After beating Riko, Rio walked into class.
The atmosphere had changed. No more mocking stares. No more whispers thrown like stones. The silence that once felt like punishment now felt like breathing room.
Still, no one approached him. No one except Elisa, who gave him a short greeting before passing by like it meant nothing.
The day moved quietly until dismissal. No one bothered him. No shadows of violence lurking in the school hallways. When he got home, Rani was already eating dinner.
Rio changed his clothes and sat beside his little sister, carefully keeping his face neutral, hiding everything about his day.
"Big bro, I want to go to Naraya High School too. Same as you."
The moment she said that, Rio almost lost control.
"Yeah… about that…" he answered, forcing his voice to stay calm.
If he refused, he would break her heart.
If he allowed it, he would have to tame that school within months.
If Rani goes through what I did… that can't happen.
That thought hardened into something like an ambition.
Her next question stopped him cold.
"Why? Or… are you getting bullied at school?"
Her voice softened, but her eyes were full of worry. She moved closer, gently touching the bruises on his face, like each touch was checking whether her brother was silently falling apart.
"It's nothing. I just slipped."
He lied.
Rani gave a small laugh, though the worry never really left her face.
After reassuring her, Rio went to his room. Like always, he watched boxing videos, but tonight, curiosity pulled at him.
What if I learn other techniques?
He opened a taekwondo video. His mind shifted again into that sharp analytical state from last night.
"This works…"
His body responded precisely, as if the techniques had been stored somewhere deep in his memory all along.
When he tried a side kick and his leg rose to a perfect ninety degrees, Rio froze.
Relief and shock surged through him at once, like he had just found a hidden door inside himself.
What is this ability?
His memory felt sharper, but this was more than remembering. It was like activating something he had forgotten a long time ago.
Rio sat on the edge of his bed, thinking.
If this is supernatural… then I need a name for this mental technique.
Analysis. Adaptation. Movement prediction. Instinct.
All of it merged, like an extra sense.
"King's Sense…" he muttered.
The name felt right. Like the core of his new power.
Maybe… I'll become a king.
He eventually fell asleep, though curiosity still pulsed faintly in his mind.
Morning came faster than he expected. Rani had already left. Rio followed soon after, but only a few minutes into his walk, someone shouted his name.
Riko ran toward him from a distance, out of breath.
Rio turned, cautious, already thinking about possible revenge.
But Riko's words stunned him.
"Let's go to school together."
Rio blinked.
What is wrong with human logic? Did I hit him too hard yesterday?
He even wondered if that punch had rearranged Riko's brain.
"Weren't you the one who told me to take school seriously?"
When Riko mentioned the advice from yesterday, which Rio didn't even remember saying, he could only swallow his embarrassment.
Still, he accepted.
Walking beside someone he had beaten the day before felt strange, like stepping into a new chapter that hadn't been written.
Class felt calmer than usual. No bullying. The teacher entered and taught without a single disturbance.
During break, club flyers filled the air, handed out by second-year students.
The place was noisy, especially the combat clubs shouting with burning enthusiasm. And there stood Rivaldo.
Rio decided to avoid that area completely.
In the crowd, his attention drifted to the bulletin board.
One club wasn't shouting. Wasn't promoting. Just a small notice, barely noticed.
The Newspaper Club.
In that quiet corner, something felt right. A place that didn't chase strength. A place that didn't rely on loud voices.