Chapter 24
Erik walks along the fully open strip that is nearby the school available via bullet train or within walking distance if you don’t want to take the hike. The entire area is different from the first few time he’s been here. The biggest change being that it’s bustling with activity now. "All it took was the bullet train…the hell.” Erik said to himself shaking his head as he walked by people and students alike running from store to store. The stores were everything you’d probably come to expect. There is a mall in the center, but surrounding there are various stores selling different things and offering different entertainment on each side surrounding the mall. The North end, the end that the bullet train drops you off at, is the school district. It houses department stores that sell clothes, shoes, and school supplies and training gear. The West side offers entertainment, there is a theatre there along with karaoke shops and arcades there. The East side offers food, there are café’s and restaurants as well as fast food there. The bars are also there as well. The South side, Erik’s never actually been before but rumors from other students say there are some instructors there who are willing to teach some students. After walking from the West side, the side you appear on if you just walked to it normally, Erik reaches the East side heading towards the bar tends to frequent. As he approached the bar there seem to be a conflict of some sort between some girl and two other guys bothering her. The girl was small, no more than about 5’1”, had long black hair that flowed down to her back with bright brown eyes. She had an unsettling look on her face. She wanted to leave but couldn’t since the guys where holding her. She wore the school’s female uniform so she was obviously from Erik’s school. Both guys where your common archetypical ideal of a ‘thug’. This is probably because they couldn’t possible be any more stock looking. Both of them had their pants sagged. The short one on the left had this really bizarre coat. It was a normal shade of blue, but shiny, as if Vaseline was applied to it. The other one was your typical bum looking gangster with just a wife beater on. Erik sighed shaking his head, he intended to ignore this and just go into the bar. But there was something about this girl and the fact they kept picking with her he didn’t like.
"Come on girl, if you down here you obviously looking for play. So stop acting like you don’t want it” the blue jacket moved closer but the girl moved back. "N-no, please…I-I just want to go to the café…let me leave.” "The Café?” Erik said to himself. He looked back at the three that’s on this district and one has been passed on her end, so she must be going to one on this side. "Hey Gooch, I think she need to see what she really want whether she want to or not.” The wife beater thug said. Erik shook his head again and stepped just behind the thugs, making his step loud enough to be heard by all three participants. The girl looked at him with that same pitiful expression she had at first while the two thugs turned around and sneered at him. Erik just stared at them with an unemotional look. People noticed the tension before but now that it was higher, people have begun to stop and get nosey. "What you want?” the wife beater thug asked. Erik didn’t reply, only motioning his head for the girl to move right now. She nodded and ran passed the thugs and nearby one of the buildings, sitting beside and watching the events. "Damn we lost the girl because this punk.” the blue coat one mouthed off. "He standing like he bad, you want to do something?” the wife beater one said. Erik brushed them both off, turning his back to them. "Scrubs like y’all don’t deserve attention.” With that said he moved towards the girl to begin talking to her. The two thugs looked at each other. "What the fuck he say? On my nigga’s I’m bout to fuck him up yo. The fuck he think he is!” Both thugs began to approach Erik from behind while he was checking the girl. She noticed this and her eyes widened. "L-Look out for Gooch mister!” She yelled while the blue coat thug was rearing back for a punch. Erik turned around and saw it but before he could do anything the girl ran in front of him and took the punch for him being floored instantly. The crowd gasped as what they saw and many went to call for the area police. She leaned up and held her cheek which was bruised slightly. As if jumping to the call of duty Erik immediately stood in between the girl and the two thugs. "She should’ve got the fuck out the way.” the wife beater one said while they swarmed around Erik. Erik himself took his jacket off and threw it off to the side preparing to fight off both of them. The blue coat thug began laughing, "Hey look Don Don, he about to fight us both. This cat dumb as fuck-” before Gooch can finish the line he was struck with blinding speed by a punch of Erik’s that sent him skidding across the floor. There was no getting out of this fight now, but at the moment, Erik didn’t really care. It actually felt good to punch that mouthing off punk in the face. He began to smirk and started to get into the zone while the blue coat thug got up and Don Don was on the attack.
He threw a pretty impressive punch at Erik which he easily stopped with one hand. He decided that the best course of action was to not focus on one person at a time but to hit them enough to stumble them and wait for the next to not tire himself. He drove his fist into Don Don’s face spinning him with a punch and stumbling him back a few steps to turn his attention to Gooch who was shuffling towards his back. Just as he got him in his sights he threw an attack at Gooch with Gooch also doing the same thing and the two traded blows. Gooch reared back while Erik simply just shrugged the hit off, spitting to the side a bit and looking to his left side where Don Don is. The big brawler attempted a powerful haymaker to Erik who stopped that cold with an uppercut that rocked him into the air. He landed on the ground with a thud holding his jaw and back. He felt the feeling of Gooch behind him again and this time threw a punch in that direction and the two traded blows again, this time Gooch hit the ground holding his lip, which has been effectively broken. Don Don got up and saw Erik approach him, he put his hands up to defend himself but was not quick enough to do so. In a few seconds Erik got in and threw a combination of punches flooring him again in the process. He sighed after this, beating up these thugs isn’t fun because they pose no threat. He relaxed himself a bit turning his attention to the girl hoping they’d gotten the picture by now while the sound of sirens were in the background. He looked at the girl face and helped her up. "It’s only a scratch, you’ll be-” Before he could finish his sentence a buckling pain went through his back and froze up his entire body. He gritted his teeth and turned around to see a busted lip Gooch retreating with a black eyed Don Don. He reached around his back and heard the girl gasp while he pulled a small knife out of him. He started walking towards them with hatred in his eyes but buckled from the pain and eventually blacked out.
