Chapter 18: After School Clash

The classes ended for the day, Yumi Fuyuzora didn't have club practice, so she headed straight home.

Ren Takeda, eager to walk with her, called out, "Wait up, Yumi! I just need to clean up real quick, then I'll join you."

"Okay, Ren. I'll wait by the gate," Yumi replied with a soft smile.

Nearby, two classmates, Shimada and Tani, watched as Ren hurried off.

"Looks like Ren's meeting Yumi by the gate. Should we try talking to her?" Shimada suggested.

"Maybe. She seems friendly enough," Tani shrugged.

Before they could call out, a rough noise echoed from behind the building. "Arghh!" Then another groan followed, sharper this time.

Without a second thought, Yumi dashed toward the noise, with Shimada and Tani trailing behind her.

They arrived at the back of the school, where they saw a lone student on the ground, bleeding, while another boy towered over him, foot pressed against his chest.

"What a waste of time," the aggressor scoffed, stepping down harder. "All talk about being a judo champ, and you can't even take one hit."

The victim whimpered, "P-Please, stop..."

Shimada and Tani's faces went pale. "Crap, that's Tsubasa. We should leave!" they whispered before running off.

Yumi stepped forward, her eyes sharp. "That's enough. He can't fight back anymore."

She knelt to help the injured student, urging him, "Let's get you to the nurse's office." The boy could only nod weakly.

Annoyed, Tsubasa grabbed Yumi's shoulder, growling, "Who do you think you are, getting in my way?"

In a flash, Yumi struck upward at Tsubasa's elbow, making him smack himself in the face.

"Ah!" Tsubasa yelped, stepping back.

"Leave now," Yumi warned, helping the student to his feet. "If you keep causing trouble, I'll stop you myself."

Tsubasa rubbed his arm, grinning despite the pain. "You're interesting. I like strong people, no matter if they're girls or guys. Let's see if you can handle me."

Yumi didn't reply, watching as Tsubasa bounced lightly on his feet, fists ready.

Just as he was about to move, a calm yet firm voice came from behind him, "Touch her, and I'll break your arms."

Tsubasa turned to see a tall, well-built young man with sharp brown eyes and an easy confidence in his stance.

"Ren-kun!" Yumi called out, relief flashing across her face.

Ren walked past Tsubasa without sparing him a glance and stood in front of Yumi. "Every time I leave you alone, I come back to find you in the middle of trouble. And it's always with someone twice your size."

"But, Ren—" Yumi began, but Ren shook his head gently.

"Don't worry. I know you'd never start a fight for no reason."

Yumi's cheeks flushed as she gave a small smile.

Tsubasa, ignored and seething, snapped, "Done with your little couple talk? Let's get this started!"

"Almost done. Give us a moment," Ren replied casually, not even turning to face him.

"R-Ren!" Yumi gasped, embarrassed by his calm teasing.

Tsubasa couldn't take it anymore and charged. "You said you'd break my arms! Come try it, tough guy!"

Ren turned his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Guess you're the first one from your group I'll take down," he thought.

As Tsubasa closed in, Ren shifted his stance and stepped in, sending a quick double lightning jab, one to the gut and the other to the jaw dropping Tsubasa to the ground with a thud.

The technique was precise, designed to shock the body into submission and end a fight instantly.

"W-Who uses that in a normal fight?!" Tsubasa coughed from the ground.

Ren looked down, "This isn't a tournament. It's a street fight."

Tsubasa staggered up, shouting, "I'll make you pay!" He kicked at Ren, but Ren blocked with a swift hand sweep, nearly dislocating Tsubasa's knee before knocking him back with a powerful headbutt to the chest.

Tsubasa gasped, coughing hard, but lunged again, only for Ren to grab and flip him cleanly onto the concrete.

Lying on the ground, Tsubasa wheezed out, "You beat me, but don't think it's over. You're going to regret this." And with that, he blacked out.

Ren glanced down calmly. "Maybe. But that's not my problem."

Yumi stepped forward, concerned. "Ren-kun, what did he mean by that? Do you know something?"

Ren looked at her, his expression softening. "I don't know, and I don't care. If trouble comes, I'll handle it. But if anyone tries to mess with you, promise you'll tell me, okay?"

Blushing, Yumi nodded, her smile returning as she met Ren's steady gaze.