The rain fell relentlessly, drenching the students and soaking the earth beneath their feet. The night had settled in, but the tension in the air was electric, even more so than the storm itself.
Akira, Simone, and Yoichi stood in front of Hanamura's squad. Their faces were hard as stone, but beneath that exterior, something darker was at play. This wasn't just about winning a game—it was a battle that would define them all.
And then Rio stepped forward.
The crowd held its breath as he approached Akira, his eyes narrowing. The fear of his past, the humiliation, the torment—it all surged back. But he wouldn't let it control him. Not again. Not now.
> "If we win," Rio said, his voice steady despite the storm, "You never show your face here again. Understand?"
Akira stepped forward, his presence cold and threatening. His grin was as sharp as ever, but there was a fire in his eyes that made the air feel even thicker.
> "If I win," Akira said, his voice dripping with venom, "You'll become my bully victim again. Just like before."
A shiver ran down Rio's spine, a wave of old memories rushing back. The cruelty, the taunts. It was like he could feel the weight of every moment of his suffering flooding back in an instant. His fists clenched, heart pounding in his chest. The fear of what he had been—of who Akira could make him again—threatened to swallow him whole.
But before he could take another breath, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Taiki.
> "We can do this, Rio," Taiki said, his voice low but firm. "You're not that kid anymore. Remember who you are now. You've got this."
The words cut through the fear, grounding Rio in the present. He wasn't that scared kid anymore. He wasn't helpless. He wasn't weak.
And then, from behind him, Rin stepped forward, his voice like a spark in the darkness.
> "Don't forget why you're here, Rio," Rin said, eyes gleaming with fierce encouragement. "This is your moment. You've fought for this. You can't back down now."
The rain didn't stop. It felt like everything was building to this one moment.
Akira cracked his knuckles, his eyes fixed on Rio, daring him to make the first move. He knew Rio's weakness. He knew what had broken him once before. But this time, Rio wasn't about to let that happen again.
The fight began.
Akira launched forward with blinding speed, aiming to catch Rio off guard. His fists were like hammers, brutal and relentless, as if every punch was meant to crush not just Rio's body but his spirit. But Rio, with all the training, all the strength he'd gathered over the years, was ready.
He dodged, his heart pounding in his chest, his muscles aching under the intensity of the fight. His mind raced as he blocked Akira's attacks, countering with punches of his own. Every hit he landed felt like a victory—a symbol of how far he'd come.
But Akira was no slouch. His counterattacks were as brutal as they were precise. Each strike felt like it was made to break Rio's spirit, just like the first time. The fear Rio thought he'd buried came rushing back with every blow, but he fought it down. The past was in the past. This was now. This was the present.
The crowd was on edge, watching the fight unfold. The rain seemed to intensify, hammering down on them like nature itself was forcing them to face this battle.
Rio could feel himself faltering, his body aching, his vision blurring, but he kept going. His fists were shaking, his breath ragged, but he refused to fall. Not again.
> "You're weak, Rio!" Akira taunted, landing a sharp blow to his ribs. "You'll always be weak. You'll always be my victim!"
The words hit harder than the punch. But Rio's heart hardened. He could hear Taiki's words, Rin's encouragement, even Alya's voice, echoing in his mind.
He was not weak.
With a roar, Rio pushed Akira back, creating the distance he needed. The rain splashed as he gathered his strength, his body screaming for rest, but his heart burning with determination.
Rio was going to finish this.
The final blows came like thunder, crashing against the world around them.
Akira went for a low strike, aiming to take Rio's legs out from under him, but Rio anticipated it. With a quick move, he dodged and countered, landing a clean uppercut that sent Akira stumbling back.
But Akira wasn't done yet. He charged, swinging for the final blow, his fist cutting through the air like a blade. But Rio, drawing from the last reserves of his strength, sidestepped, grabbing Akira's arm and flipping him onto the wet ground.
For a moment, time stood still.
The sound of the rain falling felt like the only thing that existed. Rio stood over Akira, his breathing heavy, but his chest swelling with victory. Akira, dazed and defeated, struggled to rise.
Rio had done it.
He had defeated him.
But as Rio turned to walk away, his body on the edge of collapse, something strange happened. His vision blurred. His legs gave out from under him. He staggered, barely staying upright, before collapsing onto the ground.
His heart was pounding, the adrenaline wearing off, and the exhaustion of the fight catching up to him all at once.
Then, before he could fall completely, a hand caught him.
It was Taiki.
> "You did it, Rio," Taiki whispered, his voice filled with pride. "You're free now."
But Rio, his breath ragged and his eyes half-lidded, could barely keep his head up. In a voice so soft, it was almost lost in the rain, he whispered:
> "Taiki… I'm… I'm so tired..."
And then, from behind him, a voice he hadn't expected.
It was Miku.
She rushed to him, kneeling beside him as he struggled to stay conscious. Her hands shook as she gently cupped his face, her tears mixing with the rain.
> "Rio…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please, stay with me. You can't give up now."
Rio's heart skipped a beat, and in that moment, despite everything, he smiled softly.
> "I love you, please...wake up."
And in that quiet moment, under the rain, surrounded by the remnants of battle, Rio felt peace for the first time in a long while. His eyes closed, his heart finally at ease, knowing that everything he had fought for was worth it.