Chapter 102: Nervous, and Excited.
Rafael went into his Fighting Stance. His left foot was in front, while his right foot was behind, with a 1-meter distance.
Ichiro went into his favorite Cat Stance.
Giron smiled and shouted, ''FIGHT!''
Rafael lowered his stance, motioning for Ichiro to make his first move.
[Iron Burst!]
Under the astonished gazes of others, Ichiro disappeared and arrived in front of Rafael!
''Ohh…'' Giron was impressed; he saw Ichiro's movement.
Ichiro put all his strength on his right leg and did a quick burst, but he also went into a very low stance, and Rafael's eyesight couldn't spot him. But it was still incredibly fast technique. Even Michael and Sariel didn't see him.
[Iron Palm!]
Ichiro put his palm forwards and thrust it towards Rafael's unguarded face.
Rafael pushed his backward, but suddenly the palm stopped, and it became elbow attack instead!
[Ironing Ridge!]
The elbow hit squarely at Rafael's cheek, making him stumble a few meters until he managed to stop his body.
A slight bruise mark appeared on Rafael's cheek.
Michael and Sariel went serious; they needed to study those two as much as possible during this fight.
Rafael stood straight, his Fighting Stance looked sloppy, but there wasn't any sign of weak spots!
Blue rims in Ichiro's eyes disappeared.
Rafael ignored the pain in his cheek and approached Ichiro with slow steps.
[Iron Burst!]
Rafael took a step backward, dodging Ichiro's sudden attack.
[Superior Being!]
Rafael put his palms forwards and took a quick step forwards, and pushed his two palms forwards!
[Ironic Edge!]
Ichiro with ease redirected the attack and made a follow-up attack.
[Iron Palm!]
The palm approached Rafael's face, and when it was only an inch away.
Rafael crouched and did a leg sweep.
Ichiro leaped to the sky, but then Rafael stood up in a hurry and unleashed a flurry of punches.
[Superior Dominance!]
[Ironic Edge - Wind Hindering!]
Ichiro used his palms and redirected all the punches, and once he hit the ground, he retreated instantly.
Rafael's eyebrow twitched.
Giron crossed his arms, corner of his mouth curved into slight small, 'Very good…'
Michael and Sariel didn't look good, they tried to find ways to overcome the annoying-looking redirecting technique, but they haven't been successful so far.
Jordan and the others cheered Ichiro in their minds; the Hall was very quiet, no one wanted to interrupt them.
Rafael put his right fist forwards and started circling around Ichiro.
Ichiro had his palms forwards, ready to redirect everything.
'He is going to be more offensive from now on…' Ichiro thought to himself.
Rafael narrowed his eyes, 'He has no weakness… That technique is very amazing…'
But their thoughts came to an end because Rafael decided to start attacking!
[Superior Existence!]
Rafael did a simple punch.
'What…?' Ichiro was confused; he easily redirected the punch, but then Rafael's punch somehow changed directions and hit Ichiro straight in the cheek!
''?!'' Ichiro stumbled a few meters; he jumped backward, dodging Rafael's incoming kick.
'What was that…' Ichiro was confused, but he concentrated once again.
Ichiro's gaze was locked with Rafael, but then…
*SWOSH*
Rafael disappeared!
'Where?!' Ichiro looked confused, his gaze was perfectly locked on his figure, but still, he managed to escape his field of vision.
Then… A presence appeared behind him; Ichiro kicked behind him, but he didn't contact anything; instead, he felt something hard contacting his nape.
''UGH!'' Ichiro grimaced with widened eyes, he fell down on the ground, but with split-second thinking, he started rolling on the ground, dodging a deadly-looking kick.
He stood up in a hurry and saw Rafael's figure.
Ichiro grabbed his nape and rubbed it painfully, 'How… He doesn't use my blindspots; he doesn't use his leg strength to move this quick… How is he doing this?'
'Redirecting my field of vision? No, that can't be.' Ichiro pushed those thoughts out of his mind; if he concentrated enough, he will find what Rafael was using.
Giron was rubbing his chin thoughtfully, but then his eyes widened, 'I see… When Ichiro concentrates on his legs to determine his next move, Rafael kicks the ground with such strength that makes him fly high in the air; that way he dodges Ichiro's Field of vision… But how can he jump with such force and not make any noise… The arena isn't even damaged… He even lands on the ground silently.'
Ichiro's gaze again lingered on Rafael's legs, and instantly he disappeared!
'Why is he only moving when I look at his legs…' Ichiro wondered, but then he exclaimed, 'Sky?!' He turned towards the sky and saw Rafael's descending figure.
'Damn!' Rafael thought; he stopped descending towards Ichiro, instead landed a few dozen meters away from him, 'He found out too quickly…'
Before they could do anything else, loud clapping was heard.
They turned their heads and saw Giron's grinning figure, ''That is good enough; it wouldn't be fair for you two if all your tricks are exposed in one day.'' He pointed towards Michael and Sariel, who were looking closely at their every move.
Rafael sighed and nodded.
Ichiro took a deep breath and walked away from the arena.
''You both were excellent; no need to be impatient to prove yourself,'' Giron said.
Ichiro walked next to Jordan.
''You were better,'' Jordan whispered.
