Match of the Millennium

Click. Clack. Click. Clack. The Go salon was considered a little archaic by most of her peers. They rarely came to such places. Even the ones who enjoyed the game played on their phones. Ichika had never enjoyed it that way, though. For one thing, her phone wasn't high-end enough to run the apps particularly well. For another, it lacked the tactility of the real thing. The way the stones felt beneath your fingers, the way you could watch your opponent's body language when you made a move, or when they made theirs. Online Go might be more convenient, but it lost something in the translation. "Kasumoto-chan! I didn't expect to see you here again for quite a while. Shouldn't you be enjoying the company of all your new famous fighter friends?" The old man's voice was teasing, but fond. Ichika smiled. "Ah, but if I was there, I would be denying you the opportunity to equalise your score with me, Ota-san. I could not be so cruel." He chuckled. "Very well. Let us play." The first few rounds were as they always were. A comforting reminder that, indeed, not everything had changed after all. Her schoolmates looked at her differently now she carried the sword. Her tutors, too, seemed to consider her in a different light. She couldn't stand the implicit judgement in their gaze after the loss. She wasn't sure which she hated more, the ones who chastised her or the ones who tried to offer encouragement; who pitied her. Both equally frustrating. She had no words for any of them. It was nice that she didn't need any words at all with Daiki. The old man knew her well. They had duelled so many times on these 361 points. Still. After the first fifty or so moves even he couldn't help but broach some conversation. "You didn't mention the salon." "... I don't follow?" "It could have been good for business. In the interview you gave. If you'd mentioned that you like to come here in your free time, perhaps it would have energised the youth to consider our little game." She rolled the stone between her fingers. The smoothness of it was wonderful. A simple, unyielding, uniform measurement. "Ah. I see. You're right, but, I didn't want to invite strangers here. Besides, if my performance continues as it has begun, it may have done more harm than good, don't you think?" She set down the stone and collected her bounty. Daiki frowned, but it wasn't at the game. "You did very well, Kasumoto-chan. Surely you don't think that you need to win every bout for your participation to be worthwhile?" She was silent. "How many times did I beat you when we first played?" Her lips pressed together into a long, thin line. This was not a line of questioning she enjoyed. "Six." She said, "And I have now beaten you five times in a row, Ota-san. It is your move." The old man set down his stone. She had imagined that was where he would put it; a feint that she knew he enjoyed using to try and trick her. Sometimes she let him think it had worked so that he would use it again in future games. She was not in the mood for that today. She set down her next stone. Click. "My point is not that you can best me now, Kasumoto-chan. After this game I will need to take a handicap against you. It is only my pride which has delayed that this long. Your skill is not in doubt." Clack. "Then what is your point?" Click. "We play the game because it is a beautiful game to play. Win or lose, we seek excellence. Is fighting not the same thing?" Clack. He completed his move and took some of her stones. Click. She scooped up more of his. Far more. He seemed surprised to have seen the lines she had developed. "No." She said, lifting her eyes from the board to meet his own. She took the comb from her pocket and absently ran it through her hair. "Go is something I play for fun. Fighting is something with stakes. There are many of us in the competition, but there is one unifying factor. Have you been able to see it?" The old man shook his head, struck momentarily mute. "We all have something to prove. And not all of us will be able to succeed. For some of us to demonstrate our worth, others of us must fall. Not all dreams will survive this competition. Some of us will be great. Others of us... will return to mediocrity, never to rise." "That, seems a little dark, Kasumoto-chan." She held up her stone to the ceiling, letting the light catch the smooth blackness of it. "You are right, of course. I am just a melancholy teenager, Ota-san. Do not take my words too seriously. What do I know about it, after all?" Click. "And I believe that is game. It was good to play with you Ota-san. I will try to see you again soon. It will be fun to see what you can do with a handicap."

