Haruka takes a deep breath, steeling himself as he and Kara make their way to the back of the school. He knows he needs to face the bullies on his own, to prove he can handle this without relying on Kara's help.
"Are you sure you don't need me to step in?" Kara asked, her brow furrowed with concern. "I don't want you to get hurt."
Haruka offered her a reassuring smile. "I've got this, Kara. I need to show them I'm not their punching bag anymore."
Kara searched his face, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and admiration. "Alright, Haruka. But if things get out of hand, I'm stepping in, okay?"
Haruka nodded, his expression resolute. "Deal."
Haruka took a deep breath, steeling himself as he and Kara rounded the corner. There they were - Russell, Davis, and Ethan, the school bullies, their sneers and taunts filling the air. Haruka felt his pulse quicken, but he refused to show any fear.
Other students must have heard about the impending fight, as they gathered around, creating a circle with Haruka, Russell, Davis, and Ethan in the center. Haruka glanced at Kara, silently communicating his need to face this alone. She nodded, stepping back but keeping a watchful eye.
"Well, well, if it isn't our old friend Haruka," Russell growled, cracking his knuckles. "Thought you could hide behind your little girlfriend, huh?"
Haruka clenched his fists, his voice steady. "I'm not hiding from anyone. I'm here to end this, once and for all."
Davis sneered. "Big words for a little runt. You think you can take on all three of us?"
Ethan chimed in, his eyes gleaming with false bravado. "This is gonna be good. Time to teach you a lesson, Haruka."
Haruka watched as Russell stepped forward, a cocky grin plastered across his face. The larger boy puffed out his chest, sizing Haruka up.
"Looks like your little girlfriend isn't gonna save you this time, Haruka," Russell sneered. "I can take you down all by myself. Wouldn't be much of a fight if the others jumped in, would it?"
Haruka felt a surge of confidence. The power granted by the Kamen Rider 1 Physiology had transformed his body, making him stronger and more resilient. He met Russell's gaze with a sardonic smile, no longer intimidated by the larger boy's size and strength.
"Oh, I don't know, Russell," Haruka replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I think it'd be a pretty fair fight, even with the three of you."
Russell's brow furrowed in confusion, not expecting Haruka's bold response. Haruka took a step forward, his eyes narrowing.
"In fact, I bet I could take all three of you on and still come out on top."
Haruka's heart races as Russell's enraged face looms before him. The larger boy's words drip with menace, but Haruka refuses to back down.
"By the time I'm done with you, you'll be eating with a straw," Russell growls, his fists clenching at his sides.
Haruka meets the bully's gaze, his expression calm and unflinching. "Is that so? I'd love to see you try, Russell." His voice is laced with sarcasm, a sharp contrast to the threat before him.
Fury flashes in Russell's eyes, and he rears back, swinging a massive fist straight at Haruka's face. But to Haruka's enhanced senses, Russell's movements seem painfully slow. He effortlessly leans to the side, Russell's punch sailing harmlessly past him.
The larger boy blinks in surprise, then launches a flurry of blows, each one missing its mark as Haruka deftly dodges and weaves. Russell's frustration mounts with every failed attempt, his swings becoming wilder and more erratic.
Haruka observes the clumsy attacks with a detached calm, his body moving with a grace and agility that belies his slender frame. He sidesteps a haymaker, then ducks under a hook punch, all the while maintaining a cool, almost bored expression.
"Come on, Russell," Haruka taunts, his voice dripping with disdain. "Is that the best you've got?"
The larger boy lets out a guttural roar, redoubling his efforts, but Haruka's enhanced reflexes and speed allow him to effortlessly evade each strike.
Haruka watches as the crowd roars around them, the energy of the confrontation palpable. Russell's face twists with fury, his massive fists clenching at his sides.
"Stay still and fight me like a man, Haruka!" Russell bellows, his voice booming across the makeshift arena.
Haruka regards the larger boy coolly, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "If you say so, Russell."
As Russell rears back and throws a powerful punch, Haruka's enhanced senses allow him to track the movement with ease. When the fist fully extends, Haruka darts forward and delivers a swift, precise strike to the side of Russell's face.
The impact is explosive, and the crowd gasps as Russell's head snaps to the side. A tooth flies from his mouth, clattering to the ground as the bully staggers backward, his eyes wide with shock.
Haruka stands his ground, his posture relaxed yet confident. He watches as Russell struggles to regain his footing, the once-arrogant bully now gaping at him in disbelief.
Haruka watches as Russell staggers back, his face twisted in pain and confusion. A small part of him feels a twinge of satisfaction at seeing the bully finally humbled.
