It begins

After a semester has gone by as well as summer vacation, life continued.

But as danger increased for Kenichi, the time came for interference is needed.

'Now then...we heard something really concerning.' said Hayato over dinnertime. 'Normally, we would ignore delinquent issues, especially as they are merely a stepping stone to build up Ken-chan's non-existent confidence,' he said as Kenichi deflated when he said that, 'The fact that we can no longer ignore it anymore...is because those involved are all martial arts practitioners.' he said. 'Holly, if you will.'

'Hai. Let me finish OK, this is really long!' Holly unrolled a long, taped-together piece of paper. 'I did a lot of snooping around since the day Miu-chan and Kenichi-san began to get involved. This gang called Ragnarok has a chain of command, with its top 7 members being given code names based on mythology. Odin, Berserker, and Freya are known as the Three of Cards as they are the strongest three, and its founding members. Followed by Loki, Siegfried, Hermit, Thor, and a recently-promoted Valkyrie, making it 'Eight Fists League'.' she said. 'However, after eavesdropping for several weeks waiting for them to slip, I got wind that the Three of Cards take direct orders from someone called Kensei,' the disciples broke out on cold sweat when the masters sported a dark expression, '-and Odin gets direct training from him, and Odin is the leader of Ragnarok.'

'All Eight Fists are capable of taking on 50 people at once just by themselves without a scratch to speak of.' she continued. 'They slowly expanded, defeating gang after gang for their territories in Tokyo. They each have command of groups of subordinates who joined Ragnarok, but Hermit, Siegfried and Berserker prefers to work alone. For now, they're focusing on expanding and getting notoriety, but everyone seems to want to get promoted and get attention by keeping on doing many tasks. However, its rare to get acknowledgment from the fists and Valkyrie who recently earned her spot is akin to an Expert in her position, its precarious not to mention she's clearly the weakest. She earned her spot but still at risk of demotion if she messes up. Lately they're after Kenichi-san either to beat him and leave him, or take him in as a subordinate...who knows? I got names and schools which is why I got a really long list here. We can handle the rent-a-thug brigade, but the Eight Fists are High-Disciple Classes in their chosen fields.'

'Chosen fields?' Miu blinked.

'Hai. Valkyrie is Taekwondo. Thor is Sumo. Hermit is Kenpo. Siegfried...no idea, he spins, he sings and has one hell of an endurance he was often called Zombie and he favors counterattacks I think. His fighting style seems to be counter-attack based, but I need an expert with me sometime soon...Loki is an Informant and knows every dirty trick in the book so watch out for that one...and Kenichi-san, you have a little sister please remember that. He's mostly an informant but he's number 4 for a reason but he still has yet to fight.' Kenichi balked. 'Freya is a weapons expert and even personally-trained her Valkyrie Squad. Berserker...self-explanatory. Odin on the other hand, is a mystery. No one in Ragnarok has any idea of what he does. And he's the only one I can't get a photo of because security is tight.' she took out seven photos and spread them on the table thus, with code names written in English using a marker pen.

'So these guys...' Kenichi gasped out as he and Miu memorized the faces. 'Are the Eight Fists League?'

'Yup. Again, I can't get a photo of Odin. Security too tight for me.' Holly pouted.

'Hohoho! We'll up your training, but you've done well to get that much as a rookie informant.' Akisame purred. 'We on the other hand, will investigate Kensei. The brains behind these kids.'

'Meeting adjourned for us adults, but you kids need to talk more as your fights is starting to get serious.' Hayato decided as they left. 'However, one step a time kids, one step at a time.'

xxx

'Sooo you plan on working our way up by targeting the weakest first?' Miu asked Holly as they began thug-hunting.

'Yup!' Holly chirped. 'This is progress. Think of it like an RPG Game and Kenichi-san is Level 1. Defeating bad guys gains experience points and then he levels up. That's why we go for weak guys first. However, he wound up facing some good ones first out of bad luck so he should be Level 10 by now. What holds him back is his attitude.' she stated with a smile.

'That's cold!' Kenichi shuddered at how cheerfully-cold Holly put it.

'Uhm, what's an RPG Game?' Miu asked with a clueless cartoonish expression.

'...'

'We should visit an arcade.' Holly sighed. 'Because its impossible to own a playstation in the dojo.'

xxx

And so...at the arcade...

There's many video games, shooting games, prize games and simulation games.

'Well, these are the basics of gaming since most kids are into Playstation these days and racking up an unholy electric bill in their house. Here, you just need 100 yen coins.'

