Foresight of Fate

(Shiro puts a hand on Shindo’s shoulder.)

“Hey, you alright?”

“Ya…”

“I’m fine, it’s just… I sensed something’s impending.”

(Sachi’s eyes narrowed.)

“Ms Shindo, is it your Fate?”

“Is there danger nearby?”

“I will make sure it poses no threat to you.”

“I… I don’t know.”

(Shiro frowned, puzzled.)

“Fate? That’s your Fate’s power?”

(She hesitated for a moment.)

I was told not to reveal it. What should I do…?

The crowd buzzed around them, lively and loud, watching the match with excitement. The group felt out of place. Well—to be exact, Shindo’s expression felt out of place.

“Ms Shindo, say the word, and I’ll make sure he learns his lesson.”

(Shiro’s mouth dropped open.)

“What did I do!?”

(He glanced at Shindo’s face.)

Aghhhhh!! Why does this keep happening!? Hey, dumb voice, quit screwing with me!

“That’s not my fault. You’re the one who asked.”

“Your poor decision making isn’t my problem.”

You’re useless… and I still don’t have the bone.

“I’m sorry, that was rude of me to ask,” Shiro muttered, genuinely apologetic.

“After you already said you can’t reveal it.”

“No, it’s alright… I’m sorry for worrying you guys.”

“Sachi, please sit down. He apologized.”

Tch.
“As you wish.”

Daichi, as always, chose the absolute worst time to mess with Shiro.

“Nice work, dude.”
“Never learned how to be subtle, huh?”

“Very funny…”

(Shiro leaned in, lowering his voice.)

“Any clue what her Fate is?”

“Dunno. Sounds kinda like my family’s specialty…”

“You gotta stop using your family name as an excuse for being a coward.”

“At least I know when to keep my mouth shut.”

“Pretty sure you almost got sent flying five minutes ago.”

“Pretty sure you were supposed to get sent flying twenty minutes ago.”

“…Touché.”

(Sachi, clearly done with them.)

“How about I send both of you flying?”

Both of them, in sync, sharing the same brain cell:
“We prefer staying on the ground, thanks.”

(Shindo kept her eyes locked on the match.)

“Is it because of this match…?”

(Back to the battlefield.)

The two boys clashed fiercely. The air crackled with tension.

(Mr. Enzaki observed the match from the sidelines, arms crossed.)

“I may have to step in soon…”
“This is getting a little out of hand.”

Then again… maybe this’ll prove my point: strength stands above all. Let’s see how it plays out…

(Ryo dodged another strike, smooth as ever.)

“Analysis at 75%...”

“There’s an 80.3% chance you’ll strike from the left.”

(Tokeru hesitated—then swung from the right.)

(Ryo blocked it without blinking.)

“And a 19.7% chance you’d strike from the right.”

“You’re starting to hesitate.”

(Tokeru’s eye twitched, barely noticeable.)

“Now you’re thinking.”

“How does he know my moves!?”

(Tokeru stepped back, creating space.)

Fshht!

(Ryo casually dodged the incoming beam, barely moving.)

“What are you!?”
“Some kind of fortune teller!?”
“Is that all your Fate does—some party trick!?”

Tch.
I was saving this for when I faced all of them… but it seems I have no choice. Well, as long as the leader goes down, it’s not all for nothing.

(Ryo met his gaze, calm as a glacier.)

“You’re planning to take me out with your next few moves.”

(Tokeru’s jaw tightened.)

“The supposed leader has a prediction-type Fate. Fitting of your title.”

“But it won’t matter. I’ll end the match before your predictions can happen.”

Hmph.
“Analysis at 100%.”
“Prediction, you say?”

“You’re mistaken. My Fate isn’t based on predictions.”

“I use data, logic, and probability to reach a definitive outcome.”

“That is my Fate—‘Converging Nexus’.”

“As of now, my win rate is 98%.”

“This match is already over.”

Ha. Ha. Ha.
“I was right… you people are all the same.”
“Priding yourselves on strength and nothing else.”

“You and your team… you’ll never understand the struggle of someone who had to work their way up.”

Ryo’s voice was calm—too calm—but beneath it, a sharp, dangerous undertone bled through.

“We’ll never understand?”

“Tell me, then—do you understand what it means to fight for your own existence?”

“You say hard work should beat talent. That’s an honorable belief…”

“But all I hear is someone who had the luxury of choosing their own path.”

“Of course we won’t understand the struggle of working our way up.”

(He lowered his voice, just enough to sting.)

“After all… we never had a choice in the matter.”

(Tokeru charged, unleashing a flurry of strikes.)

(Ryo parried them all, efficient, clinical, like it was nothing.)

They clashed back and forth, until they drifted back to the center of the battlefield. The crowd roared—deafening, electric.

Perfect.
He’s exactly where I want him.

(Tokeru’s fists surged with Karo, crackling.)

WHOOOMPH!!

(He slammed the ground.)

