The courtyard had never been this quiet.
Not during the Top 100.
Not during the breakthrough fights.
Not even during the tournaments years ago.
Everyone was there.
Every rank.
Every instructor.
Every fighter.
All standing around the stone field in complete silence.
The ranking board glowed brighter than ever.
At the top...
Rank 1 - NAOYA NASUKAWA
Rank 2 - ARATA KAITO
Six years.
Six years of training.
Six years of climbing.
Six years of losing, winning, breaking through, and climbing again.
Kaito stood in the center of the field, fists at his sides, breathing slowly.
His body felt light.
His energy deep.
Five breakthroughs flowing perfectly inside him.
He looked at the board one last time.
"…Alright."
Behind him, his mom stood near the wall.
Aoi and Ryo on the upper railing.
Every Top 100 fighter watching.
Tanaka walked onto the field.
Same calm walk.
Same plain clothes.
Same expression.
Kaito smirked.
"…Sensei."
Tanaka stopped in front of him.
"Yes."
"…You ready to watch me beat Rank 1?"
Silence.
Tanaka looked at him for a long moment.
Then said...
"You already are."
Kaito blinked.
"…What?"
The courtyard went completely still.
Tanaka reached up slowly.
His hand moved to the collar of his jacket.
He pulled it off.
Then the wrist wraps.
Then the old instructor badge.
He dropped them on the ground.
The air changed.
Not loudly.
Not suddenly.
Just heavier.
Every fighter in the courtyard straightened instantly.
Aoi lowered her head slightly.
Ryo smirked.
Kaito frowned.
"…Sensei?"
Tanaka stepped forward.
His voice calm.
But different.
"You've been asking for six years."
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"…Asking what."
Tanaka looked at the ranking board.
Rank 1.
NAOYA NASUKAWA
Then back at Kaito.
"…Who I am."
Silence.
The wind stopped.
The courtyard froze.
Tanaka spoke quietly.
"My name… is Naoya Nasukawa."
The entire courtyard exploded.
Gasps.
Shock.
Whispers.
Even some of the Top 100 stepped back.
Kaito didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe.
"…No."
Tanaka ... no, Nasukawa ... stood in front of him calmly.
"Yes."
"…You're joking."
"No."
"…You're Rank 1?"
"Yes."
"…You've been my teacher for six years."
"Yes."
"…You let me fight everyone except you."
"Yes."
Kaito stared at him.
Then laughed.
Once.
Twice.
Then louder.
"…Of course."
He wiped his face.
"…Of course it's you."
Nasukawa crossed his arms.
"You wanted this fight."
"…Yeah."
"You ready."
Kaito raised his fists.
The energy inside him flowed perfectly.
Five breakthroughs.
Total control.
Total power.
He smiled.
"…Yeah."
The instructor raised his hand.
His voice shaking slightly.
"Rank 1… vs Rank 2…"
No one breathed.
"…Begin."
Kaito moved first.
Fast.
Faster than ever.
Punch.
CRACK.
The air shattered.
Nasukawa blocked with one hand.
Didn't move.
Didn't slide.
Didn't blink.
"…Good," Nasukawa said.
Kaito attacked again.
Kick.
Turn.
Strike.
CRACK.
LOUD.
Nasukawa stepped back once.
Only once.
The courtyard gasped.
Kaito grinned.
"…I got stronger."
"Yes."
Nasukawa moved.
One step.
BAM.
Kaito's arms shook.
His feet slid back.
Five steps.
His eyes widened.
"…Heavy…"
Nasukawa stepped forward again.
Punch.
BAM.
Kaito blocked.
Barely.
The ground cracked under his feet.
The pressure was insane.
Stronger than anything before.
Stronger than Top 10.
Stronger than Top 5.
Stronger than anything.
Kaito smirked.
"…Good."
He rushed forward.
Full power.
Punch.
CRACK.
Kick.
CRACK.
Strike.
CRACK.
The air shook across the entire courtyard.
Dust rose.
Stone cracked.
Every hit stronger than the last.
Nasukawa blocked.
Countered.
Moved.
Perfect.
Effortless.
Kaito felt it.
For the first time in years...
He was losing.
He slid back.
Breathing heavy.
His chest burned.
Five breakthroughs shaking.
"…Damn…"
Nasukawa stood calmly.
"You climbed well."
"…Not enough."
"No."
Kaito clenched his fists.
His energy roared.
Louder.
Harder.
Deeper.
He stepped forward again.
Punch.
CRACK.
Nasukawa hit him.
BAM.
Kaito flew back.
Hit the ground.
Silence.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Kaito lay there.
Breathing hard.
His chest burning.
His body shaking.
"…Six years…"
He laughed weakly.
"…I didn't come this far to stop now."
His fist tightened.
The energy inside him trembled.
Not like before.
Not like any breakthrough.
Something deeper.
Something endless.
His vision blurred.
His heartbeat slowed.
The vibration inside him changed.
Not louder.
Not heavier.
Infinite.
Nasukawa's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So that's it."
Kaito stood up slowly.
His body shaking.
But the energy…
Endless.
Clear.
Perfect.
"…One more," he said.
The air exploded.
The courtyard shook.
Stone cracked across the field.
Every fighter stepped back.
Aoi's eyes widened.
"…Infinite…?"
Ryo smirked.
"…He did it."
Kaito stepped forward.
Every movement perfect.
Every breath controlled.
Every ounce of power unlocked.
He moved.
Faster than ever.
Punch.
CRACK.
Nasukawa blocked...
His arm moved back.
For the first time.
Nasukawa smiled.
"…Good."
Kaito attacked again.
Strike.
Kick.
Turn.
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
The air shattered with every hit.
The ground split.
The pressure filled the entire courtyard.
Nasukawa laughed quietly.
"…This is why I stayed."
Kaito roared.
Full power.
Full will.
Full force.
Punch.
CRACK.
LOUDER THAN ANYTHING BEFORE.
Nasukawa slid back.
One step.
Two.
Three.
He stopped.
Smiling.
"…You win."
The instructor raised his hand.
Voice shaking.
"Stop…!"
The ranking board flickered.
Numbers changed.
Rank 2 disappeared.
Rank 1 ... ARATA KAITO
Silence.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Kaito stood there.
Breathing slow.
Energy endless.
He looked at the board.
Then at Nasukawa.
"…I did it."
Nasukawa smiled.
"Yes."
Kaito laughed.
"…I'm the strongest."
Nasukawa nodded.
"Yes."
Kaito clenched his fist.
The air trembled endlessly.
Six years.
Ten years old.
Now sixteen.
Rank 1.
Strongest.
He smiled.
"…Now what."
Nasukawa looked at the sky.
"…Now the real world starts."