Ch. 2 - Even When You Don't Care
The next day at school, I met up with Teiru. We walked around the campus as I explained to him how fighting made me feel alive. Teiru was back to his dormant expressionless face but I persisted. I have always believed that becoming the strongest would solve all my problems. It would bring my family out of this district, and I could start a successful career as a professional mma fighter. I asked Teiru if he would ever consider fighting professionally, and he said if it made a lot of money, he'd be willing to try. In the daylight, I noticed more closely how tall he was. Standing at around 6'2, his slender build only emphasized his height even more. His white greyish hair covered his eyebrows and his eyelids rested halfway down his eyes. He really did look like a zombie.
Before I could continue talking about fighting, I bumped into a classmate, Haruta, who was backed by his 4 friends. Haruta, who was around my height and slightly more muscular, eyed me up and down before scoffing and looking at Teiru.
"Who's this new guy?" Haruta condescendingly questioned as one of his friends snickered.
Teiru surprisingly indulged and answered, "Teiru Hanayama."
Haruta looked back at his friends before subsequently laughing with them. He turned back to us, forcing out his words in between light chuckles. "You say that with such bravado! You proud of yourself or something?"
"That's enough." I said in a deeper tone. "Sorry for bumping into you, but we have to go."
"Oh? You got better places to be? Nah, don't think so." Haruta retorted before shifting his demeanor entirely. He looked back at his friends and I already knew what was coming.
I turned to Teiru. "Yo- you ready to practice fighting?"
"What-?" Confused, Teiru's eyes widened slightly as all 4 of Haruta's friends dashed at us.
"Sorry guys, but I just realized I'm short on cash. You don't mind if we take yours right?"
Since I anticipated this action from them, I sprung into action before Teiru understood what was going on, ducking one of the boy's punches before countering it with a liver shot. Before I could land another hit on him, another boy jumped at me, forcing me to dodge and create distance between them both to avoid getting hit. Teiru stood there, nonchalantly as the two others as well as Haruta charged him.
I couldn't continue to watch what he would do however, as one of the boys attacking me had started running at me. Taking his momentum as my advantage, I propelled myself off the hallway wall slamming my knee into his stomach. He coughed up a trace of blood before cramping into the ground. I sensed the other boy behind me, dodging his punch. Before we could continue to fight however, we were both stopped by a violent scream. As both of us looked over, I was left confused as I saw Haruta and one of his friends a few feet away from the scene, eyes widened and in shock. My eyes panned over to the right and I was left speechless— there I saw Teiru expressionless, but his hand was covered in blood. Not a single bead of sweat, not an ounce of adrenaline in him. As I looked down, the fourth boy laid there spasming while holding his eye. Blood leaked from the socket as he cried from pain and fear again.
"Oops, did I just break some unspoken fighting rule or something?" Teiru said to himself softly.
The hallway was completely quiet aside from the whimpering of the eye mutilated boy. All of us that were able to see stared at Teiru. I was still in shock of seeing that there was no urgency or exhilaration within him, this was simply another thing he could do. To poke someone's eye out, while they were running towards you.. that was a different level of precision.
"T-Teiru.." I said, not to him, but to myself out loud. I felt a grin starting to form on my face. "You're amazing!"
Teiru, who was expecting everyone to continue staring and being silent, was surprised to see my reaction. However before I could speak again, a slithering voice came from behind me.
"Oh my.. What is this..?"
My neck quivered and my hairs stood upright as I turned around. Standing behind me was Yoshimasa Araki, or better known as the King of Yamato High, and the 5th strongest student in district 13. Araki stared me down before walking past me, looming over the injured boy. After a quick glance, he chuckled before slamming his foot into his stomach. The boy yelped in pain once more before trying to crawl away, which was stopped instantly by Araki stomping on his fingers, breaking the boy's hand. Deciding to knock him out, Araki finished the job by kicking his head point blank, instantly silencing him. Araki then turned and glanced at the remaining boys, including Haruta.
"Leave."
