Thailand

Joe Higashi was training after hearing about a tournament that he was familiar with. "Hurricane Upper!" The Muay Thai fighter sent out two small hurricanes. "Bakurestuken!" He does a flurry of punches. "Tiger Kick!" Joe does a flying knee kick before he landed on the ground on his feet.

The Muay Thai fighter takes a deep breath. "The Millennium Tournament, eh? It's been a long time since the last I've heard about that tournament." The Muay Thai fighter said. He walked toward the invitation, which was right next to his punching bag and picked it up. He looked up in the sky and sighed happily. "I remember when I first entered the tournament." Joe remembered when he first entered the Millennium Tournament, he, along with another fighter who's outfit looked similar to Ryo's but in pink, both won the first tournament. "Those were the good times." The Muay Thai fighter chuckled. "I hope I can see the big guy again." He said, referring to a current Muay Thai fighter from the World Warrior tournament. "Oh man, this tournament is gonna have my blood pumping! I can't wait to fight the World Warrior fighters again! Osha! Joe Higashi is gonna compete in the Millennium Tournament for the third time!" Joe exclaimed.

Japan - Shiranui Dojo

Andy Bogard was meditating peacefully without a single sound heard. The meditation didn't last when he felt arms wrapped around him as the younger Bogard brother sighed, knowing who it was.

"Hi, Andy~!" Mai Shiranui said in a flirtatious tone.

"Mai, what are you doing? Can't you see I'm meditating?" Andy complained.

"Oh don't be like that." The Shiranui clan heiress said with a small pout. "It is wrong that I came to check on you while you're meditating?"

"N-no, not at all. I appreciate you checking to see what I'm doing." Andy stammered, which made Mai smile. "Anyways, what brings you here?"

"I'm here to tell you that I got an invitation to the Millennium Tournament." Mai said as she pulled out the invitation out of her chest.

"The Millennium Tournament? I've heard about it and I was surprised at the fact that Robert and that other guy brought it back."

"I know right? I was left speechless when I saw the invitation." Mai said, looking at her invitation. "Well, since I got the invite, I might as well enter the tournament since this is gonna be my third time competing." She looked at Andy. "You're gonna be rooting for me like always, right?" The Shiranui clan heiress noticed that her boyfriend was looking away. "Andy, what's wrong?"

"I'm gonna be rooting for you like always, but I have something to show you." Andy said before he began to pull out something from his shirt as Mai watched in confusion. The younger Bogard brother pulled out an envelope.

Mai gasped in shock, knowing the letter that her boyfriend was holding wasn't any regular letter. "Andy, is that…" She began.

"Yes, this is an invitation to the Millennium Tournament," Andy said. "And, yes, I'm going to compete."

There was a brief silence for a moment until Mai grabbed Andy and hugged him between her breasts. "Yes! We're going to be competing in the Millennium Tournament!" The Shiranui clan heiress cheered.

"Well I'm glad that I'm going to compete in the tournament too." Andy muffled.

Mai let go the younger Bogard brother as he took deep breaths. "I have to warn you though, there's going to be fighters that you've never met before and they're strong."

"Yeah I know, I've watched the tournament on TV before. You, Terry, and Joe have all fought them before, that makes me the only one who hasn't fought them yet."

"And since you got an invitation, there's a chance that you might go against them."

"That's true." Andy nodded, "So those fighters you guys fought. They came from a tournament called the World Warrior Tournament, right?"

"Yep, and that tournament's entries are single just like how KOF originally was before the team tournament happened."

"I see. So when will we go to South Town?" Andy asked.

Mai begins thinking, "Hmm, I would say a week before the tournament, but I rather go earlier so we could run into our friends."

"I agree on going there earlier too." The younger Bogard nodded in agreement. "I can train with Terry until the tournament starts, same with Joe if he comes."

"You know, I wouldn't mind training with Yuri and King. I mean, everyone, including us, have gone stronger now these days. Plus, the tournament is going to be bigger than the last one, so we need to be strong enough to win the whole thing." Mai said.

"That's exactly why we need to train." Andy said in agreement. "So, we go to South Town next week, right?"

"Yep, so we can hang out with our friends and do some training until the tournament begins." The Shiranui heiress said.

"Okay then, next week it is."

