KNOCK!

KNOCK!

CLINK!

The doorknob clicked open, and the snow-white face popped out.

"Nova? I’m so—"

He hadn’t finished when one of her fingers landed on his lips.

"You lost track of time."

She said as he froze.

"How did you—"

"I know. Happened to me on my first time too."

She said, taking her notes from him before stepping back.

"Just two hours left before class begins. Have some rest, White. See you in class tomorrow."

She said, and he waved with a nod as her door shut tightly.

Ahhhhh.

Huuuuu.

White inhaled and exhaled without making a sound before he walked toward the elevator, having it return him back to the base floor.

Since it was around 3:00 in the morning, there was no one around—or at least White didn’t expect anyone to be around until the elevator opened.

CREEEAK!

BAAANG!

The end of a baseball bat scraped roughly against the ground, sending red flames flying through the air.

A figure stood some distance away, raising the bat and slamming it into the ground as the upper half of his face was hidden by his hair.

White could feel his intent, all of it pointed at him with clear malice.

"I don’t remember ever crossing you..."

White began.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Three times the bat was slammed into the ground, flames coating its surface, and the boy shot forward toward White, who stepped out of the tight space of the elevator.

VROOOOM!

The air crackled with flames as the bat slammed down toward White, who took a tiny step to the side, dodging the swing.

The assailant slid his leg across the ground, only for White to jump into the air, somersaulting above it.

He kicked off the ground, and White rested his entire weight on a single finger placed on the boy’s leg, using the force of the swing to send himself back two meters.

The assailant spun up from the ground, chasing after White as he swung the bat once more.

VROOOOM!

VROOOOM!

VROOOOM!

VROOOOM!

The deafening sound of airwaves blasting from the force of the bat filled the entire floor, and soon enough students began appearing in the corridors, looking down at the fight.

It was one-sided.

The bat-wielding boy swung faster and faster, yet there was White, never attacking once, every single strike missing him by two inches as if he had seen the attacks coming from miles away.

At first, White’s dodges were a blur, but as the boy began to tire with every missed attack, his movements slowed to a crawl. Eventually, he fell to one knee, supporting himself with the bat.

White smoke burst from his lips as he glared at White in both rage and disbelief.

Not one. Not one of his attacks had made contact.

And while he was out of breath, White’s breathing had not changed at all.

White looked at him with the same listless expression before turning toward another elevator.

"You! You don’t deserve her!"

The boy screamed from behind as he rushed toward White.

His club swung at the back of White’s head, only to miss unceremoniously as White ducked low, kicking the back of his legs at the same time.

CRAAACCK!

The sound of bone breaking rang out as White’s foot connected with the boy’s right knee, shattering the kneecap.

He tumbled backward, the bat dropping from his hands, both palms grabbing his knee as he landed on his backside.

He looked forward through clenched teeth just in time to watch White pick up the bat, rubbing the flaming end and snuffing it out.

White turned his head slightly toward the young man and uttered,

"And you do?"

Those were the last words he heard before the bat dropped to the ground and White’s image disappeared into motes of light.

DRIIING!

An elevator beside them dinged, whisking White up the tower.

It seemed over... but it wasn’t.

BOOOOOOOM!

The bat on the ground shot into the air as a figure in black landed heavily, the weapon naturally falling into his grasp.

He walked toward the young man sitting on the ground, clutching his broken knee.

"Tell me..."

The black-robed man said, playing with the end of the bat in one hand.

"Was what you just did... your definition of fighting for love?"

He asked, mockery dripping from every word.

"You basta—"

BAAANG!

The sound was cut off abruptly by the bat connecting with his skull.

The force of the blow was so powerful the young man was lifted off the ground, bouncing three times before smashing into an elevator, blowing a hole through the thick iron as dust and sparks filled the air.

"Listen up, loverboys."

The black-robed man’s voice echoed loudly as the bat dropped to the ground and he walked toward an elevator.

"All you get is a chance. One chance."

"Don’t fuck it up."

---

"To put an attacking assailant down, you must learn to use the force of his rush against him."

The Combat Instructor’s words echoed through the dojo-like arena where the students stood in twos before each other.

White looked at his opponent, a chubby, heavy-looking boy with a wide grin on his face.

"Your opponent rushes forward, and grabbing their hands, you pull and use your back to direct their force, throwing them to the ground."

"If you fail, you end up on the ground, face in the dirt, with your opponent’s full weight crushing you."

"Now start the practice. Those on the left first!"

---

"Don’t worry!"

The chubby young man said with loud laughter as he looked up at White, who leaned forward in the stance they had been required to take.

"I’ll be sure to be gentle with my run!"

He said, and in the next moment—

BOOOOOM!

The dojo’s wooden ground shook as if an elephant had suddenly taken off at full sprint.

The chubby boy charged with terrifying force, his entire body weight amplified by unbelievable speed as he rushed toward White.

"He’s doomed."

"Hamburg will break his spine with his weight."

Some students at the side commented, eyes drifting toward White, whose face held no visible change.

His hands reached out when Hamburg was a meter away, only to watch as the boy jumped high at that moment, choosing to crash down with his weight instead.

"Got you!"