazuto smirked until Alice slapped him on the back of the head.
"Ow. That hurt Alice!"
"I wonder why..." Eugeo remarked.
"How come you didn't hit him this time!?" Kazuto inquired in indignation as he looked at Alice tearfully.
"Because you just stood there and did nothing!"
"Was I suppose to!?"
"What if it was Shino?" Alice asked him with a pout.
"What about Shino?" Kazuto asked with a tilt of his head.
"What if he was flirting with Shino?" Eugeo asked slowly.
"Hm. I don't know. We're not dating or anything." he shrugged. "Besides, I was more overwhelmed with the idea that someone thinks you're cute."
"Want to say that to my face!" Alice raged with a tick mark.
"I just did~" Kazuto sang with a smirk as an announcement through the intercom was heard.
(Commentary booth)
"Welcome everyone to our last Kendo Tournament!" a loud voice screeched with glee as the crowd started getting pumped. "I'm your host, the man with the most, the smooth talker of the north, it's ya boy...HIIIZZZAAAASSSHHHIII!" he shouted as the crowd roared.
(Competitor's box)
"Oh god." Eugeo moaned out in shame.
"No way..." Alice muttered with a blush.
"Heh." Kazuto snickered "Bet you didn't see that coming did you guys."
"You didn't tell us he was going to be the commentator." they huffed.
"You never asked." he muttered with a pout that morphed into an evil smile. 'Besides, if I get to stick with my cheesy nickname, I'll make sure you get some of your own MUAHAHAHA!'
(Commentary booth)
"Besides me, is my ever-present buddy, Shouta! I'm sure you've all been told, but for those who haven't, this year is special. Not only is this the last Tournament we'll be hosting, but many famous people from UA came to check the competition to look for scouts for their agency. So, make sure you prove your worth young soldiers! Some of you might leave home with a great prize!" the crowd was deafening with approval and cheers for the people participating.
"Before we get this started," Shouta stated blandly. "We got a new guest commentator." the crowd started whispering amongst themselves.
"How can I forget!" Hizashi exclaimed with a shake of his head while ignoring Shouta's 'you always do' remark. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome comedian sensation, Emi Fukukado!"
If the crowd was deafening before, the shouts from the teens and young children made it resound twice its size as the green-haired woman came into view. Her hair cascading down like a luscious green forest. She shot Shouta a cheeky grin as she sat beside him.
"Pleasure to be here Hizashi!" she exclaimed as she gave him a small hug.
"Especially with my stoic little golem being right here." she grinned as she gave Shouta a hug that made him smile lowly.
"I'll get you back for this." he muttered.
She only gave him a coy smile in return.
(Competitor's box)
"Well now..." Kazuto's grin couldn't be labeled anything but predatory. "What do we have here?"
The rest of the competition, friend and foe included, gave the raven-haired teen a wide berth.
"K-kazu? Are you okay?" Alice asked with a shaky smile.
"Don't worry. I've never been better." he only gave her a toothy grin.
(Commentary booth)
As if somehow sensing his student's grin, Shouta quickly straightened up and started looking around with wary eyes.
"Something wrong?" Emi asked in worry.
"No. Just a bad feeling." he tried to shrug it off.
"If you say so." Emi grinned as she tried to grab his hair.
Hizashi only gave the raven-haired figure a small grin with a thumbs up.
(In the Stands)
"I'm so pumped!" Suguha exclaimed in delight. "We'll be able to see my three favorite people beat each other up!"
"Three favorite people?" Shino looked at her in bewilderment. "What am I then?"
"Y-you're the best-est out of all of them!" the little girl stuttered with a small grin.
"Better." Shino gave her a smile in return.
"So..." Midori started with a cheeky grin. "Are you my son's girlfriend?"
"W-what?" the bespectacled girl stuttered out with a blush. "N-no i-it's not like that!"
"I don't know about that..." Suguha muttered out loud.
"I-it's not!" Shino shot her a glare that made all of Alice's glares be put to shame.
"Mhm~" Midori hummed with delight as she sat by her husband.
"It isn't!" she huffed with crossed arms.
(Commentary booth)
"Let's get this started shall we!?" Hizashi shouted in delight as the crowd turned to look at the official referee get into position within the ring. "One of these young soldiers still has the arrogance rivaling to that of three men, but can he back it all up!? Without further ado..."
"Give it up for the son of the third-class noble, Raios Antinous!" Emi shouted with a hint of sarcasm that only Shouta could detect as he shot her a pleased smirk.
