Three, in the school yard

When Yamato came out of his daze and looked around Shandy has already disappeared. He considered going after her but immediately thought better of it; after all he didn't know her situation that well, what if he caused trouble for her?

In the end Yamato decided to wait till tomorrow in school to clear things up with Shandy. Yamato doesn't pry into one's secrete but he hates being lied to. If Shandy doesn't tell him the truth tomorrow he'll break up his friendship with her.

Deciding that he walked back to the place Charles and the others were standing. Well not precisely standing as he found Charles seating on a chair when he climbed up the container.

"Good job," Mr Leonard said.

Charles also nodded at him and said, "That girl has been undefeated in the younger generation for a while, but as expected of the golden boy of Kreal city,"

"Are there many younger generation in the underground fight club?"

"A lot," Mr Leonard replied. "Maybe not as young as you. Those that manifest their Astral weapon and didn't join a guild join the underground fight club,"

Hearing Mr Leonard's words Yamato sneered in his mind. Didn't he say his Axel guild is also a guild before? Why is he changing his words now?

"Take this," Charles said handing Yamato some cash.

Yamato's eyes narrowed. "What's this?!"

"Don't be alarmed young hero," Mr Leonard chuckled. "Naturally since you covered for Zack the pay goes to you,"

"You pay people this much for a fight?"

"Of course," Charles chuckled. "This is the big boys ring not like street fights,"

'Shit,' Yamato thought as he received the money. Counting the money he was surprised to see it was exactly 200 green notes. In the human realm there are different kind of notes, each country with their own color. The green note of Yunjhu Empire is not one of the most valuable in the world but it's the currency everyone in the Empire uses so he knows it's value quite well.

'That's enough to eat for a month and even have change!' Yamato thought excitedly. Initially his pay from his job is only 45 notes a month!

Thinking of that he suddenly realized how rich he could become if he fought for Charles everyday. But that's that and this is this, it is time he gets out of here. But when it came time to leave he hesitated. He wanted to see the last round of the fight between that Crimson Moon sect and the Six Brothers Triad. Another fight at the level of the shirtless guy and black robed man will be worth watching.

Yamato checked his phone and saw the time is 8:43 PM. Being a weekday Yamato has work at 9 PM so not to talk of time remaining to watch the fight, he was already running late. He reluctantly retrieved his stolen bike and left.

The next day at school Yamato couldn't wait for lunch break. When the time finally came he went to the yard where he usually has lunch with Shandy and Zack. No one was at the big tree they usually sit under when he arrived.

Yamato sat on a a giant root and took out the wrapped sandwich he'd bought from the cafeteria and started eating. No one comes to this part of the school so in the quite he heard the footsteps clearly. Turning around he saw the usual Shandy in her school unform, her brown hair held in a ponytail.

Shandy walked over then sat on a root opposite him, crossing her stocking covered legs one over the other. Her face had no emotions yet she looked poised and regal. Just as she opened her mouth to say something another footsteps was heard.

Yamato and Shandy glanced at the direction and saw Zack walking over with his trademark grin. "Yo," He waved at them. Shandy just gave him a cold gaze. "I assume Yamato already knows you can fight?" He asked.

"You set me up didn't you?" Shandy said sharply. "How did you even know I'm Iron Wolf?"

Zack shrugged. "That day we met Mr Leonard I thought you behaved suspiciously so I investigated,"

"You mean Mr Leonard told you?" Shandy scoffed in disdain.

"Whoa, don't glare at me. Anyway I really needed Yamato to cover for me. For your information it was not to set you up. And stop being a hypocrite Shandy, you were the one that snitched to Yamato that I joined the Fight Club,"

"I did that to help you because I noticed how dejected you looked these days. However your attempt to guilt trip me is admirable," Shandy tucked a lock of hair behind her ear unworriedly then turned to Yamato. "I might have lied about many things but the Underground is not a good place. Still I'll admit that part of the reason I didn't want you guys to join was so you don't discover my secret,"

Yamato just looked at them with no idea what they were saying. But it seems his friends understood each other more than he understand them. 'Now that I think of it I have been ignoring them since I met Katrina, even when we are together I'm often absent minded and don't care about what they are doing,'

'Perhaps I should be more considerate to my friends.' He thought.

