The excitement from Akari's battle hadn't even settled before the next match was called.
"Next match - Kaito Nakamura versus Rin Hoshino!"
Takeru and Akari moved to the stands, watching as the two contestants stepped onto the battlefield.
Kaito Nakamura was a transfer student, relatively unknown but rumored to have insane potential. His rank was C.
Rin Hoshino, on the other hand, was well-known. Her ability, Aegis Manifest, allowed her to generate powerful, near-impenetrable barriers that could reflect attacks. Her rank was A.
The buzzer sounded.
Kaito disappeared.
Takeru's eyes widened. "What the-"
Kaito reappeared behind Rin, his foot already swinging toward her head. A shimmering barrier materialized in an instant, blocking the attack with a loud clash.
Rin retaliated immediately. The force of Kaito's strike was redirected into a shockwave that blasted outward. He barely managed to phase out before it could hit him.
"This is gonna be good," Akari muttered.
Kaito's movements became erratic, flickering between different locations, making it nearly impossible to predict where he would attack from next.
Rin stood her ground, barriers appearing and vanishing at will, countering his every move.
But then-
Kaito adjusted.
Instead of attacking, he created multiple afterimages, each one moving in different directions. The crowd gasped as he seemed to be everywhere at once.
Rin narrowed her eyes. "Clever."
The moment she raised a shield to block, the real Kaito phased through, his fist slamming into her shoulder.
She staggered back.
Kaito grinned. "Figured out the timing."
Rin smirked. "Guess I'll have to step it up, then."
The fight escalated. Rin's shields transformed into weapons, floating blades of energy that moved with her will.
Kaito pushed his ability to its limits, dodging and weaving through attacks with precision.
Takeru leaned forward, completely enthralled.
This was what separated the strong from the elite.
Akari folded her arms. "These evaluations are turning out to be insane."
Takeru nodded. "Yeah… and they're only getting started."
The battlefield had become a warzone, cracks in the stone from Rin's redirected shockwaves, scorch marks from the sheer speed of Kaito's movements.
Every clash sent ripples of energy through the air, the sheer force keeping the audience on edge.
Takeru barely breathed as he watched, his fingers gripping the railing. Akari beside him had her arms crossed, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Kaito was fast,blindingly fast. But Rin? She was calculated. Precise.
As Kaito phased in and out, trying to land another hit, Rin didn't just defend. She anticipated.
The moment he reappeared, a curved shield formed behind her, catching his strike. Instead of letting the energy dissipate, she twisted her wristx redirecting the force right back into Kaito's ribs.
The impact sent him skidding across the ground. He coughed, quickly recovering, but there was a glint of newfound respect in his eyes.
Rin smirked. "Still think you have my timing figured out?"
Kaito wiped his mouth. "Okay, I'll admit, that was sick." His stance shifted. "But I'm not done yet."
Takeru leaned forward. "He's planning something."
Akari tilted her head. "Yeah, but so is she."
Rin had begun layering her barriers now, shields overlapping and forming an intricate pattern around her. It wasn't just a defense anymore.
It was a trap.
Kaito noticed, his gaze flickering between the gaps in the barriers. If he moved without thinking, he'd get caught in a perfect counter.
But that was the thing about Kaito's ability.
Speed wasn't the only trick he had.
With a sharp inhale, Kaito suddenly stopped moving. The entire arena tensed.
Then, he vanished.
Not flickering, not an afterimage. He was just gone.
Rin's eyes darted around, her stance tightening. This was different.
The air behind Rin shimmered.
Her eyes widened.
Kaito emerged from thin air, phasing through his own afterimage. His knee connected with her back, sending her stumbling forward.
Before she could recover, he twisted, delivering a sweeping kick that shattered her outermost barrier.
Rin tumbled but caught herself, sliding into a crouch. She clenched her fist, breathing hard.
Then, she grinned.
Takeru's heart pounded. "Why is she smiling?"
The air shifted.
Rin exhaled, and suddenly, her barriers weren't just forming around her anymore.
They moved.
Kaito took a step forward, but something was off. The moment his foot touched the ground, a barrier materialized beneath him, launching him into the air. "Whoa-"
Before he could react, another one formed midair, flipping him off balance.
The crowd erupted as Rin turned the battlefield into her weapon.