(Arena)
"I wonder what lowly dog I'll have to put down this time?" the blond exclaimed haughtily as he turned to look at the competitor's box until he spotted Kai and Kazuto in their respective corners. "Make no mistake you rejects, I will put you both down for good."
As he was ignored by said people, he turned to look at the challenger foolish enough to fight him.
The person had calm, brown eyes and chestnut hair that was held in a braid.
"I'll be your opponent." the brunette stated confidently as she sized him up.
Raios started doing the same, but for the wrong reasons.
"Well aren't you a looker? Let's say you quit this little tourney and I'll meet you at the end when I win it all." he gave her a sleazy grin of approval.
The chestnut-haired girl was able to hide her disgust and only send him a glare.
"No thanks. Even if you were to win, you're totally not my type."
"I'll show you to disrespect an Antinous!"
(Competitor's box)
"Here we go again." both Kazuto and Kai sighed in desperation.
"Yo Humbert! If you're here, don't start spouting the same thing all over again. We wouldn't want a repeat, now would we?" Kazuto shouted mischievously.
"Honestly Zizek, if you start spouting the same thing, I'll shove this shinai so far up your rectum, you'll be shitting splinters for weeks." Kai threatened menacingly.
In the back, said person started to whimper.
(Commentary booth)
"On the other side, we have a newbie. But be warned! She had defeated renowned champions in fencing and is a prodigy in her own right!" Emi shouted in glee at seeing such a note-worthy female competitor.
"Please welcome, ASUNA YYUUKKII!" Hizashi shouted into the mic as the crowd started to react to her achievements.
(Arena)
"Tch. It won't matter. When I beat you to the ground, you'll be begging to take it all back!"
"I'd rather not."
"Are both competitors ready?" the referee asked seriously. At their nods, he started to count down.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"Gah!"
*THUNK*
"Point!" the referee shouted as the blond laid sprawled on the ground with the brunette pointing her sword at his form.
"What was that?" the brunette gasped mockingly. "Did I take back what I said?"
"You bitch." Raios ground his teeth together.
(Competitor's box)
"You know, I'm having a sense of déjà vu. I can't seem to remember why though." Kazuto told his friends as Kai started smirking.
(In the Stands)
"Woah, that was so cool." both Suguha and Shino cheered at the display of speed.
"Today's generation is full of surprises aren't they hun?" Midori murmured in delight.
"They are indeed." Minetaka nodded.
(Arena)
The match ended up being one-sided as Raios tried hitting Asuna with brute force, but was then evaded through a small tilt of her foot. Her movements looked graceful because it seemed as if she was dancing with her opponent without a care in the world. She kept letting him tire out while hitting his joints a few moments in between. It went on for ten minutes until Raios slumped down tiredly.
"The winner is Asuna Yuki!" the referee called the match with a yellow flag, signaling the end of the match.
(Commentary booth)
"And there you have it for the first match folks! Now wasn't that a match for sore eyes?" Hizashi shouted approvingly.
"Not much of a match if you ask me." Shouta mused as the crowd agreed with him.
"Totally one-sided. What a beautiful catastrophe!" Emi chuckled.
(Competitor's box)
"One-sided indeed." Kazuto muttered with a grin as said brunette walked in and shot him a gaze that he couldn't understand. Was there...longing? Why is that?
"Weird...I don't remember ever meeting her." he mused to himself. It was then broken by Eugeo's long sigh.
"Well, wish me luck guys." he moaned as he saw Humbert Zizek start to walk towards the arena.
"As if you'll need it." Kazuto scoffed. "But, just in case, why don't you ask Alice here to give you a kiss on the cheek for good luck."
"KAZUTO!" Alice shouted with a frown and an atomic blush as she started to chase him around.
"Damn you old man!" Eugeo roared as he tried to downplay the hopeful tone his voice contained as he started walking off.
"Don't call me that!"
"Shut up Kazuto! And good luck Eugeo!"
"Huh, odd group." Kai noted with a small grin.
(Commentary booth)
"What's up with these pairings?" Shouta sighed tiredly.
"In our second match, we have Humbert Zizek of the house of Zizek folks!" Hizashi shouted to the crowd.
"Not much of a house with all these royals losing left and right. Am I right folks?" Emi laughed along with the crowd.
(Arena)
"Good luck Humbert." said Eugeo with a grin as he stuck out his hand.
"I'm not here for pleasantries peasant," Humbert stated haughtily as he got into position. "I have a name to redeem. You're just a stepping stone."
