Ichiro, Sariel, Rafael, and Richard were sitting in Giron's hotel room watching TV.
The TV showed News about tomorrow's finals, and it is anticipated that viewer ratings in Winterlight will reach 80%!
*Creak*
The hotel room door opened, and Giron walked from there with two bags.
''Here,'' Giron said and offered them drinks.
''Thanks.'' Everyone replied and grabbed their drinks.
Giron sat on his bed and opened his mouth, ''To be honest, I have never been nervous about the outcome of the tournament before. I always knew that we would win no matter what, but now… I have decided on the fighting order so that we won't lose. I can't allow the team to lose.''
Everyone got serious and waited for his following words.
''Sariel will be the first one, second will be Ichiro, and lastly Richard,'' Giron said.
Everyone nodded.
Sariel turned his head towards Ichiro, ''I will take care of the two first matches, and then I will let you fight him.''
Ichiro nodded, ''Thanks.''
Giron looked at Richard, ''Richard, if Ichiro loses, it is up to you to win that match.''
Richard nodded with a smile.
''What about me?'' Rafael asked with a downcast look.
''You are injured,'' Giron said simply.
Rafael sighed.
Everyone has dreams of fighting in the finals.
It gives the most exposure, and it is the dream of countless young men and women.
Sariel patted Rafael's shoulder, ''Next time.''
Rafael wryly smiled and nodded.
''Go to your rooms, and rest well. Tomorrow will be an exhausting day.''
Ichiro stood up and left the hotel room.
While walking in the corridors, he saw people around him murmuring and pointing towards him.
The reason is because of today's incident.
Ichiro stopped Avery and even managed to push him back, a feat Liam couldn't do.
Ichiro looks like a hidden master in their eyes.
First, they thought that he was simply weak and didn't fight because of that, but today's incident proved that he wasn't weak— he is actually extremely strong!
Shortly afterward, Ichiro reached his room and entered it swiftly.
The room was pitch black— he couldn't even see his own body.
*Clank*
Ichiro pressed the light switch, and soon the room was bright once again.
''Whoo…'' Ichiro took a deep breath.
He cracked his knuckles, and soon an illusion appeared in front of him.
The illusion was… Avery!
[… Sneaky]
''Two birds with one stone,'' Ichiro replied.
For the entire night, Ichiro didn't sleep at all.
Instead, he kept fighting against Avery.
Dozens of times…
Hundreds of times…
Thousands of times…
…
Next Day.
The stadium was filled with people.
At 4 A.M, the Stadium was opened once again, and it only took 30 minutes for the stadium to be filled!
Currently, it is 1 P.M, and the finals will start in 2 hours!
Dozens of cameras were filming every single thing happening in the stadium, and the broadcast had already begun!
Viewers' rate in Winterlight is already 60%, and it is climbing fast.
…
In Coldland.
In the Nightside residence.
Abyss, Aether, Azura, and Alena have gathered to watch the match.
''Does Ichiro fight this match?'' Alena asked curiously.
Azura stayed silent— there were small black circles around her eyes.
She has barely slept since the tournament started.
Thoughts about him becoming tired of her surfaced into her mind, which caused her to have some dangerous ideas of self-harm.
But she didn't do anything dangerous so far, only suffering insomnia so far.
'Ichiro… Ichiro…' She thought in her mind, her eyes could barely stay open.
The only reason she is awake is because she wants to see Ichiro's figure.
''Azura, please go sleep.'' Alena said with worry.
Azura quickly shook her head, ''I-I am not tired…''
Aether looked at Abyss.
Abyss sighed and scratched his head.
…
In Irio.
Kurogami Residence was bustling once again.
But, this time there were even more people, and it was very crowded.
''Is Ichiro fighting?'' Ayako asked
Azumi shrugged, ''I am not sure… But let's hope that Coldland wins.'' She rubbed Ayako's head with a smile.
''Hello, again.'' Suddenly a voice came from the door.
Azumi and dozen others turned their heads and saw a middle-aged man with a large belly walking inside.
''Mayor.'' Azumi stood up and shook his head.
The middle-aged man is the Mayor of Irio, Maxwell— He has short black hair with blue eyes. He was a tall man, around 190cm, and with his big belly, he looked like a giant teddy bear.
''Uncle!'' Ayako shouted and hugged his big belly.
Some people paled inside the house who had not met Mayor yet.
But Maxwell chuckled and rubbed Ayako's head, ''Ayako, nervous about your brother?''
''Um.'' Ayako nodded.
''He will be fine, I am sure of it,'' Maxwell said gently and started carrying Ayako.
''Waa!'' Ayako sat on his shoulder, and his head almost touched the ceiling.
Azumi chuckled at sight, then she turned her head towards the TV.
Countdown was showing on the screen.
[Countdown: 59:34]
…
In Iceland's waiting room.
Avery was sitting alone while the other Iceland members were talking about their victory.
The match hasn't started, and they think they have won already.
''I think we will get a juicy paycheck from the school,'' Seiji said with a grinning face.
''I think we can win Battle of Countries as well.'' A young man next to him said.
He is Iceland's captain, Daiki. He had curly brown hair with freckles all around his face. At first, he didn't look anything special, but there was some ruthless glint in his eyes.
Avery snorted in his mind, 'You guys will lose in the first round after I leave this disgusting place.'
''I wonder who will be my opponent.'' Seiji thought aloud with a relaxed expression.
He didn't plan to fight till he got injured— he will just play around and then give up.
Daiki is planning to do that as well.
They know that Avery can easily take down the others— even Richard is not a match for him.
''Probably Rafael… And then Sariel.''
''What about that black-haired guy?'' Seiji asked.
Daiki snorted, ''He is weak. The only reason he managed to punch Avery is because he used a sneak attack— otherwise, he won't be able to even touch Avery's clothing.''
''That's true.'' Seiji nodded.
'It doesn't matter if he can hit me… His punch is as powerful as toddler's.' Avery thought with a smirk.