The classes had resumed, and Kenichi entered the classroom with a fresh energy. Despite Nijima's attempts to spread rumors that Kei had wiped the floor with the Shinpaku Alliance, his efforts failed miserably. Still, whispers had circulated, and though it was a painful blow, the fear some had of the Shinpaku Federation fighters remained—a clear sign they still commanded respect.
-Ah, for some reason, it feels like it's been forever since I last came to school,- Kenichi remarked, his face lit with happiness. He was genuinely excited to be back in school, walking alongside Miu. The scene was picturesque, with the sun strangely warm despite the cold season, shining on them, the weather oddly pleasant.
-Come on, Kenichi, everyone's been so worried about you. You were pretty beat up after your fight against Ragnarok and had to heal,- Miu Furinji said. Her innocent eyes and joy were contagious.
-Oh, Kenichi, I thought you were dead!- Nijima chimed in jokingly.
-Stop being ridiculous,- Kenichi responded, his forehead creasing as he tried to hit the alien-like Nijima, who dodged, his limbs flailing wildly like sticks of pasta.
-Hahaha, with Ragnarok out of the way, the Shinpaku Alliance's position is secure, Kenichito. As my great commander, you should know this better than anyone,- Nijima added, grinning.
-Stop acting like a fool,- Kenichi muttered.
As the Shinpaku Alliance members gathered, Ikki appeared to be in perfect health, while Ukita was still on crutches, looking like someone fresh out of the hospital but well on his way to recovery.
-Well, looks like you healed up way better than us. You look like a tiger,-Ikki remarked.
-Hey, hey, weren't your ribs broken? You've got some sort of healing powers, don't you? It's been less than two months!- Ukita joked.
The sunny atmosphere was contagious, and everyone shared smiles.
-General Nijima may say crazy things, but he's been worried the whole time,- Matsui, the young soldier of the Shinpaku Alliance, said as he stood with Mizunuma and Kamioka. They were the lowest-ranked members, but invaluable due to their hacking skills and growing martial arts prowess.
-That's a sure lie,- Kenichi shot back.
-Speaking of which, I've been a bit worried. You haven't answered my calls,- Ikki said, approaching Kenichi. "-But it was a surprise to hear that someone as kind as you had forgotten an old promise with the First Fist.-"
-Oh, the guy who said we'd fight again for the title… what happened was…- Kenichi started to explain, his body language shifting to an apologetic stance. He remembered how his family had moved without a proper goodbye.
-I didn't remember much, but it seems like Honoka remembered it all,- Kenichi continued.
Suddenly, the door slammed open.
-It's a shame I didn't kill you, but your masters begged for your life, as they did for theirs,- Kei said, his voice cold as he entered the room. The atmosphere dropped several degrees. His hand was bandaged, blood still dripping from his knuckles, and his uniform was unbuttoned. His stance was menacing, filled with an aura of murderous intent—a mixture of pure contempt for everyone in the room.
-What are you doing here?- Miu asked, stepping in front of him.
-Isn't it obvious? I'm here to gloat over the losers… Are you going to deny what your grandfather said? It must run in the family,- Kei whispered, his tone venomous. -It's no wonder your father killed your mother.-
It was a brutal low blow, and Miu's eyes widened in shock. The terror on her face provoked an uncommon fury in Kenichi, who immediately stepped between her and Kei. But Kei anticipated his move, throwing a low kick straight to Kenichi's knee, a new technique learned from his previous opponent, infused with Adamantine Kata. The kick struck Kenichi's weak point, sending pain coursing through him. Kei followed it up with a whip-like strike to Kenichi's face, which he barely managed to block, but the force of the blow grazed his eye.
-Almost took your eye out,- Kei muttered sadistically.
Kenichi collapsed to the ground, the pain in his leg overwhelming. The kick was designed to break not just the body, but the spirit of the Shinpaku Alliance. Kei's gaze shifted up as Miu hugged her arms tightly against her chest, eyes wide with horror and emptiness.
-What did you do to Miu?- Kenichi demanded.
-The truth. That she's a burden to you. That her grandfather, the greatest martial artist in the world, lowered his head to save your life. His honor as an artist, his pride, broken for trash like you. She knows it. The honor that her grandfather values above all else was shattered for your sake, and yet here you are, still weak, lying at my feet,- Kei taunted, performing the perfect villain's act.
Kenichi tried to get up, but Kei hit him with a Blink Step, delivering a devastating Rakasha Palm to his kidney. In an instant, Kenichi was groaning on the floor, completely humiliated. The palm strike had grown even more deadly since their last encounter.
