I sighed, standing up and walking towards the stairs. Kai, Yui, and Erica stared at me in shock, as well did Iris from the stage.

Bianca raised her eyebrows, a slight change in her stoic expression. It showed how incredibly surprising of a decision this was.

To put a First-Year into the Tournament, it was unthinkable. Even the other students agreed with their exclaims of surprise.

I walked up the stairs, standing next to Iris.

The Principal glanced back at us, before speaking into the mic once more.

"These will be our three representatives this year. As such, they will be exempt from classes until the Tournament, to focus everything they have into preparation and training." She stated.

This Tournament is major in Japan. Major enough to make the Principal exempt classes for us, who hates taking students out of school.

And I've already been taken out twice when I was the bodyguard for both Yui and Irene...

I wonder why she chose me?

"Vice-Principal will inform you more about the Tournament." She informed.

She looked towards us. "You three, come with me."

We nodded, following the Principal as she handed the mic to the Vice-Principal, and then heading towards her office.

Reaching her office, she turned to look at us. "Bianca, you come in. Iris and Ken, you two wait outside. I'll be talking to each of you individually."

"You can take a seat on those chairs." She gestured to the chairs against the wall.

Iris and I nodded, sitting down on the seats. Bianca followed the Principal into the office, leaving the two of us in the hallway.

"You made it Ken!" Iris happily said. "This is amazing!"

"Yeah..." I sweatdropped.

No, it really isn't.

"You're going to do great." Iris reassured me.

"Uh...thanks." I nodded.

Iris smiled brightly at me in response. I swear it was so bright I almost needed to shield my eyes.

The door opened as Bianca walked out. It didn't take her long at all. She looked at Iris, nodding. Iris somehow knew what she meant, standing up and walking into the Principal's office.

Bianca looked back at me. "You." She said.

"Uh...me?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Yes?" I wondered.

"You better be strong. Don't disappoint her." She stated.

Her? Does she mean the Principal?

Bianca then walked away, heading to who knows where.

That was...strange, to say the least. The kuuderes are always the hardest to decipher.

It wasn't long until Iris walked out. "Your turn." She whispered to me, before walking off.

Walking into the Principal's room, a room I had been in many more times than I should, I sat down at the seat I usually would.

"Ken Kage." She said.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I can't believe I'm doing this." She replied, pinching her nose. "But I've chosen you as our third representative."

"Why?" I wondered. "I'm sure there are plenty of other students that are better than me."

"I'm going to be honest with you, a lot of our students are...muscleheads." She sighed. "Many of our students are amazing as a team, but lack the qualities to go one-on-one against another and win."

"They don't call Bianca a genius just because of her Tier. It's because she can use her abilities to defeat opponents of higher Tiers." She continued.

"And I see those same qualities, the ones in people like Iris and Bianca, in you. I even see qualities of Irene in you." She added.

"You know Irene?" I wondered.

"Before she dropped out, she was a student here for two years." Principal nodded. "One of the best. And then she dropped out last year to focus on the Royal Knights."

"But that's besides the point. I see a lot of potential in you, Ken." She stated. "I'm not expecting you to win this tournament. Not at all. But I know you can do well. A lot better than our other students."

"You're smart, crafty, and even have real experience in fights." She added.

"I wouldn't say I'm smart." I sighed.

"We all have our specialities. Being "smart" isn't an all-for-one thing. Some people are "smart", but suck at math. Some suck at english." She explained.

"You have the smarts needed to survive." She stated.

I seriously don't get where you're getting all of this from.

"But I still can't believe I'm doing this..." She sighed again, rubbing her face.

What's with her mood-swings?

"Do you hate me?" I asked her.

"No." She replied. "I couldn't hate you. I'm just annoyed I have to pull you out of school for a third time."

"Seriously, you're such a troublemaker." She said. "Just like her..."

"Hey, it isn't my fault this time." I pointed out.

"You're right." She nodded. "Anyways, prepare for the tournament, and do your best. It's going to be tough with the competition from the other schools."

"Alright." I replied.

"Oh, and you may go now." She said.

I nodded, standing up from my seat. I walked over to the door to exit her office, but before I could leave, she said one last thing.

"And don't overwork yourself. Knowing you, you'd certainly do that." She added.

"Okay." I replied, leaving the room.

Knowing me? What does she mean by that?

Could she have a relation to the original Ken? I wouldn't know since I didn't obtain his memories.

It's why I haven't contacted his...my parents since my arrival here, in case I act different from the original since I can't remember anything about them.

And I'd rather not do the whole cliche "amnesia" shtick.

They haven't contacted me either, so I wonder if their relationship is good or not. Well, it doesn't matter right now.

I don't think the Principal has a relation to me, or I think she'd act different than she does. She hasn't acted familiarly with me, so...

I sighed, shaking my head. Seriously, I just need to focus on getting stronger for the tournament.

Like it or not, I'm now going to be participating in it. And honestly, while I'm a little worried about Bianca, this can have benefits.

I need to verse stronger opponents. None of the other pupils at the Taiyou Dojo matches me now (except for Amber), and I'm doing pretty well at the Underground Fight Ring.

But this will allow me to fight strong Arcana wielders my age, which should bring good experience. The only way to get better is to challenge yourself.

And maybe I can copy and refine a weapon technique or two. Once I finish refining Cyrus' technique, I'll be able to effectively use both an axe and sword.

And with Shapeshift, this can be incredibly useful.

I walked through the empty hallways, thinking about everything I needed to do to prepare for the tournament.

The sound of oncoming students filled my ears, as the hallway in front of me was suddenly filled with them. The Vice-Principal must have finished up what he was saying.

Looking at the crowd, I noticed someone familiar. Yet, they were a little different from the last time I saw them.

"Valentine?" I asked.

Rose jumped, turning around to look at me surprised. Instead of having long hair, it was now short, going to about her shoulders. A huge difference in hair length.

"You cut your hair?" I wondered.

"Y-yeah, I did." She nodded. "It was getting in the way."

"I understand. Well, I don't since I have only had short hair, but you get what I mean." I sighed.

I should stop talking to her before one of my yanderes sees me.

"Well, see you later." I waved to her.

"Yeah, you too..." She replied.

I walked away. Yet, something was bothering me. I couldn't help but think that something felt...off.

I shook my head. Now's not the time to focus on a feeling. I need to focus on preparing for the tournament.

I flipped out my phone, dialing a number and placing it up to my ear.

"Ken?" Goku asked from the phone

"Hey, so I need your help with some training..."

AN: Theorize all you want, my friends. I have dropped multiple hints. ;)