Rio reached home and noticed a pair of Rani's shoes placed neatly beside the door. The house was not big, but it felt warm under the soft yellow light from the living room.
The front door was slightly open, as if welcoming him back.
"I'm home," Rio said as he stepped inside. The smell of food greeted him immediately, and Rani was already at the dining table arranging plates.
"You're back. Come eat." Rani gave a small smile, her voice gentle and a little tired, like someone who had a long day but still wanted to make sure others were comfortable.
Rio nodded while taking off his uniform. "Yeah, I'll change first." He went into his room, changed into a blue T-shirt, then returned to the table. They ate in silence, with only the sound of spoons and forks filling the room.
"Does your hand still hurt?" Rani asked without looking directly at him, though the worry was clear in her voice.
"It's fine," Rio said with a small smile, trying to look calm. "It'll heal."
After eating, Rani covered her mouth as she yawned. "I'm going to sleep first…" she said, her steps slightly unsteady from drowsiness.
Rio nodded and watched her enter the room. When the house grew quiet, he went into the bathroom and removed the bandages from both hands.
Faint scars remained on his skin, no longer painful, just traces of the past. "It's gone… but the marks are still there," he muttered.
Rio returned to his room and began training. Push-ups, sit-ups, repeated until he reached a hundred. His breath grew ragged, his body burned, sweat dripping onto the floor.
"This actually hurts more…" he complained, his lazy expression returning. But he still got up, took a shower, then turned on his phone. It was 10:07 PM.
"More training," he thought. He opened fighting technique videos, choosing boxing and taekwondo.
"So easy. I only need to see it once to remember it clearly." He practiced the movements at night.
A quick jab followed by a straight kick, then a hook and a spinning kick. His movements were rough but full of determination. He trained until his body gave out and he fell asleep without realizing it.
—
The next morning, Rio walked to school dragging his steps like a zombie.
"I'm sleepy…" he muttered. His hands, once wrapped in bandages, now looked healed, leaving only small scratches. He saw a figure ahead.
"Riko!!" he called. Riko turned and stopped.
"You look weak," Riko said. Rio raised his hands, stretching.
"I trained all night."
"I trained too, you know." Riko showed off his large muscles with forced confidence, looking cool in his own mind but more like someone who had just been smothered by a pillow.
Rio glanced at him, thinking, Why him?
From the hallway ahead, Eliza appeared. Seeing two guys who looked beaten up by life, she approached quickly.
"Let's walk together," she said calmly.
They walked to the school gate, where Kris and Arya were already waiting.
"Hey Rio! I heard about yesterday. That was awesome. I should've been there!" Kris was excited, eyes shining. "I'll make a great topic out of this!" Arya patted Rio's shoulder.
"You're cool. Good luck. I'll wait in the club room."
In the school hallway, Eliza asked again, worried. "Your hand's really okay?"
Rio raised both hands like trophies. "See? No wounds." He smiled proudly. The others held back small laughs. They parted ways, leaving Rio and Eliza in the same class.
Whispers filled the room.
"Look… he's really coming?"
"So arrogant."
"He'll fall in one punch.,"
"Or maybe he won't show up."
Rio sighed internally. Let it be. If he got angry, bad things would happen. Not to them, but to himself.
"Alright, quiet!!" The teacher entered, and the class fell silent.
When the break bell rang, Rio and Eliza went to the club room. Kris, Riko, and Liam were already there. Papers, bottles, and tension filled the air.
Kris leaned forward, face serious. "From my observation… you shouldn't come," he said to Eliza.
"What? Why? Didn't we agree?" Her voice rose.
Kris did not answer. The place Rivaldo would be was not safe.
Liam yawned. "Better you go home," he said sleepily.
Eliza looked at Rio. "What about you?"
Rio lowered his head. "Honestly… I agree with them."
Eliza went quiet. "Even you…" She tried to smile, voice trembling. "I know I'd be a burden… but if I'm alone…"
They realized she always walked home alone. That was not bravery. That was loneliness. Rio felt it like looking into his own past.
Liam raised a hand without opening his eyes. "If you're scared to be alone, I'll walk you home."
"Can you guarantee I'll be safe?" she asked.
Rio nodded. "I guarantee it."
Liam smiled faintly, then fell asleep again in three seconds.
Kris tapped the table. "Securing Eliza is done."
He continued. "Next, we make Rio and Rivaldo fight alone. We deal with his executives."
"Can we really?" Riko asked blankly.
Kris stared at him. "We use your body. You're strong."
Riko lit up. "Yeah… I am strong."
Kris covered his face. "Why am I with people like this…"
The mood lightened, but the plan was serious. Remove distractions. Increase Rio's chances.
"If Riko isn't enough, I'm here," Kris said confidently. "I use Capoeira."
"Capoeira?" Rio muttered in awe.
"If still not enough, I'll join too," another voice said.
Arya leaned at the door.
Rio tensed. His King's Sense usually detected everyone. But Arya… nothing. No presence.
Aikido? Rio wondered.
Something bigger than revenge was forming.
—
After school, the plan moved. The corridors were empty, evening light stretching long. Rio, Kris, Arya, and Riko headed to the fourth floor.
At the gate, Eliza hesitated. "I'm really going home… with Liam?"
"You'll be safe," Kris said coldly.
"What if something bad happens?"
"Sometimes bad things must come before good ones," Kris replied.
Eliza nodded and left with Liam.
Behind Kris, the others held back laughter at his serious speech.
They climbed. First floor quiet. Second tense. On the stairs to the third floor, three people waited.
Big bodies. Dark auras.
And the one in the middle… Rio knew him.
One of Rivaldo's top executives.