Mel Masters was currently wracked with nerves, although to be fair...why wouldn't he be? He's the first match of the tournament, and that means that the majority of Japan will have their eyes on him in this tournament. The young heir looked down at his fists as he sat on the bench in his own locker room, they were shaking but not out of fear or nervousness. He was just desperate. Immediately so, considering he needed to get some attention out there. And some answers at the very least about his father.

Even so, Mel also wouldn't deny that he wanted to do this tournament to find a means to prove to himself that he was strong enough. That he'd win the tournament as easily as his father won the Martial Arts Tournament in America a long time ago as its champion. Mel didn't consider himself a master, or a champion, but he did consider himself a Masters; Mel didn't want to disappoint either so he took a shaky breath in...and let out a constant stream of air as he breathed out.

His calm attitude returned, and immediately he looked at the screen that not just a few minutes ago had just turned on. He stood up, patting his knees, arms, and then adjusted his jacket and outfit ready to fight. He looked at the screen, and noticed that his first opponent was a girl with pink hair, and golden eyes. Aino Heart, as the screen said.

First Match: Aino Heart Vs. Mel Masters

If everything went well, then Mel would be able to win this match with no issue. He had some MMA practice, and he was sure that he had a small advantage in experience and training. Not to mention the obvious weight issue, considering that the challengers weight, and height were under their names. It was standard procedure really, and it showed in how light this Aino was. 52kg's is roughly 101lb's as far as Mel realized, and it paled in comparison to his extra 140lb's. She did look short too, which admittedly Mel was only taller by a few inches. However, even so, he wasn't entirely discouraged.

After all, Mel should theoretically have the advantage in this fight from a technical standpoint. It didn't matter who she was or what she could do. Mel needed to win. He will win. No room for loss or losing at the moment.

He takes a small but calming breath, and steels his eyes as he rubs his nose to the side and walks out of his locker room. Needless to say, he's ready to make a splash and win this.

Definitively, and completely.


Heart Aino paced around in a small hallway with the rumbling of the audience and the light at the end of the tunnel. She was...a bit nervous, admittedly, since there was about 5 minutes til he match began. Now she just had to wait for her cue to enter the ring and make her entrance.

However, as she wore her usual school uniform, she couldn't help but speak internally to her Arcana.

"Okay, so...how hard should I punch?" Aino asks meekly on the inside as she paces around with a worried look on her face.

"I suppose without using any of my power, so just be yourself, in this case." The Arcana within Aino spoke with a loving motherly voice, almost as if she was trying to explain to Aino a lesson. "There is no need to worry, so long as you don't lose faith in why your doing this. You are doing this for...?"

"My family! My bakery, yes! But how do I do that without hurting anybody too hard? It's not like they are thieves or delinquents!" She internally screamed as she stomped her foot once or twice with an indignant pout. Needless to say, she's not entirely confident about losing, just not sure about what to do. She has used her Arcana before, but that was usually to help stop thieves who were fast, or even to help her in other cases. It was a power she had for a while now, so if she used it she was worried she was going to hurt Mel.

Which, to her surprise, she didn't even know she was going to be fighting another guy. From what little research she did before the tournament, they usually do weight classes to make sure the fighting is fair!

So why did they pit her against a boy of all people?

"Perhaps this is a test of sorts? You humans have a habit of looking at these battles with some interest. Perhaps that in it of itself can be an expression of love for battle." The Arcana remarked with a slightly calm tone, assuring Aino with a silent but motherly smile. "So long as you don't use all of your power, or mine for that matter, you should be able to make sure the other contestant remains safe."

"R-Right! R-Right...!" Aino fanned her face, before taking a deep breath and tying the ribbon around her right wrist tighter. She hears a roar of cheers and eventually the sound of the announcer.

"Alright, everybody! Who's ready to witness the first match, of Tokyo's Young Martial Arts Tournament?!" The announcer sounded like someone in their late teens, although the charisma exuding from the voice made even Aino a bit excited and vibrating with a bit of anticipation. The cheers and roaring of the audience sounded absolutely ecstatic the entire time as Aino made her slow walk down the hall and into the stage.

