For the first match it was an explosive one, each punch that clashed sent shockwaves around and throughout the desolate arena. However, the desolate arena was about to take an unexpected turn. The ground began to rumble as both stopped fighting to look down at the ground, small rocks and the subtle dust began to shift and move.
RUUUMMMBLLLEEE…DOOOSH! DOOOSH! DOOSH!!!
Gigantic rocks then shot up from the ground as the terrain began to terraform itself into what looked like a mountain range. Kimura and Hei’Kahra began trying to stabilize themselves as Hei’Kahra jumped back onto a smaller but lower hill, landing smoothly onto it, meanwhile Kimura was having a bit of a harder time as he almost fell off and decided to do the same, having a less than graceful landing.
“OH, AND THE TERRAIN CHANGES!!! IT’S BECOME A MOUNTAINOUS BATTLEGROUND NOW!!” The announcer hypes up the terrain change.
A cheer from the rest of the other academies come loudly as things were finally getting interesting, however the only person who seems to be concerned is Ayameko and Korvos.
“Something wrong Ayameko?” Naoki looks at her, a little confused at her stern look.
“Yeah…just…having a weird feeling he’s not gonna do well in that environment…” Ayameko replied subtle about her choice of words.
Meanwhile, Kimura was struggling to even traverse the mountains, Kimura climbed on the side of one as he climbed up a ledge and took a breather, drones then begin circling above as they give a bird’s eye perspective for the others to view.
“I never thought I’d be winded from climbing…” Kimura sighed.
He stood up as he noticed there were trees and greenery on the mountain he was on, simulating the greenery of the mountains. He noticed a pathway as he began walking down it as the pathway led to the middle of the arena once again, however there was a bridge connecting to the other side.
Kimura began walking on the bridge as suddenly Hei’Kahra appeared on the other side, she didn’t seem winded like Kimura as she gave him a smirk. Kimura didn’t like that one bit as he looked down, seeing that it was a 30-foot drop with other wooden bridges beneath in a random pattern.
“Wait…we’re fighting on a bridge?!?”
Kimura wasn’t ready for this as he heard rapid footsteps as he faced ahead, dodging a punch as he began to back up to dodge. After a couple of dodged punches his back presses up against a sudden barrier where the entrance was.
“Huh?!?”
“Eyes on your prey!” She shouted punching at him.
“Gah!!”
Kimura swayed to the side as her fist smashed against the barrier. The barrier making a rippled effect on it as Kimura shoulder shoves Hei’Kahra back, making her stumble back a bit. What kind of battleground takes place on a bunch of bridges?!? Kimura looked up as he dodged another punch, leaning against the ropes as the bridge shifted towards his weight, however Hei’Kahra stomped on the other end of the bridge to stabilize the bridge and somewhat thrust him towards the other side.
Kimura came swinging back as she hit Kimura with a lariat across the neck, making him flip as he caught the edge of a floorboard, barely hanging on. That fucking hurt… Kimura thought as his fingers slipped as he fell about four feet before his back slammed onto another wooden bridge. He groaned a bit as he looked and saw her falling towards him, Kimura swiftly rolled backwards to dodge her as her landing made the bridge ripple up and down a bit.
Kimura rubbed his neck as she sighed a bit, her excitement turned into a frown, Kimura raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms while she watched Kimura stand up.
“Are you done running? You’re killing the thrill man…”
“Huh?” Kimura was confused.
“Do I have to shout it to you???” She tilts her head with an annoyed open-mouthed expression, “You’re killing the thrill of the hunt dummy.”
“Well sorry I guess; I’m not used to this environment.” Kimura apologizes quickly.
“Whatever, stop running like a bitch then.” Hei’Kahra uncrossed her arms as she rushed at him.
Their fight continued as Kimura was on the backfoot again, dodging but this time he responded, throwing gut punches and body blows to see if it’ll slow her down. But every hit seemed to make her stronger, Kimura shoulder rolled a punch and threw an elbow to her face as it seemingly did something. Hei’Kahra stumbled back as she only laughed as her nose was bleeding.
“That’s it!” She exclaimed, “That’s the PREY I’ve been wanting to hunt!!” She shouted more.
