All characters are the property of SNK/Playmore. I don't own them, the video games, or the anime.


Chapter Six: Motivation

The rest of the day went as well it could, considering the circumstances. Science class was a repeat of the other three classes, though afterwards Melanie and her section got to work in the computer lab. The blonde girl did know a thing or two about computers, and so for the first time all day she didn't feel stupid. Kimberly hadn't asked what Landy had wanted, though she had an idea, but she kept it to herself. Which Melanie was grateful for.

After the bell rang on Computer Labs, it was almost three o'clock. Kimberly said their schoolwork was done for the day, and now they needed to get ready for gym class. "You don't wanna be late for that," Kim told her roommate. "Or else the sarge will make you do laps."

"Sarge?" Melanie asked her.

"That's what we call Mr. Hartman," Kimberly explained. "He's the gym teacher. And it's kinda funny... he actually likes it when we call him that. Now, come on. Let's put our books away and then I'll show you where the changing rooms are."

After they'd deposited their school things into their respective lockers, Kim led Melanie outside the school building and to another part of the facility, one that Melanie had not seen before. There was a large, open expanse of brown dirt field, which had what looked almost like an obstacle course at one end. Off to the side, there was a gray stone building (more like an over-sized shed) which Kimberly guided Mel towards.

Inside there were benches, lockers and showers, and a few scattered toilet stalls. Most of the girls were already assembled (Kim explained that gym class was the one period where all the students studied together), and were changing out of their school uniforms into what could best be described as a "field uniform." Regina and her pack had already finished changing and were making their way outside. "Get ready to die, runt," Regina whispered as the Alphas brushed past Melanie and her roommate, words that were met with cold laugher from the other four in the group.

Melanie found her locker, which was next to Kimberly's, and opened it to find the same uniform every other girl was changing into: black spandex shorts, form-fitting white skirt, long-sleeved white undershirt, with a brown short-sleeved pullover that went on over it. The petite blonde cast another glance around the room, saw that most of the girls had finished changing and were on their way out. She looked back to Kimberly, who had stripped off her school uniform and was pulling on her shorts.

"Come on, Mel, you gotta move," the dark-haired girl admonished. "I'll be your guide, but I'd hate to have to do laps with you. The sarge is a bit of a dictator."

Melanie cast another look around the locker room. Those few girls who remained seemed to be ignoring her. So Melanie started to remove her school uniform and put on the clothes provided in her locker. On one of the shelves, she saw a brown bandanna and black finger-less leather gloves. She slipped on the gloves (like everything else, they were a perfect fit), but didn't know what to do with the bandanna, until she looked over at Kimberly. Her roommate was coiling her french braid up against her head, then she tied the bandanna around her scalp. "Loose hair is a no-no for gym," she explained.

Melanie nodded, and then fixed her own bandanna in place, tucking her blonde hair into it in the back. She then noticed that on the floor of her locker was a pair of yellow sneakers, and a pair of what looked like some ugly, knee-high socks, the same color as her pullover, and also with the same vertical stripes that were on the sides of her shirts and skirt.

"Um... do I have to wear those socks?" Melanie asked.

"Believe me, Mel, you do," Kimberly answered. She'd just pulled on her own socks and was now lacing her sneakers. "Nothing about our uniforms is optional. Ask the few girls who Landy gave detention to when they tried to customize."

Melanie shrugged and started to don them. "They look so stupid, though," she said, glancing down at her legs with a scowl.

Kim responded with a shrug of her own. "Well, they do have a practical use. You could hide a weapon or two inside of them."

"But what's the point?" Melanie asked. "We already have these." She pulled out the last item in her locker, a black satchel intended to be worn at the hip, and strapped it around her waist.

"Someone could cut the strap in the heat of combat," Kimberly said. "Then you won't have it anymore."

Though Melanie showed no outward sign, she was slightly taken aback by the dark-haired girl's response. Not what she'd been expecting. Maybe I will learn some useful shit here, after all, she thought, and started lacing up her own sneakers.

As she was finishing, she felt Kimberly fiddle with the strap for the satchel at her waist. "Not too tight, Mel," she said. "You want it to hang off the hip just a little. There we go. Now, let's get out there before the sarge does."

Both girls scooped up their school uniforms and exited, depositing the clothing in a hamper on the way out. They emerged into the still-bright afternoon, and began walking to where the other girls were gathered on the large, dirt practice field. As she moved, Melanie had to admit that while she didn't like the socks, this uniform was definitely more comfortable than the academic one. I just wish the skirt was a little longer, she thought with just a hint of self-consciousness.

Then she pushed that thought out of her mind and asked her roommate: "So, what types of stuff do we learn at gym?"

"Self-defense, mostly," Kimberly said. "At least, so far. Eventually, Hartman says he wants to incorporate some more offensive fighting styles. When the whole class is ready."

