55.ii Nebula's Parting

~ Sun Ritsu ~

“Okay well, that was literally the coolest thing I ever saw.” The voice came from Ritsu’s left. To his relief, Sun Shan sounded much less whiny than Yong Kid.

“Senpai always goes all out.”

Ritsu turned his head. “Senpai?” He noticed that he had referred to the Barefoot Sun as such earlier.

Shan nodded. “Yep, that’s what we call our upperclassmen at the academy. Old habits, you know.”

Yong Kid leaned into the conversation without an invite. “Aren’t you in the same graduating class as the Barefoot Sun, though?”

Based on the widening of Shan’s eyes, Yong Kid’s directness caught him off guard, but he laughed goodnaturedly and said, “Technically you’re right! But Zhaoling has always seemed too far ahead of me to see him as an equal. Tie Quan too. That’s why I call them both Senpai.”

Yong Kid muttered something along the lines of what a loser before completely dismissing himself from the convo and leaning back in his seat.

Ritsu shot Shan a more encouraging look. “I get it.”

“Thanks.” Sun Shan held his hand out for Ritsu to shake. “Spark. It’s what my friends call me. Please don’t ever call me Sparky. You might hear some people call me Sparkle-P, but that’s only for premium subscription fan club members.”

“Got it. Nice to meet you.” Ritsu shook his hand, not surprised by the faint crackle of spiritual static that passed through their joined palms. “I’m Sun Ritsu. I don’t have a nickname or a fan club yet.”

Our hero was being far too modest about that last bit. Anyone with eyes could tell that the growing crowd of spectators that would gather on the roof of the Lunch Hero was nothing other than a local fan group. But since Ham Song and Seven were both too far away to correct him, Sparkplug simply accepted those words.

“Lucky you,” he said. “Once you get fans, they start writing stories out loud about what you are to them. Then your gratitude only becomes a burden. You want nothing more than to live up to their expectations.”

Sun Ritsu, knowing nothing about the modern world of idol culture, was about to ask Sparkplug what he meant, when the speakers erupted with the results of Sun Zhaoling’s scores.

There was no doubt among the judges that what Zhaoling accomplished was an act of something wondrous and true. He received extremely high marks almost entirely across the board. The only judge was one of the rabbit spirits, who took a good chunk of points off for the many bloodstains left behind on the tree.

By this time, Zhaoling’s managers had escorted him to his seat among the other contestants. He was also back in his crewneck, this time with a damp towel rolled and tucked into his collar. As soon as Zhaoling sat down, Sparkplug spun around to ask about his wounds.

“They only had to reset one toe and the rest were just cuts.” Zhaoling flexed his bandaged feet. “The casters like to exaggerate. I should be fine before the next trial.”

“I won’t let you beat me, Zhaoling.”

The gruff challenge came from Sun Tie Quan, who apparently was next. Everyone turned their heads as the muscular, blue-haired contestant rose to his feet and took a moment to adjust his quilted shoulder pads. He tossed his long ocean blue mane over his shoulder before making his way out of the section and onto the lawn.

“Do your best, Tie Quan,” Zhaoling replied, as if this exchange was perfectly normal for them.

The feeling of wonder and awe had left Sun Ritsu by now. He remembered Bodhi’s words from earlier, reminding himself that these sun clones were his opponents. At the end of the day, he needed to overcome them.

Sun Zhaoling is amazing, but… he uses his feet to get the job done. No matter the cost. As for Sun Tie Quan…

Something suddenly whizzed by Ritsu’s cheek. At first he thought it was the wind, but it was clear that it was simply Blue Force’s levitating staff going to aid its master.

“Whoa! Tell your staff to watch it, Senpai!” Sparkplug yelled at his peer’s back. Then he turned to Ritsu and held up a tissue. “Here. Take this. You’re bleeding.”

It was only a whisper of a cut, but Ritsu knew that was no accident. Especially with the look Blue Force shot over his shoulder. Ritsu told Sparkplug no thanks and used his own sleeve to wipe his cheekbone. He met Tie Quan’s gaze without blinking.

“Don’t take it personally,” Sparkplug said. “Tie Quan only acts immature like that when he sees someone as a potential rival. The way he is with Sun Zhaoling is as polite as he’ll ever get.”

Even though Ritsu no longer had the qi to back up the threat Blue Force felt that he posed, it still felt good to be acknowledged than to be written off like he had so many times before.

Speaking of someone who writes off our beloved hero, little Sun Yong Kid was not having the greatest of times.

“Blue Force is next?” He moaned, bending over and planting his head between his knees. “I think I really am going to be sick.”

How are you feeling about all of this, Dear Traveler? Are you ready for the next phase in the trial? Let’s see how Sun Tie Quan intends to win over the judges.