"I'm heading out!" Gohan yelled as he draped his bag over his head.
"Have a good day at school Gohan. Study hard," Chi Chi called out as she was drying the dishes.
Gohan took his time walking to school. He held his head high and smiled to himself.
I haven't felt this good in awhile. All of this has been pretty sudden for me, but I think things are gonna turn out okay.
"Hey Gohan!" Asuka called out to him.
"Oh hey Asuk-"
ZOOM! A gust of wind blew past Gohan as Asuka sped past him on her bike.
"Bye Gohan!" She waved at him without slowing down. Gohan stood in place, blinking a few times.
"Why is she pedaling so hard, we still have a lot of time before the first bell. Well two can play that game! Haaaa!" Gohan ran full throttle all the way to school.
Asuka locked her bike and smoothed out her skirt. "Man I thought I was gonna be late, but it looks like I got here with plenty of time to spare. Should've just walked with Gohan."
Thud! Gohan landed face first onto the ground.
"Oh well look who it is hahaha." Asuka went over to Gohan. She crouched down and poked him.
"You alright?"
"Yes."
"Need some help getting up?"
"No."
"Well I'm gonna head inside. Lunch on the rooftop later?"
"Sure."
"Alright. See ya later!"
"Bye."
After a grueling morning listening to lectures, copying notes, and the warm air threatening to put them to sleep, lunch appeared at last. Gohan was the last person to arrive on the rooftop. Asuka, Setsuna, Mai, and Ayane already had the blanket spread out, and were eating their lunch.
"There he is. I was just telling everyone how you collapsed near the school," Asuka laughed out loud.
"I guess it was the adrenaline haha." Gohan sat cross legged next to Asuka, and unpacked his lunch box.
"So Gohan, how has your sensei been treating you," Ayane asked, taking a bite out of her sweet bread.
"My sensei?" Gohan looked at Asuka. "Oh uhh yeah training has been going very well. I feel like I'm getting the hang of the basics. I still have a lot left to learn though, but I'm starting to gain more confidence. Asuka has been an amazing teacher to me."
Asuka poked his cheeks and smiled. "Awww thanks Gohan. I wouldn't mind a little more ass kissing though haha."
Setsuna puffed her cheeks in a fit of jealousy.
"You don't always need to have training from Asuka ya know. Besides her I'm the strongest student there. I can show you a couple of moves."
"I appreciate the help Setsuna. I'll take any training I can get."
Mai dabbed at her mouth with a pink handkerchief. "That's pretty dumb. Considering Asuka being taught by Juna herself, Gohan can go to either one of them for additional practice."
Ayane quickly slapped her in the back of her head. "You idiot can't you read the mood at all?"
Mai retaliated by sticking two chopsticks in each of her nostrils.
"I was just stating the obvious you dumb skyscraper!'
"Oh it's on you little mouse!"
Asuka, Gohan, and Setsuna continued to eat their food while the battle between Skyscraper and Mouse raged on.
Setsuna patted her stomach and laid flat on her back. She put her hands behind her head, looking up at the cloudy sky.
"Looks like we might catch some rain today."
"My bike is fast, but I might not be able to outspeed this. If it gets too bad I might have to cancel class," Asuka said.
"That would be a bummer," Gohan said putting the lid back on his bento box.
"That would be a bummer for everyone else. We can still keep our training on schedule. Rain hasn't stopped Setsuna, isn't that right?"
"Damn straight. I gotta get ready for the Dream Fighting competition coming up."
"Dream Fighting?" Gohan asked.
"It's a tournament where the best of the best compete. The tournament is coming up soon so I'm tryna train as hard as I can before then. Are you gonna enter Asuka?"
Asuka waved her hand away. "No thanks. It wouldn't be fair if I entered. It would be nice to watch though."
"That ego of yours is gonna bite you one day. Well what about you Gohan?"
"I'm not so sure. Fighting isn't really my thing. I only fight to protect myself and the others around me. That would be my purpose."
"Well how noble of you, but wouldn't you want to test how strong you've gotten? You wanna make your master happy right?"
Gohan rubbed the back of his head and blushed slightly. "I mean, I might need some more training before I enter a competition but who knows haha."
Ayane and Mai returned from their tussle moments later. Their hair became messy and uniforms were slightly tattered.
