The morning sun filtered through the classroom windows, spilling light across the polished wooden floor. Kai leaned back in his chair, stifling a yawn.
So this is what a martial arts high school classroom feels like… looks almost normal, he thought. Desks, chalkboard, a teacher's desk. If it weren't for the banners of different martial styles hanging on the walls—Taekwondo, Karate, Wushu, Kendo—it could have been any other high school.
The homeroom teacher, a stern woman with tied-back hair and sharp glasses, tapped the board with a stick.
"Remember, first-years, academics are only one half of your responsibility here. Your martial discipline is the other. Slacking in either will result in remedial training. And trust me, you don't want remedial training."
The class groaned collectively. Someone muttered, "Last year they made a kid hold horse stance for three hours straight…"
Kai blinked. Three hours? That's torture, not training.
When the morning classes ended, the students were told to head to the dojo hall for their first official martial arts session.
The dojo was massive, almost like a gymnasium, but stripped of basketball hoops and replaced with tatami mats. Wooden weapon racks lined the walls, and instructors in traditional uniforms stood at the front.
Kai stepped inside, his mechanical-mind kicking in immediately.
Weight distribution on the tatami… spacing of weapon racks… ventilation is good, probably to keep students from fainting during summer.
"Yo, Kai!" Jun waved him over. His cheerful grin hadn't faded since yesterday. Mei followed, clutching her practice uniform nervously.
The three stood together as a tall instructor strode to the center. He wore a black gi, his movements sharp and controlled. His voice echoed clearly.
"I am Instructor Takeda. For first-years, I will be drilling the foundation. Remember this: without a stance, your strikes are empty. Without breath, your stance collapses. Today, you learn both."
The students quickly changed into their practice uniforms. Kai adjusted the belt awkwardly. His aunt had taught him basics of Wushu, but this was the first time he was wearing an official school gi.
"Line up!"
The rows formed. Kai found himself next to Jun, who kept whispering.
"Bet they'll make us spar right away."
Kai shook his head. "No, foundation comes first. They'll test balance, breathing."
Jun raised a brow. "Oh? How do you know that?"
Kai smirked. "Engineering family. Physics doesn't lie."
"Horse stance!"
The command hit like thunder. Every student dropped low, knees bent, thighs burning instantly.
Kai lowered himself carefully, remembering his aunt's corrections. Back straight, knees not caving in, weight distributed evenly. The floor pressed against his soles, solid, unmoving.
Minutes passed. Groans filled the hall. Some students wobbled.
Kai's legs shook too, but he focused. It's like building a structure. If the foundation is weak, the building collapses. Same for me—if I lose balance, everything falls apart.
"Good," Instructor Takeda's voice boomed. "Now, add breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Control your body through breath."
Kai inhaled deeply, feeling the pressure stabilize. His chest expanded, then contracted steadily.
Beside him, Jun was gritting his teeth. "T-This is… torture!"
Kai chuckled faintly. "Breathe with rhythm. You'll last longer."
Jun shot him a glare but tried copying his breathing.
On Kai's other side, Mei was trembling badly. Her stance was falling apart. Without thinking, Kai leaned slightly and whispered.
"Shift your weight a little more forward. Don't let your knees lock."
Mei glanced at him, surprised, then followed his advice. Her legs steadied a little. She whispered back, "Thanks…"
After what felt like eternity, the command finally came.
"Stand!"
Some students nearly collapsed. Others sighed with relief.
Instructor Takeda paced the room, eyes sharp. Then he suddenly barked:
"You! Tall boy in the second row—your stance collapsed halfway. Drop and give me fifty pushups."
The unlucky student groaned and obeyed.
Takeda's gaze swept again, pausing briefly on Kai. For a moment, their eyes locked. Then the instructor gave the faintest nod before moving on.
Kai blinked. Did… he just acknowledge me?
The session moved into drills: basic punches, blocks, and footwork. Repetition filled the hall, sweat dripping from every forehead.
Jun was swinging wildly, panting.
"Why… so much… repetition?"
Kai answered between breaths. "Because the body learns… through muscle memory. Until it's automatic."
Jun groaned. "You sound like the teacher's assistant already."
Mei, though quiet, was steady. Her strikes were small but precise. Kai noticed her focus. She's got potential. Just needs confidence.
When class ended, everyone staggered to the locker room. Jun collapsed on the bench dramatically.
"I'm dying. Literally dying."
Kai smirked, pulling off his gi top. "You'll survive. Think of it as… upgrading your system with pain."
Jun sat up. "System upgrade, huh? I like that. I'll call it Version 2.0 Jun!"
Mei giggled softly at that. It was the first time Kai saw her smile.
After changing, they left the dojo together. Students buzzed around the courtyard, chatting about the training. Some bragged about lasting longer in horse stance, others complained.
As they walked, a group of second-years passed by. One of them, a tall boy with sharp eyes, glanced at Kai. His lips curved in a smirk.
Kai felt it immediately—the kind of look predators give prey.
Jun noticed too. "Uh-oh. That guy's sizing you up."
Mei's face paled. "That's Riku… he's the top fighter of the second-years."
Riku's gaze lingered on Kai for a moment longer, then he walked off with his group.
Kai exhaled slowly. So it begins.
That evening, back at the restaurant, Kai's aunt placed a steaming bowl of noodles in front of him.
"First day of training?" she asked.
Kai nodded, chopsticks in hand. "Yeah. Horse stance, breathing, drills. Tough, but… it feels right."
His aunt smirked knowingly. "Foundations are boring but necessary. Don't rush. Even steel needs to be tempered slowly."
Kai twirled the noodles thoughtfully. His mind replayed the day: the burning pain of stance training, Mei's trembling, Jun's endless whining, the brief nod from Takeda… and Riku's sharp gaze.
He clenched his chopsticks. If this is just the start, I'll need more than engineering logic. I'll need willpower. Iron will.