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In between the time of the rounds of round 2 and 3, Hotarubi had made it exceedingly clear that he was going to work his ass off between it, and try to do so much more than the so called 'candidates' of the other exam. What had bothered him immensely was how Atagi had managed to survive, and how he needed to increase his own lethality. It wasn't enough: he had done so much. He didn't seek out to finish the job, but merely upset at himself for not finishing the job properly. Would he proclaim the man an eternal rival? Absolutely not. That would have required him to see Atagi as a worthy opponent. But - he would move the man out of his mind and use him as a lesson. This was something to learn from, and he would be damned before conceding any change in the new relationship that he held with Nageku, whom, as far as he was aware, was still in the academy unless he'd passed out at a different time to himself. That relationship too propelled him with intent to increase the gap. The next people on his mind? The bullies. There had been other Yamakira clansmen who had seen it fit to try and prevent him from going down this path. His stomach still churned with the idea that they might've continued growing as well... it wasn't so easy just to work hard. He would have to be explosive and show the world who he really was - and that was the thing, the second round had fewer people watching. He had expected some hundreds if not thousands of people watching their fights... but now? He was sure they would. But Hotarubi couldn't be positive for someone who had never asked and never been to an exam before. So - what was it today? Obviously, pushing his body to the limits, as he had been. Several hours earlier having done more running in his human form. He was trying to push his limits, and today was specifically about his Taijutsu: his lethality. And they would all rue the day they got in the path of the killing stone.