Flashback:

  A teenage Takeshi stands in front of his bedroom mirror, adjusting the blue cap of his graduation gown. The room around him is neatly arranged, but something about it feels detached—like it belongs to someone else. Sports memorabilia covers the walls, but Takeshi has never cared for any of the teams or players. It was all for his father. Just like everything else.

  “Takeshi! Come out and let us see you!” A voice cracks through Takeshi’s bedroom door.

  Takeshi inhales deeply, giving himself one last look before rushing downstairs. His parents stand at the bottom of the staircase, his mother beaming with pride while his father holds a mirrorless camera—the one Takeshi had shown him how to use just a few weeks ago.

  They take pictures together, posing with forced smiles and stiff movements, until they finally leave for the graduation ceremony

  **

  At the stadium, Takeshi parts from his parents as they search for their seats. He follows the flow of his graduating class, moving through the crowded halls until a strong hand grips his shoulder and spins him around.

  Before Takeshi can react, lips press against his own. It’s fast and unexpected, but he already knows who it is—Matthew, his best friend since freshman year. Their relationship had been complicated, full of moments like this, stolen away in secret. They had come out to each other the summer before, but never to anyone else.

  The kiss lingers for a moment before they pull away, glancing around to make sure no one saw. With unspoken understanding, they split off and head to their assigned sections.**

  After the ceremony, Takeshi returns home with Matthew, both boys buzzing with post-graduation excitement. His parents had dropped them off, mentioning a quick errand they had to run. Takeshi suspected it was a cake or some kind of surprise, but in that moment, he didn’t care.

  Matthew pushes him onto the bed, playfully peppering his face with light kisses. Takeshi laughs, pushing back at first, but soon leans into the warmth of it. What starts as playful turns into something deeper, more deliberate. The open window allows a faint summer breeze to drift in, carrying with it the sounds of a city still awake. Takeshi’s eyes flutter shut, lost in the moment, until his bedroom door suddenly swings open. His father stands in the doorway, frozen in place.

  For the first time in his life, Takeshi sees real emotion on his father’s face—shock, horror, and something even worse: disgust.

  Matthew scrambles off Takeshi, stumbling backward in panic. Takeshi doesn’t need to hear the words to know exactly what’s coming.

  “What the fuck?!”

  END OF FLASHBACK:

  **

  Present day

  Takeshi barely has time to register Kenny’s attack before he’s slammed in the face with the Gothic Demon Sword. The impact knocks him back, his health dipping dangerously low as he skids across the rooftop.

  The bright, pixelated skyline stretches out around him, the city below teeming with movement. Car horns blare, neon signs flicker in the distance—yet everything feels muted. Distant.

  **

  “Takeshi is barely putting up a fight,” Derrick states, his voice filled with uncertainty. “We might be looking at a completely different tournament than we expected, Ray.”

  “It sure seems like it, Derrick,” Ray replies. “Kenny isn’t giving our defending champion a second to breathe. The Gothic Demon Sword is a strong close-range weapon, but it lacks long-range options. Meanwhile, Takeshi’s Dragon Blade is built for zoning—on a stage like Rooftops, he should be playing to his strengths and keeping his distance. But instead… he’s just standing there.”

  Nora, Javier, Faith, Maximillion, and Ren watch in unease, the match unfolding in a way no one expected. Across the stadium, Brian stands with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Jin and Desmond remain silent, watching the big screen.

  **

  On the battlefield, Kenny closes the distance, aiming to finish Takeshi off with a kick to knock him off the rooftop.

  At the last second, Takeshi rollws away, landing on his feet in a single fluid motion.

  The sudden movement catches Kenny off guard, but he quickly regains his footing. He grins.

  “I gotta say, Takeshi,” he taunts. “I never would’ve guessed you’d go down this easy. But I like this side of you. Helpless. Docile. Weak. Kinda makes me think our last match was a fluke.” Kenny swings again, aiming for Takeshi’s head.

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  Takeshi dodged. Effortlessly.

  Takeshi’s Thoughts:

  He’s right. Maybe all my victories were flukes. If my parents didn’t want me… if Omar didn’t want me… then what’s left of me?

  Nothing.

  What the hell am I even doing here?

  And then, like a whisper in the wind, Takeshi heard his father’s voice.

  “You are no longer my son.”

  The memory crashes into him like a tidal wave, paralyzing him where he stands. After rethinking about this specific moment, Takeshi stops in his tracks. Once again leaving himself wide open to Kenny’s attack.

  Kenny didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, slashing his sword across Takeshi’s chest. Takeshi staggered backward. His health dropped to 15%—one or two more hits, and it would be over. His reign as champion would end.

  And then, something inside him snapped.

  “Fuck ’em all,” Takeshi muttered under his breath.