"Man. Kazuto never said you were such a stick in the mud" Eugeo muttered with a frown.
"W-what did you say?" the Zizek stuttered out as he heard that accursed name. A smirk from the brunette was the only answer to his question.
(Commentary booth)
"On the other hand, we have a newcomer. This challenger was said to be a genius in his own right by his trainer. Everyone, please welcome Eugeo Gesualdo!" Hizashi shouted with pride. 'Think of the ratings!'
"Man, we're really throwing the words prodigy and genius loosely nowadays aren't we?" Shouta said with a small twitch of his lip. 'But if this person is as good as you've said, Kazuto, then you've piqued my interest.'
"Meh." Emi shrugged carelessly. "We live in a society."
"Indeed." Shouta nodded.
(Arena)
"Ready. Set. Go!"
*THUNK* *THUNK*
"You're not bad." Eugeo smiled as he countered his opponent's first strike.
Humbert then went for a left thrust to the abdomen but was then thrown for a loop as he felt his body shift slightly to the right, effectively missing his opponent completely.
"W-what the!?" he shouted in alarm.
"My turn!"
Eugeo went for a feint to the head. When he saw Humbert duck, he quickly thrusted the shinai to his left bicep.
"Point!"
At the referee's calling, Humbert started to grit his teeth in anger.
"Lucky hit." he exclaimed in irritation.
Eugeo only shrugged.
"If you say so."
As they got into their fighting stance, the referee started the countdown.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
No one had moved this time. Waiting for the other to attack first. Ten seconds in, Humbert lost his patience and went for an attack with a battle cry. Eugeo bent his right leg slowly and shot forward in the last second.
"Point!"
A hit was heard as a shinai was sent flying. Humbert felt nothing but air as he went to grasp his weapon. He then turned his head and saw it lying behind him.
(Commentary booth)
"Hay chihuahua! That was picture perfect!" Hizashi screamed as his glasses slid down towards his nose.
"Well now, this is interesting." Emi smirked cheekily.
"Hm." Shouta grunted in approval.
(In the Stands)
"Way to go Eugeo!" Shino cheered on.
"Yeah!" Suguha shouted to the sky. "Kick his butt!"
"Suguha!" Midori gasped in shock.
"Sorry!" the girl rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "Got carried away."
Minetaka only chuckled nervously as some Zizek household members looked in their direction.
(Arena)
"I didn't even see you hit it." he groaned as he felt his right shoulder well up with a bruise.
"No, but I felt your movement before you even got to hit me." the brunette stated confidently with a grin.
"One more time." Humbert screamed in anger. "You may be in the lead, but I'll take that three-point win and beat you!"
"Uhuh." Eugeo egged on as he shifted his weight to the left side.
(Competitor's box)
"Already huh?" Kazuto muttered with a mysterious grin as he ignored everyone's questioning looks.
'What have you been hiding Eugeo?' Alice thought with a calculating gaze.
'Oh? This is interesting.' Kai grinned predatorily.
Asuna looked on silently in slight interest. If the ravenette's grin caught everyone off guard, then it must be important.
(Arena)
"What's with that stance?" Humbert guffawed. "It's full of openings!"
"Are they really?" Eugeo asked with soft confidence.
"Even an amateur could do better than that!" Humbert mocked haughtily.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"I don't know, are you the one with a two-point lead?" the brunette teased as his opponent shot at him in anger.
"Bastard!"
*THUNK*
"Agk."
Humbert laid sprawled on the ground with Eugeo looking down at him with a victorious smirk.
"Nevermind, make that three."
With that, he walked out of the arena as the referee called the match to a close.
"The winner is Eugeo Gesualdo!"
(Commentary booth)
"Incredible! If it's an underdog you want, he's the man!" Hizashi laughed as the crowd screamed out Eugeo's name mixed in with a few cat-calls.
"That was quite a thought out stance." Shouta stated with a grin.
"Oh? Mind filling us in?" Emi tittered as she elbowed him playfully on the ribs.
"No thanks. I'd rather you figure it out."
"That's no fun..." both Emi and Hizashi whined as Shouta smirked.
(Competitor's box)
"Disrespectful..." Kai smirked. "I like it. You just moved up in my list, browny."
Eugeo shot him a glare as he went to sit by Alice.
"Not bad," Kazuto told him with a grin. "I knew you'd win."