What I Did In My Approved Absence, by Kasumoto Ichika (age 15) Sensei, I would again like to apologise for disturbing you and reiterate that I do understand the concept of 'Office Hours'. Nevertheless we have recently concluded the first stage of the New Fighting Generation project and so, as per our discussion, I am writing this essay in order to lay out what I have learned and make my case for the continuation of my absence from regular Justice High curricula activities. Firstly I must reflect on my initial motivation for joining the tournament. I wanted to win. Victory would prove beyond a doubt that I have the talent required to forge a legacy in the world of professional fighting. Although I am honoured to be part of Justice High and do not doubt that I will eventually find my calling as a member of the Super Elite, I do not have the clear path that many of my peers enjoy. When I first picked up my sword it felt as though it made sense. My skill with words is inadequate to explain this properly, and for that I apologise. All I can say is that whilst I admired fighting as a sport I did not believe I could ever participate until I held my sword in my hands and understood how it was that such a thing could be used. I thought that if I used my sword to achieve inarguable success, that would settle things. I presumed that as a member of the Super Elite such a path would come naturally to me, and furthermore that it was only through winning that my choice would have value. For some of us to demonstrate our worth, others of us must fall. That was my thinking. My first-round opponent, Djamila Fadel, infuriated me. She is the first person in all my life to tell me that I could not do something; that I was not capable of achieving my goal. In this case, to overcome her style with my own. It sounds conceited but my parents have always told me I can achieve anything I put my mind to. My teachers, both at Justice and prior, have never denied my talent at any academic field. To hear her say those words was the first time I ever felt slighted. It hurt me. I wanted so badly to prove her wrong. But she was correct, and for a time I despaired. I believed that I had shamed myself and I considered about leaving the project then and there. Perhaps it was only an adolescent fantasy that I could achieve this dream; the responsible choice would be to return to my studies and quietly find another path, would it not? I did not allow myself to give up, though. I made an agreement with the tournament organisers when I entered. To leave simply because I had embarrassed myself would have been to compound the initial error with further disgrace. I resolved to live up to my obligations and I plotted a scheme to achieve that. In the second round I was paired with Buford Maclanky. I will say it plainly. I despise this man. He is an insult to me on every level. As a Japanese person, as a woman, and as someone who also wishes to master the katana. We were supposed to devote ourselves to the destruction of a vehicle, but even before we had stepped into the arena and achieved that, I had already resolved that I would challenge him and I would defeat him. That fight was my first experience with real rage. Fadel-san infuriated me because she showed me an obstacle that I could not overcome, but that man was something else. He did not see me as I am. He saw only the image of me he had in his mind. He denied my truth. He imposed his own vision on me. And I am proud to say that I was able to achieve my goal. I do not even fully understand the means by which I achieved it. When I let my anger guide me, my strikes did not land true. It was only when I understood the depths of his delusion and resolved to burn them away with my vision that I was able to achieve victory. Perhaps it was underhanded of me to enter that fight with ulterior motives. I do not think Maclanky-kun anticipated that we would fight at all. But I do not regret it. It reaffirmed to me that I do have genuine skill. As loathsome as he is, he is also a huge man with a sword and enough power to destroy a vehicle.

Not long after my victory over Buford I had a meeting with Chevelle Beaumont. I found her intimidating at first. She is a very outgoing American woman and I thought that the cultural divide may be too great. But she challenged me to spar, and as we fought with no stakes I came to understand how great a tool fighting can be for bridging that divide. It was a close thing, but I lost this battle as well. But it taught me that I could enjoy a loss; that anger and frustration is not all that fighting is. Chevy became my friend and leaving the competition became unthinkable. The third round was a three-way fight between myself, Constance Coalbridge, and Kuroiwa Kenzo. I was excited to see Kuroiwa-san in person, as a former student of Justice High I was eager to see what he could do, but I was concerned about Coalbridge-san. She had a victory to our initial losses and her Muay Thai is formidable. This challenged my ability to gauge tactical situations more than my other fights. The introduction of a second opponent made it difficult to maintain full awareness of where potential danger would arise from. Kuroiwa-san was able to counter my strategy to some extent, as expected of a member of the Super Elite, but I was able to hold my own. Coalbridge-san was the eventual winner, but I was not the first to fall. Mostly I was left frustrated but in a new way; I do not know if I would have been able to overcome Kuroiwa-san on my own, nor am I certain that Coalbridge-san would have beaten me if Kuroiwa-san had not taken so many of my resources to fell. This fight taught me that some battles do not bring answers as all the others had; some battles raise only further questions, which is a valuable lesson in itself. One way or another, I will answer all of the questions raised. Which brings me to my request. Throughout the competition I have stayed at the Hotel Southtown and completed all assignments remotely. This has given me the freedom and flexibility to complete my work around a self-guided training schedule which has allowed me, for instance, to meet and spar Chevy when I would ordinarily have been in classes.

