The Second Lesson

A whole month had passed. At this point, Kai's daily routine had become second nature—wake up at 6:30 AM, train, study, swim, sleep, and repeat. The cycle never changed, but he had.

His combat skills had improved significantly. He could now block Coach Armstrong's attacks without relying solely on evasion, something that had even surprised his brutal instructor. His body had grown stronger, his muscles more defined—still not large, but noticeable.

However, his appearance had taken a hit. His once-neatly trimmed hair had grown long and unkempt, strands falling messily over his face. A rough beard had started to form, evidence that he hadn't paid much attention to grooming over the past month.

Now, as the first phase of his combat training came to an end, Coach stood before him, arms crossed, his sharp blue eyes assessing Kai.

"Soldier," Coach's deep voice cut through the silence. "For the past month, you've learned to evade and block my attacks. An impressive achievement." He paused for a moment. "But you still haven't managed to land a single hit on me."

Kai remained silent, knowing there was more.

"That concludes our first lesson," Coach continued. Then, without warning, he tossed something toward Kai.

Kai caught it instinctively—cold metal against his palm. A knife.

It was a standard military combat knife, its titanium blade gleaming under the bright lights. Light but dangerously sharp. Even the slightest mistake could result in deep cuts.

Kai already knew where this was going.

"The next lesson," Coach said firmly, "is melee combat."

Kai exhaled slowly, adjusting his grip on the weapon. He had never held a knife for combat before—only for cooking. The weight felt unfamiliar in his hand, his grip awkward.

"Fight me," Coach commanded.

Kai clenched his jaw. He had barely grown comfortable with hand-to-hand combat, where evading and blocking had been his best survival tools. With a knife, the risk of serious injury skyrocketed. A mistimed block could mean deep gashes, blood loss, or worse.

His fingers tightened around the hilt. He could already feel the sting of incoming wounds.

Here we go again…

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Five hours later…

Kai sat at his desk, arms resting on the smooth surface, waiting for Professor Madya to begin the lesson. His body ached, fresh cuts and bruises lining his skin like battle scars from Coach Armstrong's latest lesson.

Professor Madya glanced at him, her sharp gaze assessing his condition. "Judging by the state of your body, I assume you've entered the second phase of Coach Armstrong's training." She adjusted her glasses before continuing. "Well, so are we. Today, we begin our second lesson—Geopolitics."

She tapped the holographic screen behind her, and a digital map of the world appeared.

"Our world consists of three continents," she began. "Centuries ago, we had seven, much like the Earth of old. However, due to rising sea levels, political disputes, and countless wars, nations collapsed and merged, leaving us with only three major landmasses."

Kai's eyes narrowed. That sounded too familiar.

Professor Madya continued, pointing to the westernmost continent on the map. "The nation we currently reside in is called the United Nations of the West Continent, or UNWC. Most people pronounce it Yunek—though many dislike the name, not that our government cares." She smirked slightly before moving on. "UNWC is both a country and a continent, formed from the unification of multiple nations. It holds a population of over two billion people. Its capital, and the heart of governance, is Central Skyline—the very city we are in now."

Central Skyline… Another name that sounded oddly Earth-like.

She then pointed to the middle landmass. "To the east of UNWC lies the New African Continent, a landmass formed after territorial shifts and natural disasters altered the old African regions."

Finally, she gestured toward the easternmost and largest continent. "And here," she said, her voice firm, "is Eurasia. The largest and most densely populated continent, with over six billion people and dozens of sovereign nations."

Kai's mind raced.

Three continents. UNWC. New African Continent. Eurasia.

The names. The history. Even the structure of the world itself…

It was eerily similar to Earth. Too similar.

A thought crept into his mind, sending a chill down his spine.

Was this planet actually Earth? Had he traveled through time… without even realizing it?

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Swimming class.

Kai stood at the edge of the pool, his bare feet pressing against the cool tiles. His long, messy hair was tied up, keeping it out of his face. The past month of relentless training had sculpted his body—his muscles now defined, fitting his swimming suit perfectly.

Beside him, Coach Leo crossed his arms, his sharp blue eyes scanning Kai's figure. "You've got a lot of fresh cuts today, boy," he noted with an amused smirk. "I take it Coach Armstrong's second lesson has started?"

Kai only gave a small nod. No need to explain.

"In that case," Coach Leo continued, stretching his arms, "it's time for our second lesson as well."

