Chapter 17: A New Game, An Old Rival

"He's trying to break us apart," Shouka said, his voice grim. The whole team was gathered in the lounge of their training facility, the mood a stark contrast to the celebrations that had filled the room just a month ago. He had just explained the situation with Akiro, who sat quietly, tears welling in her eyes.

"That slimy snake," Mina growled, clenching her fists. "I'll bake him a cake he'll never forget."

"Violence, while tempting, is not a strategically optimal solution," Emi stated, pushing up her glasses. "This requires a more delicate approach."

They were hurt and angry, but seeing one of their own being targeted had a galvanizing effect. The petty doubts and whispered arguments of the past week vanished, replaced by a unified sense of purpose. They rallied around Akiro, assuring her that her family's debt was now their problem, not just hers.

"But what do we do about Tanaka?" Yuki asked. "He's playing a game we don't know the rules to."

"Then we change the game," Kimi said, her voice firm. She had been quiet until now, her expression a mixture of anger and cold calculation. "He wants to fight in the boardroom. Fine. But right now, we need to remember who we are. We're a team. And teams play together."

Her solution was, as usual, brilliantly unconventional. A local convention was hosting a charity tournament for "Fist of the Dragon 5," a brand-new, highly anticipated fighting game. The stakes were low, the cause was good, and it was the furthest thing from the high-pressure world of Delta Strike.

"A fighting game?" Kenji asked, raising an eyebrow. "I haven't seriously played one of those in years."

"Exactly," Kimi said with a smile. "No expectations. No pressure. Just fun."

The idea was infectious. For one weekend, they would forget about Ronin Corp, about contracts and corporate espionage. They would just be gamers again.

The tournament was a blast of chaotic energy. The fighting game format brought out a different side of everyone. Kenji’s aggression made him a natural, and he quickly became one of the top contenders. Haru, true to form, picked the weirdest, most gimmicky character on the roster and frustrated his opponents with bizarre, unpredictable tactics. The rivalry between him and Emi reached new heights, as she meticulously studied frame data and combo lists, determined to beat him with pure, mathematical certainty.

The biggest surprise was Kimi. The legendary Spicarie, the phantom of Delta Strike with god-like reflexes, was shockingly, hilariously bad at fighting games. She couldn't get the combos right, she kept forgetting her special moves, and her defensive timing was nonexistent.

"How is this possible?" she groaned after losing spectacularly to a twelve-year-old. "I can track sixteen different targets in a 3D space, but I can't block a low kick?"

It was Shouka’s turn to be the coach. He sat with her for hours, patiently walking her through the basics, teaching her about spacing, footsies, and mind games. It was a complete role reversal, and in that small, shared moment of vulnerability, they reconnected on a level they had missed amidst the chaos.

The tournament took an interesting turn when they noticed a familiar name in the brackets: "Phoenix Reborn." It was an old MOBA team, their biggest rivals from the amateur leagues years ago, back when it was just Shouka, Yuki, Mina, Emi, and Akiro. Their leader, a charismatic and cocky player named Ryota, spotted them in the crowd.

"Well, well, if it isn't MrJanitor and his crew," Ryota said with a wide grin, clapping Shouka on the back. "I heard you guys went pro in that shooter game. Got too good for us old-timers?"

The reunion was friendly, but the old competitive fire was instantly rekindled. The charity event now had a personal stake. It became an unofficial grudge match: Stardust Breakers versus Phoenix Reborn.

The final match of the tournament came down to Kenji versus Ryota. It was an epic, back-and-forth battle that had the entire crowd on their feet. In the end, Kenji narrowly won. The two shook hands, a new respect forged between them.

As they were packing up, Ryota pulled Shouka aside. "Hey, man," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "Be careful. A guy from Ronin Corp approached my team last week. Tanaka. He was asking a lot of questions about you guys. About your old matches, your weaknesses… He even offered me money for our old match replays."

Shouka's blood ran cold. Tanaka wasn't just trying to poach his players. He was digging into their past, looking for any weakness to exploit.

"I told him to get lost, of course," Ryota said. "We were rivals, not enemies. Just watch your back. That guy plays dirty."

The fun and games were over. Tanaka was still out there, and he was more dangerous than they had realized.