Zachary

Yamato's schoolmates helped him out of the heap of people. At the other side the sandy haired boy also emerged from the pool he fell into, soaked wet from head to toe. The two boys gaze suddenly met, and it was obvious to both that the other didn't want to continue the fight.

The two boys are both reckless and stubborn, and usually wouldn't back down from a fight. But their close brush with death had shaking them awake, it was like they were drunk before and now sober, realizing how stupid they were just now. Yamato suddenly felt weak in the knees and cold sweat drenched his back.

It was not only him, everyone thought this was enough excitement for today. Even though the majority didn't know the specifics but they knew a disaster has almost happened here, still after all that excitement died down the crowd had no choice but disperse. Some kinder people even warned the boys not to take things too far again next time lest they really hurt each other, before leaving.

On the way back Yamato was lost in thought, replaying the battle again and again in his mind. In hindsight he easily spotted his mistakes, things he could have done better, how he could have moved better, responded better. How he should have exploited his opponent's weaknesses easily while protecting his.

Yamato was in a bad mood because he didn't like loosing... Well, he didn't like not winning, since he hadn't actually lost. He blinked when someone punched him on the arm. "What?" He asked.

Shandy gave him an unimpressed look. "I have been talking to you for a while now,"

Yamato smiled apologetically. "What were you saying?"

"He's following us," Shandy looked at the back of the procession. Confused, Yamato looked over his shoulder to see the sandy haired kid at the end of their group.

"What does he want?" Yamato said in surprise.

"Maybe he wants to continue fighting," Ronald said. He'd gotten back on his feet and was walking pompously, like usual, as if he wasn't the same person that was knocked out by a younger guy earlier. "Let me deal with this,"

Ronald turned with a fearsome scowl on his face and shouted, "Listen kid, the fight has ended, better scram, or we'll show you the other side of the street,"

Ronald had heard about what happened after he fainted so he was not a fan of this kid. The more he thought of it the angrier he became. "Damn it, don't think because you have an Astral weapon you can be overbearing in front of me!"

In response to the threat the sandy haired kid just smiled harmlessly, he lifted his hands in a placid gesture. "I don't plan on fighting, I just want to talk with that guy," he pointed at Yamato.

Hearing this Ronald frowned deepened and he turned to Yamato in askance.

"He just want to talk right?" Yamato shrugged. Honestly he didn't care much that the blond guy insulted Street Fighters - something that still angered the other Fourth High fighters - so he had no enmity with him. In fact he wanted to hear what he had to say.

The sandy haired guy said walked calmly, past the group from Fourth High glaring at him. He fell in beside Yamato and asked, "Hey was that really your first fight with an Astral weapon?"

He'd heard the other Street Fighters saying that this is Yamato's debut with his Astral weapon, when talking among themselves, but he didn't believe it. After all there's a saying in the martial world that it is easy to manifest an Astral Weapon but hard to control it. Not really, but the fact is no one can use their Astral weapon so well the first time.

However this is really Yamato's debut. But one couldn't blame the blond boy from being skeptical because he didn't know a vital information. That while it is true that Yamato hadn't fought anyone using his Astral weapon before him, he'd had it for a long time that he had gained good control of it.

But Yamato didn't explain all that. "Yeah..." He said simply, ignoring the other guy's skeptical look.

"Then dont tell me," The blond guy scoffed. Instead of arguing with Yamato he instead studied, his surroundings because he's in this part of the city for the first time. After all it hadn't been a week since he arrived in the city.

Kreal city might not be one of the High cities of the Empire, but it was one of the largest in landmass. Tall dark buildings lined the side of the street. On the billboards were different advertisements, but what interested this guy more was the fights.

In the capital pro fighting are usually shown on TV with lots of hype and sponsorships. Pro Fighters also have dedicated fanbases, at least that's how it is in other parts of the Empire too, but not in Kreal city. Here instead of famous fighters, they broadcasted their own local fighters in these billboards.

It was every Street Fighters dream to go pro but going pro is extremely difficult. However here one doesn't have to go pro to get some fans. Perhaps even the pro fighters famous in other part of the Empire are just so and so here... Truly a backwards place.

The sandy haired boy couldn't help but mock. He walked in silence for some time before talking again, his tone bright, "Where did you learn how to fight like that anyway? I mean you look the same age as me yet you have an Astral weapon and can actually fight me to a draw,"

"What do you mean?" Shandy said. "You are the strange one here to be able to get a draw with Yamato,"

"Strange one? Do you know how famous I'm in the capital, not to.... Ha never mind," the blond guy sighed. "Anyway his name is Yamato right? I am Zachary ... Erm, just call me Zack. What about you?"

"I am Shandy,"

"What kind of name is that?"

In response Shandy just gave him a cold stare.

"Erm, well nice to meet you I guess," Zack quickly started making amends. So... is this guy your boyfriend?"