Haruta and his friends that remained conscious hurried away as fast they could, leaving only us 3 in the hallway. Araki sighed before looking at Teiru. Araki was around an inch taller than Teiru, and about 20 pounds heavier. He had jet black hair similar to mine, however what gave him the distinction apart from others was his eyes. They were dark, always geared with a violent look. His pupils shined a hint of red, with many rumoring him to be a devil.
"Last night, the 7th strongest student in this district was beaten to unconsciousness." Araki stated. "If any of us ranked above him did it, we would have boasted about it by now.. and someone ranked below Kashiha beating him to the point of cracking his chest plate? Seems unlikely, no?"
"What are you saying..?" I asked, interjecting myself in the conversation.
"What I'm saying.. is I think whoever destroyed Kashiha isn't a part of this district's ranking system."
He then turned to look at Teiru.
"Funny how you pop up the next day poking some kid's eye out."
Teiru yawned, scratching his head and fixing his hair. "So what if I beat him up? Is that a bad thing?"
"Not necessarily, but it could alter the balance of things for a while."
"How so?"
Araki sighed once more. "Because when this word gets out, all of these losers will think they can climb the ranks. I don't know who you think you are "Teiru" but the jump from beating the 7th best and the 6th best is exponential."
I stretched my shoulder before speaking up. "I disagree."
Araki and Teiru both turned to look at me.
"I've studied each of the top 10s' strengths, weaknesses, and styles. Teiru would have no problem beating number 6. But you.. Yoshimasa Araki.. he might not win."
Teiru looked surprised as I admitted this, he was used to me complimenting him. Araki showed no reaction, but seemed to be thinking of what to say next.
"Whatever, you both are a little weird. I don't know what your guys' goal is, but I'll say this: becoming rank 1 and 2 in district 13 isn't just about beating the next guy above you. It's not just hierarchy— if what I just said is your goal.. be ready for anything."
Following his advice he turned to walk away. I was surprised that Araki was giving us advice. I had never actually talked to him before, but seeing him fight was like watching an entirely different person. When he fights, he becomes a violent, ruthless monster, however when he isn't in combat, he is quite level headed and respectful. I wondered at that moment: was that the pure rationality of one of the top 5?
"Our goal is to become the strongest in the world. That's what Ren said." Teiru said softly. My eyes widened, not expecting him to continue the conversation.
Araki paused, but he didn't turn around. "Is that so." He stood there, facing away from us, thinking of what to say next. After a few seconds, he spoke again. "There will be a selection phase for an upcoming tournament in 3 days."
"A what..?" I asked, confused on the topic being switched.
"Every 2 months, this city holds the cross district tournament. As you know, each district has 5 schools. Each school is allowed to send 2 students to this tournament. Since there's 13 districts, 130 of the strongest students will be sent to participate in the tournament. The pair of students from one school that wins this fighting tournament.. become rank 1 and 2 of their respective district."
My eyes widened, and Teiru started to focus more on what Araki was saying.
Araki continued. "The selection phase for Yamato High is in 3 days. It will be a smaller sized tournament consisting of just Yamato High students. The top two will be selected as the pair to be sent off to the cross district tournament."
"I see" I replied. "Are you participating in this?"
Araki focused his gaze onto me. "Yes. Do you understand now why I'm telling you both this?"
I can't speak for Teiru, but I understood. Neither Teiru or I could currently beat Araki, and 3 days wouldn't be enough time to teach Teiru enough martial arts in order to even have a chance of beating him at the selection phase. This meant: in the best case scenario, only one of us would go to this cross district tournament with Araki.
I looked over at Teiru, his gaze deepened, so I got that he understood too.
Teiru and I would have to fight each other to get into this tournament.
"Hey Ren."
"Y-yeah.. what's up."
"You told me to fight no matter what— and to give it my all every time."
"Yeah?"
"So I'm going to try my best even if it's against you."
I chuckled softly before grinning and shining a determined look on my face.
"Then bring it on prodigy."
"Yeah, good luck genius."
Araki watched us both, impressed by how fast we situated our dilemma. Then without a word, he waved his hand as a goodbye and left.