"I'm the only one of us who hasn't fought yet," Ritsuko announced to the group. "It's pretty likely I'll be the next idol to fight."

"Go, go Riichan!" Ami, who was Ami today, exclaimed.

"You will make us proud, Ritsuko-san," Takane predicted.

Ritsuko smiled. "Thank you, guys. I'm really excited, to be honest. A chance to show that your producer is capable of more than just paperwork and drinking coffee and dance lessons."

"The next match is Xiaoyu Ling!" the announcer called. Ritsuko straightened her tie and stood by the door in expectance. "Her opponent is Ritsuko Akizuki!"

"And there it is," Ritsuko whispered. She stalked into the arena to meet Xiaoyu, you frowned at the sight of her. "Hey, kid."

"Hey," Xiaoyu returned. "Ritsuko…if you had been fighting one of your idols, one of you would have faked a death. I am a friend of yours, true, but I really, really don't want to die! I'm going to come at you with everything I have, so you must be prepared!"

Ritsuko smiled. "That's exactly what I had expected you to say," she admitted. "Don't worry about me, Xiaoyu. Just fight your best."

Xiaoyu grinned and nodded. "Ready?"

"Ready."

And all at once, Ritsuko found herself with a foot on her face.

She stumbled backwards and was immediately met with a barrage of punches from Xiaoyu. Gritting her teeth, Ritsuko threw her arms up to block Xiaoyu's next couple of attacks and shoved the girl backwards onto the ground. Xiaoyu rolled backwards and settled herself into a fighting crouch.

Ritsuko calmly took a few steps backwards. She knew full well that Xiaoyu wouldn't stay crouched for long. She watched as the girl suddenly leapt to her feet and flung herself straight at her opponent, who stepped aside nimbly at the last second. Ritsuko expected Xiaoyu to just slam against the wall and get knocked out—not for Xiaoyu to bounce off of the wall and come flying back at her, knocking her onto her face.

Xiaoyu let out a cry and slammed her hand into Ritsuko's neck. Ritsuko coughed and rolled over, taking Xiaoyu with her. She scrambled to her feet and gave Xiaoyu a quick, hindering kick to the stomach before leaping away again.

A strategy, she thought to herself. I need a strategy…hm…maybe I could pretend to strangle her, right? I have to hurt her but I don't want her actually dyi—wait, where did you come from, kid?!

Sure enough, Xiaoyu was at it again, throwing punch after jab after kick that cut mercilessly into Ritsuko's thoughts—and her vital organs. Ritsuko grunted and grabbed onto the first body part she could, which just so happened to be a wrist. Clinging tightly to the wrist, Ritsuko took a step back and swung Xiaoyu against the wall behind her. Xiaoyu squeaked and kicked Ritsuko in the side. Ritsuko made a pained noise and jabbed her elbow into Xiaoyu's back, then used her forearm to hold the girl against the wall. Xiaoyu growled a bit and threw her leg backwards, managing to kick Ritsuko in the shin. The older woman formulated a quick strategy in her mind and leaned in to Xiaoyu's ear to whisper with her.

"You're in a bit of a slump."

"I can get out of it," Xiaoyu insisted. "Really, I can!"

"Then prove it," Ritsuko ordered. She pulled Xiaoyu's hand behind her back and held the squirming teenager's front against the wall. Xiaoyu yelped. "If you don't break free from this in…ten seconds, I will repeatedly slam you against this wall until you are unconscious. I want you to pretend to be dead when I do. OK?"

"If you do," Xiaoyu corrected. She twisted to the right, trying to spin herself away from the wall, but Ritsuko pushed her harder against the hard surface and trapped her with a knee to her side. Xiaoyu let out a whine.

"Ten."

Again Xiaoyu twisted, this time to the left. Ritsuko grabbed her other arm and pinned it behind her back with its match and effectively forcing Xiaoyu back against the wall.

"Nine, eight, seven."

She listened to Xiaoyu muttered to herself. The teenaged girl suddenly ducked and tried to back away under Ritsuko's legs. Ritsuko closed her legs and yanked Xiaoyu back up by her arms. She shoved her back against the wall.

"Six, five, four."

Xiaoyu tried to kick off the wall, but Ritsuko leaned all of her body weight against Xiaoyu's back—and her arms. She made a noise that sounded like half growl, half whine.

"Three…"

"Let go of me!"

"Two…"

"You are such a cheater! I'm way lighter than you!"

"One."

"You old hag!"

"I'm only nineteen! I swear!" Ritsuko frowned and leaned away from Xiaoyu, pulling her off the wall only to slam her against it again. Xiaoyu screamed.

"Hag!" she repeated. "You old hag! Hag!"

"You're only making me angry," Ritsuko sighed. She pulled Xiaoyu back off the wall and slammed her in with greater force. "I'm not old, OK?!"

"You're a bully, attacking a little girl!"

"Aren't you only…three years younger than me?" Ritsuko slammed her against the wall two more times. Xiaoyu screamed again.

"It doesn't…" She broke off and coughed.

Ritsuko pulled her off the wall and knocked her head against it; not hard enough to bash her skull in, but enough to knock her out. She released Xiaoyu's arms and the girl slid to the floor. Ritsuko bent and checked her pulse to be sure she was alive. She was.

For good measure, Ritsuko kicked her against the wall one more time before exiting the arena, confident that the audience would believe Xiaoyu to be dead. She paused by the paramedics and jerked her head at the arena. The paramedics nodded to show they understood and collected Xiaoyu's unconscious body. Ritsuko adjusted her glasses and went up to the waiting area.

"Is Xiao-Xiao dead?" Ami asked.

"Unconscious," Ritsuko corrected. "I couldn't bring myself to kill her. Even though she did call me old."

"How old are you?" Lili asked.

"Nineteen," Ritsuko answered. Lili didn't look convinced. "I'm nineteen! I swear!"

Lili smirked. "Whatever you say…"

"Seriously, I'm not even legally able to drink yet! I'm not old!"

"Ritsuko-san, congratulations!" Yukiho piped. "I-I'm so glad you didn't kill Xiaoyu-chan. She's really nice."

Ritsuko nodded. "…two matches in a row of wins for our side. Before Hibiki's match, Mami was paired with Haruka so neither of them died. And even with Hibiki's death, she did so well that Nina is too injured to compete. All-in-all…for some reason, I don't think the next match will end well."

"Don't be ridiculous," Makoto chided. "Please don't start thinking like that now that I've finally started recovering. It'll be annoying."

Ritsuko sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I know…" She forced herself to smile. "I'm glad you seem better, anyhow."

Makoto grinned. "Yeah, Hibiki and Yukiho helped a lot. Really."

Ritsuko nodded again, trying to shake the bad feeling she had. She accepted the congratulations of her friends with a smile, but deep inside the female producer knew things wouldn't end well.

I guess only time will tell. Still…what is my gut trying to tell me?