BAM!
The sound of the wheel kick strike reverberated throughout the dojo. On the one hand, Asuka had now managed to grab the strayed attention of the students at long last. Unfortunately, that also was the precise moment Asuka dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Lili, Feng and the students stared in pure bewilderment as Asuka laid senseless on the floor. Absolutely bamboozled most of all was the student that dealt the hefty blow. "Uh...sensei?"
"Salt, go play." Lili whispered as she set her cat down. Lili then walked over and lifted Asuka's arm up, giving it a little shake. "It appears you have knocked her unconscious." Lili affirmed and let Asuka's arm flop back down.
Upon that statement, things were still quiet for a moment as everyone collected their thoughts after what just happened.
The silence would quickly be broken as there was only one thought in the minds of the students. "Bruh...you knocked out sensei? That is funny!" One student called out to the sparer as laughter filled the room on account of the absurd situation.
Feng walked over to the sparer and gave a brief bow. "Seems you are a valiant fighter. Apologies for my disrespect earlier."
The sparer student looked up at Feng with a smile. "Apologies on my side too! Name's Ran Hibiki."
"Feng Wei." The man of muscle introduced himself. "By the way, why is everybody laughing? I cannot see the humour in this situation."
Ran gave a chuckle. "Eh, you know, just 'cause I'm a youthful novice who happened to take down the expert."
"Precisely." Feng stated. "I had led myself to believe Asuka Kazama was a formidable fighter. It appears I was wrong! At least I took away something from this class...never to come here again!" Feng shouted in annoyance.
"You know what? You raise a good point." Ran tapped her cheek as she pondered. "No reason to come to a dojo where our teacher's getting knocked out by her students..."
By now the rest of the students had stopped laughing and were agreeing with the sentiment. "This place is beginning to feel like a McDojo to me..." A student stated in despondency.
"And there isn't even like a phone charger or bluetooth speaker or TV or pretty much all the essential stuff here!" A student whined. "This place is getting a one star!"
"This dojo already has heaps of one star ratings I think..." Another student mused. "Seemingly all from the same person. Thought wifey_of_jin/jin_my_beloved/XiaoJin4eva was just some troll but she may be onto something..."
"Oh hey look, there's also a one star rating from Lili here!" A student called out, to which Lili gave an awkward chuckle.
"Oh, must be a different Lili." Lili cleared her throat.
"Anyways, it's a good thing I happen to be a photographer." Ran pulled out her camera and snapped a picture of the scene. "Looks like I've got quite the hot scoop! Well, I'll be off now."
"That applies to me as well." Feng stated. "I should have never doubted my old training!"
Ran and Feng proceeded to walk to the exit. On the way, Feng quickly turned to Lili. "If you could let Asuka know...I've no respect for the weak."
With those two heading out the door, murmurs among the rest of the students resulted in them following suit.
And now only Lili remained along with her cat. "Oh, it would seem Feng is not coming back..." The young lady shrugged as she stroked her cat. "Such a shame. Ah well."
The sound of gentle footsteps were heard walking into the room. "I believe none of them are..." The voice slightly croaked as Lili turned to see it was Asuka's father.
"Ah! Mr. Kazama!" Lili beamed a bright smile. "Good to see you once more!"
Mr. Kazama gave a faint smile. "You too...eh...hm...the friend of Asuka's, right?"
"Ho ho ho, something like that." Lili gave a nervous chuckle.
"Cute cat." Mr. Kazama gave a nod.
"Why thank you! Brand new!" Lili cheered in delight. "Salt, be a dear and help awaken Asuka for us." She cooed as Salt leaped up and started bouncing on Asuka like a bouncy castle.
"Very cute cat." Mr. Kazama slightly smirked.
"Teehee! Only the most adorable for moi! Anyways, care for some tea?" Lili smiled.
"Ah, now is probably not the best time...my stress levels are about to shoot through the roof." Mr. Kazama sighed.
"Oh?" Lili tilted her head.
"Our numbers were already on thin ice, no doubt thanks to some internet pranksters." Mr. Kazama muttered in disdain. "After today, that's it. No more students left."
"Oh my..." Lili put a hand on her mouth with a gasp.
"I never thought I'd see the day our great dojo shrouded with magnificent history, would be forced to throw in the towel." Mr. Kazama stated with a deep frown.
"It is rather upsetting..." Lili nodded. "Hey, I'm sorry about all this-"
"Oh no no, don't be silly." Mr. Kazama waved a hand. "None of this was your fault." He smiled as Lili resisted every urge within her to chuckle at that statement.
"You don't deserve this..." A seemingly crestfallen Lili looked to the side as she twiddled her thumbs with a tinge of guilt.
"I should have trained my daughter better. Instead she ends up getting knocked out by the one she's teaching..." Mr. Kazama brooded in thought. "I have failed her."
"Noooooo..." Lili shook her head.
"Maybe it's better that this dojo closes." Mr. Kazama pondered.
