Rank 235.
Kaito stared at the number on the board, arms crossed, breathing slowly.
Two days ago, he could barely stay standing after a fight.
Now he could feel the energy in his chest without it going wild.
Not perfect.
Not strong enough.
But stable.
"…Still low," he muttered.
Tanaka stood beside him.
"Yes."
"I thought breaking through would make me strong."
"You are stronger."
"Doesn't feel like it."
"You see higher ranks now."
Kaito frowned.
"…Yeah. That's worse."
Tanaka crossed his arms.
"You climb."
"I know."
"You train."
"I know."
"You fight."
"I know."
Kaito sighed.
"…You only have three lines, don't you."
"Yes."
Kaito shook his head and looked back at the ranking board.
Hundreds of names.
Some glowing brighter.
Some near the top.
His name still far below them.
He clenched his fist slowly.
The air trembled.
Controlled.
"…I'll get there."
Tanaka nodded.
"Yes."
...
The next weeks were nothing but training.
Punch.
Step.
Block.
Punch.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every day.
Every fight harder than the last.
Every opponent faster.
Stronger.
More controlled.
Kaito lost.
Won.
Lost again.
Climbed one rank.
Dropped two.
Climbed three.
Fell one.
The ranking board changed every day.
Each number felt small.
Each fight felt bigger.
The vibration inside him changed too.
At first it was heavy.
Hard to move.
Hard to control.
Then it started flowing easier.
His punches got cleaner.
His steps got faster.
His breathing steadier.
Tanaka never said much.
Only...
"Again."
"Slower."
"Control."
"Don't rush."
Kaito hated those words.
But he listened.
Because every time he didn't…
He lost.
...
Months passed.
The seasons changed.
Cold mornings turned warm.
Warm days turned hot.
Hot days turned cold again.
The training never stopped.
Kaito grew taller.
His shoulders got broader.
His movements sharper.
His eyes calmer.
The vibration inside him felt natural now.
Like breathing.
Like walking.
Like fighting.
One day, he stood in front of the ranking board again.
ARATA KAITO - Rank 162
He blinked.
"…Wait."
He counted again.
"…One sixty two?"
Tanaka nodded.
"You climbed."
Kaito grinned.
"…Okay, that feels better."
Tanaka crossed his arms.
"You're still low."
Kaito frowned.
"…You ruin everything."
Tanaka didn't react.
"You see top 100 now."
Kaito looked up.
The names near the top glowed brighter.
He could feel the pressure just looking at them.
His chest tightened slightly.
"…Yeah."
Tanaka nodded.
"That means you're closer."
Kaito smirked.
"…Good."
...
More time passed.
Fights got harder.
Training got heavier.
Control got stricter.
He learned to move without wasting energy.
Learned to punch without shaking.
Learned to breathe without losing focus.
Learned to fight without panicking.
The ranking changed again.
Every step felt slower now.
Every rank harder.
Every opponent stronger.
One night, after training, Kaito sat on the steps near the field, breathing slowly.
His body hurt.
Not like before.
Not from getting hit.
From pushing too hard.
He looked at his hands.
Bigger now.
Stronger.
Steadier.
"…How long has it been," he asked.
Tanaka stood beside him.
"Two years."
Kaito blinked.
"…Seriously?"
"Yes."
"…Feels like yesterday."
"You were weak yesterday."
"I'm still weak."
"Yes."
Kaito laughed.
"…You never change."
Tanaka crossed his arms.
"You changed."
Kaito looked at the field.
At the ranking board.
At the fighters training under the lights.
"…Yeah."
He stood up slowly.
His body felt different now.
Taller.
Stronger.
Faster.
The vibration inside him moved like a calm river.
Not loud.
Not wild.
Controlled.
He walked toward the board.
The numbers flickered.
ARATA KAITO - Rank 103
He stared at it for a long time.
"…One hundred three."
Tanaka nodded.
"You're close."
Kaito smirked.
"…Took long enough."
Tanaka looked at him.
"You're twelve now."
Kaito blinked.
"…Oh."
He scratched his head.
"…Didn't even notice."
"You were busy."
Kaito laughed quietly.
"…Yeah."
He looked up at the top of the board.
Top 50.
Top 20.
Top 10.
His chest tightened slightly.
Not fear.
Excitement.
He clenched his fist.
The air trembled softly.
Controlled.
Steady.
"…Next is top 100."
Tanaka nodded.
"Yes."
Kaito smiled.
"…Then I keep climbing."
Far above the courtyard, on the roof of the training hall, Ryo leaned against the railing, looking down at the board.
His eyes stopped on one name.
He smirked.
"…Two years already."
The girl beside him crossed her arms.
"He's fast."
Ryo nodded.
"…Not fast enough."
He turned away.
"…But he's getting close."