"A duel will begin in the first schoolyard," I heard the announcement over the school's intercom system. Kazuko and I were already there, along with the entirety of class 2-F. "It will be hand-to-hand combat. If you'd like to spectate please come outside to the first schoolyard, thank you."
Soon after more students piled into the yard to watch this spectacle. A lot of them showed up, probably because this was an easy way of getting out of school work. Well, I'm sorry you guys, I sure hope you weren't expecting something too grand. This is going to be a quick and disappointing fight.
Before all of this, we had to go to the principal and ask his permission for the duel and he accepted with very little issue. Honestly, I half expected him to see me for the ameture that I am, and deny the battle just from sheer power difference. But like Kazuko's battle with Chris he didn't even hesitate.
Speaking of the principal. "Following the traditional ritual of Kawakami academy, we will now hold a duel!" The old man spoke loudly in front of the crowd, hyping up the students.
"It's a duel!"
"Yes! Let's get it!"
"Mari-san, please win!" Wait, who said that last one!?
The crowd cheered for the two of us. To be honest, it was a good feeling, but I couldn't help but get butterflies in front of the entire crowd. And knowing I'm going to lose this one isn't making it any better.
"Come forward and introduce yourselves," the old man commanded.
With that said, Kazuko stepped up, puffing out her chest. " From class 2-F, Kawakami Kazuko!" She introduced herself with pride.
Some cheers could be heard from the sidelines.
"You go Wanko!"
"Show that American the strength of us Japanese!"
Well damn, how am I supposed to fight her now knowing that national pride is on the line? I'm sorry fellow Americans for I will fail you this time.
It was now my turn to introduce myself. "While I just started today, I am also from class 2-F, Omari!"
"Omari-kun, please be careful!" That cry I could pinpoint to the pink haired Mayo, which I remembered as the class representative and resident 'big' sister.
"Show us what you got, bro!" I heard another cheer from Capt, the leader of Yamato's group. Such a nice guy, supporting me over his close childhood friend.
"You have my permission to fight in front of me. I will not step in to stop you two no matter what until the fight is decided. But if you try to attack your opponent after the battle is decided, I'll have to step in. Understood?"
"Got it!" Wanko nodded.
"Understood," I replied.
"Get ready!" As the principal called out I got into my standard boxing southpaw stance. Wanko quickly takes hers, but from the looks of it, she plans on taking the offensive right out the gate. That's when I noticed it. Above Kazuko's head was a level. It must have just now appeared.
[Lv. 20]
Level 20 huh? If I remember correctly Wanko wasn't the absolute strongest, but I expected her to be a higher level. I guess that means the other people on the cast are really strong. No matter, she's still 18 levels stronger than me. I'm way outclassed.
[Side mission objective: Land a punch.]
[Description: Wanko is a powerful enemy, you'd be lucky to land a punch. If you do, you get more Xp!]
[Reward: Extra 200 Xp]
"FIGHT!" And with that the principal called out the start of the bout.
Wanko rushed towards me with vigor. "Haaaa!" Luckily she agreed to a hand-to-hand fight, otherwise, I'd be at a complete disadvantage, me never using any sort of weapon like that before. With hands, I might have a chance.
When she made it for me, she opened up the left of her body like she was preparing for a right hook. I prepared a block, should be easy enough, might sting though. But just as I thought that she jumped up in the air.
"Shit," I cursed as I back stepped, it looked like she was going for a kick now. Would I have enough time to dodge?
"Hiya!" She yelled as she brought the kick down.
"Hhnhg!?" I grunted as I back stepped the kick. Her shoe grazed my nose but other than that, I successfully dodged the attack… I CAN'T BELIEVE I MANAGED TO DODGE AN ATTACK! From Wanko of all people, that's crazy to me!
But just as I was starting to praise myself I realized I forgot something integral to fighting. I forgot to look and prepare for the follow-up attack. Just as that thought passed my mind Wanko ducked down and swept my legs out from under me, causing me to almost fall.
Shit, think fast!
I caught myself with my right hand, but my feet were still in the air. I guess now it a good enough time as any to bust out those old break dancing skills. Using my chest I was able to twist my body so both hands were on the ground, I then spun myself to the right, tumbling onto the ground, but out of Kazuko's vicinity.
I heard cheers from the crowd, it must have looked pretty cool. My chest swelled with pride again but there was no time for that, I had to put more distance between us.
