A Vengeful Retribution

Chapter 36: Summer

3rd POV

The fire crackled softly as skewers of fish and vegetables roasted above the open flames. Warm light flickered across the group's faces—sweaty from the beach, tired from a full day, but content. Most of them had changed into breezy evening clothes, towels still hanging over their shoulders, sand clinging stubbornly to bare feet.

Rei had chosen that moment—maybe on purpose, maybe not—to speak up.

"There's a summer tournament being posted on the school board next week," she said evenly, holding her own skewer without eating it yet. "Thought it'd be worth bringing up."

Several heads turned. Charlotte blinked.
"Oh? That thing again? I heard last year's had like... six injuries in a day. And one blown-up arena module."

"Mostly first-years," Rin added, biting into her skewer. "Trying to prove themselves and biting off more than they could chew."

Haruto, meanwhile, leaned back against his folding chair, holding a ceramic mug of chamomile tea like an old man who'd been through three wars and paid rent on all of them.

"Ah, that one," he said, voice slow and mellow as steam curled from the drink. "'Dangerous' for first years since, well—kids. Not quite used to an IS. Panic, oversteering, burnouts, core misfires. You name it."

He raised the mug in a half-toast toward Rei before sipping.

"But for us second years? It's usually a nice way to gain prestige. Or lose everything in a very public fashion." He let the statement hang just long enough for dramatic flair. "It's like the Olympics. But with your IS, and of course—combat. Y'know how it goes. Evaluate you on your fighting style, your ability to cooperate, efficiency, adaptability, restraint, showmanship..."

Haruto exhaled in bliss, slowly closing his eyes.
"Mmm. This tea hits the spot. Wish I could melt now too..."

Laura sat beside him, arms crossed but clearly relaxed.

"So you're joining, then."

"Did I say that?"

"You're explaining it like someone who already accepted."

"I'm explaining it like someone who wants none of you idiots to come crying to me when it turns into a disaster."

"But you'll still step in anyway," Charlotte said with a smirk.

"Because I have to."

"Because you want to," Rin corrected, teasing.

Haruto sighed, dragging his hand down his face, clearly too relaxed to argue and too surrounded to win.

Rei, still unreadable, tilted her head at him slightly.
"Would be good to have you as a rival in the bracket."

"Would be better if you didn't ambush me at 6 AM the day before," Haruto fired back without missing a beat.

"No promises."

The others chuckled. Cecilia leaned in with a grin.
"Well, I certainly intend to join. Prestige or not, I won't fall behind."

"Same here," Houki nodded. "Besides, it's good training. And maybe we'll finally get to face each other without all the interference."

"I'm not letting you people near a bracket without someone sane to balance it," Haruto muttered into his tea. "Guess I'm joining."

A round of grins, competitive glares, and spark-igniting tension passed through the group like lightning.

The summer tournament was no longer just a bulletin board announcement—it was the next proving ground.