One-arm push-ups.
Riku gritted his teeth as he dropped to the floor of the hospital room, sweat dripping from his forehead. His broken arm was in a sling, but that didn't stop him. His body ached, but he pushed through.
One… two… three—
Something shifted.
A strange, tingling warmth coursed through his body. His vision blurred for a moment, and a sudden pulse ran through his broken arm like lightning snapping against glass.
He collapsed, gasping.
And then… the pain was gone.
Riku stared, stunned, as the sling slid off on its own. He flexed his arm. No pain. No fracture. No bruises.
He rushed to the mirror. Cuts—gone. Bruises—gone. In fact… his muscles looked slightly more defined than before, like he'd been training nonstop for weeks instead of lying in bed for one day.
"What… the hell?" he whispered.
The doctors were confused when they ran their tests. His bones were fully healed. Blood work: flawless. Muscle density: increased.
They had no explanation. But they cleared him.
By the next morning, Riku was discharged.
Tokyo's streets were cold and wet from last night's rain. Riku walked in silence, hoodie pulled over his head, hands in his pockets.
People stared. Whispered. Laughed.
But not the way they used to.
"Yo… that's him, right?"
"Yeah… the D-Rank kid who survived the Rift Zone."
"I heard three A-Ranks died saving him. Said he passed out from fear."
"Nah, man. I heard he watched 'em die and didn't even blink. Creepy, huh?"
"No way… the wimpy D-Rank? I bet he begged for his life."
As Riku passed a corner, a familiar voice called out:
"Well, if it isn't Tokyo's 'miracle survivor.'"
Riku turned and narrowed his eyes.
Toru Kurotaki.
Taller than before. Hair cleaner. Uniform tighter. Arrogance—unchanged.
"Saw your little drama," Toru smirked. "Rumors everywhere. But you know what's really newsworthy?" He jabbed his thumb at his chest. "My ancestor—yeah, him—was one of the Six. An EX-Rank Essence Warrior."
Riku said nothing.
Toru leaned in, cocky as ever. "Must feel pathetic, huh? D-Rank trash like you living in the same timeline as me."
Still… Riku didn't respond.
Instead, he glanced past Toru, toward the people whispering behind him.
"I heard the A-Ranks were noble," someone said.
"Yeah. Died to protect the weakest guy in the class. That's real honor."
"Maybe Riku Hayashi's not as weak as he looks."
Toru's smirk faltered.
Riku walked past him without a word.
He didn't need to argue anymore.
Let the rumors spread.
Let the world wonder.
Because something was changing inside him.
And whatever it was… had just begun.