Haruki's vision blurred. His body screamed in pain, and his breath was shallow. But despite it all—
He stood.
Kaito's smirk twitched. "You seriously don't know when to quit, huh?"
Haruki didn't respond. He had no energy to waste on words.
The crowd, once mocking him, was now dead silent.
For the first time, they weren't looking at him as a joke.
They were looking at him as a fighter.
Kaito clicked his tongue. "Tch. Fine. I'll end this in one hit."
He stepped forward.
Haruki could barely keep his arms raised, but his mind was focused.
Kaito always starts with a feint.
The moment Kaito moved, Haruki didn't react.
Kaito's left jab—fake.
Kaito's right hook—real attack.
Haruki didn't flinch.
The right hook came.
Haruki ducked.
The punch missed.
Kaito's eyes widened.
Haruki moved.
He drove his fist into Kaito's ribs—the same spot he had hit earlier.
BAM!
Kaito staggered.
The crowd gasped.
"What the hell?! He dodged and countered?!"
Kaito's face twisted with anger. "You little—!"
He rushed in, throwing a wild punch.
Haruki had seen this mistake in the video.
"Strong fighters rely on power. When they get frustrated, they throw sloppy attacks."
Kaito's getting reckless.
Haruki dodged again—barely.
Then he struck—
A punch straight to Kaito's chin.
KRAK!
Kaito's head snapped back.
His legs wobbled.
The crowd held its breath.
Kaito took a step forward—
Then his knees buckled.
THUD!
Kaito collapsed.
Silence.
Then—
The crowd erupted.
"HOLY SHIT!"
"Kaito lost?!"
"No way! Haruki actually won!"
Haruki swayed.
His vision spun.
His legs gave out.
THUD!
He collapsed.
The cheers died down.
Both fighters lay on the ground, unconscious.
No one could believe it.
A fight that was supposed to be a one-sided beatdown—
Had ended with both of them falling.
—
Hours later, Haruki slowly opened his eyes.
He was lying on a bench behind the gym, staring at the sky. His entire body ached. His lip was busted. His ribs felt like they were on fire.
But he had won.
Not with strength—
But with strategy.
He clenched his fists.
"This is just the beginning."
—
To be continued.