Morning light filled the living room softly as the Ishida family sat around the dining table. The clinking of cutlery and the quiet hum of the day beginning were the only sounds—until even those felt too loud.
Kai sat straight, eating in silence, his thoughts clearly somewhere else. Mr. Ishida glanced at his watch between bites, already mentally at work. Across the table, Ayaka barely touched her food.
The silence was… awkward.
Every so often, Kai's gaze drifted up without meaning to.
And every time it met Ayaka's—
She froze.
Her face flared up instantly, heat rushing to her cheeks as she snapped her eyes away like she'd been burned. Her fingers tightened around her chopsticks, shoulders stiff, posture far more rigid than usual.
She was quieter than normal.
Shyer.
Too shy.
Mrs. Ishida noticed—but said nothing, only watching with a faint, unreadable smile.
They finished breakfast quickly.
"I'm heading to the office," Mr. Ishida said, standing. "Don't be late for school."
"Yes," Kai replied automatically.
Ayaka nodded, still not looking up. "We won't."
Chairs slid back. The morning routine resumed.
Kai and Ayaka retreated to their rooms, changed into their uniforms, and returned to the hallway a few minutes later, bags in hand. The house felt unusually still.
They were about to step out—
"Wait."
Ayaka stopped.
Kai turned. "Hm?"
She stepped closer, hesitating for half a second before reaching up. His collar was slightly folded, uneven.
"Your collar," she muttered, fingers moving carefully as she fixed it. Her hands brushed his chest—just barely.
She froze.
Her face turned an intense, burning red.
Kai watched her, confused. "Onee-Sama…?"
She didn't answer.
Instead—
Ayaka leaned forward and hugged him.
It was sudden. Tight. Real.
Her arms wrapped around him, her forehead pressing lightly against his chest. Her whole body was warm—trembling just a little—but she didn't pull away.
Kai's breath caught.
"H-Huh—?" he stammered, hands hovering awkwardly at his sides. "O-Onee-Sama…?"
Ayaka released him just as quickly.
She turned around so fast it was like she was running from something, fists clenched at her sides, ears completely red.
"L-Let's go," she said sharply, voice flustered. "W-We'll be late."
Kai stared at her back for a second, heart still pounding.
"…Yeah," he replied quietly.
They said their goodbyes at the door.
"Have a good day," Mrs. Ishida said gently.
Ayaka bowed quickly. Kai followed.
Then they stepped outside.
The walk to school was quiet, the morning air cool and calm. Ayaka walked half a step ahead, hugging her bag close, her face still warm from earlier. Kai walked beside her, glancing at her from time to time—but saying nothing.
Neither of them mentioned the hug.
The school gates soon came into view.
Students were already gathering, voices overlapping, the familiar rhythm of the school day beginning.
They had arrived.
They entered the classroom together, the familiar buzz of morning chatter filling the air. Desks scraped, chairs shifted, laughter echoed from the back rows. Kai took his usual seat near the window, and Ayaka sat beside him as always. For a brief moment, their shoulders brushed.
Ayaka froze.
Her spine straightened instantly, and a faint heat rushed to her face. She turned her head away at lightning speed, eyes locking onto the blackboard like her life depended on it. Kai noticed—but said nothing, only tightening his grip on his bag strap before setting it down.
An awkward silence settled between them, thick and fragile.
A moment later, the classroom door slid open.
The teacher walked in, heels clicking against the floor. "All right, everyone, take your seats."
The chatter died down.
She placed her materials on the desk, then looked up with a small smile. "We have a transfer student joining us today. Come in."
The door opened again.
A tall boy stepped inside, hands casually tucked into his pockets. He had sharp features, messy dark hair, and a confident, almost lazy smile on his lips. His eyes swept across the classroom slowly—calculating, observant—until they stopped.
On Ayaka.
His smile widened.
"Introduce yourself," the teacher said.
