**Chapter 118 – Astrid and Rina**
It was still the same Friday.
After Joker and Harley's victories, the group stayed near the platforms, watching other matches. The movement only increased. More students registered, some already sweaty, others still far too confident.
Astrid crossed her arms, watching some random fight with a bored expression.
— I'm going in too.
Rina, beside her, smiled sideways.
— Me too. Just watching is making me restless.
— Duo or individual? — Marina asked.
— Both — Astrid answered without hesitation. — If you can enter as many times as you want, there's no reason to hold back.
Rina was already walking toward the registration board.
— I'm going individual first.
A few minutes later, **Rina**'s name was called.
Her opponent was an agitated boy who clearly relied on speed. From the start he tried to press with quick attacks and direction changes. Rina, however, seemed to be having fun. She answered in the same coin, sometimes even faster, dodging by a little and counterattacking at irritating angles. At a certain moment, she faked a retreat, forced the opponent to advance too much, and finished with a sharp strike to the side of the leg, followed by a push that threw him off balance.
— Victory: Rina.
She came down from the platform without even looking tired.
— Next — she murmured, already heading back to the list.
Next it was **Astrid**'s turn.
Her opponent was taller and clearly confident in his own strength. He tried to impose respect right at the beginning, advancing with heavy strikes. Astrid didn't retreat. She received the first impact firmly, slid to the side, and answered with a direct blow to the torso that made the adversary step back twice. From there, the fight became simple: every time he tried to use brute force, she answered with more weight and better positioning. It didn't take long for her to take him down with a low strike followed by a decisive push.
— Victory: Astrid.
When the two returned, Harley clapped slowly, smiling.
— Look at that. The two of them already opened their account.
— Individual done — Astrid said, cracking her neck. — Now we're going duo.
Rina nodded.
— Let's go.
The duo registration didn't take long. Soon the two names appeared on the list, and they were called to one of the side platforms.
The opponents were a mixed duo: a medium-built boy and a girl who seemed more technical. From the start they tried to coordinate, one holding the front while the other looked for openings.
It didn't work well.
Astrid advanced like an anchor, holding the attention of both and forcing space. Rina used exactly that to her advantage, entering from the sides and from behind with speed. Every time one of the opponents tried to turn to deal with Rina, Astrid pressed harder. Every time they tried to hold Astrid, Rina was already on top of them.
The fight lasted a little over a minute. In the end, both adversaries were on the platform floor, unable to recover in time.
— Victory: Astrid and Rina.
As they came down, some gazes were already turning toward the group with more attention than before.
— You two aren't playing around either — Marina commented.
— Obviously — Astrid answered. — If we're going to climb, better start getting the ranking used to our faces.
Rina shrugged, but didn't hide the small smile.
— There's still plenty of Fridays ahead.
Joker observed the two with a calm expression.
— Good start.
— Discreet enough — Harley added. — The way we want for now.
Kuroe, a little farther away, simply followed in silence. Elowen beside her also didn't comment, but was clearly paying attention to every fight from the group.
Friday still had several matches ahead.
And now, besides Joker and Harley, Astrid and Rina had also started marking their presence on the ranking.
**End of Chapter 118**