"Shut the fuck up already," Eichi said, his voice cold and flat. He didn't raise his voice, but the intensity in his tone was enough to make the irritation.
Kenta groaned, sliding down the wall and collapsing into a heap on the ground.
He wasn't unconscious, but he wasn't getting up anytime soon either. His earlier bravado was gone, replaced by dazed confusion and a growing sense of humiliation.
Eichi didn't spare him another glance. He turned away, his expression as neutral as ever, as if he hadn't just kicked someone into a wall with enough force to leave a dent. He didn't care about Kenta's pride or his theatrics. All he cared about was getting this over with.
Aiko, who had been about to leave with Haru, froze mid-step, her eyes wide as she stared at Eichi. She had seen him move before, but this was different. This wasn't just skill or precision—this was raw, unbridled power. And the way he had delivered that kick... it was like he hadn't even been trying.
What the hell is he?Aiko thought, her suspicion of Eichi growing even stronger.Was that the result of strengh quirk?
However, before Eichi could take another step, he felt the shift behind him. The air seemed to crackle with energy, and his instincts screamed at him to move. He turned just in time to block a kick from Kenta, the force of the impact sending a sharp jolt through his arm.
Kenta's grin was back, though it was strained now, his face still pale from the earlier blow. "Not bad, new guy," he said, his voice a little shaky but still cocky. "But you're gonna have to do better than that if you want to take me down."
Eichi's expression didn't change, but his tone was dry and cutting. "Not bad? The fuck you on about? Brother in all that is holy, do you need a mirror to see how pale you are?"
Kenta's grin faltered, his bravado cracking under Eichi's blunt words. He opened his mouth to retort, but Eichi didn't give him the chance.
Kenta was keeping up, his speed Quirk pushing him to his limits, but it wasn't enough. Eichi seemed to match his speed and strength perfectly, his movements fluid and precise, as if he were barely trying.
But Eichi knew he needed to tone it down. He had already shown more than enough, and drawing too much attention to himself was the last thing he wanted.
He needed to make it seem like the burst of power from the kick earlier had taken a toll on him, like he was running on fumes now. It was all about maintaining the facade.
As Kenta backed away to catch his breath, his chest heaving and his face pale, Eichi turned to his team. His voice was sharp, his frustration barely concealed. "Fuck off, god damn it."
It was a side of Eichi they hadn't imagined. The calm, Emo boy who barely spoke was now barking orders with a raw intensity that left no room for argument. Aiko and Haru both froze, their eyes wide as they stared at him.
Aiko recovered first, her usual composure snapping back into place. "What's your problem?" she shot back, her tone just as sharp. "We're trying to win this, in case you forgot."
Eichi's gaze locked onto hers, his expression unreadable but his voice cold. "Then stop wasting time. Haru, track their movements.
Aiko, disrupt their Quirks. And Kenta—" He glanced at the orange-haired boy, who was still trying to catch his breath. "I am about to hammer the shit out of you."
Kenta's eyes widened, his cocky grin faltering for a moment before he forced a laugh. "Big talk for someone who's already looking tired. You sure you've got enough left in the tank, new guy?"
At that, Eichi groaned, his hand rising to scratch his head as he looked up in exasperation.These people, I swear,he thought, his patience wearing thinner by the second. He turned to his teammates, tilting his head slightly as if to say,Are you seriously still standing here?
Aiko sighed, clearly fed up with the whole situation. She shot Eichi one last glare before grabbing Haru by the arm and dragging him along. "Let's go," she said, her tone clipped. "We'll deal with him later."
Haru stumbled after her, his red-ringed eyes darting nervously between Eichi and Kenta. He didn't say a word, but the fear in his expression was clear. Whatever had just happened, it had shaken him to his core.
As Aiko and Haru disappeared into the maze, Eichi turned his attention back to Kenta. The orange-haired boy was still trying to catch his breath, his earlier bravado replaced by a mix of pain and disbelief. Eichi didn't say anything, his expression as neutral as ever, but the message was clear:Don't push your luck.
Kenta, for all his cockiness, was still a loyal teammate. He wasn't about to give up on his team, especially the girls. So he straightened up, wiping the sweat from his brow, and assumed his usual kickboxing stance. "Look, I'm sorry for bothering you, alright? I just—"
However, just like before, all he heard was a curse from Eichi before the fight resumed. Eichi moved in, forcing Kenta into a defensive position.
At first, Eichi held the initiative, his strikes precise and efficient. But then, almost imperceptibly, he began to pull back. His attacks slowed, his movements became more defensive, and he started to give ground.
Kenta noticed the shift immediately. He took it as a sign of weakness, a sign that Eichi was finally running out of steam.
His confidence surged, and he pressed the attack, throwing punches and kicks with renewed vigor. Blow after blow, kick after kick, Kenta pushed forward, his grin returning as he felt the tide turning in his favor.
Five minutes passed like this, the two of them locked in a relentless exchange.
Kenta was breathing heavily, his movements starting to slow, but he was still holding his own. And then, just as he was about to launch another attack, the ground beneath them trembled.