“And there you have it, folks! Sakura eSports will move to the next round, and Unfiltered will be the first to be eliminated from the Champions Brawl tournament!” the caster hollered.

The cheers were deafening from the announcement as Team Sakura eSports defeated the last remaining person on the opposing team, Unfiltered, signaling their victory. Hana pumped her fist in the air, a grin splitting her face as her opponent transformed into blue motes of light.

Well, the moment she beat Draven was the turning point of the game, so I'm not surprised by the outcome. Her teammates' exceptional performance, coupled with flawlessly executed strategies, undoubtedly contributed to their win. Their adept gameplay and ability to anticipate their opponents' moves with precision and execute flawless counterplays exceeded all expectations. It seems I must elevate my caution level when facing them, considering their outstanding performance.

The good thing is that we won't be battling them anytime soon since we are in the upper bracket... and I'd like it to stay that way by winning our upper-bracket matches.

"Yes! Hana's team won!" Liz, who was sitting beside me, cheered.

It is to be expected that she would be this happy. She has easily become close to Hana since yesterday when they both found their common ground—my old account. She even has her number, and from what I can tell, she often chats with Hana on their social media accounts about probably anything related to the original Paragons.

"That's what you call Karma. Talking big and losing like that! Serves him right!" Clarence also celebrated, albeit in a different way.

This guy has had a beef with Draven ever since the dining hall incident, so I guess that is only natural for him to be this petty.

Focusing back on the screen, which displayed the participants slowly getting out of their respective VR pods, a notable contrast in the ambiance of both booths was evident. One exuded vibrancy and elation, a picture of jubilation, while the other appeared somber and dejected, their defeat visibly weighing heavily on their expressions.

A couple of seconds later, both teams eventually meet at the center stage to shake hands as a sign of sportsmanship, except for one person.

The screen's focus shifted to Draven, who sat motionless in the VR pod with his helmet intact. Tension filled the air, amplified by the onlookers' escalating murmurs. Eventually, Hana entered his booth and approached him, offering a hand in a gesture of sportsmanship. Yet, Draven remained obstinately unresponsive.

After a few awkward moments, Hana awkwardly retracted her hand. A hush fell over the crowd. Disappointed murmurs rippled through the stands because of his unsportsmanlike behavior. Draven eventually removed the VR helmet he was wearing, left the VR pod with his face stormy, exited the booth, and stalked off the center stage without a word.

Can't blame him for his attitude, really. Even though I don't personally like his personality, losing both the 1v1 tournament and the main tournament got to be heartbreaking for anyone. I extend my condolences to him in this trying moment. However, in the realm of competition, setbacks like these are par for the course. It's a juncture where one must decide to rise from the fall or relinquish the pursuit entirely. The trajectory of his journey moving forward hinges on his fortitude and resilience. Given his fiercely competitive nature, I am confident that this setback will not mark the end of his journey, and we can anticipate hearing from him again in the future.

"Such a sore loser," Clarence remarked.

"Don't be like that, Ren. It has got to be hard for him to face back-to-back defeats like this. Also, I'm sure he will learn his lesson on being too overconfident because of this outcome and become a better person in the future," Liz placated.

"Hmph, you're too naive, Liz. Some people just don't change," Clarence rebuked.

Their clash of opinions was interrupted by a sudden announcement of the lead panelist of a winner's interview.

"And now, we have a winner's interview with the MVP of the match, Yatsufusa!" the announcer hyped.

The screen focused on the stadium, its lights dimmed, casting the stage in a spotlight. Hana stood tall, a wide smile beaming beneath the cheers of the crowd. Beside her stood an interviewer, mic pointed, eager to capture her post-match thoughts.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Ms. Yamamoto, what an incredible win!" the interviewer boomed. "Take us through your emotions right now."

Hana took a deep breath, letting the roar of the crowd wash over her. "It feels... surreal," she admitted, her voice tinged with exhilaration.

"I'm sure it does, with your amazing performance. What has changed with your clearly amazing performance?"

I'm sure the interviewer is just tiptoeing on her previous match since she had a lot of backlash from her loss in the 1v1 tournament, where she was favored to win. How considerate of the interviewer. All the while, Hana seemed to take it in stride.

"Hmm..." She pondered. "I think it's all thanks to the new coach we have! Our morale rose, and our strategies broadened because of her!"

I don't think you should divulge that kind of information. You normally say just pleasantries, like we trained hard or something. Well, she does seem carefree, so I'm sure she's not thinking about what she says too much.

Still, a new coach, huh? That's good to know. No wonder their movements and rotations suddenly became more refined compared to their qualifier matches. I'd have to take mental notes of this if we ever have to face their team. I hope not, though, since that would only happen if we dropped to the lower bracket.

"Oh, a new coach, huh? It seems your organization treats you guys well," the interviewer said jovially to lighten the mood.

His gaze then flicked briefly towards the dejected figures of Team Unfiltered on the other side of the stage. "Follow-up question on what happened earlier: There was a bit of a tense moment at the end. Your opponent, Draven, well, he didn't seem too keen on sportsmanship."