'Teenagers spend 100 yen in arcades?!' Miu cried, scandalized, her poverty mindset kicking in. 'You can buy something far useful in a 100 Yen Store! Or buy pickles, a head of broccoli, some tomatoes, a pack of fruit juice, squid tempura, bottled juice or water, and cheap candy that cost the same!' she ranted in freakout. 'And kids our age freely waste that 100 yen on arcade games?!'

The two wisely gave up on showing Miu the arcade games before she freaks out even more from aghast.

'Well, kids these days take stuff for granted...' Kenichi croaked as they dragged Miu out. 'At least my money goes to manual books. They're educational so its not money wasted.'

xxx

They stumbled into a Lynching.

'Takeda-senpai!' Kenichi exclaimed as a ponytailed boy and shades boy were fighting numerous teenagers by themselves.

'Yo, Kenichi-kun! Hi!' said Takeda cheerfully while grunting from pain.

'We officially drop out of Ragnarok!' shades boy declared.

'Isn't that a lynching over there?' Holly asked thoughtfully. 'Miu-chan, as our senpai, what do we do?' well, Miu is their senior...

'Well, consider this your field trip I guess.' said Miu. 'I won't do anything unless I'm attacked, so go.' she said as Holly happily jumped in.

'Hey! Holly!' Kenichi sputtered as she eagerly charged in. 'I'm against boys hitting girls!' he ran after her. 'Get back here!'

'What's this?! A little girl joining in?!'

'You got no business here, foreigner!' another guy sputtered out.

'The hell's going on here?!' Nanjo Kisara twitched as a little girl who was unfortunately far more...developed than she was joined the fight and she's pretty good!

Kenichi's principles made him cover for Holly and ended up overcoming his usual attitude, something Miu noted.

'Whoa? Aren't you with honey?' Takeda asked Kenichi, bamboozled. 'What's this cute loli doing here?!' he asked, eyes popping at the short girl who either grows too fast for her age or just a really short high schooler, he doesn't know.

'She's in the same dojo as us!' Kenichi cried as he made sure nobody attacked Holly from behind. 'And its complicated! Oh, she's a year younger than us too, still in middle school! She's not a grade schooler!'

'WHAT?!'

'My my Kenichi-san, that's pretty chivalrous of you!' Holly squealed since her game was acting all cutesy to lull enemies into a false sense of security, shown in her playful style of fighting before she really lets loose.

Unlike them, she may only have the basics of Wing Chun, but she's far more stronger.

'Not bad shorty.' said Kisara, jumping down. 'You're pretty good, why not join us?'

'I have six masters, I have no need of joining a gang.' said Holly bluntly in her cheerful kawaiiko manner.

'SIX MASTERS?!' Kisara, Ukita and Takeda gasped, stunned.

'Well, she's kinda like my senpai and I just started since spring, but I also have six masters.' said Kenichi sheepishly.

'Oh yeah, you go to that Ryouzanpaku dojo...' Takeda croaked out.

'Your doctor Koetsuji-sensei is also a Master.' said Kenichi. 'He's a Jiu-jutsu Grandmaster and a Bone Orthopedic.'

'Huh?! But he's so skinny!'

'Six...six masters huh?' Kisara twitched, all fired up. 'Then show me the worth of six masters, shorty!'

'Well, at least this time its an all-girl fight...I have nothing against that.' Kenichi sighed.

'You know Kenichi-kun, that mindset will get you in trouble one day.' Takeda advised. 'Just saying.'

'I know but I go by what I believe in.' Kenichi exclaimed. 'Guys who hit girls can't be considered men, no way! They're even more of a coward than I am if they do!'

Miu just looked amused.

Right now, Holly and Kisara were in battle stance.

Then a cat fight began. Taekwondo, and Jeet Kune Do.

'...who'll win?' Ukita wondered.

'...Holly-chan started a year ago. When did she start?' he asked, looking at Kisara.

'No idea man, but why ask about when Kisara started?' Ukita asked Kenichi.

'Let's just say that Holly-chan is strong. Very strong.' Kenichi gulped. 'Only Miu-san is stronger than her.'

Indeed, Miu who has her entire life training, Holly's one year and his half year is nothing compared to her.

And he can never compare himself to them.

Miu has a high level in natural aptitude and a fast learner. She's gotten immense knowledge in fighting skills and techniques, a far seasoned veteran disciple. She knows her family arts that she mixes with gymnastics and guerilla tactics.

