The crowd still buzzed with energy. Souta clapped Ren on the shoulder.
"Ren, fun match?"
Ren touched his bruise and grinned.
"Yeah… his focus, his skills… that's what marks a real fighter."
Souta smiled proudly.
"I knew it. One day, everyone would see it — Shion Amano can't be ignored."
From a distance, Kasumi sat quietly on a bench. Her heartbeat hadn't slowed and softly whispered.
"Shion… you've always been the silent one. Tomorrow, they'll question you, push you, force you. You'll break again, won't you? Why… why did you do this?"
Meanwhile, Shion slipped out of the ground. His shoulders looked relaxed, but something heavy pressed inside.
Students still clapped faintly, their voices fading behind him. To Shion, it all sounded distant, like muffled echoes behind glass.
Only one thought lingered in his mind:
I quit martial arts because I knew — the longer I fought, the closer I'd come to losing control. Today… I stood on that edge again.
Evening.
Shion returned to his flat, dropped his bag in the corner, and collapsed onto the sofa without changing.
He stared at the ceiling, as if searching for answers hidden in its cracks.
"Tonight… I won't be able to sleep," he murmured inside.
From the table, he picked up a wine bottle again, poured himself a glass, and took a slow sip. His eyes drifted shut. The room was wrapped in silence, a silence that seeped into his very bones.
That night, the dream returned.
Darkness.
A room, but not a room — more like a void, an endless black space.
Shion sat by a sofa, then slowly raised his eyes.
Across the void stood a figure.
The same distorted smile.
The same unnatural presence.
Evil Shion.
Shion stumbled back, breath catching.
"why… again…"
The figure moved closer. Silent. Its hand stretched out, clasping Shion's. Shion tried to pull away, but the grip only tightened.
Then… its face drew close, far too close. A gesture too intimate, too wrong.
Shion's body froze. He jerked awake with a gasp.
Sweat rolled down his forehead. His breathing ragged. His heartbeat fast. And yet… his face remained calm.
He walked to the mirror, staring into his reflection.
"That dream… that smile… I have to...."
Morning routine followed — breakfast, uniform, bag. But unease clung to him like a shadow.
On the way to school, he felt eyes on him. Whispers. Pointing fingers.
Back in class, he slid silently into his back seat. But before long, students swarmed around him.
"Shion! What's your relation with the president?"
"Could you beat Ren if you kept going?"
"Why did you stop mid-fight?"
Questions rained down one after another. Shion stayed silent. His palms grew damp. His breath uneven.
The crowd pressed closer. The noise tightened around him.This time, Shion was deeply uncomfortable in the crowd.
And then — a sharp voice cut through.
"Enough."
Kasumi.
She pushed her way through, glaring at the others, then grabbed Shion's hand without hesitation.
Wordlessly, she pulled him out of the classroom.
For Shion, the moment was surreal. He had never imagined a girl would take his hand and drag him away from the crowd.
As they climbed the stairs, he muttered softly,his reaction was unbelievable.
"This is… the first time someone's pulled me like this."
At the same time kasumi overthinking again.
"What iam doing i..i... really grab his hand"
On the terrace, Kasumi finally stopped. Her hand was still gripping his.
Shion looked at her quietly.
"Kasumi… we're already here. You can let go now."
Her face flushed red. She quickly released him.
"O-oh… sorry."
The breeze brushed past them, cool and gentle. Clouds drifted above, sunlight trying to pierce through.
Shion stood by the railing. Kasumi stood opposite him. For a moment, neither spoke. Only the wind carried their silence.
At last, Shion's calm voice broke it.
"Thank you… for saving me."
Kasumi met his eyes, her own voice soft.
"You knew, didn't you? That after the fight, everyone would notice you."
Shion turned his gaze aside, avoiding hers.
"Souta told me to fight. I didn't think people would get this excited."
Kasumi sighed.
"It was bound to happen. You fought Ren — a high-level fighter. So… what will you do now?"
Shion was quiet for a while. Then he spoke evenly.
"I'm taking a break. Ten days. By then… things will calm down."
Kasumi nodded gently.
"I see… I understand."
A soft silence settled again. Kasumi walked slowly along the railing, her hair swaying in the wind. Shion watched her, one thought flickering in his chest.
This girl's presence… is different for me.
---
Next morning, in class.
"Shion Amano is absent today," the teacher noted casually while taking attendance.
Ren leaned forward with concern.
"Sir, where is Shion?"
"He requested ten days' leave. Personal reasons," the teacher replied flatly.
Ren leaned back, muttering to himself,
"Hm… that guy really is different."
Kasumi sat at her desk. Her eyes drifted, almost on their own, to Shion's empty seat.
Before class began, she slipped a small folded note onto his desk.
On it, she had written:
"Since you left… things feel a little too quiet. Come back soon, Shion."
Her cheeks warmed as she returned to her seat. She buried her blush beneath a faint, hopeful smile.
The classroom returned to its usual rhythm. Students whispered, laughed, scrolled their phones. Souta Minami stood from his seat.
"Sir, may I say something?"
The teacher nodded. "Go ahead."
Souta walked to the front, scanning the class calmly. His voice was steady.
"I have a small request. Shion Amano… he's an introvert. He doesn't like too many questions, or too much attention. He just does his work quietly. When he returns, please treat him normally. Like before. No hero worship. No unnecessary pressure. All he needs is a little space."
Silence filled the room.
After a moment, someone muttered softly from the back, "Alright… if Souta says so."
Others nodded quietly in agreement.
---Chapter 6 end---