**Alex**, tall and confident, strutted into the arena, her golden spear over her shoulder and a teasing smirk on her lips. Beside her walked **Jessica Hamamoto**, composed and focused, her red eyes scanning the field. Next to her were **Aaron**, a lean boy with a mechanical gauntlet and lightning magic, and **Mimi**, the smallest of the group with pigtails and plant magic, bouncing with excitement.
As the four stood on their side of the battlefield, **Alex’s eyes locked onto Hajime**—and everything else seemed to pause for her.
**Alex (internally, eyes sparkling):**
*“Oh. My. Gosh. There he is. The guy. The myth. The absolute walking rage fest. Look at that scowl. Look at that hair. Is that gray-blue natural? No. Doesn’t matter. I’m gonna die.”*
She placed a hand over her chest dramatically.
**Alex (out loud, dramatically flipping her hair):**
“...Hajime~! So we finally meet! The mysterious swordsman with trauma, anger issues, and charm for days~!”
**Hajime (confused):**
“…Huh?”
He tilted his head, blinking rapidly. Sockoo side-eyed him.
**Sockoo:**
“She’s simping hard. This your fault.”
**Hajime (sweating):**
“I didn’t do anything!”
Jessica, standing next to Alex, immediately **facepalmed**.
**Jessica:**
“Alex, please. We’re literally in a battle.”
**Alex (grinning):**
“I’m fighting for love and victory, Jess.”
**Aaron (sighs):**
“Here we go again…”
**Mimi (giggling):**
“She really likes the grumpy type, huh?”
Back on the Strikers’ side, **Makoto nudged Hajime.**
**Makoto:**
“Bro… she’s simping *hard*. How’s it feel to be a walking fanfiction?”
**Hajime (deadpan, muttering):**
“Rage on desu…”
**Rei (teasing):**
“She’s got good taste. You do got that mysterious trauma vibe going.”
**Hajime (annoyed):**
“Shut up, Rei.”
The battlefield tension was mixed with chaos and romantic confusion—but the bell echoed loudly, signaling the start of the match.
**Sockoo (snapping back to serious):**
“Everyone—focus. No more distractions. That’s Team Felix. They’re strong. Let’s crush it.”
The battle had begun, and **Team Felix was not just flashy—they were dangerous.** But now? There was also a hopeless romantic on the field with a crush on Hajime… and he was **not** ready. As the stadium lights dimmed and spotlights circled the arena, the booming voice of the **announcer** echoed across the massive coliseum, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
**Announcer (with electric energy):**
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! IT’S TIME FOR ROUND TWO OF THE STRIKERS TOURNAMENT! Prepare yourselves for a clash of power, pride, and pure chaos!”
**The screen behind the arena lit up, flashing the first name:**
---
?? **“Representing the Music Strikers!!”** ??
?? *“First up… the man who burns brighter the more rage he holds in—his sword is as sharp as his tongue—he’s the trauma-wrapped legend you love to fear… give it up for the FLAME DEVIL…”*
**“HAJIME HAMAMOTO!!”**
*The crowd went WILD as Hajime stepped onto the battlefield, Storyshift strapped to his back, his gray-blue hair flickering under the lights. He didn’t smile. He didn’t wave. He just said:*
**Hajime (calmly):**
“…Let’s rage it to the very end.”
---
?? *“Next up… with a cold stare and even colder magic, he’s the one-man glacier that stops everything in its tracks—THE ICE-COLD FOREST USER…”*
**“DAKA ROCK!!”**
*Daka walked out slowly, calm and collected, hands in his pockets as leaves of ice floated around him like winter’s breath. The crowd cheered in awe.*
**Daka (coolly):**
“I don’t talk much. But I *don’t* lose.”
---
???? *“She’s got a fire in her soul, flames in her step, and a cat’s reflexes on overdrive! Don’t let the fluff fool you—this girl BURNS through her enemies! The CAT THAT’S ALWAYS ON FIRE…”*
**“SOCKOO ITSUKI!!”**
*Sockoo somersaulted onto the stage with a burst of flames around her, tail flicking, a cocky smirk on her face.*
**Sockoo (grinning):**
“Paws off, losers—this stage is MINE.”
