Haruki's match started a bit intense since the opponent had some sort of gravitational prowess that allowed them to control the weight of a person once skin contact is made or changed their own weight to be faster except for the cause of just floating away if activated for too long.
It was a bit of a challenge until Haruki managed to push the guy out of the boundaries by blasting a wave of flames which scared the guy off their momentum that landed then outside the boundary.
Nevertheless, it was a spectacular of a match where Haruki shines for his slight battle intellect from what Rei had expected since the guy was always lazy, carefree, enthusiastic and seemed to be a bit dumb when it comes to academic work who's basically like him but a bit lower.
"Nice match." Rei commented when Haruki got back to the seat with them.
"Thanks." Haruki responded as he accepted the bottle of water that Erika offered once he seated next to her as usual. "You did great." The blonde said while Hinata joined in with putting up a thumbs up along with Sylvie just doing the same as her.
The group were having a great time while watching the match, although their atmosphere would be intense when Haru's fight started and ended immediately.
If Rei was brutal according to how he used to fight before transferring to Sir Ellis Kadoorie High and meeting Sylvie while relapsing back to that stage again due to the incident that happened before then Haru was the same as him but less violent and aggressive since the latter is more focused with efficiency.
Rei saw a bit of himself in Haru when it came to pushing the limit and being aggressive to prove their worth since he himself had experienced what it meant for being at the top during his middle school.
"Jeez… He's like me…" He thought to himself before brushing it off as he went back to talk with his friends after Haru's match ended.
...…
The crowd was silent since the second last match which involved Haru's fight was brutal that ended within seconds however, the last match of the first round was something that most of the people that were there to witness didn't expect for the blue haired male to perform better yet underneath Haru's performance.
'Keitaro Sasaki' vs 'Gregory XXXX'
Most of the fifth year students were just the same when Haru went to the stage. Silent and shaking while Sylvie and Rei were just curious with why they were acting like this especially when Haruki who's so positive was looking down on the ground while Hinata and Erika were tense.
"Alright. Both contestants are ready." Eto said on her microphone although there weren't any cheers despite Haru receiving some which Rei took note of earlier.
Rei decided to activate his prowess to have a better reading towards Keitaro's prowess and level in which his eyes widened.
"No fucking way!" He exclaimed to himself as Sylvie was confused at his surprised expression.
"Begin!" Eto shouted.
Gregory tried his best to elongate his limbs to capture Keitaro and pull him towards the boundary by swinging him around. Suddenly, a blast of blue flames similar to a Japanese folklore of a fox spirit using a fox-fire.
The power and heat emitted from the flames immediately made the latter retreat his injured arms although Keitaro didn't stop as the fox fire immediately caught Gregory on fire. His screams echoing through the arena as people on the spectators flinched and some couldn't dare to look at the scene.
Gregory laid on the ground, unconscious and defeated in such a state while Keitaro walked away while motioning for Eto to give him the win since the latter had no hopes of getting back up to fight him again.
"The match has decided Keitaro has won as Gregory is not able to proceed." Eto announced while heading in along with some medical staff to haul the injured male away from the arena while Rei locked eyes with the latter who was walking out of the stage.
A tension rose between the two silently before breaking their gaze as the two had gone back to do their own things.
...….
"Dude! Are you insane! I know you're strong and have humbled Haru but that guy is in a different league!" Haruki exclaimed while Erika added, "He may be in the same family bloodline as Haru but I would advise you not to push your luck."
Sylvie sighed as she awaited Rei's response, expecting him to try maintaining a poker face but what he did next surprised her.
"He challenged me. I have to accept that because refusing it means I'm weaker than him and I have no honour towards his request."
His statement froze the trio while Sylvie was surprised but didn't show it as Rei continued on.
"He's at the same level as me when it comes to prowess only but overall? I have no clue so I gotta give it my all to someone who wants to challenge me." His added statement made the trio even more nervous as they tried their best to make him withdraw but couldn't since the latter was too stubborn yet had too many valid points with why he wanted to accept it.
Sylvie stayed with Rei while the rest had gone to either go for a bathroom break or get some snacks for later before the next round begins while they watch when it's not their turn yet.
The silence between the copycat and time manipulation prowess user was loud but the magenta haired girl knew that she had to make a conversation since the latter was too focused and quiet.
"Are you for real that Keitaro and you are of the same prowess level?" She asked, her gaze staring into his as the male nodded his head before answering her. "Yeah. There's no doubt. My passive ability gauges his power in the same category as mine except for the stats he has since I need to copy someone in order to get a better arsenal kit than his." Rei said while clenching his fist.
Sylvie nodded her head before leaning over his shoulders, "I'm worried ya know? I just don't wanna see you again in the same state as last time." Her statement shook Rei out of his anxiety as he breathed evenly, managing to calm himself.
"I won't. I promise." Rei said before leading his head over hers, enjoying her warmth and company for the meantime while their friends were getting something or doing something before going back.
...…
Meanwhile, the trio were watching Rei and Sylvie at a distance. Their eyes focused on their body language as they tried their best to know if they were really just friends with some sort of benefits or hiding their relationship in the form of friends with high sexual tension.
"Should we go back?" Haruki asked while Erika added, "We're technically stalking them while holding the snacks…"
"Not yet." Hinata said as they continued observing before they all got surprised when Rei leaned back before kissing Sylvie's forehead.
"Man. I don't feel like eating sugar all of the sudden…" Haruki exclaimed while the other two agreed with his statement.
Too bad that they only bought sweets and chocolates since the other snacks were too expensive for them to buy. "Man. Should I start taking notes while watching them?" Haruki thought to himself loudly before picking up his small notebook out of his pocket, "What a rhetorical question. Of course!"
Haruki's action made Erika sighed although the blonde just stared at Rei and Sylvie supposedly just friends and nothing more. The two either play around platonically or in a flirtatious manner.
"Sylvie is a lucky girl, isn't she…" She whispered to Hinata who nodded her head, agreeing with her statement.
...…
...…
...…
Additional Information…
[Ethereal Gauging Results]
[Name: Keitaro Sasaki]
[Prowess: ??? (6.5)]
[Fifth Year Student, ??? Division]
...…
[Ethereal Gauging Results]
[Name: Rei Nishimura]
[Prowess: Aura Manipulation (6.5)]
[Fifth Year Student, Assault Division]
...…
Ethereal Gauging Results]
[Name: Sylvie Seraphim
[Prowess: Time Manipulation (7.0)]
[Fifth Year Student, Law and Legal Rights Division]
...….
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