CHAPTER 9 — OVER THE EDGE
Round 1 wasn't over, and Kenzo looked like he hadn't even started fighting.
Daichi tightened his fists, jaw set, breathing steady even though sweat trickled down his temple.
Across the ring, Kenzo bounced on his toes, that annoying half-smirk glued to his face.
"ROUND ONE CONTINUES!"
The commentator boomed.
"KENZO MOVING LIKE HE OWNS THE RING TONIGHT—LOOK AT THAT CONFIDENCE!"
Daichi shot forward.
His jab sliced the air—
Missed.
He swung again—
Kenzo wasn't there.
Another punch—
Kenzo stepped aside like he was dodging raindrops.
"Kenzo dances out of danger AGAIN! Daichi Kawasaki is chasing a ghost out there!"
Miyu's nails dug into her sleeve.
Daichi wasn't slow. Kenzo was simply… unfair.
Daichi kept his face neutral. Calm. Cool. But every miss chipped at his stamina. His lungs burned. His arms grew heavier. He hated this—being made to look slow.
Kenzo flicked a jab into Daichi's ribs.
Then another.
Then a third, so fast the crowd gasped.
Daichi slid back, breath tightening.
"Stay sharp…" he muttered.
But frustration curled in his chest. His mind drifted;
Is this how she looks at Itsuki?
With that same worry? That same focus?
He shoved the thought down.
Kenzo came in with a spinning kick—Daichi barely blocked, staggering.
"KENZO WITH ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE BURST! DAICHI ON THE DEFENSIVE!"
"Daichi's on the back foot—this is the speed demon we warned y'all about!" the commentators we're clearly enjoying themselves.
The final seconds ticked down.
Daichi steadied himself, refusing to fall. He absorbed the last barrage with grit alone.
DING!
Round 1 over.
Kenzo grinned. "Thought you were D-tier material?"
Daichi didn't answer.
He exhaled shakily, rolling his shoulders as he walked to his corner.
Miyu rushed closer.
Her eyes were tired—practically hollow—but sharp.
"I know you trained last night. It's showing," she said, wiping his face.
"You're letting him control the rhythm. Keep that up and he'll break you in Round Two. Let him strike first."
Daichi stared at her.
She was here physically… but her heart?
Still at that hospital bed.
"Yeah," he muttered. "I know."
DING—
Round 2
Daichi and Kenzo stepped forward.
"ROUND TWO—LET'S GET INTO IT!"
"CAN DAICHI ADAPT, OR IS THIS THE KENZO SHOW ALL NIGHT?"
The bell rang—
Kenzo faked a jab, pivoted behind Daichi, and locked in a chokehold so tight Daichi's eyes widened.
Pressure crushed his windpipe.
He clawed at Kenzo's arm—nothing.
His knees dipped.
A perfect chokehold.
Deep.
Dangerous.
The crowd gasped—this wasn't supposed to happen.
"KENZO LOCKS IN A REAR CHOKE! THIS COULD END RIGHT HERE! DAICHI IS FADING!"
Daichi's vision blurred.
His hand twitched toward the ground.
Miyu froze.
Her heart jumped.
"Daichi—no…"
Daichi clenched his teeth.
A spark of stubborn fury lit inside him.
He wasn't tapping.
Not like this.
Not while she was watching.
With a raw groan, he reached over his shoulder, grabbed Kenzo's wrist, twisted, planted his feet—
BLAM!
He slammed Kenzo into the canvas.
"WHAT A REVERSAL! DAICHI JUST DRILLED KENZO STRAIGHT DOWN!"
Kenzo gasped, wind knocked out.
Daichi rose slowly, chest heaving.
He waited.
Breathing.
Letting Kenzo get up.
Miyu stared, horrified.
That was Itsuki-level dumb bravery.
"DAICHI DON'T WAIT—PIN HIM! NOW!" she shouted.
Her tone cracked—desperate, not gentle.
Daichi blinked, surprised, but moved.
He grabbed Kenzo's arm, locked it under his shoulder—
Torqued.
Kenzo screamed. He tried rolling—failed.
Tried reaching the ropes—Daichi dragged him back.
"KENZO IS IN TROUBLE! THAT ARMBAR IS DEEP—CAN HE GET OUT!?"
Miyu leaned toward the ring.
"Don't let go—Daichi, finish it!"
Pain tore through Kenzo's voice.
Then—
TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP—
The ref jumped in.
"THAT'S IT! HE TAPS! DAICHI WINS BY SUBMISSION!"
The arena exploded.
Lights flashed.
Crowd chanting Daichi's name.
Daichi stood tall, chest rising and falling, face still calm.
Miyu didn't think—she ran into the ring and hugged him hard.
"You did it! Oh my God—you actually did it!"
Daichi froze.
Her warmth hit him harder than any punch tonight.
She lifted his arm high.
"YOUR NEW D-TIER FIGHTER—DAICHIIII!"
For the first time tonight, she smiled—really smiled.
Daichi felt something twist inside him.
So she can smile for me… even if it's not the same one she gives him.
A mic appeared in front of Daichi.
"Huh?"
He hadn't heard the question.
"What gem would you hope to get?" a female interviewer asked.
"Oh, I don't think about that. I believe in raw skill. But to match others properly, gems matter. I'll take anything—as long as I defend Asia and bring glory home."
The fans roared.
---
The stadium noise faded as Miyu and Daichi headed to the car park.
Daichi walked with hands in pockets, pretending he wasn't limping.
Miyu walked in silence beside him, exhausted but relieved.
"Thanks, Miyu," Daichi said as they approached her black Maybach S950.
She hesitated… then spoke.
"Daichi… I need your help."
He glanced at her.
"I wanna go to Sawara. Genzo—my dad's twin. I need to find him. Tonight."
Daichi stopped.
Jaw tight.
"Why?"
"My grandma said he worked for G.E.M. He might know something to help Itsuki."
"…And you want me there," he said quietly.
She nodded.
She didn't want to go alone.
But she didn't trust anyone else.
"I mean if you do—"
Daichi looked away.
Then sighed.
"Yeah. I'm coming."
---
The GPS dragged them deep into the countryside.
Roads turned rough.
Trees grew wild.
Swamps glimmered in the dark.
Miyu gripped the steering wheel, eyes hollow with worry.
Daichi watched the forest, alert.
They finally pulled up to a lonely wooden house swallowed by moss and swamp grass.
Crickets chirped.
Something splashed in the swamp.
The air smelled of damp wood and old water.
Daichi stepped out first.
"…Creepy," he muttered.
Miyu walked beside him, steadying her breath.
They reached the porch and she knocked.
Silence.
Then—
A slow, dragging creak.
The door cracked open.
A dim light glowed inside.
The smell of chemicals and old books drifted out into the swamp air.
A human figure stood in the shadows.
"Hello?" Miyu whispered, her voice trembling.