The afternoon sun burned high in the sky as the students gathered at the school''s outdoor field for physical education. The scent of fresh grass mixed with the faint rubbery tang of the track. The usual chatter filled the air—except now, it carried a new undertone.


    Ash Shirogiri was in this class.


    And everyone wanted to see how much he had changed.


    "Alright, listen up!" Coach Tanaka''s voice boomed as he stood before the assembled students. He was a tall, gruff man with arms like tree trunks, his piercing eyes scanning the class with his usual no-nonsense glare. "We''re doing combat drills today—paired sparring."


    Excited murmurs broke out.


    "Two-minute bouts. No weapons, just hand-to-hand. You win by either landing a clean takedown or forcing your opponent to submit." The coach smirked. "Let''s see what you''re all made of."


    Kenji elbowed Ash. "Man, this is gonna be a bloodbath."


    Ash simply rolled his shoulders. He was ready.


    THE MATCHES BEGIN


    One by one, students stepped forward, facing off against each other. Some matches were quick, others drawn-out struggles. The usual hierarchy played out—athletes dominated, weaker students were taken down fast.


    Then—


    "Shirogiri! You''re up."


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    Silence.


    The class turned their eyes toward Ash.


    The coach scanned the list, then smirked. "Let''s make it interesting—your opponent will be…"


    He trailed off, eyes flicking to the other side of the group.


    "…Daigo Arakawa"


    The air crackled with tension.


    A few students gasped. Others whispered excitedly.


    Kenji leaned over. "Dude, it''s rigged. He wants to see if the rumors about you are real."


    Ash smirked. That was fine.


    He stepped forward, rolling his neck as Takeshi hesitated before joining him in the ring.


    The last time they fought, it had been for survival, for honor, for dominance.


    This time—it was for fun.


    Coach Tanaka''s whistle blew.


    Daigo moved first.


    Rushing in, he aimed a fast right hook—Ash sidestepped. A counter came instantly—a sharp palm strike to Daigo''s ribs. The force knocked him back a step.


    Murmurs erupted from the crowd.


    Daigo tried again, feinting left before attempting a sweeping kick.


    Ash didn''t dodge.


    He caught the leg mid-motion—and slammed Daigo onto his back with bone-rattling force.


    THUD.


    Silence.


    Daigo groaned, his head spinning, unable to get up.


    Coach Tanaka blew the whistle. "Winner—Shirogiri."


    The class erupted.


    Ash turned away without a word. He hadn''t even broken a sweat.


    Kenji laughed as Ash rejoined him. "That wasn''t a match—that was an execution."


    The students whispered among themselves, staring at Ash differently now.


    Before, he was just a nobody.


    Now—he was someone to fear.


    But Ash wasn''t finished.


    He stepped forward, his voice calm but cutting through the murmurs like a blade. "Is there anyone else?"


    Silence.


    No one dared.


    Then his gaze locked onto one person in particular—


    Tsukihime Rei.


    The fake heroine who had manipulated the bullies to make herself look like a savior. The one who stood at the top of the social ladder by stepping on others.


    A slow smirk curled on Ash''s lips.


    "Tsukihime Rei," he said smoothly. "How about you?"


    Gasps spread through the crowd like wildfire.


    Rei''s expression faltered for a split second before she quickly composed herself, her usual charming smile returning. "Oh? Are you challenging me, Shirogiri?"


    Ash''s eyes gleamed. "I am."


    The P.E. class had just taken a new turn.