Kaito twisted, struggling to regain footing as barriers kept popping up, forcing him into unpredictable movements.
Every time he tried to use his ability, Rin's shields intercepted his trajectory.
Takeru felt a chill run down his spine.
She wasn't just reacting.
She was outplaying him completely.
Rin raised her hand, her final move ready. A massive barrier formed directly above Kaito.
There was nowhere to run, the moment it dropped.
The buzzer blared.
"STOP!"
The announcer's voice rang through the arena. "MATCH CONCLUDED - RIN HOSHINO WINS!"
The barriers vanished.
Kaito landed roughly, panting. He let out a dry chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Damn. That was insane."
Rin wiped her brow. "You're not bad yourself."
The crowd erupted in cheers, and the tension in the arena finally eased.
Takeru let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His heartbeat was still erratic. That fight, it wasn't just skill.
It was next-level strategy.
Akari crossed her arms. "I gotta admit, that was impressive." She glanced at Takeru. "You taking notes?"
Takeru exhaled. "Oh, yeah. I'm taking notes."
But before he could dwell on it, the loudspeaker crackled again.
"Next match, Takeru Inoue versus…"
His breath caught in his throat.
The name that followed sent a shiver down his spine.
Whoever it was, this fight was about to change everything.
"SEIJI KISARAGI!"
The energy of the tournament still thrummed through the air, but for Takeru, everything else faded into the background.
His mind was locked onto one thing, his next opponent.
Seiji Kisaragi.
The name alone carried weight.
He and Akari strolled through the crowded halls, the buzz of excited students surrounding them like static noise.
Despite the tournament's chaos, Akari had her arms crossed, a rare seriousness in her expression.
"I gotta be real with you," he muttered. "I've barely heard anything about this Seiji Kisaragi guy. Who is he?"
Akari gave him a sharp look. "You're joking, right?"
Takeru raised an eyebrow. "Should I not be?"
Akari sighed, rubbing her temples. "Damn, Takeru, you really don't pay attention sometimes."
He shrugged. "Not my fault half these guys aren't even on my radar."
"Well, he should be." Akari replied.
Takeru frowned. "That bad?"
Akari nodded. "Seiji Kisaragi isn't just some random fighter. He's one of the highest-ranking students here. A rank, but close to ranking S. People say he fights like a machine, cold, efficient, impossible to read. It's like he knows what you're gonna do before you even do it."
Takeru scoffed. "So what, he's got precognition?"
"Worse," Akari muttered. "He's a technician. He doesn't fight to win, he fights to break people down. Every move, every mistake, every habit, you might not even realize what you're doing, but he will. And once he's seen it?" She exhaled. "It's over."
Takeru narrowed his eyes. "Sounds like a nightmare."
Before they could dwell on it, someone bumped into them.
Rin Hoshino stumbled back, shaking her head. "Ah, crap-"
Takeru blinked. "Oh, hey."
Akari smirked. "You okay?"
Rin scoffed, rolling her shoulders. "Excuse me for being exhausted after fighting a guy who moves like a damn ghost."
Takeru chuckled. "Fair enough. That was one hell of a match, though. You handled it like a pro."
Rin folded her arms, but there was a flicker of pride in her eyes. "Yeah, well… I wasn't gonna let that bastard walk all over me." She tilted her head. "What about you two?"
Akari jerked her thumb toward Takeru. "He's up next."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "Against who?"
Takeru sighed. "Seiji Kisaragi."
Rin winced. "Oof. Goodluck. What a monster he is."
Akari crossed her arms. "We know."
Rin studied them both, then hesitated. "Listen… I ran into some weirdos earlier. They were talking like they already knew how this tournament was gonna go. Like it was already decided."
Akari tensed. "You too?"
Rin narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean 'too'?"
And then the speakers blared, cutting their conversation.
"Next match -Takeru Inoue versus Seiji Kisaragi!"
Takeru inhaled sharply.
Akari patted his back. "We can continue this convo later. Takeru's gotta handle this fight."
Rin crossed her arms. "Try your best to kick his ass kid."
Takeru smirked. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
As he walked off, Akari's eyes narrowed.
Akari felt it.
A nagging suspicion.
What if Seiji isn't just another opponent?