As James and Mr. Otomi were leaving the arena, they were stopped by a crowd of journalists. James, not accustomed to such a situation, felt a bit bewildered, but Mr. Otomi took charge. "Quiet!" he shouted. "Ask your questions one at a time." The crowd settled down.

"Hi there, Mr Keton from BF News. Can I just say great performance, James," Mr. Keton praised. "Th-thank you," James replied nervously. "Now, my question to you is how did a newcomer like you get into such a prestigious competition with so little experience in the sport?" Mr. Keton inquired. Gathering himself, James answered, "If I have to be honest, it's all because of my coach, the late, great Mr. Otomi," he said, pointing towards Mr. Otomi. The crowd buzzed with excitement.

"Hi James, I'm Miss Camp from BWF Weekly. Can I please have a comment on the call-out that superstar Amy Smyth sent your way after your victory? She is your opponent in the quarter-finals," another journalist asked. James looked slightly puzzled as he responded, "Um, I don't really know who that is, but if she is my next opponent, then I wish her luck and hope for a good fight."

"Mr Creswell from Fighting Media, James, what is it that's motivating you?" another journalist shouted. "My motivation is easy. It's to show that it doesn't matter where you're from; if you want to make it, you can," James replied earnestly.

"All right, that's enough; he can answer more questions next time," Mr Otomi intervened, grabbing James's arm and leading him through the crowd. "I hate those vultures, James," Mr. Otomi said sternly as they made their way home.

Returning to Mr Otomi's flat, James and his mentor settled on the sofa and turned on the TV. James was amazed to see his own face on the screen during an interview. Mr Otomi, however, wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter. He asked James, "Do you like the attention the media is giving you?"

James replied honestly, "To be honest, Mr. Otomi, it doesn't make a difference to me. I'm here to do one thing, and that's what I'll do."

Mr Otomi appreciated James's response and said, "I'm happy with that response. Now this old man is gonna get to bed; training is still continuing in the morning." He then left the sofa and retired to his room.

Over the following week, James and Mr. Otomi engaged in rigorous training, focusing on building James's strength and skills. After a particularly intense training session one day, they returned to the apartment and sat on the sofa. Mr. Otomi commended James, saying, "Well done, James. This past week, you've come leaps from where you were in your last fight." 

“Thank you, Mr. Otomi.” At that moment, James turned on the TV, and they saw a press conference featuring a striking silver-haired and green-eyed girl and she spoke, " I will defeat James Cooter and rid him of this competition!". James, puzzled, remarked, "So, I guess that's my opponent?"

Mr Otomi explained, "That's Amy Smyth. She's an underground pop star who's building a large following, but she has converted to a booster fighter. She's a good fighter and comes from a fighting family."

James realized, "Oh, this must be who that journalist was talking about. Guess we still have work to do." He wore a smirk on his face as they continued to intensify their training, even bringing in strong sparring partners to elevate James's skill level.

James had been in rigorous training for weeks now, preparing for his booster fighting matches. But even warriors needed a break, and Mr. Otomi insisted that James take a day off to relax and recharge. He suggested that James spend it with his childhood friend, Sam. So, James reached out to Sam, and they made plans for a much-needed day out.

The morning sun was warm as James met Sam at their favourite cafe in the heart of their small town. The two friends exchanged excited greetings, and after sipping their morning coffees, they decided to start the day with a hike. 

As they hiked, James couldn't help but talk about his recent experiences in booster fighting. He shared the intense training sessions, the adrenaline of the fights, and the challenges he faced. Sam was an attentive listener, hanging on to every word. He was proud of James for chasing his dreams and admired his dedication.

After a few hours of hiking and taking in the breathtaking scenery, they arrived at the waterfall. The rush of the water and the serenity of the forest filled them with a sense of peace. They spent some time just sitting by the water, enjoying the rare chance to be away from the chaos of training and competitions.

Later in the day, they explored the town's quaint streets, visiting the local shops and catching up on each other's lives. James learned about Sam's job at a nearby corner shop and how he had recently taken up painting as a hobby. Sam was a talented artist, and he showed James some of his impressive works.

As the sun began to set, they found themselves on a quiet bench in a park, watching the colours of the evening sky change.