“What the fuck are you on?!?” Kimura shouted back, obviously confused about what she was talking about.
Without a second thought she lunged at Kimura as she threw a punch at his guard that broke through his cross guard, it sent shivers down his spine as he stumbled back, catching himself as some parts of his arm began to appear dark red in small spots.
I can feel my arm going a bit numb… He looked at his arm to see the small dark red spots where she punched. I felt that shit to my bone…Hopefully it’s not fractured… Kimura then noticed the excess mana she was emitting, the excess force came from her ability.
No wonder it felt like a harder punch…
He decided to do the same as Kimura saw the drones flying down near their area as he sighed. Fuck it… Kimura then grabs his eyepatch and takes it off, putting it in his pocket as he opens his left eye, revealing a gray eye color.
“Heterochromatic eyes…?” Korvos was taken aback by the reveal.
“Isn’t that a rare genetic trait?” Suharu comments.
“Both in humans and espers alike…huh, well shit.” Erudis chuckles.
“Uneven eyes…” She muttered.
Kimura bolted forward catching her off guard as she was barely able to block a left uppercut, but Kimura’s speed seemingly doubled as she felt a right hook smash right underneath her armpit.
Hei’Kahra jerked a bit to the side as she retaliated, throwing two punches as Kimura slipped under both punches as he counters right on the cheek. Kimura’s fist connected as she slowly began to turn her head, this surprised kimura as he felt his arm slowly retract from her slight head turn, her eyes burned with thrill.
“W-What the-”
Kimura was astonished as he realized the punch too late, being punched square on the face. The punch and force sent shockwaves throughout the mountain range as all the drones momentarily lost service. Kimura was sent flying as he broke through the barrier keeping them locked to the bridges.
Kimura smashed straight into the wall as he fell to the floor, Hei’Kahra rubbed her cheek as she began to walk across the bridge. While she made her way across, Kimura’s finger twitched a bit as he clenched his hand and slowly began to get up. She noticed him get up as she was a little surprised herself.
He took the full brunt of the added force…how is he still standing…?
She proceeded with caution as Kimura spat out a tooth to the side as he buckled a bit. W-What the hell’s going on…where…where am I…? Kimura looked around seeing her coming towards him as he remembered where he was at.
Right…The fight…but how did we break through that barrier…?
Questions filled his brain as he felt his legs shaking, running out of options as she got closer and closer. C’mon think…what did…What… He looked at his hands as he remembered the punch he connected.
Right…That punch really shook me up… Kimura looked up as he clenched his hand hard and smacked his leg, the shaking stopping momentarily as Kimura stood up firmly. He then ran towards her as he tackled her but her grip on the ropes stopped him from pushing her back onto the bridge.
“HAAAH!!” Kimura shouted as he pushed harder.
Hei’Kahra felt the force as her hands were slipping a bit back as she lets go and puts her hand in a double axe handle, slamming her fists onto my spine as Kimura dove her into the bridge, breaking the rope holding it up as they went barreling down. She kept smashing his back in with punches and elbows as she gripped tightly, storing up kinetic energy with every punch she threw.
They went at breakneck speed as they crashed straight onto the ground. The mountains begin to rumble again as they start to go down and make it back into a desolate wasteland.
“Hey, look it’s finally letting us see!”
“About damn time…”
“What’s going on between those two…”
A couple of people from the other academy began bantering as the mountains fully retracted into the ground. The dust was forced back as Kimura and Hei’Kahra were exchanging blows, taking hits from each other as they built kinetic energy off each other.
This…This can’t be happening…! He-He can’t have the same thing as me!!
Just…last a bit more…
Both fought with extreme force as she slips under his punch as she slams a hook into his left side so hard it made some others look away in pain, Kimura felt the punch as he felt four of his ribs break on impact. Kimura gritted his teeth hard as he threw a hook diagonally, smashing his fist onto the topside of her head, fracturing her skull.
They continued exchanging punches as bones were breaking left right and center. After two minutes of a straight slugfest, they eventually slowed down as they were overexerting themselves, Kimura couldn’t keep his arms up as he was bleeding from the nose as he had a cut over his right brow, bleeding into his eye. Hei’Kahra could barely stand as she keeps a wide stance to even keep herself up, her legs shaking as she breathes heavily.
