Morning came quietly.
Sunlight slipped through the window and fell across Kaito's face. His eyes opened slowly, heavy, dry, like he hadn't slept enough. For a few seconds, he just stared at the ceiling, breathing shallow, his mind empty.
Something felt off.
He tried to remember last night.
Nothing clear came.
Just a blur.
The last thing he could recall was registering for the arm-wrestling tournament. The match was today. That much he was sure of.
Kaito raised his hands and looked at them.
They felt heavy. Tight. His fingers curled slowly, then relaxed.
"…I must've fallen asleep after coming home," he muttered."Damn… my head hurts. My body too."
There was no panic in his voice. Just mild confusion.
He got up, took a shower. Warm water ran down his back, steam filling the bathroom. He stood still for a long time, letting it hit his face. No memories came back.
After breakfast, he grabbed his bag and left.
Morning noise filled the hall.
Metal chairs scraped the floor. Someone laughed too loudly. Hands slapped together, warming up. The arm-wrestling table sat in the center like an altar, worn down by years of force and sweat.
Kaito stood near the wall, watching.
Big arms. Thick wrists. Veins like ropes.
I don't belong here, he thought.I'll probably lose fast.
His name was called.
First Match
Kaito sat down.
The table felt cold under his elbow. The pad was rough. His opponent sat across from him—broad shoulders, thick neck, confident smile.
The man looked at Kaito's arm.
Then looked again.
"…You sure you're in the right place?" the man said, half joking.
Kaito didn't answer.
They gripped hands.
The opponent squeezed hard, testing him. Kaito felt it—but it didn't register as pain. Just pressure. Like holding something heavy for a moment.
The referee leaned in.
"Ready… go!"
The opponent attacked instantly.
Hard. Fast. Aggressive.
Kaito's arm moved a little. Not because he was losing—but because he let it.
The opponent's smile grew.
Got him.
Kaito felt the table vibrate. He felt the force pushing down.
Then something strange happened.
The pressure stopped feeling heavy.
It felt… empty.
Kaito tilted his wrist slightly. His fingers tightened—not fully, just enough to hold.
The match ended.
The opponent's hand slammed into the pad.
Silence.
The man stared at the table. Then at his own arm. Then at Kaito.
"…What?" he whispered.
He laughed nervously. "No, no—wait. That was a slip, right?"
The referee shook his head. "Match over."
The opponent stood up slowly, flexing his arm, shaking it like it had betrayed him.
"That doesn't make sense," he muttered. "I pushed full force."
Kaito stood up without a word and walked away.
Behind him, the man was still staring at his hand.
Second Match
This time, the opponent didn't smile.
He watched Kaito carefully, eyes narrowed. He adjusted his stance, locked his wrist tight.
"You beat that guy fast," he said. "Lucky angle?"
"Maybe," Kaito replied quietly.
They locked hands.
This grip was different—controlled, technical. The opponent tried to bend Kaito's wrist before the start.
"Go!"
The pressure came slow and steady. Calculated.
Kaito felt it crawl through his arm.
He's trying to control me, Kaito thought.
Without thinking, he shifted his elbow slightly and rolled his wrist back into place.
The opponent's eyes widened.
"No—wait—"
Kaito pressed down.
Not hard.
Not fast.
Just enough.
The arm fell.
The opponent froze mid-breath.
"…You're kidding me."
He pulled his arm back quickly, shaking it, staring at Kaito like he was looking at something dangerous.
"That wasn't strength," he said. "That was wrong."
People around the table started whispering.
Third Match
By now, the crowd was closer.
Phones were out. Arms were crossed. Eyes were watching Kaito, not the table.
His third opponent cracked his neck and laughed loudly, but his eyes gave him away.
Nervous.
"So you're the quiet guy," he said. "Let's see what you've got."
They locked hands.
The grip was tight—too tight.
The referee barely finished before the opponent pushed with everything he had.
The table shook.
Kaito's arm bent slightly.
The opponent grinned. "There—!"
Then Kaito straightened his wrist.
The pressure snapped.
The opponent's arm dropped like it had lost power.
The sound of it hitting the pad echoed.
No one spoke.
The opponent pulled back fast, breathing hard, eyes wide.
"What the hell are you?" he whispered.
Kaito released his grip and stood up.
He didn't feel strong.
He didn't feel excited.
He just felt… normal.
And that scared everyone else far more than shouting or rage ever could.
The tournament continued.
And no matter who sat across from him—
The result never changed.
Rounds passed.
People started watching him.
"Who is that guy?""He doesn't even look serious.""He's not using full strength, right?"
