[center] [img][/img] [img]https://imgur.com/kzRPhBS.png[/img] [color=1E90FF][b]Level :[/b][/color] 9 [color=1E90FF][b]EXP :[/b][/color] 5/90 (+7 pts.) [color=1E90FF][b]Location :[/b][/color] Esaka, the Tiered City [color=1E90FF][b]Word Count :[/b][/color] 6,621 [/center] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5608129]After reuniting with an old friend earlier this afternoon,[/url] Terry finally went back home. His steps were leisure yet certain, as he drew himself closer to another place he’d considered his home since the establishment of the World of Light. It was an enormous, multi-floored dojo nestled between other more noticeable top-tier dojos in Esaka. As he stood by its entrance, a huge, familiar neon sign welcomed his sight almost immediately, standing proudly atop the dojo’s roof. The emblem consisted of 17 letters spreading from side to side, and it said… [color=1E90FF][i]The King of Fighters…[/i][/color] Indeed. The KOF dojo was that place. It was one of the oldest, most prestigious dojos in the city after Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken. Like other top-tier dojos, it gave birth to some of the world’s most exceptional fighters, and Terry was one of them. Sure, he might not be their champion/poster boy anymore, but he was still considered to be—at the very least—their top 10. As he pushed the front door open, Terry would be welcomed by another familiar sight. It was the spacious hall where the training sessions usually took place. The walls were decked with various decorations, most notably the flags of Japan and the United States, as well as tournament posters and traditional Japanese paintings. In addition, there was a hanged punching bag supported by a stand, perching by the farther corner of the hall. Next to him were the stairs connecting the hall to the second floor where the members of the dojo rested in their respective rooms. The interior was designed after that of the dojo’s predecessor—the [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/0197735f-90c6-7229-a799-ed211450672e.webp]Kyokugen Dojo[/url] run by the Sakazaki family. The hall was empty upon Terry’s arrival with only one more person staying to train. He was a younger fighter with curtain-styled brown hair sporting a white headband and a pair of black gloves decked with golden stripes and sun crest emblems. The said fighter was none other than the famed [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Kyo_Kusanagi]Kyo Kusanagi[/url], an Esaka native and one of the dojo’s golden children. [color=1E90FF]“Hey, Kyo!”[/color] Terry called, a smile on his face. [color=1E90FF]“Man, oh, man… It’s not every day I get to see you training like this. Got motivated to grind or something?”[/color] Kyo paused, but not before landing a smooth jab against the punching bag. “Yeah,” he told Terry, nodding. “[url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Saisyu_Kusanagi]My old man[/url] forced me to do it. A new tournament is coming in a week, y’know?” He then gave the fellow champion a sidelong gaze, his knuckles still pummeling the bag absentmindedly. “I’m just getting tired of hearing him yapping all day. What about you? Fought another low-tier loser?” Terry hesitantly nodded, taking a seat on the bench across the punching bag. To call his prior opponent a ‘loser’ felt like an understatement. [color=1E90FF]“Yeah, well… he was a hidden talent, actually. For somebody who came from a smaller dojo, he sure got some power moves to show,”[/color] he answered, watching as Kyo continued to deliver blow after blow against the punching bag. He might not be close friends with Kyo, but he did respect him for his talents. [color=1E90FF]“So, you’re training for the next tournament, huh?”[/color] he asked back, dropping his duffle bag next to his seat. [color=1E90FF]“Is it the new KOF tournament everybody was talking about?”[/color] “Yeah, what else?” Kyo asked back. A loud knocking noise was created every time his knuckles grazed against the punching bag’s fluffy frame. “Heard it just now, Terry?” Terry nodded. [color=1E90FF]“An old pal of mine told me,”[/color] he elaborated. [color=1E90FF]“Plus, I heard it from some peeps I got to pass by on the way back home.”[/color] “Ah… So, that’s what,” Kyo said, eyes still glued to the punching bag ahead as he delivered a string of fists and kicks. Thinking of spicing things up, the six-time KOF champion spread open one of his clenched fists, [url=https://imgur.com/a/a8iYK4W]a small spark of fire[/url] emerging from beneath its gloved palm. Something was triggered—the Advance Mode or sorts—and his entire frame proceeded to be covered in a flashing light. With his hand still holding the fire, Kyo spun around, then delivered a fiery hook against the punching bag. [b][i]POW![/i][/b] [b]“KURAEEE—!!”[/b] A loud hitting noise emerged upon the collision between the fire-laced knuckles and the bag’s fluffy frame. [url=https://imgur.com/a/XXRJdWA]115 Shiki Dokugami[/url] was executed. It was quite a firm strike, but he wasn’t satisfied yet. Subsequently, Kyo swung the alternating fist against the punching bag, a smaller spark of fire erupting. [b][i]POW![/i][/b] Once connected, he quickly followed it up by slamming his back against the punching bag. [b][i]SMACK![/i][/b] Both [url=https://imgur.com/a/rwl2F6F]401 Shiki Tsumi Yomi and 402 Shiki Batsu Yomi[/url] were executed. As a finishing touch, Kyo took a spinning leap, spreading his arm out to deliver a backhanded blow. A trail of fire followed the flailing fist along. [b]“DORYA!!”