Wind Breaker - Hajime Umemiya

Chapter 1

Here I am getting ready for my first day at Furin High and I am so excited. There are not many girl attending but I really don't care. Since I can remember I have wanted to protect our community. Everyone has always looked out for me and always done their part and I want to give back to them. I make my way to Kotoha's little cafe. She is always there and she makes the best food. We have known eachother only a little while but I do enjoy her company. "Hey Kotoha, how has your day been?" I smile walking into the quaint little shop. It has about 4 or 5 tables and she is always keeping busy with cleaning or making food. I have never seen her slouch around. "Hey Keiko it's good to see you, nothing much just got to meet that new guy everyone's talking about." She smiles a huge smile and I can't help but wonder. I didn't know about a new guy, but then again I don't get out much. I was so busy training the past few years I wouldn't know anyone anymore.

I walk over to be greeted by the a beautiful mug filled with the o so heavenly coffee I have been craving since waking up. The aroma swirled around me, a warm embrace that sent a delighted shiver down my spine. It wasn't just the bitter tang that promised a morning pick-me-up, but a symphony of inviting notes. Rich, dark chocolate melted on my tongue in absentia, laced with the playful sweetness of caramel that danced at the edges. A hint of spice teased her senses, hinting at hidden depths. The air itself seemed to crackle with energy, a promise of cozy mornings and stolen moments of focus. It was the smell of possibility, of dreams taking flight, and a day filled with laughter yet to come. A slow smile spread across my face, a sigh escaping my lips, "Oh, that's the good stuff. You sure know how to make a cup Kotoha." I give her my warmest smile.

"Your love for coffee is so similar to someone I know who loves his food this much." I smile and know she has mentioned this person before but I am yet to meet them. I don't mind I know things in this town can get quite busy. "So you mentioned the new guy? What is he like?" I couldn't help my curiosity. It doesn't bother me if someone is new but I would like to know more. I could see a dreamy look in her eyes again and I have now confirmed my suspicions. This girl has a cute little crush on our mystery man. I can't help but giggle and she gives me a confused look. I swat my hand indicating she should just ignore me and go on. "He is an excellent fighter, I haven't seen a newbie fight like that in a long time. And even though he says that he doesn't want friends or any relations he protected me and even got her doing it. He took on about 20 guys on his own and had the upper hand as well. He really is something else. He does have an interesting look but you'll see him tomorrow and you can make up your own mind on what you think of him." Hmm interesting. I guess he would be a decent sparring partner then. I hear the bell ding and turn my attention to who might be here. I turn and see a group of thugs come in and make a ruckus.

"Hey lady get me some food!" One shouts and I am already pissed. My mother always used to say my temper is as short as I am and I don't disagree. I am 5'1 and I hate it when people order girls around just because they can and now they are ordering pretty much my only friend and I hated it. "Oi! You could ask nicely or you could leave" I say in a sickly sweet tone. The guy stood up with an irritated face and walked over to me hunching over my small form. I give him a close eyed smile and he then hunched over more so we were face to face. I could now see he has a tooth missing at the top left side of his mouth and he reeks of alcohol. He also could seriously use a bath. I try my best not to scrunch my nose at the smell. "You want to repeat that again sweetheart?" He asks and I could feel the irk mark on my forehead popping. "We could take it ouside if you are hard of hearing?" I say glaring at him with my glasses sitting on the tip of my nose. He looks taken aback and started laughing and had to clutch his stomach. This irritated me even more. "May I know your name so I could add it to my list of idiots I have beaten up this year?" I ask taking out a glittery notebook that already has several names inside. The guy looks at me weirdly and I raise an eyebrow still waiting for his answer. "Oh, I'm sorry how inconsiderate of me you probably also don't know how to have a proper conversation I do apologize" I keep mocking him waitjng for the name before I go outside. I could see he is getting riled up even more and I have to do my utmost best to keep my excitement at bay.

"Keiko there is no need..." and the buffoon in front of me interrupts Kotoha again "my name is Yuta" and that was the final straw. I wrote the name and got off of the chair and went outside. The guy followed me his whole group in tow.

"Hey pipsqueak," he rumbled, amusement thick in his voice, "maybe if you weren't such a shrimp-"

The world seemed to shrink to the space between his smirk and my rising fury. Before he could finish his condescending remark, I was already moving. Years of being underestimated fueled my leap. I aimed for his center of mass, a target helpfully highlighted by the stupid grin plastered across his face. My knee connected with a satisfying oof, the sound echoing off the deserted street.

Yuta doubled over, gasping for air. I wasn't done. Seizing the opportunity, I rained down a flurry of punches. They weren't elegant, more like a frantic woodpecker at a tree trunk, but they got the job done. Yuta, flailing like a surprised giraffe, swatted at me ineffectively. A particularly well-placed punch to his meaty shoulder sent him staggering back.

He finally managed to straighten up, eyes wide with a mixture of pain and something akin to respect. "Alright, alright," he wheezed, holding his stomach. "You got me there."

I glared at him, chest heaving. My glasses, mercifully, clung to my face. Slowly, I lowered my fists.

"Next time," I said, voice trembling slightly but laced with steel, "be nice. Especially to Kotoha."

Yuta mumbled something about crazy chicks and muttered threats that never materialized. He slunk away, clutching his stomach, his bravado thoroughly squashed. I watched him go, a shaky breath escaping my lips. My hands tingled, and a dull ache spread through my arms, but a grin, genuine and wide, stretched across my face.

Maybe being short wasn't such a disadvantage after all.

The three thugs, a motley crew of skinny limbs and nervous bravado, exchanged panicked glances. The leader, the one I had just subdued, lay groaning on the ground, clutching his stomach. The unwritten rule of street fights flickered in their eyes - the need to avenge their fallen comrade, a primal urge to prove they weren't scared.

The one in front, a scrawny kid with a shaved head and a chipped tooth, took a tentative step forward. "You think you can do that to our boss, pipsqueak?" His voice, though trying to sound menacing, cracked slightly on the last word.

Despite the surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins, I couldn't help but wince. I may have taken down their leader, but these three looked hungry for a fight, and I was just a tiny whirlwind against their combined bulk.

Just as the scrawny kid lunged forward, a massive form materialized between him and me. My savior, cast a colossal shadow that seemed to swallow the entire alleyway. The three thugs faltered, their bravado dissipating like smoke in a strong wind. The man's arms, the thickness of tree trunks, hung loosely by his sides, but the way his knuckles cracked with barely suppressed tension spoke volumes.

The scrawny kid, his bravado now replaced by raw fear, stammered. "W-we were just..."

He didn't reply. He simply raised a giant hand, his palm the size of a dinner plate. The scrawny kid, his bravado thoroughly squashed, whimpered and darted backwards. One by one, the man in front of me flickered his gaze towards the remaining thugs, his silence more intimidating than any roar. Each thug, as if by unspoken agreement, mirrored the scrawny kid's retreat. They scurried back, bumping into each other in their haste to put as much distance between them and the mountain of a man as possible.

With a final withering look that spoke of disappointment more than anger, he turned towards me. A small, almost shy smile played on his lips. "Looks like you didn't need my help after all."