The victory against Rewan's crew in the lot proved the students' courage, but it merely earned Date a more brutal test. One evening, alone in the lot, he was ambushed by Kenta and three older teens. These weren't school bullies; they were street-tough, likely sent as a message by the gang recruiter, Jin.
Date, the 5'5", 62 kg master of speed, faced four opponents with cold precision. His flash step dodged the first punch, and his ghost jab cracked one teen's nose. But the odds were overwhelming. A second attacker grabbed his arm with a grip stronger than Rewan's. Date broke free and landed a low kick, but a heavy hook from a third teen caught his ribs, instantly robbing him of breath.
Date instinctively rolled, slipping a follow-up strike, but Kenta's knee slammed into his thigh, slowing his explosive footwork. A final, sloppy but heavy punch to the jaw sent Date crashing to the dirt, his vision blurring.
"Stay down, hero," Kenta spat, his chipped-tooth grin symbolizing Date's public humiliation. They vanished into the dusk.
The crew found Date minutes later, spitting blood and fiercely unbowed. Hana gasped, and Toshiro's fists clenched, but Date waved them off. "I'm fine. But I wasn't ready."
The defeat stung worse than the bruises. His training, forged since age twelve, had made him a school legend, but four-on-one showed his limits. The gang recruiter's shadow loomed larger—Date knew this was a message about the true nature of the fight he was in. He wouldn't let it stand.
Doubled Down: The Forge of the Comeback
Date immediately doubled his training, turning his small bedroom and the empty lot into a six-day-a-week forge. He pushed his body to the edge, aiming to develop the functional power and endurance needed to counter multiple, heavier attackers:
200 Push-Ups (up from 100) built the ironclad arms necessary for his crosses.
200 Bicycle Crunches focused on creating a core that could absorb hits like the one that winded him.
200 Squats powered his kicks and, crucially, the lightning speed of his flash step.
He used the lot's pipe for 200 Inverted Rows, strengthening his back for escapes.
60 Minutes of Jump Rope (doubled) honed his speed and endurance, making his flash step an unstoppable blur.
Mastering the Unpredictable
Date didn't just increase volume; he sought new techniques to defeat overwhelming odds. His Muay Thai neighbor introduced him to boxing's vertical bobbing and weaving defense.
Date practiced the vertical Dempsey roll relentlessly—a fluid motion of dipping and weaving to dodge while simultaneously setting up devastating hooks. He also mastered the shift switch, a footwork trick to instantly change his direction and angle of attack, designed to confuse multiple foes.
Shadowboxing in his room for 30 minutes, he combined the new roll with his ghost jab and cross, creating a fluid, unpredictable style. His karate kicks gained a sharp snap, and his Muay Thai roundhouses focused on precision targets to counter a group.
The Crew's Iron Resolve
The crew, shaken by seeing their anchor defeated, responded not with fear, but with iron resolve. They intensified their personal routines, inspired by Date's bruised-but-unbowed discipline.
Kenji added extra push-ups, aiming to match Date's newfound strength.
Hana and Sora practiced combo kicks, their teamwork now sharper and more focused.
Toshiro and Aiko spent longer shadowboxing, mimicking the vertical bob of Date's new roll.
Riku hung from the bar until his grip rivaled Yumi's, who sprinted faster than ever, her knee strikes deadly and precise.
One evening, Date gathered them, his jaw still visibly bruised. "We don't fight for glory," he said, echoing the core tenet of his sensei. "We fight to stand tall."
He showed them a simplified version of the vertical Dempsey roll—bobbing to dodge, stepping to counter. The crew practiced, laughing as they wobbled, their spirit unshakable.
Kenta's ambush and the gang's persistent threat hung over them, but Date's doubled training and new, unpredictable techniques lit a fire. The lot was their fortress, and together, they were ready to face the escalating violence, fearless and united.