The locker room's door blasted open.
"Whew!" Timothy and Klaus plopped down on their benches with their cheeks still flushed in excitement.
Jin scrolled through his phone's messages and said, "The principal said good job to everyone. We've now reached the round of 16!"
Ryan finished his phone call and, in exhaustion, laid down on his bench and gulped down the water bottle as if he hadn't drunk anything for a week.
"We're now in the top 16 of the nation!" Klaus exclaimed. "That's like insanely good!"
Kiernan entered the locker room with a towel wrapped around his shoulders and drank some water while listening to everyone's excited talks.
At that moment, Jin received an urgent message.
With a frown, he read it through.
"Apparently the next matchups are announced by the commentators." Jin said and pointed at the television. "Keep the eye on the television."
"It looks like the most anticipated phase of the nationals is soon upon us." Ryan said. "This is the last match before the big ring matches. If we make through this, we'll be in a match that is watched by everyone in New Rakuya."
Klaus and Timothy gulped nervously even though there was slim to no chance of them actually fighting in the big ring match because they were reserve fighters.
However, it was still a shocking thing to think about!
"I received another message." Jin smiled as he said it and turned to Kiernan. "You've been summoned."
Everyone turned to Kiernan in surprise.
"Me?" Kiernan pointed at himself. "Why?"
"You've been selected to be part of New Rakuya's Top 5 Youth."
"What?!" Others exclaimed in shock.
"What is that?" Kiernan asked.
"The top five most impressive youths in the nationals receive the honor of being part of New Rakuya's Top 5 Youth.
"It is basically a team that represents the best of our nation's younger generation," Nath carefully explained.
"It means you've been officially recognized to be part of the top 5 in this generation!"
"A team, huh?" Kiernan crossed his arms. "Who do we fight?"
"Nobody." Jin laughed. "It is just an honorable title to be part of that team. You're expected to meet them all at the chairman's chambers.
"You'll meet the other youths that are part of that team. This is an amazing honor, and the first time anyone from Irio has received this since Azer's days!"
"Should I go there now?" Kiernan asked as he stood up.
"Yes." Jin headed to the door. "I'll take you there. You all, prepare for the next match!"
After they left the locker room, they headed to the upper floors of the stadium, and there they came across a door that was tightly shut.
A few voices were coming from inside.
"That's it." Jin said, and stopped walking. "I can't come there with you. Once you're done there, you can find us back in the locker room."
"Alright, coach." Kiernan walked to the door and knocked on it twice.
It sounded like the voices died down.
The door opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered bodyguard stood on his face.
"Name?" The bodyguard said with a deep, raspy tone.
The bodyguard nodded and stepped aside.
As Kiernan entered the room, he noticed that it was already quite crowded.
A quite a few were watching the ongoings of the stadium through the wide window while four young men were standing straight while shaking hands with the chairman.
"Ah, you must be Kiernan; stand alongside these other youths." The chairman said.
Kiernan nodded and walked next to the others, who turned their heads to look at him as well.
"So, these are the best five youths that New Rakuya has to offer?" Godfred said from his seat and scanned everyone thoroughly.
"Yes, sir." The chairman humbly rubbed his hands. "I hope they don't disappoint you."
Cadell looked over with not-so-impressed look, and when he saw Kiernan, a scoff escaped his lips.
Next to them, the sweet-looking Muriel crossed her legs and adjusted her hair without bothering to give five of them a single look.
"Introduce yourselves," Godfred said.
On the right side, the black-haired young man said coldly. "Johan Yeager, Tiamut High."
When he said his piece, the few men inside the room nodded with approval. They were also from New Rakuya, and Johan was their country's pride and joy.
After all, even Martial Academia's professor came to seek this young man out, which was a great honor to them!
"Kasimir Kerr, Ambrossa High." A brown-haired young man with a slight fade said.
He looked like he would definitely turn out to be a handsome man in the future, as he, as eighteen years old, already started to look quite mature for someone of his age.
"Ermenrich Kanyon, Kanyon High." A tall, muscular boy with blond hair said.
"Anara Redwood, Kurogami High." A girl with short red hair said.
She had full lips with a small nose and bright blue eyes that looked like the ocean's depths. It didn't seem like she was a girl that cared that much about her looks, but nonetheless, she was pretty one.
A few eyes went to the last person that hadn't introduced himself yet.
"Kiernan Hunter, Karuza High." Kiernan said with a quiet sigh.
The chairman clapped his hands with a fond smile.
"You five were chosen as New Rakuya's Top 5 Youth because you've impressed us the most. I hope this honor shall last you a lifetime."
"It looks like the new matchups are about to be selected." Godfred looked towards the big screen by the stadium. "Why don't you watch them with us, and then you can return back to your schools?"
'Karuza High. Karuza High. Karuza High.' Johan looked at the screen with a cold look.
As if he was telling with that look that if he didn't get what he wanted, he would pick a fight with that screen!
Chris Chang's voice resounded across the stadium as the first matchup appeared on the screen.
"With the first match, we'll have Tiamut High versus Henderson Academy!"
"Tch…" Johan looked angry.
"Ohoho." The chairman laughed while rubbing his belly. "Young Johan, did you forget to wear your lucky socks today? That's a tough 4th seed in the round of 16."
"Hmph." Johan crossed his arms in frustration.
"The second matchup will be!" Chris shouted, and two names appeared on the screen.
With excitement, he shouted.
"This one will have two newly crowned Top 5 Youths of New Rakuya!"
"Oh?" Godfred crossed his arms.
"The second match will be between Karuza High and Ambrossa High!"
'Ambrossa?' Kiernan looked with a side glance to the side. 'With his school?'
"…" Kasimir rubbed his neck and turned to Kiernan. "Let's have a good match."