After Kaji, other fighters pick their number one by one. First, the skinny teenage girl, then the teenage boy with a black T-shirt, followed by the tall guy with red hair, a Chinese guy with a wavy hair, a tanned short-haired girl, the big wrestler guy, a short girl with yellow top, tall girl with long blond hair, the girl wearing a kunoichi outfit, the strange guy wearing a white mask, and lastly a man wearing a white T-shirt.

  As the numbers are drawn, the brackets are slowly being filled. It doesn’t take long for Kaji to see whose name fills the empty slot next to his: Justin Chang, the Chinese guy with a wavy hair, he is a man in his 20s. Justin wears comfortable, loose fitting black pants, combined with a dark green t-shirt. He also wears a pair of sturdy sneakers. A silver pendant, shaped like a dragon, hangs on his neck. He has a tattoo of a tiger claw on his left forearm.

  Kaji approached him and extends his hand, “My name is Kaji Kagami, I’m gonna be your first opponent. Let’s make this a good fight.”

  Justin shakes Kaji’s hand, “I am Justin Chang, but it looks like you knew that already. Likewise, let’s make this a fair fight.”

  As he lets go of his hand, Kaji said, “I’m sorry to say this but I’m gonna be the one to win our fight.”

  “Why the rush? Are you after the money”

  Kaji shakes his head, “I’m after Ronald.”

  “Are you looking for a revenge, young man?”

  “Something like that. You don't seem like someone who's after the prize money. Why are you playing in this tournament?”

  “Because Price maybe the one who has destroyed my dojo.”

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  Kaji looks surprised by Justin’s answer, “What do you mean ‘maybe’?”

  Justin eyes look more serious as he answers, “2 years ago, when I happened to be away from my dojo, someone came and attacked us. He destroyed the place and killed almost everyone. The only surviving student said that the one who did it was a strong fighter with blond hair, I have no more clues than that.”

  “A strong fighter with blond hair? That guy could be Ronald!”

  Justin nods his head, “Maybe, and I’ve been looking for a way to get close to him. This tournament is my best chance to do that.”

  “I can’t believe you’re the same with me.”

  Now is Justin’s time to be surprised, “do you mean your dojo was also attacked?”

  “For me, it was 5 years ago. Ronald attacked my father’s dojo and beat every single students there, and also killed my father. So, I’m here for revenge.”

  “Your story seems more personal than mine. I don’t mind seeing you win and advance to fight Ronald.”

  “Really?” Kaji was happily surprised by what Justin said.

  Justin was quick to respond that with a smile, “but I won’t make it easy for you. Don’t be mad if you lose.”

  Suddenly, a girl staff announces with her mic, “now that everyone has drawn their number and filled the bracket, we can start the tournament. For Kaji and Justin, as the opener of the tournament please be ready on the left and right side of the arena. For the rest of the fighters, please follow our staff to your waiting room. We will call you when it’s your turn.”

  Two other girl staffs escort the rest of the fighters to their waiting room, the only remaining fighters are Kaji and Justin.

  Surprisingly, a separate waiting room is provided for each fighter. Each room only has a big sofa, minimal decoration, and a TV where the fighter can watch the current fight. The guy with a white mask is sitting alone in his room, watching the TV.

  His waiting room’s door opens, and the dark-skinned kunoichi girl enters the room. Her brown hair tied in a ponytail.

  “What do you want, Michele?”

  “Aww, don’t be like that, Shiroi Kamen. You’re the only familiar face here, why don’t we get friendly? For the sake of our bosses’ friendship too.”

  “You just don’t want me to snatch a good candidate for your group.”

  Michele sits on the sofa, “don’t make it sounds like you’re any different. Other than us, only new fighters make it through to the main tournament. This will be fun.”

  “Suit yourself,” says Kamen, his eyes fixed to the screen. It’s now showing Kaji and Justin on the screen.