Next fight was two students who were ranked lower than Michael, and the fight wasn't very interesting as both fighters were weak.
After that fight, a girl challenged Michael for a fight.
Michael didn't hesitate when the call to fight came; in fact, he welcomed it. The thought of facing battle sooner rather than later gave him a strange sense of relief. He knew enduring the fight now meant he could move on and focus on climbing the ranks, rather than letting anxiety build over time. The tension that had been buzzing in his chest for days finally had an outlet, and though the prospect of combat was daunting, Michael found comfort in the idea that once it was over, he could rise stronger and closer to his goals. The sooner he faced the challenge, the sooner he could prove himself and advance, making every nerve-wracking moment worthwhile.
Michael stood face to face with her, and he really had to say she was very cute, but Michael wouldn't take it easier on her because she was a girl.
