Ethan "...Oh, fu—"
AAAACHHOOO!!
The loudest sneeze in human history detonated through the alley.
Silence.
Four thugs. One bruised nerd. All frozen mid-action, heads snapping toward him like puppets on broken strings. Even the nerd—small, shaking, glasses hanging onto his face by pure luck—stared at Ethan like he'd just watched God stub His toe.
[Leon-…Ah, shit.]
The thug with the cigarette—tall, wiry, all sharp edges and cocky sneer—squinted, flicking ash onto the ground. His gaze dragged over Ethan like he was appraising a piece of meat at the butcher shop.
Ethan bristled.
[Leon-Stay calm. No sudden moves. We don't need unnecessary trouble.]
Cigarette Thug "Oi. Who the f*** are you?"
Ethan blinked. Damn it. Why do my sneezes betray me at the worst possible times?
Ethan "Uh… hey. I was just… y'know, passing through? Didn't see a thing. Nope. Nada. Not a damn thing. Alright, bye."
He turned on his heel.
Fat Thug "The hell you mean 'bye'? You just watched us, didn't ya?"
Long-Haired Thug "Yo, should we teach this dumbass a lesson too?"
[Leon-...And this is how I get dragged into shit. Again.]
Ethan exhaled. Right. Because my life is just one long, unfunny cosmic joke.
The cigarette thug smirked, taking one last drag before flicking his cig onto the ground and grinding it under his boot.
Cigarette Thug "Listen, dumbass. We were in the middle of something. You walk away now, maybe we forget your ugly face."
Ethan raised both hands in mock surrender.
Ethan "Oh, don't worry, man. I was already trying to erase your ugly mug from my memory."
A strangled noise came from the nerd on the ground.
Nerd (weakly) "P-please… save me…"
Ethan stared at him.
[Leon-Kid. Are you serious? You're looking at me like I'm Captain America or some shit?]
One of the thugs—built like a fridge, with a face only a mother could tolerate—snorted.
Thug "Hah! Hey, Deke, look at this crap. Glasses here beggin' for help from this scrawny nobody."
Derek "Deke" Lawson—the cigarette thug, apparently—breathed out through his nose, bored. He rolled his shoulders, his neck cracking. Then, without looking, he spat to the side.
Deke"Connor. Beat his ass later. First, tell him to go buy more smokes."
Connor Vance—the smug bastard counting cash—groaned like a kid being told to do chores.
Connor "Ugh. Fine. Hey, you heard him. Go grab some ciggies."
Jamie Brooks—the nerd, apparently—swallowed hard.
Jamie "I-I d-don't have m-money… I gave everything to you…"
Connor tilted his head.
Connor "Huh? You really don't have anymo—"
Deke waved a hand.
Deke "Oi. Give him some back. Let him buy the shit."
Ethan squinted. Did he just…? Nah. No way this guy's being generous.
Connor groaned, exaggerated as hell.
Connor "Ughhh, fine. But why do I gotta give up my hard-earned money…?"
His eyes flicked toward his goons—Tyler "Ty" Grayson, the fat one who was always chewing on something, and Zane Adler, the wiry one with hair too long and a mouth too big.
Then Connor smirked.
Connor "Oh, right. There's also a little bitch over there."
Ethan felt every nerve in his body scream: NOPE.
He turned to leave.
Connor "Hey, stop right there. Where do you think you're going, kid?"
[Leon-Fuck.]
Connor sauntered up, smirking like he had all the time in the world.
Connor "You heard Deke, right? Jamie's broke, and well, I'm kinda short too."
[Leon-Short? This punk just shoved a wad of cash in his pocket a second ago.]
Connor "So, how 'bout you be a good Samaritan and lend little Jamie here some cash?"
Ethan inhaled. Held it. Exhaled. I am actually going to punch this guy.
[Leon-Calm down. He's just a dumbass punk.]
With an annoyed grunt, Ethan yanked some cash from his pocket and tossed it toward Connor.
Ty and Zane chuckled like this was the best comedy show they'd ever seen.
Deke "Heh. Look at this money-sucker."
Connor caught the cash, rolling it between his fingers like a casino dealer.
Connor "Ohh, look at this f***ing pushover. And hey—" His eyes flicked to Ethan's pocket. "—there's still some left."
Ethan barely kept his face neutral. No. F*ing. Way.
Connor "Thanks, man. Real generous." He turned to Jamie, waving the money. "See? What a kind-hearted guy. Now go get those ciggies."
Jamie flinched but nodded, scrambling up to leave.
Ethan exhaled. Alright. Time to get the hell out of here.
Connor "Oh, wait."
Ethan (internally) You have got to be kidding me.
He turned back, brows twitching.
Ethan "What now?"
Connor grinned, stuffing the money in his pocket.
