Chapter 2 — A New School, A New Problem
Kai pushed open the front door of his house.
The moment his foot crossed the threshold—
A sharp, ear-piercing voice exploded from inside.
"KAI! What did you do again?!"
He didn't even need to look.
He already knew.
His shoulders dropped slightly as he stepped inside.
His mother stood in the middle of the living room, hands on her hips, eyes blazing with anger and exhaustion. A folded letter rested tightly in her hand—the expulsion notice.
"How many times have I told you?" she continued, her voice rising. "Do not do anything that forces you to change schools! But you did it again! Again, Kai!"
Kai remained silent.
He simply lowered his head.
There was no point explaining.
He had said it before.
They attacked first.
He defended himself.
Same words.
Same outcome.
"And now we have to change your school again!" she continued. "Do you have any idea how hard that is for us? How hard it is to find a place willing to accept you after hearing about your history?"
Kai clenched his fists slightly.
Not in anger.
In guilt.
He hated this part.
Not the fighting.
Not the consequences at school.
But this—
Seeing his mother tired and worried.
Her voice slowly softened.
The anger drained from her face, replaced by worry.
She walked toward him.
Then suddenly—
She pulled him into a tight hug.
Kai stiffened slightly in surprise.
His mother held him firmly, then leaned back just enough to look into his eyes.
"Kai… you have to stop doing this," she said quietly. "You make me worried. Really worried."
Her voice trembled slightly.
That hit harder than any punch he had ever taken.
She guided him gently toward the sofa and sat down, pulling him with her. She placed his head against her shoulder and spoke in a calm, soothing voice.
"You've done this again and again," she continued. "I can't keep protecting you forever. I don't even know where to go anymore."
Kai stayed silent.
Listening.
Feeling the weight of her words settle into his chest.
"We don't have many choices left," she said softly. "But we will find another school. Somehow. I promise."
She exhaled slowly.
"For now, go to your room. Try to relax. I'll call you when dinner is ready."
Kai nodded once.
"Okay, Mom."
He stood and walked toward his room.
Kai's Room
Kai pushed open his bedroom door and stepped inside.
The familiar space greeted him.
Every wall was covered with posters—fighters frozen mid-strike, martial artists captured in perfect form.
Posters of judo, taekwondo, Muay Thai, boxing, and mixed martial arts filled the room.
Champions.
Legends.
Warriors.
Kai tossed his bag onto the floor and dropped onto his bed.
The mattress sank beneath his weight as he stared up at the ceiling.
Silence filled the room.
"How many times am I going to keep doing this…?" he muttered quietly.
His voice sounded small.
Different from the fearless fighter at school.
"I have to stop," he whispered.
He took a deep breath.
"I have to do something about it."
Images flashed through his mind.
His mother's tired eyes.
Her worried voice.
Her trembling hands.
"I can't keep putting this stress on Mom…"
He closed his eyes.
"I have to control myself."
The words felt heavy.
Hard.
But necessary.
He lay still, trying to relax.
Trying to empty his mind.
Trying—
BANG!
His door slammed open so hard it struck the wall.
Kai's eyes snapped open.
And then—
"KAAAAAAI!"
A loud, cheerful voice filled the room.
Before he could react, someone rushed forward and wrapped him in a crushing hug.
His aunt.
"Look at you!" she laughed loudly. "My favorite nephew!"
Kai groaned as she squeezed him tightly and planted rapid kisses across his cheeks.
"Aunt! Stop—!" he protested, trying to push her away.
But she was too strong.
Too energetic.
Too affectionate.
She continued laughing as she hugged him tighter.
"Kai, you've grown again!" she said proudly.
Kai struggled helplessly.
"Moooom!"
Right on cue, his mother appeared at the doorway.
"Enough, enough," she sighed, stepping forward. "You're going to suffocate him."
She pulled Kai free from his aunt's grip.
But the moment he escaped—
His mother hugged him too.
Kai froze in place.
Now trapped between both women.
They began arguing playfully about who hugged him more.
"My hug is better," his aunt declared.
"No, mine is," his mother replied.
