Chapter 2

Japan, 2014.

Two groups of male students from two different high schools facing each other on a field. They were about 20 feet away. There was quiet but tense atmosphere. The leader named Keichi Mori from Akiyama High School threw away his cigarette.

"I was waiting for Genji. But I heard, he has transferred school last week," Keichi looked at Rex from head to toe.

"That's right. And here I am, answering the challenge from Akiyama."

"Tsk. Yellow boy, do you have the guts to be their leader?" Keichi stepped forward and looked into the eyes of the other leader with European race.

"You know my name," he said. "Spell it corretly."

Keichi frowned then he laughed. "Of course! Rex Clifford. A foreign student who defeated my old enemy, Genji Miura. The strongest in Seikai."

The news about the frontman of Seikai High School being defeated by a foreign student had spread widely.  Genji Miura, the student council president who was the strongest in the battle among students, must resign from his position and his followers became under Rex's command. It was the stake when Rex challenged him.

"I defeated him in a fair fight. The strongest becomes the leader," he explained.

"Uh... that proves Seikai has weakened! Ha ha!"

"Why don't we just finish it quickly?" replied Rex.

Keichi poked his head to Seikai students behind Rex. "Ha ha! I was surprised by the students of Seikai High School. You all came here to support a foreigner as your leader?!" he sneered. Then he turned back to his friends who were laughing and booing Seikai students.

"You won't last long with that attitude," Rex looked at him scornfully. He took off his black coat and threw it on the ground, waving a hand at his followers as a command to move forward.

Keichi shouted, giving the signal for Akiyama students to attack. In an instant, the brawl broke out. Two groups of students beating each other with bare hands.

"Rex!!" Keichi shouted when he saw Rex beating up his friend fiercely. He ran with all his might and blocked him.

They threw fists at each other. Both of them showed off their martial arts skill. Keichi who mastered judo tried to hold Rex down, and Rex who mastered karate held him. He hit his  abdomen, made him growl and step back.

That made Keichi launched multiple attacks blindly and out of control. Rex keeps dodging until he saw an opportunity to hit his vital point. He gave Keichi few more hits and he fell on the ground.

"Bastard!" Keichi laughed as he tried to get up, but he fell again.

"Just accept your defeat," said Rex. Keichi's eyes slowly closed, he fainted.

A friend of Keichi immediately ran towards Rex and tried to stab him. Rex realized he was carrying a penknife and he immediately jumped backward. Within his range, Rex kicked his hand and the penknife fell.

"Loser!! Loser!! You're Cheating!! He wants to kill our leader!!"

Seikai students shouted angrily.

"Hoo! You drew your weapon? Then forget peace. You will lose your hand!" Rex stepped forward and beat the boy mercilessly. He stomped his right hand until the bones creaked.

"Arghhh...!!! Stop!! Please!! It hurts!!" he pleaded to Rex as he tried to get rid of his foot. Rex crouched down and grabbed his hair. His gaze was sharp and cold, then he picked up the penknife beside him.

"Do you know the rule that it is forbidden to use weapons?" he lifted the boy's head and put the tip of the penknife on his face. The boy could feel the coldness from metal surface on his cheeks.

He trembled as he pleaded again, "I am... sorry... Please, forgive me! Please!" He closed his eyes in fear seeing Rex's gaze like a wild beast.

"Let me leave a message so you can tell your friends to not bring weapons in the next fight," said Rex. Then he slashed his face into an R. The boy screamed in pain. Half of his face covered by blood.

"Please... forgive me..." he cried.

Rex grabbed his hair again, "Tell your friends who carved your face with your own weapon. Show them my initial."

Rex's friends who were overflowing with anger were even more eager to beat the rest of Akiyama students.

Seikai High School won a landslide victory. They walked home with dirty clothes and bruises on their bodies. But the pain didn't stop them from laughing happily and feeling proud.

Rex looked at their faces and he smiled. He has scored many victories with his friends in inter-school brawls. He watched the sunset as he walked home. He realized that all of this would be over soon.

"Hey, Rex! You're really great! You were almost stabbed but your kick was so fast!" said Daikichi while patting Rex on the shoulder. This bald boy was previously a loyal follower of Genji Miura. But after Rex defeated Genji, he became his right hand.

Rex smirked. "If I wasn't a student, I would have used that penknife to gouge out his eye."

"Ha ha! Let's do that next time!" Daikichi threw his fists in the air. Every fight he had with Rex to defend the good name of their school, made him even more excited.

Those boys forgot that they won't be student forever. But not with Rex. He realized after graduation, he had to make a new decision. His parents contacted Rex more frequently and asked him to return to London.

Even though he didn't miss his parents, Rory's words always ring in his mind. The last time they spoke on the phone, he said, "Mom and dad are rarely with me. And it's even sadder that my brother doesn't want to be with me either. I mean nothing to all of you."

He felt guilty because of his selfishness blaming their parents for not paying enough attention to them, but Rex still have his grandfather. Meanwhile, Rory only being accompanied by servants and a nanny. After all, none of the family members being around to watch her grow.

After he arrived at home, his grandfather immediately guessed that Rex was getting into another fight. He helped Rex to treat his bruises.

"Who did you beat this time?" he asked.

"The students of Akiyama. They are lame." Rex sighed. Due to his experience, he is getting faster finishing each fight.

"Ha ha! You are my grandson! Of course you won!" Grandpa patted Rex on the back proudly.

"Rory... are you proud of her as well?" Rex looked down.

His grandson's question confused Stephen. Although he has two grandchildren, he is closer to Rex than Rory.

"Of course I'm proud of my grandchildren. But you and Rory are different." He sighed and folded his arms across his chest. "She's a girl, and I couldn't possibly raise her like you."

Rex clenched his fists. "So what? Do you realize that we have neglected her? Mom, Dad, myself, and you... We are all the same. Right? In the end... we are all the same," he stood up and rushed into his room, leaving his grandfather behind.

Stephen froze. Indeed, they all had neglected Rory. He just realized that and his heart ached. Saving one child and abandoning another is really unfair. Regret invaded his mind, and his sense of pride as a grandfather raising his grandson alone was shaken. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

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