Victoria's green eyes met Nozomi's soft brown and then narrowed, her mouth curled down with disdain, "Well, if it isn't the wicked witch of Oz. She looked over her shoulder at Daiki, "I think he's way out of your league. Someone of my impeccable breeding is worth such a handsome creature."
"Breeding? Like dogs?" Paisley looked over at Nozomi and shrugged.
Nozomi facepalmed, "I'll explain it later. When we are out of this mess," She refused to give in to her fear even if it meant putting herself in harm's way, "I am not interested in Daiki that way," her physical reaction betrayed her words.
Victoria and her little mob pointed and laughed, "You do like him," She stepped toward Nozomi and Paisley, "I think you need to stay away from Daiki," She motioned her friends forward, "Let's put these nobodies back the under the rock Daki found them under."
In a move that took the entire room by storm, Nozomi dared to fight back. She thrust her fist out in a vain attempt to land a decisive blow on Victoria. The whole room gasped as the attacker flowed under her arm with ease.
"You nobodies are always trying to claw yourselves out of the muck. I can't blame you. Why be you when you can be mean. I mean me," Victoria spoke with unfettered joy as her fist darted toward Nozomi.
Panicked, Nozomi flailed her arms and managed a clumsy block. Victoria hissed angrily, "Why won't you give up?"
Nozomi steadied herself and looked at Paisley, "Remember all those times you saved me from trouble?"
A smile of gratitude crept over Paisley, "I appreciate the thought, Oz, but if we go down, we go down together," She took up a stance next to Nozomi.
"We refuse to be bullied by you anymore," Nozomi tried to make herself look more threatening, but a kitten up in a tree was more fearsome than her.
In an instant, Daiki stood between Victoria and the two friends. Not a word passed from his lips. His eyes stayed focused on Victoria, a thin grimace on his face.
"Are you serious, Daiki? Look at them, common as the rocks on the ground." Victoria tried to walk around him, and Daiki blocked her again. "Have you lost your mind Daiki...you can't speak to girls, so I suppose you have, in a way."
Nozomi's heart beat faster at the action, "How does he move that fast. Why did he come to our aid?"
A look of complete devotion overtook Paisley, and her eyes shone with undisguised affection, "You sure know how to pick them, Nozomi. You pulled a prince on the first try, and I am still kissing frogs," She whispered.
"I hate you sometimes," Nozomi spoke in a mortified tone.
"Fine, you can keep your new pets, but if they get underfoot, I won't hesitate to put those dogs out of their misery," Victoria adjusted her cloak, "Let's find some real men, ladies," she pointed to the door, and he entourage followed Victoria out.
Daiki turned around and waved to Paisley and Nozomi. He stayed this time. Paisley lost her mind and ran straight at Daiki with her arms outstretched, "You deserve a hug,"
"I hate it when she does this," Nozomi slid behind her friend and yanked her back, "Stop that. Daiki could barely stand next to us the last time we met," She shoved Paisley behind her. "Sorry about that. She's a little boy crazy."
Daiki tensed up at her words but remained rooted in his place. A few more seconds passed. He managed a bit of a smile and nod. His eyes were impossible to ignore. There was a kindness to them, and they played a lovely tune on her heartstrings.
Paisley stood next to Nozomi and smiled, "Sorry, I get like that sometimes," she gave a wry laugh.
"Maybe your not comfortable with a handshake. How about we touch fingertips in thanks?" Nozomi extended her pointer finger.
The gesture provoked thought on Daiki's end. He extended a finger and stared at the tip and then back to Nozomi. His arm moved out from his body, fingertip first.
Their fingers touched, and they held the position for a full five seconds. A tiny glow surrounded the slender digits, and then a flash of light.
"What was that?" Paisley demanded.
Confusion owned Daiki as he examined his hand. He looked at Nozomi and shrugged.
"I believe you. You came to our aid. I don't think you would ever hurt us intentionally. Besides, I'm fine," Nozomi beamed at Daiki.
"Maybe it was the lighting or something," Paisley offered.
"We were going to the comic store. Do you want to come?" Nozomi offered. She put her satchel over her shoulder.
A slight squeak came from Paisley, "The other girls will be so jealous...Oz, stop looking at me like that," She turned her head to avoid Nozomi's angry gaze.
"Stop acting like an idiot. It is unkind to use someone to raise your status. It's something Victoria would do, and I don't want to be like her," her icy words got a shiver out of Paisley.
"Okay, sorry," The trio strolled out of the dojo.
***
All the girls in Nozomi's grade whispered and pointed at her. She turned to Daiki, who seemed unphased by the development, "I'm sorry, I didn't think this would happen."
Paisley lapped up the attention like a kitten does milk, "Oh, enjoy the moment, Oz. I think Daiki knows this isn't our fault."
A younger girl two grades lower than Nozomi approached them, "Did you two stand up to Victoria?"
Paisley and Nozomi froze in place. Daiki looked down at the newcomer and nodded.
The younger girl clenched her fists, and her eyes shone with devotion, "That's so cool. She's so mean to the younger kids."
Paisley put her face in her hands, "Yeah, we were seconds away from being beaten up." She groaned, "If Victoria didn't have a reason to hate us more, she sure does more."
"Then I guess we had better learn to defend ourselves. My parents are bugging me to stay fit anyway," Nozomi sighed and then opened her eyes wide, "Daiki, could you teach us to protect ourselves?"
Daiki put his finger to his lips. He reached into his bag and pulled out a book. The plastic spiral binding told Nozomi it was a rule book of some kind. He handed it to her.
"Instructors Certification course?" Nozomi gave Daiki a look of awe, "He can't teach us because he's not certified."
"Wow, he's a master, and at a young age," Paisley swooned.
Daiki beamed with pride and then went serious at a thick fog. He clenched his teeth, and his kind eyes filled with determination.
A loud ringing crashed against Nozomi's ear, distorting her ability to hear anything. She turned to Paisley, who clapped her hands against her ears.
"What's going on?" Paisley shouted.
"Daiki, what is happening?" Nozomi screeched
The fog began to drift and congeal in front of them. Yellowed bones slowly formed, and a massive foot followed by a leg bone taller than Daiki and continued until it was fifteen feet tall.
"Oz, as much as I like Daiki, maybe we should get out of here," Paisley turned to run. Nozomi stood beside the handsome boy and raised her fists, "You don't have to do this alone."
Paisley sighed and chuckled, "If we go down, we go down together," and she joined her two companions.