[/b] [b][i]THUMP![/i][/b] Finally, [url=https://imgur.com/a/dNWCSkv]100 Shiki Oniyaki[/url] was executed. And just like that, Kyo managed to swing the hanging punching bag out of its stand, his feet reaching the floor alongside the toppling bag. Amazed by the showcase of talent and strength, Terry gave Kyo a loud clap, complimenting him. [color=1E90FF]“Yo, that’s rad!”[/color] he exclaimed. [color=1E90FF]“Looks like the fire of Kusanagi’s still burning hot!”[/color] Kyo smirked at the compliment, igniting a small tendril of fire out of his fingertip. “Yeah, I know,” he said confidently, then blew the fire. He snickered. [i]“Moetaro?”[/i] Terry’s smirk spread from ear to ear. That was such a cool sight, he thought. Kyo’s confidence never ceased to amaze him. [color=1E90FF]“You sure did! Bet the training’s been burnin’ you out, alright.”[/color] As Terry’s hand reached his duffle bag, he unwrapped its straps, pulling out a can of soda. He tossed the can in Kyo’s direction, with the latter catching it right away. [color=1E90FF]“Here, take a sip!”[/color] he told the six-time KOF champion. [color=1E90FF]“You’re gonna need it.”[/color] Kyo rolled his eyes, grinning. He twisted the tab, then opened the soda can. “Yeah, right…” He brought the tip of the can close to his lips, taking a couple of sips just as Terry suggested. “Appreciate that,” he thanked the hat-wearing bruiser, pointing at him. [color=1E90FF]“No prob!”[/color] Terry reciprocated, giving Kyo a two-finger salute. He then pulled his own can of soda out of the duffle bag, twisting the tab open in a loud click. He took a sizable sip, then swallowed, wiping his lips with his wrist. A sigh left. [color=1E90FF]“Better?”[/color] “Better…” Kyo nodded, then leaned his back against the wall next to him, relaxing his muscles. He took another sip, his eyes glancing sidelong at the three-time KOF champion. “So, what’re you up to now, Terry?” [color=1E90FF]“I dunno…”[/color] Terry shrugged, then settled his can of soda next to him. [color=1E90FF]“Think I’m just gonna take a break.”[/color] He then grabbed his [url=https://imgur.com/a/2oLjaMr]Neo Geo Pocket Color[/url] out of his duffle bag, turning the portable console on. [color=1E90FF]“Wanna play some games, Kyo?”[/color] he offered, gesturing at the console in his grasp. Kyo lightly shook his head. “Nah… Not today. It’s been exhausting,” he answered, then shifted his glance towards the punching bag he’d pushed out of the stand. As it turned out, he’d left its fluffy frame with a lengthy burn mark. [color=1E90FF]“Ah… okay.”[/color] Nodding, Terry shifted his attention back across the console’s screen, his thumbs dancing from one button to another on both sides of the console. Pixelated noises began to fill the hall, as he played [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Fatal_Fury:_First_Contact]Fatal Fury: First Contact[/url] vigorously. [color=1E90FF]“Sooo… ready for the tournament?”[/color] Kyo nodded, finishing his can of soda. He squeezed it tightly, the residual liquid bursting out of the opening area. “More than ever,” he answered. “Won’t be me if I’m not ready. What about you, Terry? Are you gonna be there?” Terry nodded, rocking his Neo Geo Pocket Color left and right as he advanced to the next round. One of his thumbs was quick to hammer the A and B button alternately, as though they were flailing two actual opponents at once. [color=1E90FF]“You bet!”[/color] he answered enthusiastically. [color=1E90FF]“Won’t be me if I’m not in, either.”[/color] Kyo snickered, then shook his head, crossing his arms. “I knew you would,” he told Terry. “You never stopped to impress me, Terry. After getting reduced to a sideshow year after year, here you are, still competing like you’re gonna win. If I were you, I would’ve just quit before I started embarrassing myself.” Those sharp, sarcastic words. They were more than enough to strike Terry right to the core. He couldn’t deny that he’d been putting over a lot of promising upstart talents both inside and outside of the KOF dojo, but to call him a sideshow and an embarrassment? That was a tremendous understatement. Terry could feel his hands trembling, the console in his hands faltering. Normally, he wouldn’t be so upset about it, but he hadn’t been in the best mood in recent weeks. As he pushed the option button, Terry lowered his Neo Geo Pocket Color, his glaring eyes staring up at Kyo. [color=1E90FF]“Oh, I’m sorry?”[/color] he asked with a frown, his face wry. “No offense, Terry, but when was the last time you ever won a major tournament?” Kyo asked. He uncrossed his arms and drew his back out of the wall, turning to face the fellow KOF champion. “Just face it, the legend’s long been dead since KOF ’94. All I keep seeing is you and your team jobbing to some newcomers, while only making the cut to the semifinals every once in a blue moon. Makes me wonder why you were always the one they chose to represent the dojo in a lot of collabs when you’re just a washed-up has-been.” The words that came after only struck Terry even harder. For years, he’d already been used to a great number of people looking down on him, underestimating his strength and talents just because he didn’t always come on top, but this? This had gone a little too far. It wasn’t even to mention that [url=https://youtu.be/jX13kJE3HW8?si=-XOLR-EbWmPAFLw4]this wasn’t the only time he was scoffed at by the six-time KOF champion.