The earth cracked, groaned, and erupted.

CRACK-THOOM!!

Jagged stone spikes burst from the ground in a violent surge, racing toward Ryo like a storm unleashed.

Hmph.
“The probability of this happening was 74.6%.”

(He enhanced his agility with Karo, launching himself high.)

“Didn’t I say? I’m guaranteed to win.”

Ha.
“You think you’ll win…”

“Funny… you’ve already fallen for my trap.”

Ryo hung in the air—mid-air, nowhere to land, no ground beneath him.

“Talent… will never beat the strength of hard work.”

This is it.
The perfect example of what hard work can achieve.
I may not have a Fate, but I’ve honed my Karo beyond limits.
This will show them… and everyone… my place.

(Pan to the main group.)

(Shindo pointed, her voice trembling.)

“Him…”

“I feel… whatever is impending… it’s because of him.”

“Ms. Shindo, are you sure?”

“From what I can tell, it looks like a normal match.”

This is unfair. I wanna fight that Strategist too. He seems intriguing, just like the other two…

“No, it’s more like… he’s the trigger.”

(Shiro, confused, scratching his head.)

“Trigger? Like… a catalyst for what’s coming?”

“Yes…”

“What should we do?”

(Shindo’s hands clenched, voice rising.)

“What if something terrible happens? Should we tell someone?”

Shiro tried to comfort her. That said, he was sweating bullets—this was sounding bad.

“Don’t worry. I think the staff will handle it if something goes wrong.”

That said… what if they don’t? What happens then?
This was supposed to be orientation. Why does it feel like something bad’s about to happen!?

“Hey, Daichi, what’s your gut saying?”

(Daichi’s usual smirk was gone—he looked dead serious.)

“She might be right…”

“My danger senses are screaming.”

“But… not here. Whatever’s coming, it won’t hit this area.”

“Are you sure your senses can get that specific?”

“Are you doubting the Kawamura family’s specialty?”

“I can guarantee it’s accurate.”

(Daichi’s voice dropped, a little less sure now.)
Yeah… honestly, if the resident coward says something bad’s coming, it’s probably gonna happen…

“…Probably.”

(Let’s head to Gen Zero.)

“Woooo, this is getting fun.”
“Also unfair. I wanted in on it too.”

(Keigo pouted like a kicked puppy.)

Surprisingly, Haru didn’t react. Her focus was locked elsewhere.

(She watched Ryo, mid-air, her eyes sharp.)

“Ichika. Any updates?”

Ichika, her ghost-like clones hovering above, didn’t even glance down.

“It seems… something’s going to happen.”

“Four individuals on the left wing are talking about something impending.”

“Can you pinpoint the cause?”

“At the moment… all I know is…”

(Ichika pointed at Tokeru.)

“He’s the trigger.”

(Haru’s eyes narrowed.)

“Affirmative.”

(Ayuri smirked, eyes glinting.)

“Oh~ Ghosty, are the four by any chance first-years?”

“Yes.”

“A boy with star-shaped pupils… and another who kinda resembles Keigo.”

(Keigo tilted his head, eyes wide, in full golden retriever mode.)

“Like me?”

“Cool!”

“Keigo, quit cutting in.”

“Sorry, Haru…”

Hmph.

“Good.”
“Next time, be more mindful.”

“Ichika, continue.”

“There are two girls as well. One’s a spitfire—eager to fight.”

“The other…”

“She seems normal, but… she’s panicking.”

(She paused, frowning slightly.)

“Something’s different about her.”

Rukimi finally spoke, low and even.

“So… you sensed it too.”

“Yes. Something hidden deep within.”

“Do you know her? Or what that feeling is?”

“No. Met her and the other three by coincidence.”

(Ayuri casually leaned on Rukimi’s shoulder, playful as ever.)

“I also coincidentally met them too~”

“Well… when I crashed into the Ice Cube here.”

“Coincidentally, he also caught the girl like some Ice Prince.”

“You still haven’t apologized for crashing into me.”

“I don’t need to. You’ll forgive me regardless~”

(Rukimi looked away annoyed.)

Tch.
Why do I let her get away with this… I’m just spoiling her at this point.

(Ichika tilted her head.)

“Is that what you two were doing?”

“Ya. Why?”

“Nothing…”

He. He.

They seem awfully close…

(She returned her gaze to the match, eyes narrowing as she observed through her scout.)

Ryo hovered mid-air, his stare cold, fixed on Tokeru.

Ryo looks cool when he’s serious…

(Haru’s tone was calm but sharp.)

“Should we step in?”

“Rukimi?”

“No. We’ll observe for now.”

“Besides… it’s not our duty anyway.”

(Keigo chimed in, grin wide.)

“I second that!”

(Back to the battlefield.)

Ryo hung mid-air, preparing.

Achoo.

What the…!?
There’s a 57% chance someone was talking about me.

Also a 43% chance of it being a compliment by Ichika.
Heart rate increased by 14.1%. Help.