Kai stood helplessly between them like a toy being passed back and forth.
But then—
Kai's ears picked up something important.
His aunt suddenly turned serious.
"You know," she said, looking at Kai's mother, "it's actually great that he got expelled."
Kai blinked.
Great?
"What do you mean?" his mother asked cautiously.
His aunt smiled proudly.
"I heard about an amazing school," she said. "And guess what? They're currently accepting new students."
Kai straightened slightly.
His attention sharpened.
"This school is perfect for him," she continued. "Strict rules. Strong discipline. Exactly what Kai needs."
Kai frowned slightly.
"Wait… really?" he asked. "How is that even possible? Every school takes weeks to process applications."
His aunt waved her hand casually.
"Not this one," she replied confidently. "It's fast. Very fast."
"How fast?" Kai asked.
His aunt grinned.
"You'll see."
Then she turned and walked toward the door.
"I'm going to register you," she said casually. "You'll start tomorrow."
Kai froze.
"Tomorrow?!"
But she was already leaving.
"Bye!" she shouted cheerfully as she walked out.
The room fell silent.
Kai stood motionless.
Still processing what had just happened.
His mother smiled gently and placed a hand on his head.
"Oh, my little boy," she said softly. "Looks like you're going to a new school again."
She paused.
"I hope you don't fight there."
She patted his head once more and left the room.
Kai walked slowly toward the mirror.
Then stopped.
His face—
Was completely red.
Lipstick marks covered his cheeks, forehead, and chin.
He sighed.
"Seriously…"
He walked to the sink and washed his face thoroughly.
Water dripped from his chin as he looked at his reflection again.
Then he spoke quietly to himself.
"What kind of school lets someone join in just one day…?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That's weird."
But he shook his head.
"Whatever."
He turned off the light and lay back down on his bed.
Tomorrow would bring answers.
The Next Morning
Morning arrived faster than Kai expected.
He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his new uniform.
It was different from his previous schools.
A black shirt.
A black-and-white coat.
Black jeans.
Black shoes polished to perfection.
It wasn't exactly a mandatory uniform—but something special, used during important school events.
Still—
It looked sharp.
Professional.
Kai grabbed his bag and headed outside.
The New School
The school building stood tall before him.
Elegant.
Modern.
Unfamiliar.
Kai stepped through the entrance gates.
Immediately—
He noticed something strange.
Students filled the campus.
But most of them—
Were girls.
Many girls.
Far more girls than boys.
Kai blinked slowly.
"This place feels… different."
He continued walking forward, scanning the area.
"Is this an all-girls school?"
He frowned.
"No… that wouldn't make sense."
Still confused, he walked toward the main entrance.
And then—
SPLAT.
Something struck his head.
Cold.
Sticky.
Juice dripped down through his hair.
Kai froze.
Slowly—
He reached up and touched his head.
Fruit juice.
He looked down.
A crushed juice packet lay on the ground near his feet.
Kai inhaled slowly.
Then exhaled.
"It's okay…" he muttered calmly. "Probably an accident."
He wiped his forehead slightly.
But then—
Footsteps approached.
Kai looked up.
A red-haired boy stepped forward.
About the same height as Kai.
Same age.
But with a smirk full of arrogance.
The boy stared directly into Kai's eyes.
Cold.
Mocking.
"You think I'm going to say sorry?" the red-haired boy said.
Kai remained silent.
The boy grabbed another juice packet from his friend.
Opened it.
And poured it—
Directly onto Kai's head.
Juice ran down his hair.
Down his face.
Down his uniform.
The red-haired boy leaned closer.
"No," he said with a grin. "It's your fault for standing in my way."
Silence fell between them.
Kai wiped the juice from his eyes.
Then—
Slowly—
He smiled.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just calm.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
"Answer me," the boy said mockingly. "What are you going to do about it?"
Kai lifted his head.
His dark eyes locked onto the red-haired boy.
And his smile widened slightly.
"Oh boy…" Kai whispered quietly.
"Oh boy."
Trouble had found him again.
On his very first day.
And this time—
He wasn't sure if he could stop himself.