He bowed slightly. "Shidou Akuma. Nice to meet you."
Whispers spread instantly.
"Akuma…?" "That name sounds scary." "He looks kinda cool though…"
Ayaka's eyes widened.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"…Shidou?"
Kai felt it too—the sudden shift in the air. He turned his head just enough to see her expression.
Shock. Recognition.
The teacher glanced at the seating chart. "There's an empty seat… yes. You can sit beside Ayaka."
Kai's heart dropped.
Shidou walked down the aisle unhurriedly, his footsteps slow and deliberate. He stopped beside Ayaka's desk and leaned down slightly, invading her space with an all-too-familiar ease.
"Hey, Ayaka-chan~" he said softly. "You remember me, right?"
Ayaka looked up at him, then nodded. "Y-Yes… I remember. It's been a long time." She hesitated. "How have you been? Where did you go?"
Shidou chuckled. "Here and there. A lot happened." His gaze lingered on her face. "But you didn't change much. Still cute."
Ayaka stiffened, cheeks turning pink. "T-Thank you…"
Kai's jaw tightened.
Back then, Shidou had been different. Loud. Friendly. Always smiling. Someone Ayaka trusted.
But something about him now felt… off.
Shidou lifted his hand and gently cupped Ayaka's cheek, thumb brushing her skin as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I missed you," he said quietly.
Ayaka flinched—barely noticeable, but enough.
"I—um…" She forced a small smile. "I missed you too."
Kai's nails dug into his palm.
Shidou's hand slid down and caught Ayaka's, fingers threading through hers without hesitation. "Now we can talk every day again," he said brightly. "Just like before. We'll be best friends again, right?"
Ayaka blinked, nostalgia clouding her hesitation. "Y-Yeah… I guess…"
Kai turned his face away.
His chest burned.
Why is he touching her like that?
Shidou finally glanced past Ayaka, eyes landing on Kai. "Oh. Kai, right? It's been a while. Funny meeting you here."
Kai looked back, forcing a smile that felt like it might crack his face. "Yeah. Funny."
The teacher clapped her hands sharply. "Enough talking. Open your textbooks."
The class settled. Pages flipped. Pens scratched against paper.
But Kai couldn't focus.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shidou lean closer to Ayaka, whispering something that made her nod distractedly.
Then—
Shidou turned his head.
His eyes met Kai's.
Slowly, deliberately, he smiled—dark and mocking. His gaze slid back to Ayaka, and he ran his tongue over his lips, eyes half-lidded, possessive.
A silent warning.
Kai's blood boiled.
Veins bulged on the back of his hand as he gripped the edge of his desk, knuckles whitening. His jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
He forced himself to look forward.
Focus.
But the threat had already been made.
Kai tried to breathe normally.
In. Out.
The teacher's voice droned on about formulas and definitions, chalk screeching against the blackboard, but none of it reached him. Every sound felt distant, muffled by the pounding in his ears.
Beside him, Ayaka shifted slightly in her seat.
Her hand was still tangled with Shidou's.
She seemed to realize it a second too late. Her fingers twitched, hesitation flashing across her face. Slowly, awkwardly, she tried to pull her hand back.
Shidou didn't let go.
He leaned closer, voice low enough that only she could hear. "Relax. You're still the same, Ayaka-chan. No need to be shy with me."
Her shoulders tensed. "S-Shidou… we're in class…"
He chuckled under his breath but finally loosened his grip, letting her hand slip free. Ayaka immediately folded her hands on her desk, staring straight ahead, face burning red.
Kai saw everything.
His chest felt tight.
Why isn't she pushing him away harder…?
No—he corrected himself. She's just confused. That's all.
Right?
RIGHT?
Shidou leaned back in his chair like he owned the place, one arm draped lazily over the backrest. His eyes kept drifting to Ayaka, tracing her movements openly, without shame.
Kai noticed the students around them starting to whisper again.