I do not yet know who I will be assigned to train with nor whether we will be able to continue using Hotel Southtown, whether my sponsors will expect to provide accommodation, or whether I am expected to return to my normal life and continue with the tournament alongside my other obligations. Regardless, I will not be able to make the most of this opportunity if I need to work around the schedule of my normal schooling. I therefore humbly request that my leave of absence be extended for the duration of the New Fighting Generation project. Naturally I will continue to complete all my assignments remotely and I will ensure that I am available for any exams required during the period. But in just seven weeks I have learned more than I believed was possible. Not just in the world of fighting, but in so many other areas as well. If anything, I expect the demands from this point to grow more intense, as I will need to continue my development under the gaze of extremely serious professional fighters. If my request is not granted I will accept this. I do understand that I am asking for special treatment and that I have not proven myself to be a natural Elite, let alone a Super Elite, in this area. If I must return to Justice and my teachers as well as my soon-to-be tutors, I will apply myself to the best of my ability across all areas. But I have begun to walk what many call the 'Warrior's Path'. It would be presumptuous of me to declare that I am a warrior now, or that I will obtain success upon it. Yet, I cannot deny that even the few faltering steps I have taken upon this road have excited me more than any other area of study I have come across to date. It is my hope that the above summary of the lessons I have learned will convince you of the value of this experience and my commitment to seeing it through. There is no question that I will continue to represent our school to the best of my ability. It is simply my fervent belief that at this moment in time I can do more for our cause outside of our walls than within them. Thank you for your consideration. I believe that my potential sponsors will be making their decision on the 31st May. I would request that I receive an answer either way so that any restrictions or accommodations I may require from them will be known by that time. Your grateful, and apologetic, student. -Kasumoto Ichika

The Go Salon was being closed when she arrived. The last players had finished their game long before. The place was dark and quiet. It lacked the familiar, soothing click-clack of stones that she remembered. After her lengthy conversation with her parents, Ichika had remembered that there was one other person she owed an explanation to. It had been almost two months since she last came here. When the broadcasts started happening, it was more difficult for her to move without being recognised. She didn't want to risk this place. If she lost everything else, she still had Ota-san. The old man was a good friend. "Do you need any help?" He looked surprised to see her there. Apparently he hadn't heard her come in. When he recognised her, though, he smiled. "Kasumoto-chan! I was starting to think that you had forgotten about us in your new glamorous life. Well. If it isn't too much trouble..." "Never." She knew where the broom was. She grabbed it and began to sweep the floor. For a time, the silence grew between them. Comfortable and warm. There was peace in this, after all the stress, worry, doubts... elation, triumph and excitement of recent days, she didn't realise how much she had missed it. It was a shame she needed to break it. "I, don't think I will be back for some time now, Ota-san." "Yes." The tables, next. Polish them to a bright shine, remove the rings left by the drinks of the day and let them gleam for a new dawn. "They are taking us to America, first. Even if they weren't, though, between my tutors and my schooling..." "Yes." And then the chairs. Make sure they are placed just-so, not haphazardly strewn by spectators and gossiping friends. "I just wanted you not to worry. I won't forget. When we are through, I will come back, and we will play many games, and I will tell you all about my adventures." "I'm not worried about you, Kasumoto-chan." The work was done. And with it, the excuse to do anything other than talk. She stood before the old man, looked up into his kindly eyes. He smiled and ruffled her hair; a gesture she would never have accepted from anyone else. "From the moment we played our first game, I knew that it was pointless to try and talk you into doing anything you didn't want to do. I thought it was silly, a girl your age coming to play with old men like us, but you were... relentless. You wanted to master the game, and so you did." "I still have a long way-" She began to protest, and he cut her off with a wave of her hand. "When you came here before, looking like a kicked dog, I knew that you would be okay." Her brow furrowed, confusion evident on her features. "I knew you would be okay." He repeated, "Because you had that same glimmer in your eye you had the first time I beat you. Only, more. I do not understand fighting. All of this." He waved his fist in a vague punching motion, "And that." A clumsy pseudo-kick. "It, means nothing to me. A distasteful thing. But to you?" His smile grew. "You found something in it, something for you. Just as you did with Go. So, take the time you need. When you return, Go will be here for you. And so will I." And that smile grew further still; into a cheeky, playful expression, his eyebrows raising. "And when you are a champion, you will tell the whole world about Ota's Salon, and I will retire a rich man!" She laughed, delighted, and embraced him tightly. When she pulled away, she looked around one last time at the Salon. It's quiet tables she had spent so many hours at. The old, worn furniture which had all seen better days. The space once again ready to make more happy memories for its patrons tomorrow. She held it fast in her mind, and then she stepped back, bowed. "I will." She promised, "They say that Sunshine City is a very violent place. But I have lived in Southtown all my life. How different can it really be? We have gangs too, and over there I will have only two other school students to worry about!" She turned, and walked back out of the Salon, leaving Ota alone with his salon. He sighed softly, shaking his head with a much more wan smile on his face. "That girl, is in for a great many surprises."

