Sakamoto days : The Heinous Flower

Chapter 4

The sound of wood breaking echoed through the dojo.

Kasumi stood, blood dripping from his face, his expression stoic despite the beating he'd taken. Across from him, a towering man with a crazed grin stared him down, fists trembling with adrenaline.

The floor was a wreck—holes splintered into the wood, each the size of Kasumi head, evidence of the man's relentless assault.

"How come you're still alive?!" the man growled, wiping the blood from his hand onto his judo uniform. "I was trying to kill you."

Kasumi wiped his bloodied face with the back of his hand, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. His eyes remained locked on the man. "Haha... that was a nice swing, Dad. You really are strong."

His father's eyes twitched with rage. "I dont like it . You're a weird guy, you know that ?"

______________________________________

I jolted awake again, sitting in a flyin' helicopter. My face was covered in sweat. Those nightmares again? This is the second time now. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, glancing around. The sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the few other two passengers who sat quietly

"Oh... right, I was going to that academy. "

I straightened up, adjusting my jacket, and tried to shake off the remnants of the dream. My hands felt clammy, but I pulled out my phone, unlocking it absentmindedly. A few notifications popped up, but nothing caught my attention. I flicked through the messages, half-noticing a text from Hyo.

"Don't screw this up."

I sighed

The helicopter stopped at where the school island was jerking me out of my thoughts. I grabbed my things and stepped off, the cool morning air hitting my face. The school in front of me was massive, a military-style complex with a central fortress-like building at its core. Surrounding it was what looked like an airport filled with missiles, all giving off an imposing, utilitarian vibe. The sheer size of the place made my stomach tighten a bit.

Students were already flooding in, chatting and laughing as they walked past me. I adjusted my jacket, feeling the weight of the day ahead. This is it, I thought, taking a deep breath before heading toward the entrance

_________

Walking through the academy's crowded corridor, I couldn't help but mutter under my breath, "Damn... I'm lost." The maze of hallways and doors all seemed to look the same, and the crowds of students moving in every direction weren't helping. I squinted my eyes, trying to figure out which way to go, but the more I looked around, the more confused I became.

"MAKE WAY! COMING THROUGH!" someone shouted from behind me.

I turned, startled, to see two guys pushing a person in front of them. The man in their grasp had foam bubbling at the corners of his mouth, his eyes wide with panic.

"What's with him?" I asked them, but the crowd didn't seem to care, parting without a second glance.

"Oh, his balls exploded," one of them said nonchalantly, as if it was the most casual thing in the world.

I blinked in disbelief, my mouth slightly agape. "What?"

"Yeah," the other guy added with a shrug, "don't mess with the wrong people, eh?"

They kept walking, dragging the man through the crowd as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I stood there, watching them go

___________

I took a breath, opened the door to Lecture Hall 5, and stepped inside.

"Close quarters combat, or CQC for short, is a fundamental skill for any assassin," the teacher explained, pacing at the front of the room. "Mastering it can mean the difference between life and death, especially if your weapon is compromised."

His words hung in the air, the students listening intently. I quietly tried to sneak inside.

"Your body is your last weapon," he continued. "When all else fails, it's the only thing standing between you and the target... or your own survival."

"Now, Masao and..." The instructor's hand moved in a blur, and a knife flew straight toward my head. I leaned to the side, dodging it with ease.

"...the one who tried to sneak in. Come forward."

The room went silent as every eye turned toward me. I stood and walked down to the front, my steps echoing in the hall.

Masao, already standing, shot me a glare—half curious, half annoyed.

As we stood in front of each other, the teacher continued, "Now we'll have you take turns on offence and defence. You'll be using a gun, so be careful. Let's start with Masao. You'll start wit—"

Before the instructor could finish, Masao raised the gun, aiming directly at me. From the subtle twitch of his muscles, I knew he was about to shoot before the match had even officially begun.

Instinct took over. I moved my right hand and crushed the barrel.

"Wait, he blocked the barrel! It will backfire!" the teacher shouted, rushing forward, trying to grab the weapon, only for—

BANG!

The gun backfired, the shattered barrel whipping back and striking Masao square in the forehead. His eyes widened in shock before he crumpled to the ground, unconscious, a thin trickle of blood running down his face.

The silence in the room was deafening.

The teacher stared at the scene, then at me, his face unreadable. "Well... that's one way to end it... Alright, guys, lessons cancelled. Fuck you all."

He turned and stormed out of the room, leaving us all standing there in stunned silence.

_________________

Fourth Period:Killing Intent

I made my way toward the dojo The polished wooden floor gleamed under the sunlight streaming through the windows, but the serenity ended there. Looming over the room was a bold "殺" (Kill) sign painted in Japanese across the back wall

At the front stood the instructor, an old woman with sharp black eyes and neatly tied black hair. "Welcome," she began, her voice calm but carrying a weight that silenced the room. "Today's lesson is not about physical combat or anything typically done in a dojo. It's about sensing the intent to kill... to know the difference between an enemy and a civilian."

