[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/z6cC6JC.png[/img][/center]

The beach dimension was abuzz with activity as contestants prepared for the next round of matches in the tournament. Most of that talk was about the dramatic finish to Penny and Sam’s match, as well as the confrontation that had taken place between Rachel and Finn afterwards. Some talk was spared for other matches though, as people touted their favorites and discussed the wacky maneuvers on display.
 
Having gone to the concourse with Lily and Alex for food, Alicia had procured herself some Dippin’ Dots ice cream to enjoy. She had grown tired of popcorn for now, and so had defaulted to ice cream even though it was technically winter at home.
 
In the midst of that, she spotted Kimble amongst the crowd. She had a feeling that the girl was looking for her, but it had been too soon after her match for them to meet up. So she took the initiative and made her way over whilst waving. [color=aba000]“Hey Kimble!"[/color] she called.
 
Coming up next to her girlfriend, she ate a scoop of Dots. [color=aba000]“Nice match, though I’m sorry things didn’t work out like you hoped they would.”[/color] She knew the feeling. 

[color=8dc73f]”Alicia!”[/color]
Kimble yelled, initially elated to see Alicia. 
When she brought up the match however, her cheery demeanour changed into an embarrassed frown, her eyes having averted down to the ground.
[color=8dc73f]”I-It’s okay,”[/color] she answered, and looked back up at her.
[color=8dc73f]”It was a learning experience for me. I was conceited, and thought I’d easily win. Actually, umm...”[/color] She bit her lip.
[color=8dc73f]”...There’s something I need to tell you, Alicia.”[/color]

Alicia gave a small shrug to the first comment, not terribly worried by Kimble’s slightly soured mood. [color=aba000]“Hey, it’s fine. There’s not much point in competing if you don’t think you’re going to win,”[/color] she pointed out. Sure, Kimble hadn’t planned on winning the whole thing, but gunning for Justine meant she had to have some level of confidence about her skills.

However, Kimble’s warning caused her to slow with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Not that she allowed herself to show it. [color=aba000]“Sure. What is it?”[/color]

Kimble first looked around to make sure nobody was eavesdropping on them, and then spoke in a more quiet voice than usual:
[color=8dc73f]"I didn't actually win in my match with Penny...She took a dive."[/color] She put her hands to her face. 
[color=8dc73f]"I was so stupid. I really thought I managed to beat her. Can you forgive me?"[/color] She asked with a sniffle.

That tension released with a feeling of relief that washed over Alicia. Stepping over, she patted Kimble’s shoulder as her girlfriend wilted under the weight of her own feelings. [color=aba000]“Of course I forgive you. It’s not like you were deliberately trying to mislead us,”[/color] she pointed out.

She ate another spoonful of Dots before adding to her point. [color=aba000]“And as far as not getting to fight Justine goes, I know the feeling,”[/color] she added. It had happened to her more often than she might like.

Kimble lifted her hands from her face, her eyes having turned slightly wet from tears.
[color=8dc73f]”Thank you, Alicia...”[/color] She answered softly, and leaned her head against her shoulder. For a moment, she was quiet, enjoying the time the two of them could spend together.
Then she spoke: [color=8dc73f]”I couldn’t get to fight against Justine again...But I don’t mind. As long as I can be with you, that’s all that matters to me.”[/color] She blushed.
[color=8dc73f]”Anyway, it was quite crazy what happened with Penny’s match, right?”[/color]

[color=aba000]“You might be able to ask Justine for a match outside of the tournament if she doesn’t get roughed up too badly,”[/color] Alicia noted with a gesture towards the arena. Unlike her own efforts, it seemed unlikely that someone would render it meaningless to do so.

The mention of Penny’s match brought yet another frown as she reflected on what had occurred. [color=aba000]“It was. Some people are way too competitive.”[/color] And she meant that to include both Sam and Penny, given the escalation had been far from one sided.

[color=8dc73f]”I just hope neither of them got injured too badly,”[/color] Kimble spoke softly, looking out towards the distance.
[color=8dc73f]”Especially Penny. If she can’t continue competing, Rachel might end up winning.”[/color]

[color=aba000]“I’m not sure,”[/color] Alicia conceded with some chagrin. [color=aba000]“Time stop’s one of those things that takes a lot of effort to use, doesn't it?”[/color] The fact that it had been employed here did not speak well to the physical state of either combatant, to say nothing of how it had ended with referee intervention.

A shrug then followed. [color=aba000]“Still, imagine dying in a keijo match. No self respecting person would be able to live that down.”[/color]

[color=8dc73f]”That would be very embarrassing, yes,”[/color] Kimble responded with a nod.
[color=8dc73f]”Anyway, wanna go somewhere before the matches start? I heard of a new shop that’s opened up close by We could visit that if you’re not too busy.”[/color]

Alicia could definitely agree that dying in a keijo match would be super embarrassing. If only because of the methods used and nothing else. But they both seemed to move on past that quickly enough, perhaps to forget that very occurrence.
 
Before she could forget entirely, Alicia took the opportunity to focus once more on what really mattered. [color=aba000]“Listen, all I’m saying is that you shouldn’t feel too bad. I’ve got robbed of resolving things with Justine, Mariette, and Regina. You get used to it eventually. It’s just a matter of tempering your expectations. But you can still talk to her if you want.”[/color]
 
The mention of a new store caught her attention, though she wasn’t sure if it was necessarily her interest. [color=aba000]“Most stores are new in Dan’s dimension, relatively speaking. But alright.”[/color] She didn’t mind checking out something new, though hopefully she didn’t miss the final match by leaving like this.

With a decision made, the two of them headed off to the destination Kimble had decided upon.