The school gym was alive with the sounds of grunts, the rhythmic thud of fists meeting punching bags, and the occasional sharp whistle from Coach Raman. Azlan wiped the sweat from his brow as he finished his last set of speed punches. His muscles ached, but he thrived on the burn. The championship fight was in two weeks, and he was determined to defend his title as the school’s undefeated boxing champ.“Alright, champ,” Coach Raman called out, tossing Azlan a towel. “That was solid. But you’ve got a sparring session next. New partner today.”Azlan frowned, catching the towel. “New partner? What happened to Kamal?”“Out with a shoulder injury,” Coach said, his lips quirking into a smirk. “But don’t worry. This one’s got potential. You might actually sweat for a change.”Azlan snorted. “Doubt it.”The gym door creaked open, and Azlan turned to see none other than Isa strolling in, his trademark cocky grin plastered on his face.“Yo, Azlan!” Isa called out, throwing his bag to the side.

The gym was packed. Students crowded around the ring, their cheers deafening as the school championship was about to begin. Posters of Azlan and Zafran, the two titans of the school’s boxing scene, hung high on the walls. Azlan adjusted his gloves, his jaw tight as his System chimed in:“Opponent Analysis: Speed-focused fighter. Agility 85%, Strength 70%. Focus required for optimal victory.”He glanced across the ring at Zafran, who was shadowboxing with an arrogant smirk. Zafran locked eyes with Azlan and mouthed, “You’re done for, champ.”Isa leaned over the ropes from Azlan’s corner, shouting, “Bro, don’t let that guy’s cocky face fool you. Just knock him out!”Azlan smirked faintly. “Focus on your popcorn, Isa. I got this.”Rika sat quietly in the crowd, her sketchpad on her lap. She wasn’t drawing this time, though. Her eyes were locked on Azlan, her fingers gripping the edges of the sketchpad.Why do I feel nervous for him? she thought, biting her lip.The bell rang, and the cro

The opportunity came sooner than Isa expected. He found Aisha sitting on a bench near the school’s back gate, her head buried in a book.“Hey,” Isa said, approaching cautiously.She glanced up, startled, before quickly looking away. “What do you want?”“I just wanted to check if you’re okay,” Isa said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “After what happened in the cafeteria.”“I’m fine,” she mumbled, flipping a page without reading it.Isa sat down at the far end of the bench, giving her space. “Doesn’t look like you’re fine. Those girls—do they do this to you a lot?”Aisha didn’t answer right away. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely a whisper. “It doesn’t matter. They’ll never stop. People like me… we’re just easy targets.”“Why?” Isa asked, genuinely curious.She looked at him then, her eyes tired but defiant. “Because I don’t trust people. Every time I let someone in, they just end up hurting me. It’s easier to be alone.”Isa frowned. Her words hit closer to home than he

Disheartened, Isa thanked him and moved on to another lead—his sister’s former classmates. But the responses were always the same: vague, indifferent, or unhelpful.“Why is everyone acting like she didn’t exist?” Isa muttered to himself, frustration mounting.By lunchtime, Isa sat alone under a tree, the weight of dead ends pressing down on him.“Isa?” Luna’s soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts.He looked up, startled. “Luna, hey. What’s up?”“I should be asking you that,” she said, sitting beside him. “You’ve been acting… distant. What’s going on?”Isa shook his head. “It’s nothing. Just some stuff I’m trying to figure out.”Luna frowned. “You’re lying. I’ve seen that look before—when I used to bottle things up. Whatever it is, you don’t have to deal with it alone.”Isa hesitated, then sighed. “It’s about my sister. She died a few years ago. Someone left this photo of her in my locker, and I think it’s a clue to what happened to her.”Luna’s expression softened. “Isa, I’m so so

“Azlan.” Her voice was soft but carried the weight of her worry. “I just wanted to say… I’m proud of you. Your father would be, too.”Azlan’s chest tightened. “Thanks, Ma.”“But…” She hesitated. “I don’t want to lose you like I lost him. Boxing took your father away from us. Please, be careful.”Azlan’s grip on the phone tightened. “I will, Ma. I promise.”After a moment of silence, she added, “Remember what he used to say—‘It’s not the size of the fighter, but the size of the fight in him.’”A small smile tugged at Azlan’s lips. “I’ll keep that in mind.”The roar of the crowd hit Azlan like a wave as he stepped into the arena. His opponent was already in the ring, a hulking figure towering over everyone around him. “The Mountain” cracked his neck, his massive arms flexing as he stared Azlan down.The System pinged.New Challenge: Survive Three Rounds.Objective: Avoid a knockout. Conserve stamina. Focus on endurance.Azlan groaned internally. “Of course, it can’t just be a normal fi