Satsujin nods, signifying his success. "Yeah, I did. It wasn't easy though."
Azar smirks, impressed by Satsujin's creativity. "I thought you couldn't do this without touching someone first though?"
He was confused by how Satsujin could do something that would usually be impossible for him to do.
"It's simple Azar, I have a person watching over Ashiro. I extended my usage of glitching code to that white-haired girl. She must have finally proved she could be a useful asset to our revenge."
Nexus Academy, 3 days after the Ashiro Incident…
Masaki walks down the halls, not her usual self. 'Dammit, I didn't think I'd get so attached to them. Especially when they mentioned he might be back pretty soon!'
Masaki's face flushed a bright red, thinking about Kodak. 'How could I forget your face back in Nagano. Especially when you helped me back in your first year in Japan.'
A memory flashes back in her mind.
"YOU CAUSED YOUR BROTHER'S DEATH YA DAMN BITCH!"
Masaki had visible cuts, bruises, and wounds all over her body. Probably from the 'touching' these scumbags did to her. But deep down Masaki felt as though she deserved it.
'Mom, Dad, Big Brother… please forgive me. I wasn't able to live a proper life like you wanted!'
Masaki looks up, seeing a metal baseball bat lifted above her. She closes her eyes, ready for the ruthless death that was about to be unleashed upon her.
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE YA BRAT!"
"Shut the hell up, you're all so loud and noisy."
Masaki never felt the bat crash into her skull, instead, she saw Kodak. Standing up to the thugs, but she couldn't bear the thought that this innocent teen boy would be risking his life for hers.
One of the thugs then started spouting nonsense towards Kodak. "What's good, square up you damn brat!"
He throws multiple punches, however, Kodak dodges them all. Side-stepping the first punch and ducking under the second punch, he then grabs the man's arm as he tries punching Kodak for the third time.
But he was met with a cruel and devastating punch straight to his liver. The sounds of bones breaking echoed through the alleyway they were in. The man screamed in pain, holding his side as the 3 other thugs ran up on Kodak.
"DON'T GET COCKY!"
"YEAH, YOU CAN'T BEAT US ALL!"
"YAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Kodak smirks, dropping his backpack to the ground. "Shut the fuck up and fight." His face focused, reading the simple movements of his attackers.
The first guy throws a quick jab that leads into multiple hooks, but Kodak dodges the jab and redirects the fifth hook thrown. Throwing the thug straight into the brick wall of the alleyway
"I'LL KILL YA!!!" The second attacker screamed while attempting to kick Kodak's face. "STOP DODGING, AND TAKE A HIT LIKE A REAL MAN!!!"
He thrusts his leg forward Kodak dodges the attack and glances over towards the third attacker running up from behind him.
"GOTCHA YOU COCKY BASTARD!"
Kodak then notices the two attackers coming from both sides at the same time. 'Not bad, for a bunch of lowly thugs.'
But as their fists extend out, trying to hit Kodak, he drops down super low. Dodging the attacks as the two remaining attackers hit each other in the face. Blood leaks from their nose and they fall unconscious
Kodak throws the thugs out of the alleyway. His face then softened towards Masaki. "Are you okay!?"
He rushed over, zipping open his backpack as he grabbed it from the ground. Masaki sees a first aid kit appear, and she hears a question from Kodak.
"Are you okay if I patch you up?" Kodak softly asked as the warm breeze of summer blew through his long and voluminous hair.
Masaki looked at him, tears swelling up in her eyes. "Yes." She sniffed, trying not to cry anymore.
Kodak puts her arm around him, trying to move her somewhere more secluded and safe for Masaki to be patched up.
"Alright, I have some spare clothes in my bag. So just where these for now." Kodak says as he pulls out an oversized blue hoodie and some dark grey sweatpants.
Kodak then walks away a couple of feet, giving Masaki space. "Get dressed, then we can talk."
Masaki smells the hoodie, and the scent of citrus and sea salt hits her nose. A relaxing smell that she could smell coming from Kodak's clothing.
A few minutes pass and Masaki taps on Kodak's shoulder. "I'm dressed, so who exactly are you?"
Kodak stands up, his frame towering over Masaki. His building was hard to see from her perspective, but it was clear to see that he was very lean and muscular.
Kodak then mutters under his breath, annoyed.
