CH05 ~ Strange Feelings 2/2; The slow fight.
In the bustling city of Saikono, where the skyline was a mosaic of towering skyscrapers and neon lights, the education system was a cornerstone of societal order. The city was home to numerous middle and high schools, as well as primary schools, all designed to be sanctuaries of learning and growth. The international system strictly regulated the use of abilities, ensuring that schools remained safe havens where students could focus on their studies without fear of unrestrained power. And for the most part, they were.
Yet, beneath the surface of this orderly facade, there existed a hidden undercurrent of tension. Alliances and rivalries formed in the shadows, fights broke out beyond the school gates, and bullying was an ever-present issue. In every school, there was always a hierarchy, a pecking order, and at the top of this hierarchy stood the most powerful student—the one who ruled the school.
At Saikono Middle School, that person was Hayter. A third-year student, Hayter was the undisputed king of the school, feared and respected by all. His presence was like a storm cloud, looming over the student body, and his word was law. He was tall, with a muscular build that spoke of years of physical training. His sharp, angular features were often twisted into a smirk, and his piercing blue eyes could freeze anyone in their tracks. Hayter was not just strong; he was cunning, and he knew how to wield his power to keep everyone in line.
Kyouta, on the other hand, was an enigma. A classmate of Hayter, he was quiet and unassuming, often blending into the background. He had no known abilities, and his plain appearance—brown hair, average height, and unremarkable features—made him an easy target for those who sought to assert their dominance. But today, something was different.
Hayter, flanked by his usual entourage, approached Kyouta with a demand. "Buy breakfast for me and my friends," he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Use your own money."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Kyouta. The tension was palpable, a thick fog that seemed to choke the air. Kyouta, however, remained calm. He looked up at Hayter, his brown eyes meeting the taller boy's gaze without flinching. "I'm not here to fulfill your wishes," he said coldly. "You're asking the wrong person."
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, shattering the silence. The students exchanged shocked glances, their whispers spreading like wildfire.
"What is this? Is he serious?"
"He disobeyed Hayter openly!"
"This boy has no ability, right? Why is he so bold?"
"Is he crazy?"
"More importantly, what will Hayter do?"
"That's right, this is the first time I've seen someone disobey his orders."
"Guys, shut up, because Hayter looks angry..."
Hayter's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he processed Kyouta's defiance. He glanced around the room, his gaze sweeping over the sea of faces, each one reflecting a mixture of fear and curiosity. He knew that if word of this got out, his reputation would be at stake. He couldn't afford to let this slide.
"Whatever happens now," Hayter said, his voice low and dangerous, "don't tell the teacher about it, okay? Or I'll make you hurt even more when we get out of here!"
With that, Hayter moved. His body was enveloped in an almost orange aura, a visible manifestation of his power. He lunged at Kyouta with unnatural speed, his movements fluid and precise, like a predator closing in on its prey. The air around him seemed to ripple, as if the very fabric of reality was bending to his will.
But to Kyouta, everything was happening in slow motion. He watched as Hayter's fist hurtled toward him, the distance between them closing with each passing millisecond. Yet, instead of fear, Kyouta felt a strange sense of calm. His body felt lighter, more agile, as if some latent power had been awakened within him.
Hayter's fist stopped just half a meter from Kyouta's face, and for a moment, it seemed as though he had hesitated. But then, with a deafening crash, a shockwave erupted from Hayter's punch, slamming into Kyouta with the force of a hurricane. The impact sent Kyouta flying backward, his body twisting in mid-air as he hurtled toward the classroom door.
But Kyouta didn't fall. Instead, he executed a perfect somersault, landing on his hands and feet with the grace of a seasoned acrobat. He touched his nose, feeling the warm trickle of blood, and wiped it away with a calmness that belied the chaos around him.
"What was that just now?" Kyouta muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "I'm about to swear that he didn't touch me..."
The classroom was in uproar. The students, who had seen Hayter's power countless times, were stunned by Kyouta's reaction. He had taken a direct hit from Hayter's strongest attack and emerged unscathed. Even Hayter's friends, who had always stood by him, were now visibly shaken.
"Hey hey, Hayter," one of them said, his voice trembling with nervous laughter. "I thought you wouldn't be merciful to him this time..."
Hayter's expression darkened. "That was my hardest hit," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "This bastard... What kind of joke is this? Didn't he say that he has no ability?"
The room fell silent once more as the implications of Hayter's words sank in. If Kyouta had no ability, how had he withstood such a powerful attack? And if he did have an ability, what kind of power could it be?
Kyouta, meanwhile, was lost in thought. He flexed his right hand, opening and closing his fist, as if testing the limits of his newfound strength. His body felt different—lighter, faster, more powerful. It was as though a dormant force had been unleashed, and he was only beginning to understand its potential.
He looked up, his brown eyes locking onto Hayter and his friends. The intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down their spines, and in the blink of an eye, Kyouta was moving. He darted forward with the speed of the wind, his body a blur as he closed the distance between them in an instant.
Hayter barely had time to react. He turned his head, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Kyouta's fist coming toward him. The punch landed with a resounding crash, the force of it sending Hayter flying across the room. His body collided with desks, sending them toppling to the ground, before finally slamming into the wall in the corner of the classroom.
Kyouta stood amidst the chaos, his brown hair tousled and his clothes disheveled from the sudden burst of movement. He looked down at his hands, then at Hayter's friends, who were frozen in place, their faces pale with fear. The rest of the class watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief.
For the first time, the unshakable Hayter looked scared. The boy who had ruled the school with an iron fist now lay crumpled in the corner, his once-confident demeanor shattered. And in his place stood Kyouta, a quiet, unassuming boy who had just proven that he was anything but ordinary.
The classroom was a tableau of shock and awe, a moment frozen in time. The balance of power had shifted, and no one knew what would happen next. But one thing was certain: Kyouta was no longer the boy who could be ignored. He was a force to be reckoned with, and the school would never be the same again.
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