[X] See Hose at the School Dojo. The Martial Arts Club is still closed, but he says that something is going on.
You did walk around the school a bit after the raid, mainly to see the real extent of the damage. Sure the faculty promised that the raid was contained to near the school entrance, but you always liked to confirm these types of things personally. Especially since you were a part of the defense of the school. You'd like to be certain that your efforts weren't in vain.
Thankfully, that seemed to be the case for the majority of the school. Of course, there was always the chance that any damage outside the entrance had been quickly fixed up. But that's good too. You'd be happy to see no damage left over from the battle.
Which is why the Dojo's current state shocked you so much when you finally made it. Namely, the vaguely human shaped holes that littered the dirt around the building. Some of them had been filled in, but there were still enough that you had to watch your step as you made your way to the front of the building. How did you know that was where you had to go?
Because that was where all the yelling was coming from.
You walk in on what looks like the entire Martial Arts Club gathered around the entrance of the Dojo. Even without trying you can feel the anger and frustration in the air. Numerous people are shouting, some are waving their fists in the air, and others are punching any inanimate object they can get their hands on.
[Raijin's Secret Saviors]
That is until you show up. The first thing you do is tap someone on the shoulder to get their attention. They're a short...boy you think? Anyway, they only come up to your waist and have messy black hair that covers up half of their face. The moment they turn around, they clam up while staring up at you with awe and a slight blush coming over their cheeks. Before you can ask what's going on, they reveal your presence to the entire gathering. That causes everyone to shut up and turn to look at you.
And, yet again, before you can say anything half of your fellow Martial Artists rapidly gather around you and start trying to push you forward. You do move forward, but more cause you were going to walk to the front of the group anyway. So, there's no real point in resisting the mob as you're pushed to the front. Once there you come face to face with your three senpai's and sensei all standing in front of the dojo's doors.
It is here you finally see how your seniors, besides Hose, have handled themselves since the raid. And they're not exactly at their best. Hose and Sensei Hazma are fine. There's not a single mark on either of their bodies. Which you're not necessarily surprised about. Hose was fighting with you, and Sensei...well you're sure not how strong he is but if the holes in the ground behind you are any clue, he's probably way stronger than you are right now.
In contrast, Seteke-senpai and the girl-senpai, who you just realized you never learned the name of, are both worse for wear. Seteke has gauze wrapped around the left side of his head and his right arm in a sling. Meanwhile, the girl is leaning against the dojo to keep pressure off her wrapped up left leg. On her right lean two identical crutches that she holds in place with her right hand.
"Nagai," your attention turns to Sensei who nods to you, "Hose was just mentioning you."
"Really? Why? What's going on?"
"It's about the tournament," Hose's face scrunches up in frustration as he mentions it, "We've got a problem."
"The next Martial Arts Tournament was originally slated to begin two weeks from today. But due to the events of last weekend, the faculty and I managed to get it increased...by one week."
"Which might not be long enough for these two to get healed up," Hose jerks both his thumbs towards Seteke and the girl.
Seteke grimaces and places a hand on his bandaged eye, "I must once again apologize for this, sensei. If only I wasn't so careless-"
"Oh, stop that Seteke," the girl leans forward to glare at her fellow senior, "we both know that you didn't injure yourself."
"But it was my negligence that led to this, Sakura," Seteke fires back.
"Now's not the time you two," Hose interjects while shaking his head. He then turns to you and shrugs, "However, that's not really the problem. The problem is the other schools."
"They do not wish for us to participate in the coming tournament. Any of us," Sensei Hazma declares with a neutral tone.
One that completely clashes with your angry reaction, "What?! Why?!"
"The raid," Sakura answers you with a shake of her head, "They know a lot of us fought the Kirin High students when they came here. Because of that, they're saying we shouldn't be allowed to participate in the tournament for what they see as street fighting."
"Which is total bullshit!" someone shouts from the crowd of students behind you, "The other schools know we had to defend ourselves! They just want less competition!"
The passionate student's words echo across the sea of club members, who all take up the cry as well. And you can't exactly blame them. Who the hell would say you're not allowed to go to a tournament because you fucking defended your school?
"Who are the ones doing this anyway?" you ask the obvious question. After all, you doubt anyone would be able to just do this outta the blue. Whoever is running the tournament wouldn't allow something like this without unless there was something going on.
The senior members of the club share a look before Sensei answers you, "There are four other schools involved in the tournament. All of them are pushing this idea, but the one leading the charge is Jindai Academy."
"Our 'rivals' since the first tournament we were ever involved in," Hose spits onto the ground at the mention of the school, "While we don't always place first, they always come behind us whenever we enter."
"A fact that they have taken to heart, and likely the reason behind their slander," Seteke continues with an angry frown that matches Hose's, "They believe that they could win the entire tournament if we were no longer involved."
Sakura chuckles, "As if. I doubt they could last long enough to get second place."
"Even so, both they and Raijin are some of the main reasons the Tournament is able to organize this event every year. Thus the Tournament Organizers can't easily deny their claims. And our precarious situation means there is little we can do to fight back."
