As Mizuki and I came out, we were met by an event organizer. She didn't seem to realize what was happening, but I caught her momentarily stunned when she saw me. However, she swiftly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
As we were guided along, we traversed the familiar white hallway again. However, this time, it appeared noticeably more serene, with only a handful of individuals who appeared to be fellow participants, all heading in the same direction as us.
As the crowd's eyes darted back and forth, fixating on Mizuki, it became abundantly clear that her disguise had been blown. Their astonishment and wonderment were further corroborated by the remarks they made.
"I didn't see it wrong, right? I seem to have seen her several times."
"Right, even though her twin tail hair confuses me, there's no mistaking it. She's Captain Mizuki."
Although their voices were not particularly loud, they managed to catch the attention of the others walking ahead of us. Among the crowd, I spotted a man donning the classic attire of a martial artist dressed in pristine white garments. The way the snake motif is intricately woven into his clothes truly captures his essence.
That man is Sneck, a distinguished individual known as a class A professional hero, currently holding the impressive 37th rank. I'm not sure if Saitama managed to teach him a lesson, but he still exudes the same level of arrogance that I remember from before. He didn't even look at me as he greeted Mizuki.
"Excuse me, Captain Mizuki? I didn't know you were a martial artist."
Mizuki took a moment to register the man's face, a flicker of recognition crossing her mind. This only seemed to fuel Sneck's irritation, amplifying his annoying attitude. He inquires of Mizuki regarding her intentions for participating in this tournament and the identity of her master.
As her eyes pleaded for help, I couldn't help but flash a mischievous grin, continuing my stride without missing a beat. Mizuki's voice, filled with apologies, echoed through the air as she resumed walking by my side. Sneck's irritated scream soon followed, signaling the arrival of our first adversary in the tournament.
-***-
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the highly anticipated Super Fight event. I sincerely hope that your journey here has been worthwhile as we gather to witness the emergence of a genuine martial arts prodigy, marking a memorable conclusion to this year."
As the host kicked off the event with boundless enthusiasm, the audience responded in kind, their thunderous cheers reverberating throughout the stadium as if the foundations were being shaken. At the same time, many people displayed heightened enthusiasm in their efforts to express support for their favored champions.
Mizuki and I stood in the line of participants, patiently awaiting the conclusion of the host's speech. Despite being instructed to take our seats outside the arena, the opening of this event was far from over. Entertainment continued to unfold, with dance and music captivating the audience one after another, infusing the atmosphere with even more liveliness.
"Are you nervous?"
Mizuki, who had been scanning the surroundings, turned her attention back to me in response to my question. She couldn't help but notice her nervousness, evident by the wry smile that graced her lips.
"Are all these people coming just to see us fight?... I've heard that this event has a lot of fans, but I didn't expect it to be this many."
"Up until now, they have only witnessed heartwarming battles, where skilled heroes come to their rescue and protect them from menacing monsters… These events give them a sense of security, free from the terrifying prospect of life-or-death situations."
I gestured towards Sneck, "Even A-class professional heroes like him participate."
We spent the next few minutes engaged in lively conversation, exchanging banter and speculating about the strange appearances of various participants. It was all in good fun as we playfully attempted to guess their unique abilities. As a result, Mizuki found herself becoming less tense as well.
In that very instant, out of nowhere, a participant donning a cat mask strolled by our vicinity, eventually settling down in the chair nestled in the corner. His aura exuded an air of aloofness, discouraging any attempts at approach. Yet, some couldn't resist the urge to make a passing comment.
"Shouldn't he be disqualified?"
"Word on the street has it that he took matters into his own hands when the committee members attempted to exclude him. In the end, they had no choice but to acknowledge his martial arts prowess."
"He goes so far as to employ whimsical monikers such as Catman."
Upon receiving the disapproving and mocking remark, Mizuki held her gaze fixedly on the man donning the mysterious cat mask. After a brief moment, she summoned the courage to speak her mind:
"Are they talking about the legend of Wolfman, the triumphant victor of the previous Super Fight?"
As Mizuki mentioned, Wolfman is a mysterious martial artist who emerged victorious in the previous Super Fight. He has garnered a greater number of criticisms than commendations.
Due to their ignorance regarding Wolfman's true identity, the committee decided to establish a set of rules for all participants. These rules explicitly prohibited any attempts to conceal or disguise one's true identity, as everyone was determined not to acknowledge Wolfman's victory.
'Could this man possibly be Garou?' I am aware that the enigmatic figure known as the Wolfman is none other than Garou, yet I find myself uncertain regarding the person's identity donning the cat mask. As I observed his physique, which displayed moderate musculature and average stature, I was still unsure if it was him.
I chose to disregard it for some time. As I attentively listened to the match details being announced, my gaze began to wander aimlessly. And then, in a lucky moment, my eyes widened ever so slightly as they landed upon the very person I had been seeking.
Near my position, there stood a towering, attractive young man possessing a slender yet well-defined physique. His eyes were a striking shade of blue, contrasting beautifully against his sun-kissed skin. His lustrous black hair cascaded down his back, elegantly tied in a ponytail.
Suiryu stands out among the other participants as the epitome of a genuine martial artist. He exudes confidence, clad in a navy blue Chinese-style martial arts uniform. The white linings accentuate the elegance, while the long sleeves and star-shaped buttons complete the ensemble.
Despite my prior knowledge of the existence of a formidable individual like Him, who chooses not to align with the Heroes Association, I find myself underestimating his true capabilities. Hence, I am compelled to seize this opportunity to fight him.
Beside him was a petite young girl, her body lean and slender. Her luscious dark hair is elegantly braided and tied into loops, with bangs gracefully framing her forehead.
Despite her evident effort in her appearance, donning a maroon qipao-style top, white arm warmers, and a stylish scarf. She adorns herself with bells on her hair, ears, and shoes.
"Hey, Kaiser, I don't know if it's just me, but aren't you staring at that girl for too long?"