Wells and Nolan nodded with thumbs up.
Ichiro chuckled, ''Thanks.''
''Coach is coming!'' Jordan shout whispered; they all looked towards Giron and stood with straight backs.
Giron nodded and stopped in front of Ichiro, ''Kurogami Ichiro from Gensa, correct?''
Ichiro nodded.
''From which Martial Arts Family are you from? I have never heard family called Kurogami.'' Giron asked curiously.
Jordan and others were curious as well.
''Umm… I am not from any Martial Arts Family.'' Ichiro said with honesty.
''What!'' Giron exclaimed; hardly anyone saw him surprised, but now he was.
Jordan and others' eyes widened in disbelief.
''How did you learn your Techniques then?'' Giron asked.
''By myself,'' Ichiro replied.
Giron's eyes widened, ''It isn't hereditary Martial Arts Style?!''
Ichiro shook his head.
''What is your Style called?''
Ichiro puffed his chest in pride, ''Iron Style!''
Giron pondered deeply, he had never heard of that style before, and he had never seen Techniques like Ichiro uses. He has seen similar ones, but Ichiro's techniques were different.
''Does anyone else know this Style?'' Giron asked.
Ichiro shook his head, ''Only me.'' There was his 'Mistress' Quella, who stole *cough* borrowed his techniques.
''Have you registered the Technique? If it's a new style, it will always be yours with your name on it, like Kurogami Ichiro's Iron Style.''
Ichiro shook his head, ''I haven't.''
Giron nodded, ''Go to Martial Arts Association one day, you will have to show your techniques, and then the Iron Style will be yours forever, and no one can steal that Style, and if someone does, they are registered as Rankless Ones.''
Ichiro nodded.
''Also, when you are older, you can teach the style and spread the name of your style; quite many retired Martial Artists do this,'' Giron said and left towards trainers, he was still shocked, and he needed some time to calm himself down. Not every day, you see a 16-year-old kid who created his own style.
''Did you really create that style?'' Jordan asked with disbelief.
Ichiro smiled and nodded, ''I know… I am amazing.''
Jordan snorted, ''So humble.''
Ichiro glared at him, ''Want to spar?''
Jordan quickly shook his head and hid behind Wells, ''I am fine.''
Ichiro chuckled.
The first training session was only 1 hour long, it was mostly to know everyone better. Four Kings and others didn't meet any Main Fighters or Reserve Fighters today, only some ordinary club members, but there were still some Martial Captains among them, but Michael, Sariel, and Rafael didn't really care about them.
Only Ichiro chatted with them a little bit, till the first training was over.
Ichiro with Jordan and others, returned to the dormitory.
Michael, Sariel, and Rafael instantly entered their room while Ichiro went towards Jordan's room.
Ichiro sat down on the chair while Jordan, Wells, and Nolan were playing card games.
*Ding* *Ding*
''Hmm?'' Ichiro took his phone and opened the WorldlyTalk app.
{NightButterfly: Hi}
Ichiro's mouth instantly curved into a small smile.
{KingOfGames: Heyo!}
{NightButterfly: Are you busy tomorrow?}
Ichiro thought for a moment, and there wasn't supposed to be anything special, except if Coach again suddenly appeared.
{KingOfGames: Not really}
Ichiro waited for a few moments longer; for some reason, it took a long time for NightButterfly to reply.
But then the message came.
{NightButterfly: Wanna meet tomorrow?}
'In the game? I guess, I supposed I can.' Ichiro thought to himself.
{KingOfGames: In the game, right? I can :) }
Ichiro was about to close the phone, but suddenly he heard multiple dinging noises coming from the phone.
{NightButterfly: Not there!}
{NightButterfly: I-I mean in real life}
{NightButterfly: I actually live in Coldland as well…}
Ichiro widened his eyes and screamed, ''AAHHHH!''
''Dude, what the fuck?'' Jordan flinched because of the sudden scream.
Ichiro didn't answer back, instead ran towards his room and fell down on his bed.
He started typing.
{KingOfGames: Winterlight?}
{NightButterfly: Yes.}
Ichiro's heartbeat started increasing, his throat was parched, but he started typing.
{KingOfGames: Sure, where do you want to meet?}
His heartbeat was increasing; he was excited but also extremely nervous.
'Why am I so nervous?' Ichiro thought he was foolish.
Soon, he received a message.
{NightButterfly: In the Coldland Mall… Recently a new Cafe was opened there.}
''What a coincidence.'' Ichiro smiled; he and others visited that place yesterday.
{KingOfGames: I will be there, when?}
{NightButterfly: 10 A.M, if it is okay with you?}
{KingOfGames: Yes! See you there!}
Ichiro closed the phone and lied on his bed silently.
''Is this date…? What should I wear?!'' Ichiro exclaimed and grabbed his bag.
He hadn't unpacked yet, and he threw everything on his bed.
On the other side of Coldland.
Azura anxiously went through her closet, trying to find anything good to wear, ''All look bad!'' She almost started crying, all her clothes weren't that fancy, she didn't have enough money to buy something expensive.
While Ichiro and Azura anxiously tried to find something to wear.
Neither of them had any idea.
That this meeting will be the start of something lovely.