Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple.

Yuujiro had finally left, taking his intense, looming presence with him. He said he'd be back in six years, and by then, he expected me to be his equal. Six years—that was both a long time and nothing at all. It left a weight on my shoulders but also a kind of freedom. For the first time in a while, I could just focus on my own goals, my own pace.

Today was supposed to be a normal day. I was headed out to buy some books when a familiar manga cover caught my eye at a store—Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple. It was just beginning its serialization. I'd never finished the manga before, but I'd always been curious about what happened in it. I picked it up, flipping through the pages, and that's when it happened.

I felt a strange pull, like a force was tugging at me from the inside out. Before I could react, everything blurred and swirled around me, as if I'd been pulled into a mirror. In an instant, I found myself somewhere else entirely. Still Japan, by the look of it, but it wasn't my world. Somehow, without any warning, I'd been transported to a different place.

For a moment, I just stood there, letting the shock settle in. But I couldn't stay frozen forever. I needed to get my bearings. I spotted a young woman a few steps ahead and walked toward her, reaching out to ask for directions.

"Excuse me—"

Before I could even finish my sentence, she turned around, her expression fierce, and immediately went on the defensive. She threw her arm up to flip me, and when that didn't work, she tried a spinning kick aimed at my head. Instinctively, I dodged the attack, my mind racing to make sense of what was happening.

That's when it hit me. I knew this person. Miu Fūrinji—one of the main characters from Kenichi. My mind spun, half with disbelief and half with excitement. Had I really crossed into the manga I'd just been reading about?

"Hey, stop!" I said, hands up, still dodging her attacks. "I just wanted to ask for directions. Sorry for coming up behind you like that."

Miu paused, her eyes narrowing with suspicion before recognition dawned on her face. She lowered her guard and gave a nervous laugh. "Oh, sorry about that," she said, her tone apologetic but still a bit guarded. "You surprised me, and, well… reflexes, you know?"

I relaxed, though my mind was racing. This world was real. I could feel it in the way the air smelled, in the small details around me, in the strength of Miu's kick that had nearly connected. My power… it has brought me here. The ability I'd always sensed was there but had never truly understood was finally real, manifesting in a way I'd only dreamed of.

"So, do you know your way around here?" I asked, keeping my tone as casual as I could, hoping she'd just see me as some lost kid on his way to school.

Miu tilted her head, her expression curious and maybe a little suspicious. "I mean... you're in Tokyo," she said, still giving me that searching look. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"Uh, no," I said, coming up with a quick excuse. "I just moved here, and I'm trying to find my way to Kōryō High School." I figured it was a safe answer, given it was Kenichi's school. It seemed like the best place to get a foothold in this new world, and it could give me a reason to stay close to Miu and learn more about my surroundings.

As I asked for directions, Miu's expression softened, though she still looked me over carefully. I couldn't blame her—I was clearly younger than most people who'd be roaming Tokyo alone. She glanced around as if checking to see if there was a guardian or parent nearby before leaning down a bit, her eyes kind.

"You're… a little young to be heading to high school alone, aren't you?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice. "How old are you?"

"Seven," I said, keeping my voice casual, like being Seven and asking directions to high school was totally normal. "But I'm actually starting at Kōryō High School," I added quickly. "I got ahead a few years, and I've been training, too."

Miu's eyes widened slightly, her mouth opening in surprise. "Seven?! And you're going to high school? That's amazing! And a little… unusual, and you are very tall" she said, her brows drawing together in mild concern. "Do you have anyone to walk with? It's a big city, and it's easy to get Lost, especially for a Seven-year-old."

I shrugged. "I'm used to going places alone. Actually, I just moved here, so I don't really know my way around yet."

Her expression softened even more, a mix of amazement and sympathy flickering across her face. "Well, Kōryō's where I'm going too, so you're in luck. It's my first day there, and I can show you around."

I exhaled, relieved. "That'd be great, thanks." Miu's kindness was refreshing, and though I couldn't tell her the full truth, I was glad she didn't ask too many questions. Right now, I just wanted to blend in and learn more about this world. And maybe join a school.

As we continued toward the school, we didn't get far before we crossed paths with a boy who seemed just as surprised by us as we were by him. He looked a bit distracted as he rushed past, and suddenly, before I could react, Miu instinctively flipped him to the ground. It was such a blur that for a second, all I could do was laugh at the sight. "Sorry my body reacted on its own"

"Whoa… my books…" the boy groaned, clearly dazed as he sat up, looking at the scattered textbooks around him.

"Oh, sorry!" Miu stammered, her face red with embarrassment as she bent down to help. I joined in, grabbing a couple of books and stacking them back up.

