Soon, the bell rings announcing the end of the school day as the students rush out of school and all around. Wolf and Phoenix walk together out of the school gates. 

Wolf “I have a feeling Teach’s lecture isn’t over…”

She says with a sweat.

Phoenix “Well, if you didn’t do such dumb things all the time, he wouldn’t need to scold you.”
She says with her eyes closed and an annoyed look before looking at her softly, curious about her hand.

Phoenix “How did you hurt your hand? I assume you hurt it last night since you didn’t have it when we were hanging out yesterday.”
She says, looking at her hand.

Wolf “Oh, I got this from fisting your mom. As it turns out, she’s got quite a grip.”

She answers sarcastically as Phoenix gets angry and punches the back of Wolf’s head. 

Phoenix “THAT’S NOT FUNNY, YOU DUMBASS!!”
She shouts angrily. Phoenix huffs with a frustrated look.

Phoenix “You’re so frustrating sometimes. I just asked a simple question.”
She pouts a bit as Wolf looks at her, rubbing the back of her head. 

Wolf “Yeah.. sorry. It’s nothing, just… messing around with sharp things I shouldn’t.”

She answers, more genuinely and softly. Phoenix looks at her and smiles just a bit when suddenly, a couple bigger kids rush past them, one of them smacking Wolf on the back of her head hard, causing her to lower her head a bit.

Student “Nice work with those dorks earlier. Too bad you’re just as shitty as them, mutt.”

He says mockingly as Phoenix gets angry.

Phoenix “Hey!”

Wolf “Don’t.”

She looks at her surprised as Wolf lifts her head with a soft smile. 

Wolf “It won’t change anything. Just the same old day. Nothing to worry about.”

Phoenix looks concerned as Wolf’s eyes show a more intense emotion but then she perks up a bit and looks at Phoenix. 

Wolf “Anyway, wanna come hangout? We could see if any Novahax content has popped up since we last checked.”
She says with a smile as Phoenix smiles back, shaking her head. 

Phoenix “Sure, but you’re buying me snacks!”
Wolf “Of course, who else would?”
She says with a smile as they begin to walk away together once again. 

Phoenix “Wait, don’t you have training with Teach today?”
Wolf “Eh, I’m sure he won’t mind me missing a day… again.”
She says with an awkward smile as Phoenix closes her eyes and looks away.

Phoenix “Okay, it’s your butt getting whooped, not mine.”

Wolf “Nah, he won’t even be bothered by it.”
She says nonchalantly.

Teach “SHE’S SKIPPING AGAIN!!”
His voice rings throughout the dojo, even causing it to jump off the ground from his anger. He grits his teeth in anger with white, furious eyes. A girl the same age as Wolf and Phoenix with dark skin and bright orange hair covers her ears from his loud shouting. She slowly removes them as she sweats, looking up at Teach.

Moshiro “It is Wolf we’re talking about. She wouldn’t know discipline if it hit her on the back of her head.”

She says, crossing her arms.

Teach “It does hit her on the back of her head, often!”

He shouts, motioning his fist to be the discipline he’s talking about. He growls before turning around again.

Teach “That girl…”

He grumbles angrily. 

At Wolf’s house, she and Phoenix walk through the door, nibbling on some sweet bread in their hands. 

Phoenix “Hey, where’s your little brother?”
Wolf “Hm? Oh, Husky’s hanging out with some friends.”

Phoenix droops a little. 

Phoenix “So sociable.. Way more than we were at his age.”
Wolf “Speak for yourself. I remember being quite sociable.”
Phoenix “Starting fights doesn’t count as sociable.”
Wolf sweats a bit while chuckling awkwardly at her words. The two sit down on the couch as Wolf already begins undoing her uniform. As they snack on their sweet bread, they watch TV and enjoy their time together. As they sit there, Phoenix looks over at Wolf softly, hesitating a bit.

Phoenix “Wolfy?.. Can we talk?..”
She asks softly. Wolf looks at her slightly confused with the last bit of bread in her mouth.

Wolf “Of course.”
She answers, her voice muffled by the bread. Phoenix looks a bit nervous before she speaks. 

Phoenix “So, obviously you know Tadashi, Moshiro and I have been really thinking about our careers. And Killian.. well you know.”
Wolf giggles a little.

Wolf “That dummy can’t plan more than a day ahead. And Saika will follow him to the end of Airia and back.”
She says with a smile as Phoenix smiles back.

Phoenix “Have you given it any thought?..”
She asks softly. Wolf smiles at her and looks away with a thinking look.

Wolf “Hm.. nope! Not really. Guess that’s tomorrow’s problem.”
She answers casually, not really thinking about the question at all. Phoenix gets a slightly frustrated but hesitant look.

Phoenix “Wolf, the future doesn’t wait. We have to start working hard now if we want to do anything worthwhile with our lives.”