"Was there ever any doubt?" Eugeo grinned right back as Alice glomped him. He didn't have time to blush as her hug turned deadly.
"Nice trick." the blond whispered into his ear. "But it won't work on me!"
"R-right."
"Wish me luck then!" the blond chirped as she walked out.
"S-sure." Eugeo stated in a daze as he ignored Kazuto's lasso noise.
"You're down bad, browny." Kai smirked along with Kazuto.
"Yep."
(Commentary booth)
"In our third match, this little ball of sunshine may radiate pure glitter and butterflies at first glance, but I've heard she's got a real mean streak!" Hizashi hyped up the crowd with the flapping of his arms.
"Mean streak or not, this little blond is as troublesome as they come!" Emi added on. "Please give it up for Alice Zuberg!"
Shouta only grunted as the crowd roared, with some guys creating their fan club then and there.
(In the Stands)
"You got this in the bag Alice!" Suguha shouted in glee.
"You go girl!" Shino cupped her hands and screamed in the same excitement as the little chibi beside her.
"We're rooting for you Alice!" Midori yelled.
(Arena)
"Shucks." Alice giggled into her hand as a black haired teen with a ponytail got into his stance.
"I'm sorry to cut Mr. Hizashi's time, but I like doing self-introductions." the black-haired competitor nodded towards the commentator as he slumped down in disappointment with a raincloud over his head. "My name is Mael Yakumo. A pleasure to be your opponent Miss Zuberg." he bowed towards the flustered girl as the crowd could hear teeth grinding together in the competitor's box.
"Ah no no! It's okay! You don't have to be so formal!" Alice waved him off rapidly as she got in a stance with her right foot forward and her left hand on the hilt of the shinai as the right held the wooden sword in a tight grip.
"My pleasure." he smiled as he moved his left arm forward and his right arm to the side.
"Both competitors ready?" at their nods, the referee moved to the side.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"Haa!"
Alice ran forward and quickly shifted to a horizontal slash as Mael bent backward. He then went through a series of backflips, showing off his flexibility.
"Not bad." he smiled towards her. His smile then shifted into a predatory grin. "But you fell for my ploy!" he ran towards her quickly and hit her left rib as the blond tried desperately to block.
"Point!"
"D-damn." the blond cursed lowly.
"Hook line and sinker." the teen smirked in her direction.
"Man," he mused. "why is it that all women let down their guard through sweet talk? Pathetic."
"Why you!"
"Alice calm down!" a voice shouted. She didn't have to turn around in order to imagine Eugeo's worried face.
As the blond breathed deeply, she took her stance calmly with a calculating gaze. 'Thanks, Eugeo.'
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"Watch out sweetheart!" Mael shouted as he went to hit her rib again.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
"Point! Double hit strike!"
"Grk. Shit, that hurt blondie!" her rasped out as he bent down, holding his ribs in the process.
"That's the point!" she shouted with glee. "Payback's a bitch isn't it?"
(Commentary booth)
"What's this!? A combo has been done through an open guard!?" Hizashi milked out the attack for all it was worth as the crowd grew alive.
"Well done! Haha!" Emi yelled gleefully with her fist in the air.
"Troublesome indeed." Shouta grinned.
(In the Stands)
"YEAH!" Suguha roared.
"Let's go Alice!" Shino shouted happily. "Teach him a lesson!"
"Wow!" Midori looked on in awe.
(Competitor's box)
"Troublesome woman." Kazuto smirked.
"Go, Alice! Woo!" Eugeo exclaimed with a bright smile.
"I didn't know that the cutie had her own cheerleader." Kai grinned cheekily as Eugeo sent him a dirty look.
"Cool." Asuna murmured in awe.
(Arena)
"Thch. Don't get too comfortable now." Mael sneered.
"Don't worry." Alice gave him a serene smile that hid her smirk. "I won't."
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"I'll get you!"
"Oh no you won't!"
*THUNK* *THUNK*
Both fighters hit their shinai at point-blank. Since Mael was taller, he tried to hit her shoulder in order to tie the point, but since he didn't take his left side into account, he flinched for a second. In that second, Alice smacked the tip of the shinai into his wrist.
*THUNK*
"Ow!"
"Match point! The winner is Alice Zuberg!"
Mael was nursing his wrist as Alice started to do a victory dance.
"Oh yeah baby! I won!"
"Yeah, your first match."
"And? I won didn't I?"
"Tch. Whatever. My sister will beat you to the ground, I'm sure of it."
Alice waited a few seconds for Mael to walk-off in order to join her two friends.
