That night, Hiro had a terrifying dream.
He stood alone in a dark void. No sound. No light. Just emptiness. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged—fast, silent, and overwhelming. Before Hiro could react, a cold blade pierced through his chest.
Blood spilled. His vision blurred.
He died.
With a loud gasp, Hiro shot up in bed, clutching his chest. His body was drenched in sweat, and his breathing was ragged.
"Urgh… I can't even sleep in peace…"
He glanced at the clock on his wall.
5:40 AM.
"…Still early," he muttered, rubbing his face. "Might as well eat before school."
Dragging himself to the kitchen, Hiro made a simple breakfast—toast and eggs. He sat alone at the table, staring blankly at his food.
That dream… it felt too real.
Once he finished eating, Hiro stepped outside. The morning air was cold and crisp, and the sky was still dark, tinted with the soft hues of dawn.
He clenched his fists tightly.
"If I'm going to survive what's coming… I can't stay weak."
Without hesitation, he began his morning training—push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and shadow boxing. His muscles screamed, but he didn't stop.
With every punch, he imagined Renjiro's face.
I can't afford to lose. Not again. Not to him.
And in the back of his mind… that glowing star-shaped eye haunted him.
Jeison… what kind of monster are you really?
---
Later that morning, Hiro arrived at school and quickly met up with his usual companions—Akira and Satou. The three of them sat together on a bench in the school garden, discussing the upcoming battle scheduled for next week.
Satou flashed a cocky grin. "Hahaha, don't worry. As long as I'm around, we're not losing."
Akira rolled his eyes. "Tch, you sure talk big. But you're always the first one to go down."
Satou snapped back instantly. "Hey, baldy! You think you're so strong?"
Akira stood up, clearly annoyed. "The hell, you blind monkey? Can't you see I have hair?!"
Hiro just sat there, sighing as he watched the two of them argue like children.
Suddenly, a firm voice cut through the chaos.
"Oi, you two idiots! Stop fighting already!"
The boys froze and turned toward the source of the voice. It was Hanako, arms crossed, staring at them with her usual stern glare.
"Hey, Hanako…" they muttered in unison, slightly embarrassed.
Once things calmed down, the four of them sat in a circle under a tree, the tension slowly returning as the topic shifted back to the real issue.
"So… what's our plan to deal with the strongest students?" Akira asked, scratching his head.
Hanako crossed her arms again. "We'll focus on Top 9, Top 8, and Top 7."
"Huh? Why not aim for Top 1?" Satou asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hanako's voice was calm but sharp. "Because those three are already teaming up to take down the Top 1. We let them do the dirty work first… then we strike from the shadows."
Akira frowned. "How do you even know that?"
A sly smile crept onto Hanako's lips. "I overheard them during a secret meeting at Akuria Academy last week. I snuck in and eavesdropped."
Hiro and Satou's jaws dropped.
"Wait... are you some kind of spy?" Hiro asked, genuinely confused.
Hanako just chuckled. "I do what needs to be done."