Expectations

The judges are reviewing the footage,” Alex commented on the screens of the grid. “It appears that some of them are objecting to the official's first call.”

“I couldn’t agree more with the judges,” Antoine continued. “From what we could see from the booth, both contenders arrived at the zone just too close to call a result.”

“And to that, you can add that the heavy rain affected the quality of the imagery,” Alex added.“Oh! Looks like they’re ready,”

“After careful review, we have decided to sustain the official’s call,” A man said from the judges' table. “Kazuhara’s are the winners.”

The guys at the Kazuhara station jumped and cheered while the rest of the teams politely applauded.

“We’re now receiving the images of the result’s analysis,” Alex said. “And… yes…here we can see a two millimeters difference between the Kazuhara’s and the Amelia’s participants arriving at the finish line. What a shot!”

“But it appears that Kazuhara’s effort won’t be enough to claim the first spot on the classification…” Antoine added. “As the classification table pops in, the Amelia is taking the first spot after placing second twice. Followed closely by the Kazuhara. Mchunun falls to third place and the O’Malley sneaks into fourth place, leaving out the New Krakow.”

“Well. The point system always manages to bring great surprises, doesn’t it, Antoine?” Alex commented. “But after this round, those points won’t be worth much.”

“Indeed Alex. Points are worthless once combat events begin,” Antoine replied. “Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the first combat. O’Malley vs Amelia. Don’t miss it!”

Nina wanted to celebrate. She really did. Ranking first was a huge feat for the team and the Amelia but she got so close to that first place that it was hard to get it out of her head.

“You did great!” A girl from the New Krakow complimented her as they shook hands. “You were a bolt at welding!”

“Thank you,” Nina politely replied while thinking that if it wasn’t for that unwelcome current, they would have won. This was Mike’s and Nina’s last active participation in the contest, she wanted that first place not for the team but for her.

After finishing the protocolary handshakes, the team loaded all their gear back into the boat and headed back to the stadium.

“A two-millimeter difference!” Quenzie lamented as they sailed on a now calmer sea. “Unbelievable!”

Nina was thinking about how much she needed a private room to cry her frustration out when the boat diverted direction.

“What’s going on Quenzie?” Nina asked.

“Oh! I didn’t tell you?” Quenziesaid. “All semi-finalists are formally invited to dinner with the Commodore at the Norrington Center.”

“But Quenzie! Oliver needs to rest and practice for tomorrow’s combat,” Nina objected.

“Nina. It’s a formal invitation from a superior,” Oliver said. “You know we can’t miss it.”

“I know the rules, Oliver,” Nina sharply interrupted.

Nina crossed her arms and looked away from her friends.

The boat docked on a floating squared pier, about two hundred meters away from the stadium.

“Is this the Norrington Center?” Mike asked as Quenzie got off the boat.

“Affirmative. Follow me!” Quenzie urged.

“Come on,” Oliver said as he helped Nina get off the boat.

They followed Quenzie to the center of the pier, where a trapdoor opened to reveal an escalator. It led them down to a spacious vault. The ceiling over them was transparent, allowing the ocean hues to brighten up the room. The other teams were waiting, sitting at the table.

When all the teams sat down at the table, a lady wearing an elegant gray dress entered the room.

“Stand up to receive the Commodore,” the woman ordered and everyone in the room followed before the Commodore entered the room accompanied by three other functionaries and quickly seated on his place at the head of the table. Captain Bushida sat next to him.

“You may sit,” He said.

Everyone in the room obeyed.

“First of all, congratulations on making it to the semi-finals,” he said as a group of waiters came to serve the dinner, leaving a big gray solid disc on Nina’s plate.

“Commodore, the Chief of Inspections requires your presence,” the woman with the gray dress announced as the Commodore took a bite from his disc.

The Commodore mumbled something inaudible and disappeared with his assistant as the stairs led them up.

Oliver tried not to laugh after seeing Captain’s Bushida disappointed face after his brief conversation with the Commodore.

