Dori Dori's yellow Mana infuses with Monita's, and the surge erupts hard.
Claire lunges forward with a barrage of precise martial strikes, but it's useless. Monita dodges each hit while cradling Dori Dori with one arm. Her eyes stay closed as she lets the teddy's Mana flow through her.
'This bitch is done for.' Monita thinks, sharp and quiet, then her hand snaps out and catches Claire's wrist. Bone breaks with an ugly pop.
Claire cries out and collapses to her knees. Monita keeps hold of the ruined wrist. She tries to speak and at first her words come out as scrambled gibberish, Claire's sound-technique has scrambled her brainwaves, making speech and activating techniques difficult.
"You… monster." Claire says, struggling on her knees.
Slowly the words reassemble in Monita's mind. Her speech returns; her voice smooths. "Monster?" she says with a wicked smile, then claps both hands onto Claire's head. The pressure crushes the nerves in Claire's ears.
Claire screams in pain. Raw and broken.
…
Saint wakes in the medic room, chest tight, head foggy. He sees a guy with a white headband, a black short-sleeved jacket, and black spiky hair sitting beside him.
"... Who are you?" Saint asks, confused.
The guy smiles and leans back. "Name's Hazu, I saw your fight earlier-" Hazu keeps talking, but Saint's head is elsewhere. Taking the loss hard.
"Hey, are you listening?" Hazu asks.
"N-no, sorry, what were you saying?" Saint answers, voice small.
"I want you to join Reiki Five." Hazu says, smiling charmingly.
Saint stares back in confusion, he feels the offer unsettling.
…
Back at the arena, medics swarm the ring. Claire's injuries are fatal, declaring Monita as the winner. The crowd murmurs and rewinds the scene in whispers.
Ari sits alone while instructors clean the floor. Then suddenly someone slides into the seat beside him. It's Kevo. He offers him soda awkwardly. Ari blinks.
"... Sorry about your friend" Kevo says quietly. "I didn't want to fight him, I don't want to be here… so I'm sorry, I'm sure you guys are close…"
Ari frowns. "You don't wanna be here? Then why are you here?"
Kevo looks down. "I'm being forced to-" he starts, voice low. Ari cuts him off as he opens the soda Kevo gave him.
"No matter, sorry for being a dickhead earlier. Maybe you're not so bad after all." Ari says, softly.
Kevo gives a small, quiet smile and takes a sip. The exchange is blunt and awkward, but human.
…
Saint and Hazu walk the hallway back toward the arena. Saint still feels off.
"So… what exactly is the Reiki Five?" Saint asks.
Hazu sighs. "I told you, it's a squad of students considered the strongest in the school."
"But I lost… Why not pick Ayce over me?" Saint asks.
"Ayce? Oh! Right, the guy you lost against. Nah, not him… his technique is way too boring and besides, your potential is higher than his." Hazu says casually.
Saint slows down, watching Hazu walk ahead, confused by the claim.
They keep moving. A dorm door opens and a man and a young woman step out calmly.
"So that's him?" the woman asks. Wearing a black sweater and dark-blue flared jeans. Pale skin, long black hair. Her voice is flat.
"Indeed, guess we'll have to hurry the plan up." the man replies smugly. He is tanned, white spiky hair, buff with golden eyes, wearing a white tank top and black joggers. They walk on without hurry.
…
The Reiki Five leave Oshoku's lounge after the Monita fight. Right then Mr. Vino calls Oshoku.
"Principal Oshoku, are you alone?" he asks.
Oshoku looks up at Taiho nervously,
"N-no sir, I'm with Taiho." Oshoku answers respectfully.
"Hmph, oh well… Did that Saint boy fight yet?" Vino asks,
"Yes sir, but uh… He got disqualified, sir." Oshoku responds, cautious.
"I see, did the mana take over?" Vino asks.
"Briefly…" Oshoku admits.
Vino laughs through the line, a manic sound.
"MAGNIFICENT!" he yells.
Taiho clenches his jaw.
"I trust you're doing EVERYTHING in your power to bring him to our side, yes?" Vino says, annoyed.
"I don't want- no, I don't need the same situation from 20 years ago happening again, understood?" Vino adds, firm.
"Yes, of course sir. I assure you it will go smoothly this time." Oshoku replies.
"Oh, and one more thing. Now that we know, Saint has the same powers as Carmelo. We can finally kill Carmelo." Vino says, menacingly.
…
An instructor spots the two suspicious people and quickly alert Brugger and Beretta. The pair move to intercept.
Brugger finds the strangers in the hallway,
"Mari, I'll handle this fool." the man says while stretching his shoulder.
Mari, the pale woman, smirks. "Don't leave me hanging later, Prince." She slips into her own shadow and vanishes.
Brugger cracks his knuckles, smiling wickedly.
"I wouldn't be so cocky, I haven't fought seriously in a while."
Prince answers calmly, "I doubt a Gorilla like you could make me sweat at all."
They square off, chests forward, ready to strike.
…