AT NIGHT AFTER THE AMBUSH
Ellie lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.
Her room had a soft brown and skin-tone theme. Everything felt warm and peaceful. She hugged the flower-patterned blanket tightly as thoughts of Alan filled her mind.
Ellie muttered softly.
"...He remembered me."
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
"I'm so happy..."
Suddenly she realized her cheeks were burning.
Ellie quickly shook her head, embarrassed by her own reaction.
"Why am I blushing like this..."
She pulled the blanket up to her chin and closed her eyes, trying to sleep.
---
Next Morning
Ellie stood near the gates of Blackridge School, scrolling through her phone while waiting.
Students continued walking past her toward the school building.
A few moments later, she noticed someone approaching from the left.
Alan.
She quickly put her phone inside her bag and walked toward him.
"Alan! Let's go together."
Alan looked at her for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah… why not."
They walked side by side through the school gates.
As they passed through the courtyard and into the hallway, Alan noticed several students glancing in his direction.
Some whispered.
Some girls giggled quietly.
Alan leaned slightly closer and whispered near Ellie's ear.
"Why are they looking at me?"
Ellie blinked at him.
"You don't know?"
Alan raised an eyebrow.
Ellie smiled.
"You probably never noticed, but people have always stared at you."
She covered her mouth while laughing softly.
"Especially the girls. Some of them even have a crush on you."
Alan stopped for a moment, genuinely surprised.
"That's… weird."
"I never thought it was like that."
He sighed lightly.
Ellie chuckled.
"Well, it's nice to see you react to something."
She then looked at him with curiosity.
"By the way, there's something I wanted to ask you—"
Suddenly the school announcement interrupted them.
"All students, please head to the buses outside. The tournament between Ironfall Academy and Blackridge will be held today at Ironfall Academy."
Alan blinked.
"Oh right… the tournament is today."
Ellie rubbed the back of her neck.
"I almost forgot."
She smiled.
"Let's drop our bags in the classroom first."
They placed their bags on their desks before heading outside.
Several buses were already waiting.
Alan looked around.
"Which seat?"
From the back of the bus, someone waved enthusiastically.
"Hey! Alan! Over here!"
It was Daniel.
Alan walked toward the back seat with Ellie.
Daniel sat beside the window while Daisy sat next to him.
Alan took the seat across from them while Ellie sat beside him.
Daisy looked between them with curiosity.
"Ellie… since when did you become close to Alan?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"It's surprising to see him walking with a girl."
Ellie hesitated for a moment.
Explaining everything would take too long.
"Let's just say… we're childhood friends."
Daniel's eyes widened.
"Seriously? Alan never told me that."
Alan closed his eyes calmly.
"I only found out yesterday."
Daisy looked even more confused.
"That's… kind of weird."
Ellie quickly changed the subject.
"So… how about we talk about the tournament instead?"
Daniel rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Right. My fight will probably be against their B-rank fighter… Mark."
Alan looked at him.
"What do you think about him?"
Daniel shrugged.
"I don't know much. But from what I've heard, he's extremely skilled."
The bus ride continued as they talked about the upcoming fights.
---
Ironfall Academy
Meanwhile, at Ironfall Academy, Mark, Wayne, and Chris were sitting near the school fountain.
Wayne stretched his arms.
"So I have to fight too?"
Mark nodded.
"Yeah."
He glanced at Chris.
"But Chris won't be participating this time."
Chris frowned.
"Why not?"
Mark replied calmly.
"You caused too much trouble last time. This tournament is important, and Blackridge students are coming here too."
Chris made an annoyed face.
"I won't do it again."
Mark shook his head.
"I know. But we can't take any risks."
Wayne laughed.
"Besides, the first few matches won't matter anyway."
He leaned back lazily.
"They shouldn't even let random fighters participate. Watching them fight would be like watching two street dogs fighting."
Mark smirked.
"You're not wrong."
Chris then looked at Mark.
"Hey… what was your toughest fight?"
He leaned forward.
"You remember that time, right?"
Mark thought for a moment.
"…Yeah."
"About two years ago."
"When I fought him."
---
Two Years Ago – Casino
Inside a noisy casino, a blond boy wearing a red jacket sat in front of a slot machine.
"Damn it!"
He slammed his fist against the machine.
"I keep losing at this stupid game!"
"I've wasted so much money!"
Nearby, Mark, Chris, and Wayne were drinking soda beside another machine.
Mark glanced over.
"Did he lose again?"
Wayne nodded.
"Looks like it."
Chris shrugged.
"He's just bad at gambling."
The blond boy suddenly stood up and walked toward them.
His heavy footsteps echoed on the floor.
Without warning, he grabbed Chris by the collar.
"I'm not bad."
"This machine is rigged."
"Stop supporting this garbage or I'll break your face."
Mark grabbed his arm and forced him to let go.
"It's just luck."
"There's no need to fight."
The boy's eyes widened before a grin spread across his face.
"Oh?"
