Chapter 8: ...Got in a Fight

In a swift, athletic leap, I closed the gap, reaching the scene in a single bound. My intervention was precise – I intercepted the larger kid's fist midway to the battered boy, locking onto his wrist with a determined grip.

"D...don't you think that's enough...?" I stammered, my left eye involuntarily twitching, a testament to the tension in the air and the gravity of the situation.

"Haw!?" The big kid's exasperated voice echoed as he pivoted to face me. His glare mirrored that of a starved beast, a ferocious intensity radiating a savage light. The palpable bloodlust emanating from him sent shivers down my spine.

Ah, it was genuinely frightening. The realization hit me like a wave – this was a miscalculation on my part. Yeah, I definitely didn't want to be part of this anymore. Uh-uh, regret settled in as I yearned to distance myself from the impending confrontation.

I pondered the situation, convincing myself that whatever happened to them wasn't my concern. The outcome held no bearing on my life, or so I told myself.

Yeah, regardless of the consequences, I had no stake in it. This whole thing was a mistake, a foolish idea! The desire to retreat to the comfort of home gnawed at me. Maybe I should turn back?

Yeah, that seemed like the sensible choice. The prospect of emerging unscathed from this confrontation dwindled in my mind.

'It's not too late, right? To go home, that is.' I questioned, the gravity of the situation pushing me to reconsider my involvement.

Confronted by the starved beast—sorry, the big kid—I couldn't help but force a wry smile, my eyes involuntarily shutting in an attempt to shield myself from the impending clash.

"D-don't you think that's a bit too much?" I stammered once more, the visible tremor in my voice betraying my unease. Ah, this was rapidly spiraling out of control; I could practically feel the cold beads of sweat cascading down my spine.

Instinctively, I released my grip on the... well, the 'beastly' boy's hand, a rising sensation of impending danger prompting my defensive retreat. Without needing to glance, I sensed his towering figure rising.

"Hm? And, who the hell are you?" The big kid inquired, his voice reverberating with an intimidating edge that sent shivers down my spine. It was clear – I had ventured into precarious territory, and the realization hit me like a wave.

Ah, this was it. The end, at least for me. What madness possessed me to insert myself into this escalating conflict?

"A-h, yes! A...actually, I just happened to be passing by," I began to cautiously open my tightly shut eyes as I spoke, my voice trailing off into uncertainty. I was struggling to articulate a reasonable excuse for my ill-timed intervention.

"Who do you think you are interfering in what's not your concern!?" The big kid growled once more, his rage evident as his nostrils flared. Panic set in, and I attempted to salvage my feeble explanation.

"O-oh! Uh…well, you see, I-I um…was just passing by, wh-when I uh…" I tried to articulate, but my voice faltered, struggling to find the words to navigate this perilous situation.

It was bad. My whole being was trembling in this situation. I had to calm myself down.

I realized I couldn't let myself be intimidated by someone smaller. Taking a series of deep breaths, I worked to settle my racing heart and calm my mind. Once I confirmed that composure had returned, I decided to speak up.

"I just happened to be-" Before I could complete my sentence, a heavy brunt force collided with my entire face. The abrupt interruption left me momentarily stunned.

"Get out!" The big kid's bellow reverberated, his dominance clear and forceful.

Staggering backward, I took two steps, my hand instinctively reaching for my face. The sudden impact left me reeling, a mix of surprise and pain clouding my thoughts.

But only for a few seconds.

The pain ceased to exist. The lingering sensation of the punch against my face evaporated instantly, erased the moment the blow landed. Recalling how it felt became almost elusive, slipping from the grasp of my memory.

However...

"I said get out-"

"Hey..." A familiar boiling feeling stirred beneath my guts, unmistakably recognized.

A previously unknown cold serenity nestled inside me, an emotion entirely foreign. Slowly, I uncovered my face, revealing a mix of conflicting sentiments.

"...Didn't your momma ever tell you?" I uttered, directing an exasperated look at the brat, "Don't pick a fight you can't finish."

