The college bell rang loudly, telling everyone the day was finally over. Students cheered and rushed out of their classrooms.
Akane stretched her arms and smiled: "Yes! Finally! I can go home!"
She looked to her side and saw Kaizen still asleep at his desk, lightly snoring.
Akane rolled her eyes: "Hey, brat! Wake up!"
But Kaizen didn't move. Akane smirked, picked up a rolled notebook, leaned in close, and shouted in his ear.
Akane: "WAKE UP, SLEEPYHEAD!"
Kaizen jumped up in shock: "AHHH! What the heck?! Who screamed in my ear!?"
Akane grinned: "No one. Just your favorite classmate. Let's go. College is over."
Kaizen rubbed his ears and groaned: "You almost gave me a heart attack, you devil."
Akane: "Hey, I had to wake you up somehow."
Kaizen: "Next time, try shaking me, not yelling into my brain."
Outside the gate, Yui stood waiting. When she saw them, she waved with a smile.
Yui: "There you are! You guys are so slow."
Akane: "Blame Kaizen. He fell asleep during class and wouldn't wake up."
Kaizen: "I didn't fall asleep. I was just... thinking with my eyes closed."
Akane: "Thinking? Looked like dreaming to me."
They laughed as a fancy black car pulled up. The door opened, and a small boy jumped out and ran toward Akane.
Akane: "Hey, Ovee!"
Ovee: "Big sis!"
Kaizen raised a brow: "Who's this little Pokémon?"
Yui chuckled: "Akane... what's with the limo and butler? Are you a secret princess or something?"
Akane: "This is my little brother, Ovee. Don't be fooled—he's in high school even if he looks like a baby."
Akane: "Ovee, meet my friends: Yui and... that's Kaizen."
Ovee smiled at Yui: "Hi, big sis!"
But when he looked at Kaizen, his smile dropped.
Ovee: "…Hello."
Kaizen held out his hand: "Nice to meet you, buddy!"
Ovee ignored his hand and climbed into the car.
Kaizen: "Rude much? What's this little Pokémon's problem?"
Servant stepped forward: "Good afternoon, Princess Akane. Shall we go home now?"
Akane: "Get in, everyone."
Kaizen jumped in quickly: "I won't say no to a free ride."
Yui: "Are you sure this is okay?"
Akane: "Of course. We're friends now."
Servant: "Our little princess making friends... Master will be proud. She's finally growing up."
Kaizen: "Princess? She throws punches like a warrior, not tea parties."
Ovee frowned: "Don't say that about big sis, peasant."
Kaizen: "PEASANT?! I'm older than you, Pikachu!"
Ovee: "Yeah? Do you have a driver?"
Kaizen: "Yeah. My feet."
Yui laughed nervously: "This is a wild ride already."
Servant (calmly): "Would Master Kaizen like a towel for his emotional pain?"
Kaizen: "…Actually, yes. Thank you."
As the limo drove through the streets, everyone relaxed—until a voice echoed from a nearby alley.
Voice: "Help! Please help!"
Akane's eyes widened: "Wait! Stop the car!"
Kaizen: "That sounded serious. Someone's in trouble."
Servant: "Ma'am, it could be dangerous."
Akane: "Stop the car. We need to check it out."
The car stopped. Akane turned to Yui.
Akane: "Stay with Ovee. It might be risky."
Ovee: "No! I'm coming too!"
Kaizen: "We're wasting time. Let's go!"
They rushed into the dark alley. The further they went, the narrower and messier it got. Trash cans were everywhere. Stray cats ran past them.
Yui: "The voice is close!"
As they turned the corner, their eyes were met with a grim sight: a group of students, unmistakably from their own school, viciously assaulting a lone boy.
Kaizen's anger surged like a wildfire. He stepped forward, his voice sharp and thunderous.
Kaizen: "Hey, you fuckers! Cut this shit out, now! What the hell do you think you're doing to this kid? Aren't you from the same damn college?"
All eyes turned to Kaizen, but before the aggressors could respond, Akane stepped forward, her voice cold as steel.
Akane: "Get away from that boy. I know you're the same group of assholes who bully the weaker students!"
The group bristled.
Student A: "Who the fuck are you people to barge into someone else's business?"
Student B: "Did that bitch just call us ugly frogs?"
Kaizen clenched his jaw. With a glance at his friends, he made a call.
Kaizen: "Akane, Yui—take Ovee and get out of here. Stay safe."
Ovee looked scared.
Yui: "Don't worry, everything will be alright."
Kaizen turned to the servant.
Kaizen: "You know how to handle yourself, right?"
Servant: "Name's Berlin Bratt. Don't worry about Miss Akane and the others. I'll keep them safe. You just focus on kicking some ass."
Berlin: "Let's see, kid—are you all talk, or something else?"
Kaizen (grinning): "Yeah, yeah. Now watch the demons dance."
He extended a hand to the boy.
Kaizen: "Come here. Stay by Akane's side."
The boy nodded, gratitude clear in his eyes, and retreated to safety.
Kaizen counted five assailants. One of them was asleep and looked oddly familiar.
Student Leader: "Look at this guy. Thinks he can take us all on? And he's got that old geezer backing him up."
His crew chuckled, but Kaizen's eyes narrowed. His aura, once calm, now flickered like flame—intense, alive.
An unseen pressure settled in the alley.
Kaizen's aura was sharp—raw, chaotic energy dancing like black lightning around him. To those watching, it wasn't just strength. It was presence. A presence that made hearts race and knees weak.
Student Leader: "You think you can mess with us? We're the Achievers—top first-years. I've never seen you around. Who the hell are you?"
Akane: "So, you're one of the top three groups…"
Student Leader (leering at kaizen): "I'll take you down first, kiddo. Then we'll deal with the old geezer and the pretty ones."
Kaizen smiled darkly—and in a flash, moved.
With a sharp spin and rising force, Kaizen's foot crashed into the leader's chest, launching him into the trash bins.
Yui: "Whoa…"
Berlin: "So he wasn't bluffing."
Akane (smirking): "That's right! That's what happens when you mess with us!"
Kaizen (chuckling): "Thought today would be boring, but hey, looks like I get to stretch a bit."
He stepped forward, the black flame of his aura growing.
Kaizen: "Let's make a wager. You think you own the top spot? Beat me—and keep your title. But if I win… your reputation goes up in flames."
The remaining assailants hesitated, unsure whether to fight or run.
The air was electric.
And Kaizen? He was just getting started.