  Kenny tilted his head. “What was that? Couldn’t hear you over the sound of you losing.”

  Takeshi finally lifts his head. His eyes burn with something raw—something that shakes Kenny to his core. A thick energy aura erupts around Takeshi.

  Rage Mode Activated.“I said…” Takeshi straightened his posture, his voice chillingly steady. “You haven’t changed your playstyle at all. It’s still so boring. But even more than that—”

  Takeshi tightened his grip on his sword. “You’ve already been downloaded, Kenny.”

  (“Downloaded” is Fighting game slang for when your opponent has your entire play style memorized/figured out.)

  **

  A ripple of unease swept through the stadium. The audience shivered, sensing something different about Takeshi’s energy. Javier, Nora, Brian, and Jin were the first to pick up on it—this wasn’t just competition.

  This was hate.

  **

  Kenny charges forward, desperate to end the match before Takeshi can fully recover. But Takeshi is faster.

  “Dragon slash.”

  The words echo through the arena. A massive energy dragon bursts forth from Takeshi’s sword, roaring as it barrels toward Kenny.“Wall!” Kenny screams.

  A translucent checkered barrier materialized in front of him just in time. The dragon slammed into it, sending shockwaves through the rooftop. Kenny felt the sheer force behind the attack, even through his defense.

  Kenny exhaled. Shit. I shouldn’t have used my only wall. There was just something about his attack that legit scared me. Either way, I still have the life lead. I just have to—

  His breath catches.Takeshi is gone.

  Kenny peeks beyond the safety of his wall, and his stomach sinks.

  Takeshi is already there. Standing just beyond the wall, waiting. His stance is relaxed—too relaxed. His eyes are hidden behind his hair, his expression unreadable.

  Before Kenny can react, Takeshi’s sword swings downward, aiming for his throat. Kenny barely dodges in time, stumbling backward. But Takeshi pivots, stepping behind the wall in a blur of motion. Now he’s at point-blank range.“Earth dragon slash”

  Takeshi grinds his blade against the rooftop, sending a wave of sharp debris flying toward Kenny. The impact knocks him off his feet, sending him airborne.

  Before Kenny can recover, Takeshi dashes forward.

  “Earth dragon slash!”

  Another blast of concrete shrapnel smashes into Kenny, launching him even higher.

  **

  “Takeshi is finally showing signs of life with this devastating combo!” Derrick shouts. “That’s a remarkable juggle!”

  “Let’s see if he can carry that momentum into the rest of the match,” Ray adds.

  **

  Kenny is still in the air. For a moment, he manages to glance over his shoulder. That’s when he sees it. The Takeshi in front of him isn’t just a competitor. Kenny doesn’t see the eyes of a rival. He sees the eyes of a demon. A man possessed.

  Takeshi raises his sword— Slash.

  A single clean hit rips across Kenny’s torso, knocking him even higher into the air.

  Damn it, he’s throwing me around like a ragdoll! My health is just below half… Don’t sweat it. I can bounce back from this, I just have to—

  “Wall.”

  Kenny’s breath catches in his throat.

  What? Did Takeshi just waste his wall? Perfect. This is what I was waiting for! Now I can—

  Kenny was shocked to see Takeshi had crosses the distance and was directly in front of him. In his face, with his hands over his head and ready to deliver another –

  His thoughts halt. Takeshi is already in his face. Too close. Too fast. Hands over his head. Sword already swinging.

  “Dragon slash!”

  Takeshi’s energy dragon engulfs Kenny in an instant. Kenny’s vision is consumed by blue flames as the force carries him high into the sky—

  And then—

  A sudden, violent drop. Kenny’s avatar plummets. The audience watches as he spirals downward, breaking through the rooftop barrier, vanishing into the void below.

  Game Over.

  The screen flashes red. Kenny’s avatar explodes on impact. Takeshi lands gracefully on the rooftop, his sword at his side. Without looking back he walks away.

  **

  For a moment, the entire stadium is silent. Then roars of cheers erupt from the crowd. Takeshi slowly removes his VR headset, blinking as his senses adjust back to reality. The bright stadium lights feel invasive. Before he can even process what happened Kenny is already waiting for him. The moment Takeshi steps out of the pod, Kenny extends a hand. His eyes are red, tears threatening to fall.

  “…Good match,” Kenny says, swallowing thickly. “I’ll get you next time, champ.”

  Before Takeshi can respond, Kenny grips his hand firmly, shakes it, and swiftly walks away. Takeshi watches him go, something heavy settling in his chest. A hand claps onto his back. The voice of Ray, the commentator, cuts through the noise.

  “What a great match, champ! Could you tell us what was happening at the start of the match?”

  Takeshi doesn’t even look at him.“Yeah”

  Takeshi mutters one word before walking away from Ray, off the stage.