Match of the Millennium

Description: A new face makes her debut in the competition with Inei being unavailable to fight this round. Can Natuski the president of the Justice Book Group get a read on Keiko or will the Taiyo student manage to freeze her out of the fight?

[KEIKO]
Defeat does not mean the end. Even though Keiko lost her first match in the Rivals tournament, she hasn't given up one bit at all. She's been training her hardest and working on improving herself as best as she can. She knows that she can achieve anything if she puts her mind to it.

A few extra minutes of training, an extra mile or so on her daily run, anything and everything she can do to improve herself even just a little bit. After all, a little goes a long way!

When Keiko arrives at the auditorium of Gorin High, she's awed by how large it is. When she makes her way onto the stage, the view is so impressive to her that she briefly forgets why she's there. Upon remembering what she's there for, Keiko starts stretching and warming up, getting herself ready for her battle. She doesn't know anything about her opponent, but to her, meeting a new opponent is part of the challenges of being a good fighter. Once, she would've been nervous as anything and uncertain, but now she's eager to find out who she's facing.

[NATSUKI]
It isn't too surprising that Keiko doesn't know anything about Natsuki. She hadn't originally signed up for the Rivals contest but when it was announced that the Justice representative Inei couldn't compete in the next round, the school opened the signup for others to try out to temporarily take his place. Natsuki decided to give it a go, and to her astonishment, she was chosen!

Not that she is a stranger to fighting. She's been attending taekwondo classes for the last few years and then there's the book.

When she'd told her parents she wanted to participate in this contest, they'd at first been unsure. When she admitted she wanted to use it as a way to practice her magic, they'd been even less convinced, but after several lengthy discussions, they'd accepted that their daughter could be trusted. Which is how Natsuki comes to find herself here.

Gorin is the Southtown school with the best reputation for sporting prowess. After all, it's kinda the whole point of the school's existence. It's not too surprising then that they would have such a large and elaborate campus. This auditorium is no exception.
%When Natsuki sees that Keiko is already here, she walks over to her with a smile on her face. Natsuki is dressed in a tight-fitting teal coloured jumpsuit that fastens with a silver zip up the front. Two thin white stripes run down the sides of the jumpsuit on either side and its chest area is coloured the bright orange of the Justice uniform. On her feet are a pair of bright orange sneakers with black toes and laces. Her silky long blonde hair has been secured in a high ponytail on top of her head with an orange scrunchie. In her hand she is carrying an ancient leather-bound book.

Natsuki bows to the other girl and offers her a smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you. May we both do our schools proud."

It isn't too surprising that Keiko doesn't know anything about Natsuki. She hadn't originally signed up for the Rivals contest but when it was announced that the Justice representative Inei couldn't compete in the next round, the school opened the signup for others to try out to temporarily take his place. Natsuki decided to give it a go, and to her astonishment, she was chosen!

Not that she is a stranger to fighting. She's been attending taekwondo classes for the last few years and then there's the book.

When she'd told her parents she wanted to participate in this contest, they'd at first been unsure. When she admitted she wanted to use it as a way to practice her magic, they'd been even less convinced, but after several lengthy discussions, they'd accepted that their daughter could be trusted. Which is how Natsuki comes to find herself here.

Gorin is the Southtown school with the best reputation for sporting prowess. After all, it's kinda the whole point of the school's existence. It's not too surprising then that they would have such a large and elaborate campus. This auditorium is no exception.

When Natsuki sees that Keiko is already here, she walks over to her with a smile on her face. Natsuki is dressed in a tight-fitting teal coloured jumpsuit that fastens with a silver zip up the front. Two thin white stripes run down the sides of the jumpsuit on either side and its chest area is coloured the bright orange of the Justice uniform. On her feet are a pair of bright orange sneakers with black toes and laces. Her silky long blonde hair has been secured in a high ponytail on top of her head with an orange scrunchie. In her hand she is carrying an ancient leather-bound book.

Natsuki bows to the other girl and offers her a smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you. May we both do our schools proud."

COMBATSYS: Natsuki has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Natsuki          0/-------/-------|

[KEIKO]
When Natsuki arrives, Keiko is quick to return the bow to her opponent. She smiles back at her and says, "Indeed, may we both do our schools proud! And regardless of how we do, we're both improving ourselves!" She taps her fists together a couple of times. "Every fight is a new challenge!"

