"It seems like I'm the winner again," I said, looking at Honami beside me.
"No way! How could I lose?" she replied, clearly frustrated.
We were in my room, playing Mario Kart. We had already had several races, and so far, all of them had ended in my victory.
"It looks like you need more practice," I told her with a smile.
"More practice? I play regularly with Mako-chan! I even play more than you, and I still lose! How is that possible?" she complained, crossing her arms with an adorable pout.
At that moment, the door to my room opened, and Mako and Yuki walked in as if it were their own home. With the amount of time they spent here, I guess there wasn't much difference anymore.
"Hi, Honami! Hi, Kayden!" they greeted us.
"Hi!" Honami and I replied in unison.
"Well, what movies are we going to watch today?" Mako asked, excited.
That night we had one of our usual sleepovers. We spent time watching movies, chatting, and enjoying ourselves. This tradition started one night when we lost track of time and ended up watching movies until dawn. When we realized it, it was too late for them to go home, so they stayed over. Since then, we had been doing it frequently.
"I have a few movies in mind. Want to see what they are, Mako-chan?" Honami suggested.
I got up and put on a jacket; I needed to go to the convenience store.
"Where are you going, Kayden?" Yuki asked, curious.
"To the convenience store; I need to buy snacks to go with the movies."
"Do you want me to go with you?" she offered.
"No, it's fine. In the meantime, pick the movies we're going to watch."
The three nodded, and after a quick farewell, I left the room heading to the convenience store.
...
I was being followed. It was the same four second-year guys again. But at seven at night? Seriously? Are they watching every time I leave my room, or is it just a coincidence? Whatever it is, how stalkerish...
Anyway, I was already at the convenience store, picking up snacks and drinks: popcorn, chocolates, and a bit of everything. Thanks to the points I've earned lately from betting, I didn't have to skimp on expenses.
As I left the store, I noticed those four guys about 25 meters away, watching me like hawks. I decided it was time to shake them off, so I started walking in the opposite direction of the dorms.
I headed to a place I frequented, where there are no cameras and few students go. It's a pretty lonely spot, especially at this time of night.
When I arrived, I hid behind a tree, waiting for the guys to get closer. It worked: they approached just as I had planned.
"Damn, where is that guy? He was just here a moment ago," one of them murmured, annoyed.
"He can't have gone far," another replied, trying to stay calm.
"I haven't gone anywhere," I said, appearing behind them.
"Ah!" One of them jumped, surprised.
"Oh, wow, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," I said, smiling.
"I almost had a heart attack," another whispered, trying to hide his nervousness.
"So, why were you following me?" I asked, even though the answer was pretty obvious.
They looked at each other, exchanging a few nods before one spoke.
"As senpai, we have to teach you a lesson," he said, cracking his knuckles. How cliché.
"A lesson? I don't remember doing anything wrong," I replied, tilting my head with feigned curiosity.
"Of course you did, which is why we're here. Maybe with a few hits you'll remember," one said in a threatening tone.
Apparently, they knew that this place had no cameras and thought they could beat me without a problem. It didn't take much to understand the reason: this had to do with Nagumo. Maybe he wanted to test me somehow, although it seems strange since he was present during my fight with Horikita. He should at least assume that my level isn't low.
Still, he sends me these third-rate goons. Has he become stupid? Well, whatever. Maybe I can use these guys for something.
"So, if you plan to hit me, what are you waiting for?" I said, dropping the snack bags on a nearby bench.
The four of them started to approach slowly, cautiously. At least they are careful. They surrounded me, trying to block any escape route. I could easily take them down, but I had a better idea.
...
Surrounded, I observed the four guys glaring at me menacingly. Although their movements were clumsy and lacking in technique, their stances revealed that each had a different fighting style. They weren't professionals, but at least they had some training.
The first one, a stocky guy with his fists up, charged at me with the classic boxing stance. I calculated his movements: quick and direct, but predictable. When he threw a right hook towards my face, I waited until the last second and dodged to the left, deflecting his arm with my forearm. With a quick turn, I landed a precise blow to his diaphragm. The air escaped him in a gasp, and before he could recover, I hit him in the jaw. He fell to his knees, disoriented.
The second guy moved in immediately. With his low stance and ready hands, he seemed like someone who had practiced some judo. He tried to grab me, but I stepped back, leaving him unprotected for a moment. With a swift movement, I struck his throat, leaving him breathless, and before he could recover, I finished him off with a blow to the back of his neck. He fell flat on the ground, motionless.
The third one displayed a rigid karate stance, with hands up and feet firmly planted. He launched a front kick, trying to catch me off guard. I caught his leg in mid-air and spun him around, unbalancing him. Taking advantage of the moment, I hit him with an elbow to the jaw, sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious.
The last one seemed the most agile, with light movements, probably relying on his speed and kicking ability. He lunged at me with a spinning kick, but I ducked and avoided the impact. Without giving him a chance to react, I stood up and punched him in the jaw, making him stagger. I finished with a quick kick to his head, and he fell backward, completely knocked out.
I took a deep breath, watching the four of them lying on the ground, unconscious. They weren't formidable opponents, but at least they had provided a bit of entertainment... or maybe the real fun was just beginning.