I wished upon a star to be a fighter.
I fought my daddy's disciples, won tournaments, and even beat my daddy himself.
I know what I can do. And looking at this woman in front of me…
I knew I could win.
The moment she stepped into a certain range, I dashed.
She flinched—caught off guard.
A grin etched across my face as my fist sank into her stomach.
『Puhhh!』
Saliva flew from her mouth, her body curving around the blow.
But it wasn't over.
Left hook to the face. Spinning kick to the ribs.
Blow after blow, I overwhelmed this woman—this creature that killed my daddy.
She blocked her face, so I punched her gut. She covered her stomach, so I grabbed her head and kneed her face.
Every weak attempt to retaliate? I dodged with ease.
『You fcking pest, let me land a blow!』
She could only grit her teeth. How could a teenager sh*t on her this badly?!
"If I did that, I'd be dead in one punch."
『Fck! Fckkk! Fckkk!』
She cursed as I kept landing clean hits, her pale skin turning black and blue.
A final uppercut sent her reeling back—but she phased through her own shadow before she hit the ground.
"What the—"
『Looking for me?』
I turned. She was right behind me.
Her fingers curled into claws, nails sharpening, growing long.
"Yikes!"
I bent backward, dodging a swipe meant for my face.
"Hey! You don't hit a woman in the face!" I cried, pointing.
『Says you! You punched my face like there's no tomorrow!』 She gritted her teeth.
"You literally killed my daddy!"
『…』
『Good point… I'll really kill you next!』
Her cat ears pinned back. She dashed—and vanished.
「She's going to appear behind me!」
I spun around.
Nothing.
「This is bad.」
Pain exploded in my side. My body curled inward.
"Guah!"
I'd let my guard down. No… I predicted wrong.
I looked over. The woman stared back with a smug grin as my legs shook weakly.
『That's 1–20.』
"You were counting?" I asked, hand pressed to my side.
『If a teenager battered you like a punching bag, wouldn't you?』
"I dunno. Never lost."
『You little—』
Driven by pure rage, she came at me with flurries of punches and scratches. I barely avoided them all.
My breathing felt heavier. I was gasping.
「I need to finish this.」
Maybe we both thought the same thing. We stared each other down, teeth gritted, and ran forward screaming.
I landed a jab; she got an uppercut.
A spinning kick to her chest; an elbow to my leg.
We exchanged blows until we both looked battered. I was covered in scratches and bruises. She had it worse.
Another clean uppercut. She fell onto her back. No shadow dissolve, no black goo—just down.
I mounted her and punched her bruised face, merciless.
"This is for daddy!"
"This is for ruining our dojo!"
"This is for underestimating me!"
"This is for being so weak!"
Punch after punch. She tried to block, but she was too tired.
『Stop… please.』
Tears welled in her eyes.
"When daddy said that, what did you do?"
Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened and closed, searching for words.
『Ah… A-Ah…』
Fear. That's all she saw now. I had no intention of sparing her.
One last punch. She went night-night.
I stood, dusted off my gi, tightened my black belt, and bowed.
"So much for killing my daddy."
I spat on her and walked to where daddy lay. Too late. He'd lost too much blood.
I could only stare at his body on the floor, surrounded by crimson.
This is what a fighter is, isn't it?
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Even in the modern era, where we don't die by swords but by street thugs…
I never imagined daddy would go like this. Killed by some… unknown entity.
「Ah, was I late?」
I looked toward the dojo entrance. A floating pink rabbit was there.
"Are you one of them?!" I pointed at the unconscious woman, glaring with murderous intent.
「Oh heavens no! Hahaha! I'm just a friendly mascot.」
My eyes narrowed.
"Bullshit. Like mahou shoujo stuff?!"
It's not like I don't know anime or manga.
「Yup. And you just happened to defeat 「The Most High」—leader of the youmas.」
What kind of b*llshit is this?! A prank?
Mascots. Magical girls. Is 1+1=4 now?
「I know it seems surreal, but Earth is in peril. You were lucky you only met the leader here… though 'lucky' is understating it.」
The rabbit hopped toward me mid-air. I jolted, guard up.
"How do I know you're not one of them?" I gritted out.
「I'm pink.」
"Huh?"
「Huh?」
I stared in disbelief.
"Really? Making me out to be some racist motherf—"
「Ah, no! It's just… the good side usually has a cute mascot, right?」
I mean, true, but…
"Lucifer looks handsome and beautiful."
I crossed my arms.
「…」
「Good point. Hm… does this help?」
She extended a paw. Constellations shimmered above it.
「This is the power of the stars. And I want you to wield it.」
The rabbit looked at me, determined.
「I want you to avenge the wronged. To be the fist of justice!」
"Yeah, nah. That doesn't work on me. Sorry." I waved her off.
「Wait! Don't you want to get stronger?」
"I just beat the youma leader with my fists."
「Fame?」
"Nah."
「Don't you want to fight?」
My eyes widened.
"That's the same as being the 'fist of justice' or whatever. Sorry, rabbit."
「Guhh! Fine! Then just join me for now. Fight all you want—no forced meetings. Don't worry about destruction, as long as you kill youmas! And you get paid… per punch.」
A smile curled on my lips.
Finally. A good f*cking deal.