Kimura’s eyes were dialing in and out as he was barley able to keep consciousness, his plan backfired on him. I…I can barely keep up…I don’t think I’ll be able to keep going… Kimura was reaching his limit as he winces in pain a bit as he felt the sudden weight his body sustained from the fight, his body felt heavier than it has ever before.
N…Now’s my…chance…
Hei’Kahra saw this opportunity as she looked at her legs, her legs refusing to move as she grits her teeth. No…No…! B-Body…don’t let me down now…! I’m so close…! I’m… Hei’Kahra however lets out a gasp of air. …so…close… Hei’Kahra suddenly goes limp as her knees hit the floor first as she fell face first into the ground. Kimura watched as he fell to a knee breathing heavily as the crowd suddenly cheered with some other students running over.
“WHAT AN AMAZING FIRST FIGHT IN MANY CYCLES!! NOTHING’S BEEN MORE EXERILATING THAN THAT FIGHT!!” The Announcer shouts into the microphone.
“Kimura!!!”
Korvos and Suharu came running over towards him as Naoki was walking over to him. They helped him onto his feet as he breathed heavily. “What a fight! We’ll take it from here.” Suharu told Kimura as Kimura toned out any noise he heard, but as they were talking, they turned their attention to Kimura with confusion and concern on their faces.
“Kimura? Hey Kimura, are you okay?”
“Kimmie? You listening?”
“Hey!”
Kimura then passed out as Naoki jumped a bit, however Korvos wasn’t too surprised. “Hey, let’s take him to the medical tent.” Korvos suggested as Naoki’s never really had anyone pass out on him before.
“O-Oh…Alright.” Naoki stuttered a bit, looking over at Suharu.
“H-Hey how about you take over? I’m not good with these things.” Naoki made up a small excuse.
“Huh? Oh, I guess.” Suharu then took Kimuras arm and wrapped it behind her neck.
Korvos and Suharu then carried Kimura towards the medical tents as Naoki made his way back to the rest of them. Ayameko sighed as Erudis watched Korvos and Suharu carry Kimura off, meanwhile Tomoyo had finally woken up from her nap.
“Man, that was a great nap…”
“That’s my line.” Naoki sat down on the other side of the bench.
“What did I miss bro?” Tomoyo said stretching.
“A whole fight.” Naoki responded.
“Oh? Who was it?” Tomoyo was a bit intrigued to find out.
“it was-” Naoki was cut off by Ayameko, “-It was Kimura and a Dingo named Hei’Kahra.”
“Woah woah…” Tomoyo waved her hands a bit, “What’s with the harsh words Ms. Depresso.”
“What did you call me…” Ayameko turned her head slightly, hearing the word “Ms. Depresso”.
“Calm down…jeez…” Tomoyo sighed.
“Hmph…” Ayameko looked over at the battlefield with her arms crossed.
Naoki, being oblivious to nearly everything, only picked up on key info he thought was useful. However, they would go on to watch the next couple of matches alongside the others. Meanwhile, Kimura was at the medical tent, unconscious yet alive despite his injuries.
“What’s her problem…” Tomoyo whispered to Naoki pointing at Ayameko.
“She’s…Actually I don’t know…” Naoki whispered back.
“I can hear you two talking…!” Ayameko shouted slightly.
“Ah! The witch can hear us from here!” Tomoyo sarcastically hinted.
“……” As much as Ayameko wanted to go and strangle the girl, she knew she’d be falling for some kind of trap.
“Boo…” Tomoyo pouted.
Naoki looked at the two of them as Tomoyo smugly looked at Naoki, raising her eyebrows up and down almost like she was really hinting at something.
“What?”
“You know what.” Tomoyo smugly smiled.
“No, No I don’t sis.” Naoki responded.
“Do the thing.” Tomoyo nudged Naoki with her elbow slightly.
“Huh? Do what??” Naoki looked at her confused.
“You know, what I said.” Tomoyo chuckled a bit.
“Why?” Naoki replied even more confused.
“C’mon bro, have a little decent fun in your life.” Tomoyo pouted.
“I…” Naoki sighed, “Fine…Aah…! The witch can hear us from here…!” Naoki said without much enthusiasm.
