Sakuragachamon!

Pt1: Playground showdown, beginning of the Hard-Headed Demon legend!​

We almost starting brawling then and there. I managed to throw down the gauntlet. "You and me, or are you too much of a coward? Chicken, chicken, bawk, bawk!"

We headed out to the closest training field, just outside the classrooms. The rest of the class was encouraging us in turns. Bloodthirsty little tykes. We were in the middle of a makeshift ring.

Kasumi probably knew I was better than her in taijutsu. She was just too angry to make that judgment call. To be fair, I'd also gotten angry and failed the judgment call to not start a fight. I could beat Kasumi, or Fuki, or Ami. All of them at once, not likely.

I grinned and made a come hither motion before the seal of confrontation. It didn't really apply to the situation but well, force of habit.

Kasumi responded curtly before launching an all-out attack. I hopped sideways, guard up. She was taller than me, which made her a bit stronger. I swayed playfully. But I was quicker and more skilled. I jabbed at her guard, testing it. I could probably use a move... Seel and Headbutt, Chimecho and Wrap, Spink and Splash. Wrap?

She kicked, breaking my distracted stance. I retreated. "Come here you coward!"

"Bitch, I ain't gone nowhere!" One of my jabs slipped through and snatched some of her hairs.

"Ow!"

I laughed. It was kind of fun when she was this mad. If she got me tho... well, I didn't want that.

I'd thought about Wrap but that was a bad idea. I still wanted to use a move. To finish her and have them know that I was strong. Splash was useless, of course. But my first move was strong and terribly appropriate.

I planted my feet and raised my arms in a bastardized boxing stance. Blinded by rage, Kasumi didn't see the trap for what it was and charged. I waited until the very last moment. Nômaru-ton... Reeled back, aimed and smashed my head into hers.

"Zutsuki no Waza!"

My forehead impacted the crown of her head with a loud crack. Kasumi crashed down like a rock, face-first into the ground.

I straightened up slowly. My marked forehead glinted, immaculate, not even red. A move that should have ended on a double-knockout left only one standing. Kasumi was out. I was the winner.

Cheers and yells broke out.

Headbutt was Seel's only known move. Powerful and, unlike Head Smash, I didn't take any recoil damage. This much let me walk out unscathed.

Kasumi however... Headbutt was a power 70 move. I kneeled down. She was completely unconscious.

I... might have overdone it.

"Hey, one of you call a teacher! Kasumi needs the nurse!" Or a doctor. The adrenaline was fading and I got more and more worried that I'd seriously hurt her. I hoped I hadn't given her...

"...a cracked skull." The nurse informed me in the office. Suzume-sensei and Mizuki-sensei were present.

Crap.

I'd messed up. I told my story, word for word, and apologized. Several people corroborated it. Since it was my first offense, and the bullying had already been pointed out, I got away with a slap on the wrist. Just staying after school to help out, and writing graded essays about what I'd done wrong.

Kasumi's mother wanted my head on a stick. That worked out in my favor since Kasumi actually dropped out. A cracked skull and a resounding defeat were too harsh of a shock to her system. And the ninjas in charge wouldn't do anything to me for a student who'd quit over that. It went against the hard work ethic that the Academy prided itself in.

I made enemies. Maybe gotten some minor credibility. And I'd definitely got a reputation. Monday I returned to classes and was greeted by the excited whispers of eight and nine year olds that had just discovered a new wrestling move or whatever.

The Pink-Haired, Steel-Headed, Foul-Mouthed, Scarred/Scary Demon Girl of the Fourth Year. Lovely.