A couple moments earlier—just after Gage stormed out of detention—he found himself in the toilets, staring at his reflection in the mirror.
Then—
SMASH!
His fist slammed into the glass. Shards scattered across the sink as Gage bit down hard on his bottom lip, frustration boiling over.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" he hissed at his broken reflection. "Why do I always get myself into these shit situations? You've got to think before you act, Gage!"
He leans closer, breathing heavy.
"You're not the same as the other kids. They don't have a life like you do. They don't have younger kids to look after. They don't know what responsibility feels like—what it means to take care of someone else. So you can't act like them!"
His jaw tightens as the memory of that morning flashes back—ambushing Gadeon on the way to school.
"I'm practically a dad to those kids at home," Gage mutters. "And dads don't fight with children… yet here I am, sitting in detention with them."
His thoughts spiral.
Should I have walked out like that?
But what choice did I have? Who's going to look after the kids at home?
Then another thought hits him harder.
If I made the right choice… why am I still here?
He glances around the empty toilets.
If I really did the right thing, shouldn't I be on my way home by now? Instead I've just been standing here—regretting it.
His chest tightens.
I can't get expelled. My future is the only hope those kids have for a better life.
A darker thought creeps in.
What about the Deep Current Dojo?
Would they even take me?
His stomach sinks.
They'd ask why I got expelled.
And if they found out it was gang violence…
"No way," Gage whispers. "They'd never accept me."
I didn't even want to get involved in all this beef…
But my stupid pride wouldn't let me say no.
This is my fault — acting high and mighty, putting on an act.
People look at my size and automatically think I'm strong… powerful…
When all I really want is to look after my family.
The thoughts crush down on him all at once.
Gage's breathing falters.
Then he breaks.
His knees hit the tiled floor as tears spill freely down his face.
Why did you have to die, Mum… Dad…?
This is hard…
His fingers curl into fists.
Why can't I just live like a normal kid? Get in trouble and not have to think of anything…
A bitter laugh escapes him.
I act tough. Like I'm bad and untouchable… yet the thought of walking back into detention embarrasses me.
He squeezes his eyes shut.
But I can't let my pride stop me.Not this time.
Gage wipes his tears roughly with his sleeve and forces himself back onto his feet. His reflection — fractured across the broken mirror — stares back at him.
"Just go back to detention," he mutters.
"I'll explain to Grandma why I'm so late today."
Guilt twists in his chest.
If I had money… I could at least buy snacks for the kids. Make up for not being there this evening.
His jaw tightens.
If I just had money… I could take proper care of them. Take some stress off Grandma.
Frustration burns hotter than before.
What if… maybe I should touch that money?
Instantly, he rebukes the thought. No. That's blood money.It's so damn frustrating… why can't I just grow up faster and get a proper job?
A memory flashes through Gage's mind — back when his goons had told him that Glace and his gang were making way too much money for their age, selling the same drug Gaedric had shown in the assembly.
Gage shakes his head violently, rejecting the thought. "Even though I love Mum and Dad, I don't want to end up like them!" he mutters to himself, determination hardening his features.
Stepping out of the toilets, Gage spots Gadeon walking past. Surprise flickers across his face — he hadn't expected him to be out of detention.
And now, the present resumes. Both boys stand face-to-face in the hallway. Gage takes on the Seven Stars Mantis stance, while Gadeon adopts a classic fighting stance, ready for anything.
I can't believe I have to deal with this kid. Both have the same thought echo simultaneously in their minds, neither realising the other is thinking the same thing.
"Remember, you can't use Chi-Lungs," Gage says, a water aura beginning to shroud his arms and fists.
"Remember, there's something that can counter people who can flex," Gadeon replies calmly.
Gage blows raspberries at him, mocking. "What sort of bluff is that? If that were true, we would've been taught it in the Dojo by now."
"Pfft. Dojo? All this Dojo cares about is people who can flex. Don't you notice the discrimination here? The only thing we get taught is basic martial arts for self-defense."
Gage narrows his eyes. "Then how do you know about this technique that can counter flexing? I bet you're just making it up!"
Gadeon remains outwardly calm, though his thoughts race beneath the surface.
I'm not making anything up… but I can't use what Gaedric showed me earlier. Not yet. I need to practice—study it, understand the theory behind what he did to Ami during their spar.
