Sinking Feeling

Sakata Akio's POV

The day has finally come. Today is the second tournament for this school year but it would be our first with Rei-kun. I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof. I have a sinking feeling about today's tournament.

I have prepared for this day but I am not confident about my skills. I didn't devote my whole heart into training myself. I just did it for compliance. I really hate myself sometimes for being like this.

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Our school's student council president, Takahashi Sora, gave a short opening speech for today's tournament. He is the person who ranked first in academics in the third year level. His short speech has motivated everyone in the crowd. He may not be part of the Seishin Kings but he was respected by everyone because of his intelligence. He is not an heir of a company but a government scholar. His future is already secured as he will become part of the government's intelligence unit for Naicho, a CIA equivalent in Japan, also called Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.

Just like the Silent Killers, the government officials are in favor of Takahashi Sora. Though the silent killers are for the underworld while Takahashi Sora is for their legal front.

As I calmly watched him, I have noticed his looks. He gives off a geeky vibe with those round black glasses he wears. Even his hairstyle contributes his vibe. If this was a normal school, you cannot even identify him as a type of person who knows how to fight. I bet his looks would definitely lure a bunch of bullies.

Wow. That description I said about him was rich coming from me. I definitely looked like someone who'd be a target for bullies, too. If not only I am the son of the headmaster and a friend of Rei-kun and Yamazaki-san. My friends really gives off a scary aura if somebody stares at us suspiciously. I am grateful for having them by my side.

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I was already called and I suddenly felt a light tap on my shoulder.

It was the watchdog. Saito-chan won the second place again for the women's division.

Reiko: Be careful. Good luck, Akio-sama.

Akio: Thanks. Congratulations by the way, Saito-chan

We've gotten a bit closer every time we sparred. We still do bicker every time we see each other and we've gotten used to it. She just smiled gently in reply and walked away. I watched her getting farther. I jolted in surprise as I heard Rei-kun's voice.

Rei: Oi! Your girlfriend did well. We'll be cheering on you, too. Do your best.

Rei-kun then smacked my back three times.

Akio: Owww. That's quite a massage we have there. Thanks, Rei-kun.

Rei: We'll stay unscathed until the end of the tournament.

He then pushed me to the arena as if he's sending off his baby bird to learn how to fly.

This is it.

I took a deep breath. I meditated for a while as I closed my eyes, making my mind go blank as to not feel the nervousness.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

I opened my eyes and jumped as high as I could to let go off everything I feel and to warm-up at the same time. I entered the ring with my heart beating fast.

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I won my first fight. I didn't expect to win since my whole body felt heavy the entire match. Even though I have warmed up, I had a hard time lifting my legs as I kick my opponent. I always feel this every first match of the tournaments I joined. The first match serves as my official warm up. Unexpectedly, I always win my first matches despite of my muscles being all tensed up.

The second and third match also went smoothly. I felt like my half-assed training kind of paid off. I at least have given justice to my everyday training. It would also be a shame to both Rei-kun and Yamazaki-kun if I don't try at least a bit. They were both aware of me doing trainings half-heartedly but they didn't complain because neither of us wanted to be in this situation.

Rei-kun and Yamazaki-kun also won their matches. They were both cheered on by the crowd for their play is so intense.

They gave their all in every match. Yamazaki-kun's fanbase grew while Rei-kun's starting to grow.

As for me, well don't expect that much. I'm just kind of average? I got no fans, just politicians, company owners and some students trying to suck up to me to get my father's good side. I don't know why they are doing this. It annoys me a bit but what can I do? I am my father's son.

Matches continued. As we watched the matches, Rei-kun talks to me and tells me what to do in that kind of situation. Rei-kun would make a great sports coach. I attentively listened to him and remembered everything he said.

He really is taking care of me. I tried to hide my smile as he was talking to me. He noticed my expression and stopped talking. His face showed confusion as to what my smile meant. I just shook my head and told him to continue talking.

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I was up next. I haven't heard who my next opponent was. I stretched my legs, waiting for my opponent to arrive. Rei-kun just finished his match and immediately tended to me. He caught his breath first and helped me stretch my limbs.

After a bit of stretching, he held the kick pads and made me kick basic kicks on them. Forty-five kick, roundhouse kick, axe kick, and so on. He made me do combination kicks right after. He really does help me prepare but I'm wondering why he has been pushing me hard to warm up. He opened his mouth.

Rei: Are you ready? You seem calm for someone who's going against a Seishin King.

He chuckled.

A what? SEISHIN KING? But who? My eyes widened in bewilderment. Rei-kun's face changed.