"Isn't that transfer guy kinda creepy?"
"He's really close to her…"
"Are they dating?"
Kai's teeth ground together.
Dating?
The thought alone made his stomach twist violently.
The teacher suddenly called out, "Tenjou Kai. Answer the next question."
Kai jolted slightly. "…Huh?"
A few students snickered.
He stood up, mind blank for a split second—then answered correctly, his voice calm despite the storm raging inside him. The teacher nodded and motioned for him to sit.
As Kai lowered himself back into his seat, Shidou spoke casually, just loud enough to reach him.
"Still sharp, huh?" He smirked. "Guess you haven't changed much either."
Kai didn't respond.
Instead, he stared straight ahead, eyes dark, expression unreadable.
Shidou tilted his head, studying him, then let out a soft laugh. "You always were like this. Quiet. Watching. Acting like you don't care."
His gaze slid back to Ayaka.
"But some things change," Shidou murmured.
Ayaka's pen slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the floor.
She bent down quickly to pick it up—and Shidou did the same, their faces ending up dangerously close under the desk. Ayaka froze, eyes wide.
"S-Sorry—!" she whispered.
Shidou's smile softened… but his eyes didn't. "Still clumsy too," he said gently. "That's cute."
Kai's vision went red.
He stood up abruptly, chair scraping loudly against the floor.
The entire class turned to look at him.
"Bathroom," Kai said flatly
The teacher frowned. "Be quick."
Kai didn't wait for permission. He walked out, fists clenched so tightly his hands trembled.
In the hallway, he leaned against the wall, head lowered.
Calm down.
Not here. Not now.
Inside the classroom, Shidou watched the door close.
His smile slowly twisted into something uglier.
"Looks like I hit a nerve," he muttered to himself, eyes flicking back to Ayaka. "Don't worry, Ayaka-chan."
He leaned closer again, voice like a whisper meant only for her.
"I'm not done yet."
Kai entered the classroom a little later than usual. The familiar hum of voices, the scraping of chairs, the faint chalk dust in the air—it all felt strangely distant today. Ayaka was already seated, her posture neat, hands resting on her lap. When their eyes met for a brief second, she flinched and looked away immediately, her cheeks faintly pink.
Kai sat down beside her, letting out a quiet breath. The lesson dragged on, words flowing past his ears without truly sinking in. His mind was heavy, crowded with thoughts he didn't want to face. Finally, the bell rang—sharp, echoing through the room.
Lunch break.
The classroom burst into motion. Students stood, laughed, gathered in groups. Kai turned toward Ayaka, trying to sound normal, trying to ground himself in routine.
"Hey, Onee-Sama… what do you feel like eating toda—"
"Ayaka-chan!"
The interruption was sudden, almost aggressive.
Shidou's voice cut through the air like it owned the space. Before Kai could even finish his sentence, Shidou leaned in, wearing that irritatingly confident smile.
"Let's have lunch together," he said lightly, as if it were already settled.
Kai's words died in his throat.
Shidou reached out and grabbed Ayaka's wrist. Not gently. Not asking.
"A-Ah—" Ayaka gasped softly as she was pulled up from her seat.
Kai stood frozen.
He waited.
Waited for her to pull her hand back.
Waited for her to protest.
Waited for her to turn around and look at him.
But she didn't.
She followed Shidou toward the door.
No resistance.
No hesitation.
Not even a glance back.
The sliding door closed with a dull sound.
Kai's chest tightened painfully.
…She didn't stop him.
A rush of heat surged through him, straight to his face. His vision blurred as his fists clenched at his sides, knuckles whitening. His breathing grew shallow, uneven. Anger—raw, overwhelming—crashed through him like a wave, so strong his eyes burned and watered.
Why…?
His teeth ground together as he looked away, forcing himself to stay seated for a moment longer. When he finally stood, his legs felt heavy, but he moved anyway.
