First Tournament

Sakata Akio's POV

Crowds cheering and jeering.

Collectors collecting bets.

Players breathing heavily as they prepare for their fight.

Losers injured and were carried on stretchers.

These are what I see in today's preliminaries. I can see the struggles of every student aside from those arrogant ones. It pains to see them suffering because their lives were at stake. How cruel has life become.

Rei-kun and I sat on the bleachers silently observing everything that's happening around us. Sadly, we can't do anything about the situation.

It's time for Saito-san to step in the fighting area. Her opponent's sight were focused on her but Reiko didn't mind and focused on warming up her self through stretching and jumping.

As the referee called on to them, Saito-san and her opponent walked confidently to the center. As they reached their assigned area, Saito-san cracked her neck while focusing her eyes on her opponent.

A student beside us said,

"Hey dude. A freshman scholar versus the infamous smasher is on! Poor freshman. I bet she'll never last a second."

He and his friend chuckled while watching Saito-san and her opponent.

Student's friend: Man! She's too small for the infamous Yuko-san. Maybe we should get some fresh air for a while. The result's too obvious.

As they stood up, the match began and Saito-san immediately kicked the face of Yuko in a full blast leaving Yuko unconscious while standing then slowly went down on her knees then her face flat on the ground.

The whole crowd became silent and left astounded. The referee also was dumbfounded and was standing stiffly.

Reiko: Uhm? Mr. Referee? Countdown please.

The referee came back to his senses.

Referee: Oh yes yes. Sorry.

The referee bended one knee to the ground facing the unconscious Yuko and began counting.

Referee: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Yuko still on the ground, the referee stood up and faced the judges then waved both of his hands showing them the player is knocked out. He then faced back to Saito-san and Yuko and raised his right hand declaring Saito-san as the winner.

The crowd then began cheering on Saito-san. Yuko was carried by the medical team on a stretcher while Reiko then faced to where Rei-kun and I were and gave us a sheepish smirk.

Wow. Just wow. Can't believe she's so arrogant. I raised my brow in reply.

Rei: Wow! Saito-san's become the crowd's topic. Just who is that infamous Yuko the smasher?

The student and his friend beside us widened their eyes and said to us.

Student: Oi! You really don't know her? She is one of the strongest among the 2nd years! I heard she smashes her opponent's back every fight and no one has ever escaped her grasp. She's fast and strong and now she just hit the ground with one kick! That was a great shock, man! Just who is that freshman.

They both left. Rei-kun then faced me.

Rei: Your girl's so strong, huh?

He smiled creepily. And I just enlarged my nostrils and snorted in reply.

Saito-san? My girl? Never in my dreams.

Dozens of matches have passed until a beautiful goddess has stepped in the court.

Oh pretty Asami-san.

I will never get tired of your beauty.

Boys in the crowd started cheering on her screaming her name. She smiled and waved to the crowd. Her eyes were gazing the whole arena searching for someone then our eyes met. I turned red and then she gave me an angelic smile and winked at me.

Hold on was she winking at me? I bit my lower lip to control my happiness.

Guy1: My goddess Asahi just winked at me!

Guy2: Idiot! It was me!

Guy3: Losers! She was winking to the Prince of Seishin.

Prince of Seishin? Is that me? Was it me?

The guy in front of me chuckled.

Guy3: See? The prince just laughed at you dumbasses.

Akio: Oi Rei. Do you know the Prince?

I whispered. Rei-kun also whispered in reply.

Rei: Idiot. Everybody knows him. He is the talk of the town everywhere we go everyday especially girls. He is the second son of J Company. He is not only handsome but is also smart and is one of the top fighters in our school. His name is Nanase Kai.

Akio: J COMPANY?!?! THE--

Rei-kun immediately covered my mouth and whispered.

Rei: Idiot. Don't shout.

Akio: Ooh. That J Company that's one of the top companies not only in Japan but worldwide?

Rei-kun nodded and slowly removed his hand from covering my mouth.

It suddenly turned dark as a shadow covers us and when Rei-kun and I raised our heads, we almost jumped and had a mini heart attack when the Prince is standing right in front of us.

He really is handsome. His handsomeness can even make any guys fall in love even if they were straight.

He reached out his hand to me with a gentle smile.

Kai: Hello Akio-sama. It's bad to talk about me literally behind my back. But it's okay. I forgive you since you are our beloved founder's son.

Rei-kun elbowed me to wake me up in reality and whispered.

Rei: Oi. Close your mouth.

