Dragon Heart | #Wattys2022

VII - Henseichimu

Two months of rigorous training and now it was time for the senior students to show off what they've learned and how much they've mustered under the rigorous training schedule, prepping them for this very day. Today was the day that will determine the rest of their senior year at the Academy, and also their future as a Senshi.

"You guys ready?" Nate asked when he joined his friends in the locker room.

The arena was brimming with spectators – mostly family and friends of the senior students – to watch the finals go down and see who makes the cut to becoming a Junior Senshi.

"As ready as we can ever be," Rin tried to act unaffected, but he was nervous as heck. Truth be told he hadn't slept a wink at all in anticipation of today's finals.

"This is the first time we're doing the Henseichimu finals this way," said Inigo. He was nervous too, but unlike Rin, he was better at hiding the fact than his friend.

"We don't know who we're gonna be facing up against. What if we end up fighting each other?" asked a worried Ori, gnawing on her bottom lip as she tried not to think about what was about to happen.

"If that happens, then we give it our all and know that it wasn't personal," Ru said, determination on his face.

"Easier said than done, doofus," snapped Kura.

"But Ru's got a point there, Kura," Wendy sided with a dejected Ru, making the blonde perk up again now that he knows someone was on his side. "Out in the real world, we never know who we're gonna end up facing off with in an actual battle. It can be a friend gone rogue that we will have to apprehend. Facing off each other now is a good exercise to know how we're going to respond if ever that happens," she pointed out.

"Well said, Wendy," Kio commented, surprising his students by appearing out of nowhere. "I couldn't have said it better," he added and gave her a conspiratory wink.

"Kio!" Rin perked up when he saw his brother. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be out there doing crowd control or something?"

"Ha, ha, very funny, Rin," Kio deadpanned his smart-alecky brother. "Anyway, I just popped in to check on how my students are feeling, and also to let you know that you got nothing to worry about. You trained hard this last couple of months. You got this."

"So...this is your pre-finals inspirational pep talk then, huh?" Rin smirked.

"Shut up, Rin," Kura rolled her eyes at him and gave the side of his head a light shove. "Thanks, Mr. Kio."

Kio gave Kura a grateful smile then cast his students one final look of appreciation before moving on to the next group he found to congratulate.

"I won't be this nervous if my parents and siblings aren't out there cheering me on," Ori whined, wringing her hands out of nervousness.

"Don't worry, Ori, you're not the only one whose judgmental siblings and parents will be out there watching and cheering on," Red gave her friend a friendly pat on the back.

"I'm glad we don't have that kinda pressure on us," smirked Sting.

"What do you mean?" frowned Ori.

"Aren't your parents out there watching too?" Red wore the same confused look Ori was wearing.

"We're orphans, remember?" answered Rogue, standing beside his friend. "And our guardian is probably out on a long ass mission again so we doubt he'll be out there watching," he added with a nonchalant shrug.

"What?" Kura exclaimed. "How come we didn't know about this?" She turned and addressed her friends. "We've known each other for a quarter of the school year already and we are just finding this out now?"