…
While the fight waged the Kazama family watched from the distance.
"Wow, he's pretty good at running away!" Capt praised the evasive skills of Omari.
Moro sighed. "Why did Wanko even challenge this guy? No offense to him, but besides being pretty well built, he doesn't look like much of a fighter."
"You call THAT pretty well built? He's nowhere near my level!" Gakuto said as he flexed his hard-earned muscles.
"You're just jealous because he's popular with the girls so far," Moro called out.
Gakuto crossed his arms, grumbling. "If there's one thing worse than a guy foreigner it's a pretty guy foreigner."
While the group spoke more about the bout a young tactician and a young warrior watched the fight curiously as well.
"I don't get it Nee-san," Yamato watched the fight in disbelief. "Omari is completely out of his league here, why did the principal allow this fight?"
Momoyo rested her arm around Yamato's shoulder as she watched the bout closely. "This Omari kid is weak, most martial artist can see that… but what only experienced martial artist can see is the potential that surrounds him."
"Potential?" Yamato tilted his head. "Like he could become strong?"
"Exactly. He has the most potential than I've ever seen in a person," she smiled. "I reckon the old man saw that and is just seeing where he'd have to start from if he started training him."
"Omari might get taken under the principal's wing? How strong do you think he can get nee-san?"
"There's a green aura that surrounds him. If that aura could all be turned into fighting power… Probably just a little weaker than the old man himself, though I doubt he'd ever catch up with me."
"That's… Crazy," Yamato returned his focus to the fight, now with a new perspective. The man Wanko was fighting could one day rival even the principal?
"My darling little sister probably sensed his potential as a martial artists, but do to her amateurish senses she probably mistook his potential for actual fighting skill."
"I see, so that explains why she challenged him."
Yamato continued to watch the fight in silence. He thought to himself, he definitely needed to make this guy a contact, he could be a great help in the future.
...
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit! I cursed in my head as I ran away from my perpetrator.
"H-Hey Omari, you can't just run away from me forever!" Wanko said as she chased me down attacking every now and again.
I know damn it! But I have no idea what I should do. Should I really just turn around and take the ass-kicking? I don't wanna, it's going to hurt. I mean, I know I was the one to agree to this but c'mon!
"Gotcha," out of nowhere Wanko appears in front of me as I internally scream at the top of my mental lungs. She smirks and sends a roundhouse kick right at my head.
Her blow causes my knees to buckle as I fall down to the ground. The pain reverberates through my entire body. No dream could emulate that feeling, that's for sure. I shake my head as I quickly try to pick myself back up and get ready for her follow up.
"Hiya!" She let out a cry as she tried kicking my body on the ground, I used tried like she didn't succeed, but in actuality, that's exactly what she did.
I felt my breath leave my body as her kick hit me directly in the stomach causing my body to roll over, almost doing a flip in the process.
"Shit," I cursed. I'm not sure how much fight I actually have left in me. A metallic taste filled my mouth as I rolled over in pain. Shit, was it internal bleeding!? That's serious, isn't it!?
Luckily it wasn't much as I coughed I saw just a small amount in a bunch of saliva. Still, there's no time to play around, I got to keep on my toes. If I let the fight in without at least one solid hit, then what's the point?
"Sorry for the dirty trick," I said as I grabbed some sand and threw it up in the air, trying to avoid her eyes.
"H-Huh?" Wanko questioned, obviously surprised by my action, also dropping her guard slightly.
I heard a moan from the crowd but I grimaced and continued on anyway. "Sorry again!" I said as I followed up this attack with an uppercut from the ground, jumping up from a crouching position.
She grunted as she leaned back as fast as she could, my punch just nearly nipped her chin.
[Side mission objective: Complete!]
YES! I managed to land a hit! I can't believe it! It only took a whole lot of running away and a dirty trick but I actually managed to do it! Eat your heart out Majikoi. No one can stop me!
With that thought in mind, all the air in my lungs left, and I couldn't breathe once again. Looking down I saw Wanko's fist driven straight in my stomach. Fortunately for me, the pain hadn't sunken in yet… Wait… there it is.
Somehow this punch hurt almost 3 times more than the kick. I didn't even know that was possible. Well, at least I know now for sure I'm not dreaming. This pain is on a whole different level.
My legs buckled as I fell down to my knees. Would I be exaggerating to say that it was the most painful thing I had ever experienced in my life? No, no it would not. Mind you, I've broken bones before, and this is somehow even worse than that.
