I AM EXTRA IN A SHONEN MANGA

The arena still trembled from the echoes of the last fight.

Juno had been carried off, his unconscious body radiating more pride than defeat. And now, the show continued.

Sensei Shun, his robe fluttering slightly in the wind, raised a glowing orb once again and announced,

"The winner is Rael Eluron."

Rael didn't even glance back.

"That was to be expected."

With calm, deliberate steps, he walked off the stage—his presence lingering even after his figure disappeared.

The atmosphere changed.

The tension that followed Rael's fight hung heavy, but now it softened—subtly—as Sensei Shun raised the orb again.

"Next match…" he said clearly,

"Lira Valenne vs. Saya Kurenai."

Lira Valenne stepped forward first.

Affinity: Bloom — the traditional nature affinity, associated with growth, healing, and harmony.

Her presence was serene—a calm flower blooming even in the middle of battle.

She stepped into the arena with grace, her hands calmly folded in front of her.

Then came the whirlwind.

"Alright! Let's gooo!"

Saya Kurenai, 13 years old.

Affinity: Bloom (Blight Variant) — not the nurturing kind, but the corruptive twist of it. Poison, decay, overgrowth—where beauty becomes danger.

She waved exaggeratedly at someone in the crowd.

"Wish me luck, Shigeo!"

Near the edge of the stands, sitting with his hoodie up and his posture slumped like a bored cat, was Shigeo Motome.

Shigeo lazily gave a half-hearted two-finger salute.

"Sure, sure."

Saya shot him finger guns and a wink before turning back to the arena.

Shigeo stared after her, then let out a quiet sigh as he leaned back against the stone bench.

"What a complicated world," he muttered—his go-to phrase.

He hated things that were complicated. Which meant he hated most things.

Especially people like Saya—bright, messy, chaotic.

And yet... he watched.

Back in the arena, the two girls now stood across from one another.

Lira gently summoned a glowing seed in her palm, petals spiraling around her.

Saya cracked her knuckles, then pulled a thorned vine from her sleeve like a whip.

"Let's have fun, healer girl," she said, grinning.

Lira nodded.

"Let's both do our best."

Sensei Shun looked at both.

Then raised his hand—

"Begin!"

And the battle of blossoms and blight began.

..

Meanwhile

While the battle between Lira Valenne and Saya Kurenai raged in the arena—golden healing light clashing against toxic vines—someone was watching with gleaming eyes full of curiosity.

In the bleachers, half-shaded under a tree growing along the side of the coliseum wall, Khael Corzedar eaned forward.

His eyes weren't on either fighter.

They were on the energy.

The flow.

And he grinned.

("This is one of the battles I like to watch too… when they use fists to brawl—hahaha—it's really fun watching this. They even use their spirit... their Echo Spirit Contracts...")

Below, Saya ducked a golden burst from Lira, twirling and lashing a blight-vine like a whip. Lira countered with a radiant shield blooming from her hand—a living wall of petals.

Khael nodded.

"(See… this is what most people don't get,)" he said on his mind. "(There are types inside the affinities. Like, take Bloom—Lira's is the traditional kind. She heals, supports, grows things…)"

"(But Saya? Hers is Blight—a variant. Bloom twisted. Poison, decay, overgrowth. Where beauty becomes danger.)"

His voice dropped in pitch, excitement dancing at the edge of it.

"(Same with Flame. There's Magma—heavy, eruptive. Then Wave has Snow—slowing, numbing, silent.)"

He paused to let the thought settle, then muttered something half to himself, half to the air.

"Echo Arts… They're all made from Shinrei, you know."

"Emotion. Spirit. Power. They're all tied together," he said quietly.

"That's the nature of Echo."

And he watched—not just as a spectator.

But as someone who understood the soul of battle.

..

..

The arena pulsed with the echoes of raw emotion.

Wind stirred the dust across the stone floor as two figures stood across from each other, both bruised, both breathing hard—but neither backing down.

On one side, Lira Valenne, her silver hair aglow under the noon sun, extended her hand. Golden vines spiraled from her wrist, forming a radiant gauntlet. Her eyes, once soft and kind, were now steeled with resolve.