The cafeteria was loud and crowded, filled with overlapping conversations and clattering trays. Kai mechanically grabbed a lunch tray, barely registering what food he picked. He scanned the room, his heart sinking when he spotted them.
Shidou sat close—too close.
Ayaka sat beside him, quiet, her hands folded.
Kai turned away immediately and chose a table at the far corner, alone.
He sat down slowly.
The noise around him faded into a dull blur as he stared at his tray. He lifted his chopsticks, hands trembling slightly, and took a bite.
He couldn't taste it.
His gaze drifted back despite himself. Shidou was leaning in, talking animatedly, laughing. Ayaka nodded occasionally, her expression unreadable.
Kai's jaw tightened.
Something twisted painfully in his chest, a mix of jealousy, anger, and something dangerously close to hurt. He swallowed hard, forcing another bite down.
He ate alone, eyes lowered, fists clenched beneath the table, every second burning just a little more than the last.
The lunch break ended far too quickly.
Students began returning to their classrooms, the hallway filling with footsteps and chatter. Kai walked back with a blank expression, his eyes unfocused—then he saw it.
Ayaka and Shidou.
They were holding hands.
Not loosely. Not accidentally.
Their fingers were intertwined as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Something inside Kai cracked.
He followed them in silence, his footsteps heavy, his chest tight. They entered the classroom together, still like that, and only let go when they reached their seats. Ayaka finally turned toward Kai, lips parting as if she wanted to say something.
"Kai, I—"
"Ayaka-chan."
Shidou cut in smoothly, leaning closer to her desk with that same irritating smile.
"You know," he said casually, "a new restaurant just opened nearby. The place looks amazing—soft lights, great food, kind of romantic, actually. I heard their desserts are insanely good."
Kai's fingers twitched.
Shidou continued, voice bright. "After school ends, how about we go there together?"
For a split second, the world stopped.
Kai felt his heart drop—then, just as quickly, a fragile sense of relief washed over him.
She'll refuse.
Of course she will.
Ayaka hesitated.
Just a little.
Then she smiled.
"Yeah," she said softly. "Sure. Let's go."
The sound of her answer echoed in Kai's head.
Sure.
His vision blurred—not from tears, but from shock. His ears rang. It felt like the ground beneath him had flipped upside down, leaving him floating in empty space. His chest hurt, sharp and deep, like something had been torn out.
But he didn't say a word.
He didn't react.
He didn't even look at them.
He simply stared ahead, calm on the outside, while everything inside him screamed.
The teacher entered the room, and the lesson resumed as if nothing had happened. Chalk moved across the board. Pages flipped. Time crawled.
Shidou leaned closer to Ayaka more than once, whispering things that made her nod or smile. At one point, he passed her a note. Another time, their arms brushed, and he didn't pull away.
Kai's jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
He forced himself to copy notes, his handwriting rigid, controlled. Every second felt like punishment.
Finally—
The bell rang.
School was over.
Students poured out of the classroom, laughing, stretching, already free. Kai stood up and walked toward the exit without waiting. Ayaka caught up to him near the gate.
"Kai," she said, voice light, almost careless, "I'm going somewhere with my friend Shidou, so—"
"So what?" Kai cut in flatly.
She froze.
He turned to her, eyes cold, unreadable. "Why are you telling me that? Go anywhere you want. I'll go home on my own."
A pause.
"Bye."
He turned away before she could reply and walked off, his steps firm, his back straight.
Ayaka stood there, stunned.
For just a moment—barely a second—something flickered in her eyes. Confusion. A trace of hurt. Something small and unfamiliar tugged at her chest.
Then she smiled.
As if nothing had happened.
She turned toward Shidou. "Let's go."
Shidou's smile widened.
They reached the restaurant a short while later. The place was warm and softly lit, the air filled with the scent of spices and freshly cooked food. They took a seat near the window.
"I'll be right back," Shidou said casually. "Restroom."
