Monday came by as Kimura came outside in the early morning, seeing Korvos, Suharu, and Erudis standing at the front of the fountain chatting. Kimura walked over waving at them as Suharu was the first one to notice, waving at him as the other two turned to look.

“Kimura! Morning!”

“Hey Kimura, Morning.”

“Yo’ Mornin’ man.”

“Morning you guys, what are you guys standing here for?”

“Waiting for our guest.” Korvos responded.

“Guest?” Kimura questioned.

Just as he said that a small gravitational pull began emitting not too far from them, then a slit within space and time was opened as a portal opened diagonally, an individual stepping out of the portal.

The man stood at 5ft 6in, his hair being a turquoise color as he stretches a bit with a small yawn. Looking at them he gives a tired but soft smile. What the hell…I’ve never seen that ability before… Kimura examined it, seeing that behind the slit in time and space was a vortex-like swirl that was horizontal instead of vertical.

“Korvos, Suharu, Erudis, and…huh, who’s that behind you?” The man pointed at Kimura.

“That’s Kimura, one of our new guys.”

“Huh, then who are those guys?” He points over at the group behind them.

“Huh??” Korvos turned around as Kimura looked as well.

“H-Hey guys.”

Wei-Hu waved nervously with Ayameko and Naoki standing beside her with another girl, looking somewhat like Naoki but has seemingly baggy eyes and wearing some kind of oversized academy jacket.

“Ayameko? And…Naoki?” Kimura said surprised.

“What? Got a problem?” Ayameko snapped back, raising an eyebrow as she crossed her arms.

“No not really…”

The turquoise haired boy sighed, looking at Korvos with raised eyebrows. Korvos shrugged his shoulders as he didn’t know what was going on either.

“Hey, don’t look at me Furin.”

“Alright.” Furin sighed, “I’ll have to make two trips back and forth, Haven is always excessive huh.”

“No, just this time we have a bit more than expected.”

“Y’all better be lucky that the others brought a couple more contestants. C’mon, I’ll take the main group first.”

“Oh, alright.”

Ayameko scoffs a bit as she looks away a bit annoyed, Naoki just lightly chuckles as the girl beside him was already dozing off a bit. Korvos sighed as Kimura looked back, seeing Korvos grabbing onto his hand as Suharu and Erudis put their hand on a shoulder, Suharu has her hand on Korvos’s shoulder while Erudis has one hand on Suharu’s shoulder.

Kimura followed along as he puts his hand on Erudis’s right shoulder as Furin puts his hand on the rippled portal. Within a split second we were swept in, everyone holding on as I looked around, the in-between world.

While they traveled at light speeds, it felt like the time around them slowed down just enough for them to get a good glimpse at the world in-between worlds. It had a bright nebula purple hue mixed with its complementary colors, swirling around us as if they were in the middle of a storm, Kimura was astounded and mesmerized by it, it was unique and looked pretty at the same time.

However, it was cut short as they arrived on a low grass-like plains, the nebula-like stars flowed above us as there were trees, Trees that seemingly never aged nor ever drop their leaves. Kimura began to feel myself becoming dizzy as he stumbled over to a tree and vomited near the base of the tree bark, looking down as he threw up his morning meal.

“You’ll get used to it, always happens to first-time travelers.” Furin didn’t seem surprised at the slightest.

“Alright, I’ll pick up group two.”

Furin told the group as he vanished into his rippled portal, Kimura pulled out a napkin as he opened the small plastic package, taking out the napkin and wiping his mouth and lips clean of the vomit. He then tossed it onto the ground as the napkin quickly burst into embers and quickly died out.

“Is there like a water source I can clean my mouth and throat…?”

“Up ahead, there’s a station for newcomers to clean their mouths.”

That didn’t sound sanitary, but it was the only way his mouth didn’t smell awful, heading first towards whatever he was getting himself into. Kimura then climbed up the small hill to look down, seeing designated dirt-like plains with trees surrounding it, a couple of large lights shining down as people were sitting near the trees.

Kimura began going down the hill as he walked through the forest to reach the designation, upon reaching it he saw the fountains as there were a couple cleaning their mouths. Kimura wasted no time as he walked over quickly, cleaning his mouth using the provided mouth cleaner and a couple of gargles of mouth rinse.