"Not at all! You did a wonderful job teaching Asuka! I guess she's just a little rusty or something..." Lili patted Mr. Kazama on the shoulder. "Teachers make the worst students, hmm?"
"Perhaps so. Thank you, Lili." Mr. Kazama cracked a smile. "By the way, dojo or no dojo, you're always welcome to pop by anytime for a spar with Asuka. I'm sure she appreciates having you around." He nodded with a smile.
"R-really?" Lili held her chest with big joy. "That means a lot! I love my father dearly but, oh heavens he cannot stand the sight of fighting...One of my biggest passions."
"Fighting is a big passion for Asuka too." Mr. Kazama smiled. "You two make for fantastic friends. Kindred spirits and what not."
Lili gave a chuckle. "Perhaps we do." She looked at Mr. Kazama with a smile. Him and Asuka, a hardworking and dedicated father and daughter trying their best to cultivate their passion and preserve their history to the fullest. And in Mr. Kazama's case, a truly kind individual, Lili thought.
And all of that was about to be shattered because of Lili's mistake. To this point, Lili Rochefort was always the only thing on Lili Rochefort's mind and had never really felt much for anybody other than her father and trusted butler. But a sinking feeling in her stomach would have her feeling a sensation she had never really encountered before...is this guilt?
"Well, I better go and make preparations." Mr. Kazama solemnly stated. "I am sure that you take good care of Asuka, so I can leave her with you." He smiled. "I believe that's what she would want."
"Mhm!" Lili nodded with a smirk, but her face suddenly became serious. "Wait."
"Ah, yes?" Mr. Kazama asked.
"Do not worry about closing this dojo, okay?" The always playful demeanor of Lili was replaced with a determined and motivated young woman. "I will find some way to solve the issue."
"What? That's very kind but you don't need to-" Mr. Kazama raised a hand but was soon interrupted.
"I want to. I cannot in good faith let your dojo close!" Lili asserted.
"I uh, I don't know what to say. I'm eternally grateful...but how do you go about helping exactly?" Mr. Kazama queried.
"Just leave it to Asuka and I!" Lili gave a curtsy bow. "We'll figure something out."
"Heh. Thank you very much." Mr. Kazama's smile was wide as he left the room, leaving Lili alone who was pondering on her next course of action.
"How do I go about saving this dojo...?" Lili stroked her chin. "I cannot let this turn into another Rochefort Enterprises situation..." Lili cringed a little thinking about the previous Iron Fist tournament. "Ah, yes! Asuka may have some ideas."
Lili spun around with a twirl and looked down at Asuka. Salt had still been jumping up and down on Asuka the whole time but it did not make her any more conscious. "Unlimited energy you have, Salt! So cute! You can relax now." Lili stroked her cat's chin, with it scattering around the dojo afterwards.
"Alright, Asuka." Lili bent over with a pout. "It's time to wake up." She waved her hands and snapped her fingers at Asuka. "Up you get, Kazama." Lili tried poking Asuka's face, letting out an annoyed sigh as Asuka was still out cold. "My goodness, you really let a student trounce you this badly?"
"I suppose that does make you a pretty good teacher if you got your student to hit like that." Lili contemplated with a smile. "I'll never tell you that while you're awake though, hehe."
"Okay, enough compliments. You need to get up." Lili chided, giving Asuka a few 'light' slaps. The only time the Monegasque princess could remember failing to get something she wanted in life, was her loss to Asuka in the previous tournament - the first time they met. And now Asuka's denying her again, managing to irk Lili even while unconscious. "Darn it!" Lili pouted.
"Heeeyyyy! I heard you're best friends with Jin Kazamaaa!" Lili yelled into Asuka's ear to no avail. "Or was it Lili Rochefort? If Lili is your favourite friend in the whole wide world, say nothing!" Lili grinned. No response from Asuka.
Lili threw her hands up into the air with an exhausted sigh. "I give up. I just need to have an extensive and deep brainstorm about how to save this dojo..."
And so Lili proceeded to profoundly ponder for plentiful portions of time. "Maybe that would work...or perhaps I should...no, that wouldn't..." Lili's thoughts were certainly a frazzled mess.
An unpleasant groan came from below, no doubt Asuka. "Euuuooogghhh...hmmmnngh...mnnh? W-what the? What are you on about-"
THWACK!
The utmost-recently awakened Asuka immediately slumped back down, courtesy of a hard elbow from Lili. "Not now, Asuka! I'm trying to think-" Lili's eyes immediately widened with a large, tense and uncomfortable gulp. "Wait..."
Lili shortly looked down. "Asuka?! Asuka!" Lili vigorously shook the K.O'd Asuka. "C'mon, stay with me!" Lili sighed as it sunk in that she just knocked Asuka out again. "Darn it...!"
A deep pout was on Lili's face. "I'm sorry, Asuka. I'm doing the best I can to help save your father's dojo but I just don't know what to...huh..." Lili mused for a bit as a smile came to her face.
Lili stood up with a smirk as she raised a hand in delight. "I know just what to do."