The courtyard was louder than usual.
People were everywhere.
Fighters standing in groups.
Some stretching.
Some talking.
Some staring at the ranking board like their lives depended on it.
Kaito stood near the edge of the crowd, arms crossed, trying not to look nervous.
"…There are way too many people," he muttered.
Tanaka stood beside him.
"Yes."
"That's all you're gonna say?"
"Yes."
Kaito sighed.
"I liked it better when I only had to fight one guy at a time."
"You still do."
"That doesn't make this better."
The ranking board stood in the center of the courtyard, glowing faintly.
Names shifted slowly as new marks appeared next to them.
Kaito stared at it.
"…So everyone here has a rank."
"Yes."
"And I don't."
"Not yet."
Kaito rubbed the back of his neck.
"…And today I get one."
"Yes."
"…What if I lose."
Tanaka didn't hesitate.
"You will."
Kaito blinked.
"…You're supposed to encourage me."
"I'm being honest."
"That's not encouraging."
Tanaka crossed his arms.
"You're here to learn, not to win."
Kaito looked back at the board.
"…Still don't like it."
A loud voice echoed across the courtyard.
"All new fighters, step forward."
Kaito froze.
"…That's me, isn't it."
"Yes."
"I knew you were gonna say that."
Tanaka nodded toward the center.
"Go."
Kaito took a deep breath.
His chest felt tight.
The vibration hummed softly.
Not wild.
Not painful.
Just there.
He stepped forward.
Several other fighters moved too.
Five of them.
All looked about his age.
All looked stronger than him.
One of them cracked his knuckles.
Another stretched his neck.
One girl stood perfectly still, eyes closed.
Kaito frowned.
"…Great."
An instructor stood in front of them, holding a small tablet.
He looked at each of them one by one.
"New entries," he said calmly.
No one answered.
He tapped the screen.
"Names will be assigned temporary rank numbers."
The screen on the ranking board flickered.
New names appeared at the bottom.
Kaito squinted.
"…There."
He saw it.
ARATA KAITO — Rank 312
His eyes widened.
"…Three hundred twelve?!"
Someone next to him laughed.
"That's normal."
Kaito frowned.
"How many people are here?!"
The guy shrugged.
"Enough."
Kaito groaned.
"Everyone says that."
The instructor kept reading.
"Matches will determine placement."
Kaito swallowed.
"…Here we go."
The instructor looked at the screen again.
"First match."
He paused.
Then read the names.
"Rank 312… Arata Kaito."
Kaito sighed.
"…Of course."
The instructor continued.
"Against… Rank 298… Daisuke Ren."
A tall boy stepped forward.
Black hair.
Serious eyes.
Older than Kaito.
Stronger build.
He looked at Kaito once.
Then turned toward the field without saying a word.
Kaito blinked.
"…He didn't even react."
Tanaka's voice came from behind him.
"Go."
Kaito turned.
"…You always say that."
Tanaka nodded.
"Yes."
Kaito sighed.
"…Alright."
He walked toward the field.
The crowd moved aside.
Some people whispered.
"That's the loud one."
"The unstable one."
"He fought Ryo."
"He's dead."
Kaito frowned.
"…Why does everyone keep saying that."
He stepped onto the field.
The ground felt heavy again.
The vibration in his chest reacted instantly.
Stronger.
Daisuke stood across from him, calm, arms at his sides.
He didn't look nervous.
Didn't look excited.
Just focused.
Kaito raised his guard.
"…You talk?"
Daisuke shook his head.
"No need."
"…Cool. That's scary."
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin."
Daisuke moved first.
Fast.
Not as fast as Ryo.
But faster than most people Kaito fought before.
Kaito stepped back.
Blocked.
The impact hit his arms hard.
His feet slid across the ground.
"…Strong," Kaito muttered.
Daisuke attacked again.
Punch.
Kick.
Turn.
Kaito focused.
The vibration hummed.
He moved.
Block.
Step.
Punch.
CRACK.
The air trembled slightly.
Daisuke blinked.
"…You have control."
Kaito smirked.
"A little."
Daisuke nodded once.
"Good."
Then he moved again.
Faster.
Kaito tried to follow.
Too slow.
BAM.
The hit slammed into his shoulder.
He stumbled back.
Pain shot down his arm.
The crowd murmured.
"Not bad."
"He held one."
"He's still losing."
Kaito gritted his teeth.
"…Not done yet."
He stepped forward.
Focused.
Moved.
Punch.
CRACK.
The air shook louder.
Daisuke blocked.
But his arm moved back slightly.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Better."
Kaito smiled.
"…I'm getting there."
Daisuke nodded.
"Yes."
Then he stepped forward.
Fast.
Too fast.
BAM.
The hit slammed into Kaito's chest.
He flew back and hit the ground hard.
Dust rose around him.
He tried to stand.
His legs shook.
Didn't work.
He dropped to one knee.
Breathing hard.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Stop."
Silence filled the field.
Daisuke stepped back.
"…You're not weak," he said.
Kaito coughed.
"…Thanks… I think…"
The instructor looked at the tablet.
"Winner. Rank 298."
The board flickered.
Kaito's name stayed near the bottom.
He sighed.
"…Yeah… makes sense."
Tanaka walked onto the field.
"You lasted longer."
Kaito looked up.
"…That's the goal, right?"
"Yes."
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…Good."
He pushed himself up slowly.
His body hurt again.
Everything hurt again.
But the vibration in his chest felt stronger.
Steadier.
Like it was getting used to fighting.
He looked at the ranking board.
Hundreds of names.
Hundreds of fighters.
He clenched his fists.
"…I'm climbing that."
Tanaka nodded.
"Yes."
Across the courtyard, Ryo watched from the steps.
He smirked.
"…He's still weak."
The girl beside him crossed her arms.
"…Not for long."
Ryo's eyes stayed on Kaito.
"…Yeah."
He smiled slightly.
"…Not for long."