Anyone not able to see his shame let his tears go unnoticed. It also let him plan out his final moments in peace.
"Disgraceful," he sobbed, lingering on his knees, short of breath.
He blamed the lumps in his throat, the heaviness in his sinewy chest, among other things.
"That was disgraceful Ira Gamagori!" he said.
He pulled a small knife from a cleaner sheath. Ready to ram it into his gut, the white strip snagging it denied him. He looked from one anomaly to another; an icy stare, Junketsu donned, Satsuki had other ideas.
"It is too early to kneel in defeat."
She turned her back to him. His gasping didn't stop her exit through a mist that was slower to clear. It didn't help him either. Falling against his sore back, he stayed behind to dwell on her words.
x.x.x
"That's one down, Kiryuin!" Ryuko said, braggadocious, her blade over her shoulders and her knee pointing forward.
Behind her, she had a reliable ally in Son. Dressing her supple flesh, Senketsu kept some of her warm. It was hard for her to not feel like she had the upper hand.
"Then step aside, Matoi. It's our turn."
Ryuko looked at Inumuta leaving the stairs to that level of the arena.
"If Son Goku is ready, of course," he said, decidedly sure of himself.
"I am," Son took his place.
"Feel free to rest, Matoi," Satsuki said dryly.
"I'll rest when I'm dead," Ryuko retorted. "Son will beat this dude in a flash. That'll leave two more chumps to put down, then it's me and you."
Satsuki eyed the end of Ryuko's weapon; how it glimmered when it leaned in her direction.
"So it would seem. Inumuta! Son Goku! Take your places for the second round!"
Doing as they were told, Son could feel the gapes from so many. A few of them were friends. Most of them were newfound enemies. None of it mattered. There was a challenger in front of him.
x.x.x
"I hope Son will be okay." Mako drew her sigh out.
As her staring at nothing rose higher than the sky, it offered her no consolation. She mostly had a row to herself, until a shirtless giant plopped down on the only open seat next to her.
"G-Gamagori!" she gasped. "Why are you half naked?!"
"Relax, Mankanshoku. I am now like you. A No Star." Gamagori turned most of his scowling her way. "It's only fitting that I observe the battle from the bleachers."
He squeezed the white rag that saved his life, trembling.
"Lady Satsuki. I, Ira Gamagori, will work to reclaim my rightful place as your impenetrable shield! Your showing me mercy only strengthens my dedication to you!"
"... So that's it, is it?" Mako quickly hopped to her feet.
She tossed short jabs at the air between them.
"You wanna fight me to prove your worth again?!" she frowned.
" ... "
"I'm cheering for Ryuko and Son with everything I've got! No one's interfering with that, Elite Four or otherwise!"
Gamagori slid his big arms over an even bigger chest. "Hmph! Lady Satsuki has established what cannot be moved!"
"But it WAS moved. You lost to Ryuko, remember!" she reminded him.
" … "
"... WIN INUMUTA! PUT THAT IMBECILE SON GOKU IN HIS PLACE!"
"BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF HIM, SON! MAKE RYUKO AND ME PROUD!"
x.x.x
Inumuta thumbed the screen in his hand, smirking about what Son didn't see. Above them, left as one was on their right, Sanageyama and Nonon remained slightly lower to Satsuki being anxious to continue.
"Why look at Lady Satsuki so curiously, Nonon?" Sanageyama said. "Afraid you might not be her favorite anymore?"
"That's very observant, Mister Wild Monkey. But I've known her the longest. If she's focused it's because she has something in mind. Son Goku means nothing to her! Though, I do hope he beats Inumuta. Seeing him thrash you, for the third time, would be the highlight of the day."
"... I'll bet," Sanageyema leered at her.
"That's an interesting gi, Son Goku," Inumuta didn't look away from the data forming from nothing.
If he had, the white of Son's top and the blue beneath it would be front and center. He wouldn't have to, as it all gleamed on the bright projection he obsessed over.
"How long have you had it?" he finally asked.
"Ryuko's dad made it for me a long time ago," Son replied, mindful of the skinny genius not far from where he waited.
He knew what worked and what didn't. He knew underestimating any opponent could prove hazardous.
"I couldn't wear it until I was old enough," he finished.
"I see," Inumuta adjusted his specs.
Nonchalance sat between his high cheekbones, no facial hair on his chin beneath it. Skyward, Satsuki was looking down on the exchange. She didn't miss Son's lifting her a nod.
"Round two...begin!"
"Right."