For a long time, there is darkness. Unconsciousness isn't so bad a thing. It shuts her brain off for a time. When consciousness does return, it is slower; she is able to piece together the last moments of her fight without all the other thousands of concerns that pull at her hurting so much. She had been so close. But once again, her reach had exceeded her grasp. Her chi was strong for a girl her age, but... it was not strong enough to act as both attack and defence at the same time. It was the same mistake she had made against Buck. Why had she made it again? She opens her eyes. Ah, the hotel room. Someone has gotten her here, bandaged her wounds, dressed her in a gown and left her in peace. That was nice of them. In the mirror she sees herself. Drawn, exhausted, hair flat against her skull; lifeless and inert. The state she struggled so often to inflict on it, for once present. She hates it. Tears begin to well. "We can agree that you've had an -impressive- run, yeah?" Panesh-san's words come back to her as she looks into the mirror, and blinks away her tears. This is nothing to be upset about. The things she had done... they would have been unthinkable to her just a few short months ago. To step into battle, to fight, to find the answers to the questions you seek, and to learn that they are not ones you wish to hear... there is no shame in that. "Yes." She murmurs softly, "It was impressive. And it was a failure. Both of these things can be true." She looks to her desk, cluttered with so many books to read and assignments to complete. She looks to her phone, commiserations and encouragement from her parents. Her sword, sitting reproachful by her bed, in need of the care she will show it, too, for the aid it gave her, and for letting it down. Her feet slip easily into her slippers, and she leaves it all behind. It takes her some time to make her way to the hotel's lobby. She walks every step, letting the pleasant pain of her failure teach her the lesson. She doesn't know her limits. She must learn. That is important; that is something she can work on. But right now there is something else she feels she must do. She is aware that the staff are looking at her. This bedraggled mess of a girl who they had likely seen brought in. It is the middle of the night. She has always been quiet and respectful with them; grateful for their help. But she doesn't ask their permission as she lifts the lid of the piano she knew was waiting for her here. When she was listening to music she adored the wail of electric guitars; loud voices, shouting defiance and rage and love and all those incredible things she could never find it in her heart to commit to, not really. Guitars were hard. Their strings jumped and cut and she couldn't sing to save her life. But piano? Piano was... different. The keys were precise. It was, mostly, memorisation. The gift that had cursed her with so many expectations. She kept her tears inside. She let the music flow. The dream is not dead. Only resting. And perhaps that would be enough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPRS9BnJxGA

Alone in her hotel room, in the early hours of the morning, Ichika stares into the tiny screen of ancient laptop. It stutters constantly, the video quality absolutely abysmal, but she can see them there. Her mother and father. At first they talk of small things; her grandmother is in an argument with her neighbour about flowers in the front garden. Her mother misses her help at the restaurant. Her father has been passed over for promotion again. But he has a really good feeling about this next project. And yes, she is keeping up with her schoolwork. But inevitably the conversation turned to her performance. They have, after all, been watching. "It was the scariest fight so far. I couldn't tell what she was doing at all. Even so, I came very close, don't you think?" Her parents shared a concerned look. "Ichika-chan..." Her father began. "We have been talking." Her mother broke in, "We just think... is this really, what you want?" Ichika frowned, confused. "Yes. I am getting better every day, and I'm learning so much." "Is that true?" Her father asks, "Ichika-chan. Your last opponent barely seemed to know what she was doing, and you still couldn't..." Ichika's frown deepens sharply. Her lips press into a thin line. "... win." He finished. "Is that the only reason to do things?" She shot back, "To win? Have you not seen the things that I have done? Another's skill does not diminish my own." "She didn't have any skill, dear." Her mother said, "Even I could see that. We're just worried. It isn't easy to watch you try so hard and keep getting hurt..." "Hurt?" Ichika could feel her cheeks heating. This was bad. "I have friends here, Mother. People who care about me. Pain is a small price..." "You have people who care about you here, Ichika-chan." Her father said, "And honestly. We just think... we've always supported you. You've always exceeded our expectations. Until now. You actually seem to be getting worse! Maybe it is time to come home. Dedicate yourself to something that you do excel at." It felt like the bottom fell out of her stomach. Now? After everything she had been through, after the improvements she had made, now, her parents were losing faith in her? Now, she no longer 'exceeded expectations?' "And anyway." Her mother said, "I don't approve of the kinds of friends you are making. That outfit of yours is, it's not the girl I raised. And the way that awful demon woman spoke to you-" "Enough." Ichika's