Magical Boy ~ English version

Chapter 121

Mineko was particularly worried about the upcoming fight. She had asked Kōtarō not to go too hard against Rena, but the young man had been rather direct.

"You should have more confidence in your girlfriend," he had growled, "she can handle this without me having to hold back my punches! So shut up and just watch!"

She felt stupid. Kōtarō was not wrong. But she couldn't help but worry. After all, their friend hit pretty hard and she was no doubt aware that he had already killed someone.

They sat in front of the screens outside to watch the fight with apprehension.

Rena and Kōtarō faced each other in the arena, the anticipation palpable in the air. The large room was silent except for the slight rustle of their uniforms and the occasional crunch of sand beneath their feet.

Amaretto made sure they were both ready, before blowing the whistle for the start of the duel.

Kōtarō immediately threw himself forward and began with a series of lightning-fast strikes that his comrade seemed to have no problem with. Rena's speed was unmatched as she dashed in turn. She unleashed a flurry of kicks, each precise and calculated. Kōtarō, however, held his ground, blocking and parrying Rena's attacks with brute force.

As the fight continued, so did the intensity. Rena's strikes grew more powerful, fueled by her determination to win the duel. Kōtarō's counterattacks were just as fierce, his blows seeming to shake the air around them.

Their shock echoed throughout the arena, the sound of bone meeting bone and grunts of effort filling the space. Rena's agility allowed her to evade most of Kōtarō's strikes, but the few that did hit her would leave bruises and marks on her body.

With each blow, Rena's determination grew stronger. She refused to back down, her determination shining in her eyes. The fight became a dance of skill and will, each fighter pushing their limits.

In a move that seemed almost effortless, Rena leapt into the air, spinning gracefully and delivering a devastating roundhouse kick to Kōtarō's jaw. The impact knocked him back but he stayed on his feet, the force of the blow reverberating throughout his body. The blow had been struck in the same place as in the previous fight.

But Kōtarō was not yet defeated. He staggered to his feet, his eyes burning with newfound ferocity. He charged towards Rena, his fists flying with relentless force. Rena met his assault head on, matching her power with her speed and agility.

The battle raged, each fighter refusing to give in. Sweat dripped from their eyebrows, their bodies glowed with effort. The room seemed to shrink around them as they locked eyes, their determination reflected in each other's gaze.

Finally, in a final display of skill and strength, Rena grabbed her opponent's arm to gain support and this time send her elbow striking his temple. Kōtarō staggered back, his body unable to withstand the assault any longer.

As he fell to the ground, the room fell silent again, the intensity dissipating. Rena stood over him, her chest heaving, her victory hard fought and well deserved. The whistle sounds to announce the end, with Amaretto declaring Rena as victorious.

The crowd outside applauds excitedly. Rena caught her breath and approached Kōtarō.
Seeing that he was still conscious, she asked him in signs if everything was okay.

Kōtarō weakly raised his arm to respond with a simple thumbs up. But he felt dizzy. He closed his eyes to calm his headache but, in doing so, simply lost consciousness.

Phen-X took care of him quickly. Such a strong blow to the head was not trivial. Rena repeatedly signed apologies, but the nurse reassured her with a smile. These were the risks of a fight of this kind and no rules had established places forbidden to strike.

Fortunately, Kōtarō had nothing. He had simply been knocked out. He quickly regained consciousness and was able to exit the arena shortly after Rena. Their friends congratulated them both. They now simply had to get on the podium which had been made for the occasion. Rena stood on the highest place, Kōtarō in second place, and Rakko in third place. The three American schools were a little disappointed not to have any of their students on the podium, but they congratulated the students sincerely.
Nakamara joined them and passed them small medals as rewards. He congratulated each of them individually, with signs for Rena.

A small party was organized after that, between students and teachers from the six schools. The spectators had dispersed and the enthusiasm had subsided. Nanaya was still worried and asked his childhood friend several times if he was sure he felt okay. To which Kōtarō replied in the affirmative. Phen-X called to reassure Nanaya, but to remind Kōtarō that he should still rest and go to bed early.

The cafeteria was crowded. With the addition of American students and teachers, it was a good thing that the room was really huge. Chef Josuke and his team had spent the day cooking petit fours and easily edible dishes, while having access to screens broadcasting the fights live. He served all kinds of drinks - non-alcoholic - and distributed his Konpeitô. He had prepared some extra treats just for the participants, to congratulate them on their battles and for the winners, their favorite food. A chirashi, a bowl of cold rice, seasoned with rice vinegar, covered with raw salmon and avocado and sprinkled with sesame seeds, for Kōtarō. Lotus seed tempura for Rena. And simple savory croissants with ham and grated cheese for Rakko. He knew by heart the preferences of all the students at the school and the three winners thanked him warmly while enjoying their meal.

The party lasted quite a long time. The principals and Nakamara even hired a DJ to make the students dance, so that they could relax after these first duels. But they couldn't stay awake forever. Even though the next day was a weekend, they had to remain reasonable. The teachers agreed to let the celebrations continue until one in the morning, but then called everyone to order.

Some students protested but the DJ had already packed up his equipment. Nakamara approached his son and suggested that he come home for the weekend. Thoki and Nameko had already returned to the mansion before the fighting ended, as all the noise was not good for Kemori. But they followed the rest directly from home.

The group of friends immediately asked for permission to come too, hoping to take advantage of the weekend to help Thoki or at least see what help he might need exactly. After several calls to their families, Thoki joined them, because a single car would not be enough to take everyone.