The next day, Kaito was waiting for Shahaan at the usual spot, a narrow alley just far enough from the main streets that no one cared what happened there. The man leaned against the brick wall, hands in his coat pockets, cigarette burning low between his fingers.
"You ready?" Kaito asked, flicking the cigarette to the ground.
Shahaan nodded. His arms were still sore from yesterday, but there was no way he was going to admit that.
"Good," Kaito said. "We're going to Kabukicho tonight. Time you saw what the world really looks like when no one's pretending."
They moved through the streets as the sun dipped lower, shadows stretching across cracked pavement. Kabukicho at night was a different creature than in the day. Neon signs flickered above cramped doorways, the air thick with the scent of street food and cigarette smoke. People moved in unpredictable flows — laughing too loudly, arguing in sharp bursts, exchanging quick glances that carried unspoken deals.
Kaito led him to a small, dimly lit ramen shop wedged between a pawn shop and a bar with a broken neon sign. They sat at the counter, steam curling from their bowls. Kaito didn't start talking until they had both eaten a few mouthfuls.
"See the guy in the corner?" Kaito asked without looking.
Shahaan glanced discreetly. A man in a dark jacket sat alone, his face unreadable.
"Loan shark," Kaito said. "Half the people in this street owe him something. Money, favors, or both. The other half want him gone but are too scared to make a move."
Shahaan kept his voice low. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need to learn how to read a room," Kaito said. "Every fight starts before the first punch is thrown. The guy who knows the most wins."
When they finished eating, Kaito didn't take him home. Instead, they walked deeper into the district until the crowds thinned and the lights dimmed. The air felt heavier here, the kind of place where footsteps sounded louder and every corner seemed to be hiding someone.
Kaito stopped suddenly. "We're going to play a game," he said. "You've got three minutes to find a way past that group without them noticing you."
Shahaan followed his gaze and spotted three men smoking near the entrance to a side alley. They weren't just loitering — they were watching, scanning for anyone worth stopping.
"What happens if they do notice me?" Shahaan asked.
Kaito smirked. "Then you better be ready to run."
Shahaan's heart picked up. He studied the alley, the men's body language, and the way the street curved around a vending machine. His first instinct was to try slipping past quietly, but the angle was too open. He thought about the crowd they had just left and realized he could use it.
A group of drunk businessmen staggered toward the alley, laughing loudly. Shahaan slipped into their wake, matching their pace and body language, letting the noise and movement shield him. By the time the three men noticed, Shahaan was already past them, turning the corner.
When Kaito caught up, there was a faint nod of approval. "Not bad. You're learning."
They didn't head home right away. Kaito took him through more streets, pointing out subtle signs — a closed shop with its lights still on, a door with fresh scratches near the lock, a man who kept adjusting his sleeve because there was something hidden underneath.
By the time they left Kabukicho, Shahaan's head was buzzing with details he had never noticed before. Every shadow felt like it had a story, and every passerby looked like they were carrying more than just what was in their hands.
As they reached the edge of the district, Kaito stopped walking. "Remember this," he said. "Strength isn't just about hitting hard. It's about knowing when to hit, when to wait, and when to walk away."
Shahaan met his gaze. "And if I can't walk away?"
"Then you make sure the other guy can't either," Kaito replied. His tone was calm, but there was an edge beneath it, the kind that made it clear he was speaking from experience.
That night, when Shahaan lay in bed, his mind replayed the sights and sounds of Kabukicho. He thought about the men in the alley, the loan shark, the way Kaito moved like he already knew what was going to happen before it did.
He wanted that. Not just the strength, but the vision. The ability to read a place, a person, a situation, and already know the ending before it began.
For the first time, Shahaan felt like he was no longer just learning how to fight. He was learning how to survive.