Arc-V: Cultivating Future

Friendship Cup Day 1: The Hunter, the Dancer, the Ninja, and... Trolling?

The tournament is single elimination, no second wind like what Sawatari did back at Standard. So once you're out, you OUT.

There is total 32 participants. First round will cut it in half, so there's only 16 people left. Second round will eliminate 8. Semifinal will only have 4. Finals, two. The winner of final will fight The King.

The names were decided on the day.

And today's duels was decided.

Kurosaki Shun vs Hunter Pace

Serena vs Diablo

Tsukikage vs Gill Randsborg

Floren Briar vs Divine

Aww... I don't get to duel.

Oh well, there's always tomor—

"F-Floren-nee?! Are you... are you alright?" Yuzu asked.

What happ—OH MY GOD FLOREN! ARE YOU POSSESSED?!

She was staring at her opponent's name and grin so widely. For some reason, she gives vibe of Sunday Cartoon's Evil Mastermind. I swear she was going "khekhekhekhe..." a la evil witch!

"Oh. I'm fine." LIAR! "I just... hehe... a bit too excited and can't wait for my turn."

I turned around and pointed at her. "Please tell me I was not like that!" I beg.

Yuya and Yuzu looked away.

"Uhh... you're different kind of sadist?"

Thanks, Yuya. That wasn't helping.

"I'll get ready on the stadium. You kids can watch the other duels first. Give me the details later, 'kay?"

And... she's gone.

Sometimes, no, oftentimes, I feel like being left out. As if there's an inside joke I'm not privy to.

Maybe they don't really trust me. Not that I blame them. Who trust a turncoat, anyway?

We get comfortable in Yuya's room to watch the duel this time, with Yuya inviting Yuto over. (Ugh. Must he be fond of him?) It doesn't take long for Gong-chan and Yugo to come barreling in, dragging Ren with him.

"Uwaaahh... give me a notification in advance! I don't bring enough snack and drink for all of us!" Yuzu huffed.

True. We expect three to four, not seven.

"You're really relax." Yuya commented. "Think again... they were fighting locals and not the ones we know... so I guess it's fine to treat it as show."

What... is he talking about?

"What do you mean?" Thanks for Yugo. "Even if they lose, at least they show good performance. There's always next year—oh right. You guys are on time limit visitation."

"Uh, no. not that." Yuya shook his head. "See... this was what happened."

He then tell us what was happening on his side, and my jaws dropped.

I was not the only one with that reaction.

"What the fuck?! You kids are going to be send to Underground Labor Facility as unpaid worker if you lose?!" Ren swore.

"Yes." Gong nodded. "Akaba Reiji negotiated with the council that we lancers join the tournament to prove our mettle, but loser will prove our trustworthiness in another way."

"Ugh..." Yuto covers his face. "That... complicates things..."

Yeah. Now we're in dilemma. Against stranger, yeah, we can go out and have fun to our heart's content. To ally? Either they lose and went to facility and weighting on our conscience for condemning them of such fate, or we lose and potentially meet same fate because 1) it encompasses all Lancers and not just the one who got unwanted visit to the Facility, and 2) the ass in the charge of Security is DEFINITELY Academia Spy!