The street had gone completely silent.
Kaito could feel it.
Everyone around him was staring.
Not just looking.
Staring.
Like they all felt the same thing at the same time.
The vibration in his chest roared louder than ever.
He grabbed his shirt.
"…Not again…"
Tanaka didn't move.
His eyes stayed locked on the man standing at the end of the street.
"…Stay still," he said quietly.
Kaito swallowed.
"…Who is that?"
Tanaka answered without looking at him.
"Trouble."
The man started walking toward them.
Slow.
Calm.
Every step felt heavy.
Not loud.
But heavy.
Like the air moved when he walked.
People stepped out of his way without being told.
No one spoke.
No one laughed.
No one even breathed loudly.
Kaito frowned.
"…He doesn't look that scary."
Tanaka didn't react.
"You'll understand in a second."
The man stopped a few feet away.
He looked at Tanaka first.
"…You came back."
Tanaka's voice stayed calm.
"I had to."
The man's eyes moved to Kaito.
The moment they did...
The vibration inside Kaito exploded.
His knees almost bent.
"…What is this…" he whispered.
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…So it's true."
Kaito blinked.
"…What?"
The man ignored him.
He looked at Tanaka again.
"This is the one?"
Tanaka didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
The man smiled faintly.
"…He's weak."
Kaito's eyes snapped open.
"…Hey."
The man looked back at him.
"…But loud."
Kaito frowned.
"…Loud?"
The man tapped his own chest.
"Your energy. It's all over the place."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"I don't even know what that means."
The man shrugged.
"You don't need to."
Tanaka stepped forward slightly.
"That's enough, Ryo."
The man...Ryo...smirked.
"…You brought him here. Of course I'm going to look."
Kaito blinked.
"…Ryo?"
Ryo looked at him again.
"…You don't know who I am."
"No."
Ryo smiled.
"You will."
Kaito snorted.
"That sounds annoying already."
A few people nearby chuckled quietly.
Ryo's eyes narrowed just a little.
"…You talk a lot."
Kaito shrugged.
"You started it."
Tanaka sighed.
"Both of you, stop."
Ryo ignored him.
He stepped closer.
Close enough that Kaito could feel the pressure coming off him.
His chest burned.
The vibration went wild.
Ryo noticed immediately.
"…There it is."
Kaito clenched his fists.
"…Stop looking at me like that."
Ryo smirked.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm a problem."
Ryo leaned slightly forward.
"You are."
Silence.
Kaito felt his body tense.
Every instinct screamed the same thing.
Fight.
Run.
Move.
He didn't know which one to pick.
Ryo looked at Tanaka.
"You really brought him here without training him first?"
Tanaka's voice turned cold.
"He's here now."
Ryo nodded slowly.
"…Then he's mine."
Kaito blinked.
"…What?"
Tanaka's eyes sharpened.
"No."
Ryo crossed his arms.
"You know the rules."
Tanaka didn't move.
"…He just arrived."
Ryo shrugged.
"Not my problem."
Kaito frowned.
"…Can someone explain what's happening?"
Ryo looked at him again.
"…Everyone new fights."
Kaito blinked.
"…Fights?"
"Yes."
"…Like… sparring?"
Ryo smiled.
"…If you survive."
Cold air ran down Kaito's spine.
"…That's not funny."
Ryo turned and started walking away.
"Training field. Ten minutes."
He stopped.
Without looking back, he added...
"If he doesn't show up… I'll come get him."
The street slowly came back to life.
People started whispering again.
Some looked excited.
Some looked worried.
Tanaka rubbed his forehead.
"…Of course it had to be him."
Kaito looked at him.
"…Sensei… what did I just agree to?"
Tanaka looked straight at him.
"…Your first real fight here."
Kaito swallowed.
"…Can I say no?"
Tanaka shook his head.
"…Not anymore."
Kaito looked down at his hands.
They were shaking again.
Not from fear.
From that same energy.
That same vibration.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
Tanaka blinked.
"…Alright?"
Kaito looked up.
His eyes were serious.
"…If everyone here fights… then I fight."
Tanaka stared at him for a moment.
Then nodded once.
"…Good answer."
Kaito cracked his knuckles.
"…Where's the training field?"
Tanaka turned.
"…Follow me."
As they walked, people moved out of the way.
Whispers followed them.
Kaito could feel every eye on his back.
His heart pounded.
His chest burned.
But this time...
He didn't want to run.
He wanted to see how strong this place really was.
Ahead, the training field came into view.
And Ryo was already standing in the center.
Waiting.