The match was over, the crowd thinning, yet Aarav's chest still felt tight.
Not from fatigue. From the way that hooded stranger's stare had carved into him like a blade.
He left the court, his bag slung over his shoulder, Daiki trailing behind while slurping from a juice box like nothing had happened.
"You're walking like you're in a horror movie, bro. Relax. Maybe the guy in the hoodie's just some dropout who likes badminton."
Aarav didn't reply. His hand was clenched too tight around the strap of his bag.
The fluorescent lights of the hallway buzzed faintly.
And then—he felt it.
A weight.
The unmistakable pressure of someone waiting.
He stopped.
Kaien was there. Leaning against the wall like he'd been carved out of the shadows themselves, hood half-lowered now. His eyes gleamed—a strange mix of calm and cruelty.
"So you're the one they're hyping up."
His voice was low, smooth, like it could slip under your skin.
Aarav's body tensed. "And you are?"
The man smiled faintly.
"Your next step. Or your last wall."
Daiki stepped forward, frowning. "Oi, edgy anime villain much? What's with the cryptic lines? If you're here to talk trash, at least buy us dinner first."
Kaien's gaze barely flicked to him, sharp enough to make Daiki shut up on instinct.
Then those eyes locked back on Aarav.
"You play with fire. But fire burns out. Remember that."
With that, Kaien brushed past, the air around him colder than winter steel. His footsteps echoed down the corridor until they vanished.
For a moment, Aarav couldn't move. His wrist throbbed. His chest pounded. His instincts screamed.
This wasn't just another rival.
This was something darker.
Daiki exhaled loudly, breaking the silence.
"Bruh. I think we just met the final boss."
Aarav muttered, "No… he's worse."
Daiki blinked. "Worse than a final boss? What's that supposed to mean?"
But Aarav didn't answer. His mind was still replaying Kaien's words, that suffocating aura.
And then—
"Hey."
The voice came soft, but close.
He turned.
The basketball girl stood at the end of the hallway, towel slung around her shoulders, her hair loose now. She looked between Aarav and the direction Kaien had vanished.
"Who was that?"
Aarav hesitated. "…No one important."
Her brows furrowed slightly, but she didn't push. Instead, she smiled faintly.
"Just don't forget—this is still a tournament. Don't let shadows shake you before the finals."
Aarav stared, caught off guard by the ease in her tone.
And just like that, she walked away, sneakers squeaking against the polished floor.
Daiki grinned, elbowing him. "Brooo. She's literally giving you character development speeches. You're in."
"Shut up," Aarav muttered, though his heart wasn't steady. Not because of her. Not entirely.
Somewhere in the distance, he could still feel it—Kaien's eyes, like a phantom claw tugging at his spine.
This tournament wasn't about survival anymore.
It was about who would break first.