Ren's legs trembled as he pushed himself upright, his ribs screaming with every breath he took. His fists were sore and numb now from blocking Yuto's wild, bone-shattering hits. His sweat and blood mixed on his face before dripping onto the ruined cafeteria tiles.
The cafeteria was unrecognizable now with most tables overturned, trays shattered, food slicking the floor like oil. The fight had long outgrown the petty spark that started it now it was just about survival.
Across from him, Yuto cracked his neck with a predatory grin, stalking forward like a beast that had decided its prey had struggled enough.
"Come on, Kaito's brother! Show me what you've really got!"
The name hit Ren like a sharp knife as his vision narrowed. He forced the words out through his clenched teeth. "I'm not… my brother!. "
Yuto scoffed, fists tensing again.
"Then why are you here?! Why step back into my school?! "
Ren's heart jolted as all the anger he had been holding back for the past three weeks ignited like gasoline.
"Because he's in a coma! because of people like you!"
Ren didn't wait for a reaction... didn't breathe... didn't even think about tactics for a second, he just charged head on not with technique or with discipline but with a raw, unfiltered desperation that ripped straight out of his chest as he launched his fist at Yuto's head. Yuto laughed and stepped forward, ready to meet him blow for blow.
Ren ducked under Yuto's swinging haymaker, then moved to the side as Yuto lunged forward, leaving him off balance. As Yuto stumbled, Ren seized the moment, landing a sharp jab to Yuto's ribs, followed by a swift kick to his stomach.
Yuto grunted as he made his way back to his feet, wiping the blood trickling from his nose with the back of his hand, grinning like a rabid dog.
"Not bad, Ryūhara. Didn't think you'd last this long."
Ren straightened, ignoring the throbbing pain in his ribs. "I could say the same about you. "
That sly remark only made Yuto laugh. "Then stop talking and fight!"
He lunged forward, his fist coming down like a hammer, fast and brutal. Ren barely dodged it, feeling the air split near his jaw. The blow smashed into the floor where he'd been standing, cracking a tile. Yuto was on him again before he could fully recover, punches flying in rapid bursts each one aiming to crush his bone.
Ren blocked high, low, high again with each of the impact stinging him in his forearms.
He managed to counter with a hook to Yuto's chin, then another to his ribs, but Yuto didn't even flinch. The Mad Dog just laughed, his teeth glinting red.
The crowd that had once cheered was quieter now frozen in awe, realizing this was no ordinary school brawl.
Someone among the whispered, "They're insane…"
Another added. "Yuto's actually being pushed back!"
"This is crazy. " A third student added.
"You… know nothing, outsider!" Yuto growled, driving Ren back.
"Show some respect to Hasegawa or you'll face the consequences!"
"Yeah, yeah, you keep repeating that," Ren shot back, almost out of breath.
"Are you that dumb or something?" Ren laughed almost too confidently.
"No more playing. " Yuto declared and grabbed a broken chair leg from the floor, spinning it once like a club.
Yuto charged at Ren who sidestepped it, blocking the downward strike with his forearm, pain screaming up his arm. He countered with a low kick to Yuto's shin, making him stumble backwards.
Then Ren took the initiative and pushed forward, pushing him back with a shoulder slam giving him momentary advantage.
And for a heartbeat, Ren thought he had him but that was his silly mistake as his slipped on some spilled noodles.
As Ren lost his balance and was falling Yuto's eyes gleamed with something akin to victory.
He pulled back his fist for the finishing blow. "All that talk and no bark! "
"Shit… I lost. " Ren thought as he braced for impact.
But then the world around him twisted. The floor underneath him had vanished, like his consciousness had flipped because suddenly Ren wasn't falling he was standing upright, breathing hard like earlier.
Yuto repeated, word for word, the same threat he had made like before. "You know nothing! Outsider!"
Ren blinked.
"Show some respect to Hasegawa or you'll face the consequences!"
"Huh? But you've said that already… " Ren said confused but his body seemed to have moved without his permission.
He backed away exactly as he did before and slipped yet again on the same patch of food.
The fall happend just like before but this time Ren threw out his left arm, stabilizing himself.
He swung his leg upward in a tight swoop and caught Yuto right under his chin sending him flying backward.
"What… what the hell was that…? " Ren wondered as he landed in a crouch his chest pounding but Yuto's enraged roar snapped him back to reality.
The Mad Dog rose, nose streaming blood, wiping it with a trembling hand.
"You just… don't give up, man?!" Ren shouted, honestly impressed.
He stepped back, catching his breath. "I'm… getting kinda tired of this honestly. "
Yuto cracked his neck again. "Good.. because I am just getting started."
The cafeteria roared again as Yuto's fist came screaming towards Ren's face who barely crossed his arms to block. The impact sent him tumbling backward his feet slipping on noodles and milk.
His chest burned. The afterimage of that vision still echoing in his skull.
"What the hell was that…" he muttered, shaking his head.
Yuto spat blood, cracking his knuckles. "Don't zone out on me now, hero."
Ren steadied his stance. "Right… no more distractions."
They collided again but this time both swinging with everything they had. Ren ducked under a chair leg, slammed his palm into Yuto's ribs. Yuto retaliated with a headbutt that nearly knocked Ren off balance.
Both stumbled backwards, panting heavily and eyes blazing like they could continue for days but then a burst of static tore through the room.
Both Ren and Yuto froze mid-step.
The PA system buzzed to life, drowning out the gasps and murmurs.
"Testing, testing… is this thing on?"
Every head in the cafeteria turned toward the ceiling speakers.
Ren blinked. "What the...?"
The voice continued, casual and amused. "Yo, Sakura High. Your friendly neighborhood delinquent speaking here."
Another voice in the background spoke up. "Dude, you're live already.."
"I know, I know," the first voice said, laughing softly. "Relax.. relax, it's my debut."
The crowd started whispering, murmurs rippling through like a wave.
"Wait.. is that.?"
"Hasegawa?!"
The name Hasegawa rang in Ren's chest like a bell.
"So that's the guy…" he muttered.
"Good. Then I know exactly where I'm going next."