" Hey, everyone, this is my new friend Yoshi. Yoshi, these are my friends."
Fukuoka declared, his voice full of impulsive enthusiasm.
"Friend? Dude, we just met yesterday."
Zaren snapped, his tone laced with skepticism.
"Don't be like that, Zaren, my best pal. I already consider you a best pal!"
Fukuoka ignored the offense, using the title with an almost provocative cheerfulness.
Zaren gave him a look of icy disdain, which slid from Fukuoka to Yoshi.
"I can tell this guy's a total drag."
Zaren stated, without mincing words.
"It's a pleasure, everyone. My name is Yoshi."
Yoshi attempted an approach, his voice slightly hesitant, extending his hand.
No one moved. The silence that followed was heavy and hostile.
"(Giggles). We're not going to shake your hand, you loser. You shouldn't be here at this school; it's your father's enemy. Tell us the truth: would you kill your own father?"
Zaren asked, the question sharp, aiming to wound.
The atmosphere in the circle changed drastically. Yoshi took a deep breath, and fear gave way to a firmness no one expected.
"Yes."
The answer was direct, a single, powerful hammer blow.
Everyone's expressions changed, the contempt giving way to stunned surprise.
"Yes, I would kill him. He chose the path he set for himself, and I chose mine. We are different people."
Yoshi reiterated, his eyes flashing with a forced conviction.
The bell rang, and everyone left amidst the shocked murmur.
"Wow, that was amazing!"
Fukuoka exclaimed with genuine admiration, accompanying Yoshi through the school.
"What's up? Are you on the same level as me? You're so cute, little one. I thought you were going to start with the little kids."
"How old are you?"
Fukuoka asked, studying Yoshi with invasive curiosity.
"16."
Yoshi answered, defensively again.
"What? Almost the same age as me? Let's go!"
Fukuoka smiled, the idea of having a new friend in the same age group visibly cheering him up.
"Today, Nobaru and I will demonstrate a bit of our strength for you, so pay close attention."
Sensei Yagato said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Seal Release."
Nobaru pulled out her axe, and her icy, menacing aura began to spread, enveloping the blade.
"Listen, Yagato. Today, I'm going to kick your butt, you mediocre sensei."
Her voice was a promise of pain; the rage for him having left her waiting was palpable.
Yagato blinked, trying to disarm her with cheap charm.
"Are you still thinking about our date?"
Nobaru's response was the axe. She threw it with murderous speed. It whizzed right past the sensei's head and embedded itself in a tree behind him, slicing it in half with a bang.
"Whoa! If that had hit me, it would've cut my head off!"
Yagato gasped, the surprise in his voice genuine, mixed with fear.
"That was the objective. (Giggles)." Nobaru gave a cold laugh.
"Seal Release."
Nobaru concentrated more power, her body trembling with contained fury.
"You're going to pay dearly for leaving me waiting like an idiot. Seal Release: Winter of Death!"
"Whoa, it's a couple's fight!"
Fukuoka shouted, excited, as if watching a spectacle.
"Shut up, you idiot. The teacher would never date a guy like him!"
Zaren retorted, with total conviction.
"How do you know?"
Fukuoka asked.
"Because he's not her type. Women like quieter, darker, cooler men, not like the sensei. He's cocky, talks too much."
Zaren replied, showing an unexpected analysis of personality.
Walls of piercing, ominously shimmering ice began to surround Yagato.
"Do you know how I felt?"
Nobaru asked, her voice almost a growl of hurt.
Yagato knelt down, exaggeratedly, and pulled a flower out of nowhere.
"My beloved, forgive me."
The Sensei attempted his final charm offensive.
Nobaru let out a scream of pure frustration and delivered a punch that sent him violently crashing into a tree.
"Better than a soap opera!"
Fukuoka commented, his eyes glued to the scene.
"Seal Release."
Several shadowy women, made of shadow and ice, began to emerge from the ground, ready to tear the Sensei's body apart.
"Nobaru, wake up!"
Yagato yelled, trying to cut through the spell.
"What?"
Nobaru blinked, confused.
"When is the fight going to start? We've been here for half an hour and nothing!"
Fukuoka asked, frustrated, looking at his watch.
Nobaru had been trapped in a spell by Yagato from the beginning, a subtle illusion that made her fight against herself.
"Wake up, sleepyhead."
Yagato said with a victorious smile.
"You idiot, why would you put me in this stupid spell of yours? I'm going to kill you!"
Nobaru screamed, angry and humiliated.
Suddenly, Yagato's phone rang. He answered it, and the humor vanished from his face.
"I have to go, bye, sensei,"
he said, running off with an unexpected urgency.
"Yoshi, come fight me! Let's see your potential!"
Nobaru challenged, channeling her frustration towards the new student.
"Seal Release, Celestial Dragons!"
Yoshi invoked, his father's technique emerging with a powerful glow.
"Wow, how impressive! You can use this kind of technique. It really reminds me of your father's."
Nobaru commented, her gaze a mix of respect and caution.