The hallway was a battleground, lit only by the harsh flickering fluorescent lights overhead. The air was thick with tension, as each breath seemed to carry the weight of something much heavier. Koji's knuckles were raw, blood dripping from his fists, his blazer torn from the brutal exchange. His body ached, but his resolve didn't waver.
Across from him, Ryuu stood, blood trailing from his swollen lips and nose, one eye almost completely shut. He was swaying, barely keeping his footing, but there was a manic glint in his eyes. The fight had pushed them both to the edge.
"Come on, Koji!" Ryuu spat, the words thick with blood. "Show me what you've got!"
Koji didn't answer. His movements were swift—calm, almost calculated. He closed the distance in an instant, sliding his foot forward before launching a precise jab aimed straight at Ryuu's gut.
Ryuu twisted, narrowly evading the strike, but Koji was relentless. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Ryuu's head, pulling it down with brutal force, and drove his knee upward.
Crack.
The sound of Ryuu's body hitting the floor echoed down the empty hallway like a broken doll. Koji stood over him, chest heaving, his eyes cold. "Stay down."
But Ryuu, through gritted teeth, pushed himself up, his knees wobbling under him. Blood mixed with sweat as he wiped at his face, the expression in his swollen eye a mixture of rage and disbelief. "Not bad…" he muttered, then cracked his neck, the bones snapping like dry twigs. "But not enough."
With a growl, Ryuu fell into a crude street-fighting stance, his hands clenched into fists. He was unhinged now—desperate. Without warning, he lunged forward, aiming a high kick at Koji's head.
Koji reacted with practiced ease, raising his arm just in time to absorb the blow. The impact sent a shockwave up his arm, a dull throb, but he didn't flinch. His eyes never left Ryuu.
"My turn," Koji muttered, low and fierce.
He leapt, twisting in mid-air, and drove his elbow into Ryuu's cheek with all his strength.
The sickening crack of bone against bone rang in the air, and Ryuu's scream filled the hallway. He stumbled back, blood spraying from his mouth, collapsing against the lockers in a dazed heap.
Koji's footsteps were steady, deliberate as he closed in. His eyes were unblinking, his expression unreadable. He was in control now.
Ryuu's face twisted with fear, his chest rising and falling in quick, panicked breaths. His body trembled as he weakly raised a hand. "D-Don't come any closer…"
But Koji didn't slow. His gaze hardened, unyielding.
In a desperate move, Ryuu reached into his jacket, trembling, and pulled out a knife. The metal gleamed under the flickering lights, his hands shaking with fear.
"I said stay away!" Ryuu shouted, voice cracking with panic.
Koji's eyes narrowed. His voice was calm, almost detached. "That's cheating."
"There are no rules in a real fight!" Ryuu screamed.
Koji's eyes darkened as he watched the blade move toward him. But he didn't flinch. He moved in, twisting his body to the side, and with a precise counter, he disarmed Ryuu using the Krav Maga technique. He twisted Ryuu's wrist sharply, sending the knife clattering to the ground, and in one smooth motion, he grabbed Ryuu by the throat, lifting him off the ground.
Ryuu's breath became frantic, his hands clawing at Koji's arm. His eyes were wide with fear, but there was no mercy in Koji's gaze. He squeezed, watching as Ryuu gasped for air.
Suddenly, a voice—low, commanding—cut through the tension.
"Drop him."
Koji's gaze flicked to the end of the hallway. Four tall figures stood there, their presence suffocating. Their uniforms were worn, sleeves rolled up, and their eyes cold as steel. The seniors had arrived. And they weren't here to break up a fight. They were here to make a statement.
Koji hesitated only for a second before releasing Ryuu, dropping him to the floor like a ragdoll. Ryuu collapsed, gasping for air, his chest heaving as if he'd just run a marathon.
The leader of the four stepped forward. He was taller than the rest, his face sharp with arrogance. His eyes were cold and assessing as he took in the scene. "What the hell is going on here?"
Ryuu, still gasping for breath, pointed weakly at Koji. "I don't know, boss. He started it…"
Koji scoffed. "Liar."
The four seniors didn't care. They stepped forward, surrounding Koji, their movements deliberate. The leader cracked his knuckles.
"You've got guts, first year," the leader sneered. "But you messed up. You beat up one of ours. You're gonna pay for that."
Koji's muscles tensed. Four against one. This wasn't a fight—it was a message. His instincts screamed at him to prepare. But just as the tension reached its breaking point.
"Kojiiii!"
The voice rang out like an explosion, shattering the tense silence.
Kaito.
He rushed into view, his face a mixture of disbelief and worry. He skidded to a halt beside Koji, looking at the towering seniors. His fists clenched at his sides. "You dumbass! You seriously gonna fight four guys alone?!"
Koji smirked, but it was a tired, resigned smirk. "Wasn't planning on it… but it just kinda happened."
"You're insane," Kaito muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"And you're late."
Kaito's eyes never left the seniors as he stepped up beside Koji. "I'll help you," he said, voice low but unwavering.
Koji raised an eyebrow. "What about Airi?"
"She's safe," Kaito said, his tone firm. "I made sure of it."
Koji exhaled, his shoulders sagging for a moment. "Good."
There was no more fear, no more doubt. Only trust.
Kaito stood beside him, shoulder to shoulder, ready for whatever came next.
One of the seniors, the leader, sneered. "You think you can take us both on, first-years?"
Kaito cracked his knuckles, the sound sharp in the tense air. "We'll see."
Koji's voice was steady, his gaze unflinching. "Five against two," he muttered under his breath.
Kaito didn't bat an eye. "Fair's got nothing to do with it."
They stood, side by side. The seniors stepped closer, the air thick with the promise of violence.
Koji turned his head slightly toward Kaito, his expression hardening. "Ready?"
"Always," Kaito replied.
Their fists met in a sharp, decisive bump.
No words were needed. The bond between them was clear. They didn't need to say anything. The trust, the camaraderie, the shared resolve—it was all there, palpable in the silence between them.
The leader of the seniors stepped forward, his smirk widening into something cruel and predatory. "Let's break them."
And then, without another word, the fight began.