Kaito couldn't move.
He lay flat on the training field, staring up at the sky, breathing like he just ran for miles.
His chest burned.
His ribs hurt.
His arms felt like they didn't belong to him anymore.
"…I'm dead," he muttered.
Tanaka stood over him, arms crossed.
"You're alive."
"Barely."
"You lasted longer."
"That's not comforting anymore."
Tanaka didn't respond.
Kaito slowly turned his head and looked at the ranking board.
The numbers flickered for a moment.
ARATA KAITO - Rank 304
He let out a weak laugh.
"…I climbed again."
"Yes."
"I lost again."
"Yes."
"…This system is weird."
Tanaka nodded.
"You fought stronger opponents."
Kaito closed his eyes for a second.
His whole body throbbed.
But the vibration inside his chest was still there.
Not wild.
Not exploding.
Just steady.
Like it wasn't going away anymore.
He opened his eyes again.
"…Sensei."
"Yes."
"…When does this stop hurting."
Tanaka didn't even think.
"It doesn't."
Kaito groaned.
"I liked my old dojo better."
"You would lose here every day."
"I am losing every day."
"Yes."
"…Good point."
Tanaka turned.
"Get up."
Kaito didn't move.
"No."
Tanaka looked down at him.
"No?"
"I can't feel my legs."
"You can."
"I don't want to."
Tanaka grabbed his arm and pulled him up.
Kaito stumbled forward.
"…You're evil."
"You're training."
"That's the same thing."
They walked off the field slowly.
People were still watching.
Some nodded at him.
Some whispered.
Some just stared.
Kaito frowned.
"…Why are they looking at me like that."
Tanaka answered calmly.
"You pushed rank 271."
"So?"
"You're rank 304."
"…Oh."
Kaito blinked.
"…Wait."
He looked back at the field.
"…That means I did good."
Tanaka nodded.
"Yes."
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…Alright… I like this place again."
Tanaka almost smiled.
"For now."
They walked past the ranking board.
Kaito stopped for a moment and stared at it.
Hundreds of names.
Some glowing brighter than others.
Some near the top.
Some near the bottom.
His name still low.
Still small.
He clenched his fists.
"…I'm getting up there."
Tanaka stood beside him.
"Yes."
"…How long until top 100."
Tanaka looked at him.
"A long time."
"…Top 50?"
"Longer."
"…Top 10?"
Tanaka didn't answer.
Kaito sighed.
"…Yeah… I figured."
Before they could walk away...
A voice called from behind them.
"You look like you got hit by a truck."
Kaito turned.
Hikari stood there, arms crossed.
Same calm expression.
Same sharp eyes.
He groaned.
"…You're not wrong."
She looked at the board.
"Rank 304."
"Yeah."
"You moved fast."
"I got punched fast too."
She smirked slightly.
"That's normal."
Kaito sighed.
"I'm starting to hate that word."
She looked at him for a moment.
"…You're close."
He blinked.
"…Close to what."
She tapped her chest.
"Control."
Kaito frowned.
"You can tell?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"You're loud."
He groaned.
"Everyone says that."
She shrugged.
"Because it's true."
Tanaka stepped forward.
"That's enough."
Hikari nodded.
"…Ranking continues tomorrow."
Kaito blinked.
"…Tomorrow too?!"
She smirked.
"You thought it was one day?"
"This place really wants me dead."
She turned and walked away.
"You'll get used to it."
Kaito sighed loudly.
"I don't want to get used to it."
Tanaka started walking.
"Come."
Kaito followed slowly.
His body hurt.
His legs hurt.
Everything hurt.
But the vibration inside him felt stronger than ever.
Steady.
Clear.
Like something was building.
He clenched his fist.
The air trembled slightly.
He froze.
"…Sensei."
Tanaka stopped.
"Yes."
"…That felt different."
Tanaka looked at his hand.
"…You felt it again."
"Yes."
"…Stronger."
Tanaka nodded.
"Good."
Kaito stared at his fist.
"…How close am I."
Tanaka was silent for a moment.
Then he said quietly...
"Closer than yesterday."
Kaito smiled slightly.
"…Good."
Far above the courtyard, Ryo stood on the roof again, looking down at the ranking board.
His eyes moved to Kaito's name.
He smirked.
"…He's climbing faster now."
The tall guy beside him nodded.
"Yeah."
The girl crossed her arms.
"…He's about to break."
Ryo's smile widened.
"…Good."
He turned away.
"…I want to see that."