---
???? *“And finally! She’s the steel-fist hurricane with the calmest face in the world! A brawler with no brakes and ZERO interest in losing—THE BRAWLER THAT WON’T QUIT…”*
**“RIZRA!!”**
*Rizra walked out, arms crossed, chewing gum like she didn’t care, despite the massive roar of the crowd.*
**Makoto (shouting from sidelines):**
“LET’S GOOO RIZRA!! YOU GOT THIS!!”
*Rizra glanced back, blushed faintly, then muttered:*
**Rizra:**
“Shut up, idiot…”
---
The crowd exploded with cheers and chants of “STRIKERS! STRIKERS!”
**Announcer (switching tones):**
“And now… their opponents. The rising fan-favorite warriors… led by the infamous stormblade herself… IT’S TIME FOR TEAM FELIX!”
*But for a moment—right now—it was the Music Strikers who owned the spotlight.*
**Hajime (tightening his grip on Storyshift):**
“…Let’s end this fast. No holding back.”
**Daka:**
“Crack their strategy.”
**Sockoo:**
“Burn it all down.”
**Rizra:**
“…Just don’t slow me down.”
Let the battle begin. **Announcer (with booming hype):**
“And now… the crowd favorites, the ones who shocked everyone last year, the team with power, strategy, and charisma to spare—make some noise for…”
---
???? **“TEAM FELIX!!”** ????
*The lights dimmed for a moment… then a huge explosion of gold and silver fireworks shot into the sky as the four members stepped forward through a wave of smoke and light.*
---
??? **“First up! She’s the storm-taming, blade-wielding, absolute prodigy of Team Felix! Her lightning speed and sharp wit make her the perfect leader. Once ranked top among junior elites—she is the lightning that splits the sky—give it up for…”**
**“ALEX FELIX!!”**
*Alex walked out confidently, spinning her stormblade casually. Her long jacket flapped behind her in the wind she generated naturally. She looked at Hajime and instantly blushed, sparkles in her eyes.*
**Alex (softly, to herself):**
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
“He’s even hotter in person… stay cool, Alex, STAY COOL…”
---
???? **“Next! Calm, calculating, and dangerously precise—he doesn’t need magic to beat you, just one clean opening. The frost-eyed genius with a bow sharper than ice itself—THE STRATEGIC ASSASSIN…”**
**“AARON CREST!!”**
*Aaron stepped forward, barely acknowledging the crowd, holding his bow tightly. His eyes locked onto Daka’s with a tense stillness.*
**Aaron (stoic):**
“Let’s see who breaks first.”
---
???? **“Third! Don’t be fooled by the soft looks—behind that smile is chaos ready to explode. She weaves illusion, trickery, and real power together. She’s the master of distraction—the EXPLOSIVE CHARMER…”**
**“MIMI HART!”**
*Mimi skipped onto the stage, waving at fans, her wand twirling between her fingers as she blew a kiss toward the audience. Her eyes briefly locked onto Sockoo’s with a wild glint.*
**Mimi:**
“Let’s have some real girl fun, nya~!”
**Sockoo (squinting):**
“…I’m gonna BBQ this girl.”
---
???? **“And last! Quiet but deadly. The most unpredictable member of Team Felix. Her brute strength is only matched by his reckless resolve. When this girl’s fists move—walls BREAK. Give it up for the UNTAMED WARRIOR…”**
**“JESSICA HAMAMOTO!!”**
*Everyone was cheering like crazy for Jessica,.*
**Makoto (from the sidelines):**
“Wow she’s hot?!*”
*Jessica stepped forward, cracking her knuckles, eyes burning with battle spirit, ignoring the crowd's reaction completely.*
**Jessica (growling softly):**
“Let’s burn this show down
---
???? **Announcer (fired up):**
“And there you have it—Team Felix! Four different styles. One dangerous unit. Who’s gonna take the win today—Team Felix or the Music Strikers?!”
**The crowd screamed. Tension crackled like thunder.**
**Alex (smiling at Hajime):**
“I hope you don’t hate me when I win, flame devil…”
**Hajime (smirking):**
“I’ll rage it ‘til the end. You better hold on.”
