Rio arrived home and immediately slipped off his shoes. Rani's shoes were already by the door, which meant she had come back earlier.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back, big brother."
Her warm greeting came instantly. Rani brought out freshly cooked food, and Rio kept his expression steady. Not even the smallest crack could be allowed. She couldn't know what had been happening at school.
After eating, Rani went to her room first. Rio changed clothes, took a shower, then lay down in his room as his thoughts kept spinning.
Tomorrow, I'll be hunted by Rivaldo and his group.
Even so, something inside him felt strange. A calm he wasn't used to. Even the boxing moves from that morning had appeared naturally.
It's like I was copying them.
He picked up his phone and watched international boxing videos. Every movement he saw felt clear, as if his mind was breaking the techniques down without effort.
He got up from the bed and tried a few punches. Straight jabs, fast and clean. But his stamina drained almost instantly.
I can move… but my body isn't ready yet.
He lay back down and soon fell asleep, wrapped in a surprisingly comfortable exhaustion.
Rio woke up at four in the morning. It was still dark, but the urge to change pushed him to run laps around the neighborhood.
His ambition was simple.
To become strong.
He got home at six. Rani was shocked, not because he had gone running, but because he could actually wake up early. She even checked his temperature, as if something was wrong.
"I'm fine,"
Rio said with a smile, trying to ease her concern.
After showering and having breakfast, Rio got ready earlier than usual. Rani, who normally rushed out, seemed relaxed instead, so Rio left on his own.
On the way, he could still remember every boxing movement he studied the night before. He even practiced them twice as he walked.
I'm a challenger… I can't let my guard down.
Just as he reached the front of the school, a student blocked his path.
French crop haircut. Slightly muscular build. Sharp eyes, like a young soldier.
"I heard you're a challenger."
Rio stood straight, forcing himself to meet the gaze.
"Yes. I'm a challenger. What do you want?"
Students passed by without caring. Bullying was nothing new here.
"My name's Riko! Let's fight fair!"
There was a kind of excitement in his voice that Rio hadn't seen before. Rio nodded. The fight began.
Riko opened with a wide hook. Rio bent his knees and slipped to the right, letting the punch pass by. The movement flowed naturally.
Bam!
Rio fired back with a jab that landed on Riko's face, forcing him to step back. That didn't hurt much…
But Riko's body felt like a wall.
Rio retreated, keeping his stance, and Riko charged again. Rio's body moved faster than his thoughts. He dodged left, then dozens of jabs snapped into Riko's jaw.
Even so, Riko stayed on his feet.
How tough is this guy?
"I'm become strongest students in this school!"
Riko rushed in again, grabbed Rio by the collar, and smashed a jab into his face.
Rio was thrown several meters back. Blood flowed from his mouth, and his head spun. He dropped his bag.
So this is what it feels like… to be hit by someone truly strong.
Still, Rio stood up and returned to his stance.
The fight heated up.
Rio punched Riko's nose. Riko tried to counter, but before his fist could reach Rio's face, Rio had already read the movement. He dodged and fired a hook into Riko's jaw.
Riko's body wobbled, but he didn't fall.
"You can dodge and counter… you're fast,"
Riko said, before attacking again.
A right hook came at Rio's face. This time, Rio blocked with both arms. A small cracking sound echoed from his forearms.
Pain shot through him.
But his body moved first.
Using everything he had, Rio shifted his position and drove a fast jab into Riko's left ribs.
Two clean hits landed, forcing Riko to hunch over in pain.
That was the opening.
Rio pressed forward and unleashed a hook into Riko's right ribs, sending him stumbling backward.
The next attack was a relentless rain of jabs to the face and chest. Riko finally dropped to one knee, clutching both sides of his ribs.
"Aarrghh!"
His breathing was heavy, but his eyes still shone with a mix of admiration and frustration.
Rio straightened his uniform.
I'm out of stamina. If this fight went any longer, I'd probably lose.
He looked at his opponent, who could no longer stand.
"Your name's Riko, right? Next time… focus on school."
He picked up his bag and walked past the gate, leaving behind a crowd that slowly fell silent.
Two people had been defeated.