Chapter 186 Two On Two
A two-versus-two match.
When Simon first challenged Satoshi to a match, he was never expecting anyone else to challenge them. He couldn't believe that Satoshi's classmates from Class 3-1 would get to invite him to a match as well, and the notion made his jaw drop to the ground in his amazement. He always wished to train with Class 3-1, one of them, at the very least. And right now, not only did he experience fighting with Satoshi, but he'd also experience fighting alongside him.
"Sure, why not." Satoshi let out an exhale as he smiled at Shiroi. The last time they fought was during the first day of school and needless to say, the competition was too anticlimactic to the point that everyone remembered it for all the wrong reasons. Both of them shouted their surrender, after all, and Satoshi was just lucky that Shiroi said it first before him.
Right now, however, there's no such thing as 'I give up' or forfeiting the match. This is just a training match, after all, and it wouldn't mean anything if one of them gives up. Besides, Shiroi was raring to go after noticing new Satoshi's new skills and Simon's fresh superpower. Fuuka just jumped on the bandwagon since it was a two-versus-two. She was tired after all that moving around but that didn't affect her at all.
Without another word, Satoshi and Simon turned around and walked to the other side of the stadium. They didn't even go through any strategies, probably because this was only a practice match instead of a serious one. Also, they already have a good feel of their superpowers since they just fought each other a few moments ago. That's why they didn't feel the need to talk, they figured that doing so would break their pace and shake their focus.
As for Fuuka and Shiroi, they started going through some of the countermeasures they could implement in the match. Shiroi decided to go on the offensive while Fuuka opted to lay out space-warped and sound-warped traps. They knew that one slip and Satoshi would definitely take home the trophy, that's why they couldn't let their guard down even for a second. If push comes to shove, the two of them would focus on the offensive, singling out Simon first before taking out Satoshi. Aside from Simon's unpredictable teleportation, there's nothing much going on with his magnetic force field superpower. Fuuka could easily keep him in check with her space manipulation superpower.
"Wait, who's going to be our referee?" Shiroi asked. Honestly, there's no need for a referee when it comes to practice matches. However, Shiroi wanted to go all out against Satoshi so they could have their well-deserved match that they've been putting off for so long. Furthermore, she was quite curious as to how Satoshi actually fought. Undoubtedly, Satoshi is one of the top candidates for the number one high school superhero in Japan, but Shiroi knew all too well that watching his fights on the television and actually fighting him herself are two opposites. If she tried hard enough, then there might be a fighting chance that she'll win, or so that's what she told herself. Right now is that deciding moment.
"I'll do it." A dragging voice spoke from behind. Behind the willing volunteer was the face of their homeroom teacher who yawned soon after as if he had just woken up. The four of them wondered why he graciously offered to be the referee when there are no merits for him from doing so. Unbeknownst to everyone, however, Knighthawk was afraid that he'd be held accountable if the practice match goes out of control. Why? Because he's their one and only homeroom teacher in question. Even though it's against his will to officiate the practice match, he still forced himself to do so. "Stand on two opposite sides... yes, that's it. Everyone ready?"
Satoshi and Simon gulped as they assumed their fighting stance. Even from afar, they could already feel the excitement welling up from the ladies. It was obvious that they were looking forward to this match. The four of them nodded in response to Knighthawk's confirmation.
"Begin!"
"I'll handle this, Simon said to himself, charging forward without Satoshi's go-signal. Previously, he wasn't able to show the full potential of his newfound skill since Satoshi interrupted him with his overpowered elemental nail attacks. But right now, before the opponents could even make their first move, he was already setting up without missing a beat.
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It should be mentioned that this was the first time Satoshi summoned Sera after what happened during the accident with the suppressor. That's why she was surprised to see that Sera was actually wearing a dress with intricate gold designs. This time she had a total of seven halos, each of which revolved over her head like a crown. She let out a soft 'mhmm' before enveloping the air with buffs exclusively for Simon as per instructed by Satoshi.
In that split second, Simon immediately felt the boost he needed. Not only did he feel lighter on his feet, but his reaction time had improved by a few notches, all thanks to Sera's buffs. Before Fuuka and Shiroi engaged him in close-quarters combat, he threw all the metal rods he had by the edge of the arena. Everyone watched as the rods, which seemed to have no use at all, firmly stuck themselves to the concrete.
While Fuuka and Shiroi didn't know why he did something so useless, they decided to just attack him nevertheless. Extending her hands, Fuuka formed a few spatial traps on her palms and a couple of sound traps that he aimed right at Simon's ears. As for Shiroi, she began forming ice spikes while preparing a blizzard behind her.
"Here goes nothing," Simon said, coming face to face with Fuuka who threw all her traps right at his face.
Fwooosh~
In an instant, Simon disappeared right in front of them, reappearing by the blizzard which he forcefully repelled with his magnetic force field.