**Let the battle… BEGIN!** Hajime tugged gently on Sockoo’s shirt, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that silenced the noise around them.
“Whatever happens,” he said low and steady, “don’t die.”
Sockoo felt the weight behind his words — not just concern, but something fierce, protective, almost raw.
She nodded firmly, but inside her mind, she was already racing.
*I always wonder how Hajime can flip the switch like that…* she thought, *Is it just animal instincts? Or is there something more?*
Before she could voice the question, Daka’s voice cut through, calm but knowing, as if he had read her thoughts.
“It’s pride,” he said quietly, eyes never leaving the stage. “Not just for himself — for everyone counting on him. That’s what makes him switch so fast.”
Sockoo glanced back at Hajime, now tightening his fists, his entire presence shifting.
*Pride,* she repeated silently. *That fire… that unbreakable pride.*The arena trembled as the crowd’s roar dimmed into tense silence. Hajime and Jessica stood face to face, their eyes locked in fierce determination. Both ignited their flames simultaneously—Hajime’s a blazing blue, sharp and intense, Jessica’s a fierce red-orange, wild and passionate.
The air between them crackled with heat.
Hajime stepped forward first, charging his blue flames into his iron hammer—a powerful kick enveloped in blazing energy. “Come on, Jessica! Let’s see what you got!” he shouted, voice rough but steady.
Jessica smirked, fire curling around her fist as she readied a punch. “Don’t hold back, big bro! I’m not going easy!” With a fierce yell, she launched her blazing fist forward.
Their attacks collided in a titanic clash, the blue iron hammer meeting the fiery punch head-on. A burst of wind and heat exploded outward, waves rippling through the arena and sending sparks dancing into the stands.
Sockoo, Daka, and the others watched, eyes wide with admiration and tension. Emily bit her lip, gripping her wand tightly, while Makoto’s fingers twitched near his guns.
“Wow…” Emily whispered, “Their flames are creating a storm.”
Rizra narrowed her eyes. “That’s some serious power… no wonder they’re champions.”
Bondo cracked his knuckles, leaning forward. “Both of them pushing hard. This isn’t going to be an easy fight.”
On the other side, Alex’s mouth hung open, heart pounding as she watched Jessica stand her ground.
Jessica gritted her teeth. “I’m not just some kid you can push around, Hajime!”
Hajime’s eyes burned brighter. “I wouldn’t expect you to be.”
The clashing flames twisted around them like living beasts, heat waves shimmering over their locked weapons. Neither gave an inch.
Sockoo exhaled softly, her gaze sharp. “This battle… it’s not just about power. It’s about heart.”
Daka nodded beside her. “Exactly. They’re fighting for something deeper.”
Hajime grunted as he pushed forward, the iron hammer kick driving hard, trying to break Jessica’s defense.
Jessica gritted her teeth, resisting with her fire punch, muscles straining. “You’re not breaking me that easily!”
Their flames roared louder, lighting the arena with a furious glow, shadows dancing on the faces of the watching teams.
The silence was deafening except for the crackling fire and the clash of wills.
Makoto muttered, “This is going to be one hell of a fight.” As the clash between Hajime and Jessica raged on, Hajime suddenly dropped one hand to the ground. His eyes narrowed, and a grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Time to show you I’m not just firepower!" he said through gritted teeth.
Then—whoosh—his body spun low as his anchored hand guided him into a whirlwind breakdance maneuver. His legs swung out like spinning blades, blue flames trailing from his boots. His first kick slammed into Jessica’s ribs, making her flinch, and the second caught her under the arm, launching her backward and forcing her to break the clash.
Jessica skidded across the arena, stopping just before she hit the wall. She wiped a smear of ash from her lip, eyes wide. “What kind of fighting style was that?!”
Daka didn’t waste the opening. With a snap of his fingers, six golden wind-forged swords appeared above Jessica in a circular formation.
“Don’t blame me,” Daka said, arms outstretched, “Blame the moment!”
He clenched his fists and the swords rained down like divine punishment.
“Jess!!” shouted Aaron from across the field, dashing forward with fire cloaking both of his fists. In a flash, he slammed into the ground near Jessica, shielding her just as the golden swords came crashing down.