Kenichi gave us a bewildered look as he picked himself up, glancing from me to Miu. "Sorry to bother you," he said, rubbing his head with an awkward smile. Then, after a pause, he suddenly pointed at Miu. "Wait—why did you suddenly attack me? Did you want to kill me?"

I couldn't help but laugh even harder, and Kenichi gave me a half-hearted glare. "Why are you laughing? It's not funny!" But that only made it funnier.

"Ah, sorry," Miu said, trying to stifle a laugh of her own. "But, if somebody appears behind you, it's normal to throw them, right?" She looked at me for backup, and I couldn't resist backing her up.

"It is normal, at least where I grew up," I added, smirking.

Kenichi squinted at us both, like he was trying to figure out if we were messing with him, before finally letting out a sigh. "Oh no, it's already this late? If you don't hurry, you'll be late too!" And with that, he bolted off, sprinting down the path as fast as he could.

Miu spotted a book he'd left behind, picking it up with a soft smile. "He was really in a rush," she murmured. She tucked it under her arm as we continued walking.

"Well," she said as we started toward the school again, "let's go. Oh, I forgot to ask—what's your name? Mine is Miu Fūrinji."

"I'm Baki, Baki Hanma." I replied as we began to take a shortcut, each of us jogging slightly to make up for the delay.

She nodded, repeating my name with a thoughtful smile. "Nice to meet you, Baki. You're pretty strong. Where do you train?"

I gave a small shrug, answering honestly, "My father trained me, but if I can train with you, it would be nice. My family isn't around anymore." It was true enough, and it made sense in a way that Miu seemed to understand.

Miu's face softened a little at my words. "Ryōzanpaku," she said, looking thoughtful. "That's where I train. If you want, you could come by sometime. I think you'd like it there."

The offer hung between us, sparking a rare sense of excitement within me. Training at Ryōzanpaku, even as a visitor, would be a fresh challenge and a chance to learn from new masters. I couldn't help but feel a bit of thrill at the thought, but first, I had to settle into this school somehow.

We finally arrived at Kōryō High. Miu waved and headed to her class, leaving me standing on the steps with the realization that I had no papers, no records, and no real way to enroll myself. I figured I could wing it, but there was still a good chance I'd end up dealing with some kind of authority—and worst case, a foster home. Not exactly what I wanted.

Then, I remembered someone who could help: Haruo Niijima. Known for his... unconventional ways, Niijima was a guy who always seemed to have his hands in questionable activities, which meant he'd probably have access to fake documents and connections. So, I made my way into the school, weaving through the hallways, scanning classrooms until I found him. Niijima was standing in a corner, looking his usual twitchy self, like he was nervous about something or hiding a secret, which—knowing him—he probably was.

As soon as he spotted me, his eyes widened in panic, and he bolted from the room.

I rolled my eyes and went after him, catching up quickly. Grabbing him by the collar, I pulled him aside before he could scream. "Please don't kill me! I'll tell you everything, what do you want?" he begged, his voice barely a whisper but full of terror.

"Relax," I muttered, glancing around at the students now staring at us. "I'm not here to kill you. Just shut up and follow me somewhere private."

Ignoring the odd stares, I opened the nearest window and jumped, pulling Niijima with me. He let out a high-pitched scream as we dropped from the second-floor window. We landed easily, but he was trembling as I led him to a secluded spot on the school grounds.

Once we were alone, I released him and cut straight to the point. "Look, I need a fake identity—something to get me into this school without drawing attention."

He shook his head, his usual bravado missing in the face of fear. "I... I can't do that! I'm a high school student, not some underground forger!"

I sighed, knowing I'd need a bit of extra persuasion to get him on board. Spotting a sizable boulder nearby, I walked over and struck it with a single punch, shattering it into thousands of pieces. The sound echoed, and a few scattered rocks clattered to the ground at Niijima's feet as he watched, eyes wide with terror.

"You will do it," I said calmly, brushing the dust off my hand. "Unless you'd like to see what happens next."

Niijima gulped, his face turning an alarming shade of pale. After a moment, he nodded frantically. "All right, all right! I'll help. Just... just give me a few days, and I'll get you set up. Anything you need! Just, please, no more rock-punching."

I raised an eyebrow but gave a slight nod of approval. "Good. Get it done, and maybe we can work together again."

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I noticed some comments suggesting Kenichi, and I liked the idea! Since I was feeling a bit stuck in Baki's story, I thought it might be fun to explore that world for a while. Thanks so much for supporting the novel; if you could keep commenting, it would mean a lot!