Mai nodded before she looked up, "It's been a long time since the last I've heard about the Millennium Tournament and it's going to be more interesting than the last two. You all better watch out because I'm gonna make my way to the top! That goes to you too, Chun-Li, I can't wait to see you again." She thought.

South Town, USA - Terry Bogard's house

Terry Bogard was relaxing on the couch looking at the invitation to the Millennium Tournament. "I can't believe that this tournament is coming back. Guess that means I might meet some faces that I haven't seen in a long time." The Legendary Wolf said in amusement. Someone was knocking on the door as Terry got up out of the couch and walked towards it. "Who is it?" He asked.

"It's me." A female voice said. Terry grinned as he recognized that voice and opened revealing a blonde haired woman. Her name was Blue Mary. Standing right next to her was Anton, her dog.

"Hey, Mary." Terry greeted politely. He looked at Anton. "Hey, Anton." The dog only barked in response.

"Hey, handsome boy." Mary greeted back before she and Anton walked in the house. "So, what've you been doing lately?"

"Nothing much, really. But I did get an invitation to a familiar tournament called the Millennium Tournament." The older Bogard brother said, showing Mary the invitation.

The agent looked amused, "Oh really? I got an invitation to the same tournament as well." She pulled out the invitation from her pocket.

Terry was surprised at what he's seeing. "So that means you're going to the tournament, right?"

"Well it's gonna be my first time competing, so yeah, I'll give it a shot." Mary said. The agent puts the invitation back in her pocket as she and Terry sit on the couch. "So, what is this Millennium Tournament? I've watched it before, but I don't know what the tournament is about."

"Hmm, from what I can remember is that Robert met a guy named Ken Masters and they decided to do collaboration by making a tournament of their own."

"Ken Masters? He was the guy wearing a red gi, right?" Mary asked while petting Anton.

"You got it." Terry said, flashing a thumbs up. "Despite the gi he wears when he's competing, Ken is actually rich and he's a real cool guy. Heh, I even became friends with him after we fought."

"Sounds to me that Ken is the type of guy you want to hang around with. I might as well meet the guy himself." The agent said in amusement.

"Yeah, you also might get along with his friends as well." Terry said in agreement.

"Hmm, we'll see." Mary said. "Anyways, the tournament doesn't start until next month, so we got plenty of time to relax."

"We should also train as well since the tournament is gonna be bigger than the last two."

"That's true alright." Mary nodded. "So, who do you think is gonna compete in this tournament?"

"Now that's a surprising question right there." The Hungry Wolf said. "I know the ones who'll come back to compete are Joe, Mai and Kim. Bear might come back as well. Ryo, Yuri, King, and Athena too. It won't be surprising if Kyo and Iori competed. Knowing Yamazaki, he'll probably show up in the tournament." Terry frowns before he says the next person's name. "Something tells me that he is going to compete."

"He?" Mary repeated until she realized who Terry was talking about. "Oh, him." She said, referring to a current crime boss.

"Anyways, for the newcomers, I hope Andy gets to compete, same goes for Robert." Terry said. "I'll be surprised if Billy competes in the tournament."

"Interesting choices you made." Mary said.

"Heh, those are the people who I think would return and ones who'll join for the first time." The Legendary Hungry Wolf chuckled. "Well, starting in a couple of days, I'll do some training for the tournament and once Andy and Joe both get here, I might do a couple of spars with them. How about you?"

"Hmm, I'll train in a couple of days as well. I thought about calling the agents so they can help me, but I'll be fine training by myself."

"You should take it easy though, the tournament doesn't start until next month."

"I know that." Mary gets up and stretches as Anton gets up as well. "Well, I just came by to see how you're doing, see you around."

"I'd say the same to you." Terry said. "Oh, and Mary, I wish you good luck at the tournament."

"I wish you good luck too." The agent replied. "Let's go, Anton." She told her dog. Anton only barked in response as they both left the house.

After watching Mary and Anton leave, Terry relaxes on the couch again and looks at the invitation. "I hope you're ready, Ken Masters, 'cause this wolf won't go down that easily." He thought.

Terry, Joe, and Mai have confirmed to compete in the Millennium Tournament for the third time as Andy and Mary will compete for the first time. The question is, how many veterans will return to the tournament and how many newcomers will compete in it?