[/url] Each day, he’d only felt like he was pushed to the edge. The urge to snap had only grown. [color=1E90FF]“Oh, wow! That’s a damn fine speech, [i]champ[/i]. Thanks for reminding me,”[/color] Terry thanked sarcastically, wryly smirking. [color=1E90FF]“I do wish I could go back to being the [i]big deal[/i] that I was when I bet the living crap outta Geese and Krauser, but, oh, well… Here I am.”[/color] He shrugged, his hands spreading open. [color=1E90FF]“’Least I’ve tried. Not everybody is a [i]chosen one[/i] like you, y’know that.”[/color] Kyo snorted, looking away. He placed both of his hands over his hips. “I didn’t win all the time, either, but I sure as hell won more tournaments than almost anybody in the locker room. And that includes you, Terry,” he boasted. “There’s a reason why they called me ‘Mr. KOF.’ I [b]am[/b] the face of this dojo. Should’ve been me representing the dojo in all of those collabs, just saying.” Terry had had enough. His fists clenched and trembled, the Neo Geo Pocket Color that was once in his grasp now dropping across the floor. Although wry, he tried to maintain his smirk, sharply glaring at Kyo. [color=1E90FF]“Fair enough,”[/color] he admitted, nodding, [color=1E90FF]“but do you remember where the first KOF tournament took place?”[/color] “What? South Town?” Kyo asked, raising an eyebrow. [color=1E90FF]“Exactly,”[/color] Terry answered, [color=1E90FF]“and who do you think they called ‘South Town Hero,’ huh? Just a clue, he’s one of the original champs.”[/color] “Who, you?” Kyo asked back. Terry nodded. [color=1E90FF]“Exactly.”[/color] [b][i]CRASH![/i][/b] Abruptly, Terry shoved Kyo towards the wall behind him with the latter’s back grazing against [url=https://imgur.com/a/EcljG4T]the picture of the dojo’s first anniversary ceremony[/url] that’d been clinging there for years. He pushed him so firmly against the said decoration that the glass frame containing the picture fractured upon impact. He gripped Kyo by his collar and pinned him against the wall, his fingers squeezing the dark fabric of his jacket tightly. Kyo groaned, visibly startled and puzzled. He squirmed and held onto Terry’s wrist, close to retaliating. [color=1E90FF]“Y’see, Kyo boy, this is why the KOF dojo is always far behind the big three. Mentality like this is why we’ll never be the number one dojo,”[/color] he reprimanded, his voice unusually stern. [color=1E90FF]“Ego runs this place! I swear to God, if I hear anybody says that shit one last time—”[/color] The noise of cracking glass and Terry’s loud, furious voice were enough to summon the entire dojo to the hall. Rushing downstairs, they quickly circled around Terry and Kyo, witnessing how the former had just pinned the latter across the wall. Some remained silent, while some were quick to side with Kyo without knowing who the real culprit was. Insults were thrown, and almost all of them were directed at Terry. [i] “Hey, Terry! Keep your hands outta Kyo, will ya!?” “You’re just jealous that you never got the push that Kyo gets, aren’t you?” “Overrated waste of slot! You’re mid, and all your fights are predictable. A sloppy gaijin like you shouldn’t have been in the high-tier at all.” “All you have is just catchphrases and some funny accent. What makes you so special in the ring, Terry?” “You’re just Ken with a hat, Terry. Some lazy copycat. Be original!” “Sick of seeing you everywhere. Get your ass outta here, Terry!” [/i] It’d always been the same noise—the same insults—since the dojo decided to send him to a couple of collaborations with other dojos in recent times. Terry’s eyes wandered the crowded hall, flabbergasted by the sight but not too surprised. Ever since he was separated from the people who truly knew him, he knew that nearly the entire dojo had always rallied behind Kyo, considering he was the person the dojo chose to be their poster boy. It’d always been his locker room, and Terry had barely any control nor influence over the other fighters. He was just another one of those casual-looking guys that the dojo was known for. In the midst of scuffling, however, another member came to try and separate both men. He was a blonde-haired man sporting a striking orange karate uniform—torn sleeves and a black undershirt showing underneath the orange gi. The said member was none other than the first KOF champion himself, [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Ryo_Sakazaki]Ryo Sakazaki[/url], the Invincible Dragon and the second Mr. Karate. As he stood right between Terry and Kyo, Ryo spread his arms, trying to push away the former from the latter before the worst was to happen. “C’mon, Terry,” he urged, “let the kid go!” Compared to the other stylish members, Ryo was one of the few traditionalists within the KOF dojo. The oldest successor of the great [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Takuma_Sakazaki]Takuma Sakazaki[/url], he spent most of his time training outside of the dojo, perfecting the techniques learned from the now defunct Kyokugen Dojo to keep his family’s legacy alive. He might not be around all the time due to his tight training schedule, but when he did, he’d always been the sage that kept the locker room tranquil and sound. Moreover, besides the [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Team_Masters]oldheads[/url], Ryo was one of the few who always insisted on maintaining a pleasant and serene environment for every fighter involved within the dojo, which means that unnecessary altercations such as this weren’t tolerated. If he had to discipline anybody for this behaviour, he would, without a shadow of a doubt. As he placed his hands over Terry’s shoulder, Ryo urged him one final time. “Terry, I told you, let the kid go!” he said, his voice raised yet composed. “There’s no use in doing this, my friend.” After being told by Ryo twice, Terry finally softened, loosening his grip around Kyo’s jacket. Ryo was right, after all. He didn’t gain anything from snapping out in fury. He knew he could’ve been more levelheaded than this, like he normally could. The hat-wearing bruiser took a deep breath. He released his grip, finally leaving Kyo alone but not before giving him a sharp, threatening glare. [color=1E90FF]“Watch your mouth,”[/color] he quietly warned, [color=1E90FF]“asshole…”[/color] As he shifted in Terry’s direction, Ryo gave the fellow original champion a sidelong look, perplexed and concerned. Never had he thought in a million years that Terry could ever be so offended by a silly smack talk that he decided to retort violently. “Just calm down and take a deep breath,” he told Terry, patting the latter’s back a little firmly. “Let’s just talk outside, alright?” Terry didn’t say a thing. He just nodded. Even he was left dumbfounded by his own fury. He’d never been this angry since the first time he confronted Geese. As Ryo suggested, the hat-wearing bruiser let him be his guide, as they walked past the sea of stylish fighters grouping around the hall. Many of them began to boo Terry out of the dojo, as if they were watching a wrestling segment where he assumed the role of a [url=https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Heel][i]heel[/i][/url]. [b]“Kyo-san—!!”[/b] Then, from upstairs, a squeak caught everybody’s attention. They seemed to recognize the voice, knowing where this was going. The squeak, in fact, came from a highschooler who dressed just like Kyo, albeit with slight modification. Obviously, he was [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Shingo_Yabuki]Shingo Yabuki[/url], Kyo’s biggest fanboy. Rushing down the stairs, Shingo approached Kyo, gently placing his gloved hand over his idol’s shoulder. “Oh my God, Kyo-san! I can’t believe Terry-san just did that to you. Are you okay?” he asked, visibly concerned. Kyo nodded, barely gnashing his teeth. He rubbed the back of his neck, then steadied himself, his back drawing away from the fractured glass. “Yeah, I’m okay, Shingo. Don’t worry,” he reassured. “That was nothing.” Not long after, two of Kyo’s steadfast comrades came to the scene. One was a flamboyant man with an exaggerated blonde high flat top, while the other was a gigantic man with miniscule eyes and a [url=https://imgur.com/a/7NsQQDY]hachimaki[/url] across his forehead. They were [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Benimaru_Nikaido]Benimaru Nikaido[/url] and [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Goro_Daimon]Goro Daimon[/url] respectively. “Ohoho… Did he really just do that?” Benimaru joked, trying so hard to stifle his laughter. “Looks like our ‘Mr. KOF’ has just been humbled by some [i]washed-up has-been[/i].” “Oh, shut up!” Kyo retorted, nearly elbowing Benimaru on the nose. Thankfully, Daimon was fast to step between the two, catching his elbow. “C’mon, you two, this is [b]not[/b] funny!” Daimon reprimanded, lowering Kyo’s arm. He sighed, then grunted, crossing his arms together. “Don’t you guys understand? You’re only embarrassing our team with this behavior. Let’s just head back to our room now, should we?” While the crowd started to resolve from within the dojo’s building, Terry and Ryo were still outside. They sat by the bench near the entrance of the dojo, talking about a lot of stuff revolving around the prior scuffle. “Is everything alright, Terry?” Ryo asked, turning his face to give Terry a glance. “I’ve started to notice that you’ve kinda changed lately. It’s not like you to be so angry about it. What happened?” Terry sighed, then lowered his head, his hands firmly clutching the edge of the bench. [color=1E90FF]“I dunno, man…”[/color] he answered, shaking his head. [color=1E90FF]“I know that I haven’t been feeling like myself these past few weeks. Like something’s missing, but I dunno what. Or, maybe…”[/color] he paused, pensively gazing ahead. [color=1E90FF]“Maybe I’m just tired of both of us being looked down at by a lotta peeps. Just a couple of losses and misfortunes, and they quickly made assumptions about us. Never mind the fact that our teams were the ones who built the house and brought everyone together like glue.”