The cafeteria was loud as always.
Students filled every table.
Laughing.
Talking.
Watching.
Kai sat quietly in the corner, eating like nothing mattered.
Leo was talking non-stop.
"Bro, this Jacob guy is crazy. Did you hear what he said yesterday?!"
Kai didn't look up.
"I heard."
Leo leaned closer.
"You think he's actually strong?"
Kai shrugged.
"Everyone here thinks they are."
Then—
The noise dropped.
Slowly.
One by one, students went quiet.
Footsteps echoed.
Kai already knew.
Jacob.
He walked into the cafeteria like he owned it.
Calm.
Confident.
Dangerous.
His eyes scanned the room—
Until they landed on Kai.
A small smile appeared.
"…Found you."
Leo froze.
"Uh… Kai…"
But Kai kept eating.
Like nothing was happening.
Jacob walked straight to their table.
And stopped.
"You," he said.
Kai didn't look up.
"Me?"
Jacob nodded.
"Stand up."
Kai sighed.
"I'm eating."
The cafeteria went silent.
Everyone was watching.
Jacob's smile faded slightly.
"I don't like repeating myself."
Kai finally looked up.
"…And I don't like being interrupted."
Tension exploded in the air.
Leo slowly moved away.
"Yeah… I'm out…"
Jacob tilted his head.
"So you're either stupid…"
A pause.
"…or hiding something."
Kai stood up slowly.
"You talk too much."
And that was enough.
Jacob moved first.
BAM!
A punch slammed into Kai's face.
Gasps filled the room.
Kai stumbled back—
CRASH!
He hit a table.
Before he could recover—
Jacob was already there.
BAM!
Another hit.
Kai tried to block—
Too slow.
CRACK!
A kick slammed into his ribs.
Kai dropped to one knee.
Students watched in shock.
"Is he really getting beat like that?"
"Again…?"
Jacob didn't stop.
Punch.
Kick.
Strike.
Every move clean.
Powerful.
Precise.
Kai didn't fight back properly.
He blocked some—
Dodged a little—
But he held back.
Again.
BAM!
A final punch sent him crashing to the ground.
Silence.
Kai lay there.
Breathing heavily.
Bruised.
Beaten.
Jacob stood over him.
Disappointed.
"…This is the guy people are talking about?"
He shook his head.
"Pathetic."
He turned and walked away.
Just like that.
No reason.
No explanation.
The cafeteria slowly came back to life.
Whispers everywhere.
"He didn't even fight back…"
"He's really weak…"
Zara stood in the crowd.
Watching.
Confused.
No… something's wrong.
Kai slowly sat up.
Wiping blood from his lip.
His eyes…
For a split second—
They flickered red.
Then disappeared.
He stood up quietly.
Like nothing happened.
Like always.
But inside—
This guy…
He's testing me.
Kai looked toward the exit where Jacob left.
His expression calm.
But his thoughts were cold.
Next time…
I won't hold back.
Because this fight—
Was just the beginning.