Kaito's arms felt like they were on fire.
He stood in the center of the stone room, breathing hard, sweat running down his face.
"…Again?" he asked.
Tanaka didn't move.
"Again."
Kaito groaned.
"I've been punching the air for an hour."
"You've been punching wrong for ten years."
"That's not encouraging."
Tanaka crossed his arms.
"Punch."
Kaito raised his fist again.
His muscles screamed in protest.
His shoulders ached.
His legs felt heavy.
But the vibration in his chest was still there.
Faint.
Waiting.
He took a breath.
Focused.
Moved.
Punch.
CRACK.
The air trembled slightly.
Not loud.
Not strong.
But different.
Tanaka nodded once.
"Better."
Kaito blinked.
"…That's better?"
"Yes."
"…Your standards are scary."
Tanaka ignored the comment.
"Again."
Kaito groaned loudly.
"You don't believe in breaks, do you?"
"No."
"You're enjoying this."
"Yes."
"…You're evil."
Tanaka almost smiled.
"Punch."
Kaito punched again.
CRACK.
This time the sound was a little sharper.
The vibration in his chest reacted faster.
Like it was getting used to moving.
Kaito lowered his arm slowly.
"…Okay… that one felt different."
Tanaka nodded.
"You're starting to listen to it."
"I wish it would talk back."
"It is."
"…Not in words."
"No."
Kaito wiped the sweat from his face.
"…Can we stop now?"
Tanaka shook his head.
"Not yet."
Kaito groaned again.
Before he could complain more...
The door opened.
Both of them looked over.
Three people stepped inside.
All wearing the same dark training uniforms Kaito saw earlier.
Two guys.
One girl.
They stopped when they saw Tanaka.
"…Sensei," one of them said.
Tanaka nodded.
"What."
The girl pointed at Kaito.
"That him?"
Kaito blinked.
"…That him what?"
The taller guy smirked.
"The loud one."
Kaito frowned.
"…People keep saying that."
Tanaka didn't answer.
The shorter guy stepped closer.
He looked Kaito up and down.
"…He's smaller than I thought."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"You're uglier than I thought."
The girl snorted.
The tall guy laughed.
The shorter guy frowned.
"…You got jokes."
Kaito shrugged.
"I got punched yesterday, I'm in a bad mood."
Tanaka sighed.
"What do you want."
The tall guy spoke.
"We heard he fought Ryo."
Kaito blinked.
"…Word travels fast."
The girl smirked.
"Everything travels fast here."
The shorter guy stepped forward.
"…You lasted longer than I expected."
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"…Thanks… I think."
The guy crossed his arms.
"Fight me."
Kaito froze.
"…What?"
Tanaka's voice turned sharp.
"No."
The guy looked at him.
"Why not."
"He's training."
"So?"
Tanaka stepped forward slightly.
"So no."
Silence filled the room.
The guy clicked his tongue.
"…Fine."
He looked at Kaito again.
"You'll fight me later."
Kaito frowned.
"…Do I get a choice?"
"No."
"…Great."
The girl laughed.
"You're gonna have a hard time here."
Kaito looked at her.
"…You too?"
She smirked.
"Especially me."
The tall guy nodded toward Tanaka.
"We're using the main field."
Tanaka nodded once.
"Go."
They turned and left.
The door closed again.
Silence returned.
Kaito stared at the door.
"…Everyone here wants to fight."
"Yes," Tanaka said.
"…Why?"
"Because that's how you grow."
Kaito sighed.
"I miss my old dojo."
"You wouldn't last there anymore."
Kaito frowned.
"…That's true."
He rolled his shoulders.
They still hurt.
Everything hurt.
He looked at Tanaka.
"…Sensei."
"Yes."
"…How strong is Ryo."
Tanaka didn't answer right away.
Then he said...
"Top ten."
Kaito blinked.
"…Top ten what?"
"In this city."
Kaito stared at him.
"…You're kidding."
"No."
"…How many people are here?"
Tanaka crossed his arms.
"Enough."
Kaito groaned.
"You always say that."
Tanaka pointed at him.
"Punch."
Kaito sighed.
"…You're not even letting me process this."
"Punch."
Kaito raised his fist again.
The vibration hummed in his chest.
Stronger than before.
He moved.
Punch.
CRACK.
The sound echoed louder this time.
Tanaka nodded.
"Good."
Kaito lowered his arm slowly.
"…Sensei."
"Yes."
"…I'm really weak here, aren't I."
Tanaka looked at him.
"…Yes."
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…Good."
Tanaka raised an eyebrow.
"…Good?"
Kaito clenched his fists.
"…That means I got a lot of room to grow."
Silence.
Tanaka watched him for a moment.
Then nodded once.
"…Good answer."
Outside the building, the three students stood near the wall.
The shorter one crossed his arms.
"…He's weak."
The girl shook her head.
"…No."
The tall one smirked.
"He's loud."
The girl smiled slightly.
"…Those are the ones who get strong fast."
Farther away, Ryo stood on the edge of the training field, watching the building.
He smirked.
"…Yeah."
He turned away.
"…He's not boring."