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Backstage at the tournament venue, fighters gathered in large numbers.
Chin Gentsai wasn't the only one who felt surprised.
In truth, many people were.
There were simply too many unfamiliar faces in this KOF tournament.
If it were just a few newcomers, no one would think much of it.
The world was full of masters.
Hidden experts existed everywhere.
Everyone present understood that.
But this time, five extra teams had appeared.
Fifteen additional fighters.
And every single one of them was a master no one had seen or even heard of before.
That was strange.
Even with hidden talents, this was excessive.
"Do you know any of them?" Joe Higashi asked, standing beside Terry Bogard as he scanned the competitors.
His gaze lingered on Apachai.
Like King, Joe was a Muay Thai master.
Apachai's attire clearly matched that style.
Which only made things stranger.
Joe was one of the top figures in the Muay Thai world.
He knew most of the famous fighters.
But this man?
He had never seen him.
Never even heard his name.
That made no sense.
Anyone qualified to enter KOF should have some reputation.
Terry shook his head.
"I don't know any of them either."
That was what bothered him most.
"Hey, Andy."
Mai Shiranui walked over with King and Kasumi Todoh.
Her eyes swept over Terry and Joe before landing on the blond man.
"Mai."
Andy's face lit up immediately.
He opened his arms, ready to hug her.
But for some reason, Mai instinctively took a step back.
Andy froze.
It was awkward.
She had never avoided his hugs before.
Unless-
"Are you angry, Mai?" Andy asked, completely confused.
"I'm not angry," Mai replied quickly.
She was just as surprised by her own reaction.
She steadied herself.
"I'm just... a little..."
She couldn't even explain it.
Why did she step back?
Even she didn't know.
King sensed the tension and cut in before Mai could struggle further.
"By the way, what were you just talking about?"
Terry answered casually, not suspecting anything.
"These new faces. We've never seen them before. It's strange."
King nodded. "They're actually Mai's friends. They're staying at her dojo right now."
Terry, Joe, and Andy all turned to Mai at the same time.
Andy couldn't help asking, "All of them? How did you meet them?"
Mai recalled how she met Emiya.
Her face flushed.
"We... we met by chance. They're all really good people."
Andy frowned. "Then why are you blushing?"
"None of your business."
She snapped back instinctively.
Andy: ...
Terry adjusted his hat and glanced at Mai.
He could tell something was off between her and his brother.
Thinking it over, Andy really didn't contact her much.
It made sense she'd be upset.
After the tournament, he should probably talk to Andy.
A girlfriend like Mai couldn't be taken for granted.
Meanwhile, Emiya noticed Mai and Andy meeting.
A mischievous glint flashed through his eyes.
He walked over.
It felt like Loki's influence rubbing off on him.
"Hey, Mai."
He greeted her warmly.
Then his gaze swept over Terry, Joe, and Andy.
With a smile, he said, "Mai, who are these people? Aren't you going to introduce me?"
Mai felt goosebumps instantly.
If they weren't here, she would've checked Emiya's forehead and asked if he had a fever.
But with everyone watching, she couldn't.
So she forced a dry smile.
"These are the members of the Fatal Fury Team. Terry, Joe Higashi, and Andy."
"And this is Emiya. My friend."
Emiya's eyes lit up.
"So this is the famous Fatal Fury Team. I've heard a lot about you."
"You all look impressive. True masters."
"Especially you, Mr. Terry. You look like a master at first glance."
Terry kept his composure.
Though he was already guessing Emiya's relationship with Mai, he responded politely.
"You flatter me, Mr. Emiya."
Emiya smiled and turned to Andy.
"And this must be Mai's ex-boyfriend."
Silence fell.
Mai's face went pale.
Terry's eyes sharpened.
Joe's smile froze.
Andy's expression twisted in shock and anger as he looked between Emiya and Mai.
King covered her face.
She understood now.
Emiya was here to stir trouble.
Andy forced a smile.
"Mai, since when am I your ex?"
Mai shot Emiya a furious glare.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Emiya looked surprised.
"Oh? You haven't broken up yet? Then I misunderstood."
"My apologies."
"We've known each other so long, but I've never seen you call your boyfriend."
"And your boyfriend never comes to see you."
"So I assumed you'd broken up."
"Isn't that right, Mr. Andy?"
Andy's anger drained away.
Only embarrassment remained.
He avoided Mai's eyes.
Terry looked away.
He knew his brother too well.
Emiya continued, "Sorry, Mai. That was my mistake."
"But since you're still together, you should also be considerate of your boyfriend."
Andy was stunned.
Why was this guy suddenly speaking for him?
King knew exactly what Emiya was doing.
Emiya spoke calmly, "Honestly, all men are the same."
"They're never satisfied."
"Take me, for example. I only have one girlfriend right now-Medea."
"But I'm pursuing Medusa too."
"So sometimes I neglect Medea."
"That's normal. And she's very understanding."
Andy exploded.
"I'm not chasing other women!"
His shout drew countless gazes.
Emiya looked at him in surprise.
"When did I say that, Mr. Andy?"
"I was talking about myself."
"Why are you so worked up?"
Andy: ...
King patted Emiya's back.
"Just shut up already. Can't you talk less?"
Mai gave a bitter smile.
"I know you're trying to help me, but this is really awkward."
Emiya replied, "Awkward? I don't think so."
"Want a tip?"
"Next time you feel awkward, just stay calm and tell yourself this."
"As long as I'm not awkward, everyone else is."
"Isn't that right, Mr. Andy?"
Terry stepped forward, his tone turning cold.
"Mr. Emiya, please stop targeting my brother."
He was clearly annoyed now.
Emiya didn't back down.
"I don't think I'm the one making things difficult."
"Is it really that fun to keep Mai hanging like this?"
"The one who's loved is fearless, after all."
With that, Emiya turned and walked away.
Leaving behind a group of stiff, embarrassed people.
A moment later, King came over and sat beside him.
"I know you were standing up for Mai."
"But your approach was too aggressive."
"It'll only hurt their relationship."
"That's the point," Emiya said calmly.
King frowned. "Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere with Mai's choices?"
"I did," Emiya nodded.
"But I realized something."
"I was wrong."
"Wrong?" King asked. "How?"
Emiya sighed.
"The moment I told Mai about the future, I interfered."
"You saw it earlier."
"When Andy tried to hug her, she stepped back."
King nodded.
She'd seen it clearly.
Emiya continued, "Mai likes Andy."
"But after learning the future, she became afraid."
"Conflicted."
"She's torn between her feelings and that terrible future."
"So she stepped back instinctively."
"She wasn't rejecting Andy."
"She was rejecting that future."
"If this continues, their relationship will be worse than the original timeline."
"At least there, they still liked each other."
"But now?"
"They won't marry."
"And they'll torment each other."
"Mai won't be able to step out of that shadow."
"She won't even be able to accept someone else."
King listened quietly.
"Is that a future you've seen?" she asked.
Emiya shook his head.
"No."
"It's a future I hypothesized."
"A very bad one."
"I can't say it will happen."
"But I can't say it won't, either."
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