Kaito heard none of it.
Inside, he felt nothing.
No excitement.No pride.No fear.
Just movement.
Grip.Push.Finish.
Every opponent came at him with everything they had.
Kaito never did.
It felt easy. Too easy.
Final Match
The strongest competitor sat across from him. Thick forearms. Focused eyes.
"You're strong," the man said quietly. "But I won't go easy."
Kaito nodded.
"I know."
The match began.
For the first time, Kaito felt resistance. Real pressure.
He leaned slightly forward.
That was enough.
The opponent's arm slammed down.
Silence filled the hall.
Then cheers.
The referee handed Kaito the prize money.
20,000.
Kaito looked at it for a second.
"Oh," he said quietly. "I won."
There was no smile. No celebration.
Just acceptance.
He turned and walked out of the hall, the noise fading behind him.
Strange, he thought.I didn't even try.
And for some reason—
That bothered him more than losing ever would.
After he went out of the place, he started walking down the road.
The afternoon sun was still up, shining warmly on the streets. Cars passed by slowly, and people were moving around like it was just another normal day.
But for him… nothing felt normal.
His steps were steady, but his thoughts were heavy.
"How did I even win against them…?" he wondered.
Not only did he win… he won too easily.
During the matches, his body had moved like it had its own mind. His reflexes were faster, his punches felt heavier, and his focus was sharper than ever. It was like everything around him slowed down, and he could see every move clearly.
He looked at his hands while walking.
They felt stronger.
His whole body felt different—physically and mentally.
That strange change bothered him a little, but not enough to ruin his mood.
Because he had the money.
He reached into his pocket and touched the thick bundle of cash.
A small smile appeared on his face.
He finally had enough to pay the fees… and on top of that, he had an extra 10,000.
For the first time in a long while, he felt relief.
"At least… now I don't have to worry about that anymore."
He kept walking, his mood becoming lighter with every step.
When he finally reached home, he opened the door and stepped inside.
The house was quiet.
"Kitty?" he called out.
No response.
He looked around the room.
Nothing.
He checked near the sofa, under the table, and even behind the curtains.
Still nothing.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Did you go outside again…?"
He noticed the window was slightly open.
He sighed.
"Yeah… you probably did."
His cat always wandered around and came back later like nothing happened, so he didn't worry too much.
He placed the money safely inside his drawer, making sure it was hidden properly.
Then he sat down on his bed.
For a few seconds, he just stayed quiet, staring at the wall.
His mind tried to return to the match again… to the strange strength… to the unnatural focus.
But he shook his head.
"No… not now."
The finals were coming.
He couldn't waste time thinking about other things.
He grabbed his books and notes and spread them across his bed. The pages looked endless, like they were waiting to test him.
He took a deep breath and opened the first book.
And that afternoon, he studied as much as he could.
He read carefully.
He wrote notes.
He repeated difficult parts again and again.
Time passed slowly, and the sunlight outside began to fade little by little.
But he didn't stop.
The next day, at 1:27 PM, the sky was clear and bright.
The sun was burning hot, like it wanted to melt the whole city. Even Steam University, with its tall buildings and wide campus, couldn't escape the heat. The air felt heavy, and the roads looked almost blurry from the sunlight.
Kaito had just paid his semester fee.
He came out of the bank, which was located right beside the university gate, and the first thing that came out of his mouth was,
"Ow… the weather is too hot."
He wiped the sweat off his forehead and quickly checked his watch.
1:50 PM.
His eyes widened.
"…Damn. Almost time for the exam."
Without wasting another second, he started walking straight toward the university building.
His steps were fast, his mind focused.
But then…
Something felt strange.
As he entered the campus, he noticed a few students looking at him. Not just a normal glance—some of them were staring. A couple of them even pointed in his direction while whispering to each other.
Kaito slowed down for a moment.
"What…?"
He turned his head slightly, trying to see if something was wrong with his clothes.
Nothing.
He frowned.
"Maybe I'm just imagining it."
He didn't care much and continued walking, heading toward his class.
The sun was still blazing above, and the heat reflected from the concrete ground. His shirt stuck slightly to his skin as he walked faster.
Then suddenly—
Ring! Ring!
His phone started ringing.
Kaito sighed and pulled it out of his pocket.
"Who is calling at this time…?"
He looked at the screen.
Incoming Call: Nagato
Nagato…
The only real friend Kaito had in university. The one person he actually trusted.
Kaito answered while still walking.
"Hello?"
A calm voice came from the phone.
"Where are you?"
