A New Guy

Wait, where's Ren?

"Charvi! Searching for me?" He randomly pops behind me.

"Ohh! It's you. I got scared, dude. Why did you call me here?"

"I had called to tell you something important. Section C's room is free. Let's go speak there."

I follow him to Section C, where he lays a few pictures on the table before me.

"You know that Section A has only six members because one died in a battle, right? I just visited Kenshidan headquarters where I found a lad. His name's Tanin Phanichkul. Maybe he'll be a good addition to Kuroha."

"Great, then let's begin the Kuroha-styled tests. When do you plan on speaking to him?" I ask Ren. "I don't think I'll be a part of this test. Take Im Ji-Tae instead of me, okay? I'll only come for Round One to fight against him. The rest, manage with Ji-Tae — I have to concentrate on my studies too. Unfortunately, I'm in 12th class."

I'm still staring at the photo when something clicks.

"Phanichkul? Is he related to Niran Phanichkul?"

"Yeah! They're cousins. You never knew?" Ren looks at me, half shocked, half mocking.

"How am I supposed to know? It's not like I know Niran," I reply, a bit annoyed.

"Bruh, you have to know Niran," he says.

"I know he's in my school, but it's literally my first day."

"Be it your first day or not, he's a part of Kuroha, dude."

Wait, what? He's part of Kuroha? Huh? How am I not aware of this?

Ohh… so that's why he called me a "spy" while dropping me here.

But it's still shocking. My gut feeling was right. He didn't just speak to me — there was a reason he approached me. Anna! I'm famous in Kuroha.

"Charvi? Charvi?" He calls me a few times before I snap out of my thoughts and return to the real world.

"Finally! What made you think so much?"

"Nothing. Anything else you wanna tell me about him?"

"Do you wanna go see him yourself? I can take you there if you're fine with it."

"Yeah. Take me to the HQ. I wanna see him."

"Let's go."

He climbs up the stairs inside the lair, reaching the rusty door on the floor that leads to the tunnel. He pushes it open and steps into the pitch-dark underground path. I follow him as he locks the floor-door behind us. We walk carefully through the darkness until we reach another set of stairs. He climbs up and opens the second hidden door, camouflaged between thick bushes. We step out, closing it properly behind us.

We walk toward his bike, which is parked a little far from the bush. He switches it on, pulls it back, sits on it, and then I get on behind him.

After some time, I start a conversation. "You know, this is the first time I'm going to HQ with you. Every time before, it was Chirag who took me there. I am… a bit sad for losing him. But I swear, I'll take revenge."

"Chillax. I know it's difficult for you. In fact, it's difficult for all of us. But you can't always be in a rage mood. You have to be calm — remember, Chirag always said that."

The breeze hits my face as we ride. My hair flies, but I don't fix it. I just let it be. For a moment, I enjoy it.

"We're here," Ren says, snapping me out of the calm. "Come, I'll take you to him."

We enter the Kenshidan headquarters. There are a lot of floors — the first floor has kickboxing and Muay Thai, the second has karate and boxing, the third has wrestling and Capoeira, and the fourth has ninjutsu and taekwondo.

We go up to the fourth floor.

Ren points. "That's him."

I look at the boy training. He notices me and briefly smiles.

I don't smile back — just stare.

He blinks, then quickly turns his head away and continues training. Maybe I scared him a little.

After a while, there's a short break. I walk toward him.

"Don't lose concentration while training," I say, arms folded. "Just because someone looks at you doesn't mean you stop and smile back."

He nods quickly.

"But," I add, "your training is impressive."

"Thanks," he says.

"You're in school?"

"Yes. 11th class."

"Not bad for your age."

Just then, the sensei sees me and walks over.

"What brings you here, Charvi?" he asks.

"Nothing much," I reply. "Just wanted to come again."

He nods, but I can feel a bit of curiosity behind that calm face.

Obviously, he doesn't know the real reason.

No one does.

But the real question is… will Tanin survive Kuroha's truth?