After that, Keiko gets into her kickboxing stance and waits for the signal to begin from the official. Once the signal is given, Keiko wastes no time in going on the offensive.

She moves in on her opponent and watches her carefully for a moment before attempting to deliver a swift left hook to start things off. Keiko prefers to start things off simply before showing off her more unique skills.

COMBATSYS: Keiko has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Natsuki          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Keiko

COMBATSYS: Natsuki blocks Keiko's Aggressive Strike.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Natsuki          0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0            Keiko

[NATSUKI]
"Very true." Natsuki agrees readily with Keiko. "Improving ourselves is very important. As long as we are progressing in the right direction then we don't need to put in a perfect performance.

The chances of Natsuki doing such a thing would be highly unlikely, given that this is the first time she will have tried some of her tactics in public. Whatever the outcome though, it's sure going to be fun to give them a try!

KKeiko comes in quickly, her kickboxing experience ensuring she's more than comfortable going on the attack. Natsuki is equally fast to react, bringing up her leg to block the blow from Keiko's fist. "Ow." She says, but she has a smile on her face. "Okay, my turn!"

She opens the book up that she's holding in her right hand and starts to read from it. "By stars first spark and sun so bright, I call from you a ball of light!"

A large energy balls start to form and grow in front of Natsuki before bursting outwards towards Keiko in the form of a bolt.

COMBATSYS: Keiko blocks Natsuki's Mystic Missile.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Natsuki          0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Keiko

[KEIKO]
A projectile attack towards her? Keiko's seen quite a few of those in her time and she's also got a couple up her sleeves as well. Of course, one thing she knows about them is that they can hurt pretty badly if she's not careful. Thinking quickly, Keiko goes on the defensive, tensing up and protecting herself as best as she can from the incoming attack.

She absorbs the attack with her body and she skids backwards a little, the soles of her sneakers giving her a little extra traction. Once she recovers from the impact, she gives a slight nod of her head and a smile of approval. "That was quite a unique one."

Without missing a beat, Keiko goes on the offensive again. This time, instead of using her hands, she attempts to use her feet and deliver a swift kick to Natsuki's midsection.

COMBATSYS: Natsuki blocks Keiko's Light Kick.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Natsuki          0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Keiko

[NATSUKI]
Keiko manages to protect herself from the brunt of the energy bolt but Natsuki sees with some satisfaction that she didn't escape being damaged entirely. "Great reaction!" She smiles encouragingly before getting her guard back up to prepare for whatever Keiko will send her way next.

When the kick comes in, Natsuki again brings up her leg, causing it to collide with Keiko's. The Justice student feels the impact through the length of her limb but at least it stops her from taking the blow to her stomach.

"Let's see now." She ponders aloud. One would expect that Natsuki now may retaliate but instead she stands still as if she's studying Keiko to see what her next move may be. As she remains on the spot, her long ash blonde hair starts to blow around her, as if being moved by some invisible breeze.

COMBATSYS: Natsuki charges her next attack!

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Natsuki          0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0            Keiko

[KEIKO]
Keiko finds that her kick was deflected, and she takes it in stride. "Nicely defended," She also says with a smile as she gets back into her fighting stance. "This is definitely shaping up to be quite an interesting fight!" She continues to focus on Natsuki, wondering what her opponent has in store for her next. She watches carefully, thinking that her opponent is going to launch a sudden attack, but nothing seems to happen. Instead, Natsuki stands there as if there's something swirling up around her.

Keiko is intrigued by this, as it seems Natsuki has chi or something similar going for her. She knows that this could lead to something quite interesting. Rather than attempt to catch Natsuki off-guard, Keiko decides to study her carefully, waiting to see what is in store. At the same time, Keiko silently plots a potential countermeasure against a potential incoming attack.

COMBATSYS: Keiko focuses on her next action.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Natsuki          0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0            Keiko

[NATSUKI]
"Thanks!" Natsuki accepts Keiko's compliment on her deflection cheerfully.

"I'm enjoying the fight too. What was it that made you enter this competition?" She wonders of the Taiyo student.

As Natsuki stands there, her hair continuing to ripple around her, like someone is blowing a wind machine in her direction, a look of confusion appears on her face. She'd been expecting for Keiko to take advantage of her neglecting to attack by coming at her. When this happened, she was going to pounce! As there is no move to react to though, Natsuki instead continues to stay rooted, staring straight back at the other schoolgirl, her expression now becoming more serious.

COMBATSYS: Natsuki charges her next attack!