"Here comes our first two challengers! On the left side, we have a young girl who seems to be a dedicated Samaritan of her own right! Her adorable appearance may belie a hidden strength not many are used to seeing! Who is this new person, and will she be able to make an impact on all of us?! Weighing 52kg's and at a height of 160 cm, the Maiden of Love! Aino...HEAAARTTTTTTT!"

Did she have to say it like that...? Aino thought with a bit of a deadpan smile, but she walked out of the hall and into the bright lights. Flashing red and pink sides, along with a ring that looked very similiar, albeit really short. It looked like an Octagon but with no cage or ropes. That was...odd, for Aino. Because she remembered an octagon-like arena having cages and such for the fighters. However, she didn't see any of that.

Not that she could immediately focus on that, because now she had to deal with the roars and whistles of the audience, which surprised her with a yelp as she walked over to the arena. However, she smiled and waved with a rather nervous presence, she wasn't used to seeing this many people. However, with the amount of people watching, it's almost surprising that people would be willing to watch fights in martial arts.

However, as soon as she stepped into the arena mat, she felt the light but also firm padding underneath. It would leave her bouncing on the floor a bit, although she held onto her ribbon with some anxiety as she tried to take deep breaths. The Arcana withnin her is already soothing her mind, and diving back into the background of her mind.

Aino's body felt like it had none of the Arcana energy for now, as she waited in that that spot of the arena.

"Coming in all the way from America, a prodigal MMA practitioner as well as a chip on his shoulder, here we have the son of one of the former Martial Arts Champions from the U.S.A.! What is he here for!? Weighing 63 kg's at a height of 119 cm's! This here is the Blazing Ember! MEL! MASTEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRSS!"

Walking from across the other side of the entire stage, comes out a young boy. He looked to be Aino's age, and from the blazing lights and smoke, comes out a frowning, but seriously energetic young Mel Masters. At least, that's who Aino could tell to be Mel. The young man had a makeshift pony-tail with a tuft of hair on the front of his head that looked like that of a phoenix.

He wore a blue and white jacket with green cargo pants that were ruffled and yet tightly worn. His sneakers looked worn but also ready to be used for the battle that came up ahead, and as he walked onto the Octagon Arena with no issue, he stood on the other side just a few feet away from Aino.

He was staring at her, and it wasn't entirely a friendly expression. Aino felt some sense of impatience, and desperation even. Why, she didn't know, but she could also feel a tad bit of sadness.

Not that it's obvious how nervous I feel right now! Aino panicked internally, but she also felt a lot of it understandably. After all, she's supposed to be his opponent.

"U-Uhm, h-hello! My name is Aino Heart! I-It's a pleasure to meet you, Mel Masters!" Aino stuttered out her best greeting loud and clear, and she gave a bow to Mel as a direct show of respect.

"Just as respectful as she looks! Nervous, and yet adorable with how respectful is to the opponent she is going to be fighting against! And how does Mel respond?" The announcer's voice sounded ecstatic, and hyping up the entire situation as well.

Mel raises a brow, although he seems to sigh and rolls his shoulder. "N-Now, this is just embarrassing. Lift your head up."

"O-Oh, sure!" Aino raises her head up, and looks at Mel with a look of surprising endearment and confusion. "U-Uhm, I-I never been in a fight before like this so uhm...I-I look forward to giving you a good fight!"

"..." Mel noticed how her words were almost recited in her mind, and yet spoken with such sincerity. He couldn't help but roll his eyes and yet feel a sense of sympathy towards her. He gives a barely noticeable smirk. "That's the idea, ain't it? But, you better do more than that if you want to win. After all..."

Mel's smirk faded, replaced by a serious frown as he took a step-back and entered a South-Paw stance while also bouncing on his heels. "I have to win this. Sorry if I rough you up too much."