[/color] Ryo sighed and nodded, pensively glancing away. Something about what Terry said hit him right in the feels, as he shared the same sentiment and experiences. If there was anybody in the locker room who could understand what Terry experienced, it was him. “Yeah, I understand you,” he reciprocated, his head raising. “They’ve been treating [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Team_Art_of_Fighting]my team[/url] like a laughing stock, especially after my family’s dojo went out of business. They kept telling me that I was just another [i]Shotoclone[/i] trying and failing to imitate Ryu. The fact is, I’m not. I [b]am[/b] my own thing. Just because somebody practices karate doesn’t mean they’re cheap imitations of Ryu or [url=https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/Ken_Masters]Ken[/url].” [color=1E90FF]“Yeah, it’s so unfair that they did you so dirty like that. Did they even know that you were the first guy to win a KOF tournament?”[/color] Terry asked, finally looking sideways at Ryo. His clutch across the edge of the bench loosened. “Not like they even care,” Ryo answered, lowering his head. It didn’t take him long to reciprocate Terry’s gaze, his face wry and darkening. [color=1E90FF]“Oh, man…”[/color] Hearing his response, Terry paused, his eyes pensively moving back ahead. He glued his palms together, then exhaled, closing his eyes. To him, Ryo wasn’t just his main rival—he was the closest he could get to an actual friend in the dojo. But perhaps, it had more to do with them coming from the same city and sharing the same struggles since the World of Light was formed. [color=1E90FF]“Sometimes, I wonder, is it really so hard for them to put a lil’ respect on our names?”[/color] he asked, opening his eyes to look at Ryo again. [color=1E90FF]“Like… are we really so bad? Are we really so [i]undeserving[/i] to be part of the KOF family?”[/color] “At least, most people outside of the dojo still acknowledge you, my friend,” Ryo answered. “As for myself… What am I? I’m just a mere imitation to those people. A [i]failed product[/i], if you will. Nothing more and nothing less.” Hearing Ryo’s words, Terry couldn’t help but feel a sense of sympathy. Having fought the original champion throughout the years, he knew that Ryo was worth more than just another Ryu wannabe. After all, we’re talking about the man who [url=https://imgur.com/a/9KqSRtF]defeated the future KOF champion in KOF XIV[/url], and Terry was there to witness the triumph. [color=1E90FF]“Nah, dude… You’re not just some copycat, y’know that. [b]None[/b] of us are. We’re unique in our own ways,”[/color] he encouraged, patting Ryo by his back. A smile finally spread after the tension. [color=1E90FF]“Heard the new KOF’s around the corner, right? This should be the chance for us to prove ourselves.”[/color] Ryo nodded, feeling uplifted. He reciprocated Terry’s gaze, a smile faintly forming. “Right, this is our chance,” he agreed. “It has to be my team or your team for the gold.” Terry raised his eyebrows, his face puzzled. [color=1E90FF]“Wait a minute, I thought it was goin’ back to the one-on-one format,”[/color] he commented. Ryo shook his head. “No, my friend. The rules remain the same, and I believe Rugal will be hosting the tournament if the rumors are true,” he elaborated. “Have you formed your team yet?” [color=1E90FF]“Andy and Joe are gone, don’t y’know that?”[/color] Terry answered, his smile faltering. [color=1E90FF]“So, nope. I don’t even know who I should team up with anymore. None of my guys are even around.”[/color] “Oh, I’m sorry,” Ryo said, his voice a hint of sympathy. He paused for a moment. “Well, then. Maybe I should check if there’s still a spot for you to join my team soon. If you need a training partner, you know who to call.” He gently nudged Terry’s shoulder with his knuckles. “I’ll be at the temple near the KOF dojo every morning. Just catch me up there. I’ll be awaiting you, my friend.” Terry snickered, slightly drawing away in reaction to the nudge. [color=1E90FF]“Yeah, I know. I’ve always had a blast fighting you, y’know that,”[/color] he told Ryo, [color=1E90FF]“and… thanks a bunch, though. You’re the man, Ryo.”[/color] “[i]Yosh![/i] A pleasure.” And so, the two shook hands and returned to the dojo. [img][/img] [center]──────── 《 ✪ 》 ────────[/center] [b][i]The next day…[/i][/b] It was Wednesday morning. Terry had already woken up way earlier than he normally would. Usually, he’d just wake up later during the afternoon, but not today. Today, he felt motivated to start his activities earlier. As it was any day in a week, the hat-wearing bruiser wandered the streets with a duffle bag over his shoulder, a small bandage spreading over his bruised nose. He scanned his vicinity, keeping himself notified if there were mentions of KOF being made by passing pedestrians. Even after gaining information from two fellow champions, he still felt the need to dig more information surrounding this new KOF tournament he was about to enter, especially in regards to its sponsor. If nothing fruited anything, well… at least he had Richard to go by. He’d always wanted to go to Pao Pao Café 7 again, like the good ol’ days. The streets were lukewarm at best. Not so crowded, but