Explosive Confrontation on a Far Away Shore | Feng

It had been a year. One year since the greatest humiliation of his life- He, Ren Zhenya. He, who had defeated Japan's U12 Shogi champion at the ripe age of 9. He, the highly praised star student of Fenghuang high... Had lost. He had fallen in the first round of battle, no less- And were his opponent to have won the tournament, perhaps he would not hold such a grudge. And yet, she had lost. For a man as rational as Ren, he rarely displayed emotion. But even he could not help but roar at the news- "What do you mean, she. Isn't. Coming."

That was right. Kurama Rin. UA's former number one, had quit while she was ahead. This past year, he had been training. Practicing. Working hard just for the sake of showing her up... And she was GONE!? Unforgiveable! A sneer rose across his face as his classmates found excuses to be anywhere but here. He was known for his arrogance, and for his skill which backed that up. But in this case, his bottom line had been crossed- And the person whom he wished to take it out on. Why, she wasn't there, was she?

Nor could he even defeat the one who had defeated her, thus proving his superiority by proxy. These Japanese dogs... "Are they looking down on us!?" He roared at anyone who was too slow to escape. Well, that would be the natural assumption. After all, of their top students- Had they not only sent that Shindou Tetsuko? Hah, that samurai... What a joke. "They think they can defeat us, without even sending their best? I'll show them not to underestimate Fenghuang!"

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and in this case, it seemed to be true. Ren assumed that in the past year, the top students of UA remained unchanged as his own position had- And that Kurama Rin and Daimon Darren still stood at their peak. How would he react, should he find out that they were not only absent, but had given up on UA entirely? His wrath would surely not extend merely to his unfortunate classmates in that scenario.

However, he quickly calmed himself. Acting on emotion was not rational- And without logic, he was nothing. A cold look once more rose over the boy's face. Very well. If UA would not provide their very best, he would punish them for their hubris. "I'm going out." It was not a request.

---

Valiant Institute had so kindly provided their training facilities, it would be rude not to use them. Rather than take out his anger on his classmates, it would be far more productive to channel it into his training. Ever the rational one. A line of test dummies stood before him, a staple of heroic training. But not for long. His fingers would swiftly separate from his hands, each flying towards a separate dummy. His calculations were perfect, as usual. Pop. Five headless dummies slumped to the floor. An impassioned face looked down on the wrecks, unconcerned at the destruction of Valiant's property. Such was the fate of those who challenged the number one.

However, coincidence is as coincidence does. And he was not the only one with an interest in training this day. A face he remembered from last year- "Oh, it's you. UA must really be looking down on the world, to send you in place of their best." He said impassively. His words were the truth. Of the sixteen entrants last year, Feng Yao was without a doubt... The weakest. He held no greater expectations for her this year than the one previous. "The world has no place for weak heroes. Be glad that you chose those island mutts over your home, for in Fenghuang, we are not so tolerant." Despite all evidence to the contrary, Ren was convinced that their way was correct. Those who slacked off deserved no better than expulsion. There was no purpose in training those with no talent.

Even the embarrassing defeat the previous year could not shatter this self-centered worldview.