voice had a steel in it that she had never shown her parents before. Their shock was obvious. Her father recovered first. "What did you say?" "Enough." She repeated, "You have always supported me, yes. I am grateful. You have always said that I can do anything I put my mind to. So, please, trust me." "We do trust you, Ichika, it is just..." Her mother sighed, "I miss my little girl. And I don't like seeing you fail so much. You should choose an easier path. Not everyone can do everything. There's no shame in it. But there would be in wasting your potential." Ichika felt her anger rising. "An easier path." She repeated. "No. You want me to give up so I can come back and scrub pots and pans for you again. And you, father, are worried that the fact the whole world watched you ogle Fadel-san has cost you that promotion. My potential? What do either of YOU know about potential?!" The shock, and hurt, was obvious. But she had to press forward. No going back. Maybe that was a lesson from fighting; when your opponents are reeling, that is the time to hit harder. If she stopped now they would only regroup and find some other way to hurt her. "My teammates need me. My teachers are excellent people. Especially Lightheart-sensei. To quit now would betray them. And it would also betray myself. I am better than I have ever been. Not just in the world of fighting, but in every way! Just because you have never improved-" Her father was red in the face now. It was hard to tell on the old screen, but she thought she saw tears in her mother's eyes. "How dare you speak to us like this. You're being childish-" "NO." She shouted, silencing him as she stood, "Being childish is doing whatever you ask! Being childish is stressing all the time about what YOU want from me! For the first time in my life, I am making an ADULT decision. And you can't handle it because it is inconvenient to you!" Her hands came down to either side of the laptop, looming over it. "I'm not stopping. You need to understand that. And I'm not justifying myself any further. Support me or don't. That isn't really my concern. If I am the one who has to make Kasumoto meaningful, I am the one who will decide how that is done. ME. Not you." Before they could respond, she slammed down the lid on the laptop. Then she threw herself into bed. The pillow muffled her scream quite well.

'These bouts you participate in... they are not matters of life and death. Remain calm and focused, do your best, and then, above all else, learn from them.' The whetstone drags across the blade, a noise that cuts the night with the sound of sharpness. 'Balance, we have spoken of already. It will not come as naturally, but already you begin to see. This, I think, I will leave to you.' The sun is dipping below the horizon. Night is coming. With it, the cold. 'You seem to have a great instinct in your case. Use it, but don't push it further than it guides you.' She glances down at her phone again. It is quiet. That is good. Hopefully, Chevy has taken her advice. Djamila, she feels sure, will not disappoint her either. But she is glad she is not doing so quickly. The time to think... 'When the selfless and good step back from the spotlight, the corrupt move to fill it. But people like us can stand in the gap!' .. it is what she needs. The tide is coming in. Halfway around the world she knows that in her home it is flowing out. Soon, it will be lapping at her knees as she will have to retreat from the beach. This small piece of good is something she can be proud to have contributed to, even if she had made a fool of herself then as well. Calm and focused. Easier said than done. For all she tried to tell herself she was a cooly logical and rational person... She sees the moment in her head again. The unnecessary blow. The *sound* that Chevy made when it landed. The whetstone's voice stutters, and she catches herself. Blood wells from her thumb and she sucks her teeth. Careless. "Is it only life and death which matter in this world?" She holds the blade up against the dying light, inspects the smear of blood upon it. Balance. If there was one thing she does not feel right now, it is balanced. Carefully, deliberately, she slides the katana back into its saya. This is the problem with having friends. To make those connections is to invite their pain to become your pain. How ironic that Chevy seemed more able to bear it than she could on the older woman's behalf. The blood flows down the blade as she stands, flicks it to spatter across the sands. If she had followed her instinct, she would be on her way home now and Constance Coalbridge would be in the hospital. It had taken every ounce of self-control, and a little more borrowed from her friend, for her to restrain herself. She scrolls on her phone. Her parents. Snaps a picture of the sunset, sends it to them. Selfless? No. She only cared because Chevy meant so much to her. There are several competitor's whose humiliation she would have relished. Good? Good people didn't feel like this. They didn't want to do the things she wanted to do to salve her wounded pride. Water laps about her sneakers. The shoes do little to keep it out. These lessons were not like the ones back home. There, simple repetition was enough. Here, she needed to let herself be forged by them. She needed to change. As she was now, she wouldn't be enough. Calm. Focus. Find her balance. Hone her instinct. Become the good person the world needs her to be. "And for my second trick." She mutters to the night, "World peace."

