[Would you like to begin learning the basics now?] [Y/N]
[NOTE: You will be transported to a more secure location.]
"No. I'll do it later when I'm more rested. Plus, I'm going to be late for school."
[Okay, it's your choice.]
From her tone, I could tell she wasn't happy about it. I pried myself off the park bench and jogged home. I arrived at school with a few minutes to spare before homeroom started.
My school, Xyrus Academy, is known for its renowned sports program. Most of the students here practiced some kind of sport; I only got in because I lived in the area.
If I'm not mistaken, boxing was one of the sports they practiced. At this school, athletes were at the top of the social hierarchy; they received certain privileges that weren't permitted to those of us who didn't practice a sport.
For one, they had their own special dormitory and certain places in the building where only they were allowed. Just practicing a sport gave you a high social status.
I spotted a group of my classmates entering the school as I stepped through the gate.
To avoid direct contact with them, I held my head down and slowed my pace. Not that it mattered; they wouldn't have noticed me either way. I walked slowly behind them as they were going in the same direction I was.
It was a group of three boys and three girls. The loudest among them was a boy named Cassian. He was talking rather excitedly with them about something. I wasn't really interested in the conversation they were having, but my ears perked up at the mention of something.
"There was no way he could've won; Javier Goldberg was just too superior!"
Javier Goldberg? I remembered that name. He was one of the boxers whose fights I had watched on my computer. He was the lightweight champion, if I wasn't mistaken, and the youngest ever lightweight champion at the age of 18.
I continued to listen in on their conversation as they walked to class. The boys in the group also seemed excited, and from how they talked, it seemed they too had knowledge of boxing. The girls around them were nodding along and laughing at their dumb jokes like mindless drones.
He was the golden boy in our class, walking around with a smirk as if he owned the place. He was always the center of attention. I hated it.
I had been in the same class as them for four months now, but I bet they didn't even know I existed.
Arriving in my classroom, I took my seat at the back of the classroom beside the window. I made sure to claim that seat early on, as when summer rolled around, the heat would be unbearable.
Ms. Dalton entered the classroom not long after. My day was just as boring as it always was. For lunch, I sat alone in the cafeteria forced to eat the dietary meals Alexa instructed me to. If I even tried to eat anything else, I would be wracked by stomach aches.
My reputation at this school was already at rock bottom, I couldn't make it worse by rushing to the bathroom in the middle of the class.
I watched a girl wearing a varsity scanned her badge at the vending machine and a soda popped out immediately.
That was right? Athletes received a special badge that exempt them from paying for anything on the school premises.
I sat alone, ate alone, and when class was over, I left the room alone.
I didn't go home like I usually did; instead, I decided to scout around. Even though classes were over for the day, the school building was still buzzing with students heading to their different clubs. I had been here for two months, and I barely knew my way around the school—a testament to how large it was.
After finally building up the courage to ask for directions, I found what I was looking for—the boxing club.
They had their own space inside what looked like a gym. Inside, there were punching bags, dumbbells, and various training equipment, all surrounding the ring at the center of the room.
I couldn't help but admire the beauty of it: the blue ropes, the white wooden floor, and the exterior beautifully decorated in black wrapping.
I also couldn't help feeling fearful of it since I knew it was where men went to beat each other bloody for no reason at all. Inside the room were boys my age or a little older. Right now, they weren't doing much—only a few were stretching to get their bodies ready for what was to come.
I stood at a window near the entrance, peeking into the room when a voice called out to me from behind.
"You need something?"
A girl with long black hair tied in a ponytail stared back at me. She was wearing the school's red tracksuit and held a clipboard in her hand. She had the look of an upperclassman. Her crimson eyes held a coldness to them. She asked if I needed something, but I could tell she didn't care; she just wanted me to move.
"No, I was just taking a look at the different clubs."
She looked me up and down, and then a frown appeared on her face.
"We aren't accepting any new recruits. It would be a pain to go back over the basic training. If you wanted to join, you should've done so at the beginning of the school year."
"I never said I wanted to join."
Her expression grew even more unpleasant. I had no more business here, so I decided it would be best to leave, but just then, another group showed up—a group mostly consisting of upperclassmen, but in the midst of them was one of my classmates—Cassian.
I quickly lowered my gaze and turned to leave, but before I even got the chance, he spoke up.
"Oh! It's you, Lonely-kun! What are you doing here?"
Huh?!
"Do you know him?" the girl with the black hair asked.
Before I even had a chance to react, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
"This guy? Yeah, he's my classmate."
"So you're friends?"
"No, no one is friends with Lonely-kun. He's always alone, like some kind of hermit."
His grip around my shoulders was so strong that even if I wanted to, I couldn't move an inch. Being this close to him, I got the sense of how large his muscles were. His body was bulky and he had the height to match.
I knew exactly what he was doing; he was using me to get a laugh. All the upperclassmen had smirks on their faces, even the stone-faced girl from before could only cover her mouth with a clipboard as her lips curved upwards.
I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.
It was just then that another upperclassman spoke up. He wasn't as muscular as Cassian and the others, but he had well-toned muscles. He didn't give the impression of someone interested in boxing or any sport, for that matter. He wore glasses, and his uniform was well-kept and presentable.
But what really tipped me off about him was his height. He was the tallest among them. If I had to guess, I'd say he was roughly 6 feet 5 inches. He loomed over me like a giant. His lanky arms looked flexible like a whip.
I couldn't help thinking that if I were to go up against him in a boxing match, his long arms would give him a huge advantage.
[Hah! you would be knocked out as soon as the bell rings!]
"Are you interested in joining our club?" he asked, then held out his hand. "I should introduce myself properly. My name is Lucian Valemont, a third-year, and the captain of the boxing club."
I shook his hand, but before I had the chance to answer, the girl spoke up again.
"We aren't looking for any more newbies. It would be a waste of time; we can't possibly train them well enough for them to get their license in time. If he wanted to join, then he should've come at the start of the school year."
"Yes, but if he has this skill—"
"This guy? Has skill?" Cassian broke out in laughter. "I don't think so, but well… whatever."
"I wasn't planning to join; I was only taking a look around." I said.
"That's a shame." The captain's expression changed subtly; it was unreadable. "If that's the case, then you must excuse us. We begin with our training."
The captain gave me a nod and then went into the training room, where the others followed.
The whole interaction left a bitter taste in my mouth; I didn't like being looked down on. I exited the school building and made my way home.
"Alexa."
[Yes?]
"I would like to begin my basic training now."
[A-As you wish.]
I could hear her trying to hold back her excitement, but it cracked.
Just then a glowing light appeared on the palm of my hand, and when it dispersed, a golden key was left in my grasp.
"What's this for?"
[Use it to open any door, and it will take you where you need to go.]
Arriving at my room door, I inserted the key into the lock and took a deep breath.
Here I go.
I twisted the key, hearing a loud click, and with my heart beating in my throat, I stepped into the room.