"W-Wha—we're fighting now!?" Aino stammered while waving her hands a bit.

"Isn't this interesting, Mel seems ready to fight at a moments notice, and yet Aino hasn't taken up her stance!" The announcer spoke with a good amount of pep, although she herself seemed befuddled. "We have a South-Paw stance from Mel, right-foot and right-hand forward with his left hand ready! But what stance will we see from Aino!?"

"So? Take your stance!" Mel barked out with an impatient but also challenging tone that startled Aino for the moment. Needless to say, she isn't used to that, along with the roar of the audience eager to see a fight.

"Remember Aino...for your family."

Aino widened her eyes, and then took ona sincere expression as she took her usual stance. It was similiar to Shoto-Kan karate, but clear she never trained or took this stance in anything else. However, Aino firmly states with a sincere and strong statement. "For my family!"

Mel briefly grit his teeth, and now that both fighters were in their stances, the announcer laughed with pep and excitement.

"Seems our fighters are ready, folks! Here we go! Get set! FIGHT!"

With that call, Aino is surprised but not caught off guard by Mel's sudden jab that she managed to barely avoid by backstepping. She was a bit sloppy, but she also managed to counter with a slow, but well-formed jab into his face. She was holding back a lot from the Arcana, but her physical body itself was good and physically sound.

Gym has always been her best subject.

However, Mel didn't back step, instead he moved his head to the side and countered with a few well-placed punches to the side of her head.

The blows were surprising to Aino, and she felt the weight behind them as she almost flinched from the force. However, she grit her teeth and tried to throw a low kick aimed at his leg despite the pain.

"Gah!" The kick landed, and she noticed a bit on time that Mel threw a strong, but telegraphed uppercut from below. She managed to move back, almost losing her balance but then moving forward.

"Sorry in advance!" Aino squeaked, but she revved her fist in a circle before launching it at Mel's chest. The attack landed barely before he could block, being punished by the blow as he staggered a bit backwards.

For a moment, she was worried, and widening her eyes as she tried motioned her hands forward.. "O-Oh, I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to hit that hard—!"

She yelped as one of her hands was grappled, and Mel took that as an opportunity to throw her over his shoulder down to the mat.

She hit the ground with a blow on her back, and she gasped out with a bit of pain shocking her system. However, she noticed the fierceness in Mel's eyes and grit teeth, before she managed to move to avoid a punch that landed next to her head.

She recovered quickly, and stepped back a little bit to put some distance. She panted a bit, but she was still not worse for wear. After all the fight just started and...

It just started and already its this intense! Aino's inner voice shouted, but she wasn't backing down entirely. She was just a bit overwhelmed by the fact that Mel had been nothing but aggressive in the fight. Like, he was going to punch her in the face while she's on the ground!?

She almost looked a bit overwhelmed, and then she looked back. Aino widened to see that she had been cornered into the edge of the octagon. And then, she realized something really...odd.

Would it count as a ring-out if she stepped out?

That'd mean she lose.

And when she turned to see Mel immediately going to take the advantage...she panicked and jumped to the side as she narrowly avoids a punch and goes back to the center of the ring. However, she pants and Mel is rapidly approaching as well.

Okay, Okay, what do I do what do I do what do I do— Her thought process was interrupted as Mel threw a roundhouse kick that she blocked with her forearm, only to see a punch rearing up from the right—

"Ah!" Aino noticed that the punch was a feint, and yet she reacted too late that she took a punch to her right cheek and she winced as she staggered to the side and back. However, she wasn't entirely out.

T-That...That was heavy...!

Aino took a moment to collect herself, before narrowly avoid a spinning-kick by ducking underneath it. However, she didn't capitalize on it for fear of being countered.

She simply began circling around Mel with a small but understandably anxious frown. She couldn't get close without risking getting hit, and Mel just simply kept his eyes on her the entire time. He's super aggressive, and admittedly she was trying to go for simple punches and kicks.

But Mel was now getting impatient, and Ainoa didn't know what to do. If she couldn't hit him hard enough without hurting him, then how is she supposed to win?

