The Quiet Before the Storm
The city was silent under a gray, fog-choked dawn.
The sky itself seemed to hold its breath, heavy clouds pressing down as though the world knew what this day meant for Akio.
Streetlights flickered weakly against the mist. A delivery truck rumbled past somewhere far away, its sound swallowed by the fog.
Inside a modest bedroom, Akio Mune sat awake on his bed, his legs folded beneath him, his racket resting across his lap like a holy relic.
He hadn't slept at all.
The alarm clock on his desk read 4:43 a.m., but Akio hadn't dared close his eyes.
Every time he tried, the same nightmare came for him: the courtyard, the laughter, Sora's cruel, golden eyes.
His hands trembled as he traced the strings of his racket with his fingertips.
In another life, it would've been a wand.
In another world, this would've been a moment of magic.
Here, though, there was no magic—only skill, sweat, and raw willpower.
"I can't lose.
If I lose here... I'll be back there again.
Back in that courtyard, everyone laughing while he... while Sora..."
Akio squeezed his eyes shut and forced the thought away.
His stomach rose and fell in shallow, rapid breaths.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed, startling him.
The glowing screen displayed a simple message from Yukiko:
"Meet us at the club room before we head out. We'll go together."
Akio exhaled shakily, whispering to himself as though to anchor his soul:
"This is it. This is the day everything changes... or ends."
He stood, gripping his racket tight, and walked to the door.
The camera lingered on his empty, neatly made bed as he left—a quiet symbol of the night spent wrestling his demons.
Arrival at the Arena
By the time the team arrived, the tournament arena was already alive with sound and motion.
The building towered above them, a vast structure of glass and steel, glowing like a beacon in the morning light.
Hundreds of students and spectators crowded the entrance, their voices merging into a deafening roar.
To Akio, it felt like stepping into another battlefield.
Every shout, every laugh, was a dagger aimed at his heart.
He kept his head down, walking close to Yukiko like a shadow.
The team passed beneath a massive banner that read:
"Regional High School Badminton Championship"
But beneath it, spray-painted crudely in dark red letters, were the words everyone actually used:
"The Tournament of Death."
Akio swallowed hard, his throat dry.
The name wasn't just for drama.
He'd learned from Yukiko that here, a humiliating loss didn't just bruise your pride—it destroyed you.
Students who failed were mocked relentlessly.
Some dropped out entirely.
Some... never recovered.
This was no simple game.
It was a trial by fire.
The Sound That Froze His Blood
The team moved through the throng of competitors, heading toward registration.
Akio kept his gaze fixed on the floor, trying to focus on the rhythm of his breathing.
Then he heard it.
A low, cold laugh—smooth and sharp, like glass breaking in his ears.
The sound didn't belong to this world.
It belonged to his nightmares.
Akio stopped dead in his tracks, his heart seizing painfully.
The color drained from his face as the noise grew louder, closer.
The crowd around them shifted, whispers spreading like wildfire.
Students turned their heads, craning their necks to see who was coming.
Gasps rippled through the arena.
And then... he appeared.
The Entrance of Sora
From the far end of the hall, a single figure walked forward, and the entire atmosphere shifted.
Sora.
Even here, in this modern world without magic, his presence was otherworldly.
His silver hair caught the light like moonlight on steel, and his golden eyes gleamed with cold, predatory amusement.
He wore his team uniform with perfect precision, every line immaculate.
On his shoulder, he carried his racket not as a tool—but as a weapon.
People instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path for him as though he were royalty—or a monster.
Akio's breath came in shallow gasps.
His hands trembled violently, and he clutched Yukiko's sleeve without realizing it.
Sora's gaze swept lazily across the room until it locked on Akio.
His lips curled into a smirk.
Sora:
"Well, well... look who managed to crawl out of the dirt."
He stepped closer, each word dripping venom.
"Akio Mune.
Or should I say... Tallentless Worm?"
The words were a dagger straight to Akio's soul.
The arena faded away.
In Akio's mind, he was back in the marble courtyard, surrounded by jeering classmates.
He heard their chants.
He saw the broken pieces of his wand at his feet.
He smelled the cold stone beneath his knees.
His body locked up completely.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Yukiko Stands Firm
Before Sora could get any closer, Yukiko stepped between them, his stance defensive, his eyes blazing.
"Back off," Yukiko snapped.
"You don't get to talk to him like that."
Sora tilted his head, studying Yukiko as if he were an insect.
"And who might you be?
Ah... his new little bodyguard."
He gave a low chuckle, the sound pure malice.
"How quaint.
But you should know something, little kid:
Stand next to garbage long enough, and you start to smell like it."
Yukiko's fists clenched.
"You've got a lot of nerve.
Say whatever you want about me, but don't you dare call Akio garbage."
For the first time, Sora's smile faltered slightly.
Then he leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper only Akio could hear.
Sora:
"You think this world will save you?
That this new body, these new friends, can erase what you are?"
His eyes gleamed like molten gold.
"A worm will always be a worm."
He straightened, smirk restored, and walked away with deliberate slowness, his very footsteps a declaration of dominance.
Akio collapsed to his knees the moment Sora was gone, clutching his ribs as though his heart might burst.
In the Locker Room – Akio's Spiral
The team retreated to their assigned locker room.
The air was thick with tension as the other members stretched and prepared silently.