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Natsuki          1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0            Keiko

[KEIKO]
Still no attack? That's... rather interesting. Of course, Keiko isn't going to wait around forever. She knows someone has to act, and that someone is going to be Keiko. That is, after she answers her opponent's question.

"I want to continue improving myself, and I know it won't be easy," Keiko answers. "I may not win every fight, but I'm still learning!"

Tapping her fists together a couple of times, Keiko decides to go on the offensive. She shoots forth a blast of chi with a blue color to it. It's nothing too big, but it does pack a punch. (No pun intended!)

COMBATSYS: Natsuki blocks Keiko's Frost Blast.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Natsuki          1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0            Keiko

[NATSUKI]
Natsuki breathes out a sigh of relief when Keiko breaks the deadlock that had threatened to stall this fight between the two Southtown students indefinitely.

When the chi comes towards her, she crouches down, placing her free hand over her head in protection. The freezing chi hits it, sending a chill through the Justice girl's body.

"Brrrr!" She murmurs through shattered teeth. "So we're playing with the weather now are we? Okay, then it's my turn!"

She opens her book and begins to recite from it. "I call upon you crystal clear rain. Over and over hit her with pain!"

An overhwleming barrage of energy bolts shaped like crystals forms in a swarm. threatening to attack Keiko repeatedly. Should they connect they will leave her both soaking and stinging.

COMBATSYS: Keiko blocks Natsuki's Empowered Ruinous Rain.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Natsuki          1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0            Keiko

[KEIKO]
Back and forth it goes, with every attack being blocked. Once again, Keiko raises her guard and she finds herself absorbing the incoming attack and feeling a bit of pain. She shakes her head after that one though. "Enough long-distance battling. It's time we got up close and personal!"

Yeah, she said it like that.

She advances on Natsuki and attempts to size her up for a moment before dropping down and then attempting to deliver a swift chi-infused uppercut. Heads up!

COMBATSYS: Natsuki dodges Keiko's Snowy Strike.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Natsuki          1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0            Keiko

[NATSUKI]
The match so far between the two Southtown schoolgirls really does seem close, with neither of them doing any dangerous damage to each other as yet.

As such, when Keiko suggests they get up close and personal, Natsuki welcomes the stepping up of the pace.

When Keiko drops down, Natsuki knows she's gonna have to come back up again. As such, she makes sure she gets the hell out of her way. Leaping backwards, the Justice student reaches safety. Once she's feeling secure enough, she again turns back to her trusty tome.

"Rainbow colours so bold and bright, aid me with your beautiful might. Hold her with your fierce bind, so her weakness I may find."

As she chants, Natsuki gathers energy in her hand before starting to unleash a series of Taekwondo style kicks and punches towards Keiko. Once she completes her combo, she releases the energy in a striking flash of rainbow colours, seeking to trap Keiko in a crystalline cage.

If this is successful, Natsuko will shatter the prismatic prison with a powerful kick, sending Keiko flying!

COMBATSYS: Keiko fails to counter Prismatic Prison from Natsuki with Double Cyclone.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Natsuki          0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1            Keiko

[KEIKO]
Keiko goes on the defensive for a moment, but then she decides to try something else. Why not try one of her counter-attack techniques? In this case it would be a backhand followed by a hook all done in one swift motion. It would be a great thing except for one problem.

Keiko messes up badly.

Keiko gets caught by Natsuki's powers and then she goes flying across the fighting area. Bruised and also bloodied, Keiko makes her way back onto her feet and slaps her face a couple of times with both hands. "Ungh... humiliating..." She says as she gets back into her fighting stance. "Can't give up though."

[NATSUKI]
"There's no need to hurt yourself." Natsuki protests, when Keiko slaps her face. "And yes, please don't give up. This will be really dull if I have to fight myself."

Natsuki gives Keiko a smile and then asks. "What are you reading right now?"

As for what the Justice student is reading, once again it's her magical manuscript. "Darkest shadows hear my call, help me get Keiko to fall."

Once the words have been spoken, shadowy tentacles start to shoot from Natsuki's body, lashing out at Keiko and threatening to trip her up.

COMBATSYS: Keiko fails to interrupt Ebon Evocation from Natsuki with Snowball Punch.
*KNOCKED AWAY*

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////                          ]
Natsuki          0/-------/----===|=======\=====--\1            Keiko

[KEIKO]
"I wasn't beating myself up," Keiko comments. "I was just invigorating myself. And what am I reading? Well..." Keiko trails off when she sees that Natsuki is reading some kind of manuscript, and she narrows her eyes. "Oh oh..."