She took a slow step forward, her gaze sweeping over the students. "Your body can lie. Your eyes can deceive. But intent... killing intent is something you cannot hide. And even if you manage to, there will always be a small trace of it. Take it from someone who has been an assassin for 15 years."

I found a spot among the students, my senses already on edge. The faint scent of incense mixed with the tension in the air. The woman moved effortlessly across the room, stopping beside a student.

"Now," she said softly, pulling a blindfold from her pocket and tying it around her eyes. "I want one of you to attack me... with whatever you've got. No holding back. And remember—just one."

One dude stepped forward, cracking his neck. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and clearly confident. "This'll be easy," he muttered under his breath.

The room fell silent as he moved closer to her, pulling a gun up to her face. His finger hovered over the trigger, ready to fire.

But before he could even squeeze the shot off, she moved with terrifying speed. She grabbed his extended hand, twisting it and slamming him violently to the ground with a swift, fluid motion.

"Gah!" he gasped, the wind knocked out of him as his back hit the mat. He lay there, gasping for air, unable to comprehend how easily she had disarmed him.

The instructor stood over him, still blindfolded, her calm expression unchanged. "That was smart" she continued, her voice steady, "just keep in mind, most professionals can smell the gun's iron... So, anybody else?"

I sighed clearly uninterested in the this lesson ' she just want to find an excuse to beat us what a bitc

I stopped as I turned my head, catching the scent of cigarette smoke mixing with the lingering incense. My eyes narrowed as I spotted her—the girl from the exam. She was sitting behind me cross-legged, with Sakamoto next to her. Both of them seemed completely at ease

"Whatcha looking at?" she asked, a playful smirk tugging at her lips, noticing my gaze.

'Speaking of bitches,' I thought bitterly, my eyes flicking to Sakamoto. He was leaning back, arms resting on his knees, completely uninterested in the lesson, as usual.

I sighed, turning my attention back to the instructor. Her calm demeanor remained unchanged, still waiting for anyone to step up. "What a shitshow," I muttered under my breath, annoyed by the whole thing.

"Oh? Is it?" she asked, her voice steady. "the one who spoke, come forward." She called me.

'Again ? Are those fuckers targeting me ?...' The teacher cold tone made it clear there was no way out of this. With a resigned sigh, I stepped forward.

"Hehe," I could hear Rion's quiet laugh from behind me.

"The one who laughed come forward too" the teacher said, turning her head towards Rion.

"Eh!?" Rion blinked, clearly surprised then stood up with a blush in her cheeks

Rion, now standing next to me, tried to keep her usual cool demeanor, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.

The instructor, still blindfolded, adjusted her stance, ready for whatever came next. "Now, show me what you've got," she said, her voice as calm and collected as ever. "No hesitation, no holding back."

Rion shot me a glance, clearly trying to figure out what to do, but I wasn't sure either. This was quickly becoming an awkward mess

Rion walked to the back of the class, her movements deliberate. She reached for a spear leaning against the wall, her fingers brushing over the polished shaft before gripping it firmly. The weapon gleamed in the sunlight that filtered through the dojo windows, the sharpness of the blade at the tip reflecting her focused determination.

She turned back towards the instructor, holding the spear confidently.

The instructor's blindfolded eyes remained closed, but her posture was unwavering. "Whenever you're ready," she said, her voice calm yet challenging.

Rion steadied her breath, raising the spear into a combat stance. "Alright, auntie, don't expel me if I cripple you."

"No no, don't wor—"

I interrupted her by throwing a punch straight for her face, my fist cutting through the air with force. But she easily evaded it, tilting her head just enough to avoid the strike, and there was no sign of panic on her face.

Before she could regain her stance, Rion jabbed the spear toward her leg.

The teacher raised her leg, avoiding the attack with minimal movement.

Not giving up, I tried to land a quick kick to her face. In a blur, she grabbed my leg mid-air, twisted, and tossed me to the ground with a smooth, practiced motion.

I hit the floor hard, gritting my teeth as I pushed myself back up.

"Oh my!?" she exclaimed, looking surprised. "I'm pretty sure I used all my strength in that toss." She put a hand to her mouth, clearly impressed

I lunged in with a punch agian this one aimed directly at the teacher's head, but once again, she effortlessly dodged, her movements fluid and precise as she twisted my arm and sent me crashing to the ground. Before I could even react, Rion stepped in with her spear, aiming for the teacher's stomach.

Without missing a beat, the teacher shifted her weight evading the thrust and using the momentum to redirect Rion's attack. She spun on her heel, catching Rion off guard and sending her tumbling backward.

I groaned as I pushed myself off the floor, my body still sore from the earlier fight. "What the hell are you doin'?" I snapped, struggling to regain my footing. "Do something, you bitch."

Rion's veins bulged as she bounced back to her feet, her stance shifting. She held her spear low, her eyes burning with irritation. "Go kill yourself " she shot back flipping me off.