Without much effort a small pfft came from Ayameko, both siblings looked over at Ayameko as she suddenly gave a silent response for a few seconds.
“Did you say something Ayameko?” Naoki asked her.
“N-No! I- Not really, I just thought how nice the sky looked.” Ayameko somehow stuttered.
“Huh, now you say that…” Naoki looks at the sky.
“…Huh…” Tomoyo looked dumbfounded at them both
“Brother- you didn’t-” Tomoyo questioned him.
“Didn’t what?” Naoki answered obliviously.
“…You’re an idiot…” Tomoyo told him coldly with a blank stare.
“Whaat!?? What did I do?!!?” Naoki told her with absolute obliviousness.
Meanwhile, with her back facing them, Ayameko’s face was still a bit red from Naoki’s nonchalant and unenthusiastic attempt to get her angry.
***
Kimura floated in some water as he was resting at the surface of the water. He took deep breaths while floating as he felt his head bump into something, forcing him to open his eyes and look up at the dark abyss above him.
Why can’t my memories stay hidden away…
He flips over as he places his hands on the surface, somehow the surface of the water became solid, pushing himself up and onto the water. He stood up as he looks at bodies, bodies floating past him as some were faced up and some were faced down, some had blood leaking out as some were burnt to a crisp, but mostly…they all wore the Ishimura Academy insignia and uniform.
He stared at the corpses floating past him, the corpses going either to his left or right, never bumping into his shoes as he just looks down, watching the bodies float past him. When Kimura looked down, he saw a younger version of himself, one that didn’t sport his nose scar.
You tried…keep telling yourself that me…
While the bodies still flowed past him the voices of other students and adults began to fill the room.
“Get out of here! I don’t want my son associated with you!”
“Everyone! move away from that guy! He’s a bad omen!”
“Don’t burn down this academy too dirtbag! I’m too young to die!”
“Fuck off ashtray! This schools better off without you here!!!”
“Take it and leave! Don’t bother paying for it!!”
“Not in a million years! Find someone else who’d take a bad omen willingly!”
Kimura took a deep breath exhaling as the intensity of the voices and the words used became more and more apparent, taking a toll on Kimura.
“I told you all I tried…”
Kimura lightly told himself as he covered his ears, squatting down to his knees. He looked down at his reflection in the water as it slowly reaches out, a hand covered in burns and cuts as pieces of its skeleton were showing as it reached out and caresses his cheek.
“Because of you…I’m gone…”
He heard his mother’s voice echo as he tears up, the hand still on his face as it rolls down the hand and into the water seamlessly.
“I’m trying mom…I’m really trying…”
Kimura muttered lightly, his lips trembling as he stared at the reflection of his mother in the water. Tears dropped into the water, rippling as it rippled to his friends from Ishimura Academy, both looking at him as it ripples again to a younger version of himself.
“You told us you’d do everything to find out who did it…” His younger reflection told him.
“N-No…I’ve tried so much…I don’t want to try…not anymore…” Kimura told his younger self.
“Does that mean you’re giving up on us…” His younger reflection asked somberly.
“N-No…I just…” Kimura stuttered as his teardrop ripples the waters once more.
The water rippled as his younger reflection was accompanied by the mutilated versions of his Ishimura Academy friends, one burned while the other with bloodshot red eyes and their neck at a harsh angle. Alongside them was his mother as well as they began to guilt trip him.
“If you give up…that means you’ve given up on all of us Kimura…You’re running away from your problems again…” the voices spoke in sync.
“I don’t…I don’t want it anymore…”
“Forgetful…Scared little Kimura…” They taunted in sync.
“Please…Shut up and go…” Kimura said lightly with a shaky voice.
“Kimura…” they said.
“I…said…LEAVE!” Kimura shouted.
“Kimura…!” Another voice came out.
Kimura then looked up from the watery reflection as he saw his older sister standing in front of him.
“K-Kiriko…?” Kimura stuttered.
“……” she smiled softly at him as she lends a helping hand.
Kimura looks at her hand as he lowers his ears, the voices are gone again as he reaches out, grabbing onto her hand as Kiriko pulls him back up on his feet. Just then, Kimura began to regain consciousness once again, hearing the crowd yelling and cheering.