Holly got by in hard work. She's also a fast learner, and very creative and resourceful due to her 'education'. Holly freely admits she's not as physically as developed as Miu who she said has really tough, well-trained muscle under her deceptive-looking 'normal appearance'. Her own muscles are still softer than hers, and having it tough plays a role in how much pain you can take in a fight since tough muscles protect vulnerable body parts better. But to put that to great effect, you must have great flexibility otherwise what's a boon is a bad con instead if you're so stiff! During vacation in Horinji Island, she learned Camping Survival Skills with him, and twenty basic techniques of Jeet Kune Do from Kensei which she wants perfect to great effect, before learning the next twenty. And she's a perfectionist working on it while honing her body more. She wanted the same degree of High-Disciple Level strength Kensei demonstrated for her back in the island, combining Jeet Kune Do, Basic Street Fighting and Guerilla Tactics with Improvised Weapons usage.

The level he showed, was Miu-Class strength of Jeet Kune Do on a well-made dummy. And she trains to reach the same level so she was hard on herself. She instantly learns moves, but works hard on perfection by her standards. She was a rare talent as well due to having an Eidetic Memory. It was due to this that she has high evasion skills, and 'self-preservation instincts'. She does mental simulations in her head by learning High-Disciple and Expert-Class speed level demonstration of different Masters just by seeing it once and getting used to it, and trains to move her body fast to the point she gets vertigo and had to be stopped by the Masters, and had to be watched over.

Conclusion:

Disciple-Class Strength Level

Miu: 100/100(but holds back on weaker opponents otherwise she'd end up maiming them good)
Holly: 40/100(is thus hard on herself)
Kenichi: 19/100(the weakest and tends to run from training from freak out)

Disciple-Class Endurance Level

Miu: 100/100
Holly: 30/100
Kenichi: 10/100

Disciple-Class Agility Level

Miu: 100/100
Holly: 39/100
Kenichi: 20/100

Disciple-Class Speed Level

Miu: 100/100
Holly: 38/100
Kenichi: 20/100

Disciple-Class Flexibility Level

Miu: 100/100
Holly: 77/100
Kenichi: 9/10

Disciple-Class Reflexes and Reaction Time Level

Miu: 100/100
Holly: 49/100
Kenichi: 0/100

Disciple-Class Martial Knowledge Level

Miu: 100/100
Holly: 50/100
Kenichi: 0/100

Disciple-Class Martial Skill Level

Miu: 100/100
Holly: 39/100
Kenichi: 10/100

These analysis levels were by Akisame himself.

Yes, Kenichi agrees he's pitiful, really...starting out aside, he tends to skip out sometimes.

They watched as Holly defeated Kisara after studying her Taekwondo enough. Kisara was a Mid-Class Disciple.

'Heheh, how's that?' Holly gasped, being fired up. 'That's what having good teachers can do!' she told the unconscious girl. 'Not that you'd hear me now anyway.'

'W-wow...' Takeda croaked.

'And that's her holding back.' Kenichi deadpanned.

'HOLDING BACK?!' Takeda and Ukita choked.

'Yeah, we Ryouzanpaku don't believe in going all out against those weaker than us.' Miu explained. 'We only do in a life-or-death situation but even then we still avoid maiming injuries since we don't have such bad personalities.' she said. 'We better get Takeda-san and Ukita-san to the clinic...'

While they were still talking, someone in a black cloak observed from afar.

xxx

'So, how's your battle against an Eight Fist?' Akisame asked Holly as he patched up the boys.

'Humm...due to Taekwondo, Nanjo-san invested too much in her legs and her boots due to her beliefs. Everywhere else, vulnerable. Skill-wise, about 2 notches below me.' said Holly. 'Had I gone all out I can defeat her by a stomach punch alone, but I wanted to see how good she is in her art. By that, she's a Middle-Class since she's shown such proficiency, but since her prowess are solely focused on delinquents and Rent-a-thugs, she really could have done better and she's wasted in a gang of idiots, and greatly falls short in physical development in musculature and skeletal strength. If she had a proper Master's guidance, her flaws would be fixed.' Akisame looked at Miu regarding Holly's assessment and the blonde agreed.

'Well, Kisara did say legs have three times the strength of arms made lethal with good shoes...' said Takeda.