not actually that quiet. There were still a bunch of people walking left and right past Terry—some asking him for an autograph, while the others minded their own businesses. He could hear a few pedestrians chattering, but none of them actually mentioned the new KOF. The view remained the same until Terry was close to the northern side of Esaka. There, the streets were more crowded. He could hear a lot more people chattering with one another, but while he strolled past each and everyone of them, the conversations remained the same. Some were talking about trivial everyday stuff, while others were talking about a commotion that took place somewhere nearby Esaka. The latter did spark his interest a bit, but it wasn’t something he was looking for. After moments had passed without a single mention of the new KOF, Terry finally reached Pao Pao Café 7. He pushed the front door open—once again, stepping into the bronze-hued interior decked with a humongous dragon statue and a concoction of South American and East Asian decorations. The café remained the same as it was yesterday—just a little more crowded with new visitors. The scent of club sandwiches and alcoholic beverages still filled his nostrils, and a music performance was heard playing [url=https://youtu.be/eWCGgOlp5C8?si=yYdvyrBqlL47qI0U]‘Haremar Faith Capoeira School’[/url] in the background. The atmosphere was cozy as always, making Terry feel more at home than he was in the KOF dojo. The hat-wearing bruiser took the same sitting spot that he took yesterday, dropping his duffle bag next to his feet. He took his cap off, his fingers lingering on its red fabric. From across the counter was Richard welcoming him again, shifting in his direction. “Morning, Terry. I knew you’d be back,” the café owner greeted, a slight smile below his mustache. “How’s your day?” [color=1E90FF]“Not so bad, actually,”[/color] Terry answered, then sighed, the tension from yesterday’s altercation still present, albeit lightly. He gave a half smile in reciprocation. [color=1E90FF]“What about you? Looks like the new outlet’s gaining more attention overnight, huh?”[/color] Richard snickered. “You can say that again, son.” While talking with Terry, he noticed that same gesture he made when they reunited yesterday. He’d been looking a bit burdened and uneasy for the last two days, and he couldn’t help but wonder why. He raised his eyebrows. “Why, it’s not like you to look so unhappy for days,” he added. “Have you eaten anything the whole morning, Terry?” Terry shook his head lightly, trying to maintain the smile on his face. [color=1E90FF]“Nah, I haven’t, which is why I came straight to your place,”[/color] he answered, snickering. Then, a yawn left his mouth. [color=1E90FF]“Think you got a hot dog and a cup of java for breakfast?”[/color] “I can make you some. Just wait.” Turning against his regular customer, Richard prepared the ingredients needed to make a hotdog and a Javanese coffee bean powder to make the beverage Terry had just ordered. He started by preparing the coffee, as it didn’t take a while to make. All he needed to do was pour the dark brownish powder into a small cup and fill the cup with hot water. “Here’s your drink,” he said, placing the cup right in front of Terry. Terry nodded, then took the cup Richard placed across the counter. It felt warm underneath his fingers. [color=1E90FF]“Well, thanks, Richard,”[/color] he said before taking a sip. “Don’t mention it,” Richard said, as he grilled the sausage needed to make a hotdog. “So, found anything regarding the new KOF I told you about?” Terry nodded, lowering his cup. [color=1E90FF]“Well, yeah, actually. Some of my pals from the dojo have given me enough info. Now, all I need to know is who the real sponsor should be. Ryo told me it’s gonna be Rugal, instead of Geese.”[/color] “So, it’s Rugal, huh?” Richard asked, slightly glancing at Terry past his shoulder. “Makes more sense, actually. It’s not like Geese has sponsored any KOF since the ones in South Town. Besides, he hasn’t been the highest in the hierarchy for a long time.” He shrugged, finishing the grilling process. Terry watched, as Richard took the sausage out of the grill and placed it between the sliced bun. He could feel his mouth almost watering at the tasty sight, especially when the mustard and ketchup was poured. His stomach growled a bit harder. [color=1E90FF]“I guess you’re right. Rugal’s one of the Four Kings, anyway,”[/color] he agreed. Richard nodded, then placed a plate of hotdog in front of Terry—just next to where he settled his cup. “Indeed,” he responded, now fully facing his regular customer. He pressed his palms against the edge of the counter, watching as Terry gave the hotdog a bite. The way he looked at him, it was clear that Richard still worried about him. “You sure everything’s been well, Terry?” he asked. Terry hesitantly nodded, refusing to tell Richard about the altercation he had in the dojo. [color=1E90FF]“Yeah, I’m okay, really,”[/color] he reassured, his voice muffled by the chewed hotdog under his mouth. Richard raised an eyebrow, still unconvinced. “You know you can tell me everything, don’t you? We’ve been friends for years, Terry.” Terry swallowed. It seemed that Richard might know something was up with him. His own gesture didn’t lie. Clearing his throat, he pensively lowered his gaze, his blue eyes meeting the bitten hotdog in his grip. [color=1E90FF]“Actually, I just got involved in a heated brawl,”[/color] he elaborated, his voice lowering. [color=1E90FF]“And before you ask, nope, it’s not what you think it is. It ain’t some random street fights or ranked matches. It actually happened in the KOF dojo during our downtime.”