Gray woke up the next morning with the same thought he'd had all week: Maybe if I stay in bed long enough, the world will forget I exist.
But unfortunately, his little brother, Liam, had other plans.
"Gray!" Liam shouted, barging into the room. "You're famous at school now!"
Gray pulled the blanket over his head. "Famous for being the unluckiest idiot alive."
"Mom said get up or no breakfast," Liam replied smugly, tugging the blanket until Gray had no choice but to stumble out of bed.
At School: The Rumors Grow
When Gray entered the classroom, the atmosphere shifted. Students whispered, glanced, then quickly looked away when he caught their eyes. Razor hadn't been seen since the afterschool incident, and somehow the story had already grown into something ridiculous.
"He took Razor down with one hand.""No, no, I heard he didn't even move. Razor just collapsed.""They say Gray has hidden martial arts training from the mountains…"
Gray slumped into his seat. "I hate all of you."
Riku beamed at him from the next desk. "Boss, the legend's spreading beautifully."
"Stop calling me that!"
The Challenge Appears
It was during lunch when the first real problem arrived. A boy with a scar across his chin — clearly from another class — slammed his tray down onto Gray's table. His crew followed, five strong, glaring at Gray like he'd just insulted their mothers.
"You're the guy who put Razor in the hospital?" Scar-chin sneered.
Gray nearly choked on his rice. "What? No! That was an accident—"
Scar-chin cut him off. "Save it. Razor's our ally. You don't get to walk around acting tough after taking him down."
Riku, instead of diffusing the situation, leaned in with a grin. "Careful, boys. You're standing in the shadow of the strongest man in school."
Gray kicked him under the table. Shut up, you traitor!
Scar-chin pointed a finger. "After school. Behind the gym. Don't chicken out."
And just like that, the challenge was set.
Gray's Desperation
The moment the group left, Gray grabbed Riku by the collar. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Riku calmly pried Gray's hands off. "Relax. Think of it this way: you've already beaten Razor. If you take these guys down too, your reputation skyrockets."
"I don't want a reputation! I want to go home and play video games!"
Riku clapped him on the shoulder. "Too late for that, boss. This is how legends are forged."
Gray buried his face in his hands. I'm going to die today.
Afterschool: The Gym Confrontation
When the final bell rang, Gray tried to sneak out through the front gate, but Riku was one step ahead, dragging him back toward the gym.
The scene waiting there made his stomach drop.
Not just Scar-chin's gang, but at least thirty students had gathered. Some came for the drama, others to see if the rumors were true. Gray felt their stares burning into his back as he was shoved into the center.
Scar-chin cracked his knuckles. "Time to show everyone this guy's nothing but hot air."
Gray raised his hands weakly. "I'd like to formally decline this fight. Violence is bad, you know?"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. No one took him seriously.
The Accidental Victory
Scar-chin lunged. Gray yelped and stumbled backwards. His foot hit a loose basketball, and in his flailing attempt to keep balance, he accidentally kicked it forward—straight into Scar-chin's face.
BAM!
The boy dropped instantly, clutching his nose.
The crowd went silent.
Gray blinked in horror. "Oh no… oh no no no—"
But before he could explain, one of Scar-chin's followers shouted, "Did you see that?! He didn't even break a sweat!"
Another added, "He took him down with one move!"
The students erupted in cheers. Gray's name was being shouted like he was some mythical warrior.
Mina's Growing Curiosity
From the edge of the crowd, Mina watched quietly again. She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes as the cheers grew louder.
"He's… ridiculous," she muttered. "But…" She couldn't ignore the way people gravitated toward him, no matter how much he resisted.
Her friend whispered, "Do you think he planned that?"
Mina smirked faintly. "Not a chance. But sometimes… that's scarier than someone who does."
Aftermath
When the crowd finally dispersed, Gray collapsed on the ground, clutching his head.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep this up," he muttered.
Riku crouched beside him, grinning ear to ear. "Keep what up? You're doing amazing! That was flawless!"
"Flawless?! I almost peed myself!"
"Exactly. That's your secret weapon—fearlessness hidden in fear. Genius!"
Gray groaned. "This is a nightmare."
But deep down, in the smallest corner of his heart, he felt it again—the same flicker as before. Excitement. The tiniest thrill.
And that terrified him most of all.
End of Chapter 9