***

Korvos, Suharu and Erudis shortly arrived as they waited for the other group. But like Kimura’s first trip, Ayameko, Naoki, the nebula-haired girl and Wei-Hu also vomited nearby their ripple portal.

The other group bolted towards the mouth cleaning station as Korvos, Suharu and Erudis all sat down nearby Kimura as he was sitting at their designated station. The station within this place was a small outdoor patio with a circular table.

“They’re practicing over there, why don’t you go practice while we wait?” Korvos Suggested.

“Huh? Why?” Kimura replied.

“You seem bored already, not what you were thinking of?” Korvos chuckled lightly.

“Not really…I heard…hmm…” Kimura paused for a second.

“Just go practice Kimura, the guys here should be fair play.”

“Fine.”

Kimura got up as he hopped over the patio railings and began heading down the small hill, stretching a bit to loosen himself up as he headed towards a group of people sparring.

“Huh? Haven? Are you kidding me?”

“Not those Haven fucks…”

“Hey hey, be nice you idiots, it’s not even that bad.”

“You haven’t seen how bad the last Middle Grounds session went huh.”

Kimura became skeptical about Haven’s Reputation within this small realm; however, he shrugged it off and approached the group.

“Hey, got room for one more?” Kimura politely asked.

“Pfft, not with you Haven shits.” One replied as he was immediately elbowed in the gut.

“Sorry, He’s usually never that harsh towards newcomers. I haven’t seen your face here before.” A smaller yet more polite girl replied.

“Ah, yeah this is my first time here.” Kimura replied.

“Well, we do have extra space, this part (the left section of the ring) is for sparring use, right now we have a couple of people from other archipelagoes going at it too.”

“Is that so? I wouldn’t mind if I have a go with one of you three.”

“A-Ah…I see…” She skeptically said.

“Y-Yusein, go give our newcomer a show!”

“H-Huh?!? O-Oh sure Monarch…”

So that was the monarch of this group…

Kimura squinted a bit as he followed the guy over towards an empty part of the left side, the other two standing by watching.

“By the way, what’s your guy’s academy?” Kimura asked.

“We’re from the Northern Archipelago. Tartarus Academy to be exact.”

North?

Kimura took in a few seconds to examine his sparring partner, a gigantic motherfucker standing nearly 6ft tall and muscular for a guy his height. A whistle was blown as Kimura was caught off guard for a second, leaving him wide open as Kimura took a wide hook into a straight kick to the abdomen, leaving him no time to breathe as he took a shoulder bash, sending Kimura stumbling back as he fell on his back, being dragged slightly by the momentum.

The other two laughed a bit as they slowly showed their true colors.

“Did you see how he fell! Can’t believe a Haven student thought we’d go easy on him.”

“I know right! And here I was worried that Mr. Temper Tantrum (Harsh slang towards Southern Espers) over here was going to give more of a challenge!”

“C’mon! You can’t be down that quickly!”

Kimura laid on the ground taking a deep breath before he quickly got up as fast as he got down. Letting out a deep sigh Kimura stood straight popping his neck a little as he began warming up for real this time.

He jumped a bit, moving around his hands and his legs as he sighed firmly as he finished up, He looked over at the 6ft behemoth as he glared in his direction.

“Alright, I’m now warmed up.”

The guy took it as a challenge as he blitzed towards Kimura again, trying the same thing twice as Kimura easily dodged it this time, weaving and slipping his punches and kicks as Kimura taunted him.

“Not so easy now huh, don’t hold back.” Kimura said with a firm tone.

Kimura kept dodging and weaving through the punches effortlessly as Kimura saw his eyes beginning to glow, a sparring match was slowly becoming a real one. I need to end this quick… Kimura then slipped under a straight punch and slammed his fist into the man’s abdomen.

Without wasting a second Kimura repeatedly punched his abdomen before launching a swift uppercut, sending him flying about 7ft up into the air as he crashed onto the ground, The spar was pretty much over as Kimura sighed.

“Thanks for the sparring session.”

Kimura told them as he turned around beginning to leave, just as he did Kimura suddenly turned around anticipating a punch or a body blow. Instead of any of those happening he saw Ayameko in front of him, her hand clenched on a fist as she had an ominous glare over the individual.