"Did you two get it all out of your system," Asuka asked.
"Yeah," they both answered.
"Are you two gonna play nice now?"
"Yeah."
"Good. It's been about a week, but I haven't seen that tool Kentaro around school."
"I personally don't care where he is as long as he's away from me," Gohan responded in a dreary tone.
Everyone looked at Gohan with a still and worried expression.
"Sorry but it's true," Gohan continued. "He's brought nothing but anguish and horror to this school. I was angry at myself because I couldn't do anything to stop him, and angry at the others for letting it happen. I want strength, I want it desperately."
Asuka put an arm around Gohan's shoulder. "You'll get there with my help, that's a promise. Just keep with your training and everything will come to you. You might even get stronger than me. Now don't let that get to your head okay." Asuka playfully gave Gohan a noogie to the head.
"Alright alright. We better get back, lunch is almost over." Everyone gathered their things and headed down stairs. Setsuna folded her blanket and looked down at the ground, lost in thought.
"Stuck on what Gohan said," Mai asked.
"Yeah. He's been bullied more than anyone by Kentaro. It's no surprise he has some resentment and wants to get strong. Maybe I'm reading too much into it."
"Maybe it's love."
"It could be, it's just I- What the hell Mai?!"
Mai chuckled to herself and ran to the door. "I wouldn't worry about Gohan. He doesn't seem like the type to get drunk with power. He'll be alright." Mai went down stairs. Setsuna smiled and followed after.
The end of the school day rolled around as Gohan put his textbooks in his bag.
"Good thing the teacher was able to stay a little after to help me with some problems. I told Asuka to go ahead without me but she insisted she'd wait. Better not keep her waiting." He slung his bag over his shoulder and walked the hallway.
"Let's see if I can see her from up here. I'm pretty high up to see the front of the school anyway." Gohan looked out the window to scout Asuka's whereabouts. "There she is. Hey Asu-" Gohan's eyes widened by who he saw with her. His hand balled into fists as he stepped away from the window. Why is he here, Gohan thought to himself. Why the hell is he here?!
"Hey Gohan, Asuka's waiting for you outside."
Setsuna came from across the hall. "Woah you look tense. Did something happen?"
Gohan was unresponsive to Setsuna's worried tone. He quickly dashed past her and hurried to where she was.
"What's going on with him? Hey wait up!"
Asuka stood across from Kentaro and three of his henchmen. They all had a smirk on their face as they surrounded her. Kentaro had his hands folded across his chest and smiled.
"I hope you didn't think this was over. I can't have anyone embarrass me like that, especially a girl. I'm generous enough to give you one more chance. Get on your knees and apologize, then you'll have my forgiveness."
Students and onlookers were anxious waiting to see what was gonna happen. Asuka sighed and put her hands on her hips.
"This got stupid real quick. Does everyone see this?!" She raised her voice so everyone can hear. "This guy here wants to beat up a girl. Not only that he needs three other people to do that. What's worse, from the looks of it, they seem to be from a different school."
As Asuka announced, the three students Kentaro picked up were indeed from a neighboring school, Raion High. They wore light blue vests with a yellow badge. Engraved in the badge was a lion. They sported black pants with white shoes. Everyone began whispering amongst themselves, and Kentaro's face began growing red with anger.
"You lost this battle before it even started.. Now why don't you stop wasting my time before you really piss me off."
Kentaro looked at the Raion High students and pointed at Asuka. "What the hell are you waiting for?! Shut this bitch up!"
The three students looked around hesitantly and huddled together.
"She's right this is kind of stupid. He didn't say we'd be fighting a girl."
"I know, but he already paid us. She must be pretty confident in herself though. We'll just put a few bruises on her and call it a day."
"Sounds good, shouldn't overstay our welcome."
The three nodded and all charged at Asuka in unison. Asuka put her hands up and began partying all their punches. The three looked dumbfounded as a girl was swatting their fists like a child.
"I can't even count this as a warm-up." Asuka parried another attack and slapped one of them across the face. Another tried a headbutt, but Asuka used her palm to knock his head back and also caught a slap to the face. The third student tried sneaking up behind her.
"Get away from her you bastard!" Gohan came from behind and delivered a left hook to the guy's cheek, sending him straight to the ground.
