Your POV 

'Are you gonna be ok?' I softly whispered into the gentle breeze, wafting through us. Shu's arms around me squeezed reassuringly and I couldn't help but relax again. It feels like everyday see a gorgeous sunset, pinks and blues and yellows stretching across the pale sky, painting a picture full of colour, hovering above the sparkling waters. Everyday I probably do see a sunset or a sunrise, but it catches my attention every time. I closed my eyes, listening to the crickets and birds chirping and the distant roar of the crowd.

'Of course I will,' Shu said, words slightly muffled in my hair. I opened up my eyes slowly.

'And Spryzen?'

There was a sharp intake of breath. I instantly turned around towards Shu, dread filling me up as he tried to avoid eye contact.

'It isn't getting better, is it?' I said quietly, taking the glittering red bey from his pocket and examining it. 'That's a pretty major crack....'

'I'm not forfeiting!' Shu said sharply, getting to the conclusion I was thinking of. 'I've waited too long. I've trained too hard to just give up now. I need to win this match. Otherwise I'll break my promise to Valt and my promise to you.'

Now it was my turn to gasp. But then it slowly melted into a small smile. 'A promise is a promise. Can't say I wouldn't have done the same. Make me proud Shu.'

'I will,' Shu whispered again, muffling his mouth in my hair. 'A promise is a promise.'

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'Valt Aoi wins the match, 3 to 2! He advances to the finals!'

I let out a relieved sigh. Valt had won his match with Zac. Just. In no time, he was bouncing back to us in the crowd, talking away non-stop about the upcoming match. If anything, he was feeling the opposite of the next match to me. He was excited, while I was dreading this match, fists clenched and knuckles white. A bead of sweat appeared, but I confidently brushed it away. I had to be strong for Shu. Otherwise, how else could he handle the pressure of not losing to his long-time enemy, ending Lui's winning streak and two promises? It doesn't help that Lui is the crowned, ultimate champion of Japan since he five years ago. But it doesn't matter. Shu was still going to win this. He had to. 

'Moving on....the semi-finals aren't over yet! Are you ready for this?' Hanami declared eagerly. 'The next match is a repeat of last year's larger than life tournament's nail-biting conclusion! Talk about epic! These heavy weights are here to clash once again and we don't even have to wait till the final! Now, introducing our competitors!' A gush of smoke emerged from the blue corner, fading away to reveal to Luinor Blader. 'First up, the undisputed champion and winner of the last four national tournaments! He's earned his way here, ruthlessly destroying every single competitor! Lui Shirasagi!' Lui stepped forward, a grim look on his face as he observed the crowd, hovering just a second longer on me, before smirking and looking at the entry of the red corner, where his enemy was about stand there, ready to come at him with everything his got. My nails dug even deeper into my skin. I just hoped everything was enough to defeat Lui. 'And next, the runner up from the last tournament! He's been working on his game ever since that bitter defeat and now he's finally here to even the score! It's Shu Kurenai!' The smoked cleared to reveal the albino standing there, red eyes alight with determinedness. 'He's mastering a new left-handed launch, and word is he's fiercely determined to topple the champ from his throne!'

'All you,' Valt and I whispered in sync. Both bladers approached the stadium, surveying each other with equal hate and determinedness.

'I'm warning you, Lui,' Shu spoke sharply, glaring into the depths of Lui. 'This time, things are gonna be different.'

'Ha!' Lui let out a short, amused laugh. 'Think whatever you want.'

'First battle!'

I watched as Shu pulled his glove over his left hand. I narrowed my eyes. So he's going left-handed, huh? I thought. It must be time. Shu tilted his launcher vertically, leaning forward. The audience gasped at this unexpected launching style. But I smiled. It was time.

'Ready? Set!'

'3 2 1!'

Shu swiftly changed it up, wounding the launcher on an even plane with the stadium, back to the normal horizontal launch.

'Let it rip!'

Both beys were fired into the stadium, Spryzen charging around the stadium, sparks flying and glittering, zooming around with unbelievable speed.

'Time to show off Cruz Boost!' I yelled in sync with Shu, punching the air. Spryzen circled around the stadium with amazing momentum.

'Demolish it, now!' instructed Shu fiercely. Spryzen charged towards Luinor head on, giving it all on this first hit. An explosive gust of wind was thrown across the stadium as yellow lights echoed throughout the arena, blinding everyone. I leaned forward as everyone leaned back, eyes wide open to see the results. Luinor was thrown up in the air. Clink. It bursted in a second. I gasped with joy, taking in this event, before standing up and cheering wildly along with the rest of the crowd. Lui stood there, shocked at the scene that had unfolded. Nobody in Japan had been able to burst Luinor before. This was a first. My eyes brimmed with pride for what Shu had just accomplished. Of course Shu was just as cold and aloof as ever, but I knew secretly, he was overjoyed at his accomplishment. 

'Storm Spryzen! Two points with a burst finish!'

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Welp, that's one chapter done. I feel like lately my chapters have been a lot shorter. I've been struggling just to get to 1000 words, when before I could get to about 1600. Oh well. I'm still on holiday mode, or I'm just drowning in all the homework my teachers have been giving me....there will probably an a/n tomorrow or just a really short chapter.

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Word count: 1023