Previously~
…
The red-haired youth stopped a few meters away from Ryu, staring him down with an irritated expression.
“You know what you did, right?”
Ryu raised an eyebrow: “…What?”
He clicked his tongue, explaining: “Using boxing in front of me like that.
You’re basically mocking me…”
Ryu’s expression became visibly confused: ‘What the?
What is this guy even talking about?’
He didn’t say anything, though.
There wasn’t much point arguing with someone who had already decided what he wanted to believe…
However, he eventually sighed, seemingly annoyed that Ryu wasn’t understanding a word he had uttered.
“Look.
I’m the next young boxing prodigy, Hiroki Kenzaki.
Ring any bells…?”
Ryu stared at him: “Hiroki…
Kenzaki?”
The name wasn’t ringing a single bell…
‘So that’s his name.’ Ryu thought.
Ryu remembered the movements from their previous encounter.
The speed.
The precision.
The way Hiroki had crossed the distance between them before he could even react…
But knowing he was a boxer still didn’t explain the absurd physical ability behind those movements…
‘So he’s a boxing prodigy who can fight like that…’ Ryu’s eyes narrowed: ‘That’s a damn scary combination.’
If anything, learning that Hiroki was actually trained made things worse.
Still, Ryu wasn’t going to simply stand there and take another beating…
He’d already experienced enough of that in his previous life.
He wasn’t going to spend this one getting pushed around either.
‘I’m done with that crap.’
Hiroki stepped closer, seeing a shift in Ryu’s expression: “Well?
Are you going to fight?”
Ryu slowly raised his hands: “Yeah.”
Hiroki smiled: “I’ll go easy on you.”
He settled into his stance: “You should make a decent enough punching bag.”
Ryu’s eye twitched: ‘…This guy.’ His anger flared.
But beneath that anger came something else.
A familiar sensation.
It was like an instinct buried somewhere deep within him…
Don’t give up.
Ryu’s breathing slowed.
Keep pushing.
His hands tightened into fists.
Use everything you have.
Ryu didn’t understand it…
But he felt as if he had to do hose things.
He didn’t know where it came from.
But he recognized the feeling.
It was the same sensation from last time.
Ryu stared at Hiroki: ‘Fine.’
If this was what it took to find out what was happening to him…
Then he’d push.
Hiroki was the first to moved .
This time, his attack wasn’t nearly as overwhelming as before.
Even so-
THUD!
Ryu’s guard shook from the impact: “Ugh!”
Another punch followed.
Then another.
Ryu tried to maintain his stance, but each blow sent another wave of pain through his body: ‘He’s holding back…’
That realization made his teeth clench.
Even while holding back, Hiroki was strong enough to overwhelm him.
Ryu kept his guard up: ‘Patience.’ The strange sensation returned.
Fight through it.
Ryu’s breathing became heavier.
Don’t stop…
Hiroki continued attacking, gradually forcing Ryu backward, saying: “What happened to all that confidence from earlier?”
Ryu didn’t answer…
He couldn’t afford to.
His entire focus was on maintaining his guard.
Then Hiroki suddenly stepped back: “Alright.”
His expression became more serious: “Guess I’ll take it up a notch.”
BLAM!!!
The next punch slipped past his defense.
Pain shot through his arm.
Ryu staggered: ARGH!!!
Gah!
It feels like I just got hit by solid iron…’
Ryu nearly dropped his guard.
But, he didn’t…
He forced his arms back into position: ‘No!’
His legs tremble: ‘I’m not falling.
NOT TO THIS BASTARD!!’
Hiroki continued.
One strike.
Then another.
Ryu’s body absorbed the punishment as he desperately tried to keep himself standing.
His vision occasionally blurred.
His breathing became ragged.
Yet strangely…
Something else was happening…
Ryu suddenly felt energy returning to his body: ‘…Huh?’
His breathing steadied once more as well, and his legs didn’t feel quite as heavy…
It was almost as if his stamina had suddenly recovered: ‘Again?’ His confusion was evident, but he payed it no mind, and kept pushing himself…
He could only remember the same thing happening during their first fight…
His body was exhausted…
Yet somehow, in the middle of being pushed beyond his limits, he felt himself gaining yet another burst of energy: ‘Is this, Overcome…?’
He didn’t know.
He only knew he could keep going.
Hiroki continued pressing him.
Ryu’s guard absorbed blow after blow until the accumulated damage became too much.