Connor "You helped Jamie. But y'know… I'm also kinda in a tight spot. So how 'bout you just hand over everything you got?"
Ethan's eye twitched.
[Leon-Oh, please tell me this idiot is joking.]
Ethan exhaled slowly. Alright. Decision time.
Then, he smiled. A slow, dangerous smile.
Ethan "...Fuck."
[Leon-F** it all! How dare this brat—]
Connor (mocking) "What? Did you just cuss at me, kid?"
Deke (grinning) "Keke..."
Ethan quickly scanned his surroundings—this narrow, grimy alley was filled with trash bags, scattered bricks, broken glass bottles, empty beer cans, and even a rusted steel bucket. He had plenty of options.
Ethan (cracking his knuckles, voice cold) "You crossed the f**ing line."*
Zane (laughing like a hyena) "Kekeke! Look at this little sht, senior. Looks like the baby boy got mad."
Zane & Ty (laughing together): "Hahaha!"
Ethan's eye twitched at Zane's voice. His rage exploded.
Ethan (spitting venom) "F** off, Mop-Head! You f**ing toothpick-sized Rat Boy! Say one more word, and I'll squeeze you like a flea!"
Connor (laughing hard, nudging Ty) "Khek—Piggy, you hear that? This sht's got a mouth!"
Ty, the fatso, just kept chewing on his snack, grinning.
Zane's face twisted in anger, veins popping on his forehead.
Zane (fuming) "Shut up, pig face! Senior, let me f** him up! I'll kill him!"*
Connor (grinning) "Yeah, beat the sht out of him and take his money."
Zane "With pleasure!"
Zane charged at Ethan with a wild punch, but—
CRACK!
Ethan sidestepped and sent a brutal counter punch straight into Zane's face, shattering his nose in an instant. Blood splattered.
Zane's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed like a ragdoll, out cold.
Connor, Deke, and Ty (stunned) "??!!"
Connor (gritting his teeth) "This little sht—HEY, Piggy! Beat his ass!"
Ty grunted and lumbered forward, cracking his knuckles, his massive size making the ground almost shake.
Ethan (internally smirking) "These bitches think they can win just because I look weak. A month ago? Yeah, maybe. But after training every f**ing night, every day, even in the goddamn toilet? Heh. This body's more than enough to take out sh*ts like them... as long as I play dirty."
Ty swung a meaty fist, but Ethan ducked, grabbing a beer can from the ground and smashing it into Ty's face!
Ty staggered, groaning.
Ethan grabbed a brick and slammed it against Ty's knee, making the fat thug roar in pain as he crumpled down.
Ethan (mocking) "Oh? What happened, Piggy? Thought you were gonna crush me?"
Ty snarled and lunged, but Ethan sidestepped again, using a steel bucket to bash him over the head!
THUNK!
Ty let out a muffled grunt, eyes rolling up as he collapsed into the garbage pile, unconscious.
Connor (furious, stepping forward) "Tch... useless pigs. Fine, I'll do it myself!"
Connor swung hard, but Ethan dodged, rolling over and grabbing a black plastic trash bag.
With one swift motion, he whipped it around Connor's face, blinding him!
Connor (muffled, struggling) "Mmmph! You f**er—!"*
Ethan didn't waste time—he grabbed a broken glass bottle and smashed it against Connor's gut, making the thug gasp for air.
Then, with one final kick to the head, Connor collapsed onto the cold alley floor, out cold.
Ethan (panting, wiping sweat) "Hah... f**ing trash."*
[Leon-this is the way to defet tehe strong when you are weak. Dirty, but effective.]
Just as Ethan caught his breath—
SWOOSH!
Deke lunged from behind, a knife glinting in his hand.
Ethan barely dodged, feeling the blade graze his arm.
Deke (grinning, licking his lips) "Fast, but not fast enough, kid."
Ethan quickly grabbed a brick, but Deke lunged again.
Ethan threw a beer can at his face, momentarily distracting him.
Using that split second, Ethan picked up a metal trash lid and used it as a shield, blocking Deke's next attack!
CLANG!
Deke's knife bounced off.
Ethan used that opening to slam the lid into Deke's face!
THWACK!
Deke stumbled, dazed—
Ethan (cold smile) "Lights out."
Ethan grabbed a rusty steel bucket and crushed it over Deke's head like a drum.
Deke's eyes rolled back.
He collapsed, finally unconscious.
Ethan stood over the pile of beaten thugs, panting.
Ethan (spitting on the ground) "Tch... weakasses."
He cracked his knuckles, checking his bruised fist.
[Leon-Not bad, kid. You're getting the hang of this.]
Ethan snorted, stepping over Zane's unconscious body as he walked out of the alley—leaving the broken thugs behind in the trash where they belonged.