"Really? Fighting?" Melanie found herself remembering what Kim just said in the change room. "So, I guess maybe this isn't your average school after all. The penguins never taught me any fighting, just a load of bullshit about turning the other cheek that never worked on any of my fake parents."

There were things Kimberly wanted to say in response to that, but she doubted that the blonde wanted to hear them. So instead she replied with: "Hartman is a pretty good teacher, Mel. Really knows his shit. He's one of the few where I really think you shouldn't try to challenge him."

"We'll see," Melanie said with a shrug, and then they finally reached the gathering group of their fellow school girls. They arrived in the nick of time, as a gruff voice then boomed across the field, calling them all to silence.

"Attention!" The voice then shouted as the gossip died down. Melanie turned her head slightly towards where it came from, saw a man who looked just as gruff as he sounded, with a barrel chest, squared jaw, and graying hair cut smartly into a crew style, making his way across the dry, dusty ground towards the assembly. He was dressed in khakis and black boots, with a pair of sunglasses hanging from his breast pocket.

Melanie then felt a tap on her shoulder. "Come on, Mel, we gotta get in line!" Kimberly whispered. The blonde girl turned her gaze back towards the group, saw them quickly moving into a rank-and-file formation of ten across and five deep. The two roommates quickly found spots towards the back, and Kimberly immediately went rigid. Melanie thought it best to do the same.

The gruff man stopped walking when he was a few yards away from the rigid assembly, and then clapped his hands behind his back. "All right, ladies, I understand we have a new student with us today." His gray eyes swept over the girls, stopping on the petite blonde in the back row who was trying to blend in. "Melanie, is it?"

"Um... yes, sir," Melanie said with a hesitant nod.

"Well, Melanie, I'm Mr. Hartman," the gym teacher said in a tone as gruff as his demeanor. "It's my responsibility to teach you a set of skills you can't learn in a classroom. And I take that job seriously. Ms. Landy might be the headmistress, but here on the field, my word is law. Remember those things, and we'll get along fine."

Melanie disliked him already, as he was another reminder of one of her more "conservative" foster homes. But she simply nodded again. "Yes... sir."

Hartman gave a nod, then addressed the class as a whole. "All right, ladies, let's start with some exercise."

The class spent the next fifteen minutes doing some basic calisthenics, after which time, Hartman ordered a rest period. Many of the girls simply sat down on the field where they'd been exercising. A few walked over to a cooler that sat on the grassy area, which was full of water bottles. Melanie was part of the latter group, as she'd worked up a bit of a sweat. It wasn't that she was out of shape. Life as a runaway kept her pretty active. But she definitely wasn't used to the repetitive motions of exercise.

After a few minutes had gone by, Hartman blew his whistle and ordered the girls into a wide circle in the dirt of the practice field. Melanie found a spot away from the Alphas, between two other blonde girls she didn't know, and plunked down with her water, seating herself pretzel-legged.

Hartman stood in the center of the circle, once more appearing rigid and in command. And once more, his steely gaze came around to the new student. "Now, Melanie, I'd like to know: have you had any defensive training in your life?"

Melanie fidgeted slightly in the dirt, not comfortable with the extra scrutiny. "Um... no, Mr. Hartman," she answered.

"Very well, then. I'd like to gauge what your current skill level is." He then addressed the assembly as a whole once more. "I need a volunteer to spar with Melanie."

A few hands went up in the circle, until Regina raised her own hand, at which point they all went down. "I'd be happy to volunteer, sarge," the taller blonde said in her sweetest tone.

Hartman nodded in approval. "Outstanding. Regina is one of my best students, Melanie. So pay close attention to what she has to show you." Regina got to her feet and stepped into the circle as Hartman left it. The gray-haired man motioned for Melanie to do the same. The smaller blonde took a deep breath and got to her feet, then stepped into the circle and moved to the opposite end Regina stood at. Melanie's amber eyes flicked over to Kimberly, who mouthed the words be careful to her roommate. Melanie then looked over at Regina, who mouthed out: you're mine.

"All right, take your positions," Hartman said to the two girls.

Regina immediately assumed a stance, her feet shoulder-width apart, her right arm raised level with her face, elbow jutting out in front. "Put 'em up, runt!" She said, a look of obvious pleasure. Melanie, uncertain of what do to in this situation, raised her own fists in front of her face in the stance of a boxer.

"Begin!" Hartman shouted.

Regina started by moving left around the edge of the circle, her steps light, her upper body swaying in time with her footfalls. Melanie circled in the same direction, her own steps just as nimble, if not more. Moving quickly and quietly was second nature to her, but what to do with her fists... that was something else. So she hung back, content to let her opponent make the first move.

