//------------------------------// // Arc 6.2 Chapter 48 // Story: Student 32: Sunset Shimmer // by Show Stopper //------------------------------// The Tatsumiya shrine was more packed than Sunset had ever seen it. She grinned as she scanned the crowd of burly men and women, muscles rippling all around. She spied numerous leaner builds as well, and sensed magic and ki from more than a few of them. Looks like this will be even more fun than I thought, Sunset thought. With a slight smirk, she let her ki flare briefly. She snickered as those who were sensitive to such things looked around in surprise, trying to find the source of the massive presence they’d felt. I hope you lot don’t underestimate me too much. “Oh? Nichibotsu? Isuzu-chan?” Sunset sighed and turned around, ignoring Isuzu’s sudden furious blushing. “Takamichi. Why am I not surprised to see you here?” Takamichi smiled and gestured towards the crowds. “I got word of something interesting going down here. I figured it was worth investigating.” “Hm? Well, I suppose this is a good thing.” Sunset walked up and jabbed a finger into Takamichi’s chest, glaring up at him. “You and me are gonna fight it out in there. Anything goes. No holding back.” Her savage grin returned. “I’m not passing up this opportunity to beat you into the ground.” Takamichi raised an eyebrow. His smile grew a little more genuine, his eyes sharper. “You sound confident. Have you been holding back from showing me your progress?” Sunset waved him off. “Please. Like you wouldn’t see right through that. And no, I haven’t gotten kanka down yet. But this is a fighting tournament. Boxing. Street fighting. Everything you, Evangeline, and Setsuna have been teaching me.” Her eyes narrowed. “And I do mean everything.” Takamichi frowned. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea? You know that one of the students is-” “STUDENTS OF MAHORA AND VISITORS FROM OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL! WELCOME!” Sunset and Takamichi turned towards the Tatsumiya Shrine, recognition on their faces. “Isn’t that Kazumi?” Sunset muttered. “WELCOME TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE MAHORA MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT!” Kazumi’s voice continued to broadcast. “THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE GATHERED ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE! THE PRIZE IS TEN MILLION YEN!” A great cheer rose from the crowd. Sunset let out a low whistle. “That’s no small prize.” “NOW THEN, LET’S HEAR AN OPENING SPEECH FROM THE ONE WHO BOUGHT AND FUNDED THIS EVENT! THE MOST POPULAR STUDENT IN THE ACADEMY, THE MISTRESS OF CHAO BAO ZI, CHAO LINGSHEN!!!” The crowd roared its applause as Sunset turned to Isuzu with surprise. “‘Most popular?’” Isuzu nodded. “Chao-chan is known all over the academy. Not only is her food great, but she’s famous amongst the university’s science students. She’s actually very generous with her inventions. Some of them are really crazy, too. Almost like magic!” Sunset shot a glance at Takamichi and caught his troubled expression. Wait, then is Chao the student who… “I bought this event for one reason.” Chao’s voice was unmistakable. “No matter if it’s from the outer world or the inner world, I want to see who’s the strongest.” “‘Inner world?’” Sunset whispered to Takamichi. “Is that what I think it is?” Takamichi nodded. “It’s a common euphemism for when we need to talk about it around those not in the know. I didn’t know she knew the term, though…” He trailed off as Chao continued. “Until around twenty years ago, this event was to allow people from the inner world to challenge each other. But because of video cameras being developed, and the variety of styles being used, this event has drastically shrunk from what it once was. But now I intend to revive the exciting Mahora Martial Arts Tournament! It is forbidden to use projectile weapons and blades. Curses are also forbidden. Any other technique is okay as long as you obey these two rules! “And for those in the inner world, there’s no need to worry. In this day and age, no-one will believe anything if there are no film records. During this event, the Tatsumiya shrine will jam any recording equipment, including cell phone cameras. People from the inner world can use their power to the fullest! People from the outer world will be able to see this power with