The boys left the tent and joined the tidal wave of spectators funnelling into the Colosseum seats. They found their row, squeezed past some already seated fans, and collapsed into their spots with drinks in hand and snacks secured beforehand.
Roy sipped casually. Brock exhaled deeply.
Kieran, meanwhile, had somehow already turned around and started chatting with a group of girls sitting behind them, all giggling and leaning closer every time he spoke.
"Honestly, I don't even try to look cool,"
Kieran said, leaning one arm over the seat like a prince. "It just happens naturally."
The girls swooned.
Roy and Brock glanced over.
Brock raised an eyebrow.
Roy raised his.
They locked eyes.
Synchronised shrug with the meaning of 'Fuck You'. As they also wanted some game time too, if you know what they mean.
Then they turned away like nothing happened.
The Colosseum lights dimmed, and a booming voice thundered through the arena.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ARE YOU READY!"
The crowd roared like a beast awakened.
"OUR FIRST MATCH OF THE DAY, A BATTLE BETWEEN TWO RISING STARS!"
Spotlights crisscrossed the arena floor.
"ON THE LEFT, IT'S THE SHOWMAN! TANAKA EWU!"
The crowd cheered wildly, especially a suspiciously loud cluster of girls somewhere behind Roy.
Both Roy and Brock thought at the same time, 'Shit is just unfair.'
Tanaka burst through the gate like a champion, punching the air, hyping himself up like a man possessed.
Brock fist-pumped in the air. Roy clapped lazily.
"AND HIS OPPONENT… THE SILENT BLADE OF DAWN… LISE VALKERA!"
The stadium went quiet, then erupted again. Because walking in with calm, unwavering grace…
Was a goddess.
A woman with a stature just a tad bit smaller than Tanaka, long brunette hair tied back behind her head… Crimson eyes like a storm held in a glass. She walked forward with an aura that commanded silence.
Tanaka froze.
His fist, once raised high, slowly fell.
His eyes widened.
He whispered, as if witnessing divinity:
"... What… The… Hell."
The referee pointed between them. "Contenders ready…?"
She looked at Tanaka calmly. "I won't hold back. I intend to win."
Tanaka didn't respond.
He collapsed onto his knees.
Roy choked on his drink and was choking on soda while coughing his mind out. Brock's jaw was fully unhinged. Kieran forgot how to flirt and yelled, "BRO. WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
The announcer screamed, "AND… BEGIN!"
Lise burst forward with full speed, blade drawn…
"TAKE ME!"
The arena fell silent.
Tanaka spread his arms wide, kneeling in full surrender.
"TAKE ME! END ME! DESTROY ME COMPLETELY!!"
The woman skidded to a halt mid-charge, blade still raised…
Her cheeks flushed bright red.
She stared, stunned. "…W—WHAT!?"
The entire Colosseum ERUPTED.
Roy put his head in his hands.
Brock was shaking with laughter and disbelief.
Kieran had passed through all five stages of grief simultaneously.
The principal of their school was on his feet, gripping the railing like a man watching his legacy burn.
Lise, still blushing, trembled where she stood.
The crowd chanted.
Not for violence.
Not for triumph.
But for pure chaos.
"TA-NA-KA! TA-NA-KA! TA-NA-KA!"
And like that… The first match of the day… Became a historical war crime against dignity.
Tanaka remained kneeling, arms open in pure surrender, eyes sparkling like a monk who had achieved enlightenment through absolute resolve.
Lise stood frozen mid-charge, blade hovering awkwardly in the air.
"…W-What are you doing!?" She stammered, cheeks visibly pink even from the stands.
Tanaka looked straight up at her like a man gazing upon the heavens.
"Strike me down, O beautiful goddess," he declared dramatically. "Let my heart be split in two before your blade. Let my soul perish in ecstasy!"
Roy quietly stopped his drinking, put the drink down and leaned forward.
Kieran stood up and screamed, "BRO, THIS ISN'T A DATING SHOW!!!"
Brock was pounding his fist on the railing. "SOMEBODY SEDATE HIM!!"
The announcer's voice faltered. "…U-Uh… contestant Tanaka appears to be… emotionally compromised?"
Lise blinked several times, then lowered her sword uncertainly. "…I'm here to fight you, not whatever this is."
Tanaka clasped his hands together like he was praying.
"Then fight me with your love!"
She recoiled. "I… I don't have any love for you!!"
"Then let me earn it!!!"
The audience roared with laughter. A group of girls somewhere in the back shrieked, "I'D MARRY HIM IF SHE WON'T!!"
Lise's face went bright red. Her sleeve trembled as she pointed her blade at him furiously.
"STAND UP AND FIGHT PROPERLY!"
Tanaka straightened slightly, still on his knees.
"…Does that mean we're on a nickname basis now?"
She nearly dropped her sword. "WHAT!?"
Roy buried his face in his hands and dug into his seat. "Oh, he's cooked."
Kieran had turned around and was facing backwards in his seat while Brock wiped away tears. "That man… has no fear. No shame. A true warrior."
The announcer was visibly sweating.
"W-Well, ladies and gentlemen, I… I suppose the fight is still technically active, so…UH…CONTINUE?"
Lise gritted her teeth, gripping her sword with burning determination.
"Fine. If words won't reach you…"
She took a stance.
"…THEN I'LL BEAT SOME SENSE INTO YOU!"
Tanaka's grin stretched across his face like a lunatic gaining power from humiliation itself.
"YES!!! PUNISH ME, GIVE ME MORE!!!"
Lise exhaled slowly, her flustered embarrassment melting into razor focus.
The air around her shimmered faintly, like heat rising off steel fresh from the forge.
Roy's eyes peeked through the gaps in his hand, and then he placed his hand down to watch.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Here it comes, her Soul Art."
Brock sat forward. "Oh shit, I didn't think she'd be that pissed to you right off the bat…"
Lise stamped her foot.
A shockwave burst from beneath her, ringing across the arena. A layer of liquid-like silver coated her arms, spreading over her like polished armour.
Her voice rang like a bell:
"Soul Art. Silver Aegis: Tempered Vitalis!"
The announcer nearly dropped his mic.
"L-Ladies and gentlemen, a full-body soul art! This is no rookie…!!"
Tanaka finally rose to his feet, brushing imaginary dust from his knees.
He exhaled, his smile calming into something eerily composed.
"…You're magnificent."
Lise's eye twitched. "Stop it with that, or I'll break your ribs."
Tanaka rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck.
"Alright then."
His stance shifted and it became loose, flowing, almost drunken and yet terrifyingly rooted. Roy with full attention on the match.
"Wait… He's serious now."
Brock whispered, disturbed.
"He stopped drooling…"
Lise lunged fast. Her armoured fist rocketed toward his jaw.
Tanaka leaned back, letting it graze past.
CRACK.
The air where his head had just been imploded from force.
She swung again and kicked this time.
He ducked under it, sliding forward.
Their eyes locked. Inches apart.
Tanaka whispered.
"…Marry me."
BAM.
Her knee met his chin point-blank, launching him into the sky.
The crowd exploded.
The announcer was screaming into his mic like his life depended on it.
"AND WE HAVE LIFTOFF! TANAKA EWU HAS BEEN LAUNCHED BY A KNEE STRIKE THAT COULD DENT A DRAGON… WAIT, HE'S TWISTING MID-AIR …"
Tanaka flipped like a gymnast, landing on all fours, panting.
Then he looked back at her… with hearts in his eyes.
"My goddess…"
Lise cracked her knuckles. "I WILL ACTUALLY KILL YOU."