Gage walks through the hallways, hands in his pockets, mind wandering back to the moment he delivered that strong blow to Gadeon's stomach.
He remembers seeing him sent flying down the stairs, grinding along the railing, before finally reaching the bottom. By the time Gage arrived, Gadeon was already unconscious, lying on his back.
Gage looked down at him.
Usually, he moves so unbothered… but just now, he was so eager to drag me back to detention? Maybe Sir Judah really will keep these guys late because of me…
Well… I did decide to go back when I left the toilet… so why didn't I just go back with Gadeon?
Gage grabbed his chest, as he felt unsettled. I didn't like the way he spoke to me… or maybe it's because it was Gadeon talking to me. Still, it feels… weird. If I went back just because Gadeon told me to, it would wound my pride.
In a way, the fight had been pointless. I had already been planning to go back. But now… after all that had happened, going back would be…
No. I'm going home.
Coming back to his senses, he continues walking down the hallway when he hears footsteps. At first, he brushes them off, assuming they were just other students still in the dojo — or perhaps even teachers. However, the footsteps grew louder, almost sounding like someone sprinting at full speed.
Gage turns around.
His jaw drops in horror.
"GAGE-GEYYYY BAAABYYYYY!!!"
From the top of his lungs, saliva spraying wildly from his mouth, Gadeon dashes towards him, taking long, powerful strides.
"What the hell?" Gage says, his expression twisting in disgust as he steps back, shaken by Gadeon's distorted appearance.
"Goochi-goochi-GOOO! It's time for round two, Gaaageee-geeey-Baaaabbyyyy!"
Without replying, Gage charges forward as well. Coating his feet and fists with water, he blitzs towards Gadeon, closing the gap quickly — faster than Gadeon expected. The two boys had yet to make contact, but they were dangerously close.
Gage's eyes locks onto Gadeon's face.
Gadeon, however, was staring at Gage's fists… and his legs. Where is he going to hit me. He thought.
You can tell he's never been in a real fight — he's not even looking up. That's probably why his attacks never land.
I'm ending this.
Meanwhile, Gadeon's thoughts spirals.
If he throws a punch, I'll block it. If he throws a kick, I'll—
NO! THIS DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING!
Wait… why am I looking down? Wouldn't it make more sense to look at where I'm punching? It's not like I'm doing it intentionally… it's more like my body just wants to move this way, so I let it.
Am I still scared? Is this body not really mine? Shit — at this rate, Gage is just going to pummel me again!
Should I stop running? No — I'll gas out. I came in with too much momentum. If I stop now, it'll give Gage the time to hammer me.
Shit! He's already closing in.
Shit! What do I do?!
I can't be scared of getting hit!
How do I overcome this?!
THINK, JASON! THINK!
The two boys were closing the distance. Gage tenses, ready to finish this.
WHY CAN'T I THINK OF ANYTHING?!
Because… Jason is scared of being hit…
A voice — my own thoughts, his thoughts — pierced through Gadeon's mind.
Huh?
Jason is scared of being hit… if you're Jason, you'll get hit…
If I'm Jason?I am Jason…
No. You're Gadeon…
What?
You've studied Water Flexing, you know the martial arts in theory, you know the movements, you know how to counter. The final missing piece… you're not the right person to do it…
It can't be Jason… nor Gadeon…
Then who…? How can I win? How can I be successful…?
You have to be a version of something that can win in this scenario…
A version…?
In that instant, Gadeon's eyes locked with Gage's. Everything slowed. Everything sharpened.
They collide.
Gage went flying back like a bullet train, blood coating his face.
He lands on one knee, struggling to grab his bearings.
DID I JUST PUNCH MYSELF?! he thought, terrified, staring at his trembling fists.
SHIT! If I hadn't used Water Flexing to guard my face, I'd be done.
What did he just do?! Did he… transform?! Wait — you can transform in Water Flexing?! Since when?!
