(Visual: Outside the boys' hostel. Shiv and Veeru are heading to the stadium.)
"Arav had to leave because of his dad," Shiv said.
"Yeah, he had some work," Veeru said. "By the way, I didn't know Arav's father is a 3-star officer in JFL (Justice For Life)."
"I didn't know either," Shiv admitted. "But we should get going now—the matches are about to start."
They reached the audience seats, where Kavya and Ridika were already sitting. Shiv took the seat next to Kavya, and Veeru sat beside Ridika.
Ridika made a face at Veeru, "Don't get too happy—you're not Kavya."
"Why are you saying that? Are you a little kid or what?" Veeru joked.
"What?" Ridika glared.
"Sorry, sorry! Nothing," Veeru apologized immediately.
Kavya smiled inwardly seeing Shiv sit next to her and said, "You came?"
"Yeah," Shiv replied.
Ridika pointed toward the anchor, "Look, Ravi Bachchan!"
Principal Vikram and teacher Ravi Bachchan arrived on the main stage in the center of the stadium. Ravi Bachchan took the microphone and said, "The semi-finals are starting today. I congratulate all 12 students who made it this far. I'm super excited. Alright, I'll head out now."
They went back to their VIP room.
Ridika said, "Today's first match is between Piya and a girl from Class-AA, Priyanka Chaudhary."
"Chaudhary?" Shiv recalled the name. "Yeah, she was from my waiting room number 4. You don't know?"
"Kavya never even moved from one spot, so what would she know?" Ridika teased. "She doesn't talk to anyone."
Shiv said, "Yeah, I haven't talked to her yet either."
"She's just like that," Ridika explained. "She won't even talk properly to anyone unless they're more powerful than her."
Kavya said angrily, "So you're saying we're not even worth talking to?"
"I didn't mean it like that," Ridika clarified. "I just told you what I knew."
Shiv said, looking at the match, "I'll definitely beat her."
Kavya resolved, "Me too!"
The match began. The referee announced, "Match start!"
Piya thought to herself, I have to fight this one—I can't lose.
Piya leaped in with speed, raining down punches nonstop. Priyanka just dodged and blocked easily. Piya threw a side kick, but Priyanka jumped away. Right then, Piya followed up with another attack—a right side kick to the stomach. Priyanka blocked it with her quick reflexes and speed, but slid back a bit.
Piya smiled. Her eyes turned red, and she activated her signature skill. Her speed doubled. She got behind Priyanka and kicked her in the back. Priyanka flew far, but the moment she hit the ground, she vanished at such insane speed no one could see it, then appeared in front of Piya and landed a roundhouse kick.
Piya flew into the air, and Priyanka punched her face with a powerful mid-air strike. Piya crashed to the ground. The floor cracked. It was so fast that no one except Shiv saw it.