One thing I learned today is that I can't beat Flexors if I can't flex myself. Fighting Ami made that painfully clear.
His gaze sharpens slightly.
So I'll use what I do have—my age.
Manipulating kids…
Whether Gage believes it is a bluff or not doesn't matter. Simply mentioning a counter will make him wary. Even if children in this world are more mature than those from my past life, their brains are still developing. That's a fact.
It was something I had observed ever since arriving here. Heck… it's even affecting me. I've been far more emotional lately—nothing like the person I was before.
A quiet resolve settles within him.
I can use that. Create openings. Pull off surprise attacks… catch him off guard.
"See? I knew you were lying! If the Dojo doesn't even mention this technique you're referring, how the hell would you—"
"Gaedric," Gadeon cuts him off.
"Huh?"
"Gaedric is the one who taught me," Gadeon says.
Gaedric? His dad? The SLT teacher who can't even flex?
There are rumours about him… how can there be an SLT of a non-flexor?
Maybe he's just powerful in name, or the technique his son is talking about might be true… or maybe it's just money.
Was this a technique he always knew, but held back? Gage remembers chasing Gadeon earlier that morning, when they ambushed him on his way to school. He remembers watching Gadeon run as he unleashed an attack at him. The accuracy had been perfect—yet he still missed. And Gage knows it wasn't his fault.
I need to be careful.
Why does he even call his dad that? Gage thinks as he watches Gadeon.
"Hey… isn't Mr Zebulun your dad? Why do you call him by his first name?"
"Why's that your business?"
"It's not normal, especially when you're his son. I always knew you were an asshole, but don't be one to your parents. You've only got one dad in the world. Once they're gone…"
A painful expression crosses Gage's face, as if he were trying to suppress it—but it slips out anyway.
"Once they're gone… they're gone. You know that?"
Hearing this triggers memories from Gadeon's past life as Jason, the conversation with his mum in the car when he felt betrayed.
"Huh? Maybe that's a good idea… since your own parents can backstab you, right?"
Gage, shocked, thinks to himself, eyes widening. Wait… did he get betrayed by his parents too?
"By the way, kid… I've raised myself. In this life and my last, no one raised me. I had no father, and a mother who was always busy working," Gadeon says.
He raised himself, too? No—wait, that makes no sense! I literally see his dad in the Dojo all the time. What is he talking about? And there were even rumours today after his fight with Ami that his dad is married to a foreign woman… do they have a bad relationship?
Gage shakes his head, thinking to himself. Even still… even if it feels like your parents betray you…
Memories of his own parents surface. They would come home late at night, wearing masks and carrying bags, emptying items onto the table. A much younger Gage would be woken by the noise, creeping down the stairs to see what was happening.
"Hey, kiddo, what are you still doing awake?" his dad asked with a smile, quickly trying to hide the items and the bag as his wife swiftly shoved them under the table.
"I wanted to sleep after you guys got back, but then I accidentally fell asleep," Gage said.
"Aww, that's okay, baby. We're here now, so you can go back to sleep," his mum said.
"No! I've waited all this time for you! But you came back late again—what is it, work?"
His mum and dad exchanged glances, then smiled.
"Yes, it's work. They had us do overtime… and wow, we are exhausted!" his dad said.
"Oh, I see. And are those the gifts they give you because you work so hard?" Gage asked.
"Y-yeah! Like I always tell you, baby—Daddy is so popular at work that he's always getting gifts, even some from the ladies, which I have to tell Daddy to stop taking, hehe," his mum said.
"But Mum, you must be popular too, because you're carrying a huge bag," Gage said, pointing.
His mum noticed and quickly shoved the bags under the table.
"Y-yeah, I-I am popular… well, I'm sure everyone just felt sorry for me because Daddy is always getting gifts, right, Daddy?"
"Yeah, Mummy's right… but now you can't sleep. How about you, me, and Mummy have breakfast?" his dad suggested.
"Breakfast? But it's nighttime," Gage said.
"True, but me and Mummy haven't eaten all day since we've been working. And what do we say is the first meal of the day?"
"BREAKFAST!!!"
A sudden outburst of noise erupted from upstairs as mini kids, much younger than Gage, ran down the stairs and jumped into their parents' arms.