Part I: Morning After the Storm
Kai woke to the sound of Aunt Mei banging pots in the kitchen below. His arms ached, his legs felt heavy, and his brain swam in a fog. The previous night's midnight training had left him drained, though strangely exhilarated.
He rolled out of bed, rubbing his eyes, only to notice the notebook on his desk—still open, filled with equations and diagrams of stick figures in awkward poses. For a second, he almost convinced himself it had all been a dream. Then his eyes landed on the dented tray.
"Nope. Definitely real," he muttered.
By the time he reached school, the rumors had multiplied. Students huddled in corners, voices dropping the moment he passed. Some looked at him with awe, others with skepticism, and more than a few with the kind of curiosity reserved for exotic animals at the zoo.
Kai tugged his bag higher on his shoulder and kept his eyes forward. Ignore them. Just ignore them.
"Good morning, celebrity," Haru greeted, popping out from behind the gate like he had been waiting specifically for Kai. His grin stretched ear to ear. "You've got no idea how fun it is being your friend right now."
Kai sighed. "Fun for you. I'm the one everyone thinks dented Riku's pride with a lunch tray."
"Correction," Haru said solemnly, raising a finger. "The entire student body now refers to you as—wait for it—'The Tray Emperor.'"
Kai stopped dead in his tracks. "...You're lying."
"Am I?" Haru whipped out his phone and scrolled through the school's anonymous forum board. Sure enough, threads with titles like 'Tray Emperor vs Riku – Round 2 When?' and 'Respect the Stainless Steel Fist' flooded the page.
Kai buried his face in his hands. "This school is insane."
Haru clapped him on the back. "Hey, embrace it. Better to be infamous than invisible."
They walked into class together, but the stares hadn't lessened. In fact, they seemed sharper. Kai could feel the shift—yesterday he was just a rumor. Today, he was a spectacle.
And somewhere in the crowd, he caught a glimpse of someone who wasn't staring with gossip in their eyes but with calculation. Jin Arakawa. The third-year from the disciplinary committee.
Their gazes met briefly before Jin looked away, expression unreadable. But Kai knew. He was being watched.
Part II: Subtle Tests
Classes dragged on. Every time Kai turned his head, whispers stopped. Every time he raised his hand, eyes flicked toward him. Even the teachers seemed to glance twice, as if they weren't sure whether to treat him like a student or a volatile explosive.
By lunch, Kai had had enough. He grabbed Haru and made for the rooftop.
"Why are you walking like you're escaping prison?" Haru asked, trailing behind.
"Because I am escaping," Kai hissed. "From the circus downstairs."
But their plan for peace shattered the moment they stepped onto the rooftop. Three second-years were already there, lounging against the railing. The moment they saw Kai, their casual chatter died.
One of them, a lanky boy with spiky hair, smirked. "Well, well. If it isn't the Tray Emperor himself."
Kai groaned. "Please stop calling me that."
The boy ignored him, straightening up. "We were curious. Was that cafeteria stunt luck, or do you actually have skill?"
Kai opened his mouth to protest, but Haru cut in. "Careful what you wish for. My boy here is unpredictable."
Kai shot him a glare. Stop helping.
The second-year stepped closer. "Let's test it, then. No fighting. Just reflexes." He tossed a crushed soda can at Kai without warning.
Kai's body moved before his brain did. He sidestepped and caught the can mid-air, inches from his face.
The rooftop went quiet.
Even Kai froze, staring at the can in his hand. "Uh… reflexes. Beginner's luck."
The second-years exchanged looks. Then, instead of mocking him, they actually nodded with faint approval. "Not bad. Guess the rumors weren't all hot air."
They walked away, leaving Kai stunned.
Haru whistled. "See? Accident or not, you've got something."
Kai sat down heavily on the bench. "This is getting out of hand. First Riku, now random second-years testing me like I'm some kind of new toy. What's next, the principal challenging me to a spar?"
"Wouldn't put it past him," Haru said cheerfully, biting into his bread roll.
Kai groaned, dropping his head onto the table. But deep down, a flicker of pride stirred. That reflex catch hadn't been pure accident. His midnight training—calculating angles, predicting trajectories—had paid off. Even if just a little.
Part III: The Gathering Clouds
The school day ended, but the tension didn't. As Kai packed his bag, he noticed Riku's seat was empty. The rumor mill claimed he was in the dojo, training harder than ever, furious about the embarrassment.
Kai should have felt relief. Instead, unease twisted in his gut. A storm was brewing, and he was the eye of it.
On his way out, he passed by the notice board near the gym. A fresh poster had been pinned up: "Martial Arts Exhibition – One Month Away. All students encouraged to participate."
His stomach dropped.
Of course. That was where this would all lead. Riku wouldn't settle for hallway intimidation or cafeteria warnings. He would drag Kai into the exhibition, in front of the whole school.
"Great," Kai muttered. "One month until public humiliation."
"Or public glory," Haru said, appearing at his side like a persistent shadow.
Kai shot him a look. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Obviously. This is better than TV."
As they walked out, Kai once again caught sight of Jin leaning against the wall near the gate. Arms crossed, expression calm. Watching.
Their eyes met briefly, and Jin gave the faintest nod before turning away.
Kai's chest tightened. He didn't know if Jin was ally or judge. But one thing was clear—he wasn't invisible anymore. Too many eyes were on him.
And somewhere, in the dojo, Riku was preparing.
Kai clenched his fists at his sides. Midnight training wouldn't be enough. He'd need something sharper, smarter, stronger.
The Tray Emperor, accidental or not, had just been drafted into Martial High's war of pride.