The sound of fists striking pads echoed through the dojo.
"Again!"
Kaito Arata lunged forward, his small fists cutting through the air with all the strength his ten year old body could muster.
His opponent didn't move.
WHACK.
Kaito's punch hit the older boy's guard and bounced off like he had just hit a wall.
The other students watching from the side snickered.
"Told you he can't win."
"He's fighting Kenji again? He never learns."
Kaito ignored them.
He tightened his fists.
His knuckles hurt.
His arms hurt.
His legs felt like they were made of stone.
But he stepped forward anyway.
"I'm not done," Kaito said, breathing hard.
Across from him stood Kenji Sato, one of the strongest students in the dojo, three years older and at least twice as experienced.
Kenji sighed.
"You should quit already, Kaito."
"No."
"You've lost ten times today."
"Then I'll win the eleventh."
Some of the kids laughed.
Kenji didn't.
He raised his guard again.
"You're stubborn. That's your problem."
Kaito smirked.
"And you talk too much."
Before Kenji could reply, Kaito rushed forward again.
This time he didn't punch.
He kicked.
A fast, low sweep aimed at Kenji's legs.
Kenji jumped back easily.
Too easily.
Kaito knew it wouldn't work.
But he didn't stop.
Punch.
Kick.
Step.
Punch again.
Each move was sharp, practiced, and full of effort, even if it wasn't enough.
Kenji blocked everything.
After a few seconds, Kenji sighed again.
"Alright. My turn."
Before Kaito could react...
THUD.
A palm struck his chest.
Not hard.
But precise.
Kaito stumbled back.
His heel caught the mat.
He fell flat on his back.
The ceiling spun above him.
For a moment, he couldn't breathe.
The dojo went quiet.
Then someone laughed.
"Told you."
Kaito clenched his teeth and sat up.
His chest hurt.
His pride hurt more.
Kenji looked down at him.
"You done?"
Kaito wiped his nose with his sleeve.
"…No."
A few students groaned.
"Seriously?"
"He never stops."
Kenji frowned.
"You're going to get hurt one day."
Kaito pushed himself to his feet.
"I'm already hurt."
He raised his fists again.
His stance wasn't perfect.
His breathing wasn't steady.
But his eyes were burning.
"I'm not leaving until I land one hit."
Kenji stared at him for a moment.
Then he smiled a little.
"…Fine."
Before they could move again...
CLAP.
The sharp sound echoed through the dojo.
"Enough."
Both boys froze.
Standing near the wall was their instructor, Tanaka sensei.
He was tall, broad shouldered, and always looked like he could break a brick with his bare hands.
Which he could.
Tanaka crossed his arms.
"Kaito."
"Yes, sensei."
"You lost."
"Yes, sensei."
"Ten times."
"…Yes, sensei."
"Why are you still standing?"
Kaito hesitated.
The other students watched, waiting.
He scratched the back of his head.
"…Because I haven't won yet?"
A few students laughed.
Tanaka didn't.
He walked closer, stopping right in front of Kaito.
For a moment, the instructor said nothing.
Then...
"…Good."
Kaito blinked.
"Huh?"
Tanaka turned away.
"Class dismissed. Break time."
The students started talking immediately.
Kenji stretched his arms.
"You're crazy, you know that?"
Kaito grinned.
"You're just mad I keep coming back."
Kenji snorted.
"You call that coming back? You get knocked down every time."
"Yeah," Kaito said.
"But I stand up every time too."
Kenji didn't answer.
He just shook his head and walked off.
Kaito sat down on the edge of the mat, rubbing his chest.
It still hurt where Kenji hit him.
Actually, everything hurt.
His legs.
His arms.
His shoulders.
Even his fingers felt sore.
But he smiled anyway.
He liked this feeling.
It meant he trained hard.
Across the dojo, Tanaka sensei watched him quietly.
For a moment, his eyes narrowed.
"…Strange," he muttered.
Kaito suddenly felt something.
Like a chill running down his spine.
He looked around.
No one was behind him.
No one was near him.
But for a split second…
He felt like someone was watching.
Not like the other students.
Not like the teacher.
Something else.
The feeling vanished.
Kaito frowned.
"…Weird."
He shook his head.
Probably nothing.
He stood up and walked toward the door.
He still had training to do.
He always did.
Outside, the evening air was cool.
Kaito stretched his arms as he stepped onto the street.
Tomorrow he'd fight Kenji again.
Tomorrow he'd lose again.
And the day after that.
And the day after that.
Until one day...
He wouldn't.
Kaito clenched his fists.
"I'll beat you someday," he muttered.
The wind blew past him.
For just a moment, the air around his hand trembled slightly.
He didn't notice.
Far away, on the roof of a nearby building, a man in a dark coat watched the dojo.
His eyes were fixed on Kaito.
"…So it's him," the man said quietly.
A faint glow flickered in his eyes.
"Interesting."
He turned and disappeared into the night.
Kaito kept walking, unaware.
His journey had only just begun.
And the world was far bigger than he knew.