Different Neighborhood

Ethan nodded, trying to absorb the weight of Kai's words. "When do we go?" he asked, eager to know. He felt strangely pumped, and he couldn't recall the last time he had been in a fight, but the thought of jumping into one now thrilled him. A nervous chuckle escaped him as he wondered if there was something wrong with him for feeling this way.

Kai's eyes glinted as he noticed Ethan's eagerness. "The fight club is usually open four times a week, and lucky for you, today is one of those days. We should head there right now while you're feeling this way."

After taking a bus, they got off at a neighborhood close to the warehouse district, since buses didn't go directly into the area.

As Ethan walked toward the warehouse district, he couldn't help but notice the changes in the buildings, houses, and the people in the neighborhood. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the atmosphere felt different. He sensed eyes on him, but their gazes held no curiosity; it was clear that everyone here had their guard up.

"I see you can tell how different the people are here compared to those you're used to seeing around campus," Kai remarked. Ethan simply nodded blankly, his eyes darting around as he took in the unsettling environment.

The atmosphere of the neighborhood had long extinguished the excitement he felt when leaving his dorm. Then it hit him: Kai was floating beside him, completely visible in the open. Ethan's eyes widened as he stared at the ghost, realization dawning on him. He couldn't believe he had never thought to question whether he was the only one who could see Kai.

He shook himself out of his daze, realizing he must look like a lunatic standing in the middle of the street, frozen in place. Even Kai was watching him, a look of curiosity on his ghostly face. Ethan's mind raced with questions. "How come other people can't see you?" he blurted out, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.

Kai shrugged, the ghostly gesture that would have sent a chill down Ethan's spine before now eliciting no reaction from him—though neither of them noticed the change. "I don't know. It's my first time being a ghost. The things I know, I know instinctively, but why you're the only one who can see me? That's a mystery."

Ethan wanted to delve deeper, to understand the strange bond they shared, but Kai interrupted him. "We've arrived."

The location was unassuming, just another dilapidated building among many in the industrial sprawl. It had a worn façade, a place you wouldn't give a second glance unless you knew something was happening inside. The faint sounds of shouting and the thud of fists against flesh seeped through the cracked walls, sending a thrill through Ethan.

"Remember what I told you," Kai urged, his voice low and intense. "Act like you belong here. Don't draw attention to yourself. If people start asking where you're from before you even get to fight, it could bring problems."

Ethan took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. He walked past the two guards standing watch and pushed open the heavy door, the creak echoing through the dimly lit space.

Inside, the gang had transformed the interior into a vibrant arena, alive with the sounds of cheers and the intoxicating scent of sweat and adrenaline. It was as if the building had been fitted with soundproofing, for Ethan had heard nothing while outside. Now, the wave of noise generated by the crowd inside created a stark contrast to the quiet beyond the walls.

The main fighting area pulsed with energy, the air thick with anticipation and excitement, heightening the tension that enveloped the room.