Inumuta's collar zipped over his sneer. Activated lines trapped his body, hot to the touch, his armor shielding him did more than just wow the crowd. Spit out by three blinding stars, neon green edges, his visor exposed his mouth and his hair. Holographic keyboards at the ready along his thighs, forearms and biceps, all of it was offset by humming cords.
"Three Star Goku Uniform: Probe Regalia," his less than masculine voice raised.
"Probe Regalia, huh?" Son said.
He shared another nod with Ryuko, who stood back with a deadpan he wasn't used to. Inumuta's fingers jittery twitches, he pecked at the keys on his arms.
{Son should be careful. That uniform is rubbing me the wrong way.}
"He'll be alright," Ryuko answered quietly. "This dweeb doesn't stand a chance."
Son ran from his feet to turn the leg he stretched out. The attempt was ducked, and the artificial red in Inumata's sight wasn't anyone else's. One hand curved at his jaw, another shot at his torso, but the last hit him square in the chest. Son touched down on his feet some ways back.
Inumuta thanked his armor as it absorbed the blow. His display compensated, pressured into flicking out diagnostics. Each of his opponent's movements went in-and-out of view as a blur he couldn't track unless he stood still.
"You'll have to move quicker than that," Son slipped through a trying grin.
He ignored the crowd's feeding into it. The fight wasn't over. Inumuta typed with more fervor, able to reach for the intangible keypad lining his back.
"I don't know what that uniform can do, but if I were you, I'd pull out all the stops," Son said.
"You make a valid point," Inumuta replied.
If Son tried anything, his opponent evading him kept.
"Speed with coordination. You've learned to maximize while saving what you can of your energy. Less equals more eh?"
"Something like that!" Son didn't let up.
"But I wonder. How long can a human body keep that up?"
"As long as it takes!"
Son's overhead rained like a dropped anvil, drilling through the stage, shifting its foundation. Pulling his hand from harder than rock, where his opponent went was anyone's guess. The crowd couldn't see him, Ryuko couldn't, and as he was among the problem, he couldn't.
x.x.x
"He vanished?!" Mako assumed.
"It's Inumuta's uniform. When it shines only the ignorant would assume so. He didn't vanish. IT IS OPTICAL CAMOUFLAGE!"
"That's a load of crap! He's not a chameleon on his best day!"
"... I should've guessed you would miss the point entirely, Mankanshoku," Gamogori sighed.
"Eyes open!" Ryuko shouted, not caring what anyone thought.
Agreeing, Son listened for the air, and any change in it. It took a slap against his spine to set him off.
"Ow!" he winced, slicing with the hand he straightened at nothing.
"Try to hit what cannot be seen, Son Goku. Whatever you are, whatever that gi is, it isn't enough."
Something heavy hit his cheek like a stone someone threw their hardest. Several more went to work on his body.
"Snap out of it Son!" Ryuko narrowed her gaze, balling her hand.
Beaten to the edge of the stage, Son shook it off, flustered. He remembered the current. Finding his rhythm, instead of his body and face taking the punishment, his wrists and knees held it at bay. He moved them this way and that, yet the sting only worsened.
"There's nowhere to run Son Goku!" his opponent cackled. "If I can only gather obvious data like this, I'll be extremely disappointed!"
"Forget your training for a sec, Son!" Ryuko said. "This guy won't fight by any rules! Get totally reckless!"
"Totally reckless?!" Son huffed, shoving under the air attacking him. "Got it!"
Bending at the knees, hands closed and held to his waist, he pulled at what he had to control. It shot up from his feet first.
"HAAAH!" he cried out, as it wildly flared in response.
Flattened further, the stage cracked, pieces of it torn free to circle around him standing taut.
"So that's what he meant by a kiai shout," Ryuko said.
Relaxed, Son focused on one, wayward silhouette.
"Found you!" he said.
He let his flex blow at anything not nailed down. Inumuta's spectral appearance formed, as he typed as fast as he could, hitting any key on his armor that still functioned. Everywhere at once, Son covered any exit from the stage. Inumuta's helmet beeped so loud the ping nearly burst his eardrums.
"E-Evasion ...," he panicked. "... n-not an option?!"
"HOIIYYAAA!" Son popped into his sight line.
A boot raised, it fell, slamming Inumuta's visor with a heft that could derail a moving train. Much of the stage snapped up loose particles to sprinkle with the sudden rush of the breeze. It rattled so much Ryuko had to catch herself. Most of anyone still in the campus rocked whether they were standing or sitting. Seeing anything in the arena had to wait. When they could, Inumuta's head was buried five inches into it, with the unnerving twitch of his upper body, arms, and his legs still attached. When he yanked his cracked visor from it, his opponent was there.
