The ranking board glowed brighter than usual.
More people than normal stood in the courtyard.
Whispers spread through the crowd before the match was even announced.
"He's fighting today."
"Rank 103."
"He finally reached the gate."
"Who's his opponent?"
Kaito stood near the edge of the field, arms crossed, staring at the board.
ARATA KAITO - Rank 103
He exhaled slowly.
"…Took long enough."
Tanaka stood beside him.
"You slowed down near the end."
"The ranks got harder."
"Yes."
Kaito smirked.
"…Good."
Tanaka glanced at him.
"You're not nervous."
"I am."
"You don't look like it."
"I learned how to hide it."
Tanaka nodded.
"Good."
The bell rang.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
The courtyard went quiet.
The instructor stepped forward with the tablet.
"Ranking match."
Everyone leaned forward.
Kaito felt the pressure in the air shift.
He knew this feeling.
This wasn't a normal match.
This was the gate.
The instructor read the names.
"Rank 103… Arata Kaito."
Kaito stepped forward without hesitation.
The vibration inside his chest moved calmly.
Steady.
Controlled.
Not like two years ago.
Not even close.
The instructor continued.
"Against… Rank 100… Ryo Taneda."
The courtyard exploded with noise.
"Ryo?!"
"He's back?!"
"That's the gatekeeper!"
Kaito stopped walking.
Then smiled slowly.
"…Of course it's him."
Across the field, Ryo stepped forward.
Same confident walk.
Same smirk.
Same pressure that filled the air.
But this time...
Kaito didn't feel crushed.
Ryo stopped a few steps away.
"…You took your time."
Kaito shrugged.
"You hit hard."
Ryo laughed.
"You survived."
"I improved."
Ryo looked at him carefully.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Yeah."
Kaito raised his guard.
"…Top 100, right?"
Ryo nodded.
"You beat me, you enter."
Kaito smirked.
"…Good."
Ryo's smile widened.
"…Show me."
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin."
Ryo moved first.
Fast.
Still fast.
Even after two years, the speed surprised Kaito.
But this time...
He moved too.
Step.
Block.
BAM.
The impact hit his arms.
Heavy.
But he didn't slide.
Didn't lose balance.
Ryo's eyes sharpened.
"…Not bad."
Kaito smirked.
"I told you."
Ryo attacked again.
Punch.
Kick.
Turn.
Step.
Faster.
Cleaner.
Kaito followed.
Block.
Step.
Punch.
CRACK.
The air shook.
Ryo blocked...
But slid half a step.
The crowd gasped.
"He pushed him!"
"That's rank 100!"
"He's keeping up!"
Ryo grinned.
"…Good."
He rushed forward.
Faster than before.
Kaito focused.
The energy flowed through his chest.
Not loud.
Not wild.
Perfect.
He moved.
Turn.
Block.
Kick.
THUD.
His kick hit Ryo's side.
Clean.
Ryo slid back.
Stopped.
His grin got wider.
"…You finally got control."
Kaito smiled.
"…Took a while."
Ryo stepped forward again.
"Then don't hold back."
The pressure exploded.
The air trembled.
Even people in the crowd stepped back.
Kaito's chest tightened.
But the vibration stayed calm.
He stepped forward.
Punch.
CRACK.
LOUD.
Ryo blocked...
But slid back two steps.
The courtyard went silent.
No one spoke.
Ryo laughed.
"…Good."
He rushed in again.
Faster than ever.
Kaito followed.
Step.
Turn.
Punch.
Block.
Kick.
Strike.
Every movement sharp.
Every hit heavy.
The ground cracked under their feet.
Dust rose around them.
The fight got faster.
Harder.
Stronger.
Neither backed down.
Ryo punched.
BAM.
Kaito blocked.
Turned.
Countered.
CRACK.
Ryo slid back again.
His smile faded slightly.
"…You really climbed."
Kaito breathed slowly.
"…Still climbing."
Ryo stepped forward one last time.
Full speed.
Full power.
Kaito felt the pressure.
Felt the weight.
Felt the difference.
Two years ago, this would have crushed him.
Now...
He stepped forward.
Energy flowed perfectly.
Punch.
CRACK.
LOUDER than before.
The ground trembled.
Ryo blocked...
But his feet slid back across the field.
One step.
Two.
Three.
He stopped.
Lowered his guard.
Silence.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Stop."
No one spoke.
The ranking board flickered.
The numbers changed.
ARATA KAITO - Rank 100
Then...
Rank 99.
The courtyard exploded.
"He did it!"
"He beat Ryo!"
"He's in the top 100!"
Kaito blinked.
"…Wait."
He looked at the board.
"…Ninety nine."
He laughed quietly.
"…Finally."
Ryo walked toward him.
Still smiling.
"…Not bad."
Kaito smirked.
"…You hit hard."
Ryo nodded.
"You got stronger."
"You too."
Ryo turned away.
"…Next time won't be this easy."
Kaito grinned.
"…Good."
Tanaka walked onto the field.
"You entered."
Kaito looked at the board again.
Top 100.
His name glowing faintly.
His chest felt steady.
Strong.
Calm.
"…Yeah."
He clenched his fist.
The air trembled slightly.
"…Now I keep climbing."
Far above the courtyard, the girl leaned on the railing.
"He did it."
Ryo stood beside her now, arms crossed.
"…Yeah."
She looked at him.
"You lost."
Ryo smirked.
"…I was the gate."
He looked down at Kaito.
"…Now he gets to see the real world."