"Well your snitching ended up saving the day," Zack shrugged. "Still I guess we owe Yama an explanation. You or I first?"

"I'll go first!" Shandy said. She turned to Yamato. "You already know that I have been hiding so many things from you but that's not intentional."

"What do you mean?" Yamato asked.

"When I was younger my mother told me not to tell anyone my identity to avoid trouble. But as I grew older I got used to hiding things even when it was not necessary among those I trust...." She looked at Yamato.

She continued. "You know Old man Risla is my grandfather. Most people know him as the strongest fighter in Kreal city but they don't know that he has a daughter,"

"Your mother?"

"Yes, my mother she's not a kind person but I love her. I am not going to go into details but she's part of the mob. I guess I felt it is something that shouldn't be advertised, especially to someone as righteous as you,"

Shandy paused before she continued. "I grew up in a house with strong martial influence. That's why my parents started training me so I can help defend the family in future. But that's not all they did, they also thought that I needed some street smart and sent me to this school so I can learn about the street,"

"That's how we met," Yamato muttered so many things making sense. He always wondered why someone from a rich home like Shandy attends this kind of school.

Shandy nodded. "Yes, however I couldn't tell anyone who I am. As years passed I gained more skill and even created my Astral weapon two years ago,"

"Two years? That's fast!" Yamato said in surprise. Of course it was less impressive than him that had one since he was 9 years old. But in this city it was unprecedented.

"After manifesting my weapon 'Purple Mist' my family demanded I join the Underground to hone my skill. That's how it is. As for the past few days you already know,"

"Well it's not much," Zack said intending on mixing truth with lies. "My father is a government official that got transferred here. Since a young age I have been receiving martial training so I can follow his footsteps in the military."

"Military?" Yamato said.

"Yes my father is a formidable man. Anyway even though we agreed not to join the Fight Club that day I was curious and sneaked away, after we separated, and returned to Mr Leonard in the restaurant,"

"You dirty bastard," Yamato cursed.

Zack grinned and shrugged. "That's how I joined the Fight Club. I fought twice for Charles, one against that big guy called Ralph and the other against another guy. Yesterday my father wanted me to come along on a business deal to gain some experience which coincided with the time I was suppose to face Shandy,

"I told Mr Leonard but he didn't believe me and thought I was pulling away. He started threatening me that if I didn't fight he'll leak the truth to my father,"

"That's strange, does he know your father?" Shandy asked.

"He does, he knew that my father is a government official so he must have investigated me!"

"What are you going to do about that?" Yamato asked. Now that everything has been cleared up he felt carefree again.

"As I said I'll tell my father and get out of Mr Leonard's hand. Shandy is right, he's obviously not a good person,"

"I told you. You don't even know the half of it that guy has a very bad reputation in the underground circle. If you want to join the underground I can introduce you to someone else,"

"Who?" Yamato asked.

"You'll see. By the way it's your turn to tell us where you have been going these past days,"

Hearing Shandy's question Yamato immediately felt embarrassed and his face darkened.

"You won't tell us?" Zack scoffed. "Don't be like that bro, we just told you our secrets,"

"It's not like that," Yamato sighed. "I can tell you that I am indeed training with someone but he told me not to tell anyone about it!"

"It can't be helped if you promised. But can I join you?"

"I'll ask,"

"Wait, is it that expert that taught you that footwork?" Shandy asked. Remembering how Yamato had effortlessly evaded her attacks she felt very curious about the technique.

Yamato nodded.

"What's it's name?"

"Catching stones..?" Yamato said, unsure.

Zack looked at them curiously. "What footwork?"

"Show him,"

Yamato nodded and stood up. He moved to the middle of the yard then clapped. "Watch,"

He moved to the side, but also diagonally forward. He glided smoothly in a zigzag as if he was skating on ice. His movement graceful and swift like a dancer. It looked like his body was so light he could balance atop anything.

"How did you do that?" Zack asked in amazement.

The three friends had reconciled and even started chatting with each other.