"Bet they're also behind the other schools suddenly being against us," Hose shakes his head, "Fuckers."
"Ok, so what? Are we just gonna drop out?" your eyes shift between your four seniors, searching for an answer.
"Absolutely not," Sensei Hazma's declaration caused the gathered student body to let out a hotblooded cheer. He raised a hand and the cheer ended almost instantly. Only then did he continue, "We will not give Jindai the satisfaction of bullying us out of the Tournament. Instead, your Kohai and I have deliberated and come up with two possible plans. And they both involve you, Nagai."
"Me? But, I fought in the raid too."
"Yeah, but you didn't talk to the police or any reporters. You weren't on TV or the internet. No one knows you were there save the people gathered here. And they all think you deserve to be at the head of whatever plan we're doing," Hose waves a hand at the entire club. You follow his hand to the sea of eyes filled with admiration and respect for you. You even make out some acknowledging nods sent your way among the crowd.
It's kind of overwhelming.
"Uh, heh, thanks guys," it's all you can say in response, "Hope I can live up to your expectations. But, what is the plan anyway?"
Hose looks towards sensei, who returns his gaze with a nod and begins, "Each school sends out three fighters, one to represent the three schools of Martial Arts approved by the Organizers and involved schools: Mixed Martial Arts, Karate, and Kendo. When the Tournament begins, each school's team will be pitted against another school's team. Participants will then face off against each other in one-on-one matches against the corresponding representative of their school. Normally, the participants are chosen by the Kohai's of the respective Art in the Club after a number of testing bouts to decide who should be chosen. But due to the current circumstances, and at Hose's recommendation, you have been chosen as our MMA fighter without having to go through the test. The first plan that we have decided on will have Seteke and Sakura choose the other fighters from among our members who didn't fight in the raid."
"We all agreed that this was the best option," Seteke continues with a nod, "The fact that some of our members fought in the raid is the primary source of contention brought up by Jindai. Thus if we only send students that did not fight, they will have no leg to stand on."
"But won't that cripple our team?" someone from the crowd points out, "Everyone with any actual experience in the club fought Kirin."
"And that's the problem. The people who didn't fight were either the ones too scared to or they're some of the dicks who sit on their asses all day rather than train," Hose says, his voice laced with frustration.
"But it is also the safest option," Sakura points out, "And we still have three weeks to train them up."
"Not all of us were on the news or talked to the police. Why not choose the ones who aren't injured but fought?"
"And how many of your aren't injured or didn't let your faces be shown on the news?" sensei asks the gathered students. Not a single one comes forward. You could feel the shame emanating off them.
After a tense moment passes you give voice to your question, "And the second plan?"
Hose smiles and begins explaining, "Traditionally, we choose three students to represent our school in the Tournament. However, there is an exception in the rules for certain...special cases."
"Sometimes a school will obtain a prodigy. Someone who is able to quickly rise through the ranks of all three Martial Art Schools in a short time frame," Seteke continues.
"If this should happen, then the student's school is allowed to appoint them as their sole participant. They would be allowed to fight as a single participant representing their entire school," Sakura finishes off.
You can already see where this is going.
"Let me guess," you point your finger at your face, "you want me to be that student?"
"Yes. Hose speaks highly of you. And he has told me of how you led the students during the raid. Many here believe you would be the obvious candidate for this," Sensei Hazma explains.
"But I know nothing about Kendo or Karate. And the Tournament is only three weeks away."
"Thus why you are here, Nagai," sensei crosses his arms as he looks down at you, "I am not one to force my students to do anything they do not wish to. You are free to refuse both this offer, and the offer of fighting in the Tournament. Should you choose to fight as our sole representative, know that both Seteke and Sakura will be here to help you learn what you need to qualify for the Tournament. They may be injured, but they are still capable of teaching you their skills."
He straightens his back and bellows out, "Now, choose, Nagai. And remember: There is a thin line between bravery and foolishness."
You can feel the weight behind his words as he stares you down. Your gaze moves to your three senpais. Seteke's single eye stares back at you with a cold indifference mixed with a slight sense of admiration. Sakura gives you a small grin before shrugging her shoulders at your questing eyes. And Hose...he just gives you a smile and two thumbs up. As expected.
Hmm....well....
[] Accept the position as the MMA Fighter. You wouldn't be able to get the skills you need in within three weeks. Hopefully whoever Seteke and Sakura choose will be able to fight well enough. (You become the MMA Martial Arts Fighter in the Tournament. Tournament will begin in three weeks. MMA must be at least 50 to qualify)
[] Accept the position as the Sole Participant. It'll take a lot of hard work, sweat, blood and tears, but you'll manage it. It's the least you could do to represent the Club that's keeping you in this school. (You become the Sole Participant for Raijin Academy in the Tournament. Tournament will begin in three weeks. MMA, Kendo, and Karate must be at least 50)
[] Decline both positions. With everything that's going on in your life, you don't think you could afford this. You don't like letting them all down like this...but you kind of have to. (You won't participate in the Tournament)
Gonna be going on a Road Trip pretty soon, but Finals are nearing their end. So, hopefully, once I'm back I'll be able to write more frequently.
