Shizuoka High was unusually quiet that afternoon.
Classes had just ended, and most students were either heading home or hanging around the courtyard.
Kaito was practicing footwork behind the gym.
Step.
Pivot.
Guard up.
He repeated the motion James showed him the night before.
"Left foot first… then turn…"
He turned too quickly.
His shoe caught the dirt.
And he almost face-planted.
"Still clumsy."
Kaito turned around instantly.
Ren Ishikawa was standing behind him.
Kaito straightened up so fast he nearly saluted.
"R-Ren senpai!"
Ren's eyes moved to Kaito's feet.
"You're rushing the pivot."
"…I am?"
"You're thinking about speed instead of balance."
Ren stepped forward and demonstrated.
One small step.
A shift of weight.
Then a smooth turn.
It looked ridiculously simple.
"Control first," Ren said. "Speed comes later."
Kaito nodded quickly. "Yes, senpai!"
Ren didn't respond. He just started walking toward the gate.
But then—
Voices echoed from the front courtyard.
Loud.
Confident.
And definitely not from Shizuoka students.
The Visitors
Five boys walked through the school gate like they owned the place.
Their uniforms were different.
Black jackets.
Red lining.
And a symbol stitched on the sleeve.
Students immediately began whispering.
"Isn't that…?"
"Yeah… that's Kurogane High."
"Why are they here?"
Kaito felt the tension instantly.
Takumi and Hiroki appeared beside him.
Hiroki cracked his neck.
"Great. Trouble."
At the front of the group was a tall student with messy silver hair and a cocky grin.
He stretched his arms like he was bored.
"Man… this school looks soft."
One of his friends laughed.
"Yeah. Are we sure this is the place?"
Takumi frowned. "Those guys aren't normal delinquents."
Kaito swallowed. "Who are they?"
Keisuke answered quietly.
"Kurogane High… they're known for fighting other schools."
The Target
The silver-haired boy looked around lazily.
Then his eyes landed on someone.
Ren.
His grin widened.
"Well well…"
He walked forward slowly.
"So this is Shizuoka's famous Ren Ishikawa."
The courtyard went silent.
Students stepped back instinctively.
The boy stopped a few meters away.
"Name's Ryuji Kagami."
He cracked his knuckles.
"We heard you're the strongest third-year around here."
Ren didn't move.
Didn't react.
Didn't even look impressed.
"…And?"
Ryuji laughed loudly.
"I came to see if the rumors were real."
Takumi muttered under his breath.
"This idiot…"
Hiroki whispered to Kaito, "Watch carefully."
Kaito's heart pounded.
Pressure in the Air
Ryuji stepped closer.
"You see… at Kurogane, we like collecting trophies."
He pointed a thumb at himself.
"And beating strong people."
Ren finally looked at him.
Cold.
Calm.
Uninterested.
"You came here… to fight?"
"Of course."
Ren sighed slightly.
"…You're wasting my time."
That single sentence made the entire courtyard freeze.
Ryuji's grin slowly widened.
"Oh… I like this guy."
He rolled his shoulders.
"Good. That means you won't disappoint me."
Behind him, the Kurogane students smirked confidently.
Behind Ren, Shizuoka students watched nervously.
And Kaito—
Kaito felt the pressure in the air like a storm about to explode.
The Moment Before Violence
James suddenly appeared beside Kaito.
"When strong people meet," he said quietly, "the atmosphere changes."
Kaito nodded nervously.
"…Is Ren going to fight him?"
James smiled slightly.
"Let's see if Ryuji is worth it."
In the center of the courtyard—
Two monsters stood facing each other.
And everyone knew one thing.
If this fight started…
Shizuoka High would never forget it.