The training room felt smaller than before.
Not because the room changed.
Because Kaito had.
He stood in the center of the stone floor, fists raised, breathing slowly while the energy inside his chest moved like a calm current.
Not loud.
Not wild.
Controlled.
He stepped forward.
Punch.
CRACK.
The air shook sharply.
His arm didn't tremble.
His stance didn't break.
He lowered his fist and nodded.
"…Better."
Tanaka stood across from him, arms crossed as always.
"Yes."
"That's all I get?"
"Yes."
Kaito sighed.
"You really need more words."
"No."
"…Impossible."
He rolled his shoulders and reset his stance.
Ever since reaching Rank 78, the training felt different.
Heavier.
More precise.
Tanaka corrected every movement.
Every step.
Every breath.
No wasted motion.
No extra strength.
No mistakes allowed.
Kaito punched again.
CRACK.
The sound echoed cleanly.
Tanaka nodded once.
"Again."
Kaito groaned.
"I liked it better when I could just punch things."
"You still can."
"Not like this."
"You're stronger now."
"That's what makes it harder."
Tanaka didn't argue.
"Again."
Kaito punched.
CRACK.
Again.
CRACK.
Again.
CRACK.
Sweat ran down his face.
His breathing got heavier.
But the energy stayed steady.
After a few more strikes, he stopped and wiped his forehead.
"…Sensei."
"Yes."
"…Can I ask something."
"Yes."
Kaito hesitated for a second.
Then looked at him.
"…How strong are you."
Tanaka didn't react.
"Strong enough."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
Kaito frowned.
"I never see you on the board."
Tanaka crossed his arms.
"I don't need to be."
"…Everyone here is on the board."
"Not everyone."
Kaito tilted his head.
"…You used to be, right?"
Tanaka didn't answer right away.
"…A long time ago."
Kaito blinked.
"…What rank."
Tanaka looked at the wall, not at him.
"Doesn't matter."
"…That means it was high."
Silence.
Kaito smirked slightly.
"I knew it."
Tanaka didn't react.
"You talk too much."
"You don't talk enough."
Kaito walked toward the door and stretched his arms.
His muscles still felt heavy from the last fight.
"…Everyone in the Top 100 feels different," he muttered.
"Yes."
"…Top 10 feels worse."
"Yes."
"…Rank 1 feels impossible."
Tanaka didn't move.
"Yes."
Kaito turned around.
"…You ever meet him."
Tanaka's eyes shifted slightly.
Just for a moment.
"…Once."
Kaito blinked.
"…You keep saying that."
"Yes."
"…You sure you're not hiding something."
Tanaka looked at him.
"No."
Kaito stared at him for a second.
Then laughed.
"…You're the worst liar ever."
Tanaka didn't respond.
Kaito grabbed his jacket from the bench.
"…Still weird though."
"What."
"You're strong, but nobody knows anything about you."
"That's normal."
"No it's not."
Kaito walked toward the door.
"…Even the records room doesn't have your name."
Tanaka's eyes narrowed slightly.
Only for a moment.
"…Old records get erased."
Kaito stopped.
"…That's not what they told me."
Silence.
The air in the room felt heavier for a second.
Then Tanaka spoke calmly.
"You ask too many questions."
Kaito smirked.
"That means I'm right."
"No."
"…Definitely means I'm right."
Tanaka turned away.
"Training isn't over."
Kaito groaned.
"I knew you were gonna say that."
He walked back to the center of the room.
Raised his fists again.
The vibration moved slowly in his chest.
Calm.
Heavy.
Controlled.
He punched.
CRACK.
"…Sensei."
"Yes."
"…One day I'm fighting Rank 1."
Tanaka didn't answer.
Kaito smirked.
"…And I'm gonna win."
Silence.
Tanaka watched him for a moment.
Then said quietly...
"You'll need a new name for that."
Kaito blinked.
"…What?"
Tanaka shook his head.
"Nothing."
"…You're really weird."
"Yes."
Kaito laughed.
"…Good."
Far above the courtyard, on the roof near the ranking board, Ryo leaned on the railing, looking down at the field.
Aoi stood beside him.
"He asked again?" she said.
Ryo smirked.
"…He always does."
She looked toward the training hall.
"…He's going to figure it out eventually."
Ryo shrugged.
"…Not yet."
She glanced at the glowing board.
Her eyes stopped on the top.
Rank 1.
A name carved deeper than the others.
"…He won't believe it anyway."
Ryo laughed quietly.
"…Nobody does."