Kenta: HAH!? Team battle!?
Yuto: Yes! This time we'll be working together with teams who used to be our rivals in order to win! Isn't that wonderful? It will also serve as part of our rehabilitation program and will provide valuable practice with social skills! I've already received approval for it!
Ryoga, Shion, and Kenta: [extremely loud sigh]
Yuto: ... um... um... is something the matter that everyone is making that face, or...?
Kenta: There is literally no point in responding to a question that stupid.
Yuto: Ah... do we not want to do the team battle...?
Shion: [sigh] Hey, Inukai.
Yuto: Yes...?
Shion: All this teamwork stuff sounds great and all in theory, but in the end, it just means that everyone shares the blame, right?
Yuto: Um... well...
Shion: If you haven't picked up on it yet... [chuckles] Well, I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut.
Ryoga: I want us to fight and win with our own strength alone. Don't need anyone else's help.
Shion: It's a pain to have other people relying on you.
Kenta: So the goal is to get us all to join hands and sing kumbaya? Hah! This isn't a fucking brat's track-and-field day!
Ryoga: Yeah.
Shion: I don't see the appeal.
Yuto: Eh...?
Kenta: And besides that, they keep running their mouths about the next tournament, but there's things that need to be taken care of around here first!
Yuto: What do you mea--
Kenta: Don't play stupid with me, shit-guard! Not a damn thing has changed about the treatment we get, that's what I mean!
Shion: Like how we were promised private rooms if we won, things like that.
Yuto: Ah, yes...! But, um...
Shion: We certainly didn't win the championship, but you know, we went pretty far, so I think a little bit of improvement in our treatment is warranted.
Yuto: Yes, of course! In fact, the prefab house that we're all staying in has been completely refurbished! Didn't you notice?
Ryoga: Hah? Where am I supposed to be looking?
Yuto: First of all, to my delight...
[sfx: Beep, AC turning on]
Yuto: The temperature control now completely works!
Ryoga: [heavy sigh]
Shion: Is that all.
Yuto: Fufufu! That's not all! Everyone's bunk beds now have had...
[sfx: curtains being pulled]
Yuto: Curtains installed! Now you'll have all the privacy you need!
Ryoga: Is that it.
Shion: Well, I suppose it's better than nothing.
Yuto: And the rods are made of fire-resistant material, too, just in case of emergency!
Kenta: Doesn't do shit if they don't muffle sound.
Yuto: Oh, and speaking of sound!
[sfx: knocking on wall]
Yuto: As you can see, all of the holes in the wall have been fixed!
Shion: My, my. You were the one who put most of them there in the first place, Inukai.
Yuto: Huh?
Shion, Ryoga, and Kenta [sigh]
Yuto: Eh? ... ahahaha...! Oh, I guess you're right...!
Shion, Ryoga, and Kenta [sigh louder]
Yuto: ... I'm s-s-sorry! But I put in a special request! So.
[sfx: knocking on wall; slightly different thudding]
Yuto: How about this sound? It sounds a bit different from before, right?
Ryoga: Hah?
Yuto: We had new walls with special soundproofing materials installed! ... eh?
Shion, Ryoga, and Kenta [sigh]
Yuto: Eh... eh... eh??? Well? Are you not happy...?
Shion, Ryoga, and Kenta [sigh again]
Yuto: Um, well...
Kenta: Knock it the fuck off with the um, well!!! Ring ring, can you hear me? Please respond, shitty scrub prison guard!
Yuto: Um, yes...?
Kenta: Having a working A/C should just be common sense! Adding curtains is bullshit! Who gives a fuck about the walls!! We made it to the finals, we should be living in somewhere that isn't a fucking dump!!
Yuto: I can't do anything about that...! Everything we do is financed by the goodwill of the higher ups so we can't afford to do anything extravagant...! We just barely managed to do even these renovations on the slim budget we've got...!
Ryoga: ... tch.
Shion: It's pretty underwhelming.
Yuto: Ah... but...
Shion: What is it this time?
Yuto: There's a lot of prize money up for grabs in the next tournament.
Ryoga, Shion, and Kenta: --!
Yuto: I'm not certain what the amount will be, and all proceeds will be split between the four winning teams, but...
Shion: Hey, Inukai.
Yuto Yes?
Shion: Why didn't you say that sooner?
Kenta: If it's that big of a venue, then... there's a hell of a lot of money on the table.
Ryoga: Money?
Yuto: ... heh! Isn't it great?
Shion: Mm, surely, that means that the more we raise, the more prize money we get. I assume that's how it works?
Yuto: Yes! But the rewards don't stop there! The winners will be holding a four-team Triumph Live at Club Paradox as the grand prize for winning the tournament!
Kenta: Heh?
