11:30 am
The introductory match would begin in 30 minutes.
The girls and boys were within their respective changing rooms, changing into the Japanese battle uniform. The Chinese had their measurements taken before going to Japan so that their uniforms would be made too.
(The uniforms are the same that they use in their AST lessons.)
"Geh..."
Tenjin breathed, looking at the TV right above the changing room door.
"I feel sick when I look at the screen. I'm not good with crowds."
He complained, zipping his jacket.
"Not good with crowds? Despite being the son of a Yakuza?"
The other Japanese boy, Hashiba, teased.
"Oh, shut up. It's not like I go to every single one of my father's meetings."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Just admit you have stage fright."
"Me? Look at you, your legs are practically jelly."
Though Hashiba was speaking confidently, his legs were shaking continuously as he spoke to Tenjin.
Meanwhile, on the other half of the boys' changing room were the two Chinese boys.
Qiang was changing quietly while Li-jun was polishing his nails.
"I'm surprised that you talked against me."
Li-jun said.
Qiang took immediate notice.
"I didn't think you had it in you."
"I just did what I thought was right. I mean, if you didn't threaten his family, then Xiao would be here instead of you."
Qiang muttered, glaring at Li-jun.
"My, my, don't get too angry. It's not like I can lose."
"Maybe, but if he participates, you definitely will."
Li-jun grimaced.
"Who's he?"
"That Japanese guy. The one we saved you from."
Qiang purposely said, 'saved,' as a means to provoke Li-jun.
It worked perfectly.
"Him? He can beat me? You're out of your mind, Qiang."
"I'm not. If we didn't interfere, then you would've been dead."
"Dead? I could've handled myself."
"Well, then, you might've broken a few bones. Is that enough for you?"
Li-jun glared at Qiang and he glared back.
They were not exactly on good terms.
No one was on good terms with Li-jun.
--
On the girls' side...
"Hey, isn't this uniform a little tight?"
Lin-Hua asked, attempting to zip up her jacket.
"Are the Japanese smaller than I thought?"
"No, Lin-Hua, I don't think it's that the Japanese are too small, it's that I think you're too big."
Daiyu walked up to her, tugging the back of Lin-Hua's jacket.
"I'm too big?"
"They took our measurements when we left the school, remember?"
Alix reminded them. She sat with her legs crossed.
"Mhm. I do."
"These uniforms were specifically made using our measurements. It just means, within those weeks, you grew."
"Really? Oh, it's gonna be so uncomfortable fighting in something this tight."
She rolled up her sleeves.
Her battle suit did seem extremely tight.
"Anyway,"
Alix turned to the monitor. It showed people entering and sitting in the Colosseum.
"I wonder what that principal is planning? Not just students but civilians can watch the match too? Plus, isn't the venue for it a bit too big?!"
She exclaimed.
"Maybe he thinks that we'll be a good show and go down easy."
Lin-Hua suggested.
"That would be rude."
Daiyu commented.
"Whatever he's planned, it won't be to any of our benefits."
Anastasia walked over, speaking Japanese.
They could understand what she was saying due to the auto-translating earpieces. Every participant received one.
"Do you know what he's thinking?"
Daiyu asked.
"No one does. He's known in the SSB for being mysterious. Apparently, he left his comrades to die and abandoned his mission. I'm surprised he got the job as principal."
"His maid was also hard to read."
Lin-Hua spoke, remembering Ophelia.
She then turned to Anastasia.
"Do you think you can beat us?"
The pink-haired girl asked, finally able to zip up her jacket. She was dissatisfied as she attempted to move around.
"Oh, I'm positive all three of us girls can win our matchups, no matter who it is."
Anastasia announced with a smirk on her face.
Akane and Kuroha walked over to Anastasia and stood beside her.
Alix looked slightly conflicted.
"Oh?"
She groaned.
"ALL of you? ALL 3 of you?"
"Of course."
Anastasia said with an unwavering smile.
"Then, I guess we'll have to see who we're facing then. Best of luck to you guys."
Alix uttered.
Kuro winced slightly.
"That's our line."
--
It was 11:55 am when I reached the Colosseum. I was with Tatsuya. We were planning to go with the rest of our friend group but they said they would watch from a cafe since it was 10,000 CRD per ticket. Tatsuya was kind enough to pay for me.
"Who do you think will win?"
Tatsuya asked, sitting down next to me.
"Well, I can't say for sure, Mr Uzui gave such grand speeches for all of them but I only know the three girls. Well, if we're talking about combat ability, then two."
"Wait, you know Akane Kabura?!"
Tatsuya's face edged closer to mine. I lost my cool.
"Y-yeah. On my second day here, I bumped into her while heading to the faculty room."
"Oh. I thought you had met her and talked with each other. Man, I'd be pretty jealous."
Tatsuya chuckled.
I think that it'd be better for the both of us if he doesn't know that I did that, as well as, actually bump into her.
[Ladies and gentlemen! Please calm down as we would like to start the introductory matches!]
The chatter in the Colosseum slowly died down as a holographic screen appeared, in the air, in the middle of the arena.
It showed a man. He looked like a womaniser and an absolute idiot. He held a microphone in one hand and a rose in the other.
[I am Ravi, the Golden Magus! Today, I am your commentator!]
He made a flamboyant pose as he introduced himself.
The camera turned to a girl. Everyone gasped. Some people even began cheering. I kind of felt left out having no idea who she was.
Her hair was long and black, similar to Akane's, but she had a streak of white in it. Her eyes were blue, like the ocean, and she had a mole under her mouth. What was most important to me was her aura. The way she sat. The way she looked. The way she held herself up. It was almost regal.
['I am Kyoka Sakai, the Student Council President. I shall be commentating alongside Ravi.']
She finished by lowering her head slightly.
Student Council President? No wonder she has such an aura.
The camera went back to Ravi.
[Now, let us see our ten contestants!]