Morning at Ridgeview
Gray was late. Again.
He bolted through the gates, tie half-done, hair messy, a slice of toast still hanging from his mouth. Students whispered and pointed. Some snickered, others gave nods of respect.
"The boss is here.""Look at him… even when he's late, he's confident.""Legend says he's so fast, the teachers can't even catch him."
Gray nearly tripped over a loose rock and flailed wildly before catching himself. His face flushed crimson. Confident my butt…!
But when he looked up, half the courtyard was watching him with admiration. Gray wanted to scream.
The New Routine
After the first Eastside attack, Ridgeview had changed. Students walked in groups instead of alone, shoulders squared, voices louder. Gray's "gang" — though he still refused to call it that — was organizing themselves in the courtyard during breaks.
Some practiced punches. Others debated strategies. And some just… shouted slogans.
Kenji, as usual, was the loudest. Standing on a bench, he bellowed: "Ridgeview strong! Ridgeview united! Nobody messes with our boss, Gray!"
The cheer echoed. Fists raised. Gray's stomach sank.
Mina leaned against the railing nearby, smirking faintly as she watched Gray squirm.
"You should say something," she said.
Gray waved his hands frantically. "What? No way! They'll think I know what I'm doing!"
"That's exactly what they already think," Mina replied smoothly.
The "Training" Arc
That evening, Gray's dad dragged him outside.
"No son of mine is going to run from a fight without knowing how to use his fists," he said firmly, tossing Gray a pair of battered old boxing gloves.
Gray groaned. "Dad, I don't need training. I need a time machine so I can go back and avoid all this!"
His dad ignored him. "Jab. Cross. Again."
Gray flailed awkwardly at the air, nearly toppling over. His dad pinched the bridge of his nose.
Meanwhile, Gray's little brother Riku (not to be confused with best friend Riku) sat on the porch, munching snacks and laughing at his older brother's misery. "You punch like a sad noodle."
Gray collapsed to his knees. "Why does everyone bully me in this family…?"
Riku's Absence Felt
At school, Gray noticed the absence of his best friend, Riku (the loyal, big-hearted one). He had vanished without telling anyone, and whispers spread quickly.
"Where's Riku? Did he ditch?""Maybe Eastside got him.""Or maybe he's training somewhere."
Gray worried but tried to laugh it off. "Pfft, Riku probably just found a buffet and hasn't left yet."
But Mina's sharp gaze caught him off-guard. "You're worried, aren't you?"
Gray avoided her eyes. "…He's my friend. He's supposed to be here."
Mina didn't push further, but the concern lingered between them like smoke.
The Bond of Many
Despite the chaos, Ridgeview's gang was learning to function. Groups started forming patrols after school to keep Eastside from sneaking in. A few students, who once would've hidden, now asked to spar in the courtyard.
Even Kenji, useless as he seemed, had become a rallying voice. His energy — however ridiculous — lifted morale.
But all of it still funneled back to Gray. Every strategy. Every cheer. Every hope.
And Gray… still felt like he was drowning.
Mina's Quiet Observation
That night, Mina walked home a short distance behind Gray. She watched him drag his feet, yawning, scratching his head like a lazy fool. But she also saw the way students smiled as they passed him, the way some called out "Boss!" with genuine warmth.
She whispered to herself:
"He doesn't see it yet… but he's becoming the thing Ridgeview needs."
Her eyes softened, then hardened again as she remembered Shade's whispers echoing in rumors.
"…But how long before someone tries to break him?"
End of Chapter 20: Training, Tension, and Terrible Leadership