"Alright," you agree. "I can keep a secret for a fellow sufferer of insufferable masters. As long as you agree not to tell anybody about that thing I did. Or that I was talking about ki and mana."
The girl looks thoughtful. "I have no objection to those terms, but if you're serious about keeping your abilities secret, I think I should tell you that there are a number of people here who can notice such things. I saw you using what I thought was ninpo when you fought that other boy, and afterwards in order to heal yourself, which is why I followed you back here."
You consider rubbing in the fact that she just conceded that she was following you, but decide to let it go. You're also not entirely certain what the word "ninpo" means, though in context, you figure that it refers to magic and/or ki techniques used by ninjas.
"I kind of guessed that might be the case, from what my teacher said about 'unusual abilities' being fairly common at the upper levels in this tournament," you admit. "I appreciate the warning, though. So, slight adjustment to the terms. You agree not to tell anybody I'm magic-boy until after I've showed off what I can do, if in fact I choose to do so, and I don't let on that you're ninja-girl unless you make it obvious. Fair enough?"
She nods, starts to bow, and then extends a hand. You take it and shake once.
"Don't expect me to go easy on you if we end up fighting each other, though," you add.
She smirks back at you, as confident as Ranma. "Likewise."
Then, with a burst of flower petals, she disappears.
"Show-off," you snicker, before turning and heading in search of Cordelia and Briar.
It only occurs to you once you're back in the crowd that you didn't get ninja-girl's name. Oh well, it's not like a little genuine mystery hurts the old ninja mystique.
Spotting Briar proves somewhat harder than you originally expected, but you eventually notice a glow that isn't connected to any of the lights in the gym, and head in that direction. The fairy turns out to be sitting on Cordelia's shoulder, while the girl herself is taking a breather on the bleachers. Cordy's hair is a touch less perfect than it was the last time you saw her, but otherwise you'd have a hard time telling that she just fought someone.
"There you are," the brunette says shortly as you walk up. "What kept you, Alex?"
"I won my match by choking the other guy into unconsciousness," you say blandly, taking a seat next to your friends. "I was a little worried that I might have hurt him, so I went back to the medical center to check on him. Turns out it was nothing - or at least, nothing bad enough to stop his father from hauling him out of here. From what the paramedic on duty said, Ranma's in for some immediate remedial training."
"Lucky him," Cordelia says, before dismissing most of what you've just said. "So, are you going to ask me how I did?"