"Sunday. Maun-day. Tu-ess-day. Wed...Wed...Weh...Wed-ness-day?"

"It's 'Wednesday,' idiot, and the only one you got right was Sunday. How the hell did you get into high school?"

"Excuse me Rin, when Westerners introduce themselves is it true they'll say 'I'm' instead of 'My name is'"

"Hey Rin, do I pronounce my tch's correctly? Tchh Tchhh, to make it sound right you have to lightly bite your tongue."

"We don't have anyone else who knows this, I would ask Akira but he's doing his Japanese work right now. Come on man help us out!"

"Tch Tch, am I doing it right?"

"I'm not your damn tutor, figure it out yourselves"

"I've got it it's Fly-day!"

"I've had it up to here with all your crap, how long do we have to keep doing this anyway!"

One paper aeroplane to the head of Rin Itoshi was enough to kick start World War Three, as the teal-eyed teen had to be restrained by Isagi. Akira sat off to the side watching as he scribbled in the Japanese workbook he had been given, silently cursing whoever made it. 'where's Reo when I need him, Jesus he always explained it in a way that was simple. But this book might as well be Da Vinci code, cuz I don't understand a damn thing!' The bronzed boy silently screamed as faux tears streamed down his face.

But as if the gods were watching over him, a voice over the loudspeaker announced. "Your attention please, the second selection has now been concluded all remaining players have advanced to the third selection." Much to everyone's relief, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief that they didn't have to study anymore.

"It's over with, finally"

"É hora de destruir e queimar esses livros, aí, todo o diabo, vamos lá!"

"On to the next challenge"

"I was getting tired of studying, let's go"

"All players put on your kit, and proceed to the central joint room immediately." And they did just that, as the group rushed to get ready. Akira and Aryu took the longest, as they both chose to look presentable over being time efficient. Though they were all out of their shared room in less than ten minutes, so their teammates didn't complain much. As they walked down the hall the voice over the loudspeaker continued to spew random facts, "A total of thirty-five athletes from seven teams have advanced, you will enter in the order you passed."

"Did she say only seven teams, not many players made it through?" Bachira said looking at Isagi, "You're right we started with three hundred, which means two hundred and sixty-five have been kicked out" the blue-eyed teen said quickly doing the math on how many people were left in the way of their ultimate goal. Becoming the world's number one, means defating familiar faces and old ones alike.

"Hey, don't tell me our Team Z days have gotten you all sentimental," The yellow-eyed teen asked, looking at the boy beside him in slight disbelief. "No way, I'm just wondering how much stronger they are now. Excited to see where their evolution took them, you know?" Isagi said, quickly setting the record straight which Bachira then added to. "And not only those guys, but I'm also sure there will be players we've never even met who are killing it"

While Isagi and Bachira continued to talk, Akira walked behind them in silence next to Aryu. His brain buzzed as he thought back to the words Anri Teieri had shared with him, information he had completely forgotten about up until this point.

'I shouldn't be telling you this, and I hope you keep it to yourself. They both did make it through, but one of your other friends didn't'

'Who was she talking about? Who was she talking about? Who was she talking about? Who was she-' Akira rattled his brain in an attempt to figure out who the woman was referring to, unaware of the concerned looks Aryu was giving him. "Akira are you alright, is there something on your mind?" the long-haired teen asked, looking at his teammate.

"Ah-um. No, I'm fine, just um pouco stressed you know?" the golden-eyed teen lied through his teeth, unwilling to share what was on his mind. Not wanting to burden anyone else with his thoughts, he let himself strew in silence. "Attention players, will the first team to pass the selection please enter" the voice of the loudspeaker instructed and with that, the door opened to reveal a pentagon-shaped room.

"Who do you think the other players will be?" Bachira asked curious about who would be the next to enter, "No idea, but whoever they are they won't be weak" Aryu said being the voice of reason. He was a hundred per cent correct, to get this far most of them had to fight for their lives. They shouldn't have expected it to get any easier.

"At this time could the second team to pass please enter the central joint room" With that the door lifted to reveal four familiar faces and one unfamiliar. Nagi Seishiro, Barou Shouei, Chigiri Hyoma, Tsurugi Zantetsu, and a new face with dark hair that covered one of his eyes walked through the door.

"Hey,"

"Told you we'd be back donkey"

"It feels like it's been a million years,"

"What up guys, Zantetsu's here!" Bachira yelled as he ran to greet the glasses teen and introduced himself to the new unfamiliar face. "Nagi, meu amigo so good to see you!" Akira said throwing himself into his friend's arms, who gladly accepted his embrace. Lifting him off the ground slightly, while inhaling the comforting scent of honey and vanilla.

"You made it through!" Isagi congratulated, though he sounded far to shocked for their liking. "What's the deal with your expression Isagi? Looks like you didn't expect us to make it through." Nagi said, still holding Akira close to his chest while he looked at the blue-eyed teen with narrow eyes. "No, it's not like that at all, uh-" Isagi attempted to correct himself but stopped when he felt himself being dragged by his shirt to face none other than Barou.

