[center][b]Later That Day[/b][/center]

By the time Takatora had made it to the store, it was close to its closing time. He'd spent so long logged into GBN that he wasn't going to have enough time to really do much today. He didn't let that stop him, though. He could at least ask Sento to teach him starting tomorrow if necessary. Thankfully the door wasn't locked yet and so Takatora entered the shop. No customers were around, probably because it was only minutes before closing time and the sign had even already been flipped over from "Open" to "Closed", meaning that Sento was wasn't expecting any more customers. Takatora looked around and his gaze became focused on the central display case, causing his eyes to widen. There must have been dozens of Gunpla on display in that case. From varying series, movies, and other official sources. And true to Sento's reputation, they were all beautifully constructed, each one almost perfectly emulating the model's look and feel. Some had battle damage added for artistic effect. Some even had sprinkles of dirt on them to simulate how heavily utilized they were in the lore of the series they came from.

"Ah, I'm sorry to say that I've closed for the day-" called a voice from the back room. The door to that room opened, and a [url=https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1003481708409180160/FANBoVq8_400x400.jpg]young man[/url] emerged into the main room of the store. His expression shifted slightly when he realized who it was that entered. Not one of negativity, in fact if anything he became rather intrigued, "I was wondering when I'd see you..." said Sento, scratching his head briefly as he stepped closer to Takatora. Sento looked to be be in his early twenties, like someone of college age. Or perhaps a year or so older, with him it was difficult to tell, "He came to me too, after all. It's only natural that you would eventually follow his footsteps."

"Sento..." replied Takatora, brief hesitation in his voice before he seemed to regain his determination, "...I need you to tell me the secrets of the Hayabusa." he said simply, even holding up the Gunpla case for Sento to see.

"I'm not sure what I could tell you," Sento admitted, "you know that I am not the Hayabusa's builder."

"But you taught him what he knew!" exclaimed Takatora, raising his voice slightly but then continuing in a more apologetic tone, "You more than anyone can help me understand it. Don't you always claim that you appraise a Gunpla with a single glance?"

Sento allowed himself a prideful smile, "Well... that [i]is[/i] true." he replied, seemingly forgetting to show humility of any kind, "Are you saying you want me to appraise it? You do realize that usually requires me to take it apart...?"

Takatora hesitated again. The idea of someone dismantling the Hayabusa was frightening to him. But there was no other choice, Kiyotaka was no longer around to tell anyone the secrets of his Gunpla. After a hard swallow Takatora nodded, "You'll be able to reassemble it, right? So... do it." and then he noticed Sento snatching the case without any further hesitation or confirmation.

"Ah, what a nostalgic build. Brings me back. The black paint job, the incredible fusion of two body frames..."

"Two body frames?!" asked Takatora, genuinely surprised by this, "You mean it's a hybrid build?"

"Of course," Sento said, raising an eyebrow, "surely you could tell that much on your own by looking? The Hayabusa is a combination of two different base models..." he paused, eyes scanning the shelves before he snatched a pair of boxes and showed them to Takatora, "...these two, to be precise." the boxes were for the [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/8/81/Mbf-p02d.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120223165739]MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame[/url] and the [url=https://www.gundamplanet.com/pub/media/catalog/product/cache/aa72b28f82ebf2d897600ee194018ec6/r/g/rg-mbf-p03-gundam-astray-blue-frame-01.jpg]MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame[/url], "I'll appraise the build for you, but I'll need to keep the Hayabusa for tonight. It'll take me a couple of hours to get a more thorough look at it, and it's already closing time. Don't worry, you'll have it back first thing tomorrow exactly as it was when you brought it in, you have my word."

"Are you sure?" but before any further conversation could be made, Takatora was practically shoved out the door and it was locked behind him, "I guess that's it then..." and he started for home.

[i]Brother... please forgive me.[/i]

[center][b]Later that Night[/b][/center]

In the middle of the night, a certain video went live. It was viewed, and shared, and then re-uploaded. By morning, virtually every inbox in GBN was buzzing with messages about the video, links included. Discussions began to murmur, and then after a while some of them turned into heated debates. Anyone who clicked the link, no matter where it circulated from, was treated to the following:

[hider=Challenge to King]
[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtwczv_JACk][b]♫[/b][/url][/center]
As soon as the video begins to play, viewers see a figure belonging to a European Caucasian. His features are handsome, relatively speaking, and his medium length hair was neatly tied into a ponytail. In the corner was what at first looked like a photo. But closer inspection reveals the "photo" to in fact be a screenshot of the person's GBN Avatar. The person and the avatar looked very much the same, meaning the young man likely used his real life likeness to create his avatar. His avatar wore a red Zeon uniform, but also a mask accessory inspired by the Lightning Count himself, Zechs Marquis. The figure in the video wasted no time before he spoke, "My name is Adam Roman." he said, offering a short bow to the camera, "I'm a Rank A pilot of the European Server, and it's about time I formally issued my challenge to you... [i]King[/i]" he paused a moment, as if having the foresight to allow the viewer a moment to take in what they were hearing, "Yes, you heard me right. This challenge goes to the mystery man himself, the current Number 1 player in GBN. It's high time someone exposed you for the fraud and coward that you are." again Adam paused, as if allowing viewers another moment to take this in, "Again, you heard me right. King is a coward and a fraud. He hides behind his anonymity, too afraid to show his face. Or maybe that's just the opinion of a GP Duel veteran? What a system that was, forcing pilots to face each other in person like real warriors. Clearly King does not hail from that era of Gunpla Battle. But his cowardice aside, King is a false hero, propped up on his pedestal because the GBN administrators put him there. Did he truly reach his rank of his own accord and skill? Or was it because the admins outright gifted him his Gunpla and Rank on a silver platter? It's high time King answered for himself." Adam turned around, and took a step as if he were going to walk away from the shot. But he stopped, then craned his neck so that he could turn his head slightly back toward the camera, "Of course, King is more than welcome... to [i]prove me wrong[/i]."

-video ends-
[/hider]