"Damn scumbags. They never learn, thinking they can claim and vandalize whatever and whoever they want."
Masaki looked at Kodak, slightly confused by what he meant. "Excuse me?" She tapped his leg, trying to get an answer to her question. "But who are you?"
Kodak looked at Masaki, realizing that he had never given his name to her. "Oh, right my bad. Ahem… My name is Kodak Kawanari. I used to live in Seoul. But some 'events' led me and my family to move to Nagano."
Masaki pondered his strange intentions. "I have a second question; why did you save my life when you had nothing to do with me or those thugs?" She still wasn't able to fully understand his so-called 'intentions.' After all, they had just met, and his first instinct was to take her to a more secluded area.
Masak's question lingers through the air with tension. This left Kodak pondering the question for a few moments. 'Can't say I blame her. A random guy shows up and beats on some thugs, only to bring her to a more secluded section of alleyways.'
Kodak then opened his mouth to speak, ready to explain his reasoning to Masaki. "I'm a martial artist from the Kawanari bloodline. We always had a code we lived by. 'Be strong enough to be gentle. But don't let that strength define who you are. You define what your strength is used for and how you use it.' But whoever goes against our code, is cut down."
Masaki stared at Kodak, even more suspicious of him than before. The silent tension was increasing as Masaki looked at him.
"You don't believe me do ya?" Kodak said, wearing a defeated look as he hung his head low.
Masaki nods with an unimpressed look on her face. "Yeah, why should I?"
Kodak then finished wrapping Masaki's wounds with the bandages he had. "Welp, can't say I didn't see that coming."
As Kodak begins to walk away he glances over at Masaki, seeing a knife fly through the air. "WATCH OUT!!!"
Masaki turned around to see a knife flying towards her abdomen. She closed her eyes, ready to feel the blade make its way into her liver.
Kodak dashes forward, feeling the power of revenant coursing through his veins. 'WHY IS THIS ENERGY TRYING TO HELP ME!?'
Kodak pushes Masaki out of the way, feeling the blade pierce his skin as blood leaks from his abdomen.
Masaki falls onto a pile of trash bags, softening the landing. She then looks around, seeing Kodak with a blade in his hand that has blood. She also saw the visible wound he had as multiple people arose from the shadows, circling both of them as Kodak moved closer towards Masaki to protect her.
"If you get the chance… run, please." His voice struggled to string the words together as blood leaked from his mouth.
Masaki's eyes welled up with tears, not wanting another person to risk their life for hers. "JUST LEAVE ME!" She yelled at Kodak, not wanting him to leave her to die. "ALL I DO IS JUST MAKE PEOPLE DIE DOR MY SAD AND USELESS LIFE!"
Masaki then grabs the knife from Kodak's hand, going to plunge it deep into her chest. But a hand redirects the blade straight to the ground. Masaki then looks back up at Kodak, confused about why he would do so much for one person.
"STOP TRYING TO SAVE ME!" Masaki screamed again as the thugs looked at them, amused by the arguing. "I HAVE NO REASON TO LIVE AND ANYTIME I DO I GET HARRASSED, BEATEN, AND DOWNRIGHT HUMILIATED!"
Kodak stabs the knife into the ground, shattering the blade upon striking the asphalt. "And I can't just sit by and let you take your own life when you have so much to live for."
Masaki's voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. "I can't do this anymore... all the pain, the fear... It's too much." Her hands grabbed her face, unable to find a way to continue living this shitty life of hers.
Kodak stepped closer, careful not to startle her. His voice was steady, a lifeline in the silence. "You don't have to carry it alone."
Masaki shook her head, tears spilling freely now. "You don't understand. The harassment, the assaults, the beatings... they've broken me. Even my parents' deaths… Maybe if I just disappear, the pain will stop."
He reached out, gently taking her shaking hand in his. "I see you. Not just the pain, but the strength you've shown just by surviving. That strength isn't gone."
Her breath hitched. "I'm tired. So tired of fighting." Masaki just wanted this pain to end with her will to stop moving like her parents wanted.
"Then fight with me," Kodak said softly. "Let me be your shield when you're too weak. Let me hold your light when yours flickers."
She looked up, searching his face for doubt but found only unwavering belief. "Why do you believe in me when I don't?"
"Because I see the person you are beneath the scars. You're not invisible to me. You're a storm that is trying so desperately to survive."