"This bastard are you looking down on us!? Cuz if you are!"

"No!"

"You really do see us as the supporting cast" Chigiri piped up unamused at the whole ordeal, "That's not true, I'm happy you made it this far. Getting to see you and a chance to play again, it's great," the blue-eyed teen said truly happy to see some familiar faces this far into the competition. "Of course we made it, I can't quit football not after losing to you" Nagi said finally setting Akira down, after holding him hostage in a hug for longer than he should of. Now their hands intertwined with each other, just like the good old days.

"You and I have a score to settle, plus I haven't beaten the top three either" Barou chimed in, not forgetting the promises he made to himself. "Anyway, let's think of this little reunion as fate" Chigiri finished, and with that, the tension between the four seemed to just melt away leaving nothing but good vibes. "For sure, I knew we would play again"

"We'll continue with the next team would you please enter" With that another door opened revealing a group, this time of completely unfamiliar people. One with a green streak, another with glasses, another that looked like a crow, a green-tipped one, and one who stuck his tongue out like a snake.

"Huh? I don't think I've ever seen them before" Bachira said not recognising any of them from the previous stages they had been a part of "Well it's not like we were the only ones who been fighting this hard" Isagi said, "Howdy there!" the dual-coloured teen greeted the new arrivals.

"Sup,"

"It's nice to meet you,"

"Huh, I don't need your pleasantries loser"

"Could the fourth team to pass, please enter the room"

With that more unfamiliar faces entered, leaving Akira looking around realising. He didn't know most of these people, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to. His shyness and hatred for crowds kicked in like a bucking bronco, as he nudged himself closer to Nagi. "Seven passed, there's still three left." The white-haired teen mumbled as he pulled his beloved closer.

"Now presenting the fifth team to pass, would you please enter" Finally a familiar face in the form of Ikko Niko, who filed in with the rest of his unfamiliar team and a player short. 'His hair's like bubble gum' Akira thought eyeing one of the new arrival's pretty hair, silently wondering if it was as soft as it looked. Though he doubted he would be able to find out.

"Niko! Man, I knew you would make it through, looking forward to playing you at this stage." Isagi said and he went to greet the bangs teen but was brushed off, "Don't sound too thrilled, I said I was going to crush you" before walking right past the blue-eyed boy. "Hold on they are missing a player" Chigiri pointed out.

"Nishioka Hajime is the team's fifth, unfortunately, he was injured during the World Five game and is currently recuperating." The voice over the loudspeaker clarified as it seemed that everyone got a chance to play the World Five and not just their team.

"Could the sixth team to pass, please enter"

As soon as the door opened out tumbled Jingo Raichi, Gagamaru Gin, and Wanima Junichi. Along with two others who looked unimpressed at the trio, who decided to argue their way through the door. "Essa foi uma entrada com certeza" Akira laughed looking to Nagi who was also very amused at the sight of the former Team Z players arguing. "They haven't changed one bit!" Bachira laughed, his arms clasped behind his head.

"Wow hey, it's like a reunion in here" Gin said as he looked around at all the familiar faces in the crowd, still crushing his two teammates beneath his hands. "Gagamaru!" Rachi yelled, "Dude I'm saying get off me!" Junichi screamed as he tried to push the teen off him.

"Big bro Wanima's using his words?" Chigiri asked in surprise, catching the attention of the older twin. "You know what I say, you and me rematch time!" The Wanima challenged and the redhead just huffed, knowing wasn't the time to get into a spat. "Right, six down one left." Isagi mumbled, "Yeah Reo Kunigami, they aren't here yet," Nagi said.

Akira's eyes widened in horror, shit that's who Anri was referring to. "Merda, como diabos ele não conseguiu?" the golden-eyed teen asked himself under his breath, as his heart sank like a stone. Knowing that some of his fellow players would not take this well, not at all.

"And finally the seventh team to clear the selection, could you please enter"

The final lot of players entered through the doors, with Igarashi Gurimu leading the charge much to everyone who knew him's surprise. His face and body were covered in cuts and bruises, he looked like he had been dragged through fields of broken glass. And yet here he was, still around to tell the tail. Akira was almost impressed. "Still here, amen" He said smiling from ear to ear, as he entered with two of his teammates.

Only two people were left, as all eyes were on the door. As finally in stepped Reo, and Akira dropped Nagi's hand and went running straight to him. Not caring how it looked, "Reo, I'm happy here you have no idea" the teen mumbled into his shirt, basking in each other's presence as Reo allowed his fingers to wander through the boy's curly locks. "I missed you too, I'm never letting you leave my side again" The Mikage boy mumbled as he glared at Nagi from where he stood.

All eyes turned to the final player and in stepped Shido Ryusei, not Kunigami Rensuke. "Looks like that's it~" The pink-tipped teen sang, as the room seemed to halt to a standstill. While Akira just felt sad, 'poor Kunigami, I hope I see him again someday' the bronzed thought.