"I hope that didn't hurt too much," Son smiled, rubbing over where his hair met his neck. "Sorry about this."
One palm opened, the hot force swirling to life in front of it left everyone quiet.
"... I'm at the limits of my processing capacity?" Inumuta's voice cracked.
His uniform's sustained damage split and shot sparks. He froze. Son wrestled with it, then he lowered his hand. Inumuta stood with his arms up and his uniform returned to however normal it could be.
"Houka Inumuta hereby forfeits this battle!" he said.
He hoped admitting it would slow the rapid beat of his heart. All eyes glued to it flashing on the arena billboards, the feeling stuck.
"You're...giving up?" Son asked, silencing the power he almost let go of.
"If I continue fighting you, the data I've gathered so far will be damaged," Inumuta shared.
"Say what?" Ryuko chuckled on the walk up.
"I only want data," Inumuta said again. "Victory doesn't interest me."
His walking off so smug got on her nerves, as Son had his time with frustration.
"Man. I was just starting to enjoy myself," he complained.
Inumuta allowed to pass by, Nonon turned her nose up.
"The data lover's grandstanding is worse than yours, 'Gama," she said.
"Lady Satsuki is allowing it so what does it matter?" Sanageyama replied.
Both looked to their superior.
"Jakuzure. Prepare for battle," Satsuki said because it didn't matter.
It took all of her calm. It took her barely leaning her weight on her sword without any fatigue to speak of. She was privy to Nonon's pause.
"What's wrong?" Sanageyama ribbed her.
He stood from a temporary seat, bored out of his mind.
"You getting cold feet?"
"Shut your trap for once! Me being next is all that matters!" Nonon fussed.
"I know. Maybe I'll catch the end of it. I've gotta break in my Three Star Goku Uniform: Blade Regalia Mark Two."
Sanageyama moved his indifference with his shuffle elsewhere. The stairs to take him wherever he was going were waiting.
"What did you say?!" Nonon fumed, ready to clock him with her baton. "You're assuming I'm gonna lose?! No one mocks me! NO one!"
x.x.x
Mikisugi on pins and needles, Tsumugu had yet to arrive with the package. He needed an out.
"They've beaten another one," he said, scratching his scalp. "Maybe we were wrong after all."
When he walked out of his classroom, he tugged away his shades. The building's rooftop would be the better vantage point. He wouldn't waste anymore time guessing.
x.x.x
When Mako woke, not wiping the slobber from the side of her mouth, she was sandwiched between a rock and a hard place. Dressed down as the burgundy tracksuit said as much, Inumuta unfolded his laptop, gulping down his pride.
"Eh?! You're here too, Inumuta?!"
"I'm unfortunately like you now." Inumuta thought saying it aloud was worse. "This is the best spot to observe the fight."
"I'll try not to bring up the topic of your forfeit," Gamagori scoffed. "What's with the tracksuit?! Have you no shame?!"
"You should know. The loser is stripped of his Goku Uniform. I don't recall any rule about having to sit naked in thirty degree weather. You remember those, right? The rules? I would rather know them than shame, Mr. Disciplinary Committee Chair. Oh, I'm sorry! Former Disciplinary Chair!"
"... I appreciate the opinion, Former Information and Strategy Committee Chair!"
"There's too much tension over here!" Mako mumbled, tugging on her earlobes.
She didn't give into the temperature, nor the butting of larger heads. If she remembered anything it was that two of her friends wouldn't quit.
"Fine. Ryuko and Son didn't lose, so I'm not gonna lose either! Let's go Mako! Stand strong, Mako Mankanshoku! Hooray! Hooray! You can do it!"
x.x.x
"Heh. Looks like Mako's cheering for herself now," Son laughed.
Below the spectacle, he had no qualms with her waving flags and being a nuisance.
"That's classic Mako," Ryuko chimed in.
{Ryuko. Your pulse and respiration have returned to normal.}
"Have they?" she said indifferently.
She and Son focused on Mako's antics until the whistle blew. Baton held high, the new competition made her presence known.
"Entrance march! Under the Double Eagle!" Nonon stepped closer.
Joining her, the band she directed at her back blew into trumpets, trombones, clarinets and the like, each cymbal clash on key with fluttering drum rolls. Instrument players took their time leaving wider stairs so as to not rush the performance.
"That's pretty good!" Son clapped for the effort.
"I'm glad someone appreciates it!" Nonon winked at him, steering her followers with one, two, one, two wags of her baton.
