[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240315/de039f859a0f7ed86c79f6d4265d3386.png[/img]

[b]Word Count:[/b] 573
[b]Level 6 Captain Falcon:[/b] 91/60
[b]Exp Gained:[/b] +1
[b]NEW EXP Balance---[/b] 92/60

[H3]Esaka’s Low Tier, The Breakers Dojo[/h3][/center]

“What do you mean, ‘missing’?” asked Sho Kamui.

Captain Falcon had returned to the Breakers Dojo for the night. Once there he’d shared with Sawamura and Team Breakers what had happened that day regarding Terry going missing. And while Lee remained stoic, Sho and Tia showed their concern. Sawamura stayed silent for now, taking in the info and simply processing it.

[color=1f66b2]”It happened after our match,”[/color] Falcon said, leaving out all the details pertaining to the UN and the G-Corp investigation. [color=1f66b2]”He just… went radio silent, and wasn’t replying. And I couldn’t find him at the Fatal Fury Dojo either.”[/color]

“Wait,” Tia chimed in, “so if he’s actually gone, then your team…” she trailed off.

“...will get DQ’d from the Tournament.” Lee said, finishing the thought for her.

“But isn’t there a rule that allows an emergency sub-in?” Sho pointed out.

[color=1f66b2]”Yeah,”[/color] Falcon confirmed, [color=1f66b2]”that’s allowed. I’ve even found a pair of fighters who want to take his spot, but…”[/color]

“But what?” Lee asked, “You’re down a teammate, and was lucky enough to find a quick replacement. Why the hesitation?”

[color=1f66b2]”They’re only 15.”[/color] Falcon said with some trepidation, [color=1f66b2]”Kids, essentially.”[/color]

There was a pause between all of them at that revelation. It was Sawamura who eventually broke the silence, “You’d be surprised how young some prominent fighters can be.”

“True.” Sho said optimistically, “And it’s not like the KoF matches are allowed to be lethal, right?”

Under most normal circumstances they’d be right. But the Captain obviously knew some details that they were not privy to concerning the Four Kings and what he assumed was likely waiting for the Seekers at the end of the Tournament. The twins weren’t like himself or the other Seekers. They wouldn’t be regenerated by the system put in place by Galeem. They only had one shot. If something happened to them, that was it - Game Over. Not an easy thing for Falcon to have to carry on his conscience.

And yet Bart and Marg were insistent on fighting anyway. From that perspective, he had to admire the courage and guts the two had. Which was also why he couldn’t just turn them away. Not after how much trouble they went to to prove they wanted to do this. And not the least of which because Falcon had no other options for how to replace Terry on the KoF team.

[color=1f66b2]”I guess you’ve got a point.”[/color] The F-Zero Pilot finally admitted.

[hr]
The next morning, Falcon was back out on the streets of the Low Tier when he heard the call from Band and Roland’s subsequent reply. [color=1f66b2]”I’ll be there.”[/color] The Captain quickly chimed in. Since he was already in the Lower Tier it wouldn’t take him long at all to get to the address that Roland specified.

Once there, he got himself a coffee and a rice omelet. Nothing fancy, but it got the job done. He greeted Pit and Amaterasu when they arrived, too. He waved the wolf goddess over so he let her know where they were set to meet the twins before the day’s matches were supposed to begin.

[color=1f66b2]”We’ll have a tougher time knowing what we’re up against without Terry.”[/color] He admitted but quickly added, [color=1f66b2]”But I’ve got faith in us. As long as we’re not out of the Tournament, then as far as I’m concerned we’ve still got just as good of a shot as ever at making it to Rugal.”[/color]