Markus sat on the bench with Tsuchi, Ryota, and Mizu. The three had just completed a work out that consisted of crunches, push ups, and cardio training to raise endurance. "That was a pretty good work out.” Ryota said proudly. "I didn’t think the new guy could keep up but he has earned my respect!” Markus put his thumbs up even though he was clearly out of breath. "Not everyone can take Ryota’s special training. Anyone who wasn’t ready would have passed out by now.” The three laughed while Markus was drinking PowerAde. "Still, I think it was excessive.” Mizu said to Ryota. "How so? He is entering the festival too. It’s tomorrow you know. No classes tomorrow so he doesn’t have to worry about being fatigued.” He stood up looking to the field as he did. "We don’t even know what he’s competing in. 200 crunches, and 200 push ups is a lot already.” She turned Markus’ way, "What are you competing in by the way?” It was all eyes on him now. Markus was on the spot and didn’t know how or which way he should answer. He just laid back though and answered calmly. "The football one.” Mizu and Tsuchi looked at each other and smiled while Ryota was confused. "With this type of workout, you should do just fine.” Tsuchi said nodding to him. "I thought he was going to be in the mini tournament.” Ryota said. "I should have asked first before I put you through what my master does for me.” Ryota bowed apologetically to Markus. Markus just shook his head though, "Oh naw you aight man, don’t even worry about all that. All of y’all entering in that tournament?” Mizu, Tsuchi, and Ryota nodded. "I think you might be able to just make it if you go to the sign up sheets now. This is the last day.” Tsuchi said. "Where do I get for winning and where do I sign up?” Ryota turned back to the field, "I believe it is a trophy, a big one not small. And a free week from school with guaranteed A’s.” Markus leaned back up, "A’s and a free week? Where is the sign up at?” "It’s in the East building past the receptionist desk.” Markus looked down, and then back towards Mizu. "I think I need you to show me.” Mizu smiled, "I suppose I can. Come with me.” Markus and Mizu got up while Tsuchi and Ryota decided to get more practice time in. "While you’re showing him the way, we’ll get back to what we were doing.” Tsuchi said while Ryota nodded. As Mizu lead the way, Markus began walking about a person distance from her staring her butt, which for a petite girl, was pretty shaped out. He smirked a bit to himself, "Yep, she can get it.”
Jarvis is sitting with Kallen in the cafeteria after inviting her to lunch together with him after practicing with her in the mornings. The two just ordered something light today, a bowl of the schools noodles was enough. "You didn’t have to pay for me you know?” she said with a smile. "Aw it’s aight. I got the money today so you can spot me the next time.” the two laughed together. "Well you’re all signed up for the football game. I’m looking forward to watching you.” "I haven’t played a real game of football in a while. I mean with equipment. So I’m hype for tomorrow. What are you entering in though?” She stopped from eating a bit and looked at him. "I was going for the tournament that was last minute idea. I think registration for that is complete so I just settled for the Track and Field. There’s a girl there that’s pretty fast, so if I can outrun her, then I know my trainings getting me somewhere.” Jarvis nodded a bit. "Ki isn’t allowed in these games isn’t it?” He asked this because someone with good ki control could easily pose a threat on the football field. "In the traditional games? No. Only on your on athletic abilities. The tournament though, same rules apply as sparring or exhibition matches so they can.” Jarvis was almost done with his bowl of noodles as was Kallen. He began thinking to himself, "Probably should’ve paid that two dollar extra for larges”. She looked up at him and smiled, "Something wrong?” He snapped out of his thought and shook his head. "Let’s make a deal, if I get MVP of the football game…let’s say…you and I go out on a date?” He smirked at her while she looked on in deep thought. "MVP huh? You think you’re going to get it?” Jarvis finished up his bowl and looked at her, "I’m too good on defense not to get it.” He said with confidence. "Betting on the offense to screw up?” She said jokingly. "If they mess up once they not getting in again. It’s going to be too many picks with touchdowns…by me.” He said the last bit with emphasis. "I don’t see any harm.” She said with Jarvis being surprised. "If you can pull that title and trophy in, I’ll agree to a date” She stood up leaving a tip for their waiter. "Give it your best shot, got it?” Jarvis stood up and nodded. "No need, I’m sure no one is getting past me.”
