CHAPTER 5 — Wet Skies
The figure charged forward at lightning speed.
"What's up asshole, wha—" the one holding Itsuki's left arm started.
Blam.
A kick smashed into his chest.
The sound echoed sharply, slicing through the tension.
The man fell face-first, immediately unconscious.
Haku flinched, his belt still dangling.
A cold voice cut through the air.
"Let. Her. Go."
Miyu's breath caught. That voice was familiar. Could it be—
The streetlight buzzed and flickered, revealing him in pieces — the jawline first, his long blonde hair, then the wrapped fists, then the broad shoulders.
Daichi Kawasaki.
Her classmate.
School boxing champion two years in a row.
Now an E-tier fighter, built for speed and strength.
Haku narrowed his eyes. "And who the hell is this clown looking for death?"
Daichi raised his fists wrapped in white bandages.
He stretched his knuckles like he was warming up for practice.
"I'm gonna break your hands," he said calmly, "if you don't step away from them."
Miyu tore herself free from the man holding her and moved behind Daichi.
The threatening rain began falling as thunder cracked the sky.
Water washed over Itsuki's blood as he lay on the cold floor.
Daichi tightened his stance.
Three men entered the alley.
"Hey Haku, we've been looking for you," one said.
They spotted three figures — two standing, one on the ground.
"What's going on here?" another asked.
"This is Arashi Saotome's daughter and two other fools," Haku replied.
"Ah, I see," one said, circling Daichi and Miyu. "Your father killed Jin."
"It has nothing to do with her or Itsuki," Daichi said firmly, calculating their movements.
The man circling them stopped, looked at Haku, then pointed at Daichi without looking directly at him.
"Who does he think he is?"
"He's a finalist in the Rookie Rumble — no gem," another replied.
They all laughed as the rain poured harder.
"Cowards. Come at me," Daichi roared.
Miyu stepped back, her mind fully on Itsuki.
The laughter died, leaving only the rain hitting the metal trash bin.
Then the alley exploded.
One of Haku's men rushed first.
Daichi didn't move until the guy was a breath away.
Then—
THWACK.
A straight right smashed into the thug's face so clean it echoed off the walls.
The man collapsed on top of the one who had already been kicked.
The others shouted and charged.
Daichi stepped in.
Left hook to ribs.
Right cross to jaw.
Shoulder slam to the third guy.
Pivot.
Elbow to the fourth one's temple.
Flexing the popular North American skill — Titan Drive with no gem, which was insane.
Bodies dropped in a chain reaction.
Miyu stared, mouth open, tears falling, shock mixing with disbelief.
This wasn't a fight.
This was a man tossing grown adults like children.
Haku's aura flared with orange sparks.
"You think you can take me without a gem, boxer boy?"
Daichi wiped someone's blood from his knuckles.
"Yes."
---
DAICHI VS. HAKU
Miyu crawled through the groaning men toward Itsuki.
She lifted his head onto her lap, rubbing his face desperately.
Haku lunged forward, fist glowing like molten metal.
Daichi moved his head by a hair.
BOOM — Haku's punch cracked the brick wall behind him.
Daichi countered instantly.
Pow! Pow! Pow!
Three jabs drilled into Haku's face so fast the others barely saw Daichi's hands move.
Haku stumbled back, shocked.
Daichi gave him no second to breathe.
A brutal hook tore into Haku's ribs.
A short uppercut snapped his head up.
Then Daichi drove a straight punch into Haku's chest so hard his aura flickered like a dying flame.
"Fighting isn't about the gem. It's skill," Daichi said, standing over the kneeling Haku.
Haku choked, spitting blood.
"You— you're a freak!" He staggered back to his feet.
Daichi's voice stayed low, steady, terrifying.
"You picked the wrong fight tonight."
Haku roared, unleashing a full aura burst — orange light swallowing his arms.
Daichi's eyes hardened.
He planted his feet.
Haku slammed a glowing fist down—
And Daichi caught it.
C A U G H T I T.
With one hand.
Everyone froze.
Miyu didn't even look — her focus was Itsuki.
Daichi squeezed.
Haku screamed as his knuckles cracked under Daichi's grip.
"You're strong," Daichi said quietly.
"But you don't know pain."
He head-butted Haku.
Haku dropped to one knee, dizzy, aura sputtering.
Daichi pulled his fist back — ready to end it.
Haku's eyes widened in panic.
He blasted orange light at the ground, creating a shockwave, launching himself backward into the darkness.
He ran. Limping. Coughing. Bleeding.
His men followed.
"Cowards. Thinking boxing is about gems," Daichi exhaled, chest heaving. "Cool warm-up for my match tomorrow."
He was still savoring his victory when he felt a cold hand grip his arm.
"Daichi!"
Miyu dragged him toward Itsuki.
Daichi's face changed instantly — all the coldness melted into fear.
Itsuki lay on the ground, unrecognizable.
Purple bruises blooming across his ribs.
Blood trickling from his ear.
Breathing shallow, each inhale a battle.
Daichi knelt beside him, voice cracking.
"Itsuki. Hey. It's Daichi. Stay with me, bro."
Itsuki didn't respond — he was literally seeing angels already.
Miyu's hands shook violently.
She touched his cheek — it was cold.
Her heart pounded. She pushed her hair back in despair.
"Daichi… he's not waking up… he's not—"
"Don't say that," Daichi snapped, voice shaking. "Don't."
Sirens finally sliced through the night — way too late.
Police swarmed in.
Paramedics rushed over with a sleek device the size of a tablet — black metal, glowing lines, humming softly.
The lead officer crouched.
"Advanced Health Detector. Don't panic."
He placed it on Itsuki's chest.
A blue light scanned down his body.
Daichi held Miyu as she trembled.
The officers waited.
The device beeped.
Once.
Twice.
Then it turned red, revealing percentages of damage in different parts of Itsuki's body.
The officer's face fell apart.
"…oh no."
Miyu's stomach dropped. Her face went pale, rain and tears dripping from her chin.
Daichi felt a lump in his throat.
He always teased Itsuki for being too weak, but tonight—
The officer looked at them with heavy eyes.
"He's in critical failure. Multiple organs collapsing. Severe internal bleeding.
97% probability of death within the hour."
Miyu collapsed, screaming. She didn't want any of this to be real.
"I should've listened to him… this is my fault…"
Daichi clenched his fists so tight blood seeped from his palms.
Itsuki barely opened one swollen eye…
looked at Miyu…
and tried to speak.
Only a whisper came out — broken, soft, fading.
"…Miyu…"
Her world shattered.