Kota stood rigid, his fists clenched tightly, the veins on his arms bulging with pent-up rage. He couldn't stand to be humiliated again and again, this time he NEEDS to win.
So he couldn't be treated as a low life anymore. He couldn't stand it.
Haruto, on the other hand, remained composed, his posture relaxed yet ready, as if the fight was already won in his mind.
"I will kill you! Bastard!" Kota charged first, his footsteps heavy against the ground.
With a roar, he swung a wild haymaker aimed at Haruto's head. But he sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid like water.
"Too slow," Haruto mocked, "This is the reason why your loved one hates you, Kota. you are a fucking loser."
"FUCK YOU! WHAT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT ME!" Kota growled, spinning around for another attempt.
This time, he threw a flurry of punches, each more aggressive than the last. Haruto dodged them all with minimal effort, his smirk widening as Kota's frustration grew.
"Is this all the underground ring taught you?" Haruto taunted.
Kota, blinded by anger, didn't notice Haruto's counterattack until it was too late. Haruto ducked low, sweeping Kota's legs out from under him.
Kota crashed to the ground with a grunt, the impact reverberating through the empty lot.
From his vantage point by the doorway, Daiki let out a low chuckle, the glow of his cigarette illuminating his amused grin.
"You're making this too easy for him, Kota," he called out, his voice like oil slicked over glass.
Kota scrambled to his feet, his breaths ragged. He lunged at Haruto again, but this time, Haruto stepped forward, catching Kota by the wrist.
With a swift twist, he bent Kota's arm behind his back, forcing him to his knees.
"Pathetic," Haruto whispered, leaning in close enough for Kota to feel the heat of his breath.
"Now you understand why you are always below me, right? You couldn't even touch me, accept it, you are just a pathetic loser like your father."
Kota's body trembled as he tried to muster the strength to fight, but his spirit was already fractured.
The mockery, the humiliation, the crushing weight of his failure—it all pressed down on him like a suffocating fog.
Daiki took a slow drag from his cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke that swirled around him like a shroud.
"That's enough," Daiki's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, sharp and commanding.
His eyes locked onto Kota's battered form, sprawled pathetically on the ground.
"It's getting boring if you're just going to lie there like a rug, Kota." The disappointment in his tone was palpable, slicing deeper than any insult.
He sighed, his hand moving to rub the back of his neck as if the sight itself was exhausting.
"Have I not trained you harsh enough?"
Kota's entire body trembled, a visceral reaction to Daiki's words. Memories of his grueling sessions in the underground ring flashed before his eyes—pain and blood.
His fists clenched involuntarily, but he couldn't bring himself to meet Daiki's gaze.
Haruto turned his attention to Daiki. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he spread his arms wide in mock theatrics.
"Guess your boy couldn't handle it," he quipped, his tone dripping with derision.
Daiki's grin remained unfazed. Calmly, he flicked his cigarette to the ground and ground it under his heel with deliberate force. "Maybe not," he replied, his tone unreadable.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "But aren't you interested in joining me, Kuro Usagi? I know you're a star in that dog cage, but it's not violent enough for someone like you, is it?"
Haruto let out a short laugh, brushing dust off his white shirt. "Nah," he said simply, his tone as casual as if they were discussing the weather.
"You already know my answer."
Without waiting for a response, Haruto slung his bag over his shoulder and turned on his heel. He gave a small wave as he walked away, his voice carrying over his shoulder.
"Let's meet again later."