Imawano-sensei, I hope this essay finds you well. As agreed, I have taken the time to formalise my thoughts regarding my ongoing performance within the New Fighting Generation project. It has been an enlightening experience, and my tutors have indeed each taught me a great many things. Within the scope of the tournament itself I have learned much about the nature of fighting. I have received instruction on chi and the nature of the energy which flows through and around us. I have also seen evidence of energy which works in a different fashion. I cannot yet explain this, though I find it fascinating and disturbing in equal measure. I will not bore you with a play by play of each battle and each lesson. One of the key pieces of information I have taken to heart is that many martial secrets cannot be captured with words; they are a poor prison for the human spirit, and it is that spirit which we express when we clash. Some things can only be expressed with action. Words may also be used to cloak one's intent. I have recently battled with one such individual; a Taiyo student who found his way to Sunshine City as part of Frost's entourage. Although he proclaimed a desire for peace and to help, his actions were to stand in our way and fight. It is a strange thing, but this hypocritical disconnect between words and actions felt like a personal insult to me. I do not know if he was blind to it himself, but it were as though his entire being were a deceit. I think that this is perhaps the most valuable lesson I have learned to date. We are not our words and intentions; those things matter little when all is said and done. We are our actions. It is what we do, the mark that we leave upon the world, which will determine our legacy. To speak and inspire others can be good and can be a part of that; but to strive forward and make material change, to embody our virtues in deed as well as in our speech and writing, is far more important. I confess, my response to this fellow student's conduct was unbecoming. I lost my temper to an extreme degree. I do not regret engaging in a visceral rebuke of his stance, but I do regret that I was unable to maintain the clarity and calm which allows for the most efficient course of action in battle. Given the disparity in power between us it is unlikely that I would have been able to obtain victory regardless, but as it was I allowed my personal disgust to override my better sense. This is the aspect of battle which I have found most surprising. Until this competition there have been few things in my life which have inspired this level of emotion in me. I have always felt strongly that we have a duty to make the world a better place; to act as guides. This is the role of the Super Elite and my commitment to it has not changed. But when I draw my sword I feel personally invested in a way I have not when devoting myself to my studies. Each fight is a challenge to my ethos; to the virtues and principles I hold dear. It seems that such a thing is more emotionally affecting than I had anticipated. I will continue to take the lessons of my tutors to heart, of course, and I have no doubt that they will continue to guide me with efficacy and skill as they have done to date. But this is an aspect of my character that I must conquer for myself. I suspect that soon I will have more lessons which reveal greater truths about the nature of the world to me. This is exciting, but I am also trepidatious. When one has learned a truth, it cannot be unlearned. I wish that I could say I face this future fearlessly, but that would be a lie. I have gained many things, but with each day it feels as though the possibilities for my future are narrowing. The range of action grows smaller. I must act on what I know to be right, and that increasingly precludes a peaceful life. I look forward to updating you on this further in due course, and remain thankful for the opportunity you have enabled for me. Your grateful student, -Kasumoto Ichika.

Ichika has set up her own FightTube account! The production values are charmingly low-budget, the girl clearly filming from her hotel bedroom. Her hair is as messy as always, but rather than wearing her elaborate fighting getup, she's wearing a faded Battle Beast t-shirt which shows a lion-man attacking a robot, and she's sitting down so it is tough to see more than that. Though she speaks in Japanese, the video has subtitles available in a variety of languages. "Hello!" Awkward pause. "Ah, this is my sixth time trying to record this and, I don't really have the time to keep doing this so, I apologise in advance if this is not up to the standards of more professional channels. Making such videos is very new to me!" She laughs, nervously, and runs her hand through her hair. "Seeing everyone at the Rumble really made me appreciate that there are... a lot of people out there who support me and I can't overstate how much that means to me. Thank you very much for joining me on this journey. It has been an incredible experience and really, we are only just getting started!" She smiles, and completes a little half-bow, as much as the chair will allow. "One thing I have... seen a lot of speculation, about is whether the 'metal' aesthetic was something Lightheart-sensei forced on me or something that I am truly passionate about. I understand there has been some questions on this because it does not fit the stereotype that I previously slotted into for some minds. This, though, is a misunderstanding of Justice High, Metal and... well, me." She clears her throat before she continues, hand pressed to her heart. "To be part of Justice High is to be part of the Super-Elite. We have a responsibility to use our talents to improve the world, to make it better. That is not a duty I take lightly. I am very fortunate to have been acknowledged for my abilities long before I started fighting. That is not an opportunity granted to everyone who deserves it, and to look at the world with clear eyes is to understand that it is a place deeply in need of improvement." She starts to grow more animated now; gesturing with her hand as she looks straight into the camera with those bright blue eyes of hers. There's intensity there that she can't hide. "This world is full of deception! Politicians who say they care about their people but benefit from their suffering! Businesses who claim to care about the environment whilst burning it to the ground! Elites who gain their position only through nepotism and corruption! We Super-Elite cannot ignore such things! To be ready to lead the world to a better place is to look upon it with clear eyes. Not to turn away from uncomfortable truths." She takes a deep breath, steadying herself and clearly a little embarrassed about her outburst; she's trying to remain calm. She has to look cool for the camera after all! "People think that the main quality of heavy metal music is a disdain for authority. That is not true. The main quality of heavy metal is authenticity. To