Ayaka nodded.
In the restroom, Shidou pulled out his phone. His expression changed—no warmth, no friendliness.
"Yeah," he said quietly into the phone, a grin curling on his lips. "Your turn now. Everything's done from my side."
He ended the call.
Moments later, he returned to the table, smiling like nothing had happened. They ordered their food, the conversation light and ordinary.
Ayaka thought to herself : "Why does this feel wrong…?"
The scene shifted.
Kai walked alone down the road toward home.
The evening sun cast long shadows on the pavement, but he didn't notice. His hands were shoved into his pockets, his gaze fixed ahead, face calm, heart anything but.
With every step, something heavy followed him.
And it wasn't over yet.
Kai was walking home when he suddenly heard footsteps closing in beside him.
He slowed.
So did they.
A chill ran up his spine. Kai turned around.
Three—no, four figures stood a short distance behind him, all wearing black hoodies, faces hidden beneath their hoods. Their steps were slow, deliberate, like they weren't in any hurry at all.
"…Who are you?" Kai asked, voice tight. "Why are you following me?"
No answer.
They kept walking.
Kai took a step back. "Hey—stop."
Too late.
One of them rushed forward and drove a brutal uppercut straight into Kai's stomach.
The impact knocked the air out of him.
"—Ghk!"
Pain exploded through his body. Something warm spilled from his mouth as he staggered, blood dripping onto the pavement before he could even breathe again.
Before he could recover, another guy swept his leg out from under him with a vicious kick.
CRACK.
Kai screamed as he hit the ground.
"AAAAGHHHH—!!"
The pain shot through his legs like fire, sharp and blinding, as if something inside had shattered. His vision blurred as he curled instinctively, trying to protect himself.
Footsteps surrounded him.
One of the men crouched down, his voice calm—almost casual.
"Hey, kid. Don't get the wrong idea. We don't hate you or anything."
Kai glared up at him through tears and blood, teeth clenched.
"But you really shouldn't get in the boss's way."
The man leaned closer.
"Boss Shidou loves your sister. Ayaka."
Kai's breath hitched.
"He's gonna marry her someday. So if you try to interrupt them again…"
A pause.
"…we'll kill you."
They stood up and turned away, already done with him.
Something inside Kai snapped.
"—Don't… talk about her…" he growled.
Ignoring the screaming pain in his legs, Kai forced himself up. His body trembled, vision spinning—but he moved.
He threw a punch.
It was slow.
Too slow.
One of the men easily dodged it.
Another punch slammed into Kai's back, driving him forward.
"Ghk—!"
Kai stumbled—but this time, he didn't fall.
He spun around wildly and grabbed the wrist of the man who had hit him.
The grip was instinctive.
Raw.
Untrained.
And terrifyingly strong.
The man's eyes widened. "—Wai—"
CRACK.
A sickening sound echoed as Kai squeezed.
The man screamed, dropping to his knees as his hand bent at an impossible angle.
"AAAHHH—!!"
The others froze for a split second.
"…What the hell?" one of them muttered.
Kai stood there, shaking, breathing hard, blood dripping from his chin—his eyes burning with fury.
But that was all he had.
Strength.
Nothing else.
The remaining men rushed him at once.
Fists rained down.
A kick slammed into his side.
Another into his back.
Kai was driven into the ground again, the world spinning violently as pain overwhelmed everything.
One of them scoffed. "Kid… raw strength alone won't save you."
Darkness crept into the edges of Kai's vision.
The footsteps retreated.
Silence followed.
Kai lay there for a long moment, unmoving.
Then—slowly—his fingers dug into the pavement.
"…Ayaka…" he whispered.
Groaning through the pain, Kai dragged himself up inch by inch. His legs barely responded, every movement sending waves of agony through his body.
He couldn't fight.
He couldn't chase them.
All he could do was move.
So he did.