"I'm already in a bad mood… and now you're ordering me around?"
Mark cracked his knuckles.
"You're ruining the atmosphere."
"I guess I'll have to teach you a lesson."
Before Mark could react, the boy suddenly punched him in the face.
Mark staggered but didn't fall.
"You think you're tough?"
The boy smirked proudly.
"I'm Jack."
"The one Blackridge fears."
Mark clenched his fist and drove a punch into Jack's liver.
Jack coughed violently.
"Heh… you hit hard."
"I'll give you that."
Jack charged forward again.
His fist slammed toward Mark's stomach.
Mark parried it with his elbow.
Jack blinked in surprise.
"What?"
Mark smirked slightly.
"You're strong… like a gorilla."
"But you fight with the brain of a turtle."
He punched Jack in the jaw.
Then kicked his foot.
And finished with a strike to his abdomen.
Jack staggered but refused to fall.
He stared at Mark with burning eyes.
"Y-You bastard… where are you from?"
Mark replied calmly.
"Ironfall Academy."
"The strongest C-rank in the city."
"You're also C-rank… but you rely too much on brute force."
"I'll stop here."
"Go home."
But suddenly Jack attacked again.
Mark barely blocked the strike.
His eyes widened.
What?
He's stronger… and faster now.
Jack's skin turned red as steam seemed to rise from his body.
Rage?
Jack attacked again.
Mark dodged and struck him repeatedly in the face.
His expression grew serious.
"His durability is insane…"
Before Mark Could Guard Up To Avoid the Next attack.
Chris and Wayne suddenly jumped in.
They kicked Jack from both sides, sending him crashing into a slot machine.
The machine shattered.
Chris sighed.
"…We're going to have to pay for that."
Wayne rubbed his head.
"Maybe we shouldn't have kicked him that hard."
He looked at Mark.
"You alright?"
Mark slowly stood up.
His arms trembled slightly.
He stared at the unconscious Jack.
"…I'm fine."
"He exceeded my expectations."
"I didn't think Blackridge had a monster like him."
Mark looked at his fist.
"…I need to train harder."
"My next goal is to become the strongest B-rank in this city."
He looked at him again, thoughts running in his mind
"He exhausted himself, and went unconscious, he's not good with whatever power he holds"
---
Present
Mark finished his story.
"That fight was crazy."
"A few months later I heard rumors that Daniel fought Jack… and lost to him in that same state."
"Jack truly became stronger in these 2 years"
Wayne nodded.
"That means Jack surpassed you."
Mark sighed.
"Yeah, he did."
"Jack was already A-rank."
"He stopped coming to school after that incident"
"And me?"
He shrugged.
"I'm still just aiming to become the strongest B-rank."
Chris stood up.
"Enough talking."
"The tournament is about to start."
The three of them stood up as the buses from Blackridge finally arrived.
Students poured out of the vehicles.
Excited voices filled the air.
---
Last Night
Lily stood outside a school building.
This school was neither Ironfall nor Blackridge.
The place felt strange and quiet.
Lily hugged her arms nervously.
"What should I do…"
"I can't go home without it…"
Suddenly she noticed someone approaching.
A boy wearing a blue shirt and black overcoat.
His hairstyle was neatly split into two blocks.
Jin.
Lily blinked.
"Jin?"
"What is he doing here this late?"
She noticed the grocery bag in his hand.
"Oh… maybe he lives nearby."
Jin suddenly stopped when he saw her.
That alone surprised her.
He had never stopped for her before.
His voice was calm and cold.
"Why are you standing here at this hour?"
Lily hesitated.
"I… I need my backpack."
"My classmates threw it inside the school over the wall."
She looked nervous.
"I heard some dangerous people stay here at night…"
"People with C-rank and even B-rank strength."
Jin looked at her.
"Friends?"
Lily paused.
"…Not really."
She looked down.
"I don't think they're my friends."
Jin looked toward the school gate.
"You only need your backpack?"
Lily nodded quickly.
"Why?"
She looked worried.
"Don't tell me you're going inside!"
"That place is dangerous!"
But Jin had already started walking toward the entrance.
"I'll bring it."
"Go home afterward."
He entered the dark school grounds without waiting.
Lily sat down against the wall and hugged her knees.
"What should I do…"
"He's going to get hurt…"
"But why is he helping me?"
"I've never seen him help anyone before…"
Several minutes passed.
Then Jin returned.
Her backpack was in his hand.
Not a single scratch on him.
Lily stared at him in shock.
He handed the bag to her.
"Here."
"Go home."
She grabbed it slowly.
"A-Are you okay?"
Jin replied immediately.
"I'm fine."
"Now go home."
He walked away down the street.
Lily stared at his back.
Her mind was racing.
That school is supposed to be filled with fighters…
C-rank… B-rank…
So how did he walk in…
And come back completely unharmed?
When she looked again, Jin had already disappeared.
The street was empty.
Lily whispered quietly.
"…Everything has been strange lately."
---
To be continued.