The courtyard felt heavier than usual.
Not loud.
Not quiet.
Just tense.
Kaito stood near the ranking board, arms crossed, staring at the glowing numbers.
ARATA KAITO - Rank 94
He exhaled slowly.
"…Climbing in the Top 100 feels slow."
Tanaka stood beside him.
"It is."
"I liked the lower ranks better."
"You lost more there."
"…Good point."
Kaito looked higher on the board.
Top 90.
Top 80.
Top 50.
Each name felt heavier the higher it went.
His chest tightened slightly.
Not fear.
Pressure.
"…They all feel different," he muttered.
Tanaka nodded.
"They are."
Before Kaito could say anything else...
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
The bell rang across the courtyard.
Everyone stopped moving instantly.
The instructor stepped forward.
"Top 100 evaluation."
Kaito rolled his shoulders.
"…Again already."
Tanaka looked at him.
"You don't stop here."
"I noticed."
The instructor looked at the tablet.
"Next match."
Silence spread.
He read the names.
"Rank 94… Arata Kaito."
Kaito stepped forward without hesitation.
The vibration inside his chest moved calmly.
Steady.
Controlled.
The instructor continued.
"Against… Rank 81… Aoi Kanzaki."
The crowd reacted louder this time.
"81?"
"That's a big jump."
"She's fighting him?"
Kaito blinked.
"…Aoi… Kanzaki?"
He turned.
A girl stepped forward from the side of the courtyard.
Black hair tied behind her.
Sharp eyes.
Calm expression.
The same girl he had seen watching fights for months.
The one always standing near the railing.
The one who barely spoke.
Now he could feel her clearly.
Her presence was heavy.
Not explosive.
Not loud.
Just solid.
Strong.
She stepped onto the field slowly.
Her eyes met his.
"…So it's you."
Kaito scratched his cheek.
"You finally got a name."
She didn't smile.
"You finally reached the Top 100."
"…Barely."
She crossed her arms.
"You climbed fast."
"You hit hard."
She tilted her head slightly.
"…Good."
Kaito raised his guard.
"…Rank 81, huh."
"Yes."
"You're not going easy, are you."
"No."
"…Yeah, figured."
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin."
Aoi moved first.
Fast.
Faster than Ken.
Faster than anyone Kaito fought in the Top 100 so far.
Kaito reacted instantly.
Step.
Block.
BAM.
The impact slammed into his arms.
His feet slid back.
Two steps.
His eyes widened.
"…Heavy."
Aoi attacked again.
Punch.
Kick.
Turn.
Step.
Clean.
Perfect.
Every movement controlled.
Kaito focused.
The energy flowed through his chest.
Calm.
Steady.
He moved.
Block.
Step.
Punch.
CRACK.
The air shook.
Aoi blocked...
But slid half a step.
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Good."
Kaito smirked.
"I worked for that."
She stepped forward again.
Faster.
Kaito followed.
Step.
Turn.
Punch.
CRACK.
LOUDER.
Aoi slid back again.
The crowd reacted.
"He moved her."
"That's Rank 81."
"He's serious."
Aoi's expression changed slightly.
Not angry.
Not surprised.
Interested.
"…Again."
She rushed forward.
Faster than before.
Kaito reacted...
Barely.
BAM.
Her kick hit his side.
Pain shot through his ribs.
He stumbled.
But stayed up.
The vibration stayed calm.
He clenched his fist.
"…My turn."
He stepped forward.
Energy flowed perfectly.
Punch.
CRACK.
LOUD.
Aoi blocked...
But her arm moved back.
Her feet slid.
One step.
Two.
She stopped.
Looked at him.
"…You really climbed."
Kaito grinned.
"Still climbing."
Aoi rushed again.
Full speed.
Kaito followed.
Block.
Strike.
Turn.
Kick.
Punch.
The fight got faster.
Harder.
Stronger.
Dust lifted around them.
The ground cracked under their feet.
Neither backing down.
The courtyard went silent.
Kaito felt the pressure building.
Not wild.
Not unstable.
Heavy.
Perfect.
He stepped forward one more time.
All his energy flowed at once.
Punch.
CRACK.
LOUDER THAN BEFORE.
The air shook across the field.
Aoi blocked...
But slid back across the stone floor.
Three steps.
Four.
She stopped.
Lowered her guard.
Silence.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Stop."
No one spoke.
The ranking board flickered.
Numbers changed.
ARATA KAITO - Rank 81
Then again.
Rank 79.
Then...
Rank 78.
The courtyard erupted.
"He beat her!"
"He jumped again!"
"Rank 78?!"
Kaito blinked.
"…Wait."
He looked at the board.
"…Seventy-eight."
He laughed quietly.
"…That's new."
Aoi walked toward him.
Her breathing steady.
Her eyes calm.
"…You win."
Kaito scratched his cheek.
"…That felt like losing."
She shook her head.
"You controlled it better."
He smirked.
"Took two years."
She turned to leave.
Then stopped.
"…Next time I won't hold back."
Kaito grinned.
"…Good."
Tanaka walked onto the field.
"You climbed."
Kaito looked at the board again.
Rank 78.
Top 80.
His chest felt steady.
Strong.
Ready.
He clenched his fist.
The air trembled slightly.
"…Not done yet."
Above the courtyard, Ryo leaned on the railing, watching.
He smirked.
"…He passed her."
Aoi walked past him without stopping.
"…For now."
Ryo laughed quietly.
"…Good."
He looked back at Kaito.
"…Now the real Top 100 starts."