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Chapter five: Change's Whispers
The sparring match ended, but the tension lingered in the air like a storm refusing to dissipate. Hiroshi's dismissive words, "You just got lucky," echoed in Riku's ears. They didn't sting as an insult should; instead, they settled in his chest, stirring something unfamiliar. He clenched his fists, not in anger, but in response to an odd sense of weight pressing down on him.
As Hiroshi walked away, the world seemed to pause for a moment. Riku blinked, and for a split second, a faint shimmer flickered before his eyes. He froze, unsure of what he'd seen. Before he could process it, a translucent panel appeared in front of him, faint but undeniably there.
[System Notification]
Rejection detected. Progress unlocked.
Reflexes increased by 2%.
The words vanished as quickly as they had appeared, leaving Riku staring blankly at the space in front of him. His heartbeat quickened. He glanced around, but no one seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary. The other students were sparring or resting, oblivious to his growing confusion.
"What was that?" he muttered under his breath.
For a moment, he stood frozen, unsure of what to make of the message. Was it a hallucination? A lingering remnant of his past life? Or was it something entirely new? He shook his head and decided to push the thought aside. Whatever it was, it could wait until training was over.
Riku returned to the group, where the instructor was observing the students with a critical eye. Hiroshi had rejoined his friends, and they were busy congratulating him on his "victory." Riku watched them out of the corner of his eye, the odd message still fresh in his mind.
"Next pair!" the instructor called, pulling his attention back to the lesson.
Riku stayed silent, watching as others stepped forward. His eyes tracked their movements with a sharpness he hadn't noticed before. Every shift in stance, every hesitation—it all seemed clearer now, almost instinctual. He tested his body's reactions subtly, clenching and unclenching his fists, stepping lightly on his feet. Something was different, even if it was subtle.
He couldn't help but wonder if the notification was real. Could rejection really unlock power? The thought was unsettling, but it also sparked curiosity. If rejection truly held the key, what would that mean for him?
The day's training ended with a brief lecture from the instructor. As the other students began to leave, Riku lingered near the edge of the training ground. He needed to test this strange phenomenon further, but how?
Hiroshi's rejection had triggered the message. Would it happen again? He wasn't sure he wanted to experience rejection just to find out. Yet the possibility gnawed at him, a question he couldn't ignore.
On his way back to the orphanage, Riku walked alone as usual. The other students passed him without a glance, their laughter and chatter filling the air. He didn't mind; solitude had become his companion. But tonight, the distance felt heavier, as if the rejection from earlier still clung to him.
When he reached the orphanage, Nono was waiting at the entrance, her arms crossed.
"You're late," she said, her tone sharp but not unkind. "Dinner's almost over."
"Sorry," Riku replied simply, slipping past her into the building.
Nono watched him go, her expression softening. She had always worried about Riku. His quiet nature, his tendency to keep everyone at arm's length—it wasn't normal for a child his age. She wanted to help him, but every time she tried, he only seemed to retreat further into himself.
Riku ate quickly, avoiding the other children as usual. The room was lively with chatter, but he barely noticed. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of the day.
That night, as he lay in bed, he stared at the ceiling, the faint light of the moon casting shadows across the room. The memory of the notification played over and over in his mind. The subtle change in his reflexes was undeniable.
Rejection. Power. The two concepts didn't belong together, yet they seemed inextricably linked.
He closed his eyes, determination forming in his chest. If rejection truly was the key, he needed to understand it. He needed to control it.
As sleep took over, one thought lingered in his mind.
Rejection is power.
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