Kaito replied quickly, "I'm going to the exam hall. Sixth floor. I'm on the ground floor right now."
There was a short pause.
Then Nagato spoke again, his voice still calm but serious.
"Why did you do that yesterday?"
Kaito's eyebrows tightened.
"What did I do yesterday? I went home after my shift was over and slept."
Nagato's voice became lower.
"Never mind… Did you see the recent group post?"
Kaito answered honestly, "No. I was busy managing my tuition fees."
Nagato took a deep breath.
"Listen carefully. Don't ask me anything. Just do what I say."
Kaito slowed down, confusion spreading on his face.
"What do you mean?"
Nagato continued, "I'm outside the university. Opposite road. I'm waiting with my bike. Just run here as fast as possible."
Kaito stopped walking for a second.
His jaw tightened.
"What…?"
His anger rose instantly.
"What the hell are you talking about? I've got my exam in five minutes and you're calling me for this lame joke?"
Nagato tried to speak again, but Kaito didn't wait.
He ended the call.
Click.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket and started walking again, faster than before.
His expression was annoyed, but deep inside…
That strange feeling didn't leave.
Kaito reached the class just in time.
The moment he stepped inside, the atmosphere hit him like a wall.
The classroom was silent… heavy… dense.
Only the sound of pens scratching paper filled the room. Even the ceiling fan felt slow, spinning lazily while pushing warm air around. Sweat and tension mixed in the air, making the room feel even hotter.
The teacher looked up sharply.
"Kaito. Come in. Take your seat quickly."
Kaito nodded.
"Yes, ma'am."
He walked carefully between the rows of desks. Every student had their head down, focused deeply, their faces serious like soldiers in battle.
He sat down, pulled out his pen, and the teacher placed the question paper on his desk.
The moment he read it…
His eyes widened slightly.
"These questions…"
Most of them were familiar.
Some were exactly the same as the practice papers.
Kaito's heart lifted.
A small smile formed on his face.
"Yes… finally."
He started writing confidently.
His pen moved quickly, his mind clear. For the first time in a long time, he felt like things were going his way.
But then…
He noticed something.
A few students were staring at him again.
Not just quick glances.
They were watching him like he was some kind of criminal.
Kaito frowned slightly but didn't stop writing.
"What's wrong with these people…?"
He ignored them.
"Maybe they just want answers."
Time passed.
The exam continued.
Halfway through, Kaito raised his hand.
"Ma'am, may I go to the washroom?"
The teacher nodded without looking up.
"Go quickly and come back."
Kaito stood up and walked out.
The hallway outside felt quieter and cooler than the classroom. The sunlight poured through the windows, bright and burning.
He reached the washroom and turned on the tap.
Cold water flowed.
He splashed it on his face again and again.
The fresh water woke him up.
He lifted his head and looked into the mirror.
Drops of water slid down his cheeks.
His eyes looked tired… but determined.
He smiled softly.
"Guess it's my lucky day."
He turned off the tap and started walking back toward the classroom.
His footsteps echoed lightly in the hallway.
But then…
He stopped.
His body froze.
Because up ahead…
He saw two police officers walking toward his class.
Along with them were the principal, the headmaster, and a few final-year students.
They were moving fast.
Their faces were serious.
Cold.
Angry.
Like they were hunting someone.
Kaito's heartbeat instantly increased.
"Police…? Why are police here…?"
His throat went dry.
Without thinking, he slowly followed them from behind.
He stayed a few steps away, trying not to get noticed.
The group reached his classroom door.
The principal opened it quickly.
The police stepped inside.
Kaito quickly moved closer to the classroom window outside and peeked through.
Inside, every student stopped writing.
The whole class became silent.
The teacher stood up nervously.
The headmaster spoke in a hard voice.
"Where is Kaito?"
The teacher hesitated.
Then she answered carefully.
"He… he went to the washroom."
The room went even quieter.
The students were staring at the door, confused and nervous.
Some of them whispered.
Kaito's breathing became shallow.
His heart started pounding like a drum.
"Why are they asking for me…?"
His mind began to spin.
He leaned closer to the window, listening.
But then—
A hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder from behind.
Kaito's whole body jumped.
His soul nearly left his body.
"A—!"
He was about to scream.
But a second hand covered his mouth.
A familiar voice whispered sharply into his ear.
"Don't scream. They'll hear you."
Kaito's eyes widened.
He turned his head slowly.
It was Nagato.
Nagato's face looked tense, his forehead sweating. His eyes were sharp, serious, and full of urgency.
Kaito was shaking.
