It was a new day with the countless red leaves falling from the sky like a red rain shower, coloring the ground with a vibrant blanket.
Neal called out to his father, who was having breakfast, and then opened the door.
Neal only sighed at his words, as there was no way he would be having the school all by himself, but when he left the house, he noticed an interesting-looking young man standing by the gate.
"Y-you? What are you doing in front of my house?"
Kiernan turned around and looked like he was snacking on something. It sounded crunchy.
"About time. Isn't the school bell ringing in about thirty minutes? You're leaving pretty late, but I guess you'll make it there with a few minutes remaining."
"Why would I go to the school early? I'd rather stay home all day than spend it in that boring place."
Neal said, and with a backpack on his back, he walked down the sidewalk, his eyes fixed on the ground as he went.
Without any wasted time, Kiernan walked after him and swallowed his crunchy food.
"I think today you should challenge Travis to the ranked match."
Neal's heart started to suddenly beat rapidly as he wasn't ready at all to look at Travis and challenge him to the duel.
The news of their duel would reach every corner of the school, and he wasn't sure whether he could survive the attention that would come with it.
"W-what if he refuses?"
Kiernan laughed with tears almost flying out of his eyes. He thought it was a really funny joke, but Neal didn't find it as funny.
"You'll really think that Travis will skip an opportunity to beat you up, with permission, in front of the entire school?"
Neal, hearing that, turned silent and knew that was exactly what Travis would want.
"B-but… I need for you to know that I am the 301st-ranked student in the school. I am among the bottom. Travis is third ranked…"
Kiernan looked at him with a raised brow.
"What do you mean with 'so'? We're in completely different leagues!"
"That's a mental barrier."
Neal tilted his head in confusion, not quite understanding what that meant.
"Mental barrier is Travis' strongest weapon. He is a high-ranking student, taller than any student, and a popular kid who is dating the prettiest girl in the school.
"Anyone fighting him is instantly thinking that they won't stand a chance because he is basically the main character while everyone else is a side character."
"What you said makes sense, but… he is a kickboxer. I've seen him fight, and whenever he kicks at this spot, his opponents go down."
Neal rubbed his liver area, showing the spot where Travis' kick would usually land, and sighed at the thought of that.
While trying to sleep last night, he was trying to imagine how the fight would go, and it always ended in his loss.
Even though he would've liked to imagine him as victor, he couldn't shake the feeling of impending defeat.
'I guess this is the mental barrier…'
"Well, will you challenge Travis today? If even that is too hard for you to do, how can you survive a fight with him?"
Neal clenched his hands into fists.
The school's morning bell rang, echoing throughout the school, and students went to their classrooms. Some were all smiles, while a few were sleepy and grumbling about having to wake up so early.
Neal arrived at the footsteps of his class and saw the friend groups talking with each other, with a few diligent students studying for the incoming exams.
At that moment, he saw Travis leaning against Katharina's desk, talking with her, who talked about her being suddenly grounded.
When Travis heard about it, he was quite displeased, but trying to keep up his persona, he forced a smile and said to have the date next week then.
Neal kept his head low and walked over to his desk, which was right beside a window, and as he was about to sit down, Travis walked over from Katherina's desk and bumped shoulders with him.
Travis said to him with a look of ridicule and joined his friends in the back row.
Neal, who almost fell from the bump, put his backpack hanging from the back of the chair and wanted to sit down, but then he noticed that there were some small nails sticking out.
With the side eye, he saw Travis and his friends smirk towards him, with a mischievous glint in their eyes.
'They really don't plan to leave me alone…'
Neal's eyes turned wet with tears, but he quickly wiped them off and put on a brave face.
Instead of sitting down, he stood up straight and walked over towards Travis' desk without turning his gaze away from his smirking face, which was slowly turning into a look of surprise.
It shocked everyone, and they all turned around to look at what was happening.
This might be the first time that any of them had actually heard Neal talk, so it was very surprising to hear him yell.
Travis leaned against his chair and crossed his legs, hating the fact that Neal was looking straight into his eyes.
It was the first time that Travis had seen such intensity in Neal's gaze, and he wanted to do nothing except drag him to the storage room and give him a beating.
"I, Neal Yoxall, challenge you to the ranked match!"
Neal shouted, his eyes shaking.
The classmates of theirs covered their mouths in shock, and some even snickered as if it was something funny.
A few of them checked Neal's ranking on the school website, and when they saw it, they let out loud laughter.
Travis' eyes widened in shock, and he then stood up, towering over Neal with clenched fists.