Masaki cried even more intensely, her head leaning onto Kodak's shoulder as he assured her that everything would be okay.
"Shh, I have you. Now could I have your name so I can remember the name of who was able to persevere through that horrible past, but now only looks forward instead of behind." Kodak's smile made Masaki feel safe and warm. That feeling of safety and security made her feel loved.
"Masaki Tsukiko, that's my name." She said as she looked up at Kodak warm and endearing heart.
"Blegh, love always is so corny and disgusting." The cruel and disrespectful treatment made Kodak's head immediately turn around, seeing the vast number of people surrounding him and Masaki.
"So you're the Kawanari bastard who was giving. My men had such a hard time finding that bitch."
Kodak glared at him even further, keeping Masaki close to his side. "Stay close to me."
The rude man who spoke finally stepped out from the shadows, revealing a beanie on his head and an all black outfit of sneakers, jeans, and a Tank top covered by a loose jacket.
"You know we could rule the streets if you used those dangerous martial arts for something ya know, bro?"
Kodak scoffed at the leader's words, disgusted by his proposition. "Go throw yourself into traffic, you fucking incel."
The leader's expression tensed with anger as he stood atop the roof. "Kill 'em."
A roar echoed as the large and vast area of the alleyway was filled with tens of people charging at Kodak.
The 25 men rush at Kodak, throwing multiple punches and kicks, but their attacks ram into one another. Kodak keeps trying to dodge their attacks while also keeping Masaki out of harm's way. But even she notices his visible exhaustion catching up to him.
"You can't keep dodging Kodak, you have to fight back!" Masaki pleaded with Kodak, wanting her to be left behind.
Kodak shook his head in denial while redirecting two thugs to crash their heads into one another. Their bodies fall unconscious as Kodak looks at Masaki. "How many times do I have to say this. You are important!"
The leader smirked at Masaki's worries and began noticing Kodak's exhaustion as well. "You know she's right... You can't dodge forever!"
Kodak gritted his teeth in anger. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
An attacker then tries punching Masaki from behind Kodak's field of vision, but she's pulled away last second as Kodak shields the punch with his shoulder.
"FINALLY LANDED A HIT, GET THIS BASTARD!"
The thugs then all run at Kodak, but he then sweeps Masaki off her feet as her face flushes red. "W-what are you doing!?" She said, stuttering and fumbling her words as embarrassment flushed across her beautiful and pristine face.
Kodak looked at the remaining group infront of him. 'I counted about 12 more bastards I gotta pummel through. Excluding their watching from above.'
Kodak then leaps into the air, holding Masaki tightly with his arms as he ran around the terrain.
Minutes turn into hours as Kodak stands atop the pile of beaten thugs. "I told you... I'd keep you... s-safe." His breathing was tired and erratic, mostly from the running an dodging.
"Looks like it's time for the star to show!" The leader leaps down, facing the tired Kodak. "So what will it be, fighting like the dog you are, or give the girl to me?"
Kodak spat in his face, and threw a punch straight in his face, knocking him to the ground. "YOU CAN GO TO HELL!"
Kodak continues beating on him as the leader struggled to even make move.
"STOP-"
More punches rough up his face as Kodak's determination and willpower for victory began to shine through.
"GET OFF!" The leader then reels a switchblade from his pocket, stabbing Kodak in his stomach. "IF YOU WANNA DIE SO BAD FINE THEN!"
The blade stabs into Kodak's stomach again and again. Each time the blade pierced his stomach he lost more and blood. But Kodao didn't care as he felt a warm energy emanating from his body. The wounds begin closing and he powers through the pain, staining his knuckles as they crashed into his attacker's face.
"GAH!" Kodak yelled from exertion. As he stood up with his bloody shirt, victorious.
He began walking over and picked up his backpack and exited of the alleyway, splitting from Masaki. "Remember, stay strong Masaki. Not just for yourself but for the others who care so deeply for you."
"MASAKI!"
Masaki then wakes up, seeing herself in one of the classrooms at Nexus. "What was the question again, Kaeden?"
"There wasn't a question you were just snoring shortly after sitting down in my classroom." Kaeden's face wore a deadpan stare as the entire classroom stared at Masaki, waiting for her aggressive comebacks to bicker against Kaeden.
"Whatever." She muttered before scratching her head in annoyance.