Step by step—sometimes crawling, sometimes stumbling—Kai began dragging himself toward home, leaving faint streaks of blood behind him as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
He didn't stop.
No matter how much it hurt.
No matter how badly his body screamed.
He kept going.
Kai somehow made it home.
The front door creaked open slowly as he dragged himself inside, every movement sending a dull ache through his entire body. His steps were uneven, his breathing shallow.
"—Kai?!"
Mrs. Ishida rushed out from the kitchen the moment she saw him.
"What happened to you?!" she exclaimed, eyes widening at his disheveled state, the faint bloodstains, the way he was barely standing. "You're hurt—what on earth—?"
Kai looked away.
"I… fell," he said quietly. "On the way home. Just… tripped somewhere."
Mrs. Ishida frowned immediately. "That doesn't look like a simple fall—"
"I'm fine," Kai cut in, voice firm despite the tremor in it. "Really. I just need rest."
She hesitated, worry written all over her face. "…At least let me clean those wounds."
"I'll do it myself," he said quickly. "Please."
Something in his tone made her stop.
"…All right," she said softly after a moment. "But if it gets worse, you tell me. Okay?"
Kai nodded once.
He didn't wait any longer.
He went straight to his room, closed the door behind him, and collapsed onto his bed. He didn't change. Didn't eat. Didn't even bother pulling the blanket properly over himself.
Exhaustion swallowed him whole.
He slept.
—
Night fell quietly over the house.
A soft knock echoed against Kai's door.
Knock. Knock.
"…Kai?"
His eyes fluttered open slowly, head throbbing. For a second, he didn't answer.
Another knock—hesitant this time.
"Kai… it's me."
He exhaled, then pushed himself up with effort and walked to the door. When he opened it, Ayaka stood there, hands clenched nervously in front of her, eyes filled with concern.
"…Hey," she said gently. "I heard you got hurt."
Kai looked at her.
His expression was flat.
"Yeah," he replied coldly. "What do you want?"
Ayaka flinched slightly but forced herself to continue. "L-Let me help you. You look really hurt—"
"No," Kai said immediately. "I'm fine. There's no need."
She stepped closer. "Kai, please—"
"I said I'm fine."
There was a pause.
Ayaka swallowed, her voice dropping. "…I'm sorry. For today."
Kai's eyes hardened.
"I don't care about anything right now," he said quietly. "Just… leave me alone for a while."
Her chest tightened. "Kai, please, let me explain—"
He looked straight at her.
And for the first time—
He didn't call her Onee-Sama.
"Ayaka," he said slowly, each word sharp and deliberate.
"I. Said. Leave. Me. Alone."
Ayaka froze.
Before she could say another word—
Bang.
The door slammed shut between them.
Kai leaned back against it for a brief moment, eyes squeezed shut, then turned and went back to his bed. He lay down, staring at the wall, chest tight, jaw clenched—silent.
—
Ayaka stood there in the hallway, staring at the closed door.
Her hands trembled.
Slowly, she turned and walked back to her room.
She locked the door.
Then slid down onto her bed, pulling her knees up as she leaned against the wall. Her breath shook as her composure finally broke.
"…Oh my god…" she whispered. "I messed up so bad…"
Her hands clenched into her sleeves.
"What am I doing…? I really hurt him… I hurt him so badly…"
Her vision blurred.
Tears began to fall—slow at first.
Then faster.
"Kai…" she whispered, voice cracking. "Kai… Kai… please forgive me…"
She buried her face in her hands as her shoulders shook.
"I didn't mean to hurt you… I swear… I never did…"
Her sobs grew louder, uncontrollable.
Her breath hitched as guilt crushed her chest.
"…Please forgive me… please…"
She curled in on herself, crying harder, repeating the words over and over into the quiet room—apologies no one could hear.
The night pressed on.
Heavy.
Silent.
And broken.
Kai lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Sleep wouldn't come back.