BOOM!
Dust and light exploded outward in a shockwave that shook the arena.
Sockoo and Rizra immediately sprang forward to support Daka.
“She’s open! I got—”
But then—
Clank! Thud!
Two figures landed in front of them with perfect sync. It was Mimi, her long hair flaring out like a golden fan, and Alex, smiling with one eye closed like a playful cat.
"Sorry~," Mimi said, raising her hand as a green forest aura surrounded her, “But we’re not letting you gang up. It’s four on four, remember?”
Alex held up a hand as if to wave. “Hi again, Hajime~!” Then her face got serious. “But nah—Sockoo, you’re with me.”
Sockoo's eyes narrowed. "Get out of the way."
Alex drew a burning ribbon-like flame around her. “Not until this dance is over.”
Rizra cracked her knuckles, stepping toward Mimi. “This is getting interesting…”
As the battlefield split into chaotic skirmishes, Hajime stood tall again, adjusting his collar. He glanced at Aaron shielding Jessica, then over at Sockoo and Rizra.
“This is our tempo now,” Hajime muttered to himself, fire beginning to wrap around his legs again.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats. Team Felix was strong—but Music Strikers were just getting started.
As Sockoo and Alex clashed—fire flaring, fists flying, and magic bursting across the arena—Alex kept smiling like it was some casual hangout rather than a heated tournament battle.
Sockoo ducked under a ribbon of flame and countered with a flaming cat paw swipe, yelling, “Stop smiling!!”
But Alex just twirled out of the way, her blonde ponytail spinning like a golden flame trail. “Hey Sockoo, since you and Hajime are so close, can I ask you something super important?”
Sockoo frowned, bracing herself. “If it’s about the fight, then talk with your fists.”
Alex giggled mid-dodge. “Not really. So like… does Hajime like cute girls or cool ones?”
Boom!
Sockoo’s punch narrowly missed Alex’s cheek.
“…What?!”
Alex spun away with a heart-eyed grin. “I just wanna know his preferences! Like, does he like girls with long hair or short hair? Serious or silly? Strong or soft??”
Sockoo’s eye twitched violently. “Are you serious right now? We’re in the middle of a death match!!”
Alex pointed at her teasingly. “Oh come on~! You’ve seen how he fights. It’s sooo passionate—like a burning love song. I bet he writes poetry in secret.”
Sockoo shot forward, her fire flaring wildly. “You’re insane!”
Alex deflected a combo of blazing cat strikes, still talking. “Does he have a favorite food? I bet it’s something spicy, right? Ooh, maybe sweet too. And what about his type? Honest girls? Mysterious ones? What’s his biggest fear? What’s his shoe size?!”
Sockoo finally snapped, her fire bursting into a huge feline aura behind her. “SHUT UP AND FIGHT!”
Alex raised her hands like “okay, okay,” but smirked. “You’re blushing, by the way~”
“I’M NOT!!”
Meanwhile, Hajime, still locked in a separate clash, sneezed mid-motion, then paused. “…Someone’s talking about me.”
Daka, from his own fight, shouted, “FOCUS, RAGE-BOY!”
Back in her battle, Sockoo gritted her teeth, eyes blazing.
“If you don’t stop asking about Hajime…”
Alex winked. “Then what?”
“…I’ll introduce your face to the floor.”
Alex smiled dreamily, even while blocking. “That means you do know his type. Eeee~!”
BOOM!!
Their attacks collided again—flames exploding outward like two suns crashing. But even amid the chaos, Alex’s teasing voice floated out:
“So like… would he like someone like me~?”
Sockoo growled.
She was this close to snapping.
As the flames around them flickered from their furious clash, Sockoo’s eyebrow twitched. Alex kept prancing around the topic like it was a game of tag, but now she’d crossed the line.
Sockoo finally shouted, “**He’s my boyfriend!!**”
The whole stadium went quiet—for a *full three seconds*.
Alex froze mid-step, her fire flickering out. “…”
“Wait. What?”
Sockoo cracked her knuckles, her fiery cat aura blazing up higher than ever. “You heard me. Hajime is *my* boyfriend.”
Alex’s heart-shaped pupils shattered.
“Wha…what… WHAT?!?!”