-This is the Shinpaku Alliance? By the way, one of your idiots had the nerve to challenge me in your name. You might want to call an ambulance,- Kei said, closing the door behind him. Even though he didn't want to admit it, doing evil felt good. His inner beast was uncontrollable. He took a deep breath, but those around him felt the presence of a demon. The teacher tried to scold him but fell silent under Kei's icy gaze. The warrior's spirit was overwhelming, the image of the teacher being ripped apart flashing through his mind, freezing his spine. Kei returned to his seat. Despite his six-month absence, he had passed his classes, thanks to a note from Roshi, explaining that Kei had enlisted in Japan's Special Forces training program. The school approved it without question.
...
-Miu!- Kenichi shouted, seeing her hyperventilating. The blonde girl was catatonic, her mind spiraling into thousands of terrifying scenarios.
-What's wrong, Miu? What did Kei do to you?- Kenichi asked.
The pain in his heart was far worse than the physical pain from Kei's blows. His clothes were torn, and a black bruise throbbed painfully where Kei had struck. When they entered classroom 2-B, silence fell. Students began to walk to the front, placing money or parts of their lunch in front of Kei's desk as if performing some kind of cultural ritual. Kei remained unmoved, his inner beast raging. What was happening? It was obvious—he needed a fight. In a moment of absurdity, he sent a message to the "other Niko," speaking of his desire to fight and how, as a master, he needed guidance on teaching.
Miu and Kenichi stood at the front of the room, but the tension only grew thicker. Unfortunately for them, Shogo had already graduated and was now fighting in professional boxing circuits, leaving no one behind to calm Kei's bloodlust. Only Shogo had been able to spar with him on equal terms, though Kei had won 150 matches to Shogo's 0.
***
Niko Tokita, the black-haired man and friend of James Shiba, arrived with Ohma to check on Kei's condition. After all, it had been Niko's fault for losing his student. James had been tight-lipped about the details, keeping much of what had happened to Kei mysterious.
-James, sorry for the delay. I had some trouble with Ohma,- Niko said calmly, his kindness evident in his voice. He radiated an understanding of life that was hard for most people to grasp.
-Sit down. We have a lot to talk about, and it's not something that would've happened under my watch,- Shiba murmured, glancing at Ohma and signaling that this was a private conversation. Niko nodded and took a beer as the two moved to a more secluded spot. Ohma stayed back, watching the river and the breeze, in a state of complete relaxation.
-It must be something serious,- Niko commented, shifting from his relaxed demeanor to a more serious one.
-It is… I don't know where to start, but I'm afraid you need to stop being Kei's master. The boy has fallen prey to a demon—one with a name I found quite unsettling. At first, I couldn't believe it, but the changes in Kei were too obvious to ignore. His calmness has turned into madness, a madness no young man should endure. He keeps referring to someone called the 'true Niko,' a man Kei describes as a demon, one he hates and resents deeply.- Shiba's words left Niko silent. He had nothing to say, only breathing deeply, because he understood the gravity of the situation. That "true Niko" had betrayed and killed all his other brothers, making Kei part of Worn—subjected to the same tortures that had driven him to madness, just like Niko's brother.
-I understand, but there has to be something we can do,- Niko replied.
-there is, and it has perplexed me, I owe a blood debt to this "niko" the matter falls, in that he was kidnapped under saying that he would massacre his family, sweeten his ear, and teach him secret techniques, possession, fallen angel, each technique, powerfully dangerous and detestable in its consequences... but, it was his method of training that led me to think of the misery of his form. - James sighed again, as he lit a cigarette, and at that time. There were no extra words, other than slight regret.
-100 boys, raise them as brothers, share the table, and take them to join as comrades, when the training time is up, lock them in a dark room, lock them in a dark room, and force them to fight to the death until only one is left. They call it a Gu ritual, only beasts are born, and the boy is a beast provoked to kill, it's the most disgusting thing I've ever heard, it even makes my revenge seem silly and banal. - Shiva commented, feeling Kei's deep hatred, one that was not simple or easy to digest, the boy was falling dangerously into the murderous fist. And he did not know what to do, nor how to remedy such madness
-So...- Niko asked. Full of guilt and fear.
-They will kill you, this guy wants to set you up with your disciples, he says he will do that with Ohma, and with a boy with blue hair, who has an obsession with Ohma, he has pretended to be a disciple of an old man who masters the Koe style, and between the "real Niko" and the master of the Koe style, they will kill you when the opportunity comes, if you want my favor, get better, not for you, for your disciple, for he will surely kill him or lead him to a path of hatred. - commented the god of subway boxing.
Thinking of two possibilities, true, that very possibly what Kei said would be fulfilled, and he would die, or that the conspiracy would not lead somewhere.
Niko decided immediately, that he planned to make a pilgrimage trip alone, but now he would take Ohma with him. James' rudeness, only lent itself to the two of them sharing beer and cigars, but they were depressed.
...