'That is indeed true...if you studied and trained hard in martial arts that uses legs for offense.' said Akisame. 'However, its also just-as-easy to catch and block legs and feet, and leave the groin vulnerable. A big no in combat, especially if your opponent is willing to stoop that low to hit it hard.' Kenichi, Takeda and Ukita had visioned phantom pains of being hit there. 'So decide carefully in using high kicks, if ever. That's advice especially for boys.' he advised. 'At any rate, good job in defeating an Eight Fist, Holly. Your next task after the Kisara Army will be Freya's Army, but you'll have to train harder before the confrontation against weapons, so you'll learn from Shigure again, Jeet Kune Do put on hold. Kenichi, your job is all men in Ragnarok, so we'll be training you real good to gain good fighting experience.'

'Yessir!'

Kenichi however, was breaking out in cold sweat.

xxx

'So that's how it is?' said Hayato.

'Yup. Holly did well for her first fight.' said Akisame. 'And Miu said that while Kenichi would run from almost anything, he can't stand boys hitting girls and those he considers friends getting hurt. Only then does he go serious...so what do we do about that, fellows? Holly has an idea about that.'

'Hooo?'

'They go out together with Miu watching from afar and only interfere when needed.' said Akisame. 'She'll rescue when things go dicey. And because Holly is a girl, he'll fight to cover her back just so a guy won't hit her. Slow desensitization...until he fights on his own feet because he can't fight together with Holly forever. One day, we always fight solo, the girls always can't be around as motivators. We'll do something about that soon.'

'True that.' said Sakaki. 'For now, she's motivation and perhaps, he'll man up more. Besides...' he grinned madly as their eyes flashed. 'We can go harder from now on!'

In another area of the dojo, Kenichi felt a shiver down his spine, while playing Old Maid with the girls.

The rare off days in the dojo is when the Masters have a conference. After that, they do their own thing while thinking of stuff to do, planning in their own heads thus are NOT to be distracted unless its mealtimes.

xxx

In a hideout in an abandoned building, Kisara was furious to be losing to a middle schooler and took it out on subordinates who failed their tasks, and on punching bags.

But Hermit is now up to the task of dealing with Niishira, and the short girl.

It was around next day, that at Hanazawa Middle School...

There's a cloaked person outside the gates. The students who were in the go-home club hurriedly scooted away past him nervously.

Holly twitched.

Hermit's here for her and he's the Sixth Fist.

No holding back now, according to her Danger Sense.

'You sure found me quick. Your information network is impressive.' she stated, getting ready to fight as she tossed her school bag at the top of the gate walls.

'Of course.' said Hermit as he got himself into a fighting stance. 'Now, show me your moves, Holly Potter!' he demanded, taking on a stance that's unusual, but clearly chinese by is hands alone since most chinese attacks are palm strikes, and his Iron Palm is better than hers.

He's had years like Miu so she's in for a fight of her life, as she adapted the Jeet Kune Do stance.

To those who've known Holly for years, had their image of her definitely shattered on this day.

For her three years in middle school, everyone knew Holly to be a normal girl.

Today?

It took minutes for news to spread like wildfire to the Faculty that there's a fight in their school grounds, and all club activity halted. Students in the go-home club can only watch, while jaws ajar from disbelief.

Due to the level of battle shown, not even the teachers could clearly stop them because of the clearly beyond school-standard fighting and utterly brutal way of doing it, nevermind the injuries and slight environmental damage on the ground caused by bodily impacts...and Holly barely survived. Barely. She was badly beaten, and has clothing damage.

'Owww...' she winced. 'So this is the Sixth Fist.' she shamelessly frisked for Hermit's cell phone despite flashing some people her underwear when she leaned forward for frisking, and dialed a number while sitting on seiza.

'Potter-san, what's going on here?!' her Homeroom Teacher cried in aghast.

'Ah, this? Its a kiddie spat, that's all.' came the nonchalant answer.

'Kiddie spat with those kinds of injuries?!' she shrieked at Holly and Hermit's rather bad condition.

'Well, we're martial artists so this kinda thing is a kiddie spat by our standards.' Holly quipped as someone finally answered. 'Our standards isn't like what standards school association tournaments do. We do real, unadulterated battle like earlier.' she said wryly, using a handkerchief to wipe blood off her face.

'Are you serious?!'

'Yup. So whoever is any school's best martial arts students can't hold a candle to even the weakest of us true practitioners. They are so boned with no chance of even defending themselves.' Holly giggled as someone finally picked up.

/Hello! Apachai here, I got your kid!/ Holly sweatdropped.