[/color] “Oh?” Richard widened his eyes, his face quizzical. He thought it wasn’t like Terry to be involved in an altercation. The Terry that he knew was a social butterfly. He was the easiest person to get along with just about anybody. How anybody in the world—especially in places like the KOF dojo—had a problem with such a likeable figure was beyond him. “What happened?” Before he revealed, Terry took another sip of his coffee. He sighed again. [color=1E90FF]“Somebody pissed me off, and I got worked up. I swear to God, I was about to kick his ass right there and then till it caught the entire locker room’s attention.”[/color] Richard gently nodded, attentively giving ear to the whole story. “Well, that doesn’t sound so good. And who might this person be?” [color=1E90FF]“Welp, I hope you’re not surprised,”[/color] Terry revealed. [color=1E90FF]“It’s Kyo. He said something that actually pissed me off while I wasn’t in the best mood.”[/color] “Ah…” Somehow, Richard didn’t seem so surprised the way that Terry had anticipated. The café owner drew his head back, arms crossing and eyebrows arching. “Well, I mean, he could act like a spoiled brat at times. Just don’t mind what he said. He’ll eventually change when he’s older.” [color=1E90FF]“Yeah, I know. There’s no hard feelings anymore, but…”[/color] Terry paused, slightly squeezing the hot dog in his grip. [color=1E90FF]“Damn… I wish I could’ve humbled the guy a lot better. That wasn’t even the first time he mocked me. A part of me was ready to fight him, and I could say the same about Kyo the way he looked at me.”[/color] He loosened the grip, gradually calming himself. [color=1E90FF]“Yet somehow, it didn’t happen. We’d gotten separated already.”[/color] “Hmm… I see.” Richard pensively nodded, rubbing his mandible. Having known Kyo’s smack-talking antics, he seemed to understand where Terry came from. Still, it surprised him how his regular customer handled the situation, considering he was usually the last person to ever get offended over anything. “Y’know, at first, it was funny hearing from you just now that a person as positive as yourself could get so worked up. Never thought I’d see the day when the happy-go-lucky Terry Bogard loses patience,” he remarked, then snickered, his voice calming. Terry wryly grinned. [color=1E90FF]“I don’t even know what’s up with me, either,”[/color] he admitted, shrugging. [color=1E90FF]“But then again, what’d you do if you were in my position, Richard? Just listening like an idiot while somebody told you just how worthless you were?”[/color] “If that’s what he really told you, then I can see why you should’ve gotten so worked up. Surely, he might’ve won more tournaments, but we’re talking about the man who’s won KOF thrice. That’s an incredible feat, still,” Richard answered, gesturing at Terry. “So, yes, if I was in your position, I would’ve humbled him, too. Maybe not as harsh as you did.” [color=1E90FF]“Right?”[/color] Terry asked back, his eyebrows arching. [color=1E90FF]“Even you would’ve been so pissed, too, Richard. And that said, I feel like I need something to channel my fury.”[/color] Playfully smirking, he bumped his fist against his palm, dropping the partly eaten hotdog in his grasp. [color=1E90FF]“Think you got anybody I can fight on that stage?”[/color] he asked, his blue eyes gesturing at the broad stage next to the dragon statue. [color=1E90FF]“Or maybe you, yourself, are in a mood for some fightin’, my pal?”[/color] Richard chuckled, glad to have seen Terry’s mood lightening. “I would, but I’ve been getting older and older. It’s been long since I’ve ever performed on a high level. I wouldn't want to disappoint my opponent,” he admitted. Then, an idea crossed his mind. “Frankly, if you’re looking for some fight, I have a recommendation.” [color=1E90FF]“Oh? What’s that?”[/color] Terry asked, his interest piqued. “I heard there’s been a commotion going around nearby. It’s in the neighboring city, roughly about twenty minutes from this side of Esaka,” Richard elaborated, his thumb gesturing to his side. “Some of the locals are involved. They’re brawling against a bunch of rioting yokais in case you’re wondering.” [color=1E90FF]“[i]Yokels?[/i] Erm… I mean, yokais?”[/color] Just hearing that name gave Terry a sense of familiarity. Like any other residents, Terry was no stranger to yokais. Initially, he didn’t take the tales surrounding those creatures too seriously, believing they were nothing more than a local myth. However, his mind changed when he sighted one himself on one occasion while heading back to the dojo late at night. [color=1E90FF]“So, it is true that there’s been a commotion,”[/color] he muttered, gently nodding. [color=1E90FF]“You said some of the locals were involved, right? You know the names?”