He quietly cries. No longer can he forbid his tears to run.

Akari gasps. “H-Hey, it’s okay,” she murmurs in a slight panic.

“No…” Akira wipes his eyes.

Akari winces at him helplessly.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I have to get myself together.”

Akari glances meekly at Jie, who stares back with stoic eyes. Meanwhile, Chao looks away from everyone, frowning.

“Emilija,” Jie starts, “what about you? What’s your story?”

“Wait!” Akira shouts anxiously. “Just let me say…” Akira turns slightly to face Akari, his small body trembling, both their faces as red as their fast-beating hearts. After a gulp, he exclaims, “You’re doing great! I’m… really proud of you!”

“Th-Thank you,” Akari whispers, deeply flustered, her mouth ajar as she breathes tersely at his remark.

“Jie,” Emilija says, “you’re not going to say anything?”

“Hm?” Jie responds. “What is there to say right now? At the end, I’ll give you both your assessment.”

“Tch!” Emilija frowns.

“Can’t you,” Akira mutters, “at least…”

“You’re asking me to express empathy?” Jie guesses with a certain skepticism.

“Ah,” Akari says quietly, “it’s really not necessary.”

“Shush,” Emilija commands. Akari obeys her with a raised eyebrow.

“Pfft!” goes Jie. “Do you have any idea how much ‘empathy’ this school has?”

Chao sighs.

“My heart feels one way, but I won’t express it,” she explains. “If you get hung up on that, then that’s exactly why I don’t say anything. You ought to get used to this, since I’m one of the nicer ones.”

“I,” Akira replies, “don’t really understand.”

“I’m sure to expect a ton of bullshit around here, but we’re comrades,” Emilija growls. “Let’s have some mutual respect, okay?”

“I do show respect,” Jie rebuts, “but I’m not going to coddle Akari. That’s only setting her up for failure.”

“This conversation…” Akari timidly says, “I don’t see a point to it. Please, can we move on?”

Akira gazes at Akari with an empathetic frown.

“Hmph,” goes Emilija. “Fine. My story is what you want?”

“Mhm. Speak,” Jie orders.

“Well, I won’t be asking for any empathy with this one,” Emilija remarks. “For starters, let’s make a distinction. Akari isn’t a true fighter.”

“Huh?” Akari is more confused than offended.

Emilija faces Akari. “You punch people for reasons related to justice and all that. That’s not how a fighter operates. A fighter is someone who fights for themselves first and foremost. That’s me.”

“Oh?” Jie utters curiously.

“So basically,” Emilija starts, “my dad was a Polish guy who came to America and knocked up a lady (also Polish) by accident, then she gave birth to me and put me in an orphanage because she didn’t actually want me, but also was morally against getting an abortion, so…”

“Slow down!” Jie shouts.

Emilija sighs. “I’ve lived in an orphanage all my life. You see, as fate would have it, my orphanage was a shithole. The kids were rowdy as hell, and nobody wanted to adopt them. Naturally, I was no exception. By the time I was in middle school, I was an experienced fighter. And unlike Akari here, I didn’t do it out of grief or rage. I did it because I liked it. It was my hobby, like how another kid would play games or watch cartoons. I was the strongest in my orphanage, but not in my school; that title belonged to Akari. So I followed her. She didn’t really know what to make of this at first. Hah, I remember she was always so quiet, just a tall gloomy kid walking from class to class dressed in black, then suddenly she’d beat the shit out of some guy in the hall.”

“Don’t remind me,” Akari cringes.

“Who even cares?” Emilija replies. “They were all assholes.”

“Well, back then, I didn’t truly care about their sins. I just wanted to beat people up, so I chose those who weren't ‘innocent.’ It was just an excuse. What I’m most ashamed of… is how senseless I was.”

“Fighting as a whole is senseless. That’s why it’s fun.” Emilija turns back to Jie. “That being said, don’t think of me as some heartless monster. There’s a reason Akari’s kept me around all these years, after all.”

“Even if I didn’t want you around, it’s not like you’d leave,” Akari mutters in rebellion.

“Because I’ve always had your back, and I’ve got a more stable head on my shoulders than you. I respect you way more than you respect yourself.” Emilija redirects herself to Jie once more. “You know, Akari thinks she has to atone for all of her delinquent nonsense, when that ‘nonsense’ is one of the reasons I befriended her to begin with.” And suddenly, she addresses another fellow. “Akira, you agree with me that Akari should loosen up, right?”

“Huh?!” He wasn’t ready to join this conversation. “I… I wouldn’t really know. It’s a complicated situation.”

Jie sighs. “Emilija, you’re just rambling, so I’ll ask you this: Why are you joining the Blizzards? Why did you come to this college?”

Emilija adopts a smug grin. “Because Akari was going here, and I was sure she’d get herself in some deep shit if I wasn’t around to balance her out.”

Akari blushes, not saying anything.

“And also… Like I said, I’m not heartless. Fighting to protect? Why not? What’s more, I’m a fighter, but I hate bullies all the same. They can certainly ruin the fun. So, I’ll follow Akari and kick some ass. Maybe I’ll even get some fans.” Emilija glares at Akira. “Seems like Akari’s already got one of her own.”

Akira turns away from everyone, his face burning.

Jie sighs. “Alright, alright. Emilija, that’s quite a weak resolve you’ve got. But it is what it is. You could still be useful. Chao!”

Chao gets up. “Is it time?”

“Mhm,” Jie replies. “Don’t break any furniture. You two get to that open space near the door.”

Emilija stands up with a smile. “Alright.”

“Make it quick,” Jie commands.

Emilija and Chao face each other, standing about six feet behind the couch where Akari and Akira sit.

They commence their battle. Emilija throws a punch, but Chao dodges by jumping far back, throwing himself against the wall. Yet then, he suddenly rebounds towards her with a punch of his own. As he approaches, Emilija summons her foot to his head in an upward kick, striking his jaw.

“No worries,” Emilija says gleefully, “I held back.”

Chao falls to the floor. Yet just a second later, he jumps back up, and sprints right at her, before switching his feet just before her to a diagonal angle, losing no speed at all. He switches angles again, and again, and again, uniformly, almost elegantly, surrounding her completely.

A perfect diamond shape suffocates Emilija.

Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch.

Emilija smiles as Chao lands hit after hit towards her head and stomach. He has transformed into a sprinting blur of fists, seemingly impenetrable.

“So, Akari,” Jie starts.

“Hm?” Akari looks at her.

Jie smiles. “I like it, your story. That body is backed by a strong mind and a great tenacity. And your heart… It’s way too soft, but well, having a mixture of personalities is good for the organization. You’re an idiot, but an endearing one.”

“Oh,” Akari raises an eyebrow, “thank you?”

Emilija finally times a proper trip, causing Chao to stumble high-speed towards a wall.

“That being said,” Jie explains, “that OCD is a problem. You’ll need to prove to me that you can keep your head on your shoulders in battle.”

Despite it seeming like Chao shall ram his head in, he ultimately performs a midway 180-degree turn, slowing his speed and nailing his back against the wall instead. He coughs at the landing, but smiles at Emilija.

Emilija laughs. “You’re damn crazy, man!”

“Not particularly,” Chao replies before charging once more. Emilija dodges his punches, but then Chao trips her with his leg. Just as she falls to the ground, he roundhouse kicks her right in the head.

“I’m just matching your energy,” Chao quips, “and beating you, too.”