Kaido hurried through the streets, the weight of the day still clinging to his shoulders. He muttered to himself as he walked.
"I should've run away before Miho asked for help…"
Ping!
The sound of a phone notification made him flinch slightly. He expected an angry message from Asuka, but when he looked, it was just a T-Fighters alert.
"Ah…" he sighed, running a hand through his hair in relief — until his eyes fell on the time.
His heart sank. He was later than he thought.
What's going to happen to me…?
Asuka was probably already waiting for him at the dojo — a living storm ready to unload after what he'd done.
Without thinking twice, Kaido started running. The afternoon wind hit his face as he crossed the streets in long strides, nearly tripping over his own feet as he turned the corner. But when the dojo came into view, he slowed down — and froze in disbelief.
A massive crowd stretched from the entrance all the way to the sidewalk. Strangers mixed with familiar faces, voices buzzing in the air.
He stopped a few steps from the gate, watching the excited commotion. The air vibrated with excited murmurs, nervous laughter, and shuffling feet. It was as if the dojo had stopped being a simple training hall and suddenly turned into the center of a small festival.
Some tried to peek through the windows, others whispered about the "stories" they'd heard. Every "ohhh" coming from inside made Kaido a little paler.
"Hehe…" he let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.
What a brilliant mess I got myself into…
. . .
Just as he was about to step in, one of the dojo members raised a hand in greeting.
"Yo, Kaido! No idea where all these people came from, man!"
Another leaned out from the door, raising his voice to be heard over the crowd.
"Someone posted online about a special event!"
"What?" Kaido's eyes widened, his voice jumping half an octave.
A few classmates near the front noticed him.
"Kaido! Finally!" one of them yelled, waving. "Since there was nothing on the net, we posted about it to draw more attention!"
Kaido stopped, pressing a hand to his face and exhaling through his nose.
"That… wasn't really necessary…" he muttered, torn between shame and resignation.
Up front, someone whispered excitedly,
"This challenge'll be easy."
"Easy? She's fierce, bro. I've seen her drop thirteen since I joined!" another replied, laughing nervously.
Kaido shut his eyes, trying to block out the image of Asuka — impossible. He could see her perfectly in his mind: arms crossed, that impatient look, and the glare that screamed 'you're going to pay for this.'
Ohhhhhh!
Another collective roar came from inside, louder than the last.
"Next!" Asuka's voice rang out — sharp, clear, and commanding like a drill sergeant's.
A chill ran down Kaido's spine. He was about to enter a battlefield — and she was at the center.
He started pushing through the crowd, weaving between shoulders and elbows. Friends and dojo members waved as he passed.
"Yo, Kaido!"
"Late as always, huh?"
"Good luck, man…"
He barely replied. His focus was locked on that repeating sound echoing from the tatami.
"Next!"
Two seconds.
"Next!"
Five seconds.
"Next!"
Her voice had the precision of a military metronome — dry, firm, and impatient. Each shout made his skin prickle.
When he finally reached the edge of the tatami, another "Next!" cut through the air —and at that exact moment, a boy was dragged out unconscious like a sack of human potatoes. Kaido froze.
A hesitant girl stepped forward and entered the tatami. Before she could even react, Asuka already had her trapped in a swift, perfect Kazama's Trap.
Two seconds later, the girl passed out.
THUD!
"Next!" Asuka shouted again, her voice filled with irritation.
Kaido blinked several times, trying to process what he was seeing. Okay… this got a bit more intense than I imagined…
He glanced around — several people were still trying to recover. Before he could step back, a pair of hands pushed him forward from behind.
"Go on, champ! It's your turn!"
"Go for it, Kaido!"
"Show her who's boss!"
"Wait, wait, I didn't —"
"You!" Asuka's voice exploded from across the tatami, cutting off any excuse.
Kaido turned slowly, a crooked, nervous smile plastered on his face.
"Ehehe… hey, Asuka…"
"KAIDO! KAIDO! KAIDO!"
The chant started small but quickly swelled into a wave. The crowd parted, pushing him toward the center like a gladiator thrown into the arena.
"Go on!" someone yelled.
"Show her what you've got!"
"Hurry up…" Asuka's cold voice sliced through the noise like a blade. "…before I change my mind."
Kaido stopped. One look at her face told him there was no room for jokes or escape. Silently, he dropped his backpack beside the mat… and stepped in.
She tilted her head slightly, a wicked smile curling on her lips.
"Anta wa... nige rarenai."[1]
In a flash, Asuka locked her legs around his neck, executing the Kazama's Trap.
The firm, precise pressure of her thighs pinned him down, tightening around his neck and shoulders, rendering him completely helpless.
CLACK!
Her leg muscles tightened instantly — like a dormant beast awakening.
For a moment, the dojo fell under a heavy silence — the only sound was Kaido's muffled, labored breathing.
"Now… take the fruits of your stupidity," she whispered, eyes gleaming dangerously.
The sound of the crowd faded, drowned out, as if Kaido had been plunged underwater.
He felt the crushing pressure of her legs, his pulse pounding in his ears, and the air fleeing his lungs in short, desperate bursts.
. . .
The crowd was frozen in shock.
"Wait… she's always been that ripped?!"
"So she wasn't even serious before?"
"No way…"
The chatter died quickly. All eyes locked on Kaido, trapped in the Kazama's Trap, struggling for breath.
"Six… seven… no one's lasted past five before!" the crowd counted, voices rising in disbelief.
Asuka's eyes narrowed — and she squeezed tighter.
CLENCH…
Kaido's face turned red, neck muscles straining, trembling — but he refused to tap.
"Ten seconds…!" someone whispered in disbelief.
"Eleven… twelve…" the crowd began to count.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
Kaido slapped her leg three times.
Asuka immediately released him, and he collapsed onto his back, gasping, his chest heaving like he'd run a marathon.
"Fourteen seconds!" someone yelled.
The dojo erupted into applause and whistles.
"Fourteen seconds, dude!"
"He survived!"
"The first to last that long!"
As the cheers roared around him, Kaido lay there, eyes half-closed, wearing the crooked grin of a man who knew exactly what kind of trouble he'd gotten himself into.
Asuka remained at the center of the tatami — arms crossed, expression cold and unreadable. The playful smirk had vanished, replaced by sharp impatience.
"Get him out of here," she ordered curtly.
Two members rushed over.
"Come on, buddy, easy does it."
"Ugh…" Kaido groaned as they dragged him away, dizzy but smiling faintly.
Great idea, Kaido… really brilliant…
. . .
As he was being led away, the murmur among the crowd grew again. Some still debated how long he'd lasted; others whispered about who might dare challenge Asuka next.
Then, a light, elegant laugh rose above the noise.
"Ufufu…"
It was soft, confident — yet commanding. The crowd instinctively parted, sensing something important was about to happen.
"Oh, mon dieu…" came a voice dripping with disdain. "Still wasting your time with amateurs, Asuka? How about a real challenge… pour changer?"
Asuka raised her chin slightly, eyes narrowing. The entire dojo turned toward the source of the voice.
Lili walked forward with graceful steps, her blonde hair flowing like a curtain of gold. She wore a fitted, stylish training outfit, looking as if she'd been waiting for this very moment.
The air that had been buzzing with excitement now turned heavy — charged, electric.
"Lili…" someone whispered.
"This is gonna get messy…"
Asuka and Lili stood face to face at the center of the dojo, their gazes clashing like sharpened blades. Neither blinked. Neither backed down.
"What are you doing here?" Asuka asked dryly, her tone dripping with distrust.
Lili tilted her head slightly, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
"Isn't it obvious?" she said lightly, as if commenting on the weather. "It's time I defeat you."
"They're going to fight!" someone shouted, breaking the murmurs and igniting the crowd.
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" the chant erupted, echoing against the walls as feet stomped in rhythm.
Asuka blinked slowly, hesitating for a moment. Her eyes slid toward the corner, where Kaido — still supported by a dojo member — gave her a thumb up full of trust.
She inhaled deeply, turning back to Lili with a defiant grin.
"Can't wait to wipe that smug face of yours on the floor."
"Splendide," Lili replied with French poise, as if victory were already hers. But her smirk faltered when she looked down at the tatami and grimaced. "Hugh… mais… pas ici. Mon dieu, there's sweat everywhere."
"Tsk… princess," Asuka muttered, rolling her eyes.
That's when an assistant instructor approached Asuka calmly. The man, upright and composed, rarely spoke — but when he did, everyone listened.
"You may use the battle tatami for this duel," he said firmly.
Asuka turned to him, a bit surprised.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, resolute.
"I am. Your father would agree… besides, I think the crowd would love a good show."
A wave of excitement rippled through the dojo.
Asuka bowed her head slightly in gratitude.
"Thank you, sensei."
He smiled faintly, teasing yet sincere.
"You don't need to call me sensei… your martial skill's already beyond mine."
Asuka nodded again, her eyes calm and respectful.
Then, turning slowly back to Lili, her lips curled into a bold smile.
"Sa... oshioki shite ageru, hime-sama!"[2]
Lili smiled, straightened her posture, and walked like on a runway, while Asuka advanced with steady, determined steps, her gaze locked on her rival.
The crowd followed, anticipation growing with every heartbeat.
Two dojo students from the main hall approached a large wooden sliding door adorned with hand-painted patterns, still pristine despite the years. With reverent precision, they pulled it open.
SHHHHT…
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
The main tatami stretched out like a sacred stage. The floor was spotless, the traditional lines perfectly aligned, reflecting the warm light of the hanging lanterns. Along the walls, rows of ancient armor seemed to watch in silence, guardians of discipline and legacy. The neatly arranged katanas caught the light, casting long shadows that magnified the sense of reverence. This wasn't just a dojo — it was a sanctuary reserved for the most important duels.
"Wow…" someone whispered.
"It's like a scene from a movie…"
Asuka stepped forward first, her stride firm and resolute, eyes razor-sharp—no trace of playfulness.
Lili followed right behind, walking as if on a catwalk. Even surrounded by tradition's weight, she carried herself with elegance and defiance.
Both stepped onto the tatami and began stretching in silence. Small cracks of movement resounded in the calm air — the warm-up before the storm. The crowd formed a semicircle around the entrance, watching every move with breathless fascination.
Asuka lifted her hands, palms open and ready, feet firmly planted, her breathing calm and measured. Lili shifted gracefully into her stance, guard up, eyes shining with quiet confidence.
Two presences. Two styles. Neither blinked.
The silence was almost suffocating — every spectator holding their breath, waiting for the first move.
[1] You... won’t escape.
[2] Come on… I’ll teach you a lesson, princess!