Morning light made the arena's metal ribs look like pale gold. The floor still wore its scars from the entrance exam - scuffed plates, ruined grates catching light, reinforced panels waiting along the walls with the patience of things that had been hit before and expected to be hit again.
The eight stood in a loose line near the center. The atmosphere was different today, a weird mixture between excitement and tension. Two days until the four-on-four, and the lineup had been decided. Everyone knew who was fighting. Everyone knew who wasn't.
Kori's voice carried from the sideline. "Three days since your first real life signs. Two days until the fight. Show me control. Show me creativity. No broken classmates."
"Define broken" Arashi said, checking the action on one luminite pistol.
"Arashi."
He clicked the safety and smiled. "Not broken. Got it."
Hikari glanced down the line, staff balanced in one hand. "Who first?"
"I'll go" Raizen said.
