Chapter 3:New Life

  After going back to his old house,suddenly…

Knock x3

  Rei went to open the door.He saw a person that looked like a salaryman.

  “Is this Koga's residence?” Said by the salaryman.

  “Yes,who are you?” Rei replied ,curious about why a salaryman would come to his house.

  "My name is Ryuji Sato," the man said, bowing his head slightly. "I apologize for the intrusion so soon after... well, after everything. I worked with your father at the firm, but I’m also the father of one of your classmates."

  Before Rei could ask which one,a small figure shifted out from behind Ryuji Sato’s shadow.It was Kenji,a boy from Rei’s year known for being an physics otaku and in one of the lowest ranks of the hierarchy which made him a target for delinquents Rei had just been fighting.Kenji’s oversized glasses looked at Rei,but instead of usual fear,his eyes shone with genuine excitement,almost like a fan meeting his idol.

  “Hi Rei!” Kenji chirped with excitement.”I told my dad about adopting you because of the incident on the roof.That kick was… really statistically impossible! But somehow you generated enough power to perform it. It was incredible!”

  Rei blinked with confusion,the sudden burst of energy from the nerdy boy who somehow didn’t see him as a scary delinquent.”You saw that?”

  “Everyone saw it,”Kenji said,grinning.”It was awesome!” He replied with sparkles in his eyes,the sparkles so bright Rei imagined it could generate enough energy to power houses.

  Ryuji cleared his throat,his expression turning serious.”Kenji speaks very highly of you,Reizen.And your father… he was a good man.He talked about you often at work.He wanted you to have a bright future.” Ryuji stepped forward, handing Rei a business card.”I know the school expelled you.I know you’re alone here.I don't want to see my friend’s son end up on the streets or worse.”

  Rei put up a defensive wall.”I can take care of myself.I have my job at the store.”

  “A part-time work won't pay for all your life essentials,nor will it get you back into the education system that has blacklisted you.”Ryuji said with firm and kindness.”Reizen,I want to formally adopt you.I want to respect your father’s wishes and bring you into our home.”

  Rei stiffened.The word adopt felt like a cage.To be some kind of “project” for a sympathetic salaryman felt worse than being a monster.

  “I'm sorry but I must decline your request due to personal reasons.”Rei said with a polite tone.

  Kenji’s smile faded,replaced with a look of desperate hope.However,Ryuji didn’t flinch.

  “Rei,think of it as an investment,think about the future.if you stay here,the debt will swallow you and turn you into something worse than a monster.””But with me?I can give you something your father wanted you to have,a brighter future.”Ryuji said.

  Rei thought to himself.Without resources,his strength was just a way to hurt people.With a family,with a name,it could be something more.

  Rei looked at Kenji,who was nodding and agreeing with his dad.The “The Ghost of 1C” was given the choice to begin a new life.

  “If I come with you,” Rei said,his voice low.”Do expect me to get into trouble and not be able to behave.”

  Ryuji smiled,”I know you are a good kid,you just need people to care about you,believe in you and I know one day,people will recognize you the way you truly are.”

  Rei prepared to grab his belongings in a bag.He realized the hierarchy changed again.He wasn’t Rank 2 anymore.

  The Sato household was a new experience to Rei.It was a modest but warm apartment filled with the smell of toasted sesame and miso.Kenji scurried ahead,kicking off his shoes and practically vibrating with nervous energy.

  Dinner was a quiet affair,though Kenji did his best to fill the gaps with talk of physics and “frame data” from Rei’s fight.Rei sat stiffly listening to Kenji’s way of filling the empty silence of the dinner even though Rei knew nothing about physics.

“He looks up to you,”Ryuji said,nodding towards the kitchen where Kenji was humming to himself.

  “He shouldn't,” Rei responded.”He saw me brutally hurt someone.Thats not something your child should look up to.”

  “In this world,Kenji is the ‘prey’ you described”Ryuji said,his eyes were no longer a grieving colleague but a father who was worried about his son which reminded Rei of his father."He's a brilliant child,but he is soft.He had no presence,no weight.The bullies at that school will see him as a target and one day,I won't be there to protect him.”

  Ryuji looked Rei directly in the eye.”I know your record,Reizen.I know you were the Rank 2 of that hierarchy.I wanted you here not just to respect your father’s wishes but also your knowledge.I know you can survive in a world that just wants to see you get crushed.”

  Rei knew this was the “price” for his new life.

  “I want you to teach my son,not just to throw a punch– though he probably knows how to do that  but how to have the confidence to stand his ground.I want you to teach him how to survive in the world of Apex predators like you so that he could survive,give him the armour he's missing.”

  Rei looked at the kitchen.Kenji was struggling to reach a high shelf,his thin arms trembling.He looked fragile.

  “Self-defense isn’t a hobby.”Rei said with a low voice.”If I had to teach him,I'm not going to be gentle.I’ll have to break his habit of flinching first and then the basics of martial arts.”

  Ryuji nodded,with a satisfied smile on his face.”I expect nothing less.If he’s going to live in a world of predators.He might as well learn from the best one I know.””You will start tomorrow same day as your new school which I planned to send my son.”

  Rei looked curious.”Where is the new school?”.

  “Inuyama.A city that is rural.” Kenji said.

  After dinner,Kenji pulled Rei.”Thanks for agreeing with my father.There were other reasons why I wanted my dad to adopt you.” Kenji said with a smile on his face.

  Rei looked at Kenji,he imagined Kenji like a golden retriever due to his personality.”What was the other reason?”

  Kenji was disappointed in his face,”Didn’t you remember that time?”

  “What time?” Rei replied.

  “You know what.nevermind.””Anyways,we are going to live with my relatives in Inuyama tomorrow.” Kenji said.

  “I thought you still have the same school?”

  “Yeah but I decided to quit when I heard you got expelled which I find quite strange.” Kenji replied.

“I see.”

Author's note:

✍️ Fun Fact:

During the drafting of this scene, I wanted to ensure that Rei and Kenji’s relationship wasn't just "tough guy and sidekick," but a brotherhood balanced type of vibe.Rei provides the raw power, Kenji represents the "Armor" of knowledge.