A Match Before a Battle Part 2

''What?''

Not just Kenya and Jin are surprised, but also Keigo and Kenjuro are also shocked by the words he says. 

They refocus on the runner, who faces an endless path of challenges and triumphs. Fueled by adrenaline, Fuji reflects on the countless hours of training and sacrifices he's made for this moment.

Next to him, Haruto matches his pace, quietly acknowledging Fuji's speed, which he can't quite match. However, he understands his own body well enough to control his balance and speed when needed.

As they near the end of the first lap, the crowd's cheers swell, lifting their spirits. Haruto glances at Fuji, a sly smile breaking through his serious demeanor—a signal of the competition.

"You will lose," Fuji taunts, a sly smile playing on his lips as he captures Haruto's full attention with his confident demeanor. With a quick, playful movement, he lowers his body just slightly, preparing himself for action. 

In an instant, he accelerates with the speed of lightning, his motion creating a brief but dazzling display of shimmering light that reflects his incredible speed. As if that initial burst wasn't enough, he continues to push himself even further, increasing his pace to an astonishing level that leaves Haruto momentarily stunned.

"What?" Haruot exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief at the surprising turn of events. In that moment of shock, he abruptly halted his swift run to observe Fuji, who was maintaining an impressive speed as he sprinted ahead. Haruot couldn't help but be taken aback by Fuji's extraordinary agility and pace, which made him stop in his tracks. 

''AHHAAHAA,'' Fuji laughed and ran as fast as his high speed. 

Not other than the surprise of everyone present, including Jin and various others, when Fuji made an appearance, radiating his impressive aura of power. The atmosphere was electric, filled with awe and wonder, but suddenly, Kenjuro, who was also known as a skilled Lightning Bender, decided to speak up.

''Wait!... Wait!, hold on a second! This seems a bit unfair, doesn't it?'' He exclaimed rapidly, his words rushing out in a flurry as he turned his gaze towards Ashito, who was laughing heartily alongside a proud group of his friends. There was a mischievous glint in Ashito's eye as he reveled in the moment, appreciating the attention.

''Well, it can't be helped'' Ashito replied, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, a wide grin spreading across his face as he let out a jovial chuckle that echoed through the group. 

"Hahaha," echoed the laughter of all his gang members, their voices ringing out in unison as they mocked Jin's gang. They raised their hands, giving a thumbs-down gesture, expressing their disdain and ridicule toward them in a show of overwhelming confidence. 

Kenya and Kenjuro exchanged meaningful glances with each other, both clearly having a similar idea of formulating in their minds. Meanwhile, Jin noticed that Kenjuro had a grin on his face that hinted at his excitement regarding whatever plan they were contemplating.

Observing this interaction closely was Shinji, who, while adjusting his glasses, noticed the playful exchange between them and felt an inkling of curiosity. It seemed to him that something interesting was brewing within the duo, as their exchanged looks carried a silence.

''What are you doing?'' 

Suddenly, a few voices that sound remarkably similar catch their attention, prompting them to glance over at the same moment. Standing together in the gate area are Sei, Kaito, and Takeru, each one of them looking intently in their direction. The trio appears to be engaged in a conversation, their expressions curious as they take in the scene before them.

"Hmmm?" Sei raised her left eyebrow in curiosity and focused her gaze on Jin, who was walking toward her with an expression that seemed a bit puzzled. 

Jin came to a halt right in front of her and turned to briefly glance at Takeru, who was standing nearby next to Sei. He furrowed his brow in contemplation before speaking.

"Why are you together?" Jin inquired in a voice laced with confusion, his tone revealing his uncertainty about the situation. Just as he finished his question, Kaito, who had been observing the exchange with a knowing smile, stepped in to respond on their behalf.

"Well, they've already reconciled," Kaito explained cheerfully, his voice filled with enthusiasm as he moved between Sei and Takeru. With a friendly demeanor, he reached out and placed his hands on their shoulders in a gesture that resembled a hug, signaling his approval of their renewal. 

"Ouch!" Kaito exclaimed in surprise as I accidentally nudged him with my elbow, which inadvertently made contact with his stomach. The sudden push caught him off guard, and his reaction was more pronounced due to the unexpected jab.

''Arh!?'' But beyond just this initial reaction, he couldn't help but notice Jin's intense gaze directed towards him. Furthermore, standing some distance away, both Kenya and Kenjuro were also watching him closely, their eyes locked on him with a similar focus.

''Okay! okay, Just like Kaito said! Takeru and I are reconciled and we promised not to fight again,'' Sei talks up, to Jin who still has his eyebrow as confused. 

''Okay!'' He replied. 

Then Sei shifted her gaze and turned her eyes to concentrate on the marathon court in the distance. As she watched intently, she noticed someone who had successfully crossed the finish line and reached the goal. 

"Someone appears to have won," she said with excitement in her voice. Upon hearing those words, Jin immediately spun around at an astonishing speed, his eyes searching for the source of the announcement. As he turned, he caught sight of Fuji, who was celebrating after crossing the finish line as the champion of the race.

"What the—!" Jin shouted loudly, his voice filled with surprise and urgency. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprinted forward, racing back to the area they had just come from. Right behind him, following closely, were his friends Sei, Kaito, and Takeru, all determined to catch up and understand what had just happened.

''Sorry about it but 1-0, now!''