be metal is to refuse to sacrifice your principles for commercial appeal. That true emotion in the music, yes, it often takes aim at authority. How could it not? When we look at the state of the world we must be scathing of those who claim power over us. They have made a terrible mess of things. To pretend otherwise is to deceive oneself." She smiles, and claps her hands together in front of her. "That is what I love about the music. Aldious, Destrose, Band-Maid and of course my favourite Babymetal have done such wonderful work in showing the world their truths. And of course, many other bands are also very good! Metal thrives everywhere! It cannot be silenced! Why, I even hear that there are metal bands in America and Britain, not just Japan! Amazing!" She grins, winks, clearly joking. This statement will nevertheless provoke a firestorm of hate and rage in the comments that will keep moderators busy for life. She clears her throat, then, gets more serious. "It is my promise to all of you that no matter what, I will always strive to embody that sense of truth within my fighting. It is my earnest hope that I can help show you the Warrior's Road, and that we can all walk it together. Towards a better tomorrow. A world where every person can be seen and acknowledged for who they are. Where we are all able to share our Truth. That is my dream." Another nervous little laugh, and a second run of her hand through that mussy hair, making it spike even further up. "I don't know how we'll get there! But perhaps if we all walk this path together, we will find the way. Aheh. Anyway. Uhm. I hope you enjoyed this? I don't really know if I did this properly, but I wanted to try and connect with you and answer that big question, as so many of you have connected with me. I think I'm supposed to tell you to do 'engagement' things now? But, really, I'm just happy you listened until the end. Thank you!" And thus proceeds some fumbling with the laptop she is apparently recording this on until she figures out how to turn the camera off.

It's the Ichikast! Eagle-eyed viewers will note that Ichika is in a different bedroom this time; it looks a lot more like a home, albeit one that is definitely western judging by the bed, floral print wallpaper and drapes, and the white wicker dresser and nightstand. It definitely doesn't have high-end hotel vibes. In fact, it looks like she is in danger of being offered sweet tea and some sort of baked good at any moment. The girl herself is wearing a black and yellow kimono; it definitely looks very fancy even if she's not showing it off to the best degree. She's also done everything she can to get her hair under control; only one lock sticks up. "Hello everyone!" Awkward pause. "So, ah, I understand the draft has finished. I was going to do a live reaction to the announcement but, unfortunately, I was... busy, at the time. More on that in a little bit! Anyway, I've seen the teams and I think I should probably say something about them?" She smiles and claps her hands. "Firstly! Team Thunder! I'm very grateful to again have been my sponsors top pick, and I am sorry to have lost Tamaki-san. She and I didn't get to spend as much time together as I would have liked and I feel I may have squandered that opportunity, which is a real shame. Chevy, Buck and I have all pushed each other to be better and I'm very happy to keep fighting alongside them. I have no doubt that we will keep walking down this Warrior's Road together, and if our Rumble performance is anything to go by, we have every chance of taking the whole competition for Thunder." She hesitates for a moment before she continues, the slightest frown tugging at her brow. "I have, tried, to read as much about my new teammates as I can. Daidoji-san seems as though she is, a little cold. But the same thing was said about me when I first entered the Project. R-san is certainly very, bombastic. If there is one thing that this experience has taught me, it is that the public persona of people is a poor indication of who they really are. It also takes tremendous courage to enter something like this at the midpoint. I am excited to see who they are. Oh! And I've actually met Hazuki-sensei before! He's an excellent teacher and I can't wait to show him how far I have come since we last spoke!" One hand raises to brush through her hair, making it spike up all over again; and she'd so obviously tried hard to get it under control! "So let's talk about Tamaki-san's new team... Team Frost. I, actually feel as though Team Frost illustrates a big problem with the points system as it has been implemented. They have Constance Coalbridge, who has lost only a single fight in the competition, Greene-san, who was the overall winner of the first tournament, and Tamaki-san who has also consistently been a top contender." She counts these three off on her fingers; apparently having identified them as the key threats. "Nevertheless, they are in third place by ranking. Honestly, and I mean no disrespect to Team Metal, but I consider them the most threatening group in the tournament right now." She grins, impishly. "That is, so long as Maclanky-kun is not murdered by his own teammates. Which I think is a real possibility. I do not get the impression that Cernik-san will be tolerant of his foibles." She purses her lips, then, and frowns just a tiny amount. "Team Blaze is Team Blaze. I feel sorry for Moore-san. I know he wanted a move, and I would have loved to train with him properly. Perhaps that is something that we can look into when the Project is over..." She shrugs her shoulders, "Which just leaves us with Team Metal! The core has remained the same, much as with Thunder. I am sure that losing Greene-san stings, but Doe-san, Kuroiwa-san and Fadel-san are all top tier contenders. They also used their position as the front runner to pick up only experienced competitors. That is an understandable strategic decision. But, as Buck proved last time, we should not underestimate the potential of an unknown fighter. They do have a track record of providing focused training, though. So, I am pleased Iris will get the mentorship she hoped for, even if, again, I would have loved to fight alongside her too." Little does Ichika realise that these casual musings on who she had hoped might join her team in the event that it changed will become the focus for dozens of drama videos; 'Ichika SNUBS Junko and Hated R!' 'Ice Princess longs for Hot Hawksley and Witchy Wiles!' 'Why Ichika Secretly HATED Tamaki!!' Thankfully, for now, she is blissfully ignorant of the endless scandal the future holds. She smiles brightly and gives a little nod to the camera. "Anyway, after all the excitement of the Rumble, I took a little road trip that I am going to keep to myself. It has been a lot of fun! But it does mean I am quite a distance from Metro City, so I had better begin the journey to get there! Until next time!" Some fumbling with the laptop ensues until she gets it to cut out.

