The sun hung lazily over Metal Park, casting sharp shadows across the cracked concrete of the practice stadiums. It wasn't a crowded day. No large audience. No major event. Just the quiet hum of spinning Beyblades echoing off metal railings and worn stone.
Among them, Hikaru Hasama stood alone, launching Storm Acquario into perfect, deliberate spins. Her posture was immaculate—back straight, wrist flick sharp, every movement honed through relentless repetition.
Each launch was identical. Each retrieval followed a precise sequence.
But not far from the railings, Gingka Hagane leaned casually, arms crossed, watching.
He'd been observing her for days now.
She wasn't the type to seek attention. She didn't shout, didn't pose, didn't battle for recognition.
And that's exactly why Gingka was interested.
Benkei Musashibou sat a few meters away, arms folded, his sharp eyes following Hikaru's every move. His presence was quiet, not his usual loud self.
Kenta Yumiya, sitting beside Madoka, noticed Hikaru glancing towards Benkei with a faint look of surprise. It was rare for Benkei to watch anyone this intently without making a scene.
Kenta leaned toward Madoka, voice low. "Ever since his battle with Aarav, Benkei's been paying attention to Bladers who are serious about spinning. He's not loud about it, but he knows Hikaru isn't just posturing."
Madoka nodded, already preparing her analysis scanner, tracking Hikaru's flawless launch angles.
A few steps away, Aarav stood leaning against a pillar, silent, observing everything with his usual unreadable calm.
Gingka pushed himself off the railing and walked toward the stadium, a relaxed grin on his face.
"You've been practicing that launch for a while now," he said casually. "Want to battle?"
Hikaru caught her Beyblade, turning to face him. Her expression stayed calm.
"If you're here to show off, find someone else," she replied flatly.
Gingka chuckled. "I'm not here to show off. I just want a good battle."
Hikaru paused, studying him. She had watched him battle before. His style wasn't wild for the sake of it—it had purpose. That made him worth testing against.
"Alright," she said, stepping onto the platform. "Let's see how you really battle."
Benkei, still seated, smirked slightly. "This'll be a match worth watching."
Kenta grinned, nudging Madoka. "This is going to be clean and wild at the same time!"
Madoka's scanner beeped softly as she calibrated it for live analysis. "Hikaru's launch form is flawless, but Gingka's vectors are designed to disrupt rhythm patterns. If she can stabilize early, she might force Gingka to adjust first."
Aarav didn't speak. His eyes tracked both Bladers—Hikaru's precision against Gingka's adaptable flow. He wasn't analyzing data. He was reading their breathing, their footwork, their intent.
As the two Bladers set their launchers, the atmosphere tightened—not loud, not dramatic, just sharp focus.
Gingka's stance was relaxed, but his grip was firm. His smile remained, but his eyes had narrowed.
Hikaru's posture was textbook-perfect. Left foot forward, balance low, launcher aligned at the perfect release angle.
Madoka's scanner projected spin trajectory simulations.
"Storm Aquario spin will hold straight for five seconds post-launch unless disrupted. Pegasus's side-impact vectors could destabilize it within the first three," she explained to Kenta, who nodded, though most of it went over his head.
Benkei, arms still folded, muttered. "This won't be a clean clash. It'll be about who adjusts first."
Aarav's eyes flicked to Benkei briefly. He didn't disagree.
The air became still.
No one in Metal Park spoke.
The auto-countdown began.
"3…"
Madoka's scanner glowed, numbers flickering rapidly.
"2…"
Kenta held his breath.
Benkei's eyes stayed locked on the stadium.
"1…"
Aarav's gaze narrowed, his thoughts unspoken.
''LET IT RIP!"