Yuto: Ah! Mikoshiba-kun, are you starting to get motivated, too?
Kenta: Eh!? Shut the fuck up, don't get ahead of yourself, dumbass, stop making that face!
Yuto: S-s-s-sorry! You just seemed to like the idea.
Kenta: I just don't think the idea of performing a live show while looking down on all the talentless scrubs who lost is that bad an idea.
Ryoga: Are Akan Yatsura going to be there?
Yuto: Um... yes!
Ryoga: I see.
Yuto: What do you think? Although the team battle format is different, the rounds themselves will be the same one-on-one battles as they were last time. As a guard, I can't condone violence, but I am okay with going wild and letting loose with music.
Ryoga, Shion, Kenta: ...
Yuto: Is something the matter?
Ryoga: No...
Shion: Just thought that was something nice that you said just now, Inukai.
Yuto: Thank you! So, we're all in agreement to participate, right?
Shion: I'm fine with it. We can let loose a little on stage and win some prize money. Heh. No reason to take a gamble if you've got nothing to lose.
Ryoga: ... me, too. I'll do it. I don't want to just run away and have people think I'm scared of him.
Yuto: Um... Mikoshiba-kun, how about you?
Kenta: I want a private room if we win. If not, pass.
Yuto: I see... well, if the budget allows, then--
Kenta: If we win, we get the prize money, right!? I wanna use that to improve the quality of life around here a bit!
Shion: Oh, is that so? Well, if it's our money, we're free to spend it however we like, right?
Ryoga: I wanna eat meat.
Shion: Oh, I'm sure I can think of some more fun ways to spend money. Some casinos, a bit of the nightlife...
Yuto: Um, excuse me!!
Ryoga: What?
Yuto: About that, um, even if we get the prize money, then, um...
Shion: Well? Out with it.
Yuto: There is a high probability, that you, uh, won't be able to use it until after you're released from prison...
Ryoga, Shion, Kenta: Hah!?
Yuto: Ah, but! On the plus side! I'm a government employee, so I can't accept the prize money, so he three of you will be able to divide up my share, and--
Kenta: Don't fuck with me!
[sfx: Kenta grabbing Yuto]
Kenta: Then what's the fucking point!?
Yuto: Mi-Mikoshiba-kun! What's gotten into you all of a sudden? Violence is--
Kenta: It's fine for them! If they just keep it up they'll get out and be able to go spend their money however they want! But I can't!! I'm under special observation and all that shit. I'm going to rot in this fucking cage for the rest of my life.
Yuto: That's...
Kenta: If you have to get them to make some kind of special exception, then figure it out. I'm only going to do things for myself. I already decided that much back then...
Yuto: Back th--?
Kenta: It's none of your fucking business!! Just figure out a way to let me spend the money! Those are my terms. Take it or leave it.
Yuto: Understood. But, it's really not up to m--
Kenta: What do you mean it's not!?!
[sfx: Kenta shoving Yuto away]
Kenta: How fucking useless can you be!?!
Yuto: --!!
Ryoga: Oi.
Shion: Ah, here we go again.
Yuto: ... [deep breath] Hey, you little shit.
Kenta: The fuck you want, shit-guard?
Yuto: You took the words right out of my mouth. All you do is bitch and bitch and bitch. Give me a fucking break.
Kenta: I was just making a reasonable request.
Yuto: Is that it? You talk a big game for such a low-down piece of shit.
Kenta: ...!
[sfx: Yuto grabbing Kenta and squeezing]
Ryoga: Oi. Inukai. Knock it off.
Kenta: ---gh!
Yuto: What's the matter? You had a lot to say just a second ago. Are you out of breath? Aren't you supposed to be the genius hacker who couldve brought down the government? Don't try to make a fool out of me!
Kenta: Gck!
Yuto: Don't start ahead of yourself with this "better working conditions" bullshit!
Ryoga and Shion: ...!
Yuto: That goes for you bastards, too! You'll be participating! Dogs don't get to make decisions.
Shion: [sigh] Got it.
Ryoga: I'll give it everything I've got.
Yuto: Oi. You too.
[sfx: Kenta getting bullied around and groaning]
Kenta: [choked] I'll do it. I'll do it, alright!?
Yuto: Something else to say?
Kenta: I've got of demands. So we're gonna win. [heaving] We'll rain down overkill those group-hugging hand-holding bastards!
Yuto: Heh. Good enough.
[sfx: Yuto dropping Kenta]
[sfx: Kenta coughing violently]
Yuto: Hey, you sons of bitches. Get ready to go wild when I let go of your chains. You get your freedom on stage.
Ryoga: Yeah.
Shion: Roger that.
Kenta: ... tch!!
Yuto: Teamwork, cooperation... this is a world where only the strong survive. If you half-ass anything, you're already as good as dead.