Duel Between Dragons

The host wiped the sweat off his forehead. He took in a breath and forced himself to smile.

“And welcome back from the break!” he said. “It’s been a tense battle in here. Can you feel the heat in the studio?”

“Yeah!” the audience cheered. Sky turned to the final round contestants. Isao and Mai stood eyeing him at their stations. The vicious vibes made him sweat. He nervously chuckled.

“Are you ready for the final round?” Sky asked.

“Yes,” the vocalists said. Fire burned in their eyes. Sky tried to perk up.

“Right,” he said. “Let’s begin!” The tension built up brick by brick. Sky needed a new cloth.

“Okay! Let’s begin!” he said. “Our final round is a lighting round. Contestants will have sixty seconds to answer questions as fast as they can. The winner will be determined by who has the most points. Good luck. Begin.” The clock began.

“Question #1,” Sky said. “Name this chart-topping song from 1982!” A twenty-second melody began to play overheard. Mai was quick on the draw.

“Mai?” Sky asked. She had no emotion on her face.

“‘Matsu wa’ by Aming?” Mai asked.

“That is correct!” the host shouted. Lady Dragon’s vocalist grinned. Isao snorted.

“Next question,” Sky said. “Name three bands who broke up in 1997.” Isao took the lead.

“Isao?” the host asked.

“Genkaku Allergy, X Japan, and Gang of Four,” he said. Mai wrinkled nose.

“That is correct!” the host shouted. Tied for the final round now. The other members of Charm Inu and Lady Dragon sat tight.

“Here comes the carnage,” Katsuya whispered. Meanwhile, Sky gulped and started sweating.

“Next question…” he said in a trembling voice. Another round of fire began. The bands looked back and forth. The room could’ve caught on fire. Mai and Isao wouldn’t back down. Even their bandmates started to freak out.

“What happens if they tie?” Kasumi whispered.

“I don’t know,” Yoko said back. Her stomach dropped as she spoke. The women held each other’s hands. Meanwhile, Mai and Isao glared at each other. They looked ready to fist fight. It all came down to the final question. Sky tried not to faint.

“L-L-Last question,” he said. Isao and Mai braced themselves. The host took a breath. For the rantings. This is for the rantings.

“Name this Pink Lady hit,” he said. The song played for twenty seconds overhead. Mai pressed the buzzer.

“Mai?” Sky asked.

“‘Kiss in Dark’?” she asked. Buzz!

“Wrong,” Sky said. Mai’s face turned bright red.

“What?!” she screamed. Isao stepped in grinning.

“Isao?” the host asked.

“Wanted,” he said.

“That is correct!” Sky shouted. Isao smirked as confetti rained down on his head. Mai gave it her all not to scream. Her band looked just as pissed. The rest of Charm Inu could breath easily. Sky was ready to run away. Salt and Devil Train looked pissed off and stoic respectively.

“And today’s winner… Charm Inu!” the host said. The Charm Inu fans stood up and cheered. The other fans booed and rushed the stag. Sky ran off screaming.

That four-way music quiz show ended being the highest rated episode of the show’s history. Hey, there’s something that came out as positive. Maybe…