Episode 7 - First Fight , First Friend

The morning sun stretched lazily over Mishima Prefectural High, painting the school's white walls in a golden haze.

Genji adjusted the stiff new uniform awkwardly, feeling like he was walking in someone else's skin. The jacket tugged at his shoulders, the tie choked him, and the black dress shoes squeaked with every step.

Great.

I already feel like an idiot.

He made it halfway through the front courtyard before it happened.

WHAM.

Something — no, someone — collided with him full force.

Papers went flying. A lunchbox clattered to the ground.

"Owww..." came a soft voice.

Genji blinked down at the girl tangled at his feet. She had chestnut brown hair tied into two tight buns on either side of her head, a soft, round face, and wide golden-brown eyes that were quickly filling with embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry!" she squeaked, scrambling to gather her things.

Genji knelt, helping her pick up a flurry of math worksheets. "No, my bad. Wasn't looking."

She gave him a shy smile. "It's okay. First day?"

"Yeah."

"Me too!" she said brightly, brushing dust off her skirt. "I'm Xao Min."

"Genji," he replied.

They stood awkwardly for a second. Then the school bell blared, saving them.

"Ahh! We're late!" Xao Min yelped, grabbing his wrist. "Come on!"

Before he could protest, she was dragging him inside.

Class 1-B was chaos.

Students yelled over each other, chairs scraped against the floor, someone threw a paper airplane that hit the teacher square in the back of the head. The man — a squat, balding figure with comically thick glasses — didn't even flinch.

"Homeroom's starting," he grunted. "Sit your butts down."

Genji and Xao Min found seats near the window. As he slumped into his chair, trying to breathe, whispers floated around the room.

"Hey, isn't that the new kid?"

"Yeah, the one who fought at his last school?"

"Heard he hospitalized three punks with one punch."

"Whoa. Serious?"

Genji sighed. Great. His reputation had made it here already.

He was pulling out his notebook when a heavy shadow fell across his desk.

He looked up.

A tall, broad-shouldered boy with spiky dyed-red hair stood over him, arms crossed, a cocky smirk plastered across his face. Two lackeys flanked him, snickering.

"So," the boy drawled. "You're the big shot transfer student, huh?"

Genji raised an eyebrow. "You are?"

"Taiki," the boy said, thumbing his chest. "Leader of this dump. You want to survive here, you bow to me. Got it?"

Genji stared at him. Then calmly went back to his notebook.

Taiki twitched. "Oi, don't ignore me!"

He grabbed Genji's collar.

The classroom went dead silent.

Genji exhaled. Already?

Before he could react, Xao Min stood up.

"Hey, fathead," she snapped. "Back off."

Taiki turned, incredulous. "What did you call me, bun-head?"

Xao Min dropped into a relaxed stance — elbows tucked, palms open — classic Wing Chun.

"You heard me," she grinned.

The tension snapped like a rubber band.

Taiki lunged — slow, clumsy.

Xao Min's arms flashed.

Pak Sau! Lop Sau! Chain punches!

Taiki stumbled back, peppered with rapid strikes.

"You little—!" he roared, swinging wildly.

Genji moved in a blur.

He weaved under Taiki's punch and planted a sharp elbow into his gut. Taiki gagged, doubling over.

Before the bully could recover, Genji pivoted — red sparks briefly flickering around his leg — and delivered a clean spinning sweep, knocking Taiki flat on his back.

THUD.

Silence.

Taiki's goons looked at each other... and bolted.

Xao Min dusted her hands off. "Hmph. That was easier than midterms."

Genji laughed under his breath. "You hit pretty hard for someone so small."

She stuck out her tongue. "Size isn't everything."

The rest of the class exploded into cheers and hollers.

"You see that?!"

"New guy's crazy!"

"And that girl — whoa!"

The teacher adjusted his glasses, unfazed. "If you're done turning my classroom into a wrestling ring, take your seats."

Genji offered a hand to Xao Min.

She grinned and slapped his palm.

First day, first fight.

And somehow… first friend.

Later — Lunch Break

They ate on the rooftop, sharing steamed buns and cheap sodas.

"So," Xao Min said, mouth full, "why'd you transfer here?"

Genji scratched the back of his head. "Uh. Complicated."

She nodded like she understood.

He looked out over the city skyline. The dragon's warning still coiled inside him like smoke. But somehow, here, the burden felt lighter.

Just for a moment.

That's when he noticed.

Across the rooftop, standing by the edge, was a boy with wild, spiky black hair and sharp golden eyes. He wore the Mishima uniform sloppily — open jacket, no tie — and leaned against the railing like he owned the place.

The guy locked eyes with Genji.

Smirked.

Then disappeared in a flash.

Genji stiffened.

"Who's that?" he asked.

Xao Min followed his gaze. "Oh. Blaze Kuronuma. Second-year. He's kind of a delinquent. Always getting into fights. Super strong, too."

Genji felt his blood stir.

There was something different about that guy.

Something... powerful.

Xao Min leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially, "Rumor is he once fought five seniors at once and didn't get a scratch."

Genji grinned slowly.

Finally.

A real opponent.

After School

Genji was heading down the front steps when he felt it — a sharp, electric pressure in the air, like a storm about to break.

Blaze stood blocking the gate, hands shoved deep in his pockets, eyes gleaming.

"I saw your little show today," Blaze said lazily. "Not bad. But you're not the only fire around here."

Genji cracked his knuckles, the pendant around his neck pulsing faintly.

"Wanna find out who's hotter?" he said.

Blaze laughed — a deep, wild sound.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

The two charged at each other, fists drawn back—

"GENJI!!" Xao Min screamed from behind.

Both boys froze mid-swing.

A furious teacher stomped into view, waving a detention slip like a weapon.

"Fighting on school grounds? Already?! You morons!!"

Blaze scratched his head sheepishly. "Whoops."

Genji sighed.

First day, and I'm already in trouble.

To Be Continued...