Nagato slowly removed his hand from Kaito's mouth.
Kaito whispered, terrified, "Nagato… what the hell is happening?"
Nagato grabbed his wrist tightly.
"No time. Come with me."
He pulled Kaito's hand.
But Kaito didn't move.
His legs felt stuck.
His mind was stuck.
He looked back at the classroom window.
His exam paper…
His future…
His hard work…
He whispered, almost begging, "But… my exam…"
Nagato's expression darkened.
His voice dropped even lower, angry but controlled.
"They're about to expel you and you're worried about the exam?"
That hit Kaito like a slap.
His stomach twisted.
"Expel… me?"
His head started buzzing.
His thoughts flew everywhere.
Hard work.
Late nights.
The tuition money.
The fighting.
The studying.
Everything…
Was it all going to disappear?
Nagato shook his arm harder.
"Snap out of it. Let's go."
Kaito's lips trembled.
"I… I don't understand…"
Nagato pulled him again.
But Kaito still couldn't move fast enough.
Then suddenly—
A loud voice shouted from inside the classroom.
"LOOK! KAITO IS THERE!"
Kaito's blood turned cold.
His eyes widened in fear.
Inside the class, students looked at the window.
Their faces were shocked and excited, like they had found a wanted criminal.
The teacher turned her head.
The headmaster turned.
The police turned.
All eyes locked onto Kaito.
Kaito felt his lungs stop working.
His heart almost exploded.
"No… no no no—"
Nagato's eyes widened.
"RUN!"
Nagato grabbed Kaito's hand and yanked him hard.
Kaito stumbled forward.
And then they ran.
Fast.
Their footsteps slammed against the floor as they sprinted down the hallway.
Behind them, they could hear shouting.
The classroom door opened loudly.
Someone yelled.
"STOP THEM!"
Kaito didn't even understand what was happening anymore.
His mind was blank.
All he felt was fear.
Pure fear.
His chest burned as he ran.
His breath became heavy.
His legs moved on their own.
Nagato pulled him like his life depended on it.
They ran like their lives depended on it—because it did.
Nagato pulled Kaito through the hallway, both of them breathing like they were about to collapse. Their minds were blank, only one thought pushing them forward:
Run.
They turned a corner and spotted the lift. The doors were open, and it was already starting to go down. They sprinted toward it and barely got inside before the doors began closing.
But the doors were slow.
Too slow.
Outside, the police, the principal, and a few students rushed toward them.
Nagato slammed the close button again and again.
"Close! Hurry up!"
Kaito stood shaking, staring at the gap between the doors as the police came closer. One officer reached out to stop it—
THUD.
The doors shut at the last second.
Kaito nearly fell from relief, gasping for air.
The lift started going down, but suddenly it stopped at the 5th floor. The doors opened automatically.
"Shit. Come on!"
He dragged Kaito out and they ran again, their footsteps pounding through the quiet hallway.
They reached the escalator area and looked up.
The police were already coming down from above.
They were running down by a down escalator.
"They're on the escalators!" someone shouted.
Nagato grabbed Kaito's arm.
"Move!"
They ran onto the downward escalator, running down along with it to gain speed.
For a moment it worked.
Then Kaito looked back.
A police officer had reached the top and was about to step onto the escalator behind them.
Worse—
At the bottom of the escalator, another officer was already waiting near the exit.
Kaito's chest tightened.
"What should we do now!l"!
Nagato's eyes moved quickly across the floor.
Then he saw it.
The up escalator started a few meters away on the other side, separated by a narrow gap between the railings.
Nagato's eyes sharpened.
"We switch!"
Before Kaito could ask what he meant, Nagato gone toward the side and jumped across the gap, landing on the upward escalator.
Then he immediately started running down against it.
Kaito's heart jumped.
"What?!"
Nagato shouted, "Jump, Kaito!"
Kaito hesitated for only a split second before fear pushed him forward.
He jumped.
His landing was messy—pain shot through his ankle—but he forced himself to keep moving.
Now they were running downward while the escalator pushed upward against them.
Every step felt heavier.
Their legs burned.
Their lungs screamed.
But they didn't stop.
Finally, they reached the 4th floor, jumped off the escalator, and rushed toward the stairs.
And then they froze.
A group of students stood there, blocking the way.
They stared at Kaito and Nagato like they had been waiting.
Kaito's breathing broke into panic.
He whispered, trembling,
"Okay… we're doomed."
One of the seniors smirked.
"Stop right there. Nowhere else to go."
Behind them, the sound of police footsteps grew louder.