Wait...the ring... Aino began thinking, and although she realized she's not entirely outmatched, the option of a ring out was always there. She'd need to get Mel out of the ring, and yet Aino knew that'd be harder than it sounded.

"Quit. Moving. And. Just go down!" Mel gave a series of jabs, kicks, all in a combo of sorts that Aino dodged and blocked when she could. However, she saw an opening and took it while giving a jumping front kick. It hit him in the ribs, although he only grunted and paused for a moment. He stopped, and finally gave a huff of frustration.

Aino started to regain her breathing, and she internally realized that she had to go on the offensive. Taking a small but serious expression, she dashes toward him and she throws her first punch at Mel.

Mel manages to block that one with his arm, but she throws another punch immediately after, which made him block that one as well. Eventually, she swings a sidekick to Mel who looked to be growing desperate enough to fight and win. Aino almost felt sorry she had to do this, as she knew this was a friendly competition to her.

And yet she didn't understand why Mel had a serious expression and aggression to him right now. The fight wasn't that serious aside from getting money right? Is he so interested in the money?

Well...I guess I shouldn't be judging him. Aino thought as Mel ducked a bunch and tried to leg sweep her. However, she jumped just in time and landed a kick right in his face. She yelped out at that, worried she might have put a bit too much force on that.

Seeing Mel stagger back however, and close to the edge of the arena made Ainor ealize she should capitalize on the opportunity. If she pushed him off, she'd win without having to harm him too much, so she put her hands forth and went for a push—

"Dammit!" Mel cursed out, but he didn't stop his movements as he gave a harder uppercut straight to Aino's chin. That was a huge damage dealer, which made her go backwards and eventually onto her back.

"Owwwwwiiiiieeeeeeee!" She whined and groaned a bit as she rolled on the ground comedically back and forth. She got back onto her feet, pouting with a rather indignant frown. "Did you have to punch that hard!?"

"What else did you expect?! I'm here to win, Maiden. I'm not stopping for anything just because you're a girl!" Mel gave off a stern but also desperate statement, as he grit his teeth and went over to her. "I have to win...I need to win! I WILL win!"

Aino had a concerned, albeit frankly sympathetic expression before she took a few steps back...and noticed that she had no other way to go other than the side or...over Mel.

Wait...maybe...

"So just do me a favor...and step out of the ring!" Mel grit his teeth, and charged with a desperate sprint.

"I-I'm so sorry!" Aino grit her teeth, and she braced herself.

Mel charged towards Aino, and he jumped to deliver a Flying Kick...to which Aino reacted rather suddenly.

She ducked and rolled underneath it, and almost stood up immediately to her stance from her knee. However, she widened her eyes as she witnessed Mel, in his desperate attempt to knock Aino out of the ring with that Flying Kick, kick out of the ring and into the floor below it.

He landed only a bit sloppily, but no doubt he was in a state of shock. Aino looked down at Mel. However, she had a concerned look on her face.

Before she could even think, suddenly the announcer cut her off.

"Whoa! What happened!? The two combatants were exchanging blows, but Mel always seemed to have the advantage! Seems like Mel got a bit too greedy for his own good with that flying kick, and now he's essentially landed outside of the arena! That's a loss by ring-out, and that means we have our victor! The winner of the first match, is Aino Heart!"

...w-wait...I won? Aino thought in her face, and she couldn't help but be stunned as she looked at the audience roar and cheer. However, there was a mixture of jeers and boos as well. Aino didn't think about that, but she did immediately go to Mel who was still kneeling and on his hands. She couldn't see his expression, but she was empathetic and immediately concerned.

"M-Mel, I-I'm sorry you lost, but hey, you gave it your all back there!" She crouched down and offered a hand with a loving smile. "Even if I didn't fight all the way, you still had me cornered! I-I think you're a winner in my—"

Mel looked up and gave a half-glare at Aino. The expression confused Aino however, and she didn't...feel a bit happy about that. Why?

