Guessing that Cordelia would probably prefer not to have to sit right next to a six-foot-plus, two hundred and fifty pound total stranger whose aesthetic tastes seem to run to one hundred and ten percent pure machismo, you let Lu-sensei move on ahead of you, and take the seat between Sakaki and the aisle seat. After taking a long look at you, your master, and the huge scary guy who is talking quietly with said sensei, Cordelia settles into the last seat.
"Okay there, Cordy?" you ask.
"I'm fine."
You have your doubts about that, but hold back from saying so. "Just checking," you say instead, before turning to Sakaki and... well, Sakaki. It's kind of hard to see around a guy whose torso is probably as big as your entire body. "So, Lu-sensei," you ask, raising your voice slightly, "how do you and Mister Sakaki know each other?"
"Mostly by reputation," comes your teacher's voice. "He's quite well known in the world of karate. Are they still calling you the Tenth Dan Brawler?"
"I'm up to thirty-six, now," Sakaki replies matter-of-factly.
"How does that work?" you wonder aloud. "I mean, doesn't the ranking generally top out at Tenth Dan?"
"Fifth or Tenth, depending on the style," Sakaki says. "And you gotta sit a lot of tests, train a lot of brats, and do heaps of community service to get awarded the higher ranks. Takes years at least, decades more likely; who has that kinda time?" He shakes his head. "Not me, that's for sure. So I figured I could just train at different dojos, get up to First or Second Dan ranking in their styles, win a few tournaments and help the cops bust a few gangs for extra credit, and count 'em all towards the total."
"...is that legal?" Cordelia asks.
"Seems to be. At least, nobody's told me to stop."
You give the big man a once-over. Even if he was breaking some written rule or accepted custom, you can see why people might be reluctant to call him on it.
"So you're working with the police?" Lu-sensei says.
"I ain't a cop, if that's what you're asking. Way too many rules and regulations they gotta deal with all the damn time. Nah, I've just let it be known that if they need a hand, I'm available - for a modest fee. Gotta pay the bills somehow, right?" His fierce grin quickly turns to a scowl. "Of course, the government's a bunch of cheapskates even when you're on their payroll full-time, let alone as a contractor, and tournament winnings only go so far, so I've been looking into bodyguard work as a more regular sideline. Y'know, when I'm not busy training or anything."
Further conversation is cut off by a dimming of the lights over the stands, and a brightening of those over the ring.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the Announcer says, "welcome to the first round of the Twenty-First World Martial Arts Tournament's Under Eighteens Armed Division Finals!"
Oh, that's right. They split the weapon-users and unarmed fighters into morning and afternoon bouts - which is why Lu-sensei and probably Sakaki are sitting here right now, rather than being down in the side-gyms waiting for their preliminary matches. They didn't do this with the Under Fourteens Division because there weren't enough competitors in that age bracket to make up two whole divisions - at least not this year. Some years it's different, or so Lu-sensei tells you. A quick look at the lineup shows that they've got a full house for this division, thirty-two competitors in all. The only ones that you recognize are Kasumi's big brother, Hayate, and the guy you saw hanging out with him back during the Under Tens Preliminary round.