Gadeon, steady after the collision, stares at his fists. The punch had connected.
Oh shit! Did I execute the Mirror Technique?
He replays the moment in his mind: when he looked up, instinctively matching Gage's speed, precision, and accuracy — simply because, in that instant, he thought the only person to match Gage, would be Gage.
Ahh… I see…
A giggle escapes Gadeon's lips.
It echoes through the hallway.
Gage's eyes snaps up.
"Why are you laughing?! What did you do?! How did you do that?! How did you transform?!" Gage's voice cracks, a mix of rage and disbelief.
"Transform? Is that how you saw it? Nah… it's the Mirror Technique I was telling you about," Gadeon says, fists clenches, a gleam of triumph in his eyes.
"Mirror Technique…" Gage mutters, trying to process.
Is he saying he didn't transform? And that's the technique? Or am I just going mad? Maybe I'm tired… The fight, the adrenaline, and the memories all swirled together. Maybe I wasn't seeing myself — maybe I was just… thinking too deep.
Gage shook his head. No time for thoughts. End this. Go home. Now.
He charges.
But at the exact moment he swung, Gadeon moves — and Gage froze.
For a split second, he didn't see Gadeon. He saw himself.
An exact spitting image.
"WHAT?! THAT'S M—"
Before he could finish, a sharp impact slams into him, sending him staggering back. Yet he caught himself, standing firm.
THAT IS ME! Gage's mind screams.
So this is how it works… If I'm being treated as a fake, then I'm fake. If it leads to winning, then who cares! I'll make the fake real! Make the fake more valuable than the real!
Again. He attacks. And again. And again. Each strike met with perfect counters, each movement mirrored flawlessly.
It wasn't Gage versus Gadeon anymore.
It was Gage versus Gage.
How is he doing this?! Panic, awe, and a strange thrill collides in Gage's mind.
Every punch, every block, every step… he was fighting himself.
He became me?
He's not even flexing… Gage realises. His body isn't coated in water, yet his speed, stance, and precision perfectly matches his own.
How?
Looking closely at Gadeon, Gage could see how worn out he was — chest heaving, breaths ragged and harsh.
Of course he's tired.
I'm using my Chi-Lungs and Flexing to amplify my movements, whereas he's forcing himself through sheer willpower. Must be exhausting… but he's not letting up.
I can't get tired now! Gadeon shouts in his mind.
I have to bring him back… or that Kurtiz kid will look down on me.
If a kid his age has the mindset to do anything to reach his goal… then what about me? I can't lose. I have to bring him back.
I'm an adult.
I'm a man.
Because of my high understanding of Flexing — especially Water Flexing — I know the movements. I know the theory. That's why I can predict Gage's attacks just from the way he moves.
The reason I couldn't do it before… was fear. My fear — or maybe this body's fear — of getting hit.
But I destroyed that mindset.
This is no longer Jason fighting.
Whatever version of me that can win… is the one fighting now.And it's made everything easier.
Okay… if he's this tired… Gage thought as he propels himself forward.
Let me go even faster. This time, for sure.
A violent thrust of water blasts behind him, launching his body like a jet toward Gadeon.
Yet Gadeon doesn't move.
He simply stands there.
Waiting.
Why isn't he moving? Gage wonders. Maybe I'm too fast for him to dodge.
Such a kid… Gadeon thought calmly, lowering into a stance as Gage rockets toward him.
If you're coming at that speed… I won't even need to move.
I guess kids here don't know science.
I'll just use your momentum.
The instant Gage threw his punch —
Gadeon moves.
Perfect timing.
Perfect precision.
He redirects the force, delivering a devastating counter that turns Gage's own speed against him.
Within that overwhelming momentum…
It wasn't Gadeon that struck him.
It was himself.
A mirror reflection.
Do I hate myself… that badly? Gage whispers internally.
His pupil trembles…
Then slowly fades.
And his body collapses to the ground.