(Commentary booth)
"And some of you were wondering if you got your money's worth!" Hizashi screeched through the intercom. "Ladies and gents! I believe this proves itself jus that! Don't you agree!?"
"Hell yeah!" Emi exclaimed with her eyes closed and her fists raised.
"It wasn't so bad." Shouta really tried to play off his smirk.
"Uhuh~" Hizashi wiggled his eyebrows at him in an 'I told you so' manner.
(Competitor's box)
"Good job!" Kazuto grinned as he gave the blond a high five.
"Yep. It was pretty easy." she chirped as she sat by her favorite brunette. "All thanks to you, Eugeo!"
"M-me? N-no I just cheered you on, that's all!" he denied with a blush and wave of his arms.
"It wasn't so bad." Asuna stated from her seating area as the blond smiled in her direction.
"Hm. It was okay." Kai smirked as he walked into the arena. "My match will be over in a minute. Make sure to take pointers cutie."
(Commentary booth)
"Ah, here's a fan favorite! This little dragon was able to end up in second place by sheer chance as he went toe to toe against our current champion! Give it up for the Vanishing Dragon, Kai Asmotheos!" Hizashi stated with a grin.
"Cool." Emi muttered as she took a look at the yellow-eyed bluenette.
Shouta didn't even try to cover his smirk.
(Arena)
"Vanishing Dragon huh?" Kai smiled menacingly as he looked at his shivering opponent. "It's starting to grow on me a little bit."
"Both competitors ready?" the two simply nodded, although one of the nods was a bit shaky.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"I-i'll win this!" the person shouted as he shot forward like a rocket.
"Hn." Kai just looked at him with cold eyes that made him stop for a second, a really critical second.
*THUNK* *THUNK* *THUNK*
"Point! Match end! The winner is Kai Asmotheos!" the referee shouted as Kai started walking off with his hands behind his head and a bored expression on his face.
"What a drag." the bluenette stated blandly.
(Commentary booth)
"W-woah! Talk about speed!" Emi whispered in a trance.
"Fascinating." Shouta's grin made some spectators shiver.
"Scary!" Hizashi shouted in faux dread. "That's the Vanishing Dragon for ya!"
(In the Stands)
"I didn't see him move!" Shino shivered in awe.
"That was awesome!" Suguha screamed.
"Damn." Minetaka whistled as his wife nodded in shock.
(Competitor's box)
"Holy.." Alice started out in surprise.
"...fuck" Eugeo finished in fear.
"Not too bad buddy." Kazuto grinned in excitement.
"Hmph. Says you. It was mere child's play." Kai scoffed as he sat beside a wall.
"Woah." Asuna's mouth was left gaping in shock.
"Well, see ya guys!" Kazuto shouted cheerfully as the rest of the competitors looked at Kai in fear as some of them felt a cobra coil beside their neck, ready to bite them and fill them with venom.
"Y-yeah see ya Kazu." Alice muttered.
"Good luck bro." Eugeo said as his body tensed up.
"Make sure you don't disappoint me Kirigaya." Kai shouted towards his retreating back.
'Good luck Kazuto' Asuna thought with a small smile.
(In the Stands)
"I feel like punching Kazuto right about now." Shino stated with a small tick.
(Arena)
As Kazuto walked forward, he felt a shiver run down his spine as he tried to look for Shino.
'Huh. Wonder what that's about.'
(Commentary booth)
"Ladies and gents, our current kendo champ, The Black Raven himself, Kazuto Kirigaya!" Hizashi screamed as the crowd roared with renewed vigor.
"You go kiddo!" Emi shouted alongside the crowd.
Shouta just looked on with a calculating gaze and a small nod in his direction when their eyes met.
(Arena)
"I swear, if Alice and Eugeo don't get a nickname soon, I'll start asking for Mic specifically during target practice." Kazuto muttered with a tick mark.
"Hello." a girl with light brown hair and blue eyes smiled at him softly. "My name is Kasumi Yakumo. I'm sorry for my foolish little brother's nonsense towards your friend."
Kasumi was about to bow, but Kazuto held out his hand for her to shake.
"Don't worry about it," he eye smiled with a soft grin of his own that made her blush prettily. "It's no big deal. My name's Kazuto by the way, Kazuto Kirigaya. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance Kasumi."
"S-sure." she smiled as she shook his hand.
(In the Stands)
"I'll kill him!" Shino screamed in rage as Midori and Suguha shared knowing smirks.