She stumbled back like she’d taken a punch to the soul. “You—you—you mean you two are dating?? Like holding hands? Sharing sweets? *Kissing?!*”
Sockoo took a calm, menacing step forward. “We do *plenty* of things.”
Alex *exploded* into pink aura energy—like heartbreak turned to madness.
“UNACCEPTABLE!!!”
Everyone watching flinched as her flames surged up again with more heat than before.
“I’ve already decided Hajime is my ideal man!! Mysterious eye, tragic vibe, soft ponytail, deadly fighter—*he’s perfect!!*”
Sockoo raised an eyebrow. “You sound more obsessed than Hikari…”
Alex pointed dramatically. “I, Alexandra Sakura of Team Felix, hereby issue a challenge!! If I defeat you in this battle—**I TAKE HAJIME!!**”
Sockoo’s flames exploded violently. Her silhouette stood within the blaze, like a pissed-off goddess. “You’re gonna regret *every* word you just said.”
Hajime, still fighting Jess, blinked. “Wait, what’s happening? Who’s taking me where now?”
Jess, annoyed, punched Hajime in the jaw. “*Focus!!*”
Makoto, watching from the sidelines, leaned to Bondo. “Yoooo, Sockoo’s gonna *murder* this girl…”
Bondo whistled. “Yeah. That wasn’t a challenge. That was a *death wish.*”
Back in the arena, Sockoo’s voice dropped low and dangerous.
“You want Hajime?”
“Then come and take him.”
“But when I’m done with you—”
“You won’t even remember why you *wanted* him in the first place.”
Alex's eyes widened.
Sockoo smiled coldly. “*Let’s dance.*”
And with that, the real fight began. Mimi stood with one hand on her hip, her pristine white gloves unscuffed, a dainty parasol twirling over her shoulder as the fight between Aaron and Daka raged behind her. She observed Rizra carefully, head tilted, analyzing every detail like a fashion critic judging a gladiator.
"Hmm… this simply won’t do," Mimi said with a sigh, as if she were looking at a poorly styled mannequin.
Rizra raised an eyebrow, cracking her knuckles. “What won’t do?”
Mimi pointed her parasol like a sword. “You. You're not beautiful. You're… boyish. Rough. Crude. I mean look at you—those arms? That stance? The blank stare? You’re more like a boy than a girl. A true muscle-head freak.”
Rizra stared for a moment, completely blank. Then she cracked her neck and muttered, “And you talk too much.”
Mimi blinked. “Excuse me?”
Rizra took one step forward. Her fists clenched, grounded, confident. “I don’t care what you think I look like. I didn’t show up here to be on a magazine cover—I came to throw hands.”
Mimi raised her parasol higher, spinning it. “But don’t you want elegance? Grace? Appeal?”
Rizra tilted her head. “I want you to **shut up**—so we can fight.”
Mimi paused. Then smiled sweetly. “Oh~ how barbaric.”
Rizra lunged forward with a sudden burst of raw speed. “Let’s see if your parasol can block a *punch to the teeth.*”
Makoto on the sidelines whispered, “...She’s dead.”
Angel nodded, “Yeah, she gone.”
Even Hajime, mid-fight, glanced over and winced. “Rest in peace, Mimi. You made her talk too long.”
And thus, the brawl between **the pretty princess** and **the muscle-head freak** truly began—with *no mercy* in sight. Mimi stood frozen, her confident expression faltering as the echo of Rizra’s punch faded. The ground trembled just slightly beneath her heels. She turned her head slowly—so slowly—toward the spot to her left.
A rock. Or rather… what was left of one.
The massive magic-reinforced rock, built specifically to protect the stands from stray attacks, had been absolutely demolished. A crater of fine dust and cracked shards spread across the earth where it once proudly stood. No enchantment remained. No barrier shimmer. Nothing. Just raw, obliterated stone.
Mimi’s eyes widened. “W-What…?”
Rizra rolled her shoulders casually, stepping forward. Her eyes were bored, half-lidded, like she didn’t just erase a military-grade magical barrier with a casual punch.
“Sorry,” she muttered, glancing at the broken ground. “That bug was buzzing too much.”