Regina seemed to sense this, and so she lunged forward more quickly than Melanie had been expecting. The smaller girl tried to figure out what her opponent's move might be, and threw her right fist forward in a jab. Regain swiveled her upper body to avoid it, and countered with a hard left haymaker to Melanie's face, her fist connecting below the right eye, sprawling her opponent into the dirt.

"Ow..." Melanie said blankly, in the same tone she'd used yesterday.

"Get up!" Regina snarled. "We're not done yet!"

"Can you go on, Melanie?" Hartman asked from the sidelines.

Melanie would rather have just continued to lie there, but decided that it wouldn't do to show weakness in front of the rest of the class. So she got to her feet and once more resumed her awkward boxing stance. Regina did not wait this time, made it seem like she was going to throw a high one, prompting Melanie to bring her forearms together in front of her face.

Regina never threw that punch, however, and having successfully psyched out her opponent, crouched and swept her leg across Melanie's shins, knocking the smaller girl into the dirt once more. Melanie was about to rise to her feet again when she saw Regina trying to bring her knee down on her opponent's ribs. The wiry blonde quickly rolled out of the way of the hammer blow and staggered to her feet.

Not a second too soon, as the taller blonde was relentless. She came at Melanie more quickly than the smaller girl was anticipating. Thinking fast, Melanie quickly scooped up a handful of the dry dirt at her feet and tossed it at Regina's face. Regina saw what was happening at the last second and tried to swivel her head away, but she still wound up getting some grit in her eye. She stopped in her advance and backpedaled a few steps, wiping her face to try and clear her vision. Melanie took the opportunity to lunge forward, bringing her fist into the taller woman's gut.

Regina grunted, but otherwise didn't seem fazed. So Melanie brought the opposite fist forward to land another hit. By now, Regina had mostly recovered from the blinding attempt, and the next hit Melanie tried to land was deflected, and followed by a headbutt harder than the one she'd taken yesterday, this one slamming against her forehead.

As Melanie was reeling from this, Regina launched a kick that caught Melanie square in the stomach, causing her to double over. This was followed by a knee to the face, once more making Melanie's nose bleed. Melanie managed to block a right punch with her left hand, but was unprepared for the body blow from Regina's left knee. She tried to counter with another right jab, but Regina grabbed her fist, used that leverage to move in close and slam her right elbow into Melanie's jaw.

"Don't knock out any teeth, Regina!" Hartman admonished from his place outside the circle of girls. "Remember: Ms. Landy doesn't want permanent damage to any of her students."

"Don't worry, sarge," Regina said with a sadistic leer. "I know exactly what I'm doing."

Melanie staggered backwards several paces from that last blow, and Regina stayed where she was at first, no doubt waiting to see if the new meat was finally ready to offer the proper tribute. Melanie appeared to be a bit unsteady, but remained standing, and after a moment, spit blood onto the dry dirt. "Is that all ya got, you pussy?" She said with a defiant laugh.

At hearing that, Regina was on her like a swarm of flies on a rotten carcass. The attack seemed to come from everywhere, and it was all Melanie could do to block what she could to minimize the blows. A half-minute later, she was face-down in the dirt, a stabbing pain in her belly as Regina kicked her repeatedly in the stomach.

"Enough, Regina!" Hartman shouted.

The Alpha girl responded by kicking Melanie in the stomach yet again.

"Enough!" The gym teacher repeated in a firmer tone. "The match is clearly over. You kick her one more time, it's detention!"

Regina had been rearing her leg back, but brought it to the ground once more and blew out a sharp breath. She got down on one knee next to Melanie, doubled over and coughing, and whispered: "I'd lay off the bananas if I were you, runt!" Then she rose, and walked back to the edge of the ring, where she was greeted with high-fives from her cronies.

After Regina had left, Hartman entered the ring and crouched in the dirt next to Melanie. "Do you need the infirmary?" He asked her.

Melanie sat up slightly and shook her head. "No, sir, I can make it until the end of class."

The gym teacher frowned, noting the dark purple bruise that was blossoming on Melanie's right cheek just under her eye, and also the blood that leaked from her nostrils. "Very well," he said. "But as soon as class is dismissed, I'm taking you to Gladys myself. That's not a request."

"Whatever," Melanie said with a shrug. Hartman got back to his feet, and offered the young blonde a hand. Melanie ignored it, and got to her feet on her own.

"Melanie, what I saw concerns me," Hartman said to her. "You don't seem to have much in the way of combat skills. And that dirty move you executed..."

"She was bigger than me," Melanie explained. "If I wanted to win, I needed to fight dirty."

Hartman fixed her with a stern gaze. "That's not what I teach, Melanie. Landy has tasked me with turning you and the other girls into fighters, real fighters... ones who don't need to resort to dirty tricks. I think you need some extra training."

The young blonde sniffed, and wiped more blood away from her nostrils, leaving an angry red streak on her white sleeve. "My opponent was bigger than me," she repeated more firmly. "Most people are. So I've found the smartest thing to do is avoid fights. I'm already good at sneaking past people."