She then jabbed forward again, aiming for the teacher's ribs. But once again, the teacher used Rion's own momentum against her, spinning to the side and redirecting the spear away from her body.

I threw another punch, aiming for her face, expecting her to grab my arm again. And she did. But this time, I anticipated it, stepping into the grip and twisting my body to break free. Before I could land another strike she was already sidestepping Rion, who lunged forward with a spear thrust.

In a blur, the teacher caught the spear by its shaft, twisted it out of Rion's hands, and, with effortless precision, used the blunt end to pin Rion against the dojo roof.

"ACK!" Rion yelped, her legs kicking helplessly in the air as she dangled.

I barely had time to react before the teacher spun the spear, flicking Rion back down to the floor with a graceful motion. She landed in a crouch, rubbing her chest

With a grimace

How's she doing it with a blindfold? I glanced at the cloth covering her eyes, wondering how she moved so precisely.

Before I could dwell on it, Rion lunged again, this time wielding a knife. ' This bitch learned nothing from last time. She just keeps lunging like a bull. It's so predictable,

Rion jumped, her knife aimed straight for the teacher's head, The blade descended fast, cutting through the air with precision.

But the teacher didn't flinch. Instead, she raised her hand and stopped the knife between two fingers, the blade mere inches from her face.

Rion's eyes widened in disbelief. "What...?"

Before she could pull back, the teacher grabbed Rion's wrist, twisting it effortlessly. With a fluid motion, she flung Rion through the air—but Rion wasn't done. Her hand shot out, grabbing the back of the teacher's clothes mid-throw, refusing to let go.

The momentum dragged her slightly off balance.

"Not bad," she admitted, her feet shifting smoothly to regain control.She spun sharply, using Rion's own grip against her, slamming her into the floor with a heavy thud.

Rion winced but quickly got up. This time, her eyes were more focused on the teacher. She launched a barrage of attacks, each one faster and more fluid than the last.

The teacher didn't flinch, her blindfold still intact. She moved with precision, effortlessly evading each of Rion's strikes.

Rion's attacks became more intense, her frustration building, but the teacher seemed to anticipate each move before it happened. At one point, Rion thrust her knife forward, but the teacher caught it with a single finger, twisting it out of her grip and sending it clattering across the floor. Without hesitation, she grabbed Rion and threw her toward me.

I sidestepped her tossed body, watching as Rion hit the ground with a thud, but she quickly scrambled to her feet.

Seizing the moment, I plucked a single strand of hair from my head, then flicked it toward the instructor's eyes. The fine strand shot through the air with precision, catching her completely off guard. The instructor raised her hand to block, but the strand still made contact, stinging her eye

" ouchie "she grimaced raising a hand to her face.

I lunged forward, aiming to knock her off balance. She still managed to grab my right hand, her grip ironclad, but this time I anticipated it. With my free hand, I grabbed the spear that was in the ground and jabbed it toward her face.

Her head shifted slightly, narrowly avoiding the strike. I felt her grip on my right arm loosen—just enough. I broke free, slipping out of her hold, and without hesitation, I grabbed her neck, driving her down toward the floor, aiming to pin her.

Her body twisted mid-fall, shifting her weight effortlessly. Even as I tried to press her down, she used my momentum against me, flipping me over her shoulder. I hit the floor hard, but I rolled with the impact, springing back to my feet.

A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I quickly reached up and threw the blindfold toward her. "I win."

The instructor's eyes widened in surprise, her calm facade cracking for the briefest moment. "Oh well done... ten points for you and five for the girl," she clapped her hands.

"What?!" Rion protested, her face flushing with indignation. "Give me ten as well!"

"Wait," I looked back to where the students were sitting, only to find the room empty. "Where are they?"

The teacher put a hand to her mouth, surprised. "Oh it seems everyone snuck out while we were fighting." She held her forehead in disappointment, her expression softening slightly. She then turned her gaze toward us. "You can come into my office and get a steak coupon as compensation for me going too far."

I shook my head, a tired sigh escaping my lips. "Nah... I'm going home."

The teacher blinked in confusion, tilting her head slightly. "But there are still five periods left?" she asked, clearly puzzled " and we are basically in an island in the middle of nowhere how do you plan to go home ?? "

" i can manage " I held my head, wincing as I made a show of rubbing my temples. "Augh...I have a headache," I muttered, the pain in my voice just enough to make it sound convincing.

"Oh dear... Well, be careful," the teacher said with a hint of concern, but there was a touch of amusement in her eyes as she watched me leave.

Rion, still catching her breath from the earlier chaos, blinked in disbelief. Her eyes grew wide as she saw me walking out the door. "Haaah!? Wait... I have a headache too! Can I go to my dorm ?" Her voice held a mix of desperation and hope, her face filled with that familiar, almost childish pleading expression.

The teacher raised an eyebrow, glancing at Rion with an unamused stare. "No," she replied flatly Without missing a beat, she grabbed Rion by the wrist and dragged her out of the dojo