"James," Sam began, "I have to admit, I'm a bit jealous of what you're doing. Not because I don't want you to succeed, but because you're out there chasing your passion, living your dream. You've got this incredible opportunity, and you're making the most of it."

James looked at his friend, touched by his words. "Sam, I get what you mean. But remember, this journey isn't without its sacrifices and challenges. It's physically and mentally demanding, and I often miss the simple moments, like the one we're having right now."

Sam nodded. "I know, James, and I admire your dedication. It's just that sometimes, I wonder what it would be like if I had joined you going to the dump that day."

James smiled and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. "It's never too late, Sam. You're talented. I've seen your love for the sport. Who knows what opportunities might come your way?"

Sam returned the smile, his eyes reflecting a mix of pride and gratitude. "You're right, James. I should keep at it. And I promise, I'll be your biggest fan in the stands, cheering you on in your booster fighting matches."

They sat in companionable silence as the stars began to twinkle in the evening sky, grateful for their friendship and the chance to share their dreams and aspirations with each other.

As the fight neared, James and Mr Otomi made their way to the training area for their final intense training session. James began preparing his equipment and activated his neuro link. Just as he reached for his katana, Mr. Otomi stopped him with a playful smile. 

"No, Jamie-boy, today you won't be drawing your sword," Mr Otomi said, which brought a concerned look to James's face, reminiscent of his first training session with his mentor.

"Why, Mr. Otomi?" James inquired.

"Today, you'll focus solely on defence. Up until now, you've faced good fighters, but none like Amy Smyth and the opponents you will face later in the competition," Mr Otomi explained as he drew his own katana. "They're not pushovers like Croxton or Edmund. Today, you'll learn not just to evade but to score points without your katana."

Mr Otomi wasted no time and boosted towards James without hesitation, launching an attack on his defenceless pupil. James anticipated the move, boosted into the air, and swiftly moved backwards to increase the distance between them. 

"This won't be like last time, Mr. Otomi," James remarked with a confident smile. He then boosted towards Mr. Otomi, covering the ground quickly. As he closed in, James went low, attempting to sweep Mr Otomi off his feet. However, Mr. Otomi reacted swiftly, boosting into the air, and executing a flawless 180-degree turn. In a graceful move, he caught James mid-turn, causing him to face his teacher. With finesse, Mr Otomi lightly tapped James with his katana.

"Good idea, Jamie-boy. Let's go again," he encouraged.

Adjusting their positions, James wore a disheartened expression. "This is impossible, Mr. Otomi," he uttered in frustration.

"James, I understand that this is challenging, but mastering defence takes time. Once you've honed this skill, you'll be virtually unstoppable. I believe in you," Mr Otomi reassured, getting ready to continue their training. "We can't afford to lose any more daylight, so brace yourself."

"I'm ready," James declared his determination to meet Mr. Otomi's expectations shining through. He assumed a karate fighting stance, drawing upon his childhood memories of karate classes.

Mr. Otomi smiled at James's resolve, tightening his grip on his katana. This time, James took the initiative. He harnessed his speed and boosted toward Mr Otomi, attempting to catch his mentor off guard. Closing the distance between them, Mr. Otomi angled a side slash toward James. Quick to react, James boosted over the swinging katana, landing on Mr. Otomi's side. He followed up with a swift kick aimed at Mr Otomi's torso. 

Mr Otomi responded by boosting backwards to evade the kick. "I never knew you had a background in karate, James," Mr. Otomi admitted, his surprise evident.

"I only learned it as a kid, so I'm a bit rusty," James chuckled.

"It's better than nothing, Jamie-boy," Mr. Otomi commented, dropping into a lower stance. "Let's continue."

The two warriors persisted in their training until the sun began its descent. Exhausted and sporting a few bruises, James eventually collapsed onto the floor. "Mr. Otomi, after two hours of training, I only scored two points. It's pathetic," he lamented.

"Don't be disheartened, James. You did well today. If you bring that agility into your next match with Amy, I have no doubt you'll emerge victorious," Mr Otomi said, instilling confidence in James.

The night passed, and the day of the fight arrived. James and Mr. Otomi made their way to the arena, where the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. James felt a mix of nerves and excitement as he thought about facing Amy Smyth, a formidable opponent with a fighting lineage.