Chapter 13 Firestorm

His fist connected with the soldier’s face and did absolutely nothing. The soldier didn’t even flinch. He didn’t even blink. It was like Shujinko had hit a wall. Makiko could hear the sheer nothingness of the impact.

The soldier’s grin widened.

"That was adorable."

Shujinko gulped.

"Oh no."

Then the soldier moved. A fist slammed into Shujinko’s stomach. An uppercut so strong that he lifted Shujinko of the ground. Air ripped from his lungs as his body folded around the blow. He barely had time to gasp before a knee drove into his gut, then an elbow slammed into his back, sending him crashing to the pavement.

"SHUJINKO!" Makiko cried.

“This… this just proves my point,” he wheezed, trying and failing to push himself up.

“You think strength makes you right? That just because you can hurt people, it means you should? You think you've won. That just because you’re stronger, you’re right. That just because you beat me, it means you proved something. But you didn’t.”

The soldier’s jaw tightened.

 "You serious right now? Oh, for fu—"

But before he could finish, Makiko snapped.

"Listen here, you asshat!"

She stormed up to him, pushing up on her toes to get right in his face. Despite the size difference, she jabbed a delicate finger hard into his chest, making her point clear.

"I’m sorry that my idiot friend hit you first, but did you really need to go this far?! What the hell?! Come on! Did that make you feel big? Bigger than you already are? Hmm?! Is your ego so fragile that you had to beat a guy half your size senseless to prove a point?! Wow, congrats! Real manly of you!"

She planted a hand on her hip, tilting her head.

 "Look, I’ll spell it out for you, you muscle-for-brains! I’m flattered that you find me attractive but get a damn clue! Not interested, bub! Yo! Man! Did my words reach that thick skull of yours, or do I need to grab a brick and smash the message in?! HMMMM?!"

The soldier took a step back, shaking his head with a smirk.

 "God damn, son!" He let out a low whistle, rubbing his jaw. 

"She got some fire!"

His expression softened, and before Makiko could decide whether to take offense or be even more furious, a genuine smile spread across his face.

"Hey, listen, sorry for the mess."

Makiko huffed, crossing her arms. 

"Oh, now you’re listening? Wow, what a miracle! Should I start a slow clap, or are you gonna need another speech to process basic human decency?"

The soldier let out a deep chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. 

"Damn, girl. You really don’t hold back, huh?"

"Not when I have to deal with idiots." 

She jabbed a finger into his chest again, harder this time.

 "Which, unfortunately, seems to be a recurring problem today."

Shujinko, still sprawled on the pavement, groaned.

"I can hear you, you know…"

"Good," she shot back. 

"Maybe it'll knock some sense into you too!"

The soldier glanced down at Shujinko, then back at Makiko.

 "You know, at first, I thought you were just a pretty face, but damn… you got fire in you. I like that."

He leaned in slightly, smiling.

 "I’d love to have a girl like you by my side. You’re hot—and I’m the kinda guy that likes to get burned."

There was a pause.

Makiko stared at him. He smiled back.

Then—

"HAAAAH?!" She recoiled like she’d been physically struck, her face twisting in sheer disbelief.

 "EXCUSE ME?!"

The shorter soldier whispered.

 "Here we go…"

"Did you—" Makiko gestured wildly at him.

 "Did you just hit on me right after you beat up my best friend?!"

"Hey, sorry but he threw the first punch, he started it."

"ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!"

The soldier shrugged. 

"What can I say? I like a girl with spirit."

Makiko let out a strangled noise of frustration. 

"I—I can’t—I literally cannot with you! Oh my god!"

Shujinko, still groaning in pain, muttered, "Please… stop flirting while I’m dying…"

Makiko whirled on him. 

"Oh, shut up, you melodramatic moron!"

Suddenly, the shorter soldier pressed a finger to his earpiece, his posture stiffened.

"Hey, we have to go. Major’s calling. No time for this nonsense."

The bigger man exhaled sharply, clearly annoyed. He bit his lip, glancing back at Makiko one last time, letting his gaze linger.

"Mmmm, it was pleasure to meet you, babe. But I need to go, bye, Firestorm. It's a shame we won’t meet again." He said, voice laced with genuine regret. 

"Good riddance," she called out, voice dripping with sarcasm.

The taller man chuckled, shaking his head as he turned away.

"Damn, I really like her."

The shorter soldier groaned, dragging him along. 

"For the love of— Move! We got job to do! Major not only kicks your ass but mine too if we are late!"

Makiko sighed as she helped Shujinko to his feet, half-dragging him over to the nearest bench in the small park. He winced as he sat down, clutching his stomach. 

She plopped down beside him, crossing her legs and arms, before exhaling loudly.

"Alright, dummy, we need to talk."

Shujinko groaned. 

"Here we go again..."

"Yes, here we go!" She jabbed a finger at his temple, making him flinch.

 "What the hell was that?!"

"I was standing up for you!" he huffed, clearly still clinging to his righteous ideals.

Makiko’s eye twitched. 

"Shujinko. Buddy. Sweet summer child. Listen to me very carefully." She leaned in, making sure her words drilled into his skull.

 "I. Am. A. Big girl. I am not some helpless, fragile little thing. In case you haven’t noticed—" she gestured at herself dramatically "—I’m pretty. Men flirt with me all the time. Annoying ones, creepy ones, desperate ones, and yeah, even meatheads like that guy."

Shujinko opened his mouth, but she cut him off waving a finger in his face.

"And you know what? I can handle it. I don’t need you running in, chest puffed up, starting fights over nothing! That wasn’t even a scene! That was just two guys being annoying! And instead of just walking away, like any normal person with two functioning brain cells, you turned it into some kind of epic showdown of justice!"

Shujinko grumbled, looking away. 

"They were being disrespectful…"

"Oh, please! They were disrespectful as toaster burning your bread!" She rolled her eyes so hard they nearly fell out of her skull.

 "That’s life! Idiots exist! You don’t have to throw hands with every single one of them!"

He still wouldn’t look at her.

Makiko groaned, rubbing her temples.

 "Okay, let’s break this down real slow, since clearly, I need to explain this like I’m teaching basic physics to a toddler. Now, I'm not as bright as your beloved professor Ichiban but will try my best!"

She raised a finger. 

"One: You? Not a fighter. Not."

Another finger.

 "Two: That guy? Literal brick wall. You punched him, and his face didn’t even move. That should’ve told you everything about how that was going to go."

A third finger. 

"Three: You threw the first punch. You started it. And for what? To prove a point?"

Shujinko frowned. 

"It was wrong thing to do. I know."

"No, it was the dumbass thing to do!" She groaned, throwing her hands in the air.

 "You don’t fight someone when there’s zero chance of winning! That’s not justice, that’s suicide!"

Shujinko sat there, silent, stewing in his own idealism.

Makiko sighed, shaking her head. 

"I swear, you’re like a kid who doesn’t understand why jumping off a roof won’t make you fly. Just because you believe in something really, really hard doesn’t mean reality is gonna bend to your will."

She poked his forehead. 

"Use your genius brain. Next time, just—think before you act, okay?"

Shujinko, after a long pause, finally muttered under his breath, "Firestorm." 

Makiko groaned and shoved his shoulder. 

"Oh my god, shut up!"

Shujinko laughed.

 "That sounded kinda cool, not gonna lie."