"Wanted a piece of the action too huh Gohan," Asuka asked.
"Not necessarily, but I definitely couldn't sit back and watch this happen." Gohan looked at the other students gawking and anticipating what would happen next. Gohan's anger began to grow at an alarming rate. It's always like this, when someone is in dire need of help they stand like cowards! I've finally started to pick myself back up. I will not let you ruin this. This is your fault. This is your fault!
Gohan looked at Kentaro smirking to himself. Lost in his rage, Gohan sped past the Raion students and blindly attacked Kentaro.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
Kentaro threw a hard right straight at Gohan before his punch landed. Gohan stumbled but didn't get knocked off his feet.
"Don't try to be a hero now. You'll never be able to beat me with that piss poor power. Guys, I'll double your pay for this one. Leave the chick and kick this guy's ass here." Kentaro pointed at Gohan, and the two quickly swarmed him. Asuka kicked one of them in their midsection, then retreated to where Gohan was.
"Don't lose your cool now. Time to put all that training to good use."
Gohan calmed himself down and put his hands up.
"Sorry, you're right. Let's take care of these guys first."
With relative ease, Gohan and Asuka were able to dispatch the three students. The onlookers were either cheering or recording with their smartphones. Sweat started to form on Kentaro's head.
This wasn't suppose to happen. This wasn't suppose to FUCKINGHAPPEN!
He gritted his teeth and pulled something out his back pocket. He smiled and waited for the right time to strike.
Asuka threw a one two, then finished with an uppercut, bringing the delinquent down to the ground. She quickly went after the other one and delivered a palm strike into his chest. He fell to the ground, waving his hands signaling his surrender.
"Man not bad guys not bad. I guess I'll give you all a 4 out of 10."
Gohan parried a punch from the last one, then threw him into a row of bikes.
"Looks like you handled yourself pretty well Gohan. It's all thanks to that master of yours. Be sure to treat her to a nice dinner afterwards."
Gohan turned around and smiled weakly. "Don't ask for too much with how my allowance-"
The next sequence of events made everything look like it was in slow motion. Asuka had her guard down, unaware of the brute charging towards her. Gohan's body moved on its own as he threw himself in front of Asuka. Kentaro's intended target was Asuka, but instead it was Gohan who took the brass knuckle to the side of his head. Blood started pouring down his head as his vision started to deter.
"GOHAN!" Asuka yelled frantically as she caught him before his body hit the ground. Everyone watched in horror and disgust at what transpired.
"Cmon Gohan stay with me stay-" Her words were cut short by the warm feel of blood coming from his head.
"Thank goodness I made it in time. Are you alright," Gohan said with a pained expression on his face.
"I'm not the one bleeding out you idiot. We need to get you to the nurses office."
"Hahahahaha!" Asuka turned to Kentaro's crackled laughing. "You guys should've stayed in your place, especially Gohan. Trying to be the hero doesn't get you anywhere. He should've been a good little boy and kept his nose in the books. Don't think you're getting off easy either ya dumb bitch."
Asuka gritted her teeth so hard they could've cracked inside her mouth. It was then Gohan felt a mysterious power bubbling.
What's, what is this I'm feeling? Something stirring, It feels like a volcano preparing to erupt…
Gohan's eyes were getting heavy. Asuka was a blur at this point.
She's saying something. I can't hear you. I didn't do too bad huh, master...
Setsuna and Ayame came running towards them.
"He's unconscious but he'll be okay. Setsuna, Ayame, get him to the nurse's office fast."
They both nodded to her and both carried Gohan.
"Give him hell Asuka," Setsuna whispered to her.
Asuka nodded and stared Kentaro down.
"That punch had your name written all over it, but down worry. This one I'll give to you gift wrapped. You shouldn't try to fight me but there's no going back now."
Asuka pulled her gloves down a little and walked slowly towards him.
"You're right, there is no going back. And fight you?" She had a sharp look in her eyes. "No, I'm gonna kill you."
If everything works out Kentaro should be expelled. It took everything I had not to jump in and help, but I think Mai was right. This is what we can do, even as bystanders. Gohan has gotten stronger, I can tell that much. I just hope this injury isn't anything dangerous… - Setsuna Shinu