Ryuko glared her disapproval.
"This won't be like any clumsy fights you've had so far, transfer student." Nonon found her spot. "Prepare to be pummeled cheerfully, jauntily, and utterly one sidedly!"
When she twirled her baton it followed her spinning. Life breathed into her uniform, as it put on a show and abandoned light flashes, pink swallowed her skin, fitting her petite form. She lost the miniskirt but not the bandleader hat, accepting skeletal arms ending in protrusions emerging from her shoulders and hips. Band members let the sky snag their instruments, brass and percussion membranes, each one flowing like a shower in reverse.
It rode the visible tune's wave as it filled her tank before it sealed. Titanic, curved at two ends, massive woofers able to project what she willed went from nothing to solid they could see. Nonon was its cavity. Nonon was its heart. Anyone watching it thought she looked a curious mix as the skull on her left shoulder wore a rebellious expression, shades, and a mohawk of colored feathers.
"Three Star Goku Uniform: Symphony Regalia Grave!" she said, hyping the celebration of herself.
"Whoa! That thing is huge!" Son chirped.
"On what planet is that a uniform?!" Ryuko had to agree.
"I get the best sound this way, transfer student," Nonon preened.
"Son! As you've won the second round, you may join me to follow the third," Satsuki shut anyone up.
Son's glance found Ryuko's. He held it there, then took his time leaving her. As he flew higher, he struggled with what he didn't think. The unsettled churn at the pit of his stomach. Dropping that uncertainty behind Satsuki, he moved to a place by her side with questions.
"What's on your mind?" he blurted out.
"I will tell you in a moment," she didn't look at him to say. "Round three. Begin!"
x.x.x
"Okay, for my first song, Light Cavalry Overture!" Nonon barked cheerfully.
Aiming her baton let her direct her tank. Sudden trumpets were near deafening.
"Playing music while we fight?" Ryuko's eyebrow raised.
{I can barely hear myself think.}
"Then I guess I better shut her up!" She pulled her glove's hook free. "Life Fiber Synchronize, Kamui Senketsu!"
Pushed into a leap she had already changed before thrusting with her blade. Her midair attempt rammed head on into a woofer blast. Swatted from the sky like a heavily-armed gnat, she plummeted to the stage. Too much sound made her teeth click. It was harder to get back on her feet.
{Her attacks pack a punch!}
"The bass really reverberates, doesn't it?" Nonon advanced. "How about we add a really sharp performance for good measure!"
Piercing quickly ricocheted off of Ryuko's limbs. Solid notes ached to penetrate where they could. Her shifting around it let her leave the assault.
"Dance harder, transfer student!"
Weapons chasing Ryuko's sprint she made a beeline for her target. Jumping at her again was a mistake. One wave of a baton, a beautiful racket knocked the wind out of her lungs. Coughing up the metallic taste of warm copper was her reward. Their audience fared no better as covering their ears hardly lessened the agony.
x.x.x
"... I can't say you're completely right," Son said. "I mean, yeah, Senketsu is giving off some strange vibes. But I didn't think it was a problem."
"I am not saying it is. Not yet. Your intuition is all I have to go on." Satsuki turned him the slightest peek. "How does that power work?"
"What power?"
"Your ability to sense what cannot be seen."
He thought it odd she would ask while his only family fought for her life.
"Everyone gives off something. Their potential. It's just like how I can smell and hear better than most people. Old Turtle Hermit taught me how to hone it. Ryuko and her dad said I have to be careful with what I'm able to do. It could become an issue, y'know?"
She didn't mind him being a few steps from her. Most appealing was that she couldn't control him. An individual she couldn't manipulate provided something she had never before encountered: a challenge.
"Your honesty is appreciated," she said, facing the music.
Not smiling was her task as his being so close to him nearly drove her to.
"Remain vigilant," she said.
"... Okay," he said.
x.x.x
Anyone in Honno City with a television could see it. A department store had a few stacked by its front window. A wiped down barrier to entice potential buyers. She carried her opened parasol, skipped in no rush, her pigtails swinging back and forth. She stopped to see it. Her attention rested on the image of her next victims. The plus was that she had her pick of the litter.
"Ooooo! She's so adorable when she's fired up like that!" she gushed. "Gosh, everyone seems to be having so much fun!"
She had quite a walk ahead of her, no soul as animated in the slums, no soul as dangerous. She carried merriment with rich perfume on the way toward her objective. Blood to spill the only thing on her mind, she only hoped it would sate her disturbing lust for it.