The next morning started the same way it always did.
With pain.
Kaito Arata groaned as he rolled over in bed, his arm flopping off the side and hitting the floor.
"Ow…"
He stayed there for a second, staring at the ceiling.
His shoulders were sore.
His legs were sore.
Even his back hurt, and he didn't even remember hurting his back.
"…Worth it," he muttered.
He sat up slowly, stretching his arms above his head until his joints popped.
Every movement reminded him of yesterday's fight.
Kenji's palm strike.
The fall.
The bruise on his chest.
Kaito smirked.
"Today I'll last longer."
He stood up, grabbed his uniform, and pulled it on without even looking.
The fabric felt stiff from yesterday's sweat, but he didn't care.
Training first.
Always training first.
He stepped out of his room and headed toward the kitchen.
His mother was already there, drinking coffee.
She looked at him once, then shook her head.
"You're going early again."
"I always go early."
"You went early yesterday too."
"And I still lost."
"That doesn't mean you need to go earlier."
"It does."
She sighed.
"You're ten."
"I'm almost eleven."
"That doesn't help your argument."
He grabbed a piece of toast and stuffed it into his mouth.
"I need to get stronger."
"You need to eat first."
He swallowed quickly.
"I can do both."
"You can't even chew properly."
"I'm chewing now."
"You swallowed it whole."
Kaito froze.
"…Maybe."
She pointed toward the table.
"Sit. Eat. Then go."
He hesitated.
The dojo would open soon.
Kenji would be there.
If he got there late, someone else would take the mat first.
He sat anyway.
Because arguing took longer than eating.
He grabbed another piece of toast and started chewing properly this time.
His mother watched him quietly.
After a moment, she spoke again.
"You fought Kenji again yesterday."
"Yeah."
"You lost again."
"…Yeah."
She took a sip of coffee.
"You're not scared of him at all, are you?"
Kaito shrugged.
"He's stronger than me."
"That's not what I asked."
He looked down at his hands.
"…If I only fight people weaker than me, I won't get stronger."
She didn't answer right away.
Then she smiled faintly.
"…You really are like him."
Kaito looked up quickly.
"Like who?"
She stood up.
"Finish eating."
"…Mom."
She walked toward the sink.
"Finish eating."
Kaito frowned, but he didn't ask again.
He never got an answer anyway.
A few minutes later, he ran out the door.
The air was colder than yesterday, and the streets were still quiet.
Perfect.
That meant he wasn't late.
He started jogging toward the dojo, his shoes slapping against the pavement.
Step.
Step.
Step.
His breathing stayed steady.
He liked mornings.
No noise.
No talking.
Just movement.
Just training.
As he turned the last corner, the dojo came into view.
The lights were already on.
Kaito grinned.
"Good."
He ran faster.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The smell of the mats hit him immediately.
Best smell in the world.
He dropped his bag near the wall and walked toward the center of the floor.
Someone was already there.
Kenji.
Of course.
Kenji stood with his back turned, throwing slow, controlled punches into the air.
Each strike stopped perfectly.
No wasted movement.
No shaking.
No hesitation.
Kaito watched for a second.
"…Show off."
Kenji stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"You're early."
"You're always early."
"You're earlier."
"I got here first yesterday."
"You still lost."
Kaito smirked.
"Not today."
Kenji turned fully around.
"You said that yesterday too."
"And the day before."
"And the day before that."
Kaito raised his fists.
"Yeah. And one of these days I'll be right."
Kenji stared at him for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"You don't get tired, do you?"
"No."
"You should."
"I will when I win."
Kenji rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Fine. One round."
Kaito's grin got wider.
They stepped onto the mat.
Both raised their guards.
The room felt quiet.
Even though nothing had changed.
Kenji moved first.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kaito barely blocked the first punch.
The impact ran down his arm like electricity.
He stepped back.
Kenji followed.
Punch.
Block.
Kick.
Block.
Step.
Step.
Kaito's breathing got heavier, but he didn't stop.
He couldn't stop.
Not now.
Not when he could feel it again.
That strange feeling from yesterday.
Like something inside him was moving.
Like his body wanted to go faster.
Kenji threw another punch.
Kaito moved without thinking.
His foot slid forward.
His fist shot out.
For the first time...
Kenji's eyes widened.
THUD.
The hit landed.
Not hard.
Not perfect.
But it landed.
Both of them froze.
Kaito blinked.
"…I hit you."
Kenji blinked too.
"…You hit me."
Kaito's face slowly broke into a huge grin.
"I HIT YOU!"
Kenji stepped back, staring at him.
For the first time since they started training together…
Kenji looked surprised.
Behind them, the door slid open.
Tanaka sensei walked in.
He stopped.
His eyes went straight to Kaito.
For a moment, the air felt heavy.
Tanaka frowned slightly.
"…Again."
Kaito turned.
"Huh?"
Tanaka's eyes narrowed.
"…What was that just now?"
Kaito tilted his head.
"What was what?"
Tanaka didn't answer.
He just stared.
Like he was looking for something.
Something he couldn't see yet.
But could feel.
"…Interesting," the instructor muttered.
Kaito didn't understand why.
But for some reason…
His heart started beating faster.
Like something big was about to happen.
He didn't know why.
He just knew.
And he liked that feeling.
A lot.