Mimi blinked. “Bug?”
She looked down.
At her feet—there it was.
Or… wasn’t.
A tiny, unrecognizable splatter of twisted remains and dust was all that was left of the insect Rizra mentioned. It hadn’t even stood a chance. And Mimi, who had been so elegant and composed, started sweating.
“Y-You did that… just to kill a bug?”
Rizra raised a hand and flicked her wrist, stretching. “Yeah. Loud as hell. Couldn’t focus. You get it.”
Mimi slowly stepped back. “Y-You didn’t even use magic…”
Rizra looked her dead in the eyes.
“Didn’t need to.”
A sharp silence hit the field as even the audience held their breath.
Makoto in the stands, still bandaged up from earlier, whispered to himself, “She’s not a muscle-head freak…”
Yu nodded solemnly. “She’s a muscle god.”
Mimi, visibly shaken, gripped her parasol tighter, eyes darting. “N-No matter! Looks aren’t everything! Poise is po—!”
Before she could finish, Rizra cracked her knuckles and slowly began walking toward her.
“Buzzing again.”
Mimi yelped and activated her parasol shield immediately, panic mode fully engaged.
The next round had begun—and Mimi realized, this was no ordinary fight.
She had just insulted a walking calamity.
Rizra loomed over Mimi with the shadow of a titan, her expression blank but eyes glinting with just enough menace to make anyone with a survival instinct start praying.
She cracked her neck, casually raising her fist.
“So…” she said, calm as a whisper. “Let’s see what happens if I do that to your face.”
Mimi’s entire body locked up.
“I—I’m sorry—I didn’t mean—!” she stumbled, voice trembling, knees shaking. “Y-You’re beautiful! So beautiful! Like, like a goddess of power, a lioness of grace, a—"
WHOOOSH
Rizra’s fist flew forward at blinding speed—stopping millimetersfrom Mimi’s nose.
The sheer force of the punch created a pressure wave that blew Mimi’s hair straight back, sent her skirt flaring, and cracked the magical ground behind her.
Mimi’s pupils shrunk to pinpoints.
She let out the faintest, squeaky gasp…
…and collapsed backward like a dropped doll, completely passed out. KO’d from pure fear.
The announcer blinked. “Uh… L-Ladies and gentlemen… MIMI HAS BEEN DEFEATED!!!”
The crowd burst into wild cheers, some laughing, some gasping. Even some of Team Felix looked stunned.
Makoto leaned toward Yu and whispered, “I think she just trauma-punched the soul out of her.”
Yu nodded solemnly. “Didn’t even hit her.”
Sockoo, watching while still fighting Alex, said in disbelief, “I think… I think she just weaponized threats.”
Rizra turned, popping her neck again like she’d just taken out the trash. “Alright. Who’s next?”
- Hajime vs. Jessica — A sibling showdown drenched in blue and red flames. Their clash wasn’t just power—it was pride, history, and unresolved distance exploding across the battlefield. Hajime unveiled his unpredictable breakdance-style combat, forcing momentum in the Strikers’ favor.
- Daka vs. Aaron — Calm precision met strategic pressure, with golden wind-forged swords raining down in a calculated assault before the battlefield fractured into separate duels.
- Sockoo vs. Alex — What started as combat turned into romantic chaos. Alex openly declared her obsession with Hajime mid-fight, interrogating Sockoo about his “type” while trading blows. The moment escalated when Sockoo boldly claimed:
“He’s my boyfriend.”
The stadium froze.
Alex declared a personal war.
The flames got hotter. - Rizra vs. Mimi — The insult that sealed fate. Mimi mocked Rizra’s appearance, calling her “boyish” and inelegant. Rizra responded not with words—but with overwhelming presence.
After casually obliterating a reinforced magic barrier (and a bug), Rizra ended the fight without even landing a hit.
A single punch stopped millimeters from Mimi’s face created such a shockwave that Mimi fainted from pure fear.
Mimi: Eliminated.
- Team Felix lost their illusion user.
- Sockoo and Alex’s rivalry turned deeply personal.
- Hajime and Jessica’s battle intensified, flames escalating beyond sibling sparring.
- The crowd realized this wasn’t just a tournament match anymore.