It's the Ichikast! Ichika is wearing an old Babymetal t-shirt and addresses the camera directly, with a little more confidence than she has displayed previously. "Hello! I thought that we would have a different format this time as going through each match will take a great deal of time, and I think it is more interesting to look at the standings at the end of the competition and what we are heading into now, rather than the specifics of each individual match. I hope that is okay!" She smiles brightly and gives a short bow to the camera. "I will also not be addressing the podcasts which have tried to mine drama from my own. I have made my stance clear. I have nothing further to say on the matter. So, we shall set it behind us and move forward in the spirit of progress! If anyone has a problem with it, they are welcome to accept the challenges I have previously offered." She claps her hands together, and the final standings appear at the side of the screen. "Firstly, I would like to congratulate Chevy. She is of course my close friend, but I have always maintained that she is the strongest of Team Thunder, who in turn I still maintain are the strongest team. I am pleased that she has shown the world the strength I saw, and I hope that she continues to do so in the individual tournament!" There's a clumsily-animated gold star rotating next to Chevy now. "Second place is Constance Coalbridge. I do not think that this is too surprising. She has always been a strong competitor, and she has only become stronger over the course of the competition. Similarly, Fadel-san in third place does not surprise me. From the first moment we crossed paths, I knew that she would be a skilled opponent. She continues to prove that she is further down the Warrior's Road than most of us. Still. I look forward to proving her wrong." The standings are replaced by the team points totals. "In general terms, it is interesting to note that three of the top five competitors are from Team Thunder, and yet we remain only the third place team. It is also curious that the only team without a competitor in the top five is Team Blaze, headed up by Tokugawa-chan. I am sure that she did her best to guide her students in the ways of Seijyun High." The girl allows that sentence to stand on its own for several moments, staring down the barrel of the camera with an unblinking blue stare before she continues, the team rankings replaced by the Season 1 Finals matchups. "Looking ahead to the upcoming tournament, it is interesting to see what possibilities this represents. For instance, if I manage to overcome Kuzumi-san, which is far from a sure thing, I think it is likely that I will then need to fight Buck and then Chevy if I am to make it to the finals. I mean no disrespect, but I am confident that one of the three of us will be the one left standing from our respective brackets." She leans back in her chair, looking more contemplative as she glances up to the ceiling. "On the other side, I would rate Coalbridge-san, Fadel-san and Moore-san as the three who are most likely to have the opportunity to advance to the finals, based on their respective likely opponents. It is exciting to think that there is a slim chance that the final match of the New Fighting Generation could be an opportunity for me to fight Fadel-san again, ending the competition with a replay of the first professional fight I ever undertook." A self-effacing chuckle, then, and she shakes her head, looking back to the camera. "But... that is unlikely. Perhaps we will see Chevy and Coalbridge-san revisit their rivalry, or Buck and Moore-san. In all cases, demonstrating how far we have come since the first time we clashed would, I think, make for an exciting match and demonstration of the value of the competition." The graphics disappear and she leans in more closely to the camera as she speaks, earnestness in her tone. "It is strange to think that we are close to the end now. This has been such a huge part of my life. But, all things come to a close. I would like to thank you all for taking this journey with me. Now, I find myself asking new questions as I wonder how best I can continue to walk the Warrior's Road. This tournament, I think, will answer many of them for me. I look forward to sharing them with you, as I learn them." And then, it ends! With a little Chibi Ichika giving a peace sign as the Ichikast fades out, and a credit: Thanks to IchiFan2007 for the adorable graphic! <3