A very disappointing fight for Zoan Porifera

The volleyball court was a small, run-down place, hidden behind the high school building. Zoan had to stop and ask the guard where it was, muttering a quiet thanks when he pointed her in the right direction.

Now, she stood in front of the weathered building, her fists clenching at her sides. The girl on the phone had warned her not to tell anyone about this unless she wanted to find Jiho and Jovi hurt when she arrived. 

The weight of that threat sat heavy in her chest as she pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside. 

The court was empty, filled with nothing but worn-down desks and chairs shoved into the corners. The faint smell of mold and dust hung in the air. 

Neither Jiho nor Jovi were anywhere to be seen. Zoan's stomach churned. Where are they? She thought, nervously nibbling her bottom lip. 

Had something already happened to them? Were they hurt? Where— 

"It's good you came," a voice spoke from behind her. 

Zoan flinched, spinning around to face the source. A tall girl stood there, her hair curling slightly at the ends with striking white streaks running through it. She was as tall as Zoan herself, and her presence was commanding, almost predatory. 

"Where are Jiho and Jovi?" Zoan demanded, narrowing her eyes. "I'm here. Let them go first." 

The girl tilted her head, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "Do you even know why you're here?" she asked, slowly approaching Zoan, her eyes raking up and down as though sizing her up. 

Zoan frowned, her brows knitting together. "No idea. Is this about the room? Or wait—are you one of Aliani's bitches?" she said, smirking when she saw the girl's expression harden. 

The taller girl's eyes flared with anger, and she grabbed Zoan's tie, yanking her close. "Watch your mouth," she hissed, her voice low and venomous. 

Zoan didn't flinch. Meeting the girl's glare head-on, she growled, "Where are Jovi and Jiho?" Her hand shot out, grabbing the girl's arm, and for a moment, the two of them were locked in a tense standoff, each holding the other tightly, the air between them charged with unspoken hostility. 

"I'll let them go," the girl said finally, her voice calm but laced with menace, "if you settle things with Aliani and clear her record." 

Zoan scoffed, rolling her eyes as she shoved the girl away, her tie tugging painfully in the process. Loosening it slightly, she muttered, "No way in hell am I letting that asshole walk around scot-free like she's done nothing wrong." 

The other girl huffed a laugh, the sound dripping with mockery. "What an idiot," she sighed, shaking her head. 

Zoan let out an offended noise at the back of her throat, her eyes narrowing. 

"You know," the girl continued, clapping her hands together, "there are no cameras here. You've walked right into a trap." 

Zoan stiffened, her eyes darting to the door just as she heard footsteps behind her. Three more figures stepped into the room, blocking her exit. 

"You—!" Zoan snarled, taking an instinctive step back as the door slammed shut and locked behind them. 

The girl smirked. "So… you're threatening me. Not just with my friends' lives, but with mine too?" Zoan's voice dripped with disdain, though her sharp eyes stayed locked on the group. 

"Sure, you can think of it like that," the girl said with a shrug, her tone casual. 

Zoan's gaze flicked to the girl's name tag as she stepped closer. "Gilena Antonov, huh? I'll make sure to remember that name," Zoan said, her voice steady but laced with quiet menace. 

Gilena tilted her head, smirking smugly. "I doubt you'll forget it either way." 

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of Zoan's neck stood on end. She turned just in time to see one of the girls raising a chair to swing at her. 

Zoan ducked, sliding back and kicking the girl's calf, sending her tumbling forward with a shout of pain. The chair clattered to the floor as the girl sprawled toward Gilena. 

Zoan's gaze snapped to another girl, who held a jagged piece of a desk leg in her hand. "Really? Are you actually planning to kill me with that?" Zoan asked, her voice dripping with irritation. 

At that moment, Zoan mentally nicknamed her attackers: Gilena was Idiot #1, the girl she'd kicked was Idiot #2, and this new girl with the weapon was Idiot #3. 

"Come on," Zoan taunted, gesturing with her hand. "Think you can handle me?" 

Idiot #3 rushed at her, swinging the desk leg wildly. Zoan dodged easily, grabbing the makeshift weapon and tossing it aside before delivering a harsh slap to the girl's face, sending her stumbling back and falling on her ass. 

Zoan stifled a laugh. "Pathetic." 

She turned back to Gilena, raising her hand as if to slap her too. Gilena flinched, and instead of following through, Zoan flicked her forehead. 

Gilena let out a startled yelp and fell backward, landing on the floor with a thud. 

"You think this is a joke?" Gilena growled, clambering to her feet, her skirt stained with dust and grime. She glared at Zoan, seething with barely contained rage. 

Zoan crossed her arms coolly, smirking. "So what if I do?" 

Gilena's anger was palpable, but so was her hesitation. Zoan's confidence—and the casual way she'd dismantled her plan—was unnerving. 

As Zoan glanced at Idiots #2 and #3, they flinched, looking thoroughly embarrassed. 

"You know," Zoan said, her tone light but her words sharp, "when you said there are no CCTVs, that also means I don't have to hold back." 

Gilena took a small step back, trying not to show it, but Zoan noticed. She smirked, reaching down to toe a metal pole lying on the floor. 

"So, should I…" Zoan trailed off, nudging the pole with her foot, "…bash your heads in with this?" 

Gilena stiffened, her confidence wavering. She knew Zoan wasn't just some random student who couldn't raise a hand. The way she fought, the way she handled herself—it was clear Zoan was dangerous. 

"Hm, no need," Gilena said suddenly, forcing a smirk onto her face. "We'll leave on our own. This got boring too quickly anyway." She waved her hand dismissively, as though she'd decided to end things on her terms—trying to pretend her knees weren't shaking on the way. 

Zoan blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift. "Huh?" she muttered dumbly, watching as Gilena and her lackeys walked past her. 

—

"They just left? What did you do?" Jiho asked later, her voice incredulous. 

Zoan scratched her head, looking equally confused. "Nothing? I seriously did nothing. They just… left. I don't get the people in this place," she grumbled, frustration lacing her words. 

Jovi, sitting nearby with a towel wrapped around her hair, sighed. She handed a clean towel to Jiho, who had also just stepped out of the shower. 

After Zoan found them locked in a dusty storage room, Jovi insisted they all come to her dorm to clean up. Jiho and Jovi had taken turns in the bathroom, but Zoan had refused—too lazy to deal with removing her wig, and Jovi didn't have clothes that would fit her tall, broad frame. 

Now, all three were nursing warm mugs of hot chocolate in their hands, though Zoan had requested hers cold. She still felt too warm and sticky in her dusty uniform. 

"This might be my fault," Jovi said quietly, staring into her mug. "Maybe I shouldn't have taken Aliani's room." 

"No, it's not your fault. They're just… assholes," Zoan said, shrugging tiredly. She didn't bother explaining how it was technically her fault for getting Jiho and Jovi involved in her mess. 

"Crazy," she thought. Then again, Zoan was no stranger to crazy. 

And this? This was just another day.