The next morning, the sun shone brightly over Shizuoka High. Kaito arrived at the training yard, backpack slung over one shoulder, already dreading the next round of rigorous drills.
Takumi, Hiroki, Keisuke, and Shun were waiting, casually stretching and joking with each other. The moment Kaito stepped in, all four heads turned toward him.
"Here comes Hoshino," Shun said, smirking. "Ready to embarrass yourself some more?"
Kaito's face flushed, but he squared his shoulders. "I… I'll try my best."
Takumi gave him a small nod. "Good. That's step one."
The Warm-Up
They started with basic drills: push-ups, squats, shadowboxing. Kaito's muscles screamed almost immediately.
Hiroki laughed. "You're struggling more than last time. Don't tell me James hasn't been teaching you anything."
Kaito muttered under his breath, "…he has. I just… I'm slow."
Keisuke's gaze was sharp. "Strength isn't just speed. You need rhythm. Flow. Let your body understand before your mind tries to control it."
Kaito nodded, trying to absorb every word. He had never practiced with this level of scrutiny before.
First Small Skirmish
After warm-ups, Takumi paired up with Kaito.
"Okay," he said. "Just block my strikes. Nothing fancy. If you can survive one minute, we'll move to light offense."
Kaito's heart pounded. The first jab came fast. He barely blocked it. Another strike, and another.
"Focus on your stance!" Takumi barked. "Don't just raise your hands!"
Kaito stumbled, tripped, and fell flat.
The group laughed — not cruelly, but teasingly.
"Classic rookie," Shun said, snickering. "You're lucky he's taking it easy."
Kaito gritted his teeth, pushed himself up, and tried again. Each attempt was a little cleaner. A little faster. His reflexes were improving.
By the third round, he actually managed to block three consecutive strikes.
"Not bad," Takumi said, clapping him on the back. "Step by step."
The Challenge
Next, Hiroki stepped up. "Try dodging me this time. I won't hold back as much. Just awareness. Keep your guard and move."
Kaito's eyes widened. Hiroki's strikes were unpredictable, fast, and unorthodox. For the first few seconds, Kaito froze. But then… instinct kicked in.
A punch came. He twisted his body and barely avoided it. A kick followed. He stepped back, countering lightly.
Hiroki stopped, impressed. "Not bad, rookie. You're learning to read patterns."
Kaito exhaled, adrenaline pumping. He realized this was the first real victory that wasn't just luck.
Bonding Moments
After training, the group lounged on the grass, drinking water.
Shun tossed a water bottle at Kaito. "You're not half bad, you know. Keep this up, and you might even survive a year here."
Keisuke smirked. "Don't let it get to your head. You've barely scratched the surface."
Kaito laughed nervously. "I… I'll keep trying."
Takumi leaned forward. "Remember the legend Daichi told you? 'The Phantom'? He started like you. Awkward. Unsteady. Didn't know anyone. But he trained harder than anyone else. That's the difference."
Kaito's chest tightened. A spark of determination lit up inside him. He wasn't just here to survive. He wanted to earn his place, one strike, one moment at a time.
Unexpected Observation
As Kaito left the yard later, he noticed someone leaning against the fence — a third-year student he hadn't seen before.
Black hair, sharp gaze, aura heavy with authority. The kind of person who commanded respect without saying a word.
The whispers started instantly among students passing by:
"That's Ren Ishikawa… third-year legend."
"They say he once ended a fight between five students single-handedly."
"He's not just strong… he's strategic."
Kaito froze. Another layer of challenge. Another mountain to climb.
He clenched his fists.
Step by step. One strike at a time.