shattered life, REBORN

Hiroki stepped out of the bathroom, the steam from the shower still hanging in the air. The towel was rough against his skin, but he dried himself off methodically, running the cloth over his body as though he were trying to wipe away the weight of the past. His mind buzzed with questions—questions he didn't have answers to yet, not here in this strange place.

He slipped on the clothes the man had left for him: a simple, black t-shirt and loose-fitting pants that felt comfortable, almost too comfortable after the harshness of his old life. His fingers brushed over the fabric, still unsure of how he felt about the situation.

After drying his hair with another towel, Hiroki took a deep breath and made his way downstairs. The house was quiet, but in a way that felt expansive—too open, too pristine. He descended the staircase slowly, the wooden floors creaking beneath his feet. When he reached the bottom, his eyes widened at the sight before him.

The living room sprawled out in front of him, an ocean of soft, inviting couches and chairs, all arranged as if they were meant for endless conversations. The scent of something cooking wafted from the kitchen—a scent that made Hiroki's stomach growl despite himself. He hadn't realized how hungry he was.

His gaze wandered across the room, and then, as if drawn by an invisible force, he turned toward the large dining room. A long table stood in the center of the space, its surface polished and gleaming. Hiroki estimated it could seat at least fifteen people, maybe more. It felt so... foreign. The scale of everything was so different from the cramped, chaotic home he'd left behind.

And then he saw him.

The strange man, Peter D. Rasel, stood in the kitchen, his back to Hiroki as he worked at the stove. There was an ease to his movements—deliberate, precise—as if cooking were second nature to him. Hiroki hesitated for a moment before taking a step forward, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet beneath him.

As he approached, Peter turned to glance at him. For the first time, Hiroki studied his face more closely. Peter was older than Hiroki had first thought, his short, dark hair peppered with streaks of gray. His features were sharp, but not unkind. Yet, there was something unsettling about the way his face held a certain coldness—an almost unspoken depth that Hiroki couldn't quite place.

What caught Hiroki's attention, however, were the scars.

Peter's face was marked with several jagged lines—some thin, others thick—each one a testament to a past that wasn't as peaceful as his current demeanor suggested. A scar ran across Peter's left eyebrow, but it didn't touch his eye. Another slashed diagonally across his right cheek, while a third marred the left side of his lips, crossing both the top and bottom. There was a thin scar along the left side of his neck, and a much larger one that started at the base of his neck, curving upward toward his ear. The scars were stark against his skin, like the remnants of battles long fought but never forgotten.

Hiroki couldn't help but stare. It was impossible not to wonder where they came from. But as quickly as the thought crossed his mind, Peter's voice broke through the silence.

"You should eat," he said, his tone calm and collected, as though nothing at all was out of the ordinary. "The food is ready. Eat peacefully and take your time. When you're finished, we'll begin your training."

Hiroki nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Peter's words. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until now. The thought of food felt almost comforting, and his body moved on autopilot as he seated himself at one of the chairs at the table.

Peter placed a plate in front of him: scrambled eggs, toast, and some kind of fruit that Hiroki couldn't immediately recognize. The man didn't sit with him, though. He only gave Hiroki a nod before turning back to the stove, continuing his own preparations. Hiroki glanced at the food, then at Peter, who was already humming a quiet tune under his breath.

Hiroki poked at the food with his fork, unsure of what to say. The tension hung in the air, thick and unspoken. The silence was a strange contrast to the warmth that enveloped him now. The room was inviting in its own way, and for the first time in a long while, Hiroki felt something close to normal. There was no shouting, no crying—just the quiet sound of Peter cooking and the faint sound of the birds outside.

Peter turned to him after a moment, his hands wiping the front of his apron. "I'll make this clear, Hiroki," he said, his voice carrying an edge of finality. "The training you'll go through won't be easy. It won't be kind. But it will make you stronger, more capable of facing what's coming. And if you want to truly move past your past, to heal… you need to embrace it fully."

Hiroki swallowed, unsure if he was ready for what Peter was describing. Could he really move on from everything? Could he really become strong enough to face his demons?

Peter's eyes softened, but only slightly. "Finish your meal. We'll start with something simple today. I want you to be prepared, Hiroki. You've just begun."

As Hiroki picked up his fork, his thoughts continued to swirl. He'd had nothing but chaos for so long. Could this place—this strange house with its vast rooms and quiet meals—really be the first step toward healing? The scars on Peter's face, though unsettling, seemed to speak of experience. Of someone who had walked a dark path and survived it. Could Hiroki do the same?

Peter turned to face him once more, his posture relaxed, but his gaze intense. "Don't worry about anything but yourself right now. The past is behind you. Focus on what you can change. That's all that matters."

Hiroki nodded, taking a deep breath. As he dug into his food, a strange calm settled over him. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new.

as hiroki put the dishes in the sink, peter eye sign him to follow, the went downstairs to the basement, hiroki was kinda nervous about his training and the place in the basement.. made him nervous but also a little bit excited

Peter break the silence" listen hiroki, today will be the simple and basic trains, but after that, the REAL challenge will begun, so be prepared..." speak in almost serious yet calm and polite

"I'll do my best and i won't let my past hunt me again, mark my words" hiroki speak almost in epic and proudly tone

"that's what i like to hear boy! but one thing..." peter take a deep breath before speak again "even if you want to take revenge or vengeance goes through your mind, don't let your anger take control, always be calm in every possible situations, clear?"

"crystal clear!"

"good, and now..." peter slowly open the two sliding doors that was the basement "your training place"

hiroki's eyes wide open, the imagination of hiroki was: dark place, scary equipment and old place, but these thoughts disappeared when he saw the training room, it have a good lighting but the walls was bit dark, too many high quality equipment with heavy plates and dumbbells in different size and weights, many hanged boxing bag that made hiroki curious that why too many boxing bags? with special gloves and wearable weighs

"welcme to the club boy, the S.H. club" peter speak in epic yet serious and confident way

hiroki put his hands together and crack his knuckles knows his path will be his most difficult and dangerous challenges in his life

"I'm ready... sensei..."

and with this, hiroki reborn as a new person