“Nice Try motherfucker…”

She glared at them as she gripped tighter until her fingers sunk into the back of his hand, blood spewing out as she lets go, leaving three holes into the person’s hand. Ayameko turned away and walked past Kimura as Kimura swiftly followed behind her.

“Thanks.”

“……”

She stayed silent as we made it back towards our table, Ayameko sat down as she sat down beside Naoki. Naoki looks at the girl patting her head lightly. The rest look over at them as the girl lifts her head a bit to look at Naoki.

“What…?”

“Just checking if you had passed out.”

“…Thanks…” The girl rests her head on the table.

“What’s her problem?” Ayameko raises an eyebrow at her.

“My sister is just a little tired today, that’s surprising even for me.” Naoki yawns.

“Your sister?” Kimura adds on looking at Naoki.

“Yeah.” Naoki nods, “Her name is Tomoyo. Usually, she’s more active than me but today seems exceptional…”

“I can see that you’re both cut from the same cloth…” Kimura and Ayameko synced vocally.

“Jinx! Double Jinx!” both point at each other.

“God damn it!” Both say at the same time.

While those four were joking around on the other side of the table, facing towards the wide barren field was the other three, strategizing on what to do.

“I wonder what they’ll hold today.”

“Suharu, did you get a list to see what they’re doing for this tournament?” Korvos questions her.

“Mmm…nah not really.” Suharu replies after a thorough thought.

“Well, there goes our information.” Erudis scoffs.

“Going blind like last year…” Korvos sighs.

***

Tap tap tap

The sound of a microphone testing was heard from the loudspeakers set up around the area, Spotlights then lit up pointing towards the barren field in the middle of the luscious greenery.

“Hello? Hello is this on??” A male voice came out of the loudspeakers.

“It is? Great! Ahem, Welcome everyone! As you know today is a special day, Welcome to the Annual Middle Grounds Tournament!”

“Unlike last year, we have every possible academy that’s able to participate, the largest cast of people yet!”

While the announcer was talking, Kimura walks and stands beside Korvos, asking him, “Who’s that?”. Korvos shrugs his shoulders, even he doesn’t know as Kimura just walks back, his answer given to him.

“NOW INTRODUCING THE ACADEMIES PARTICIPATING!!!” The announcer shouts in an energetic tone.

“The first introduction will be last cycle’s Strongest Academy, IIIIINNAAAZUMA AAAAACADEMMY!!!”

The light then shines onto their porch, about five students were sitting or standing along the wooden railing. One wore headphones as another was chewing gum, most of them being Girls as there were two guys. Their outfits sported a purple and white color scheme as they wore sports jackets rather than their standard academy outfits.

There was some applause as most of them didn’t really care as the Announcer goes on to introduce the other prestigious academies.

Bloodhound Academy from the Western Archipelago

Huang Lue Academy from the Eastern Archipelago

Silvermend Academy from the Central Archipelago

And finally, Haven Academy from the Southern Archipelago

These five academies have consistently placed the top three, if not then it was just tough luck for any of the prestigious academies. The Announcer would go on to introduce the rest of the other academies, taking about an hour to introduce every academy in the world.

“Alright folks! Each academy will be given a random number from their screens!” The announcer speaks into the microphone, a small drone floating down to Korvos as a number is being scrambled.

“Let’s hope it’s not 81 this time…” Korvos sighs.

As the number randomizes, it abruptly stops as it makes a ding! Sound, the ding was a very good indicator as Ayameko, Kimura and Naoki came walking over, wondering what that sound was.

“What is it?” Kimura asks Erudis, Korvos and Suharu.

“Just getting our numbers, the event seems to be starting sooner than I thought.” Suharu replies.

“Well, what’s our number?” Ayameko bumps into the conversation, looking at them from behind.

“35.” Korvos replied, the number displayed on the drone’s screen.

Just as their number was displayed it was quickly matched up with another academy, putting them already in the lineup without any hesitation. Kimura looks at the drone as he sees the academy that they’re put up against.

“You and those two got this one, right?” Korvos asks Kimura.

“Huh? Oh sure, why?” Kimura replied confused.

“Just wondering.” Korvos softly smiles.

Kimura looks at the name they’re up against as they were up against Urosaki Academy from the Northern Archipelago. Without wasting any time, the drone also showed the brackets for this annual tournament.

Each bracket was split up into four sections, each section had one representative of each archipelago academy participating except for the southern academy who was one academy short. Kimura scanned their placement as they were in the top left section, the first ones to fight as they were fighting against Braxen Academy.

“Braxen?” Kimura said with a tilted head.

“Dingoes (Harsh slang for Western Espers).”

“Dingoes? Huh…” Kimura silently watched the drone fly off.

With the drone flying off, Kimura and the others began to get ready for their fights, warming up with stretches and simple stuff. Kimura hopped a bit bouncing left to right as he moved his arms around, rolling his neck around as he transitions into a quick one-two punch.

“So, you’re going up first Kimura?” Korvos questioned him.

“Oh, aren’t you going first since you’re the monarch?” Kimura replies.

“I would normally, but you seem rather energetic today.” He adds on.

“Ah, I mean I wouldn’t mind.” Kimura replied looking at Korvos.

“Great, we’ll be rooting for you.”

“Thanks.”

Before Kimura heads towards the fighting area, Ayameko suddenly shouts, “Hey dummy!” catching Kimura’s attention as she tossed him a pair of fingerless gloves.

“What’s this for?” Kimura questioned it, looking at the pair of fingerless gloves.

“To protect your knuckles.” Ayameko quickly replies.

“Ah…I guess.”

Kimura wasn’t going to say no to some kind of extra protection as he probably thinks it won’t last long either way, he puts them on as he tightens the strap around his wrist before waving bye to his group. Tomoyo was still a bit drowsy as Erudis, Suharu, Korvos and Naoki waved back. Ayameko just kept her arms crossed as she leaned against the porch beam, looking down onto the ring.

***

Kimura began walking towards the middle as he remembered he still had his medical patch on. I should take this off later… Kimura looked as he saw the announcer and his opponent already standing in the middle.

“Sorry for keeping you two waiting.”

“Ah its fine, now I’ll be announcing the both of you. How about you tell me your names.” The Announcer politely asks.

“Kimura Makoto.”

“Hei’Kahra (Hei-Kah-rah) Kimmuel (Kim-mu-el)”

“Kimura Makoto and Hei’Kahra Kimmuel, but Kimura, yours is spelt in the old-world style, right?” The Announcer asks.

“Yeah, old-world style. (Old world is last name then first name)”

“And yours?” The Announcer looks at Hei’Kahra.

“New-World, Kimmel Hei’Kahra (New-World is last name and then first name).”

“Alright, best of luck you two.” The Announcer smiles at them as he backs up a few feet.

As the announcer starts his long monologue to the wide audience, Kimura took this opportunity to look at his opponent, a tall girl standing around 5ft 6inches, her body was very fit as far as he could tell, the western did wear a different style of clothing as he examined her legs, seeing their muscular build Kimura then took into thought everything he needed to know.

An excellent sprinter…Maybe an Excellent fighter at that…no…those muscles scream hunter…Shit…

After a little while the Announcer began to wrap up his monologue, putting my fist out to her as a sign of respect. She smirked as she did the same as we tap fists as the both of us then took a couple steps back from the middle.

“Ready!!!” The announcer hypes up the fight.

Meanwhile, both got into their fighting stances, Kimura then keeps his hands down, lightly bouncing off the ground with his feet as he moves at a small rhythm. Hei’Kahra however took a slightly lowered crouched stance, a knee touching the ground as if it looked like an animal ready to lunge at any moment.

Both fighters glared at each other as a spectator was surprised at Kimura’s stance. His arms crossed as one of their assailants looked over at him.

“What is it?” The person asked.

“Nothing…Just wasn’t expecting someone to using a boxing stance right out the gate…” The man spoke as he suddenly smirked.

“At least someone here knows how to box…” The man chuckles a bit.

“FIIIGHT!!!” The announcer shouts into his microphone.

Right when the announcer shouted to fight, Hei’Kahra lunged forward with killer intent, however Kimura wasn’t fazed as he stood his ground widening his stance as he raises his guard up with a smirk. Both fighters then threw opposing hooks, clashing fists with intense force as it causes gusts of wind to manifest from the shockwave.

A bait stance…Didn’t use that on me huh… Ayameko watched, unfazed by the gust of wind from the shockwave as she just lightly smirks.