He coughed, a small trace of blood appearing as he struggled to breathe…
Hiroki watched him carefully: ‘That feeling from last time…’
He remembered Ryu getting back up.
That strange look in his eyes…
That unnatural level of determination.
But now?
Ryu was barely standing.
Hiroki’s expression hardened: ‘No…
It must’ve been a fluke.’
He stepped forward: ‘Its time ta’ finish this.’
Hiroki drew his fist back.
This one to put an end to his little warm up…
However, Ryu’s guard remained raised.
Then, beneath those arms, Hiroki saw his expression…
His eyes widened: ‘That look…’
The same chilling expression he’d seen the last time.
It was almost as though something inside Ryu had taken control…
‘…What the hell?’ Hiroki thoigjt before throwing the punch.
Ryu however moved.
Whoosh~
The sound of fist meeting air…
Ryu’s body shifted just enough for the attack to pass him completely…
With this revelation, his eyes widened: ‘I can see it…
I can see his fists now!’
Ryu’s heart pounded: ‘Even though it’s feint…
I can see them!!’
Hiroki stared at him thinking;
‘What!?’ Ryu had managed to dodge his attack?
Even if he was holding himself back, someone like this twig shouldn’t be able to accomplish that…
‘Just how the hell is he doing this…?’ Hiroki thought.
His instincts flaring.
Ryu on the other hand, immediately clenched his fist.
He needed to capitalize on this opportunity.
He formed and threw a left hook.
Hiroki’s eyes widened before his body instinctively moved…
He swiftly dodged the strike from below…
Ryu’s expression changed: ‘He’s still that fast!?’ Almost as if hope was lost.
At that distance, Hiroki had moved with almost impossible amount of speed…
Before Ryu could recover once more…
BLAM!
An uppercut caught him beneath the chin.
His body went limp.
He hit the ground with a heavy thud!
Everything in his sight went dark.
.
.
.
Sometime later~
…
Ryu slowly opened his eyes.
A familiar ceiling greeted him;
“…Again?” His voice came out weak.
Though, he had expected all this.
A woman immediately noticed him moving: “Oh, you’re finally awake.”
Ryu turned his head.
The nurse was standing nearby, looking at him with an expression that was equal parts concern and frustration.
Ryu blinked: “How long was I out?”
“About an hour, or so.”
“…An hour?” He repeated, before holding his rib…
She nodded: “This is the second time you’ve ended up here, and it’s your first day back.”
Ryu went silent: ‘Yeah…
when she puts it like that, it does sound pretty bad.’
The nurse then folded her arms: “So…
What happened this time?”
Ryu looked away: “…I fell.”
The nurse stared at him.
“You fell?” She asked.
“Yeah.”
“Outside?” She questioned again.
“…Yeah.”
“On flat…
ground?” She then glanced toward him, asking: “Where there aren’t any stairs?”
Ryu became completely silent: ‘Ah…
Right…’ He knew he messed up.
The nurse sighed, saying: “Ryu…”
He looked at her.
“If you’re going to keep doing whatever you’re doing, you should at least take better care of yourself.”
Her expression softened slightly: “Unless someone’s bullying you…?”
Ryu shook his head: “It’s nothing like that.”
He paused: “Truth is…
I uh…
I asked for this kind of beating.”
The nurse stared at him.
Incredulously…
Ryu continued, almost embarrassed by how strange it sounded: “Haha…
W-Well, the more I’m pushed, the better…!
Haha…
Ha…”
There was a long silence…
The nurse looked at him for several seconds before finally sighing: “Alright.”
Ryu blinked: “…Alright?”
“It’s not as bad as last time.” She spoke, adjusting something beside his bed;
“But…
you still need to be more careful.
Whatever you’re trying to accomplish, you won’t get anywhere if you keep getting yourself knocked unconscious…”
Ryu looked toward the ceiling: “I see…
Fair enough.” He was glad she didn’t bother pushing it.
“Just rest easy for tonight.” The nurse added, and walked away, leaving Ryu alone with his thoughts…
“…”
Ryu only stared at his hands: ‘It happened again…’
That strange feeling.
That sudden short but substantial returns of stamina.
Even the ability to perceive Hiroki’s attacks, even if only for a moment.
Ryu slowly clenched his fist: ‘Overcome…’ For the first time, he was beginning to think he wasn’t imagining any of this.
Clearly, something was happening to him…
He just had to figure out what.
Curious…
He then checked his status…
.
.
.
End