Hoshin woke up early. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, and the air was still cool.
He washed his face, tied his shoes, and began jumping rope — thup, thup, thup — the sound echoing through the quiet house.
A few minutes later, his father stepped out, rubbing his eyes.
Father: "I've never seen you train this seriously before."
Hoshin: "I just realized how important it is."
Father: "Good." He smiled faintly. "I'll make breakfast for you."
The smell of eggs and rice filled the air. Hoshin sat down, ate quickly, and headed out for school.
The streets were quiet, bathed in the orange morning glow.
As he turned a corner, someone stepped into his path.
???: "I heard you defeated Masimo."
Hoshin: "Yeah. That's correct."
The stranger cracked his knuckles.
???: "Fight me."
Hoshin: "Not interested."
He tried to walk past, brushing the man off —
—but the stranger suddenly swung a wild hook.
The fist cut through air.
Hoshin's body moved on instinct. He twisted his hips and countered with a brutal hook of his own.
THUD!
The man's temple took the full force — his eyes rolled back, and his body collapsed to the pavement.
Hoshin: "Told you."
He adjusted his bag and kept walking as if nothing happened.
But in the distance, someone was watching.
Hidden in the shadows between two buildings, a figure stood still — eyes tracking Hoshin's every move.
The faint glow of a cigarette lit up the stranger's face for a brief second.
He exhaled slowly.
???: "So, that's the kid who beat Masimo…"
Someone far more dangerous than anyone Hoshin had faced — was already interested in him.
End of Chapter 123