Morning — Hoshino High
Rain had stopped, but the air still smelled like iron.
Tomo sat at his desk, bandaged hands resting on a notebook filled with nothing.
Outside, the world moved too normally for someone who'd just knocked a man unconscious.
"Hey, Prez."
Jin leaned over his shoulder, grin wide and tired. "You trending again. Someone drew fan-art of you holding Rento like a baby."
Tomo didn't look up. "Delete it."
"Bro, I can't delete culture."
Rika dropped a folder on the desk. "Your medical clearance forms. Sign them so I can stop babysitting."
"Can't you forge my signature again?"
"I only do that for attendance."
Aya walked in with coffee, quiet smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "How's the shoulder?"
"Still attached."
"That's progress."
For a heartbeat, no one spoke. The ring fight hung between them like cigarette smoke—present even when you pretended it wasn't.
Club Room — Lunch Break
The Combat Club looked busier than ever. New recruits filled the corners, shadow-boxing, laughing.
Kei had set up a whiteboard labeled "Post-Eraser Strategy."
Step 1: Monetize
Step 2: Survive
Rika read it aloud. "You're fired."
"Can't fire volunteers," Kei said, drawing a terrible caricature of Tomo with flames.
Aya sat near the window, bandaging a freshman's wrist. "You guys sure the fame's worth it?"
Jin shrugged. "Depends. Free lunch yet?"
Tomo said nothing. He was watching the rookies—how they moved, how their punches snapped the air wrong.
They were copying him without understanding why it worked.
Aya noticed. "You hate it."
He shook his head. "No. I just… don't want them to think this fixes anything."
After School — Empty Gym
The place still smelled like Rento's fight.
Tape marks on the floor, dents on the bag, silence heavy enough to feel.
Tomo started hitting the bag, slow at first.
Thud. Thud.
Each strike steadier than the last.
He wasn't angry—just trying to hear something again.
When the sound finally rang right, he stopped.
Aya stood in the doorway. "You always come back here when it's quiet."
He didn't turn. "It's easier to think when no one's pretending I'm special."
"You are."
"Then why does it feel fake?"
She stepped closer. "Because you don't know what to do with it yet."
He looked at her, searching. "You think I'll ever learn?"
Aya smiled gently. "Only if you stop fighting for people's approval and start fighting for your own reasons."
That Evening — City Streets
Neon flickered off wet asphalt.
The club walked home together, laughter echoing between vending machines.
Kei tried to race Rika and lost immediately.
Jin kept reenacting Tomo's knockout punch until security told them to move along.
For the first time in weeks, it felt light.
Then a scooter roared past the intersection—two helmets, school crests from another district.
A flyer fluttered down, landing at Tomo's feet.
INTER-SCHOOL INVITATIONAL — "East Ward Rumble."
Top fighters from each school invited.
Special exhibition slot reserved for: Tomo Kisaragi (Hoshino High).
Jin whistled. "Ohhhh no. They know your name now."
Rika frowned. "That's the big event in Shinjuku. Underground-legal, borderline criminal."
Kei grinned. "Perfect branding opportunity."
Aya's face went pale. "My cousin goes to that district. Their fighters don't play fair."
Tomo folded the flyer, slid it into his pocket. "Guess peace was temporary."
Later — Rooftop (again)
Wind tugged at the paper in his hand.
Aya joined him quietly.
"You don't have to accept," she said.
"I know."
"You're going to anyway."
He looked at the skyline. "Rento said something before he passed out."
"What?"
"That I fight like I'm scared of myself. Maybe he's right."
Aya crossed her arms, voice soft. "Then fight to stop being scared."
He smiled for the first time that day. "You're really bad at talking people out of bad ideas."
"I'm worse at watching people lose themselves."
For a moment, neither spoke. The city hummed beneath them; somewhere far off, thunder rolled again.
Next Morning — Newsfeed
#EraserReturns
#EastWardRumble
Clips of Tomo's fights looped beside announcements.
The Combat Club stared at the screen in the cafeteria.
Jin: "This is insane."
Rika: "We're not ready."
Kei: "I've already ordered matching jackets."
Aya: "You're all idiots."
Tomo just said, "We start training tonight."
Evening — Gym
Heavy bag. Ropes. Sweat.
The whole club training like they'd finally realized the stakes.
Jin's punches echoed unevenly. Rika barked corrections. Kei nearly concussed himself with jump rope.
Tomo moved through them quietly—fixing form, correcting stance, offering a word here, a nod there.
He wasn't distant anymore. He was present.
Aya watched from the doorway. For the first time, he looked like someone who believed he belonged in that ring.
She whispered, "Don't break yourself proving it."
He answered without looking back. "Then I'll learn how not to break."
Night — Rento's Hospital Room
Rento turned the TV volume up. Footage of Tomo's training looped.
Daigo stood beside him. "He's getting sharper."
Rento smirked. "Good. The world needs to see what he really is."
"What's that?"
Rento's voice was low, proud, tired. "A kid still searching for the one hit that means something."
[END OF CHAPTER 6 — "Echoes in the Ring"]