His chest felt tight—anger, frustration, helplessness all tangled together. The image of those hooded guys, the pain, the words they said… they replayed again and again in his head.
"…Damn it."
He suddenly sat up.
Then, in one sharp motion, he jumped off the bed, grabbed his phone from the desk, and climbed back onto the mattress, pulling his legs up as if grounding himself.
The screen lit up his dark room.
He unlocked his phone and opened MeTubie.
His fingers hovered over the search bar for a second.
Then he typed:
"how to learn to fight ASAP"
Dozens of flashy thumbnails appeared—muscle-packed guys, fake titles, clickbait faces. Kai scrolled lazily, unimpressed.
"…Tch."
Then he stopped.
One video.
No flashy thumbnail. Just plain text.
Channel:—no name—
Subscribers: 1
Total views: 1
Videos: 1
Kai blinked.
"…Huh?"
He tapped the channel.
One subscriber. One view.
"…Wait."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"That view… that sub…" he muttered. "That's probably him from his other account lol. "
The realization made him let out a short, humorless laugh. "What kind of joke is this…"
Still—
There was only one video.
The title read:
"Wanna learn how to fight? Watch this video."
Kai stared at it for a long moment.
"…Yeah right."
He scoffed softly, thumb hovering over the screen.
"This is probably some scam or some chuuni old man talking nonsense."
But then—
He clenched his jaw.
The memory of his fist crushing that guy's hand flashed through his mind.
The shock on their faces.
Their words.
You can't do anything with just raw strength.
"…Tch."
He tapped the video.
The screen faded in.
The video quality was average—not bad, not great. The camera looked fixed, slightly tilted. The background was plain: an empty room with worn wooden flooring.
A man stood in the center.
He looked middle-aged. Not tall. Not bulky. No exaggerated muscles. But his body was lean—tight, like every movement had purpose. His eyes were sharp. Calm. The kind that didn't waver.
He looked straight into the camera.
"…If you're watching this," the man said evenly, "then you're probably desperate."
Kai stiffened slightly.
"You got hurt," the man continued. "Or someone you care about got hurt. And you realized something painful."
He took a step forward.
"That being strong… isn't enough."
Kai's grip on his phone tightened.
The man folded his arms. "A lot of people want to learn how to fight. Some want revenge. Some want protection. Some want power."
He shook his head slowly.
"If your goal is to look cool—close this video now."
Kai didn't blink.
"But," the man continued, eyes narrowing just a little, "if you want to survive… if you protect someone, if you have a goal, if you want to stand in front of someone stronger, dirtier, more experienced than you—then listen carefully."
Kai swallowed.
"I won't teach you tricks. I won't teach you flashy moves," the man said. "I teach real fighting. The kind that hurts. The kind that breaks you before it makes you strong."
Kai scoffed quietly. "Sounds like bluffing…"
The man exhaled.
"I don't care if you believe me or not," he said calmly. "Belief is useless. Action is what matters."
He turned slightly, then looked back at the camera.
"If you truly want to learn," he said, voice firm, "come here."
Text appeared on the screen beneath him.
Zenkai Street
House Number 901
Kai's eyes widened just a little.
The man continued, "No phone calls. No messages. If you come, come alone. If you don't… then forget you ever saw this video."
He paused.
"One more thing," he added. "Training starts the moment you step inside. So don't come unless you're ready to bleed."
The screen went black.
The video ended.
Silence filled Kai's room.
He stared at the screen for several seconds.
"…What a load of crap," he muttered.
And yet—
He reached over, grabbed a notebook from his desk, and picked up a pen.
Slowly, carefully, he wrote:
Zenkai Street — House No. 901
He leaned back against his pillow, staring at the words.
"I don't trust you," he said quietly to no one. "Not even a little."
He closed the notebook.
"…But I'll try it. Just once."
His eyes hardened slightly.
Outside, the night remained still.
And somewhere far away—
Something had already begun moving.