Wolf “All I care about is keeping my friends and family safe. Everything else comes second. I’ll figure it out when I get there, okay?”
She answers without looking at her, brushing off her question. Phoenix pouts a bit but doesn’t argue.

Phoenix “Okay.”
They sit in silence for just a moment before Wolf’s mom comes through the door into the house, noticing the girls. 

Jackal “Oh, hi girls!”

She says while placing her purse down on the counter behind them. Wolf turns and Phoenix leans backwards over the couch.

Phoenix “Hi Ms. Anderson.”

Wolf’s mom walks towards them and pats Phoenix on the head.

Jackal “So, I got a call from Teach today, again.”

She looks at Wolf who quickly tries to hide in the couch from her mother’s gaze. 

Jackal “I haven’t been sending you to his training just to get into fights, you know.”

Wolf “I know…”

Jackal sighs and shakes her head.

Jackal “You promise it was for a good reason?”
Wolf looks at her mom softly and nods. Jackal smiles warmly.

Jackal “Okay. Good enough for me.”

She shrugs and walks away as Wolf and Phoenix look at her surprised.

Wolf “You’re not mad this time?..”
Jackal “Well you said it was for a good reason. I trust you.”

She turns and smiles proudly at them.

Jackal “Besides, I just imagine the look on their faces when they got beat by my daughter.”

Wolf is surprised before smiling happily.

Wolf “Yeah, it was so funny!”
She giggles as Jackal smiles.

Jackal “Okay, let me know when your brother comes home. I’m gonna take a nap, it was a long day at work.”
She says before going into her room. Wolf looks at Phoenix happily as she sighs.

Phoenix “I see why you think it’s okay to get into fights.”
Wolf “Hey, that was new for me too. Usually she scolds me for an hour before turning her attention to my brother for something he did.”

She gives Wolf a look as the night comes to an end.

In the night, in a mostly empty parking lot, a group of thugs looks around as if waiting for something when a young boy approaches them, the same age as Wolf. He has short brown hair that’s slightly longer on the top, with bright brown eyes and a warm smile. The thugs notice him as the seeming leader of the group smirks.

Thug 1 “So you actually showed up.”

Killian “Of course. Can’t leave someone who needs my help.”

He says with a smile as a girl who’s been roughed up a bit is brought forward by the group. The leader looks at her before snickering at Killian.

Thug 1 “You really think you can do this?”

Killian “If you keep your word. A deals a deal. I win this fight without attacking once, you let her go.”

The thugs laugh a bit.

Thug 1 “No weapons, just the six of us against you. I keep my promises.”
Killian “Then at least you have that.”
The leader’s smirk drops a bit at his comment before the six thugs, excluding one holding the girl, step forward. They surround the boy who keeps his hands in his pockets. He looks at them before doesn’t move an inch before one of them lunges at him, swinging a punch across his face. He leans over from the punch a bit but doesn’t falter. Soon, another punch strikes him in the opposite direction. Then another punch to his side. Then another to his face. A kick causes his knee to buckle as the group continues their assault against him. They strike again and again as the girl starts crying.

Girl “No! Stop it! He doesn’t even know me! Just leave him alone and let’s go!”

She screams as the group continues. After a while, and out of breath, they stop and step back.

Thug 1 “That’s what I thought. *pant* Not as tough as you thought.”
They take a step away when Killian stands up with his hands still in his pockets.

Killian “Oh? That’s it? I guess I overestimated you guys.”

They look at him with shocked eyes as he smiles at them, some blood on his face but not much.

Killian “So you’re giving up.”

The leader gets an angry look before dashing at him.

Thug 1 “Not even close!”
He shouts as he tries to punch Killian but Killian side steps and trips him, causing him to fall directly into the side of the car face first with intense force, knocking him unconscious instantly. The group is shocked as Killian looks at them.

Killian “Looks like your leader lost. Guess the deal’s off.”
He says with sharp eyes and a smile on his face. Under the light from the parking lot lamps, one flickers as the sounds of the group getting beaten ring out. In moments, the entire group is knocked out as Killian stands over them. The girl watches with surprise and relief as Killian approaches her, offering his hand.

Killian “You okay?”

She takes his hand as he helps her up gently. 

Girl “Why did you do that?.. You don’t even know me..”
She says softly, still staring at the beaten thugs.

Killian “Don’t need to. I saw you were in trouble, that’s all I need.”

Her eyes start to well up with tears as Killian turns to walk away.

Killian “I take it you can get home okay?”

She nods, fighting back the tears.

Killian “And if they ever give you any more trouble, just let me know.”

He begins to walk away when she gets a surprised look and calls to him one more time.

Girl “Wait! Can I get your name at least?”

He stops for a moment before turning and smiling at her.

Killian “That’s not important. Just think of me as a kind person, just like the ones you’ll meet one day.”
He says before walking away as the girl blushes a bit in admiration.

Girl ‘So kind.’

She thinks softly.