(The Kurogane family vehicle glides along the highway, heading toward the hotel in D-City, where the fighters will be staying before the tournament.)

  Inside the car, each passenger prepares in their own way.

  Homura is wrapped in her cloak, arms crossed and eyes closed. Yep, she's asleep. Her breathing is steady, but the energy in her body hasn’t faded. She’s a beast at rest, waiting for the moment to be unleashed.

  Ishiki scrolls through his PDA, analyzing his opponent’s movements, strategies, and possible weak points. His gaze is cold and precise—like a hunter watching his prey.

  Charlotte tries to stay calm, but her legs are trembling ever so slightly. No matter how many deep breaths she takes, anxiety clings to her chest.

  Traffic is heavy, but the family driver finds alternate routes, managing to arrive at the hotel booked by the Amagiri right on schedule.

  As soon as the car stops, Ishiki leans over to Homura and gently shakes her shoulder.

  Ishiki:

  Come on, sleepyhead. Wake up.

  Homura mumbles something unintelligible before lazily opening her eyes. She stretches as she steps out of the car, still carrying her usual carefree air.

  However, the moment the three of them step into the hotel lobby, something unexpected happens.

  Just a few meters ahead, the Amagiri heirs are arriving at the reception as well.

  Their paths are destined to cross—and so is the tension.

  The first to react are Ishiki and Seiji, their eyes locking instantly.

  A brief moment of silence. There's no surprise—only recognition. As if they'd sensed each other before they even saw one another.

  Ishiki (raising an eyebrow, a slight smirk forming):

  Well, well… Seiji. I thought we’d meet for the first time in the arena.

  Seiji (adjusting the collar of his jacket, tone neutral):

  Funny coincidence. I didn’t expect we’d have the chance to exchange words before the match.

  The tension between them sharpens. Their eyes scan one another, dissecting posture, presence, energy—every detail.

  Seiji (with a half-smile, eyes narrowing):

  ...Then again, maybe this isn't so unexpected after all.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Ishiki (crossing his arms, pretending to sound intrigued):

  Oh yeah? And why’s that?

  Seiji:

  Top predators tend to share the same hunting ground.

  And neither of us came here to be the prey.

  Ishiki lets out a soft chuckle, never taking his eyes off him.

  Ishiki:

  Huh... I like that.

  It’d be boring if I took you down too easily.

  The air thickens. They're both natural-born warriors, and their instincts are already fully awakened.

  The fight hasn’t begun, but the war is already underway.

  Meanwhile, in another corner of the lobby, a completely different scene is unfolding…

  Charlotte walks behind Homura, still trying to gather her thoughts... when suddenly, without warning, a pair of arms wrap around her from behind.

  Charlotte (startled, with a soft gasp):

  A-Ahh...!

  A playful, soft giggle sounds right behind her. It’s Clara, who hugs her tightly, resting her chin on Charlotte’s shoulder.

  Clara (in a sugary sweet tone):

  Hmmm… Charlotte, you’re so cool to the touch~. I missed you… so much.

  Charlotte shivers from the contact, her face turning red instantly. The ticklish sensation from the hug doesn’t help at all.

  Charlotte (squirming slightly):

  A-Ahh… P-Please, let me go! That tickles…

  Clara (grinning mischievously):

  Nope. Don’t wanna.

  While Clara floods her with affection without mercy, a much more dangerous situation is brewing just a few steps away…

  Homura walks casually… until she feels a sudden impact against her chest.

  Her brow arches. Her eyes glance down slightly—

  And there she is: Satsuki Amagiri, whose face just collided directly with Homura’s chest.

  Satsuki steps back, blinking in surprise before flashing a sly smile.

  Satsuki (crossing her arms, tilting her head playfully):

  Well… that’s quite the welcome.

  They’re even bigger than I imagined.

  A vein twitches in Homura’s temple.

  Satsuki’s eyes sparkle with mischief, almost as if she’d planned the collision on purpose.

  The tension spikes instantly. Mana begins to spill from both of them unconsciously, thickening the air. The space around them warps slightly from the pressure of their clashing presences.

  Then, Satsuki leans in closer to Homura, lips near her ear, wearing that confident smile.

  Satsuki (in a seductive whisper):

  I hope you turn out to be fun prey… Don’t let me down.

  Homura’s aura ignites on the spot. Her hair shifts into a glowing red hue, heat radiating off her like a silent warning.

  Before Satsuki can pull away, Homura grabs her by the collar and yanks her forward. Their faces are now dangerously close.

  Homura (with a sharp grin, whispering coldly):

  Hope you like your meat medium rare...

  ‘Cause that’s where I’m leaving you when I’m done.

  Satsuki’s eyes gleam with excitement. She doesn’t flinch at the threat—she revels in it.

  Her grin grows wider, like a hungry beast that’s just found a worthy opponent.

  The explosive tension is interrupted by the arrival of a butler, who calmly informs them that it’s time to head to their rooms.

  Expectations for the tournament are now sky-high.

  And in the shadows... someone else is already moving their pieces.