The looming storm

"Ugh! So tired!" Daria moaned as she flopped down onto the bed.

The gauntlet had indeed taken it's toll on Daria, despite her coming out on top. However, she would need to get as much rest and relaxation as possible as she would be playing in the next round.

"Ugh, I'm gonna fuck those bitches for tricking me. I missed some peak shit thanks to them dragging me off!" Iori fumed as she stared at her phone.

"What do you mean?" Mimoko asked.

"There were some intense games they were focusing on. One was the Czechoslovakia vs Ecuador match. I wanted to see if Czechoslovakia would get swept live!"

"And?"

"I saw the headline. Shit got spoiled so I'm pissed."

"Hey Mimoko, why don't you massage me while we watch the video of the match?" Daria grinned as she pulled up a highlight reel of the match on her WWCF card.

"Why do I have to massage you?" Mimoko glared.

"Because I saved you! It wasn't easy facing all those opponents! And I don't even get a proper rest day until the day after tomorrow. So massage my breasts and feet," Daria pouted.

That line instantly improved Iori's move as she giddily readied her phone.

"No, I'm doing it without removing her bra. And you should be helping out too considering she saved you too," Mimoko growled.

"But she's your mom. You deserve to give her the full massage. But if she wants some tribute, I'll run down to the cafeteria. Maybe I'll run into Oki-kun too."

Daria began to frown. "I doubt it. By the looks of it, they're all still playing. In fact, I think they're the last ones overall that have yet to finish their match."

"Huh? Why's that?"

"I don't know. But by the looks of things, it looks like the French are stalling things out."

"Though if those two are the only teams left playing, that would mean the pairings should be up for the women's section, yes?" Mimoko asked.

Daria nodded and Mimoko proceeded to look up the pairings. "They are up... ..."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Prussia... We're playing Prussia."

...

In another hotel room, Kuon gritted her teeth in fury as she stared at the pairings. "NO! Why is Japan facing off against Prussia!? We're still going perfect, so why are we facing Norway instead of Prussia!?"

"The president's hand, I suppose. The rumor goes he wants Japan and Norway to face off in the 10th round, assuming both are undefeated up to that point," Elenora sighed.

"They better not field Hagemi then! I'M the only one allowed to beat her!"

"So that means you think she'd lose to someone from Japan?" Agatha snickered.

Kuon shot her a death glare, but Agatha was right on the money. Maestro Himitsu naturally came to mind as someone that could effortlessly beat Hagemi, but the Prussians might not know or care about that and field her against Daria anyway. But the one living rent free in Kuon's head was Mimoko.

It was all Mimoko's fault. If she had never shown up, none of this would be happening. If it weren't for her, Kuon and Hagemi would remain rivals to the end of time, but now that Mimoko was here and upending the old order, everything was in disarray.

"They better not field Hagemi... THEY BETTER-"

...

"...Field Hannelore," Edeltraude grinned.

Ingrid scowled at the proposal. "Why? Hannelore is our secret weapon, yet when we received her, we were told under no circumstances to field her against an opponent that was capable of beating her."

"So we just keep her in storage? This match is the perfect time to field her! You saw what happened with the maestro, so it's either she sits out or gets fielded tired. That's our chance to take out Japan!"

"So you plan to field her against the maestro?"

Edeltraude's grin widened. "Nah, I'M gonna personally beat the maestro. Sybille and I were denied the chance of facing her today, but now, revenge will be had."

"Correct! Iori is my prey to slaughter!" Sybille declared as she slapped her riding crop down on her palm.

"And thus, Hannelore shall take out Mimoko Inoue. Our plan is genius! Oh, guess I forgot about the fourth member... It matters not. You or Magdalena vs that rookie or the SPCM, I, Sibylle, and Hannelore shall be what gets our team the 2.5 points needed for the victory."

"So you think Hannelore will draw Mimoko?"

Edeltraude leaned back in her chair and slammed her heeled boot down on the coffee table. "A draw wouldn't upset Kuon, but if she can go for the win, she goes for it. You really think I got to my higher-ranking position than you with just brashness and cruelty? I'm a strategist through and through."