He gestured toward the water. "For the past month, you've been working on increasing your stamina, swimming speed, and breath control. But tell me—does any of that matter in an emergency?" He paused, letting the words sink in. "When you're trapped in a dark, narrow space, disoriented, and running out of air… will you still be able to swim?"

Kai tensed. He didn't like where this was going.

Coach Leo clapped his hands once.

Click.

The lights shut off. The entire room plunged into darkness, save for the faint glow of the moon filtering through the high windows. The water, once inviting, now looked ominous and endless.

"I've installed a structure beneath the pool," Coach Leo explained, his voice echoing slightly. "It's a maze—tight, disorienting, and full of dead ends. Your goal is simple: Escape."

Kai's eyes narrowed.

"There's only one real exit," Coach Leo continued, "but there are multiple fake ones designed to waste your time. If you don't find the real exit within the time limit or before you run out of breath… well, let's just say you don't pass this lesson."

Kai exhaled slowly. Of course, it wouldn't be as simple as swimming in open water anymore.

"Think fast, trust your instincts, and don't panic." Coach Leo patted his back. "If you finish early, we can move on to the next lesson quicker."

The way he smiled—calm, unfazed, without a shred of remorse—sent a shiver down Kai's spine.

This guy was a sadist.

--------------------------------

Kai stepped into his apartment, utterly drained.

Failed the lesson. Not surprising. Coach Leo had reassured him that he could try again until he succeeded, but that didn't make him feel any better. His entire body ached.

As he walked into his room, he was met with a familiar sight—Natasha, lying comfortably on his bed, scrolling through a tablet.

He wasn't even surprised anymore. She had a habit of appearing unannounced.

Noticing him, she sat up with a warm smile before getting up and wrapping her arms around him. Hugging him—another thing she did unexpectedly.

"Handsome, you're back," she said, pulling away just enough to study his face. Her smile faltered. "God, you look awful. We haven't seen each other for a few weeks, and you already look like you just escaped from prison."

She ran her fingers through his long, messy hair. "At least it doesn't smell bad," she murmured before shifting her attention to his arms. Her touch was gentle as she traced over the rough cuts lining his skin.

"Cuts? It must be that man's second lesson," she sighed, her tone filled with disapproval. "Why didn't you come to me after class? You know I could've treated them, right?"

Kai remained silent.

Natasha met his gaze, and for the first time, she really saw him. His eyes—once sharp and filled with defiance—now looked empty, almost lifeless.

This wasn't the same man she knew.

But she didn't say it. Instead, she smiled, pretending everything was fine.

"You don't have to answer my questions, Handsome," she said softly. "Go take a shower, okay? I'll cook dinner for you. Yes, it's past 10 PM, but you need to eat."

She playfully nudged him toward the bathroom. Kai, too tired to argue, obeyed without a word.

As soon as he disappeared into the bathroom, Natasha sighed and headed to the kitchen. She tied an apron around her waist and got to work, even though a robot could have easily prepared the meal. But she wanted to do it. Something real, something human. A touch of warmth in a world that seemed to be draining Kai of his.

Kai emerged from the shower, his body still aching but at least feeling somewhat refreshed. As he entered the kitchen, the aroma of freshly cooked food greeted him.

Natasha turned to him with a bright smile. "Oh, hey, Handsome. Since you're done with your shower, you can enjoy some real food now. Go on, take a seat."

Kai wordlessly complied, sinking into the chair.

Natasha sat across from him, watching expectantly as he took his first bite.

It was… delicious.

For the first time in weeks, something felt normal.

After dinner, Kai lay in bed, finally ready to sleep.

Then, the bedroom door opened. Natasha stepped in, her black nightgown draped over her frame, thin straps resting over her shoulders. She leaned against the doorframe, a teasing smile on her lips.

"Have you forgotten about me already, Handsome~?" she purred. "It's almost midnight," she continued. "I can't go home now. How about I stay the night with you?" She gave him an exaggerated pout. "You wouldn't leave this damsel in distress all alone, would you?"

Kai sighed but nodded, allowing her to stay.

With a happy hum, Natasha climbed into bed, slipping under the covers beside him. She snuggled against his side, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Good night, Handsome," she whispered before placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

And just like that, she drifted off to sleep. Kai followed soon after.

(And no, they did not do 'it.' It was just a normal and quiet sleep.)