The Commodore left, so the guests left formalities aside. After finishing the tasteless gray disc, Nina stood to look at the ocean, escaping from the conversation her teammates were having with team O’Malley.

“Hey, Ms. Hsu,” Captain Bushida said as he approached her.

“Good afternoon, Captain Bushida,” Nina replied.

“I was talking to my colleagues about Emil’s outstanding performance at today’s event,” Captain Bushida said as he smiled arrogantly with his son. “And since you were behind him the whole time we thought you could give us your perspective.”

Emil didn’t even participate in the event, yet Captain Bushida was attributing the team’s success to his son. Nina was about to explode.

“I think I’m going to pass Captain,” Nina responded. “I’m feeling unwell. Now, I’ll excuse myself.”

“But Nina!” Captain Bushida exclaimed as Nina darted up the escalators.

Oliver followed her to the top of the pier.

“Leave me alone, Oliver!” She requested. “I’m not feeling well.”

“Nina, you’ve been odd since the end of the event,” Oliver said, standing next to her. “You can talk to me.”

Nina walked away from Oliver, to the other side of the pier.

“Is it because of the result?” Oliver asked. “You did great! And it was enough for us to climb to first place!”

“That’s the problem, Oliver!” Nina called out as she turned to face Oliver with a broken voice and teary eyes. “I didn’t want to do good enough. I wanted to show my parents! To show me I am as good as you or Mike. I wanted to win…and…and…”

“We also wanted to win so you wouldn’t feel that pressured for tomorrow,” Mike said as he joined them on the pier.

Nina started to sob uncontrollably. “You ruined it, Mike!”

Oliver knew there wasn’t a simple answer to how Nina was feeling but he started to giggle.

“What’s your problem!?!” Nina exclaimed.

“It’s just that sometimes…” Oliver began.

“Sometimes you feel the same right?” Mike ended.

“And that’s why you make a great team,” Quenzie whispered as it was peeking over the trapdoor.

Nina stopped crying.

“If we lose, we lose together,” Mike said.

“And if we win, we win together,” Oliver replied.

“Then, let’s win tomorrow!” Nina ended as she wiped away her tears.

…

Oliver walked into the handling booth. His heart raced, expecting the action to begin.

“How’s the suit feeling?” Mike asked from outside the booth.

“Feels great!” Oliver responded.

“Glad the adjustments worked,” Nina said.

The public of the Ellipsis Stadium started thumping as the circled stage in the middle of the field lit up.

“Who’s ready for a combat!!!” The announcer called out as the crowd responded.

“On this side, ranked first, is Athena from the Amelia!” The announcer said and Athena’s supporters screamed as Oliver walked it to the combat zone. “And on the other side, unexpected but menacing is Diar from the O’Malley!”

“Let me know when I get too far from Diar,” Oliver said. “Its limbs are longer, we’ll be at a disadvantage.”

“Copy that,” Mike and Nina said.

“Contenders! To your positions,” The referee said as Athena and Diar crouched head to head. “It’s two out of three rounds to win.”

Oliver took a deep breath.

“Fight!” The referee shouted.

Athena lunged forward, looking to grab Diar’s shoulder. Diar dodged and went for Athena’s leg. Oliver reacted and jumped backward, staying out of Diar’s reach. Diar lunged forward with a spinning kick, Athena stopped it in the air and threw Diar but not strong enough to take it out of the circle.

Oliver sighed, it was too heavy.

“It’s neglecting its right side,” Nina commented.

“Copy that!” Oliver responded.

Diar got back to its feet.

“Contenders, fight!” The referee ordered.

Both contenders lunged forward and grappled in a tense struggle.Athena tried to get a stronger hold Diar by placing down the armpit but Diar pushed it away.

“The chest, now!” Mike urged.

Athena jumped closer and secured Diar’s upper body and with a powerful move, flipped Diar onto the mat.

The stadium went wild and the announcer said, “First round goes to Athena!”