Renji sits in the back next to Gudo as they enter B1. The class is silent but filled with anticipation. The last person to walk in is a beautiful lady in her late 20s. The students rise up and give a respectful bow.
"Welcome to B1! I am the teacher of this class. I'm sure some of you will land back here after the tournament, but for those who won't, I simply wish you luck."
She points to a glass bowl sitting on her desk.
"As before, each of you will pick a random slip to determine your starting spot in the bracket. We'll skip introductions for now. Starting on the left side, front to back, you'll come up here and draw once."
She scans the class with a sharp gaze.
"With twenty players, we can't run a perfect bracket without some adjustments. Four of you, deemed the strongest based on prior records or assessments, will skip the first round and advance automatically."
A few students grumble loudly, exchanging irritated whispers.
"That's so unfair! How can they just skip the first round while the rest of us fight for our lives?"
"Yeah, what makes them so special?"
The teacher's gaze sharpens as she steps forward.
"Unfair?" she repeats, voice calm but cutting. "Those four earned that privilege through undeniable skill, either from previous trials or rigorous assessments. If you want that advantage, earn it. Complaints won't help you here."
She pauses, letting the weight of her words settle.
"This academy isn't a playground. It's a crucible. If you're not ready to face hard truths, you'll be the first to fall."
The murmurs die down, replaced by a tense silence.
"Now, to name the four students that earned this privilege: Takumi Arakawa, Reina Itsuki, Riku Yamadera and Ayame Fushino. All of you, stand up and make yourselves known."
Smirks crack on their faces as the class takes notice of the four deemed strongest.
"As of now, the four of you are free to leave. You'll join the fight tomorrow."
They all proceed to step out with perhaps a little too much confidence. The remaining students are still not content with the situation, but they know they have to accept it.
"Settle down. Time to let fate play its role. As instructed before, we're starting the random draw."
Students each take turns in picking the slips. Each slip has a number assigned to it from one to sixteen.
"One fights nine, two fights ten, three fights eleven, and so on. We're using a classic bracket system, and I'm going to lay the names down on the board. Now, who's got one and nine?"
"I got one. What about you?"
Renji looks down at his slip, then back up at Gudo.
"Nine."
And just like that... Renji's first opponent is his best friend.
The brackets have finally been decided.
"We'll now move to an arena. Things will move quickly as we have many of those, which means it's just the sixteen of you. Follow me."
No words are needed to convey the weight of the situation as they make their way there.
"The most important rule is not to kill your opponent. Attacks that can cause serious harm are also off the table. Incapacitating your opponent temporarily is allowed. Remember, strength isn't all about power. Being able to control your power is just as important."
She coughs.
"If any of you wish to concede mid-fight, simply say so. If your opponent still keeps going, not only will I step in and stop them, but they will also be disqualified on the spot. Clear?"
They all nod in agreement.
"Good. Let the first match begin!"