May 23. Fourteen going on fifteen years old. Saishuu Riku.

The early morning breeze leant the air a chill, just enough to raise goosebumps on my skin, but not enough to warrant an extra shirt. From purple to blue, the sky lightened with the rising sun. The streets were abuzz with chatter. Besides the usual merchants setting up their stores and their early regulars, several teenagers strode through the alleyways. Most of them walked in groups of four, laughing and gossiping about who knew what. Well, I had an idea. Today was the beginning of the Second Grade Tournament.

The letter said the opening ceremony would be held at the amphitheatre. I’d been there before, for lectures which all three streams, the fighters, medics, and informants, had. While it was only three or four stories at best, the building had a giant girth. Red and white marble adorned its walls, and several spiked domes stood on each corner like a sentry. Hoards of people swarmed toward it.

I joined the masses, getting jostled and pushed along the way. An older teenager whacked my shoulder, too absorbed in her conversation to even apologize. Some people should really pay attention to their hands while talking!

Past the giant arched doorway, the vast hall spread out before my eyes. Despite the large crowd, it wasn’t stuffy. Two rows of giant windows ran across the walls, sending in the breeze from the outside. Staircases ran up and down between the ground floor and the balconies. People scrambled around, to find their friends or a better spot to stand. At the other end was a podium and a few chairs, but all the seats were empty. Back when I was in training, there’d be chairs across the whole hall. But with this many people, it seemed they’d had no space.

I ran my eyes across the crowd, trying to find a familiar face. Beside the entrance stood a boy with spiky hair like Ahio, but it wasn’t him. On a balcony across me was a short, large-eyed boy, but no, it wasn’t Daisuke. Every time I thought I found someone, it turned out to be someone else.

There!

A few feet away, right below the second balcony to my right, was a head of coiled yellow bangs. I craned my neck this way and that to get a better look as people shuffled around. It was a dark-skinned girl in striped purple overalls, shifting around, and running her eyes over the masses.

Smiling, I pushed through the crowd. I thought she’d notice by the time I got close. But her gaze was still fixed on the wrong side of the hall.

‘Hey, Maya.’ I placed a hand on her shoulder.

She turned around with a gasp. Her lips stretched into a smile, but froze as she saw who I was. She shook her head, her cheeks getting darker, and beamed at me again. ‘Oh, hi, Tahro.’

What’s that about?

‘Is everything alright?’ I frowned.

‘Oh-oh, yeah!’ she said, stretching out her neck to search the rest of the crowd again. ‘I’m-I’m just looking for someone.’

‘Do you mean Cho and Kei?’ But then, she said someone, not plural.

She spun around, hazel eyes wide. ‘Um- well, it’s my--’

‘Tahro! You’re here!’ A girl’s voice shouted from one side. Kaede broke through the rabble, one hand pulling a russet-toned Tsubasa and the other lugging Ahio. I hoped his injuries had healed enough to withstand that. Where’s Tayo? Daisuke followed, his little nose wrinkled.

I glanced at Maya, wondering what she was going to say. But she was already fixated on the crowd. Well, I’d better leave her alone to find whoever it is. I turned back to the others. ‘Hi guys. Wait, why are you here, Ahio?’

‘Hmph, like I’m going to stay put while you guys have all the fun,’ he huffed, crossing his arms. ‘I’m gonna attend every event and cheer you on!’

‘And wake us up at ungodly hours in the morning,’ Kaede sighed. ‘You know, my sister’s very mad at you for waking her up with your incessant shouting.’

‘Mine too,’ said Daisuke with a glare. ‘And me too. Some of us like being on time. Not early enough to be the only ones in the room.’

Ahio smirked. ‘You weren’t even asleep! I saw you curled up with a book in your bed.’

Daisuke’s cheeks flamed red. ‘I always read for a few hours in the morning. Not this morning, thanks to you.’

‘You’re welcome.’ Ahio ruffled Daisuke’s hair. ‘I would’ve woken you too, Tahro, but I didn’t know where you lived.’

Thank God.

‘That’s alright.’ I chuckled.

‘Maya, there you are!’ A more high-pitched female voice screamed ahead of us. A brown blur rushed out, enveloping Maya. Just before I could dodge, she got me too, crushing me in a bone-breaking hug.

‘Hey Cho,’ I gasped out, her curls getting in my mouth.

‘We’ve been looking all over for you two.’ She broke the hug, leaving me and my ribs in peace.

Kei strode out from the direction she came, rolling his eyes.

Just as I was about to introduce squad six to squad eleven, a rush of static crackled in the air. All conversations came to a stop and only a tapping noise rang through the halls. I turned my eyes to the podium, and sure enough, a woman stood on the stage. She held a mic, tapping it to test it.

A scar ran across her forehead and down her nose. Another ran up her arm, out of sight into the sleeves of her white cape. They were lighter than her tan complexion yet raised. That, and her short brown braid placed no doubt in mind on who she was-- the Head Swordsman, Natsumi Inoue.

‘Welcome, to the Annual Second Grade Tournament.’

Cheers erupted in the air. Some hooted and whistled, each sound growing more in amplitude as people tried to outdo the others. Swordsman Natsumi tapped the mic again, and the crowd hushed.

‘I’m sure for many of you, that this year is not your first. And I’m sure that for many of you, it won’t be your last.’ She paused, fixing her eyes on us. I gulped. ‘We are looking for the best. We are looking for tenacity, guile and strength. A second grade would not be molly-coddled, would not need it. Everyone would be watching you, the Minister, myself, the first grades. You must prove yourself to us!’

For the next several minutes, she explained the protocol. The tests we’d have to take over the next few days and the tasks involved. First, everyone would have a general test. Fighters would then have a one on one match. Afterwards, it was a team test. For some reason, she skirted around exactly what that task would entail. The floor was then open for questions.

By the time the event was over, it was not even noon yet. I bid goodbye to my friends, already organising what I’d need to prepare for the tournament. Despite how my mum had pushed me to the point that some books make me nauseous, there was something about competing that I enjoyed. The focused preparations, the adrenaline rush when finishing a task and the triumph when the final results come out. This was a chance to prove myself as a swordsman.

I’m not going to lose.