their own eyes! “Now, for the smaller details…” Sunset chuckled. “Well, good idea or not, it looks like I’ll be using everything at my disposal anyway.” She smirked at Takamichi. “If you want to keep an eye on this, you know that the best way would be to enter.” Takamichi sighed, taking out and lighting a cigarette. He took a long pull before nodding with another sigh. “I suppose there’s no helping it.” He smiled down at Sunset. “Still, I don’t intend to lose.” “Good.” Sunset stalked forward towards the shrine. “It wouldn’t be worth the fight if you didn’t give it your all.” ***** The tournament qualifiers consisted of eight battle royales of twenty people each. Groups were assigned by lot, with Sunset’s group A filling up slowly. She wandered around the various small stages as she waited for her group to get twenty participants. First to fill up was group D, which featured Ku Fei and Mana. Ku had no problem taking down her opponents five or six at a time while Mana kept out of the spotlight and fought defensively. Sunset didn’t bother sticking around; the outcome of that group was certain. The second round began with group B, in which Negi was entered. Though initially laughed off as an over-eager kid, he quickly showed his power by punching a man ten times his size out of the arena in one blow. Casting a quick gaze around the field, Sunset found only two other competitors who seemed to be on par. One man with a ridiculous, yakuza-like haircut was striking opponents from a few meters away, a technique that Setsuna had once described to Sunset as the “Long-Punch.” The other was a figure in a full cloak and hood, his face concealed. People seemed to be ignoring him, and Sunset was able to pick up a faint hint of magic coming from him. If she had to guess, she’d say it was probably something similar to the principal’s barrier; this man was all but invisible unless you could use magic or ki. Group E was third, with Kotarou and Kaede competing to see who could create the most shadow clones and take out the most opponents. Setsuna and Asuna breezed their way through group C, and Takamichi took out most of group F himself while Evangeline hung out near his side. Group H featured two of the magical students that Sunset had met beneath the World Tree the previous day, the older student taking out most of the competition with summoned shadow-creatures while the younger one wielded a broom with mechanical precision. Group G consisted of normal people, all of whom Sunset immediately dismissed as threats. Looks like most of the competitors will be people I know, Sunset thought as she made her way to the remaining stage that was still filling up. Takamichi, Setsuna, and Evangeline will be challenging, but I’ll be able to use all of my abilities, and Evangeline’s powers are sealed out here so I should be able to beat her. Maybe. Possibly. Ku and Kaede will be a real challenge, and I have no idea how capable Mana is without her gun. Dog-boy and Wildfire should put up good fights, but I’m not worried. And those other students don’t look too tough. If that Long-Punch guy in Wildfire’s group gets through, he’ll be a cinch too. But something tells me it’ll be Wildfire and that hooded guy. Question is, who’s getting through this round with me? Group A was still waiting on one more participant as Sunset stepped onto the stage. The usual assortment of muscle-bound tough guys surrounded her, but they were eyeing her warily after seeing Asuna and Setsuna in action. Still, it seemed that Sunset didn’t have anything to worry about. The final contestant arrived, and Kazumi announced the start of the final round. Sunset’s first victim was a young man with way too much energy. She sent him flying with a single punch. Her next was a woman from the Kendo Club, one who frequently challenged Setsuna. Sunset caught her wooden blade with one hand before closing in and dishing out an uppercut. She moved on from opponent to opponent, using whatever tricks and moves she needed to take them down. Most dropped with a single punch to the face. Some were able to block or dodge a punch or two only to be surprised by a kick to the leg or stomach. One unfortunate man was facing away from Sunset when she approached him and got a boot to the groin for his failure to observe his surroundings. In all, Sunset took out seventeen of her opponents in the time it took the other qualifier - a huge, burly man with a square jaw and sunglasses - to take out one. She didn’t bother to give him more than a glance; if he couldn’t keep up with her, then she had no reason to fear him. “WELL DONE, EVERYONE!” Kazumi’s voice rang out as Sunset stepped down from the arena. “THE SIXTEENTH PERSON TO GO THROUGH TO THE MAIN TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN DECIDED! THE FIRST MATCH STARTS TOMORROW AT 8AM AT THE TATSUMIYA SHRINE’S TOURNAMENT STAGE! TOMORROW’S MATCHES HAVE BEEN DECIDED BY DRAW! HERE ARE THE RESULTS!” Sunset looked up at the smaller stage from which Kazumi had been offering commentary, eager to see who her first opponent would be. ***** Sunset left the school building a little after 6AM, locking it up behind her. The first run of the Midnight Horror route had been about as expected. Many of those who had gone through the School Horror Story route with no problem earlier in the day had returned for the “next level” event, sure that they’d be able to conquer it without issue. Half of her customers had fainted before they were half-way through the route. A couple dozen had almost had heart-attacks. Several JDF vets had suffered severe PTSD episodes. Almost everyone had thrown up at some point. In the end, only seven people - including Takamichi - had made it all the way through the Midnight Horror route, each one leaving pale-faced and shaking. A very successful night, as far as Sunset was concerned. “Now to get some sleep and recuperation,” Sunset muttered as she trudged her way towards Evangeline’s house. “Got to figure out my strategies for tomorrow. Now, assuming Setsuna wins her first fight...” Sunset let herself get lost in thought, muttering under her breath as she trod the familiar path. She continued to mutter to herself as she walked through the woods all the way to Evangeline’s cottage. She almost didn’t notice the noise coming from inside before she opened the front door. She raised her eyebrow as she saw Negi leading a small party up the stairs from the basement. “Wildfire? Huh. Guess great minds think alike.” “Nichi-chan!” Konoka cried, waving excitedly. “You just finished the Midnight Horror route, right? How was it?” Sunset shrugged. “Well, no-one actually had a heart attack, though there were a few close calls. We’ll probably need a medic or two on standby for tomorrow, though.” Everyone stared at her for a moment, trying to figure out if she was joking or not. Eventually, Konoka nodded. “I’ll, um, ask Shizuna sensei about that today.” “You’re here to get some rest too, I imagine?” Setsuna asked. “Yeah, I don’t really feel like fighting on only an hour of sleep,” Sunset snarked. She walked past the group, waving over her shoulder. “Hope you all prepared well, because I’m going to be spending the next twenty-four hours figuring out how to beat you.” Negi swallowed nervously. Kotarou and Asuna glared challengingly. But Setsuna merely offered a chuckle. “You aren’t the only one who will have been preparing, Nichibotsu; I don’t plan for either Asuna-san or I to lose to you.” Sunset gave another wave and walked down the stairs to the villa. Once she’d entered, she came face-to-face with Evangeline. “So,” the vampire said, smirking, “you’re here to get ready for tomorrow?” Sunset swallowed nervously. “Tell anyone I said this and I’ll deny it, but that lineup has me concerned. It’s guaranteed to be tough fights from start to finish. Especially when I fight you. Six hundred years of experience; I can’t imagine you’ve only trained in the magical arts.” Evangeline shrugged. “A bit of aikido and judo here and there. Enough that I don’t feel too worried about fighting with my powers mostly sealed.” “...mostly?” Evangeline chuckled. “With the World Tree giving off so much magic, my own power becomes more accessible. By the third evening of the festival, I’ll be back near full power. Don’t worry,” she added, seeing the panic on Sunset’s face. “I’m not planning anything. Now that I know about this phenomenon, I can prepare for the next one in twenty-two years to make my escape from this blasted academy. For now, I plan to sit back and enjoy the festivities.” She smirked and walked past Sunset for the exit. “Be ready for tomorrow. I left you some gifts that should prove helpful. I don’t intend to hold back one iota, and it would just be embarrassing if you got taken out in your first match.”