The Hidden Past || Wind Breaker

Chapter 2: Entrance

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Previous Chapter:

"Really now.. You look very mature. Might I ask how old you are? Kotoha-san." She said, calling me by my name but still with the '-san'.

"I'm sixteen. How about you Mari?" I asked, still washing a few dishes.

"Oh me? I just turned 17 a few months ago." Oh? She's older than me..

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Kotoha's POV:

As I gave the food to my newly acquired customer named 'Mari', I took this as a chance to examine her more closely. She was wearing a long white sleeved shirt and layered on top was a half-sleeve hoodie that was light gray in color. She was wearing black cargo pants and I noticed a chain was attached on the front of her hips, going to the side of her hips, making an arch shape, paired with white sneakers when she was standing earlier near the door. 

Her black hair adorned with streaks of blue, is tied in a low pony tail. Her eyes, a pretty shade of light blue. It almost looks like you're looking at the sky. Her face and figure looks a bit small but not totally skinny. She looks like around close to my height as well.

"So Mari, you're not from around here right?" I asked her

"Hm?" She said looking up to me before swallowing the food down. "Yeah, I'm not. Though I've been staying here for almost a month now.." She said before taking another spoonful of rice.

"Really? What made you come here?" I asked, curious about the girl right in front of me.

After swallowing the food, she went quiet for a few seconds, looking down on her food, like she was thinking about something.

"Crap, maybe I shouldn't have asked that." I thought, looking at the now quiet girl.

"Ah.. Mari, it's fine if you-", I started but she suddenly cut me off.

"A fresh start." She said, still looking down on her food. "I want to start a new life here in this town." She now said while looking at me, a small smile gracing her lips.

I stayed silent while looking at her. Her smile didn't quite reached her eyes which made me think there was more than she was letting on.

"A fresh start huh? She kinda reminds me of a certain someone." I thought while thinking about a certain boy with two-toned hair. I chuckled a little before smiling as well.

"Then, let me formally welcome you. Welcome to Makochi Town, Mari-chan." I said while smiling at her.

She looked rather surprised with the endearment but didn't comment on it. Instead, she smiled and said, "Thanks, Kotoha" My eyes went wide.

"Hey! You just called me 'Kotoha'!" Though feeling surprised, I was also happy that she was getting comfortable around me. She just chuckled at my behavior in which I returned with a small giggle. We continued chatting and I found out that she was originally from Shizuoka but due to 'certain' circumstances that she didn't want to mention, she travelled around until she ended up here.

Time passed by and we were still chatting away, getting to know each other a little more when we suddenly hear a commotion outside. We both looked at the direction of the door until I decided to check up on it.

"I'll check what's going on outside. You stay right here." I said while going to the door. I stopped just moments before opening it as Mari called out to me.

"You sure? It sounds like trouble is happening outside." She said. I sense a hint of worry laced on her words. I looked back to her and smiled.

"I'll be back." I opened the door and went outside. I looked to my left only to see Sakura fighting against a mob.

Mari's POV:

I watched as Kotoha went out through the door, leaving me with a bad feeling inside. I could very tell that something bad is gonna happen to her. Gut instincts if you would say. So I stood up and went outside only to see Kotoha being taken hostage.

See? I was right. Something bad did happen. I let out a sigh and went closer to them. As I went closer, I heard him shouting something about Fuurin or whatever. Well, not that I care whatever he was talking about.

"Oi." I called out to the idiot in front of me. He looked behind and without giving him a chance to respond, I kicked him right in the head. (A/N: You know how Mikey kicks? Yeah something like that)

Everyone was surprised by my actions. Kotoha looked at me with wide eyes.

"Mari-chan?" Confused by my sudden presence. I just looked at her and smiled. I called out to the boy wearing a school uniform.

"Oi hanhan." I called out to him.

"Huh?! Who're you calling hanhan?! And besides.. who the heck are you anyway??" He yelled to me, clearly annoyed by the nickname that I gave to him.

I just let out a sigh. "I'll take care of Kotoha. You just focus on those idiots right in front of you." I said, blankly staring at him. Hanhan guy just let out a gruff before redirecting again his focus on the enemies.

I looked at Kotoha to ask if she was okay. "Y-yeah. I'm fine. Thank you."

After our little exchange, someone from behind suddenly charges at us. I took Kotoha by her arm and dragged her behind me before kicking the man and sending him to the side. A few more men kept coming to us but I didn't let them even have the chance to get closer to Kotoha.

3rd Person's POV:

Throughout the whole ordeal, Kotoha just kept looking at Mari in awe. Seeing the girl in a whole new light. Not knowing that she knew how to fight. Well, not that the girl even mentioned something like that. Just as she was watching Mari fight, since she moved further away as to not get in her way, someone had forcefully grabbed the girl's arm making her wince from the pain of how tight the man holding her. It only lasted a few seconds as Mari delivered a flying side kick to the man. Due to that, Mari stayed close by Kotoha's side. Staying within her reach to protect her as well as punching and kicking those stupid idiots.

But it was proving to be slightly difficult for Mari. It was hard for her to protect Kotoha and at the same time, fight the enemies. She wasn't used in protecting someone while fighting. The black haired girl can't risk Kotoha getting hurt. Sakura, noticing the two girls in trouble, tried going to them but was being hold back by the others. The boy had miscalculated and didn't realize that there would be so many of them. Still, he didn't gave up and was able to reach them.

With Sakura helping Mari, it was now easy for the girl to move freely. But alas, just as she focus her attention somewhere else, someone had managed to get close to Kotoha. With both of their attention on the girl, the black haired girl failed to notice the intention of the lying man near her.

With the use of the knife, he slashed the unknowing girl near the ankle which made her wince. In turn, she kicked the man in the face using her other foot that wasn't injured. This caught the attention of Kotoha.

"Mari!" Kotoha screamed out to the girl. This caught the attention of Sakura which directed his focus to the now injured girl.

"Oi hanhan! Look out!" Mari called out to Sakura.

Sakura then looked in front of him and was able to dodge the incoming hit just in time before it hit his head but it couldn't be said the same to his arm.. Due to that, he slightly lost his balance and backed into Kotoha while holding his right arm that got hit. Just before he was gonna get hit again, a man with spiky hair shielded him and took the hit.

"You a first year? You helped a ton by being here." Both Sakura and Mari were shocked by his entrance.

"Kotoha-chan." He called out which made the girl happy. "Please don't tell you-know-who that you were in danger."