Apachai was a former mercenary to Human Traffickers who used him, and his clueless stupidity to get the law off their backs while keeping him ignorant of their activities because ironically, he likes children and if he finds out what they do, they would DIE so they did their business in secret...until he met the Legendary Master Furinji Hayato who clued him in and he wasn't too happy.

'Apachai-san, call Akisame-sensei over, will ya?'

/OK!/ and last she heard of Apachai was him yelling for Akisame. Minutes later...

/Yes?/

'Sensei, Sixth Fist Codename Hermit personally paid me a visit in school, we had fun, I barely won, I'm banged up real good and am in great need of a pick-up because I can't walk home!' she whined. 'And my teachers clearly wants to talk with my guardians so can you guys go Loco Parentis for me~?'

/Hang in there, alright? Sakaki will get you and Hermit, I'll deal with the Loco Parentis./ and he put the phone down.

'Oy...give me my phone back.' Hermit griped while groaning from his injuries. 'Who told you to use somebody else's phone?!'

'A free phone call is my victory prize since my phone is with my school bag and I can't even get my bag right now so I can take whatever prize I want.' said Holly flatly, tossing him his phone back that he caught with one hand. 'Victor goes the spoils of their pick. Oh, sensei, I won't come to school for at least, a week since I'm hurting like hell right now so I'm saying my absence in advance or longer depending on my master's discretion.' she told her teacher who was twitching.

'Er, right...' her homeroom teacher twitched.

Soon, Sakaki and Akisame came on their bike with passenger car attached.

Well, nobody expected that Holly's masters are beyond human, as everybody gaped at Sakaki that Akisame was damn near invisible.

Sakaki's height and muscles scared everyone present while Akisame at least, looks normal.

'Holy shit, that guy's huge!'

'Lookit those muscles! What does he eat to get those?!'

'They're her teachers?!'

'Wow...'

'Kimono guy at least looks normal...' this got Sakaki sputtering while Akisame snickered at his expense.

'Sooo who are Holly-chan's teachers...?' he asked kindly to the terrified faculty present.

'Yo Holly!' Sakaki grinned, picking her up that she easily sits in his left arm that Sakaki looked like he was holding a torn-up doll. 'You OK?'

'Somehow but I'm not going to school like this for a while.' Holly sighed as Sakaki slung the boy over his shoulder. 'Sensei, my bag is above the gate walls for security.' she piped up as Sakaki went to get it for her, easily reaching where it was.

Akisame then dealt with the faculty.

xxx

'That looks bad...' said Kenichi as at dinnertime, Holly was wrapped up so extensively.

'It can't be helped, Hermit is that strong.' Holly grumbled. 'I barely won and that's because its out of circumstance that I'm in a position of convenience that I was able to deliver a finishing blow. If not for that I'd lose.' she said, biting on a potato. 'If you meet him as you are now you're ground beef in a meat grinder.'

'Now that won't do, right fellows?' said Hayato as Kenichi gulped. 'So how are Holly's teachers?'

'Well, it required some effort in convincing them. But since Holly clearly is under attack by an outsider and she did not initiate it, she barely avoided suspension. Barely. Some teachers were torn whether to ask her or not to join their school's martial arts clubs until I said she's taking pages off Bruce Lee's book and Jeet Kune Do is not in any school's club. They wanted to hire me as a Jiu Jutsu Club Moderator though, what do I do about that?'

Earlier, he showed he's a Master by flashing his musculature at them alone while flaring his Ki.

'Well, sensei can do both right?' Kenichi pointed out. 'School club is two hours and half, so the rest of the day is for his clinic. Easy peasy.'

'Easy peasy huh?' Akisame looked thoughtful.

'Hourly Salary for any teacher is 3500 yen so its 8750 a day so in a month, that's 262500 yen on 30-day months and 271250 on 31-day months. February is considered technically a 30 day.' Holly supplied as Miu was doing calculations in her head. 1312500+1898750=3211250.

'That's 3211250 yen in a year!' she gasped out.

'Humm...why not?' Akisame looked thoughtful. Its far more stable than his clinic even if he charges 5000- easy injuries to 15000- tougher cases.

'Er, please design training for normal humans please.' Holly sweatdropped. 'For that to be feasible. Training normal humans like how you train Kenichi-san would send many students fleeing on first day alone.' Miu turned to rock right then and there.

'Hummm...so I have to be considerably nice, huh?' Akisame pouted. 'Then again, they're no Kenichi anyhow...'

'I'm a normal human too you know.' Kenichi sniffled with waterfall tears.

'You gave that up when you came here.' Sakaki snarked.