58 Return To The Stadium

Tuesday, 1:04 P.M.

The group of five, Nakayama, Koko, Kiyomi, Yasuko, and Chiaki all went out to eat at Kazoku Grill, a family restaurant located somewhere within the City of Edgar Brauss. They stayed out for a total of about an hour and a half and had just walked through a portal that took them back to the outside of the stadium, everyone except for Chiaki completely stuffed. Naturally, there wasn't much of a reason to come back too early if Chiaki's fight hadn't started, other than to simply witness the battles, but it was just about to in mere moments. In all fairness, no one was really interested in the fights that didn't include someone they knew, also known as exclusively Yasuko and Chiaki. Except for Nakayama, of course.

Sure, he didn't mind skipping the fights to hang out with people he now called his friends, but he was still interested in Kiyoshi Lionheart and Edward Quill. Both of those fighters had reached a level that he didn't know possible and they were so young, too. He wanted to see what they were made of, observe them and study their capabilities. Hell, one of these days, he wanted to battle them himself if he ever got the chance, simply to test his own abilities against someone stronger than himself. To see just how wide their differences in power were.

"Hmmmm…aaaaahh~!" Kiyomi let out a loud exhale as he stretched his arms high in the air. The gang had just now arrived at the shaded tunnel that occupied the space between the stadium and the outside of the stadium. "Man, I'm full! Someone's gonna have to roll me home!"

"Your stomach's still as flat as ever," Nakayama responded without looking at Kiyomi.

"Eh, that's 'cuz all the fat goes to my butt," said Kiyomi with an innocent voice.

Nakayama sighed as Chiaki put a hand over his face. Koko continued to cutely waddle forward with a flushed expression, due to Kiyomi's words, and Yasuko let out a not-so-cute burp. He'd been doing it every so often for the last hour or so.

They finally made it out of the shaded tunnel and into the true part of the stadium. They noticed that there was no one in the ring. There wasn't even any debris or wreckage to let one know that a fight had taken place. That meant Chiaki's fight was just about to begin as the ring had been completely restored to peak condition. And, wouldn't you know…

"Would contestants 17 and 20 please come to the ring in preparation for your next match?" a familiar announcer's voice rang out like a reverberating gunshot. Chiaki's shoulders jumped ever-so-slightly before he decided to take another step forward.

Kiyomi gasped and negatively pumped his fists with his legs slightly crossed like he was in the midst of some weird dance. It caused Chiaki to turn his head to face the rest of the group which he was a couple of meters in front of.

"No, no, no!" complained Kiyomi like a spoiled child. His face turned a little red and he puffed both cheeks like he was holding his breath. "C-couldn't they wait just a little longer!? I really have to go pee…!"

"Told you, you should've gone while we were at the restaurant," said Yasuko in a monotone voice, yet his condescending words somehow conveyed themselves.

"Then go," said Chiaki. "What are you so worked up about?"

"I-I didn't want to miss your fight!" responded Kiyomi, his body moving up and down a little. "I wasn't in a rush to do it because I thought I had more time."

"Kiyomi, I don't mind if you miss some or all of it. I mean, you haven't pissed since this morning, I don't think. I don't know why you didn't just go at Kazoku, though."

"I didn't have to go then! W-well…I did a little, but it wasn't that bad. I'll just wait here until you're done and then I'll go."

"I told you it doesn't matter. Besides, you might end up pissing yourself just so you can see me kick some guy's ass, that's stupid. And, in the event that I end up losing, I wouldn't want you to see me like that anyway." said Chiaki, finishing up his words and waving goodbye to everyone as he walked towards the ring.

"Hmmmmgh!" groaned Kiyomi, his cheeks completely puffed out now and his face even redder than before. He clenched his fists cutely in front of his shoulders and then exhaled a breath that sounded like a tire losing air. He clasped his hands together like a nun and gave dramatically teary eyes towards the fleeing Chiaki like the brat had saved his life or given him a billion Euls.

"Forgive me, Chiaki! I can't be there for you because of my stupid bladder!" he mumbled to himself before dashing to the left towards the large sign that read: Restrooms.

Yasuko and Koko began to turn to the right in order to get back to the bleachers when the both of them stopped and turned around to look at the unmoving Nakayama. He looked at the two and held his hand up similarly to Chiaki.

"Hey, guys, I kinda have to go, too," he said in a gentle tone. "Kiyomi and I are kinda in the same boat in the sense that it's been a while since we've gone. See you guys in just a few minutes."

"O-okay…" nodded Koko. "See you later."

Nakayama turned to the left expecting to see Kiyomi still running, but the fast little bastard had already made it inside. His eyes opened up wide as he took note of the distance between himself and the sign. At first glance, he estimated it to be about 45 meters or so. Quite the distance to run in only a couple of seconds, and the tomgirl was probably already inside the restroom area before Nakayama had even started talking to Yasuko and Koko. The only sight that was left aside from a couple of people exiting the rest area…

Was one of a black-haired boy, about Nakayama's age, walking into the restroom.

***

"...Damn it…!" Kiyomi mumbled as he mentally kicked himself.

The restroom area wasn't as big as he thought it was, though it was still rather spacious. It was a large room made mostly of marble which served the purpose of allowing people to wait for an open space in the restroom without actually having to line up outside. There was ventilation inside, so it proved to be useful for cooling off after sitting in the hot sun. An abundance of light flooded in through the massive open doorways used for entry into the otherwise dim room in which he stood. The only problem that existed within it was the number of people in there. He estimated, using only his eyesight, that there were around 200 people in the area coming in and out of the bathrooms. He'd assumed the bathrooms themselves were probably as big as the ones in the school, around 9 to 10 stalls with 4 or 5 urinals.

Kiyomi grunted as he accidentally bumped into some people. There weren't actually any uniform lines, aside from 9 or 10 people in front of both the women's and men's bathrooms, but rather, people either stood or slowly walked around aimlessly until they noticed an opening.

"Guess they don't have to go all that bad…" he mumbled to himself, both of his hands over his crotch in an effort to contain the urine in his bladder. Perhaps the dramatism displayed by his words and actions didn't quite convey his need to perform an excretory activity with the utmost accuracy, but he still thought he was going to burst.

Just as he took a step forward, his black dress shoe making a clicking sound on the marble floor, he felt someone grab his shoulder. It wasn't a tight grip nor did he feel any kind of aggression from the person's hand, it was simply a way to get someone's attention without actually saying anything.

It was a masculine hand, he could feel the potential strength behind the grip if the person wanted to inflict harm, but no harm came. It gave him a familiar feeling like he knew the person grabbing him quite well. In fact, the hand felt so familiar and friendly that he could practically picture who the person was without turning around.

Black hair, about 5'8, rather slender but the boy kept himself fit. The person just behind him probably had the last name of something along the lines of "Tadashii" which caused him to smile even without having to turn around and confirm that it was Nakayama behind him. And, even though he didn't know Nakayama needed to use the restroom, it still would've made sense. The boy hadn't gone to the bathroom too recently, either, though the level 1 went right as they got to the restaurant. He did happen to drink a couple of sodas about an hour and a half ago which was right after he'd used the restroom.

Kiyomi's smile contained a kind of sweetness, unlike anything a toddler could produce. It was almost as if he was intentionally putting on a grin to be cute just for Nakayama. He swiftly turned around, the ends of his skirt and his pink twin tails twirling.

"He-he! Nakaya---"

He froze.

"..."

In that paralysis of his, something compelled his stomach to drop a thousand feet in his body.