On the other, Saya Kurenai, a smirk curving her lip despite the scratches running across her cheek, raised both arms. Dark vines twisted up her arms, pulsing with a faint violet hue. Behind her, a thorned bloom writhed like a serpent, an Echo Spirit born of decay.

"You call that Bloom?" Saya smiled with a bit of mocking"This is bloom."

Lira didn't flinch.

"No. This is what hope looks like… when you fight for others."

Their Shinrei flared—gold clashing against violet—lighting the sky with a blast of energy as both girls rushed forward.

Fists collided.

Spirit bloomed.

From the crowd, even seasoned upper-year students leaned forward, eyes wide.

Each strike was more than muscle—it was emotion made manifest.

Saya ducked under a golden lash, spun, and slammed a Blight Root into Lira's midsection. The strike echoed like thunder.

Lira staggered but didn't fall.

Instead, she smiled.

"I can feel your anger, Saya…"

Saya's eye twitched.

"What?"

"You're hurting."

"What do you mean?"

She roared as a cloud of black-petaled vines exploded from her Echo Spirit's back. They surged forward, twisting like snakes, biting at the air.

Lira held her ground. Her palms lit up, and from her chest, a golden sigil spun outward—a radiant seal shaped like a blooming lotus.

"Echo Art: Sacred Garden."

Suddenly, vines of light burst from beneath her feet. They clashed with Saya's blight swarm mid-air—one side glowing, the other withering.

Hope against despair.

Bloom against blight.

To be continue

📝 Author's Note: Understanding the Power System

🔹Shinrei – Emotion-Based Spiritual Energy

Every human has Vein Gates—internal channels that regulate Shinrei.When a person feels deeply, their Shinrei flows stronger.Strong emotions = Stronger powers.

…

Emotion Affinities – There are six main Shinrei Affinities, plus one forbidden:

🔥 Flame Affinity – Rage

Those aligned with the Flame Affinity burned with fury. Their Shinrei shimmered crimson, and their fighting style was aggressive, relentless, and built for overwhelming damage. Rage fed their flames, and in battle, they became blurs of destruction, incinerating anything that stood in their way.

🌊 Wave Affinity – Calm

In contrast, the Wave Affinity flowed with serenity. Users radiated a soothing blue aura and excelled in evasive and defensive techniques. Calmness sharpened their awareness, allowing them to read attacks before they came, and slip through battle like water through cracks.

⚡ Storm Affinity – Despair

Storm-bound warriors danced with chaos. Their Shinrei gleamed violet, charged with the volatile power of despair. Their style was erratic and explosive — difficult to predict, even more difficult to survive. Pain became power, and loss became lightning.

Stone Affinity – Resolve

Unshakable. Immovable. Those with the Stone Affinity radiated an earthy bronze and wielded techniques that emphasized durability and raw defense. Their will was their weapon, and in the face of adversity, they stood tall like a mountain.

🌸 Bloom Affinity – Hope

Gentle yet resilient, Bloom Affinity users channeled the emotion of hope. Their Shinrei shone with a brilliant gold, and they often took the role of healers or protectors. In the darkest moments, their light never faded — instead, it healed wounds and revived strength, breathing life back into their allies.

☠️ Shade Affinity – Fear (Forbidden)

And then there was the Shade.

Born from fear, cloaked in black, and shunned by most — this forbidden Affinity dealt not with flesh, but with the soul. Illusions, mental warfare, and corrupted Shinrei were its weapons. Those who walked this path often vanished from the world, their minds unraveling… or worse, becoming something unrecognizable.

Each Affinity carried its own burden and blessing. Some were revered, others feared. But all were powerful — for emotions were the truest source of Shinrei.

….

Echo Arts – Techniques born from Shinrei

Echo Arts are personalized powers shaped by the user's emotional core.

Require opening Vein Gates.

Evolve as the user matures emotionally.

Examples include:Flame Echo: Crimson Fang – a burning projectile shaped from anger

Wave Echo: Tranquil Mirror – a shield that reflects both attacks and emotions

Bloom Echo: Radiant Bloom – healing burst that increases with the user's compassion

Blight Echo: Wither Touch – damages opponents and corrupts energy flow