*The light in his eyes mirrored that of the devil gazing up from the pits of hell. As the lips of the brat bobbed up and down, emitting unintelligible perturbation down to his marrow, a swift sound cut through the air. (A/N: There was a quick shift between the third and first pov in this paragraph)

Accompanied by the sharp sound of something tearing through the air, my fist drove deeply into the face of the brat. A resounding crack echoed as the angle of his nose shifted to a grotesque form.

"Gaaaarrrgghhh-!!!!" He doubled over against the ground, cradling his nose, writhing like a worm amid cries reminiscent of a slaughtered goat.

Listening to his pain-filled cries and whimpering sent a pleasurable shiver down my spine. Surprisingly, laughter escaped my lips, a reaction I hadn't anticipated, as I observed him contorting in the dirt.

Pfffttt... I couldn't believe it, but I found the situation genuinely amusing.

"Ho! Are you finally showing your true nature? Where's all that bravado you had earlier, huh?" I teased, fully engrossed in the spectacle. Unable to contain myself, I reveled in mocking him as he struggled on the ground. The pleasure of witnessing his vulnerability brought an unexpected satisfaction, my laughter blending with the echoes of his distress.

"O-oi! What do you think you're doing!?" One of the three other kids, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke up.

"Haw!? You're not blind, are you?" I glanced over at them with a smirk, challenging their passivity.

"Damn you!!" The other brat charged at me, fueled by rage, as the rest followed suit. I smoothly sidestepped, skillfully dodged, and expertly parried their attempts, bringing the three children down to their knees before me.

Their expressions crumpled, eyes trembling with a mix of frustration and fear. Watching this unfold, the edges of my lips curled up into a smile from ear to ear, relishing the dominance.

I leaned in closer to the trembling kids and whispered ever so gently into their ears, 

"Go home..." The words, delivered with a hint of menace, hung in the air, leaving an indelible mark on the defeated trio. I stood there, a triumphant figure, as they hesitantly retreated, leaving behind a trail of wounded pride and the memory of an encounter they'd rather forget.

The brats, nursing both physical and wounded pride, quickly broke into a hasty sprint, their footsteps echoing a retreat. As they fled, they left behind a trail of empty, clichéd threats, each line dripping with a mix of indignation and unshed tears.

"We'll get you for this!" one of them shouted, with snot running down their nose, attempting to assert some semblance of bravado. It sounded more comical than menacing.

My laughter bubbled up again, genuine amusement at their feeble attempts to salvage their dignity.

 "Sure, sure," I called after them, my tone mocking, as they disappeared from sight. I couldn't help but revel in the aftermath, savoring the victory and the image of their defeated figures vanishing into the distance.

Watching their distancing backs with fulfillment, I casually dusted the dirt off my palms, the victory still fresh in my mind. As I turned to leave, a question lingered – why had I done this again? The answer slipped away like a wisp of smoke, and I didn't bother to grasp at the fleeting memory.

However, just as I was about to dismiss it entirely, my attention was drawn to one other kid who hadn't run with his tail tucked behind his legs. The one who, unwittingly, got me involved in this entire spectacle. A spark of realization ignited within me, and suddenly, it all came rushing back.

"Ah." The single syllable escaped my lips, a mix of acknowledgment and understanding as I recalled the catalyst that led to this unexpected adventure. With a newfound clarity, I shifted my focus to the remaining kid, contemplating the unfolding of events that had brought us to this point.

***

Authors' Note:

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!! A Certain Magical Reincarnation is really low on power stones and we're barely in the ranking. I also noticed the amount of collections came up slightly since yesterday, but is still lacking entirely with the numbers only in the single digits.

If you've come with me so far on the beginning of this journey, I would love for you guys to show ur support in the from of voting my this work of ours Into the top 200 ranking for starters and increase the number of collections.

The preliminary Goal still stands. Details are in the Authors' thoughts below.