“Okay. That’s all the paperwork we need. Your registration is complete Mr Takagi.”

Ryuhei gave the woman behind the desk a polite smile, raising a hand to rub awkwardly at the back of his head at being called such a formal title. [color=#AB0000]“Ah, thank you. Ryuhei is fine. So I just need to show up on time for my match?”[/color]

The clerk, a young brunette woman around the same age as Ryuhei nodded to him. “Yes, it’ll work the same way as previous rounds did. We’ll make an announcement an hour before the match so that the audience can find their seats and the competitors can make their way to the waiting area. If you haven’t shown up by the half hour mark we’ll send someone to find you. If you’re late, then I’m afraid you’ll be disqualified. Do you have any other questions?”

[color=#AB0000]“No, that should be everything.”[/color]

“Okay. Then you’re good to go Mr… Ryuhei. Good luck in the tournament.”

Hefting his duffle bag onto his shoulder Ryuhei turned away from the desk with a final smile and wave before beginning to walk in the direction of the competitor’s locker room. It was still some time until the next match but he might as well start getting ready; he could spend the time mentally preparing and image training for the next fight. It was too bad he didn’t know who his next opponent was slated to be but the mystery would help keep him on his toes and it disadvantaged his opponent as much as himself. He knew who the other semi-finalists were so it could only be one of three people.

The public areas of the arena were jam packed with people here to see the fights and visit the attractions, making progress slow. A part of him was worried he might be recognised and that he was going to be mobbed but even he had to admit that was an unlikely fantasy. It wasn’t like he was anyone famous after all, just someone who had managed to make it to the final four of the World Tournament; even as popular as this event was it wasn’t like all the previous fighters were celebrities or anything. People remembered the winners for a few years, but go back even four tournaments and the average person would struggle to remember the names of any of the competitors.

Besides, wearing normal civilian cloths like he was nobody would ever recognise him anyway.