Match 5: France VS Japan

Live Match Under Tokyo Tower, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Local Time: 00:00

The opening drone shot ran down Tokyo Tower top to bottom, focusing on the four Japanese competitors. A new camera angle zoomed out. The four hedgehogs dropped from the lowest bar, each taking a side around Tails. Each one, completely decked out in a ninja costume, took the fox in for a massive group hug. After strategically overheating Tails, they took their masks off, revealing who was who.

The teams took their pre-approved extra time to chat. Sonic and Amy talked with Zooey while cuddling Tails, and the other four made conversation. Sonia made sure to bring up Manic's past crush on the singer.

Soar made his compulsory appearance. "ご列席の皆様, おかえりに The King of Fighters! In this first match of the semifinals, Team Japan will take on Team France, both teams being longtime friends. And on that topic, we have some special guests!"

Zooey pointed to someone walking toward them. Mina ran to and hugged Honey the Cat, a rival singer but good friend. Manic blushed at seeing her there also. Amy spotted a huge man dropping from where they had come from. They cleared the way to see Knuckles take a smooth landing. He quickly seized Sonia and kissed her. She eagerly kissed back, holding the echidna tightly until he let her go.

"Came to see my wife." He explained. He took Sonic and Amy into his arms, allowing Manic to keep looking at the singers.

The guests were removed to the offside as Amy and Mina took the sidelines, allowing Zooey to join the combat. Team France sent Sonia and Japan sent Tails.

"Team Double Date sends out man one." Sonia teased.

"Don't want to beat you up, but I must advance." Tails replied, ignoring Sonia. He put his brass knuckles on.

Sonia tapped one with her tonfa. "Neither do I. Don't break your hands on these."

"Your husband is here to carry your body away." His tails started spinning.

Soar separated the competitors. "Round one. Teams ready? ENGAGE!"

Tails jetted over the gap in under a second. Sonia, appropriately still in ninja costume, turned her weapons around and blocked a hard punch. She jabbed under the fox's chin while he was still reeling. He kicked the inside of her knee to upset her balance. Tails then did the same to her other knee, forcing her into a split.

Sonia spun a tonfa at his head. He took this blow and punched her left shoulder, pushing her over. She stood back up immediately and kicked his face as he closed in for another punch. She threw a tonfa at his chest and knocked him down hard. He called Mina in while gasping for air.

Sonia picked up her weapon as Mina closed in. She leaped and flew at her opponent, landing a powerful dropkick. Sonia rolled to stay upright. She reached down and struck Mina's knee, sweeping her off her feet. Sonia dropped a knee on Mina's midsection, then placed a tonfa over her throat, cutting off her oxygen.

"Tailsy!" She cooed. "Come and save her!"

He flew over to her, yanking her with the tonfa she refused to let go of. He dragged Sonia across the concrete until she let go. She recovered, but obviously in pain. He engaged Sonia in a battle with the tonfa. They traded four hits until Tails struck Sonia in the head with an off-hand uppercut. He threw the tonfa at her head and she fell, hanging on for consciousness.

Tails encouraged Mina to get up as Soar delivered the ten count. Sonia tried once to get up, but could not.

"Round one: Team Japan!" Soar cheered. "Tails will face his best buddy Sonic in round two! Hang tight!"

Tails, Ash, and Honey walked Mina to the sideline where the medical team cleared her for another round.

As the fox predicted, Knuckles carried Sonia to their team's sideline. The hedgehogs comforted her while her husband kept her in his lap. Sonic prepared to face Tails in the next round, an event he was looking forward to.