Chapitre 15: chapter 15
The arena felt eerily quiet after the battle. Ryu turned his back on the now-defeated Hikaru, the hum of machinery and the absence of spectators filling the void left by the chaos of battle. He could feel the weight of the silence pressing down on him, amplifying his thoughts. What had once been a vibrant place of camaraderie and competition had become a hollow shell of its former self.
"Another day, another pointless fight," he muttered under his breath. As he stepped away from the makeshift arena, he glanced back at Hikaru, who was kneeling on the ground, her hands clutching the launcher as if it were her lifeline. For a brief moment, Ryu felt a flicker of something—sympathy, perhaps—but it quickly extinguished. He had long learned that weakness was a burden he could not afford.
Madoka stood nearby, her laptop open and her fingers flying over the keys as she documented the battle's aftermath. "That was impressive, Ryu," she called out, her voice cutting through the stillness. "Your control over Raiju is incredible. But… don't you think you should give Hikaru some feedback? She really put everything into that attack."
"Feedback?" Ryu turned, arching an eyebrow. "What's the point? She lost. That's all there is to it." He could see the disappointment etched on her face, and for a moment, he thought he detected something akin to pity in her gaze.
"But Ryu—" she started, but he interrupted her.
"You don't get it. This isn't about them. It's about me and Raiju. I can't waste my time teaching someone who's clearly outmatched. If they can't keep up, they'll fall behind, simple as that." His tone was cold, the words dripping with the kind of casual cruelty that had become second nature to him.
Madoka sighed, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "You have potential, Ryu. But you're wasting it. Battles aren't just about winning or losing; they're about learning, growing. Don't you want to be better?"
"Better than what?" he replied sharply. "I've already surpassed everyone around me. If I wanted to be better, I'd have to battle someone worth my time."
Madoka's expression hardened, and she shut her laptop with a definitive snap. "You think you're above it all, but you're just hiding. You're running away from the very thing that made you love Beyblade in the first place."
Ryu's eyes narrowed, irritation flaring within him. "What do you know about what I feel? You only see the surface. You don't know what it's like to be on top and still feel empty." He turned sharply on his heel and continued toward the exit, not wanting to engage in another argument.
As he stepped out of the arena and into the bright daylight, he felt the sun's warmth on his face. It was a welcome contrast to the cold emptiness of the battle area. The outside world was alive, with sounds of nature and distant conversations—a sharp reminder of the life he was so detached from. Ryu paused for a moment, breathing in the fresh air, trying to shake off the remnants of the battle and the nagging voice in his head telling him he was losing touch with who he used to be.
"Hey!" A voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to reality. It was Gingka, jogging toward him with a sense of urgency. "I need to talk to you."
Ryu crossed his arms, preparing for another lecture on sportsmanship or some other nonsense. "What do you want?" he replied, his tone unyielding.
"I just wanted to know more about Raiju," Gingka said, his eyes shining with curiosity. "Your control over it during the battle was incredible. I've never seen anyone shift tips so seamlessly. What's the secret?"
Ryu raised an eyebrow, surprised by the genuine interest. "It's not a secret," he said, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. "Raiju adapts to my style. I just know how to manipulate it better than most. It's all about instinct and experience."
Gingka nodded, seemingly impressed. "But there has to be more to it than that. You're not just relying on the Beyblade; you're using your own skills. That's what makes you stand out."
"Skills?" Ryu scoffed. "That's just a nice way of saying I'm bored. You think I want to stand here and talk about how I beat some girl with a water-type Beyblade?" He felt the familiar irritation rising again, as he always seemed to do when discussing his prowess.
"Listen, Ryu," Gingka pressed, undeterred. "It's not just about winning. You've got the potential to be one of the greatest Bladers. But to reach that level, you need to push yourself. It's not enough to just coast on talent. You have to challenge yourself and find the joy in it again."
"Joy?" Ryu spat the word as if it were bitter on his tongue. "There's no joy in beating someone who can't keep up. You don't get it. Every battle feels the same, and I'm tired of it."
"Then find a way to change that!" Gingka insisted, his voice rising slightly. "You could seek out stronger opponents, try new strategies, or even experiment with Raiju's capabilities. You're holding back, and it's making you miserable."
Ryu's anger flared, but there was a flicker of something else beneath it—curiosity. "You really think I'm holding back?"
"I know you are," Gingka replied, a determined look in his eyes. "I've seen it in your battles. You've got the skills and the talent, but you're not pushing yourself hard enough to see what you can truly achieve."
For a moment, Ryu felt an internal struggle. He had become so accustomed to dismissing everyone around him, to thinking he was above it all, that he had lost sight of what made him love Beyblade in the first place. Perhaps it wasn't just about the victories but also the thrill of pushing himself against someone who could match his skill.
"Maybe," he conceded slowly, his voice contemplative. "Maybe I need to challenge myself more."
Gingka's eyes lit up. "Exactly! So why not start now? We can set up some training sessions or find someone else who can push you. There's a whole world of Bladers out there, and I know they'll give you a fight worth your time."
Ryu considered Gingka's offer, the gears in his mind turning. A challenge. A way to reclaim the excitement he had lost. "Fine," he said at last. "But if I'm doing this, it's on my terms."
"Deal," Gingka agreed, extending his hand with a broad smile. Ryu hesitated for a moment, then took Gingka's hand in a firm grip. Perhaps this was the start of something new, a path to rediscovering the joy that had slipped away.
As Ryu turned back to the arena, he felt a spark of anticipation igniting within him. Maybe, just maybe, he was ready to embrace the storm.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone