"Wow... it sounds so good..."
Kusanagi Aoi, the little devil who'd been wildly waving her support stick just seconds ago, had quieted down.
She looked at the radiant girl on stage, then at Cloud beside her scratching his nose with an "awkwardly polite" smile, her big eyes clearly saying "I think I... know something incredible."
Meanwhile, our protagonist Cloud felt his back about to be burned through by the countless "jealous and envious" gazes from male compatriots throughout the venue.
Especially that gaze filled with the wailing of a "defeated dog" coming from the Psycho Soldiers team's rest area.
"Sigh..."
Cloud let out that signature sigh again.
"I just wanted to quietly listen to some music. Why... does someone always want to add drama to my life?"
...
The concert ended successfully amid an atmosphere filled with "pink bubbles."
To avoid being mobbed by fanatical fans and reporters, Cloud declined Athena's sweet invitation to "join the celebration banquet together" and, taking the still-reluctant Kusanagi Aoi, slipped out early through the VIP passage.
Nighttime Tokyo remained as prosperous and noisy as ever.
"Hey, Cloud-oniisan," Kusanagi Aoi licked her strawberry ice cream while looking at Cloud with a gossipy "I know everything" expression, "You and Athena-oneesan... are you... dating?"
"Cough cough!" Cloud nearly choked on his own saliva. "Kids shouldn't pry into adult matters."
"Tch, stingy." Kusanagi Aoi pouted dissatisfied. "But... Athena-oneesan is beautiful, sings amazingly, and likes you so much... If you miss this chance, oniisan, you'll be cursed by heaven!"
"You brat, whose side are you on?" Cloud flicked her forehead without real anger.
Just as the siblings were playfully bickering while walking down a relatively quiet commercial street...
Several auras filled with hostility and battle intent suddenly locked onto them from all directions without warning!
"Hmm?"
Cloud's steps halted sharply, his eyes instantly turning cold.
At some point, five fighters wearing different martial arts uniforms with heavy auras had appeared blocking the street ahead, behind, left, and right.
They'd completely sealed off Cloud and Kusanagi Aoi's escape routes.
Leading them was a burly middle-aged man with a samurai topknot.
He cupped his fists toward Cloud, his voice booming like a bell.
"You must be the original King of Fighters, the Second Young Master of the Kusanagi family—Mr. Cloud, correct?"
"What do you want?" Cloud positioned Kusanagi Aoi behind him, asking coolly.
"I am Kamiya Hideki, master of the Mind's Eye Style." The middle-aged man spoke solemnly. "We are several martial artists who have long secluded ourselves at the foot of Mt. Fuji, devoting ourselves to training. Not participating in this KOF tournament is our life's greatest regret."
"Hearing that Your Majesty the King of Fighters has graced Tokyo with your presence, we've come specifically to exchange pointers! We wish to witness with our own eyes just how powerful the original King of Fighters truly is!"
His words were passionate and filled with a warrior's challenging spirit.
But Cloud's eyes flashed with disdain.
Exchange pointers?
This formation of yours clearly says "provoking trouble, ganging up on kids," doesn't it?
Hidden schools? More like "scam artist schools."
"Not interested." Cloud refused without courtesy. "Today I'm here for a date, not a fight. Gentlemen, please leave."
"I'm afraid... you don't have a choice!"
Another fighter wielding dual crutches sneered coldly.
"The title of King of Fighters isn't something a greenhorn brat like you can easily claim! Today, if you don't fight us, you're not leaving here!"
"Oh?" A dangerous glint flashed in Cloud's eyes. "Seems you gentlemen are planning to play 'winner takes all and loser dies,' huh?"
Just as swords were drawn and battle was about to erupt...
An icy voice filled with infinite arrogance and violence appeared without warning in everyone's ears.
"A bunch of... worthless trash... courting death."
The voice wasn't loud.
But the soul-freezing, terrifying killing intent contained within made everyone present—including those five so-called "hidden masters"—shudder as if plunged into an ice cave!
Everyone instinctively looked toward where the voice came from.
Atop a nearby building's roof, under the cold moonlight, a solitary, arrogant figure had appeared there at some unknown time.
His iconic red hair blazed like flames. He wore a uniquely styled yet fashionable black outfit, his pant leg bound with a black strap.
His hands were thrust in his pockets, his body leaning slightly forward like a bloodthirsty beast ready to devour its prey at any moment.
And in those narrow eyes hidden beneath his bangs' shadow, cold and demonic crimson light flickered!
Simply standing there, he seemed to be the only forbidden existence beneath this night sky!
[Ding! Warning! Warning! Detecting ultra-high energy reaction!]
[Target locked: Iori Yagami!]
[Identity: "Child of Destiny," inheritor of one of the Three Sacred Treasures—the Yasakani Magatama!]
[Danger Level: SS+ (Extremely dangerous! This being is currently in a berserk state where everyone looks annoying and he'll bite anyone he catches!)]
Iori Yagami?!
Cloud's heart jolted!
Why is he here?!
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"