This guy, Yamato that was standing between the two suddenly had question marks floating in his head but he didn't say anything.

Shandy glanced at Yamato, seeing his unchanged expression , she regarded the blond guy stoically with her head tilted to the side. "What did you say?"

"I said... know what, never mind," Zack glanced at Yamato. "Is she actually a robot or something?"

Yamato smirked. "She's Shandy,"

"Hey, are you a coward that can't repeat something you said?" Shandy suddenly said Zack.

The blond guy glared at her trying to decide whether she's being hostile or that's just how she's. "I can repeat it, I asked you if he's your boyfriend," Zack said glaring at her in challenge.

"Do we look good together?" Shandy asked another strange question. Zack opened his mouth then shook his head and said nothing. Inside he was freaking out, 'What a strange person, even her aura there's no sign of emotions,'

He felt she's even scarier than his sister!

Yamato looked at the two strangely. He hadn't known this guy could act civilized, and Shandy, he'd never seen this side of her. Come to think of it, she's always emotionless but is quirky at times. Maybe this is her way of having fun by messing up with people?

"Anyway," Zack cleared his throat and said. "Who taught you how to fight man? I want to meet your master!"

"I have no master," Yamato said offhandedly.

"Oh so it is a hidden expert? Then it can't be helped," The sandy haired boy shrugged.

Yamato and Shandy looked at each other, wondering if there's something wrong with this kid's brain.

"What about you?" Yamato asked. "I have never seen you around here, are you really one of those nosy traditional martial artists?"

"Traditional martial artists?"

"Hmph, those guys that learn how to fight in a greenhouse,"

"Well I am new in town, but yeah you can say I am a traditional martial artist," Zack scratched the back of his head, not looking offended by Yamato's provocation. This made Yamato slightly respect him. "What's the name of your school anyway?"

"Band E's Fourth High, why?"

Zack just grinned mysteriously then bid them farewell and left with a swagger and a foreboding, "See you later,"

After the blond boy crossed the street and disappeared from sight, Shandy glared at Yamato.

"What?" Yamato asked guiltily.

"You know what," She said. "Yamato if you want to die it's none of business,"

Being scolded like this Yamato felt embarrassed and refuse to say anything.

Seeing his silence Shandy rolled her eyes. "Anyway we will be parting ways here, see you tomorrow," She said. She crossed the street like Zack did but then calmly walked towards the opposite side the blond guy went.

Yamato wanted to call her but she already crossed the street and soon disappeared from sight too. Yamato sighed dejectedly.

Wait, did Shandy just glare at him? And even rolled her eyes like a normal girl? What's up with her today? 'Ice cold Shandy showing so much emotions,'

Of course he knows why she was angry; it was because he was too reckless and almost got himself killed.

"This is not a game huh?" He muttered.

The next day at school, Yamato sat in class scribbling idly on his book as he waited for the homeroom teacher to arrive. The door opened and the teacher entered, but he didn't raise his head.

"Hello class, you have a new classmate, a transfer student from the capital. Introduce yourself,"

Yamato looked up in curiosity but was shocked the next moment. In front of the class, in a new school uniform, was no other than the sandy haired kid he'd fought yesterday. The boy was looking at Yamato with a wide grin. "My name is Zachary, please take care of me,"

Yamato was not the only one that was surprised, as a few kids that were at center plaza yesterday gasped. Yamato looked towards Shandy, their eyes met from across the class. It was obvious they both didn't like this.

After the introduction Zack was pointed to his desk and class finally started.

At lunch break Yamato and Shandy sat together, to eat, at their usual place but their peace was disturbed when Zack picked his tray and walked to their table. "Yo guys!" The blond guy said with a grin.

Yamato nodded curtly taking a bite of his sandwich while Shandy just glanced at the blond guy and looked away.

Zack shrugged and took a seat between them. "So we are classmates now," he said cheerfully.

"For some strange reason," Yamato mused.

"Haha haha, anyway, now that we are classmates can we forget our differences?"

"Do you think we would be offended because you fought Yamato?" Shandy said.

Yamato also felt offended and said, "You look down on us Street Fighters too much!"

"Good then," Zack opened the can of coke on his tray and took a gulp before he continued. "By the way, do you guys know who that senior that saved us is?"

Shandy shook her head. "I saw someone separate the two of you at the last moment...., but he was too fast, besides his figure I couldn't see his face,"

"He was too fast. Not to talk of his face, hell I couldn't even see his figure, how could you see him?" Zack asked sceptically. Yamato was also suspicious but he didn't want to ask since Shandy doesn't like talking about herself. In fact he even helped her deflect the question.

"I'll like to meet that senior and express my gratitude," Yamato said.

Zack nodded. "He saved our lives. If not for him we'd have killed each other. To move that fast he must have reached a terrifying realm, would he even care about our gratitude?"

Yamato furrowed his brows in thought. "Yeah, I wonder who he is,"

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