Pink Lotus Mining Company

Morning, Space Terminal

Today is the tournament day. I sit in space terminal's waiting room. Eli says that her ship will come in about 5 minutes. While waiting, I read about the rules and regulations of the tournament.

The total participant slot of this tournament is 16384 slot. That much slot, and it is fully signed up. Almost half of the participant just signed up a few hours before it end.

From 16384 participant, they will be divided into 4 groups. Each group will have 4096 participant. Using single elimination system, 64 people will advance to the next stage from each group. 256 people that advanced from the first stage will then compete with double elimination system.

Second stage will be started today after the first stage over and will end after there are only 32 participant left, 16 at lower bracket and 16 at upper bracket. The rest of the tournament is scheduled next day.

The second day will resume the double elimination system. When there are only 4 participant left, 2 upper 2 lower, best of 3 match is used instead of best of 1 match. Winner of these two bracket will meet at grand final to decide the champion using best of 5 match. Upper bracket's winner will have one win advantage.

There is also a consolation bracket for those that is eliminated before third round in first stage. This consolation bracket will be held after the first day main tournament.

Lets forget about that consolation tournament, Eli can at least win until the second stage.

I look at my watches, the ship is late. I randomly remember about yesterday and feeling so happy.

"What are you grinning for there? Planning something nasty? Or l.e.w.d things?"

Eri suddenly appears in front of me with her hand protecting her body. I look at her expressionlessly and sighed.

"I know you are somewhat beautiful, but with that body of your ... *sigh* No l.e.w.d thing will even cross my mind."

"Hahaha, don't lie~ I know you have a thing for body like this... I know you have a photobook collection of "slender" girl in the back of your closet..."

"Damn fujoshi.."

Why did she knew about photobook collection? That happened long time ago when we are still at highschool...

I go to her home to do homework together. At that time, the two of us was an inseparable pair, even many people think we are in relationship. So what happened at her home is I accidentally found her BL comic collections. When I tried to console her, I said "It is normal for highschool student to have some collection, I also have a collection behind my closet." Then she answered "What kind of collection?" "A photobook..." "Hmm, what kind of photobook??" "It is flat girl photobook from many publishers." I don't know why at that time I said that much, and I still regret saying it...

"Well then lets go, there is only 15 minute until tournament start right?"

"I am at group 3, it will be started at 1 hour. And I kind of want to eat first, I had not eat breakfast... Where is a good place?"

"I also don't know a good restaurant here, I just here for ship maintenance after all."

"Ah, no, I have packed my breakfast. I just need a place."

"Hmm, my ship is docked around here, if you want maybe--"

"Oh, lets go there then. Wait, your ship is in maintenance isn't it? Won't this disturb the worker?"

"Hey, don't cut when people is still talking. Ah, the maintenance ended faster than scheduled."

We go to the private dock and just sit outside the ship. She start to eat while looking interestedly to the ship.

"It is smaller than what I imagined."

"Is it? This ship is considered small ship. This ship only have 4 mining modules, while the big one have at least 16 modules."

"What is module?

"Module consist of machine that do the mining, and mines product collector. Machine mine the asteroids. Product collector, that looks like a hand, colllect the product."

"I don't see any hand though?"

"It is stored inside module. See that 4 box placed on 4 side of the thorax? It is the module, it will detach itself and landed on asteroid. It will then prepares to mine."

"Hmm??"

"Look at the hour, I'll explain the ship more to you after tournament."