Hana's smile faltered for a bit, but she quickly recovered. "Competition can be fierce," she said diplomatically. "Sometimes, emotions run high, so I don’t really mind that he acted that way. I prefer to focus on celebrating our victory, so I don’t think I should focus on that."

"She's as naive as you, Liz. No wonder you two became such good friends," Clarence teased playfully.

"Let it go, Ren," Liz sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

"How can I? I haven't even had the chance to challenge him yet. He boasted confidently yet was swiftly defeated. Quite pitiful," Ren remarked disdainfully.

As they continued their banter, Chu observed quietly from the periphery. Meanwhile, I rose from my seat and made my way towards the exit.

"K-Kat, where are you headed?" Liz inquired, taken aback by my sudden departure.

"...I’ll go take a walk for a bit.”

It wasn't entirely a falsehood, as my intention was to seek solitude and gather my thoughts before our impending match. Despite appreciating their presence, I needed some personal time to reflect and center myself.

"Okay, take care," Liz expressed with a tinge of concern.

Acknowledging her words, I nodded before opening the door. Stepping out, the vibrant atmosphere of the stadium enveloped me. The thunderous cheers of the crowd resonated in my core as I navigated through the bustling stadium corridors. Amidst the jubilant commotion, I yearned for a moment of tranquility.

As I scanned the area, a glint of metal caught my eye—the exit sign leading to the rarely used topmost floor access. After a while of deliberating, I took the narrow concrete staircase since there was no sign that the area was restricted.

After a short while of walking up instead of down, the final door creaked open, and the world transformed. The din of the crowd faded into a distant hum, replaced by the gentle whoosh of the wind and the soft cooing of pigeons. A place of solitude bathed in the warm glow of the sun. Relief washed over me like a cool breeze as I leaned against the railing, finally able to hear the quiet symphony of the city in the distance. It was the perfect place for me to meditate and center myself before our important match.

After some time, the distant echoes of the crowd grew louder, indicating that the next match was commencing. The next lower bracket match featured Shadow Vanguard against Dragon Dynasty. Based on my analysis of their previous qualifier matches, Shadow Vanguard holds the advantage in this matchup. Their gameplay centers around turtling tactics and adept defensive strategies, aligning well with their opponent's aggressive style. If they can weather the initial onslaught, regroup with the support of their healer to restore their health, and prolong the battle, they stand a good chance of securing victory in the end.

A sudden sound of footsteps broke me out of my thoughts. Turning around, I saw someone familiar. A red-haired teenage girl stands alone, her demeanor exuding an air of introversion and solitude. Her fiery red hair, a stark contrast against the soft hues of the morning sky, falls in loose waves around her shoulders, adding a touch of vibrancy to her otherwise subdued appearance.

With a slight slouch to her posture and a gaze that seems to wander into the distance, the girl appears lost in thought, her expression pensive and contemplative. She noticed me and then finally looked my way. There is a quiet intensity in her eyes, a depth of emotion and introspection that hints at a world of thoughts and feelings beneath the surface.

If I remember correctly, she is Astrid, in-game name Meridia. She participated in the tournament and will be our next opponent in the upper bracket. She was also the one who made a scene in the dining hall in an attempt to help us, which went viral for a while because she flawlessly took down Draven there.

"You're... Astrid, right? What brings you here?" I inquired cautiously.

She regarded me closely before replying, "...I should be asking you that question. Throughout the tournament, I've sought solace here when I needed to be alone; I assumed no one else was aware of this spot," she remarked in a calm yet distant voice.

"I discovered this spot fairly recently. I wasn't aware of your visits here. Would you prefer me to leave?" I inquired.

She seemed to ponder for a moment before replying. "…No, feel free to stay," she responded, settling near the highest peak of the stadium building's edge and finding solace in observing the lively cityscape below.

It seems we share a common trait of being introverted. So, in response, I, too, embraced the quietude, engaging in silent contemplation and mental preparation for the upcoming match. In the tranquil company of her serene presence, I found solace and clarity as I delved into the depths of my thoughts.

I didn’t know how long it took as I contemplated my strategies and regained my bearings for the upcoming match, which would be after the current fight expired. I would be lying to myself if I said that I’m not the slightest bit nervous, but I do have some experience joining a tournament, so I guess I’m not bothered as much as I thought I would be.

After a long while, a loud cheer erupted from the crowd, whose reverberation can be heard from here. It seems like the match has finally concluded.

As the crowd's resounding cheer reached our ears, signaling the end of the match, I spoke up to alert my prospective adversary, who appeared to snap out of her reverie due to the clamor emanating from the stadium.

"It appears the match has concluded," I remarked, prompting a response from her.

"Yeah, it looks like it's our turn to face off," she replied brusquely.

"Oh? So you're aware that I'm also a participant.”

I assumed she didn’t know I would be her opponent in the next match, which might have explained her earlier silence. But I guess she was just extremely introverted and doesn’t like small talk.

"Yes, quite wary of you, indeed," she acknowledged.

"…I see… I'm uncertain why you're cautious of me, but I hope for a good match for the both of us," I replied amiably.

"…Likewise."

image [https://images-ng.pixai.art/images/orig/9fa91941-fc33-4738-af5a-134c1ee4ee2f]