Ethan stumbled out of the alley, exhaling sharply. His body ached, and his knuckles throbbed like hell.
Ethan "Aghh! Damn this weak-ass body… my fist stings just from a little bruising. Fuckin' pathetic..."
As he flexed his fingers, a shaky voice called from behind.
???: "H-Hey… please… s-stop…"
Ethan turned, eyebrows furrowing. A scrawny kid with round glasses and a battered face limped toward him, gripping the straps of his backpack like it was the only thing keeping him upright.
[Leon-(unimpressed) Oh, it's Round Glasses. What was his name again?]
The kid looked like he'd just crawled out of hell, his lip split, one eye swollen, and his school uniform covered in dirt. Ethan's lips curled into a smirk.
Ethan "Jamie, right? You here to thank me?"
Jamie "I… no! You—why did you beat them up?! Are you out of your damn mind?!"
[Leon-(grumbling) What's up with this nerdy bastard? I just saved his sorry ass from more beating, and now he's scolding me? Really, kids these days have no manners.]
Ethan scowled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Ethan "Hey, what's your problem? Why are you scolding me instead of thanking me?"
Jamie's eyes flashed with something between rage and despair.
Jamie "Huh?! Thank you?! Why the hell should I thank you?! Now because of you, they're gonna beat me even worse! You just made my already miserable life even more fucked up!"
[Leon-(mocking tone) "Aghh, nooo, what will these kids do to you… you…"]
Ethan rolled his eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh.
Ethan "Aaaahh…" (snickers) "Haaah… with no shame, no guilt, an iron-wall face… Yeah, your life's gonna get a whole lot worse now. Anyway, best of luck, nerd. I'll pray for you or whatever. Bye."
Ethan turned to leave, but…
His foot didn't move.
[Leon-(confused) Huh? What the fuck? Why can't I move? …Oh, shit. Is it guilt? Have I really changed? Me—Leon Blackfang Mercer—have I actually—]
He looked down.
Huh?
Jamie was gripping his right foot. Hard.
Ethan "The fuck?! Really? What the hell do you want from me? Let me go, you damn nerd!"
Jamie, breathing heavily, shook his head furiously, his fingers digging into Ethan's pant leg.
Jamie "No! I'm not letting you go! You fucked up my life, and now you wanna just walk away?! Not happening!"
Ethan's eyebrow twitched in irritation.
Ethan "So what the hell do you want me to do? Get on my knees and beg for your fucking life, huh? You shithead bastard—"
[Leon-(mentally screaming) AGHHHHH! FUCK! THIS! THIS IS WHY I HATE NERDS! DAMN IT!!!]
Ethan inhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair before exhaling in frustration.
Ethan "Fine. Look, I can't do anything for you inside your school. But tell me—what school do you go to?"
Jamie hesitated, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a small emblem—his school collar clip. He held it up for Ethan to see.
Ethan narrowed his eyes, staring at the emblem. A silver star with a phoenix at its center…
Recognition clicked.
Before Jamie could tell him the school's name—
Ethan "Oh." (low chuckle) "Heh… Hehehe… Kid, you can thank me later."
Jamie "What do you mean?"
Ethan's smirk widened, his voice dripping with amusement.
Ethan "A silver star with a phoenix, huh? That's… New Star Academy."
Jamie's eyes widened, realization dawning.
[Leon-(grinning) Well, well… this just got interesting.]
Ethan "Hey, Ner—I mean, Jamie, right? You don't have to worry about those four. They won't be coming to school for a while. But even if they did… if you can endure this fucked-up life for just one week—"
Jamie, a little worried and confused, glanced at Ethan's face. Something about his expression made him feel slightly at ease.
Jamie "Wh-what will happen if I endure it for a week?"
Ethan "Then I promise you, all those thugs will leave you alone, and you can peacefully graduate from high school."
Jamie's hope sparked at Ethan's words.
Ethan's eyes flickered to a taxi about to leave on the other side of the road.
Ethan "Hm… oh! Hey, taxi! Stop, I'm coming!" (runs toward the taxi)
Jamie, startled—
Jamie "Ah—hey, sto—!"
Ethan turned back slightly, grinning.
Ethan "Don't worry, kid. I made you a promise, and I never break my promises! Hahaha!"
Ethan hopped into the taxi and disappeared down the street.
Jamie stood frozen for a moment before groaning, rubbing his temples.
Jamie "Huh… Ahh… You… haaa… did fool me… Oh, my head hurts…"
Jamie thought for a while, processing Ethan's words.
Jamie (thinking) "…Whatever he said, it didn't sound like nonsense. This guy… maybe he really meant it. I just need to endure this week, right?"
Taking a deep breath, Jamie turned and walked in the opposite direction, gripping his backpack tighter.
TO BE CONTINUED....