"So, you weren't even trying or fighting with your full-power..." The young brawler sighed, but he looked discouraged and disheartened for a moment. "That's just way more embarrassing for me."

"I-I..." Aino didn't know what else to feel about that, she didn't understand Mel's thought process right now, so she didn't know what to say.

"...whatever." Mel stood up, dusted himself off and rubbed his face. "I came here expecting to win like it was chump-change...but I only ended up losing to someone who isn't even a fighter."

"H-Hey, what does that mean?!" Aino pouted at that, but she frowned in concern.

"...you wouldn't get it." Mel shrugs, but he stands up from his feet, not taking Aino's hand. However, his expression wasn't as malicious as Aino initially thought. He seemed more saddened and discouraged. But not giving up. "Congratulations on your victory..."

Aino opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't get a word in as Mel left the ring and went back to the hallway he entered the ring from. His footsteps and figure slowly walking high, but his head was low. Aino knew that Mel had lost, and that she had won. She was one step closer to the finish line of this tournament! She should be happy, right? Aino's family might earn that money, and she can help them as well, right?

If that's all the case, and she's advancing to the second round, then that means that she should be celebrating or even cheering herself on.

So why... Aino had a concerned expression over Mel, and she looked down at her slightly bruised hands from the punches. And then she looked towards Mel's retreating figure...and she bit her lip in confusion. Why does this victory feel...bad?


Mel leaves behind the roars of the audience, and is walking along the hallway where no doubt he was alone for now. The bitterness that he feels in the pit of his soul right now is deep, and admittedly, he knows its not Aino's fault. Mel knows that there was no guarantee a tournament like this would bring him one step closer to literally finding his father.

Because his Father was already gone and missing, so there wouldn't be much of a point to specifically go to Japan alone. Mel knows this, so its even more frustrating that he had lost the first match of this tournament after getting confident from beating up a bunch of thugs. A bunch of thugs with no formal training.

Now I lost to a greenhorn who's...genuinely sincere. That part is what made Mel's bitterness subside a bit and feel some form of regret. He had taken out some of his frustrations on that Aino, so now he definitely had no other reason to stay here other than to answer questions about why the son of the disgraced Ken Masters is even in Japan.

Or to stay and watch the rest of the competition, if only because now that Mel realized he lost because of his desperation; he can focus now on just improving and getting better. That's one of the many good lessons his father taught him while growing up, and something his mother reinforced with a smile, even with her sadness.

They don't give up after hitting a roadblock. The Masters get better, improve, and return to that roadblock and break through it.

A simple idea, but one that Mel always jokingly said when he was no older than 7 years old.

But still... Mel gave off a rueful smirk, pocketing his hands into his sweater. He really had to admit, losing sucked a lot. Especially to a novice out of his own impatience and desperation.

With all of that being said, Mel didn't have no option. In fact, he had an option in Japan. A connection of his father who even Mel found himself rather fond of despite the man's only recent dive into having a smartphone.

At least, that's what Mel remembered the last time he had that man's contact. He was always a Wandering Warrior, but at the same time it'd be easy to say he's also a bit of a hobo.

Not in terms of being dirty, shady, or rude. He just doesn't entirely have a house at all. He's just...kinda doing his own thing.

Even so, Mel walks down the hallway, needing to make a phone call to the man who Ken Masters considers his best friend.

His best Rival.


Greetings everybody! I am back with this chapter, while I am happy with the length. I will admit, however this is the first time that I have actually made a one-on-one fight between close-combatants. So, if you guys have any critiques or feedback regarding how I can improve in that regard, feel free to let me know with decorum and grace.

That said, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and the small little bait I put at the end right now.

I'll try and make sure to write the next chapter a bit faster, and this time with less issue. However, considering the Job Hunt and other stuff, I do apologize in advance if it takes a few weeks. For now though, I hope you all enjoyed this fight. It won't be the last one.

Enjoy yourselves, and I'll see you on the horizon.