I shook my head and reached out to Kai's hand.

Akio: I'm sorry about that. I am Akio.

Kai: I am Nanase Kai, your senpai (Japanese endearment for seniors).

Akio: Nanase-senpai?

Kai: Kai-senpai will do.

He smiled and patted my head like I am his younger brother.

Kai: Come to me if you need any help. I will be waiting for you. I will be a good senpai to you.

I just watched him as he walked away from me. The students around us started to murmur.

Student1: Did our beloved Nanase-san just let him call him by his first name? That's a first.

Student2: I guess he's avoiding getting the bad side of our founder.

Student1 : Ughhh. I'm jealous of that wimpy Akio-sama. I wish it was me. Please marry me Nanase-san!

The students continued gossiping about Kai-senpai. We were too busy about Kai-senpai that I forgot about my goddess, Asami-san. When I looked at the court. Asami-san's match was already done a while ago.

Akio: Reiiii! We haven't seen Asami-san's match! Ugh. What a pain! I really wanted to see her on court.

Rei: Asami? The green haired girl? They said she won. It's okay. We'll still see her. There's still more matches to come.

Akio: Okay.

As the tournament went on, a lot of matches passed, Saito-san was plowing her way smoothly to the quarter finals. And I don't know why I can't see Asami-san's match. It's either a huge crowd blocking our sight, or we were out to get our meals, or I was at the comfort room.

Aren't we fated for each other? I can't accept that. It's so annoying.

And atlast! The girls' division's quarter finals. Saito-san was paired with Asami-san. Fin weight versus flyweight category. I really like Asami-san but I just can't not cheer for the watchdog, too.

Well, were kinda friends, right?

So, the match began. Rei-kun and I quietly watched as Saito-san and Asami-san started the fight.

Saito-san calmly was on her fighting stance sternly studying Asami-san's moves.

Saito-san's specialty is kickboxing while Asami-san's is judo.

Saito-san, this time, is very wary and careful on making moves on Asami-san since they differ a lot on the techniques they use. Judo was more on grappling while kickboxing focuses on kicks and punches, obviously.

Asami-san took the offensive role. Ready to grapple Saito-san to the ground, she aggressively moved towards Saito-san but Saito-san did slipped passed Asami-san, rotating her body 180 degrees away from her and gave Asami-san a push kick on her back.

Asami-san then went back to her fighting stance, preparing for her next move. Both of them were very focused on each other leaving them no chance to carelessly attack.

They continued to exchange blows 'til the first round ended. They took a quick water break and headed to their respective coaches.

Scores were then displayed on the huge screens in the arena. Both of them were tied. And also on the second round, still the same thing happened and ended up in a tie.

As the third round began, Asami-san started to lose patience and always aggressively took on the offensive role and charged Saito-san until she finally got Saito-san on the ground and the referee began counting.

Saito-san still with a calm look on the face, managed to get out and grappled Asami-san. Asami-san struggled on escaping Saito-san . Even though Saito-san specializes kickboxing.

She, too, is good on some techniques in judo.

As Asami-san was about to tap the ground to submission, Saito-san broke away from her. Everybody was surprised to Saito-san's action.

Asami-san furiously looked at Saito-san.

Asami: Hey, small brat! Are you looking down on me?! Why'd you do that?!

Saito-san just looked at her emotionless. Asami-san then stood up and prepared to attack.

Her face was red in anger. She then carelessly attack Saito-san and Saito-san on her fighting stance then turned her body and kicked Asami-san on the stomach with her heel.

Leaving Asami-san on the ground crouching in pain. Asami-san then slid her legs behind Saito-san and slipped her foot with her ankle to Saito-san's ankle making Saito-san lose her balance and fell on her back.

Asami-san then jumped on top of Saito-san and as Asami-san was about to elbow her, Saito-san tapped out to submission. The referee then announced Asami-san as a winner.

Saito-san then just walked out of the ring leaving everyone dumbfounded.

Asami: Oi! Saito Reiko! What the heck are you up to?! I am not happy even if I won. You are not taking me seriously!

The crowd started jeering on Saito-san. Those who betted on Saito-san were furious as to how the match ended.

Even Rei-kun and I couldn't believe what her actions were all about. I can't understand her. I felt how Asami-san feels. Even if I were on Asami-san's shoes, I'd be furious as hell. The matches continued until the finals for the girls' division. Asami-san won silver against the top fighter of the school which is the X company's only heiress.

The boys' division is finally about to start.

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END OF CHAPTER 7