Akio sat on a bench in the corner, his hands still shaking uncontrollably.
Yukiko crouched in front of him, voice steady but firm.
"Akio. Look at me."
Akio's tear-filled eyes rose to meet Yukiko's.
"You can do this," Yukiko said, gripping his shoulders.
"Sora is just another player.
The only power he has over you is the power you let him have."
Akio shook his head violently.
"You don't... you don't understand!"
His voice cracked, breaking under the weight of years of torment.
"When he looks at me, it's like I'm back there—eight years old, surrounded by laughter, my wand snapped in half, and everyone chanting 'Tallentless Worm!'
I can't breathe, Yukiko. I... I can't—"
Yukiko didn't let go.
"Then breathe with me," he said gently.
"In. Out. Slowly. Like this."
The two breathed together, Yukiko's calm rhythm anchoring Akio back to the present.
Gradually, the trembling subsided.
Akio's voice was barely a whisper.
"Thank you. I'll... I'll try."
First Match – Stepping Onto the Court
The first round was announced over the loudspeakers.
Akio's name appeared on the massive electronic scoreboard:
Akio Mune – Seiryuu High vs. Daichi Kurota – Genkai Academy
The crowd's roar was deafening as Akio walked to the court.
Every step felt like walking through fire.
His grip on the racket was slick with sweat, his breathing uneven.
The announcer's voice boomed:
"Next up, a debut match! Akio Mune of Seiryuu High faces off against Daichi Kurota of Genkai Academy!"
Daichi, a broad-shouldered kid with a snorky grin, gave Akio a mocking look.
"You're new to this, huh?
Don't worry—I'll make this quick."
Akio said nothing, his gaze fixed on the shuttle.
In his mind, he repeated Yukiko's words:
"Your racket is your magic now. Believe in it."
The Match Begins – Hesitation and Fear
The whistle blew.
Daichi's serve was blindingly fast.
Akio reacted too late, the shuttle whistling past him.
"Point, Genkai Academy!" the referee announced.
The crowd roared.
Akio's heart pounded like a drum in his ribs.
The next rally was even worse.
Daichi dominated effortlessly, his movements confident and aggressive.
Every miss, every stumble chipped away at Akio's fragile resolve.
From the stands, Yukiko's voice rang out like a lifeline.
"Focus, Akio! Don't think—just feel! You've got this!"
Akio squeezed his eyes shut for a split second.
The world narrowed to the sound of his own breathing.
He opened his eyes, and for the first time, he moved without hesitation.
Daichi's next smash came hard and fast—but Akio returned it with a perfect counterstrike.
The crowd gasped, stunned by the sudden shift.
Momentum Builds
Point by point, Akio's rhythm improved.
The fear didn't vanish—but it began to transform, turning into a sharp, burning determination.
Each successful rally was like a tiny rebellion against his past.
Akio's thoughts:
"I am not the Tallentless Worm.
Not anymore.
This is my magic now."
Daichi's smirk faded into frustration as Akio matched him blow for blow.
The score climbed higher and higher, tension mounting with every point.
Sora Watches
High in the stands, Sora watched silently.
His golden eyes were cold and analytical, tracking every movement Akio made.
A girl beside him whispered,
"Wow, that new guy's pretty good. Think he'll make it far?"
Sora's smirk returned, sharp as a knife.
"Oh, he'll rise," he murmured.
"And when he's at his peak...
I'll drag him down into the dirt where he belongs."
The Final Rally
The score was tied.
The entire arena held its breath.
Daichi served with every ounce of strength he had, the shuttle a blur.
Akio lunged, his body screaming in protest—but his will was unbreakable.
He returned the shot with a perfect drop, the shuttlecock landing just inside the line.
"Match point! Winner: Akio Mune of Seiryuu High!" the referee shouted.
The crowd exploded in cheers.
Akio fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the moment.
He'd done it.
For the first time, he wasn't a victim.
He was a victor.
Bittersweet Celebration
Yukiko rushed to the court, pulling Akio into a fierce hug.
"You did it!" he shouted, his grin radiant.
"I knew you could!"
Akio sobbed openly into Yukiko's shoulder.
"I was so scared... but I didn't give up."
The other club members gathered around, cheering and patting him on the back.
For a fleeting moment, Akio felt warmth and acceptance like never before.
The Shadow Returns
But as Akio left the court, that warmth was shattered.
Sora stood waiting in the hallway, leaning casually against the wall.
He clapped slowly, mockingly, his smirk a blade.
"Well done," he said, voice smooth as silk.
"That was almost... impressive."
Akio froze, his body locking up.
"But don't get comfortable," Sora continued, stepping closer.
"The higher you rise, the more spectacular your fall will be.
And when I crush you in front of everyone...
it will be beautiful."
He walked away, leaving only silence and the echo of his laughter.
Closing Scene – A Vow in the Night
That night, Akio stood alone on the rooftop of his house, staring at the city lights below.
His racket was clutched in his hands, his knuckles white.
Akio's thoughts:
"He's here.
He's real.
And he's coming for me."
Tears streamed down his face, but his voice was steady, unyielding.
Akio:
"I won't let you destroy me again, Sora.
Not in this world.
Not ever."
The camera panned upward to the starless night sky, the city lights flickering like dying embers, as the episode ended in haunting silence.
TO BE CONTINUED...