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Connected

The air horn sounded loudly overhead.

Kagome clasped her palms over her knees as she fought to catch her breath.

"I can't believe this," Thirteen started from the podium. "For the first time only two teams secured points!"

She felt her lips curl upwards in a sharp grin.

That was precisely the goal. Although she'd rather have kept it to only one team.

Azure eyes slid towards Kikyou's scowling features.

"Team Higurashi dominated the arena in a show of force! Despite having their points stolen at the beginning, Team Ummei managed to make a comeback and gather up a few points for themselves!"

Kagome tugged at the headbands resting around her neck.

It was a pity that she couldn't fit them all. She'd really wanted to throw that girl under the water.

Kikyou's brows dipped into a sharp furrow. Delicate features hardened into a cat-like glare.

The young woman grinned back at her viciously, "Who's superior now?"

If she didn't know any better then she'd swear that Kikyou had cursed under her breath and tried to move towards her. Inuyasha wrapped an arm around the teen's waist and held her back.

He whispered something to her before encouraging her to step away.

Kagome felt her own grin grow a little wider at that.

At least she knew that Kikyou wasn't infallible. The woman's ego was going to be her downfall.

She blinked as two faces she didn't recognize came to stand beside her opponent. Oh right, Kikyou had two other teammates. She'd been so focused on her and Inuyasha that she hadn't even noticed them at all.

One was a boy with soft features. He looked incredibly young for his age. His expression was touched with a hint of kindness as he spoke to Inuyasha privately. Somehow, his face seemed oddly familiar.

The other was a woman. Unlike their other teammate, her features were all refined lines and sharp angles. Her eyes were a stark shade of scarlet—not all that different from Shigaraki's. Jakotsu's quirk had put her out of the fight before it even began. So it would be interesting to see how this next segment would go.

Thirteen stepped up to the podium, "We will be drawing lots to see how the final matches will be paired off. Afterwards we'll have a short lunch break! Students, please come forward!"

Kagome moved with the rest of her group.

Lots, huh?

That meant that she could face off against anyone. It was entirely possible that Kikyou could wind up being her first opponent.

Azure eyes slid across the field. She found Kikyou glaring back at her.

Kagome's lips curved into a confident smirk.

Now that would be fun.