Choo-choo! Choo-choo!
A train's wheelset sparked against the tracks as it chugged along the railway, and steam billowed from the smokestack.
It arrived at the gray-skied Irio right on time, with clouds slowly parting to reveal a glimmer of sunlight.
Banners welcoming Karuza High's team hung over the train station, and a crowd of people had gathered outside to cheer and wave.
With the train stopping by the station, people swarmed out with baggage in hand and looked surprised at the amount of crowd, not realizing why they were here.
At that moment, the crowd roared in excitement as Karuza High's members stepped out into the warm summer heat.
Coach Jin carried the trophy inside a wooden box and looked across the crowd with a stunned look.
He realized just how much the victory meant to the people of the Irio.
It wasn't really a surprise, as the city of Irio wasn't really known for being anything great. It was a mediocre city in a weak country that was often overlooked by everyone.
Whenever citizens of Irio told any outsiders during vacation trips about where they come from, they would answer with 'Where is that?'
Now, their city was known by everyone.
"Well, I'll be heading out."
Kiernan said as he saw his father waiting outside with a car, waving at him to come.
"Alright. I'll see you in a couple of weeks when the school resumes!"
Coach Jin said, and the rest of the team waved goodbye to Kiernan.
Julian followed after Kiernan with his crutches, limping onwards with a scowl on his face.
With some difficulty, trying to navigate through the screaming crowd as they wanted to take pictures with Kiernan, they finally reached Karma and his car.
Kiernan greeted his father and carefully put his backpack on the trunk, as his trophy for being Most Valuable Fighter was inside.
"Hello. Need help with that?"
Karma looked at Julian, but he shook his head and tried to stuff the crutches inside the trunk, but it was too small.
Therefore, he sighed and tossed them inside the backseat.
"Take the front seat, Kiernan. I don't think you'll fit in the back with me."
Julian said and awkwardly made his way to the backseat, moving the crutches out of his way.
After opening the door, Kiernan took his seat at the front of the car, put his seatbelt on, and heard his father start the engine.
The car's engine purred to life. It sounded mild and smooth, a comforting noise that helped to calm Kiernan's nerves.
At that moment, without anyone else seeing except Kiernan, a fluffy-looking puppy hopped inside the car and took his favorite spot in Kiernan's lap.
A crowd gathered around the car, but as soon as Karma pressed his foot on the pedal, they moved out of the way, and allowed them to leave safely.
Driving through the grayish, gloomy streets, the city of Irio looked the same as it did months ago when they were last here.
It didn't take long for the car to roll into the yard of a familiar house, and after the engine cut off, they left the car, and the two young men entered the house first.
Karma locked the car, pocketed the keys, and slowly walked to the front while still barely believing the scene he just saw.
Everyone was screaming his son's name while desperately trying to get pictures with him.
It reminded him of his youth, when his name was also screamed by adoring fans and hardcore martial arts enthusiasts.
He should've become one of the greats, but it all ended prematurely because of the Red Emperor.
A deep brown-haired old woman walked over from the neighboring house with a plastic box in her hand.
"Miss Florence, good morning."
Karma greeted her with a warm smile.
She had been living here in the same neighborhood for the past forty years. She moved here with her family of four and husband.
When her children started to move out of Irio for bigger and better opportunities, it was just her and her husband.
Karma got to know them very well, and five years ago when her husband died, she was the only one left, but her smile never seemed to disappear.
"I baked some cookies. I want to give these to your son after bringing so much joy to this little city of ours."
Miss Florence said with a smile.
"Oh, I appreciate it. I'll give them to him."
Karma accepted them, nodded a farewell to her, and then entered the house, which had become lively once more.
"Kiernan, can you open my door for me?!"
Julian screamed from upstairs.
"Nah, do it yourself!"
"I can't because of these FUCKING crutches!"
"Your leg is broken, not your arms! You're such a baby sometimes, Julian. Use your elbow or something to open the door!"
Karma rolled his eyes at the constant bickering and took the cookies to the kitchen table right beside other celebratory baked goodies.
The whole neighborhood visited him yesterday, giving him gifts for his son.
Kiernan came down the stairs with his very own trophy in hand and looked around the house until he found a shelf to put it on.
He placed the Most Valuable Fighter trophy beside a photograph of him and his father and a picture of his grandparents.
"Are you sure you want the trophy to be here? Why not have it in your room as decoration?"
"Hmm… nah. I like it here."
Kiernan said with a wry smile.
He didn't really care about awards, but since he won one, he might as well display it in the living room and not somewhere obscure like in his room.
Karma walked over to the shelf with the plastic box of cookies, handed it over to Kiernan, and then looked at the trophy, which was standing right beside the two very important photographs.
It made him quite emotional to look at.
Kiernan looked at the cookie box, shrugged his shoulders, and took one, but then he felt his little puppy, Fen, smack his head against his legs, wanting a treat too.
While his father wasn't watching, he dropped one cookie, which Fen devoured instantly.