"Stop the fight!" I heard the principal call came in from the crowd but unfortunately, I couldn't stand up or ever raise my gaze to see what was going on.
"You okay Omari-kun?" I heard Wanko's voice from above me.
I let out a pained laugh. "You really got me good."
"Sorry," I could practically sense her hand going behind her head to scratch her scalp sheepishly. "Almost getting sand in my eyes kinda caused me to freak out."
"Don't worry about it… that was my fault," I managed to look up at the smiling Wanko. "No hard feelings?" I asked.
"Of course not!" She said as she extended her hand down towards me, which of course I accept and let her pull me back to my feet.
As I stood up the crowd cheered as this was a sign of good sportsmanship and understanding.
[Quest Complete:
"Don't underestimate me, Sensei!"
Description:
Kauzko Kawakami has challenged you to a duel! Are you the type to back down from a challenge?
Reward:
Lose (Surviving): 2500 XP
Bonus: 200 XP
Total: 2700 XP]
[Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!]
Holy shit I leveled up a lot, I mean I figured but damn, level 8!? I'm definitely going to have to check out my skill tree and take my time with distributing my skills this time.
[Strength: 15
Endurance: 10
Charm: 10
Intelligence: 10
Perception: 10
Agility: 10
Luck: 5]
Once finishing a surge of power washed over my body. It felt like I got the best sleep in my life, just overall a giant move improver, plus, my body didn't hurt anymore.
[Ability unlocked!]
What's that?
[Perception ability: Skill Reader 1
User can now see the skills points of anyone he engages in battle with, as long as they are within 10 levels.]
Oh wow, that could be useful.
"Omari-kun, may I speak with you privately for a moment?" Once I finished sorting out my skill points the voice of the principal rang out from behind me. Uh oh. I gulped as I turned around to the old man.
"S-Sir?" I stuttered.
He smiled at me, though it was the type of smile where you really couldn't tell what the old man was thinking. "Just follow me back to my office. We have many things to discuss."
I can't tell if that's a good thing or not. I let out a sigh and followed him off the field at the rest of the students slowly made their way back to their classrooms.
…
I took a seat across from the principal's desk, crossing my fingers and twiddling my thumbs. The old man still hadn't let me know if I was in trouble or not. He stared at me momentarily before taking a deep breath a smiling.
Oh thank God, he's smiling.
"Mr. Omari, you moved here from America, correct?"
I nodded my head. "Yes, sir."
"Indeed," He said as he searched through some files which I'm guessing is things related to me, though I have no idea what it might say about me, considering I've never existed in this world but, whatever, I guess…
He hummed. "I see you don't have any sort of living situation sorted out."
Oh… Oh God, he's right. I've been so preoccupied with everything else I never even thought about what I would do after school. "Oh no, my parents told me to figure it out once I get here…" That would be the worst parenting in history if it was true but I had to think of something.
The old man hummed. "I see, Americans like to live one day at a time," he said as he stroked his beard.
Please don't get a bad idea of Americans because of my strange situation.
"Well if you have nowhere to stay then I have an opportunity for you," the old man spoke.
"Really? I said as I leaned forward.
"Well before that, let me ask you a few questions Omari-kun."
"S-Sure?" Now I'm worried for some reason.
"What is your history with martial arts?"
I tilted my head. "Well, I don't have much. I boxed a little bit when I was in middle school but besides that nothing."
The man nodded. " Well, in that case, the thought that you were even able to land a hit on Kazuko is astonishing."
"W-Well I did use a dirty trick," I said sheepishly.
"That may be true, but she can be considered a veteran martial artist while it'd be far fetched to even call you an amateur."
Gee, thanks.
"With that being said I sense a great potential in you. Similar to the potential I saw in my granddaughter when she was born."
I have potential as great as Momoyo? Well, I guess it does make sense. This gamer ability does seem kinda Op.
"For years I've searched for someone strong enough to defeat my granddaughter in hopes of humbling her. But never once did I ever think about training someone for the same purpose."
What's that? Train me to beat Momoyo? Is that really a thing that could even happen?
"So, my proposition for you is... Come train at Kawakami Temple and I'll give you a free room to stay in while you train."
And this is what officially started my life in the world of Majikoi.
...
A/N: Sorry it took so long for this chapter. I'm writing some original stuff and that usually comes first for me. But I won't abandon this fic so get ready for a ton of fun.