"Hiyyah… hiyyah!" Two rapid kicks slammed into the rubber target pad, producing loud impacts like firecrackers.
Bugh! Bugh!
Then she ran to the back of the line, and the next girl stepped forward to replace her, kicking the target held by a tall man who was her senior.
After nearly half an hour of practicing kicking techniques, the students of the training hall gathered together.
They formed a circle around an area of about ten square meters.
The hall had tiled flooring, and its roof was made of dark brown clay tiles.
Six pillars stood around it, and at the back it was connected to another building.
That building was a hall constructed by the local government, intended as a training venue for various sports.
Next to it was a tennis court, surrounded by a wire fence.
On the other side was a wide open area often used for parking or other sports that required a large space.
Some students were preparing to spar. They were already wearing thick foam body protectors.
First round—two male students stepped into the center of the arena, facing each other.
Blue corner versus red corner.
"Ready!"
"Begin!"
The referee gave the signal.
The red corner opened with a high right kick aimed at the head. The blue corner dodged while raising his hands to block, then followed up with a kick to the stomach.
As soon as the kick landed, he pulled his leg back, quickly spun his body, and launched a beautiful spinning back kick that struck the side of his opponent's headgear.
The red corner staggered backward.
"Stop!"
The referee called out.
"Ready!"
"Begin!"
The two continued exchanging kicks and punches. The fight went on for a while, and it remained evenly matched.
Moments later—
"Stop!"
The match ended.
"Next, female participants!"
"Fatheema! Silvia!"
The referee called the next pair.
Both stepped into the center of the arena.
Fatheema stood in the red corner, her opponent in the blue.
"Ready!"
"Set!"
"Begin!"
The blue corner opened with a high front kick aimed upward toward the head.
Red dodged by leaping to the side.
The kick hit nothing.
Blue followed with an elegant spinning kick, then a solid side kick.
Red dodged again with agility, spinning quickly to the side of her opponent.
Blue launched a flurry of beautiful kicking techniques, one after another.
But red kept dodging—jumping left and right, sometimes spinning gracefully to evade the attacks.
After a while of avoiding blue's offense, red made her move—she leapt to the outer side of her opponent's body, then dashed forward,
spun—
And—
"Haiyyah!"
A beautiful spinning kick struck blue's head.
The impact threw her off balance, and she fell to the floor.
She lay there weakly, her vision spinning.
"Stop!"
The referee quickly signaled.
Red walked over to blue, crouched down, and hugged her.
"Are you okay? I'm sorry."
"Come on, get up," she said, helping her friend to her feet.
"Thanks, Fatty," she replied as she stood.
Fatheema guided her sparring partner to the edge of the arena, and the referee continued with the next match.
This martial art training was something Fatheema did twice a week.
She felt a certain passion for it. Even though it was exhausting, it gave her a surge of energy that kept her motivated.
Fatheema Quraisin was a sixteen-year-old girl, a first-year vocational high school student majoring in Software Engineering at a public school.
Her body was slim and athletic thanks to her regular taekwondo training. Her shoulder-length wavy black hair framed her face, which carried distinct Malayan features.
She was known to be quite sensitive—easily moved by small things. But behind that, Fatheema had strong determination. Once she decided on something, she almost never gave up until she achieved it.
In her free time, she enjoyed playing MOBA games and drawing anime characters in her sketchbook.
If things didn't go her way, she would usually let out a small snort—a habit that often made her friends laugh.
Even so, she was cheerful and full of spirit.
She also had a Yo*Tube channel called Noobqueen, the alias she used while gaming. Because of that, her friends often called her "Noobqueen."
***
That afternoon, her encounter with the spirit Hanako left her with many questions.
What exactly was it?
What was its purpose?
Where did it come from?
How could it be in her school?
What would happen next?
When she got home, she tried to forget what had happened and chose not to tell anyone.
She didn't want others to worry or be afraid.
As soon as she entered her room, Fatheema threw herself onto her bed.
Her head felt heavy and full. A faint ringing filled her ears, while her nose and tongue felt numb.
Her eyes grew heavier.
Her entire body felt weak, as if her energy was slowly draining away.
A few seconds later, her consciousness began to fade.
She felt as if she were floating—her awareness gradually separating from her body.
Her consciousness drifted in a silent void.
"Fatheema…"
"Can you hear me?"
A soft voice called her name.
A very familiar voice—
Her own voice!
It felt strange—hearing her own voice calling her name.
She opened her eyes and saw a girl floating, glowing with a reddish light.
The girl had shoulder-length wavy hair, Malayan features, and clear, beautiful eyes that felt calming.
That face—it looked so familiar.
That face—it was her own!
"You must realize…"
"You must become stronger…"
Moments later, Fatimah lost consciousness completely.
She sank into a deep and peaceful sleep.
***
A group of schoolgirls were chatting in the corner of the classroom.
"I thought I was going to get punished."
"Huh! That was close!" one of them said, holding her forehead.
"I wonder… do you think Fatty actually had the guts to go alone to that haunted bathroom before sunset?"
"That's why you should study harder so your grades are good, not like—"
"Like me?" a voice cut in.
A plastic bottle containing a single red rose was placed rather forcefully on the table.
Fatheema snorted.
"Here's what you were looking for?"
"I already did the punishment!"
"Fatty!? You're here, 'Noobqueen'!" said one of her friends, Odah, grinning widely.
"Ew, still alive and well? Thought a ghost dragged you away!"
"What ghost? There's no such thing!" Fatimah replied.
She had resolved to investigate the strange incident she experienced—but without making others afraid or involving them.
Teeet! Teeet! Teeet!
The bell rang, signaling the start of class.
Fatheema took her seat in the second row from the front, next to her friend Hesti.
Fifteen minutes into the first period—physics, a subject she and most students found intimidating because it required intense thinking—
Hesti stood up and whispered,
"I'm going to the bathroom."
"Okay," Fatheema replied casually.
A few moments after Hesti left, Fatheema suddenly felt a cool, gentle breeze flow into and fill her eyes.
Her vision—
Changed instantly.
The classroom vanished, replaced by the scene of the school's back restroom.
She saw Hesti walking closer, then opening one of the stall doors.
And—
Inside the darkness, Hanako stood silently.
Her eyes flickered with a glowing red light.
Hesti was utterly shocked. Her body went limp—and she collapsed onto the floor.
"No!" Fatheema shouted.
She snapped out of the vision.
Immediately, she stood up and, without caring about the confused stares around her, rushed out of the classroom.
***