[/color] Richard shook his head. “Unfortunately, I have no clue who, but what I know is that they used to be regular participants competing in the [url=https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/World_Fighting_Tournament]World Warrior[/url] tournaments. Does that ring a bell?” [color=1E90FF]“World Warrior?”[/color] Terry asked back, his pensive eyes wandering above. [color=1E90FF]“That means… it could be related to the Street Fighter dojo, ain’t it?”[/color] He shot a gaze back at Richard. Having competed in a World Warrior tournament before, Terry actually knew and befriended a lengthy list of names that came up pretty often when the competition took place. Who knows if he’d meet somebody he knew along the way? [color=1E90FF]“Oh, man… This should be interesting,”[/color] he remarked, then quickly finished the hotdog he dropped on the plate. [color=1E90FF]“You said it’s near here, right? Y’know what, I think I’m down for the challenge.”[/color] “Oh, of course, you are, Terry boy,” Richard joked, smirking. “But be careful, I heard dealing with those yokais could be trickier than it looks. They tend to ramble nonstop and distract their opponents. Just a heads-up before you go ahead.” [color=1E90FF]“Ah, don’t worry about that,”[/color] Terry reassured, then took the final sip of his coffee. He settled the cup down, his wrist wiping his lips. [color=1E90FF]“It’s not like I can’t quip back. The smaller types could be a piece of cake if handled right.”[/color] “That, I can’t disagree,” Richard responded, pointing at Terry. “Well, I wish you all the best in your effort, son. Hope it can help you channel those frustrations.” [color=1E90FF]“Just knowing there’s something to punch already makes me feel better,”[/color] Terry answered with a smile, standing out of his seat and bringing his duffle bag over his shoulder. He then reached his pocket with his hand, pulling out a couple of notes. [color=1E90FF]“And thanks for the breakfast,”[/color] he told Richard, handing him the right amount of money. [color=1E90FF]“It’s tasty like always.”[/color] “Your welcome,” Richard responded, receiving the notes. “Take care!” Terry nodded. [color=1E90FF]“Yeah, you too, bud,”[/color] he said, pointing a finger gun at Richard as he shifted against him. While Richard counted each note, Terry drew his steps close to the front door, pushing its glass panel open. His fighting spirit might’ve started to fade, but the will to continue was still there. It was clear that he was still passionate about competing and kicking asses. Knowing yokais, they might not be that much of an obstacle to tackle, especially the smaller ones. Unless the bigger types were involved, this could’ve been a fast, easy fight, especially when done with a group of combatants. The northern side of Esaka was even more crowded after Terry parted ways with his regular hangout spot. Once again, he eavesdropped on the conversations that took place between pedestrians, his sharp blue eyes observing each and every fellow resident walking closely in his path. From the looks of it, the focus of the conversations had shifted. The commotion wasn’t talked about that much any longer. Instead, they conversed about potential guests heading to Esaka that morning. [i] “There’s a guest?” “Yeah, a lot of ’em. I heard they were the ones who fought the yokais nearby. Kicked their candy asses so hard they sent those lil’ demons back to their place. Looks like some of them could be locals.” “Locals? Some of them ain’t guests, then. They’re just one of us!” “Oh, yeah? Where are they?” “Somebody told me they’re coming in this direction. We’ll see…” [/i] Just vaguely giving ear to the conversations left Terry intrigued. If it was true that many of them were fellow residents, he thought he might’ve recognized them—moreover, if it was true that they were the World Warrior alumni Richard told him. Maybe he could’ve been the first resident fortunate enough to welcome them to the Tiered City, aiding them in their battle if the yokais still troubled them. As it turned out, though, he wasn’t actually the first one they came across. As the guests were near, he later discovered that Azuma had welcomed and introduced them to Esaka already. [color=1E90FF][i]I got a feeling those guys could be them. Should I check ’em out?[/i][/color] Hesitating briefly, Terry finally made up his mind and approached both the investigator and a group of heroes on his side, still deciding to give them a warm welcome. He cleared his throat, then gave them a big wave. [color=1E90FF]“Yo!”[/color] he greeted, his voice loud and enthused. [color=1E90FF]“New visitors?”[/color] As he stood close to them, he managed to give the roster of guests an up-close look. His blue eyes wandered from one person to another, seemingly recognizing a few faces—most notably, Captain Falcon, Pit, Sakura, and Juri. [color=1E90FF][i]Richard was right. ’Least two of them are World Warriors. I’ve seen those girls somewhere before…[/i][/color] [color=1E90FF]“Hmm…”[/color] Terry narrowed his eyes, his fingers lingering pensively below his face. He gave his mandible a gentle rub, gauging the facial expressions the crew would be making as they met. [color=1E90FF]“Welp, looks like you guys ain’t really unfamiliar, after all. Do we know each other?”[/color] [b]FIN.[/b]