It was a little after six in the afternoon.
The finals stage was ready. Audience members had been gradually filing into the spacious tournament dojo from all four sides.
Soon, every seat was filled.
A rough count put the crowd at more than two thousand people.
In the front row on the southern side, seven luxurious seats stood in a line. The people seated there all looked to be in their fifties or sixties. Dressed in kendo uniforms, they sat at ease, each exuding an imposing presence.
"Those are the masters of the Seven Great Dojos?"
Xia Nuo lifted the curtain to the changing room and glanced over there. "Do you know them all? Have any been replaced compared to five years ago?"
Chunyi shook his head.
"No, it's still them. Not one has changed. The gray-haired man in the middle and the two beside him were all my father's close friends. They had been willing to risk their lives for one another when they were young."
"To be precise, only the two on the far right had ever had some conflicts with him. As for the others, I remember they all had pretty good relationships with my father."
"So, aside from those two who had poor relationships with him, the betrayal of the others seems even stranger, right?"
Xia Nuo rubbed his chin. "It really is bizarre. It's starting to creep me out."
People's hearts could change, but they couldn't pull off a 540-degree Thomas spin within one second.
On this sea, there was only one kind of power capable of that.
—The power of the Devil.
But... what kind of Devil Fruit could accomplish something like that?
"Look over there."
Chunyi suddenly lowered his voice.
Xia Nuo followed his gaze.
That was the opposing side's changing room. At some point, the edge of its curtain had also been lifted, revealing half of a fox mask. It stared motionlessly in their direction.
More precisely, it had been staring at Chunyi the entire time.
"I get the feeling this person really cares about you."
Xia Nuo glanced at his little brother. "When you fought him this afternoon, did you sense any familiar Ki from him?"
"I wanted to, but I flew out right after we bowed, so..."
"Remember to fly slower next time. Maybe you'll be able to smell something."
"...You really, really know how to hurt people."
Seven o'clock arrived soon enough.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Asagiri Island Kendo Tournament's dedicated dojo! Welcome to the finals of this year's Kendo Tournament!"
Under the focused lights, the host stepped onto the platform at the center of the dojo and began warming up the crowd.
When he finally introduced the two dark horses, especially mentioning that Xia Nuo came from Sakuraba Dojo,
whispers erupted throughout many sections of the audience.
Obviously,
even after five years, despite the Seven Great Dojos' efforts to erase every trace, many people still remembered the former glory of Sakuraba Dojo.
Especially its former master, Sakuraba Tree.
As the most renowned swordsman on Asagiri Island and the founder of the Kendo Tournament, he had been an idol worshiped by many local residents since more than a decade ago.
Listening to the disorderly, clamorous discussions, Chunyi wore a complicated expression.
"It's your turn to go on, Boss."
He glanced at the clock and reminded Xia Nuo in a low voice. After fumbling around in his trouser pocket with his right hand, he pulled out a pale pink candy and placed it in Xia Nuo's hand.
"What's this?"
"Sakura gummy candy. When I was little, I would attend all kinds of big events with my father, and I'd always get so nervous that my hands and feet shook. My father would buy me these gummies. I'd keep chewing them in my mouth, and I'd feel much better."
"There are only about two thousand people. Does that count as a big event?"
"Huh?! How does that not count?"
"Tch. Country kids really are ignorant."
Xia Nuo tore open the wrapper and popped the sakura candy into his mouth.
"It has a filling, too. I like it." He chewed as he picked up his bamboo sword. Before stepping out of the changing room, he gave Chunyi one last glance and grinned. "How about some encouragement? Say something like 'Good luck'?"
"No need. I believe in you." Chunyi spoke very seriously.
"Good."
Xia Nuo paused for a moment, then bared his teeth in a grin. "As it happens, I've never done anything that disappointed anyone."
Swish!
The curtain was thrown open, and the spotlight suddenly swung over.
Amid the mountain-like cheers of thousands of spectators, Xia Nuo calmly strode onto the central platform.
"Please."
Xia Nuo gave a small, courteous bow and assumed a standard opening stance.
He had at least practiced swordsmanship for more than a year. He hadn't mastered any of the flashy techniques, but he knew all the things needed to put on a proper show.
However,
after waiting for quite a while, he still didn't see White Fox bow in return.
The other man stood there woodenly, like a statue, without the slightest reaction.
What is this guy doing?
He had just begun to frown
when he suddenly heard the other's low voice.
"How has Chunyi... been all these years?"
Xia Nuo's heart jolted. He abruptly raised his head and looked at the eyes hidden behind the mask.
It was the first time the two had stood so close.
Under the ample light of the spotlights, Xia Nuo could finally see clearly. The man's pupils were a deep violet.
Deep violet was rare, but not unheard of.
But then...
Chunyi's eyes were also deep violet.
"Who, exactly, are you to Chunyi?"
Xia Nuo narrowed his eyes. "Why ask me while hiding your face? If you really want to know, why don't you go find him and ask him yourself?"
"..."
White Fox did not answer.
He merely raised his head and coldly stared at the Den Den Mushi transmitting the broadcast from the wall.
"Hey, what's going on? Why have they both stopped?"
"Why is he staring at the camera?"
"What are they doing? Are they going to fight or not?"
Nothing happened on the platform for a long time. The discontent and complaints in the audience grew into an increasingly restless commotion.
Behind a broad office desk,
a middle-aged man who had been enjoying the attentions of two beautiful women suddenly changed expression when he saw this scene.
"That damn bastard!"
He shoved the women away and rose, bracing both hands on the desk as he glared at the screen.
"Has he gone mad...? What does he think he's doing at a crucial moment like this? What is he trying to pull?!"
The tall, thin figure on the screen remained motionless, standing there and silently staring at the camera.
A deeply ominous premonition gradually rose in the middle-aged man's heart.
"Oh, Mr. Carpenter, what happened? Don't get worked up. Anger isn't good for your health. Here, have another glass with me."
The blonde beauty on his right coquettishly picked up two glasses of sherry.
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
Bang! He swept out with his arm, smashing the glasses on the floor. His roar frightened the women into retreating in terror, where they huddled trembling in the corner of the sofa.
There was also a knock at the door. A bodyguard cracked it open in confusion.
"Mr. Carpenter, what happened?"
"Ready the carriage... No! Have the driver bring my motorcycle downstairs! I need to get to the tournament venue immediately, as fast as possible!"
"Carpenter" hastily put on his trench coat and hat. Flanked by several bodyguards, he threw open the door and strode toward the staircase.
A moment later,
the modified jet motorcycle roared like thunder and sped away, crushing the fallen sakura blossoms scattered across the entire street.
The scenery and buildings on either side blurred past. "Carpenter" gripped the gold-plated handlebars tightly, his face as dark as water beneath his broad-brimmed black hat.