Hartman rubbed his chin. "That remains to be seen, but I'll test you on the obstacle course another day. For now, though, I think you could benefit from some extra combat training." The gruff man then turned to address the rest of the class. "I need a volunteer, someone willing to give up their free time to assist Melanie on evenings and weekends to help get her caught up in her unarmed combat training. Anyone?"

For a moment, no hands went up. Then a familiar voice said: "I'll do it, Mr. Hartman."

The gray-haired man moved his gaze to Kimberly, who sat with her hand raised. Hartman motioned her to step forward, so the dark-haired girl rose and stepped over to stand in front of him.

"Thank you, Kimberly," he said. "You can start this Saturday morning, and from there meet with her three times a week. Come to my office every Monday a half-hour before gym class starts, and give me a report on her progress."

Kimberly smiled, and saluted her teacher. "You got it, sarge!"

Hartman's expression remained flat, but he returned the salute. "Kimberly knows what she's doing, Melanie. Listen to everything she says. She will teach you how to pee, if she thinks that's necessary. Do you understand?"

Melanie still didn't understand why it even was necessary, and she tried to keep her gaze away from the smile on her roommate's face. So she asked her teacher: "Isn't she doing your job, sir?"

"Perhaps," Hartman answered. "But I've been watching you since you arrived, Melanie, and I get the sense that you don't trust adults. So I feel that you might listen better to someone your own age. And like I said, Kimberly knows her stuff. She can get you to the level you need to be at, if you pay attention to what she shows you."

"This is so stupid," Melanie continued to protest. "What's the point of learning to fight fair when..."

"This discussion is over," Hartman snapped at her, then raised his head to once more address the whole class. "Okay, ladies, it's time for a split. Those of you who have earned your weapons, gather on the north side of the field. Those of you who haven't, on the south side. First group is gonna do target practice. Second group... keep working on those defensive forms from last class."

From there, the girls began to divide into two groups. Melanie couldn't help but notice that Regina and her crew were among the group heading to the north end of the practice field, along with several others. "Sorry, Mel." The blonde turned her direction back towards Kimberly, who had pulled what looked like the largest knife Melanie had ever seen out of one of her knee socks. Though it was buckled in a leather sheath, Melanie estimated that it had to be as long as her forearm, both blade and handle, the type of weapon that one might use for hunting crocodiles.

"I gotta go with the first group," Kimberly told her. "We'll meet up after practice."

The black-haired girl started off towards the north end of the field. Melanie watched her go, and for a moment, her hand went to her hip satchel, where her dull Swiss Army knife was tucked. Then her brain fully registered what it was seeing. "Wait... we get to play with knives?" She asked aloud to no one in particular.

Hartman noted the look of interest in those large, amber eyes, and used it to the utmost advantage. "It's a tool, Melanie, not a toy. You don't play with it, you learn to use it. And even then, I don't just give them to my students. Kimberly and the other girls in that first group all earned their weapons."

For the first time all day, Melanie was paying very close attention. "So, how do I earn one?"

"Prove to me you're ready for it," Hartman answered. "By learning how to fight."

Melanie's eyes moved from the gym teacher to the group of students at the field's north end. Suddenly, the urge to run away was completely repressed. You can put up with some extra work, can't you? She thought. As long as it gets you one of those sweet fucking knives. This made her recall the exchange in the headmistress's office, and a small part of wondered if Landy knew something like this might happen. However, that thought was soon expelled from her head with the prospect of someday having her own knife.

"Okay, sir," Melanie said to her teacher. "I guess... I could let Kimberly tutor me, if you think it'll help."

The faintest smirk tugged at the otherwise rigid line of Hartman's mouth. "Outstanding, Melanie. But in the meantime, move your butt over to the south end of the field. Try to follow along as best you can. I'll be by in a bit to walk you through some of the forms."

"Yes, sir," Melanie said with a nod, then she wiped more blood from her nose and started off in that direction.

She'd only gone a few steps when she heard Regina call: "You're wasting your time, runt. You'll only get hurt trying to come up to our level."

Melanie turned to face the Alpha, and spit more blood onto the dirt in defiance. "You're wrong there, horse face!" She called. "Someday, I'm gonna get one of my own! Whatever it takes!" Then she turned and continued towards the south end, feeling a new sense of purpose, one that would help her power through the aches she'd feel by the end of the day.


ADDITIONAL NOTES

So, the gym teacher is modeled after a specific fictional character. Bonus points to you if you figure out who that is.

And there you have it. Chapters 5 and 6 were originally supposed to be one chapter (as with Chapters 3 and 4) but the word count ran away on me. I think it worked better having them separate, though. And now Melanie has a reason to stay at the school. What else could be in store for her?

Until next time...