Minetaka made a small lasso sound in Alice and Eugeo's directions as they nodded with matching grins.
(Competitor's box)
"I hate her." Asuna muttered with a frown as Kai raised a brow in her direction.
(Arena)
"Good luck." he smiled.
"To you as well." she returned that smile a bit too eagerly, to Shino and Asuna's growing ire.
"Both combatants ready?"
They nodded as Kazuto took on an aloof facade.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
{Queue Song: "Fake" - The Tech Thieves}
Both opponents shot off at the same time as two resounding hits against the shinai were heard. Kasumi tried to redirect his shinai to the left as she tried to hit his wrist, but Kazuto twirled to the side through the balls of his feet.
"Not so fast." he teased as the girl puffed her cheeks in mock anger.
He then ran forward and, just as Kasumi tried to move her left foot forward, he gripped the shinai with his left hand and twirled it downwards onto her shoulder.
"Point!"
"Wow. That hurt." she winced with a shaky grin.
"Yeah sorry about that. I tried to go for an easier hit." he rubbed the back of his neck in nervousness until he saw her eyes shift slightly.
"I'll make sure this is the last hit you'll land." she smirked challenging.
"We'll see." he smirked right back.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
In their last attack, they broke off into their respective corners.
"You're pretty good." Kazuto smiled as he saw her breath heavily.
"And you're quite fast." she huffed out.
"Thanks!"
Kasumi ran in a straight line without a care and then jumped up into the air for a hit to the head.
"HHAA!"
Kazuto dodged the strike without looking as she tried to catch her footing.
"Why aren't you hitting back!?"
"I was just gauging your endurance. Nothing too bad by the way." he grinned cheekily as she turned red in anger.
"What!? Are you too old to move or what!?" she shouted in anger.
"Oi! That hurt babe!" the ravenette exclaimed in indignation as he ignored Eugeo's laughing fit in the competitor's box.
"W-what?" Kasumi asked all flustered.
"Oops. My bad." he only grinned back while scratching the back of his head.
Both competitors shot forward at the same time as Kazuto dodged a horizontal strike and switched his stance for a split second.
*THUNK* *THUNK* *THUNK*
"Point! The winner is Kazuto Kirigaya!" the referee called out as the crowd looked perplexed.
(Commentary booth)
"Oh dear god! Three hit combo in the same speed as the Vanishing Dragon!?" Hizashi screamed with a grin. 'The ratings!'
"Woah!" Emi shouted with widening eyes.
'Hmm. You were still able to hold back.' Shouta nodded approvingly.
(In the Stands)
"C-cool." Shino muttered in amazement.
"Oh yeah!" Suguha and Midori shouted in delight.
(Competitor's box)
"Show off." Eugeo scoffed with a hidden grin.
"So cool." Alice looked on with mirth dancing in her eyes.
"Amazing." Asuna muttered slack-jawed. "You're simply amazing."
Kai's grin threatened to split his face in two as the competitors backed off by just looking at his maddening eyes.
(Arena)
Kasumi looked up at the ceiling as she wondered how she ended up on the floor.
"Sorry about that." her opponent grinned as he stretched out his hand. "I just really wanted to win."
"H-how did you..." she could only manage to stutter out.
"When you shot forward, I twirled my shinai using my left hand twice and then transitioned to my right hand to hit your wrist lowly. I'm just good like that." he grinned cheekily.
"S-so cool." the brunette exclaimed in a daze as she, along with the rest of the crowd, looked at his retreating form.
The other competitor's matches varied from skillset to reaction as the crowd booed and shouted joyously to their heart's content.
(Commentary booth)
"And there you have it folks! The first bracket has come to a close!" Hizashi hollered as the crowd roared. "Please wait a few hours for our contestants to cool off before the slaughter continues!"
"If the surviving contestants are just as good as those two place holders, this will be a match like none other before! Who will be the one to win it all!?" Emi shouted as loudly as her friend as they nodded.
"Stay tuned for the semi-finals in the next two versus two stand-still!" they chorused with matching grins.
(In the Stands)
"This is awesome!" shouted Suguha with stars in her eyes. "They had never done this before!"
"I can't wait." exclaimed Shino as her excitement was palpable. The rest of the crowd shifted in their seat restlessly as they waited for the show to start once more.
(Arena)
"Well," Kai nodded viciously as the remaining contestants, sans Kazuto and his friends, started paling. "Better buckle up boys and girls, because this is where the fun really starts!"