By the time Gray stepped through the gates of Ridgeview, the rumors were already spreading like wildfire.
"I heard Gray beat ten Eastside guys at once.""No, no — it was fifteen! He knocked Crusher out cold!""Shut up, my cousin's friend's brother said he saw Gray punch a tree in half."
Gray, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, nearly tripped when he overheard that last one. Punching trees? I get splinters just sharpening pencils!
But when he turned, half the courtyard erupted into cheers. Students clapped him on the back, calling him Boss, some even bowing dramatically.
Gray wanted to crawl into a locker and never come out.
Mina's Annoyance
From the second-floor railing, Mina watched the scene unfold, her arms crossed tightly.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath.
Kenji, of course, was eating up the attention. Standing on top of a bench, he waved his arms like a hype man at a concert.
"You heard the rumors, people! Our Boss is undefeated! Eastside fears him, Ridgeview stands tall, and together we'll—"
"Kenji," Mina cut in coldly, "get down before you break the bench."
Kenji froze, then hopped down sheepishly. But his grin didn't fade. "C'mon, Mina, you can feel it too, right? The vibe is different. We're not weak anymore. All thanks to Gray!"
Mina's eyes flicked toward Gray, who was currently trying to escape a group of first-years begging him to teach them how to fight. She frowned.
"…Different doesn't mean safe."
Gray's Struggles as "Boss"
Lunch was even worse.
Gray just wanted to eat in peace, but instead, three different groups shoved notebooks in his face.
"Boss, we've drawn up a map of Eastside's weak points!""Boss, I think we should split into scouting squads!""Boss, what do you think of adopting a uniform?"
Gray stared at the notes, then at his untouched lunch. "…Do any of you have snacks?"
They blinked at him.
"…No?"
"Then I'm out," Gray said flatly, laying his head on the desk.
The groups whispered among themselves. "Wow, he's so calm under pressure.""Yeah, he just brushes off strategy like it's nothing.""Unshakable."
Gray's soul screamed silently.
The Shift in Ridgeview
But despite Gray's protests, Ridgeview was undeniably changing.
Students no longer slunk through the halls. They walked taller, laughed louder, and even teachers noticed the difference. Fights with Eastside still loomed, but for the first time, Ridgeview wasn't afraid.
And all of it orbited around Gray — whether he liked it or not.
Mina's Quiet Curiosity
After school, Mina walked home a few steps behind Gray and Kenji. Kenji was animatedly recounting their last fight, complete with exaggerated gestures, while Gray just sighed heavily at every turn.
Mina's gaze lingered on Gray's back. He was still the same — clumsy, lazy, reluctant. But there was something different, too. Something he himself didn't see.
"Who are you really, Gray?" she whispered to herself.
Meanwhile, in the Mountains…
Riku collapsed in the dirt, hands blistered, arms trembling from endless training. His master stood over him, unimpressed.
"Again," the old man commanded.
Riku groaned, then forced himself up, determination burning in his eyes.
Gray's Sneeze
Back in the city, as the sun dipped low, Gray suddenly sneezed so hard he almost fell over.
Kenji laughed until tears rolled down his cheeks. "What was that, Boss? Allergic to responsibility?"
Gray rubbed his nose and muttered, "No… someone must be talking about me…"
Mina glanced at him, her lips twitching just slightly into the ghost of a smile.
End of Chapter 22: Schoolyard Legends