"What's the matter, Russell?" Haruka taunts, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Feeling a little dizzy?"
The larger boy shakes his head, his brow furrowed as he tries to regain his composure. Haruka can see the anger and humiliation simmering beneath the surface, and he braces himself for the inevitable retaliation.
Sure enough, Russell lets out a guttural roar and charges at Haruka, his massive fists swinging wildly. But Haruka's enhanced reflexes allow him to easily sidestep the clumsy attack. As Russell barrels past him, Haruka darts forward and delivers a swift, powerful punch to the bully's gut.
The impact is devastating, and Russell doubles over, clutching his stomach as the air is driven from his lungs. Haruka watches impassively as the larger boy struggles to catch his breath, his eyes watering with pain.
Russell's gaze darts to his two lackeys, Davis and Ethan, who have been watching the confrontation with a mixture of awe and trepidation.
"Don't just stand there," Russell gasps, his voice strained. "Get him!"
Davis and Ethan exchange a nervous glance, their bravado faltering in the face of Haruka's display of strength and skill. Haruka turns his attention to the two bullies, his expression calm and collected.
"Well, boys," he says, his tone dripping with mock concern. "Are you sure you want to join your friend on the ground?"
Davis swallows hard, his eyes darting between Haruka and the hunched form of Russell. "You can't take all of us, Haruka," he says, his voice wavering. "We're gonna teach you a lesson."
Ethan nods in agreement, his fists clenching at his sides. "Yeah, you're not so tough when you're outnumbered."
Haruka regards the two bullies with a calm, almost bored expression. "Is that so?" he says, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I guess we'll just have to see about that, won't we?"
Haruka watches as Davis and Ethan charge at him, their fists flying. He sidesteps Davis's sloppy punch, then ducks under Ethan's wild swing. Despite their aggression, Haruka moves with a fluid grace, his slender frame belying his strength.
The bullies grow more frustrated as their attacks continue to miss. Their blows become increasingly erratic and desperate, but Haruka remains calm and composed, evading them with ease.
Haruka parries Ethan's clumsy kick, the force of it making the bully's foot connect with Davis's chest instead. Ethan stumbles backward, his eyes wide with surprise.
Seizing the opportunity, Haruka darts forward and backhands Ethan across the face, the impact snapping the bully's head to the side. Ethan staggers, his hands flying up to his stinging cheek.
Before Davis can react, Haruka pivots and delivers a swift kick to the bully's gut. Davis doubles over with a wheeze, the air driven from his lungs.
The two bullies crumple to the ground, clutching their injuries. Haruka stands over them, his expression impassive.
The crowd around them erupts into excited cheers and shouts, the students marveling at Haruka's unexpected display of strength and skill. Kara, who had been watching from the sidelines, approaches Haruka, her eyes shining with pride and admiration.
"That was incredible, Haruka," she says, her voice tinged with awe. "I had no idea you were so...capable."
Haruka meets her gaze, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Kara," he says, his voice low.
The two bullies on the ground groan and stir, their bravado shattered. Haruka turns his attention back to them, his expression hardening.
"Consider this a warning," he says, his voice firm. "Leave me alone, or next time, I won't go so easy on you."
Haruka watches as Russell staggers to his feet, his face contorted with fury. The larger boy lets out a guttural roar, his massive frame barreling towards Haruka.
"I'm not done with you yet, Haruka!" Russell bellows, his fists clenched and ready to strike.
Haruka braces himself, his enhanced senses heightening as he tracks Russell's movements. The bully's attacks are sloppy and predictable, fueled by pure rage rather than skill.
As Russell rears back and swings a massive fist, Haruka reacts with lightning-fast reflexes. He darts forward, his body moving with fluid grace, and delivers a swift, powerful uppercut to Russell's chin.
The impact is devastating, and Russell's head snaps back as his feet leave the ground. Haruka watches with a detached calm as the larger boy's massive frame crumples to the ground, his eyes rolling back in his head.
A hush falls over the gathered crowd, the only sound the dull thud of Russell's unconscious body hitting the pavement. Haruka stands over the fallen bully, his expression unreadable.
Haruka glances around at the stunned crowd, his expression unreadable. The other bullies, Davis and Ethan, scramble to their feet, their bravado shattered. Haruka turns to Kara, gesturing with a tilt of his head.
"Let's go," he says, his voice calm and steady.
Kara nods, her eyes shining with a mixture of pride and concern. The crowd parts as they make their way through, the students whispering and staring in awe at Haruka's display of power.
///
Give Power Stones so I can continue to write this story. If it does not gain any interest, I will drop it.
Advance chapters on my P@tE0N Najicablitz.