Keiko readies some chi into her right fist and attempts to stop the incoming magical attack with a swift punch, but she's too slow and winds up getting hit hard. She does in fact fall down... and hard.

It takes her a moment to get back on her feet as she rubs at her backside. "Ooh... I think I'm getting a bit too warm for my own good!"

[NATSUKI]
"Oh! Okay! Well I'm glad it was a positive thing then." Natsuki blinks at Keiko's explanation for the self-inflicted violence.

The Taiyo student isn't so forthcoming on what her current book of choice is though, which disappoints Natsuki somewhat. She likes to try and analyse people by what they choose to indulge in literary wise and if she's not got the information to go off, then she loses her best source of intel.

As the magical dark tendrils lash out at Keiko, the blue-haired girl makes a brave attempt to fend them off. As she falls to the floor, Natsuki nods her head, but she's feeling too fatigued to fight on straight away. Grabbing a soda from her backpack on the floor, she cracks it open and inserts a straw, taking a long and thirsty slurp of caffeine and sugar. "Oh wow, that hits the spot." She sighs with satisfaction.

COMBATSYS: Natsuki gathers her will.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////                          ]
Natsuki          1/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1            Keiko

[KEIKO]
Keiko is struggling to catch her breath and gritting her teeth as she tries to keep herself going. Natsuki is... drinking a soda?

Keiko can't believe this. Is she being arrogant or something?

That, however, gives Keiko an idea. With a slight smirk on her face, Keiko approaches and says, "Want some ice for your drink?" She attempts to stun Natsuki with a swift punch to the stomach. If she connects, Keiko will deliver a flurry of jabs before delivering a chi-infused punch intent to send Natsuki flying!

COMBATSYS: Natsuki auto-guards Keiko's Blizzard Blast.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Natsuki          1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0            Keiko

[NATSUKI]
Natsuki isn't being arrogant! She really does have a soda habit and the effort of the combat has given her a chronic craving.

When ice is offered, Natsuki is about to accept. Then she realises the real intent! As she sees Keiko lash out at her, she brings up the oversized drink in one hand and her book in the other, protecting herself from any damage.

After taking another sip she sets the drink down. It's time to step things up again.

Natsuki opens the book and chants. "My passion for magic has set me aflame. Bring me fire to finish this game"

As she speaks the words, they actually start to appear in the air between the two fighters before catching fire and forming the shape of a whip. Natsuki throws out her arm, using it to guide the whip as if she's actually wielding the weapon. Once she has it under her control she attempts to use it so strike Keiko.

COMBATSYS: Keiko blocks Natsuki's Scorching Script EX.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /                             ]
Natsuki          1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0            Keiko

[KEIKO]
Keiko reacts instinctively, throwing up her arms as quickly as she can, but it doesn't help her much. Because as she raises her hands, she finds herself getting hit harder than she can manage to endure. She stumbles back and drops to one knee...

"Defeat... is not the end..." Keiko says with a weak smile. "It's... just a chance to correct yourself... and try harder next time..." She gives a thumbs up...

Then suddenly attempts to lunge forward with a two handed palm strike infused with her chi. The thing is, when she attempts to deliver this strike, she finds that her arms are cold and glowing with a bluish aura, almost like there's ice in her chi. She has a look of surprise on her face, but it doesn't last long, because after all is said and done, she's gone down.

COMBATSYS: Keiko can no longer fight.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Natsuki          1/-------/=======|

COMBATSYS: Natsuki dodges Keiko's Snowstorm.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Natsuki          1/-------/=======|

[NATSUKI]
Keiko is speedy. She swiftly tries to save herself from a fiery flailing and it's a valiant effort. The force of the flames proves too hot to handle however.

Natsuki's small mouth falls open, stunned that she's secured victory for her school. "I...thank you so much for the fight." She gushes, before bowing to Keiko. "I will continue to follow your progress in this competition."

It seems however that the Taiyo student is not totally done! The Justice girl gasps as the icy palm darts towards her, and then throws herself into a backwards roll to escape.

"That was quite the surprise!" She giggles, her heart pounding in her chest. "I bet you like to read thrillers."

Log created on 12:57:47 05/15/2025 by Natsuki, and last modified on 10:45:20 05/28/2025.