Rei: Don't tell me you've been preparing without knowing who you are up against?!

My eyes were still widened as I slowly shook my head.

Rei: Oh God. I need to calm you down. Deep breaths and and and try jumping also.

He rattled as he was talking to me. I'm nervous but he seemed more nervous than I am.

Akio: You calm down, too. I can't calm down with you reacting like this.

Yamazaki-kun finished his match and also immediately went to us. He then hit my back with his two palms very hard and I yelped.

Rei-kun then smacked him in the head.

Tatsuo: Hey! Why'd you smack my head? I was helping Akio-chan.

Yamazaki-kun started calling me Akio-chan since he kept on teasing me that I am much on the feminine side and I am younger than him (only months though). Though it isn't true that I am feminine.

Yamazaki-kun's gaze shifted to me.

Tatsuo: You feel better?

Akio: Yeah. My nerves have calmed down a bit.

Tatsuo: See? I don't deserve that smack Rei. I only helped him.

He then faced Rei-kun with a pout on his face.

The crowd suddenly became rowdy as a man as tall as Yamazaki-kun entered the arena. His built is much bulkier than Yamazaki-kun and his neatly styled hair made his facial features become more noticeable. He has monolid droopy purple eyes matching the color of his hair. His nose are also pointy that makes it the best feature of his face and his thin lips that made the girls squeal as he threw kisses to the crowd. He is the second most handsome looking guy I've seen at school next to Kai-senpai. He also has this prince vibe comparable to Kai-senpai though he has more effect to the crowd since he is a Seishin King not a Seishin Prince.

Rei-kun drew his mouth closer to my ear and whispered.

Rei: Be careful. He is good at Brazilian jiu jitsu but I also heard he is also good at Wing Chun.

Akio: But I thought Wing Chun is banned?

Rei: Not in this school tournament.

He backed away and lightly tapped my shoulders signaling to do my best.

I slowly nodded as I felt nervous on my upcoming match.

Yamazaki-kun hit my back again very hard twice with his left hand and grinned.

The two walked further away and I took a deep breath as the referee called me and the Seishin King named, Oto Itsuki.

Our match began. I was on my taekwondo fighting stance while his fighting stance was like a combination of Wing Chun's and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's. His hands are not on the face level like of Wing Chun's but not that low like the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's stance.

I raised my leg to fake but he just stared at me. I then quickly kicked him on the body but he had immediately blocked my kick. I followed up with my other leg but his hands are just so fast at blocking. As expected of someone who has mastered Wing Chun.

I kept on kicking him trying to hit his blind spots but he really is good at blocking them all. He is on his defensive. He has never attacked me. I then tried to use my fists as they are shorter and faster than my legs.

He finally tried to hit me. We exchanged fists and blocked each other's punches. I was amazed as to how I can keep up with his speed. I do not have much knowledge about this martial art but I know they're very good using their arms and hands.

I tried to let his guard down. I want to make him focus on my punches and blocks so that I could kick him when he is occupied with my hands. But it did not go as planned. As I tried to kick him, he immediately blocked my leg. I followed up with my other leg and finally landed a kick on the face. I gritted my teeth as I have successfully landed my foot on him. I'm sure he felt that. I threw in all my leg power for that unexpected kick.

He smirked as he wiped the blood that popped out on his lips.

Itsuki: Wow. A freshman landed a kick on my face. Not bad.

The crowd gasped in surprise.

We continued our fight but back again with the punches and blocks. It continued until the timer alarmed signaling the end of the round.

The second round began. I started with my kicks. I threw in my bullet kick where I kick and then follow up with my other leg to kick while floating. He had a hard time blocking as I kicked with full power and speed. But as he blocked, my instep hit his elbow. It was painful but I had to endure it since the match is still ongoing. I then followed up with a turning kick to the gut but he ended up blocking it and made me twist my supporting leg's ankle. I had to endure another injury once again but as I recovered my stance he suddenly moved forward giving me an elbow strike to the neck. My vision grew darker but I still tried to focus. He then followed up with a strike with his fingers to my solar plexus and followed by a solid punch. My body is about to collapse after I received the blow.

Am I going to be unconscious again? When can I fight without getting knocked out?

Well, this will still be my fault for doing things half-heartedly.

As my vision became dark and blurry. Oto Itsuki was the last face I saw before losing my consciousness. I heard ringing sounds and a faint voice that is almost inaudible.

Itsuki: You did well against me. You have my respect.

I forced myself to stay conscious to listen to what he was saying but my vision is going darker and darker until it turned pitch black.

My hunch is right. Today is not a good day.

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End of Chapter 14