I had always been a quiet person. Never got into trouble. Never stood out. I just lived my life with my small circle of friends. But others don't like seeing you be at peace with your life. And I hated that. So I ain't going to sit around and let them bother me again…
"Hiro… Hiro? Hiro!" "Wake up, Hiro!"
I feel like someone's calling my name. Did something happen? I feel like I went to sleep. But who could it be and why? Wait… I remember! I was in school and someone suddenly attacked me! I have to wake up. Now.
I feel like I'm slowly regaining my consciousness…
As I open my eyes, my childhood friend Natsumi is on top of me, calling my name. We are in the school courtyard after school.
"Hiro! Are you ok? That bully Katoro punched you!"
That bastard Katoro is always picking on me and my friends. He doesn't know when to stop. This time he outdid himself.
I stand up with the help of Natsumi and assess what's happening. Ichiro, one of my friends, seems to be standing up against Katoro and his pack of goons.
"Why did you hit Hiro on the back of his head?! You could've killed him like that?! Are you stupid?!"
One of Katoro's friends pushes Ichiro, and he falls to the ground.
"So what? Katoro can do whatever he wants!"
I clench my fist as my anger grows.
Natsumi grabs my shoulder.
"It's not worth it, Hiro. They can get away with whatever. None of the teachers bat an eye."
Not this time. They first hit me and then they push Ichiro. Someone has to put them in their place.
I step forward and Katoro sees the anger in my face.
"How'd you like that, Hiro? You're so puny and weak that you went flying after I hit you! I'm gonna laugh if you think you can stand up to me."
He always calls me weak. I'm on the skinnier side, but I don't consider myself weak. He just likes poking at me.
I respond.
"Let's settle this. You and me. I don't know what you want from me, but if you're looking for a fight, then you got one."
Natsumi and Ichiro look at each other in despair, as if they have to stop me from fighting him. I won't budge. This is the last time he bullies us.
Kotaro cracks his knuckles
"Ok, tough guy. Let's get it"
I don't know how to fight, but I've seen action movies at home and learned some defense moves.
Kotaro suddenly goes on the offensive and tries to strike me with his fist in a dashing attack.
I had already seen Kotaro fight other people, so I had learned some of his move sets. Just like a video game.
As his fist reaches me, I quickly dodge his attack, which was aimed at my face.
Dazed by my dodge, Kotaro uses his other fist to uppercut me. I already knew that was coming.
I move my body in the opposite direction from his first strike and successfully dodge his other attack. I was surprised. This was my first time fighting, but I had dodged two of Kotaro's punches. My friends, as well as Kotaro's friends, stood there astonished.
"You cheeky bastard! I'm gonna get you!"
Kotaro said he would get me, but he hadn't noticed I had already performed my attack and jabbed him on his side.
"Ouch! What the hell? You're gonna pay!"
Kotaro backed off and continued to go on the offensive, trying to push against me. I wasn't taking it.
As he tried to hit me, I used my arms to block his attack, and at the same time, I used my legs and made him trip and fall. It seems he wasn't expecting me to use my legs in the fight.
"You OK?!"
Kotaro's friends couldn't believe I had made him fall.
As Kotaro tried to stand up, I proceeded to get in his face and say:
"Don't ever mess with me, freak"
I punched him in his jaw with all the force I had built within me.
He went unconscious from the blow.
Everyone around me was astonished, but Kotaro's buddies looked like they had just seen a ghost. I guess they were scared of me now.
I stood up and said as I flipped them off with both of my hands:
"Who's next?"
They started to run away like a bunch of little girls. That was one funny sight to see.
As I turned my back to my friends, they were both pale.
"What's wrong?"
I asked them.
"Hiro, look behind you…"
Said Ichiro.
As I turned around, I caught a glimpse of people that I had never seen before. Teachers? Other students? Maybe one of Kotaro's friends? No. They were wearing leather jackets and ripped, baggy jeans. Who are these people? They were watching me all this time? What do they want? Are they going to beat me to a pulp? I stood there without being able to say a word…