A Brother's Sacrifice

Me and Aki were going on our way to the rooftop. That coward leader and the delinquents that were behind him were following us. Now that I got a good look at them, there were 15 of them. And they were not the same age.

"Did you get all the delinquents in this school to fight?"

I started a conversation with the coward.

"...yeah."

"Is that so."

I started to chuckle a little bit then turned to look at Aki who was testing the bandages.

"What do you find funny you little prick!"

"Nothing. It's just that I find it unfair. You brought all those scary guys with you just so that you want to fight with a girl who isn't even armed. You really are a coward."

His limit of patience was now broken. He told one of the guys to punch me. The guy started charging towards me. But I didn't turn to face him so that I could dodge. It was a crucial moment to trust my only ally.

When he threw his punch at me, it was grabbed by Aki's hand. Her right hand was tightly grabbing his wrist and her left hand grabbing his arm. She brought the man's arm down with a great force and broke it with her knee. The man felt the agony from the pain and was grovelling down on the floor, screaming for help.

I looked down to him with a condescending glare and warned them coldly.

"Don't forget. Your opponent is not me but her."

All of them were now trembling but regained their composure thinking that it was just a fluke. Aki looked at me with a face of disappointment.

"They are weak."

"Don't worry, at least they will keep you occupied with their numbers."

"They better not disappoint me."

Aki looked at them as if they are going to be used for practising fighting techniques.

.....

Arriving at the door leading to the rooftop, Aki was stretching herself already. But there was one problem. The door was locked. That's troubling.

"What do we do now?"

Hearing that question, I kicked the door with enough force so that it opened.

"Just do as planned."

At last, we are at the rooftop. There was a strong wind but it didn't matter. I went into a corner and leaned towards the wall and said.

"Now, you've got an arena, your opponents and a spectator right here. Crush them, Aki."

Aki faced me with a grin on her face.

"Roger, partner."

Before the match started, the door opened again and a boy appeared. It's the same guy that I asked to buy the yakisoba bread from the cafeteria. Noticing me, he approached me slowly and reached out his hand to me which was holding the bread. The other hand was his lunchbox. He was hiding it behind him.

"Thanks for your help. And here is the money for the bread."

I grabbed the bread and tried to give him money.

"I-it's alright. You don't have to."

"Take it."

"I-I sai-"

"Don't make me say it twice."

He looked at me, shivering and unwillingly took the money.

"You didn't eat your lunch, didn't you? How about joining me?"

"O... okay."

There was a moment of hesitation but he agreed. I shouted at the fighters while wearing my headphones.

"Don't mind us. You can start anytime."

Hearing that, Aki dashed at the group of delinquents fearlessly. Looking at her face, she is very confident. The first guy she reached was the tallest one. She jumped at full speed and hit him with her right leg. The tall guy couldn't react properly and fell on the ground lifelessly.

'I think he fainted.'

Oh, she forgot about her lunchbox. I tapped the boy's shoulder who was sitting beside me and said.

"When you finish your meal, bring Aki's lunchbox. You know her desk?"

"...yes."

"Then, I'll be counting on you."

While listening to music and at the same time, eating the yakisoba bread, I watched the fight.

It seems she had already beaten 3 guys with surprise attacks. That means there are 10 people to crush, excluding that coward.

She was surrounded by those delinquents but she was calm and was probably thinking of a way to get out of this situation.

All of them charged towards her. She threw something up and everyone looked at it. It was just a hairband. That was a move that distracted them. Taking this chance, she slid in between a guy's legs and escaped. She kicked that same guy's knee spot with a left kick, which brought him down on one knee. It gave her the chance to do a roundhouse kick right to the face. He was holding his head while in pain when he took that kick.

All of this happened in a mere 3 seconds. And did she copy those two techniques from me? Interesting.

'It was a good call to make her an ally.'

...

The fight ended after 10 minutes. I saw the magnificent scene of the aftermath of that fight, in front of my eyes. All of the delinquents were either laying on the ground, screaming in agony or just fainted. Aki was standing in the middle of them with a satisfying face. Blood was dripping down her hands, which turned the bandages red.

The boy beside me was still. He didn't move an inch and kept staring at her with bewilderment. Now he truly knows how much she's strong.

'Well then. Will he spread this information in the entire school or keep it to himself. Either way, I don't lose anything from it.'

Aki came into our direction.

"Well done partner. You must be exhausted, right?"

"Not really."

She had a face which craved for more fighting.

"Sit Aki. I know you want more but for now, eat something. You are hungry, aren't you?"

"..."

She sat beside me, silently. The boy gave her the lunchbox while still reminiscing about the fight.

"Thanks, ummm.."

"I-It's Kinoshita. Kinoshita Ken."

"Thanks, Kinoshita."

He just bowed and left.

"Do you practice martial arts?"

"I did kickboxing."

"For how many years."

"For 2 years."

"Did you train like crazy?"

"...Yep."

"Did you have some types of encouragement or motives? I mean, you are pretty strong for someone doing kickboxing for 2 years."

At this question, her face turned a little bit gloomy.

"Not really."

I better not pry any further than this. If I want to keep this kind of relationship between me and Aki, then I better not get her angry on some personal affairs.

"Say, do you want to fight more?"

"..."

"You just entertained me here with your fighting. It was beautiful. If you have the opportunity to fight difficult opponents, would you do it?"

"... I might do it. Why do you say that?"

"It's nothing. I just wanted to know."

"Are you plotting something dangerous?"

"Huh? Why do you say that?"

"Cause you have a creepy smile on your face."

"...Is that so? Don't mind me and eat your food."

She did as I said while I stayed silent, drowning in my thoughts.