Tobi crashed into Mikey's waist, driving him back until his spine slammed against the wall.
"Gah!" Mikey hissed, the shock rattling through his ribs.
Instinct kicked in. He clasped both hands together and hammered them down on Tobi's back.
"OW! Shit!"
Tobi yelped, stumbling, clutching his shoulders like a beaten dog. Mikey shoved him off with a sharp kick, sending him skidding a few feet across the mat. They squared off again—Tobi gulping, wide-eyed, sweat already dripping down his temple. He looked like he wanted to run for the door. But his knees bent, his arms raised. He wasn't quitting. Mikey wiped his brow, shaking the sting out of his arms, then slid into his stance. Across the room, Ryosuke leaned toward Luce, voice low and smug.
"I bet you he goes for the legs. Like you taught him."
Luce smirked without looking away.
"Yeah. He will."
Mikey roared and charged, teeth bared. Tobi rolled, panic fueling his movement, and shot a leg out.
"Shit!"
Mikey's feet left the ground. He hit the mat flat on his back, breath knocked out.
"Ah—ow…"
Before he could recover, Tobi's shadow loomed overhead. The kid swung his heel down in a desperate axe kick. Mikey rolled away, scrambling back to his feet.
Dammit… he's fast.
Mikey lunged again, fists flying. A heavy right. Tobi ducked. A sharp left. Tobi sidestepped.Then came the storm—six punches in rapid succession, each thrown with fury, each missing. Tobi weaved and bent like someone cornered by death itself, backing up until his heel nearly touched the basket of wooden practice swords. Mikey snarled, grabbed one without breaking stride, and swiped across Tobi's face.
"Are you CRAZY?!"
Tobi squealed, dropping low. To Mikey's shock, he didn't just duck—he did the splits. His legs stretched flat, sliding under the arc of the blade, his terrified expression upside down and ridiculous.
Fuck… he's agile…
Tobi popped back up like a spring, closing distance before Mikey could reset. Mikey's eyes widened. He started to swing again—
CRACK.
His head snapped sideways from Tobi's fist. Then the flurry came. Right hook to the other cheek. A brutal jab to the stomach. A slap—a slap?—to the side of the neck. Palm strike to the chin. Two more palms buried into his gut. Another sharp slap to the face, almost insulting. Finally—WHAM—a desperate kick to the chest that launched Mikey across the mat. He hit, slid, and stopped with a groan.
"Ahh…"
His ribs burned as he tried to get air back in his lungs. He pushed himself up on shaky arms, wincing. Tobi blinked, staring at his own hands in disbelief. Then—burst out laughing.
"Wooooah!"
He spun toward Ryosuke and Luce, grinning like an idiot, throwing up two thumbs like a little kid who just won recess. Ryosuke smirked knowingly. Luce chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. Mikey looked at him, eyes narrowing.
What the fuck…?
I didn't think he'd be this tough…
Isn't he supposed to be a pussy?!
Then Mikey's gaze sharpened. Tobi's smile stayed on his face, but his legs were trembling. His hands shook violently at his sides. His chest heaved like he'd sprinted a mile. He was terrified.
He's good. Really fucking good. But… It's survival instinct. Not confidence. He's scared shitless, and he's still fighting. Gotta respect it. But I ain't losing to this kid.
Mikey rose to his feet, chest heaving, sweat trickling down his temple. His eyes darted to the wooden practice sword lying fifteen feet away. Tobi saw the glance. His eyes widened. Then Mikey bolted for it.
"Hell no!" Tobi yelped, sprinting faster than panic should allow.
He dove, fingers closing around the hilt. Mikey's boot stomped down—hard.
"AAAHHHH!" Tobi squealed, yanking his crushed fingers away as Mikey shoved him back with a savage kick. Mikey bent for the sword—but Tobi, already bouncing backward, lashed out with a wild kick. His heel smashed straight into Mikey's face.
"Gah! Ow! Motherfucker!"
Mikey staggered, clutching his nose. With a quick snap, Tobi kicked the sword out of reach, sending it skittering across the mats.
"No swords!" he barked, his voice cracking. "That's cheating!"
"Fine, fine—fuck, dude!"
Mikey pinched his nose, grimacing.
"I'll get you back for that, dickhead."
Tobi gulped, his bravado trembling in his throat.
"Y-Yeah? Y-you try that… b-bitch…"
Mikey lunged forward like a bull. Tobi ducked under the swing, sprang up with a desperate uppercut. Mikey reeled, stumbling back. Tobi didn't let him breathe. A high kick whipped toward Mikey's head. Mikey threw his arm up, blocking with a dull thud.
Gotcha.
Mikey's hand clamped down on Tobi's leg.
"F-Fuck—!"
Tobi's eyes went wide. In a burst of instinct, he twisted his body, his free leg snapping up in a back heel kick that nailed Mikey in the chest.
"Ughhh!"
The air shot from Mikey's lungs as he staggered back, grip breaking. Tobi charged, flurrying with everything he had—slaps, punches, kicks. The strikes weren't all clean, but they were enough to sting. Mikey's arms flailed against the onslaught.
Shit! I can't find an opening!
He's fast!
A kick sliced past his head, close enough for Mikey to feel the wind. He barely dodged, heart thundering. Then—something clicked.
Wait.
Mikey's gaze locked on Tobi's face.
His eyes…
Tobi's movements weren't random. He looked—always—just before he struck. To the arm he'd use, then the target he wanted. Mikey's lips curled into a slow smirk.
That's it.
Across the mat, Ryosuke's grin spread like a predator's.
"Tsk. You might be right, Luciana. This is over."
Luce arched a brow.
"What?"
"He figured it out. Tobias' giveaway."
Tobi roared, voice cracking like glass, and charged. His eyes flicked right—then locked onto Mikey's face. Sure enough, a wild haymaker flew from his right arm, aiming for Mikey's left side.
Mikey was already moving.
Got you.
He rolled past the punch, arms snapping around Tobi's arm like iron chains.
"Shit—!"
With a savage twist, Mikey hurled him into the wall. Tobi's face smacked the surface with a bone-jarring crack.
"Gahhh!" He bounced off, dazed, eyes rolling. Mikey didn't hesitate. He hammered a fist square into Tobi's nose.
"AHHH! Fuck!"
Tobi stumbled, hands flying to his face, blood already smearing across his palm.
"What the hell, man?!" he groaned, voice muffled, wincing hard.
Mikey chuckled darkly, smirking through his ragged breath.
"Told you I'd get you back, dickhead."
Still holding his nose, Tobi waved weakly with his free hand.
"I know, I know… but damn! Ow…"
Tobi, still clutching his bleeding nose, suddenly lunged again. His voice cracked with fury.
"Fuck you... Fuck you and your pretty face! I'm gonna mess it up!"
He snatched a wooden practice sword off the rack and came charging. Mikey's eyes widened.
"Shit!"
The blade whistled past his cheek. Mikey bolted, boots pounding against the mat, weaving under wild swings. He spotted the staircase to the overhead balcony. An idea sparked. That dangerous grin spread across his face—the one that meant trouble. He sprinted for the stairs.
"Come back here!" Tobi shouted, chasing after him with flailing strikes that clattered against the railing as Mikey bounded upward. From below, Ryosuke narrowed his eyes, his voice cool, edged with curiosity.
"What are you up to, young man…?"
At the top, Mikey spun and held his ground. Tobi came barreling in, sweat pouring, breath ragged, eyes feverish. His swings came heavy, desperate, each strike forcing Mikey back a step. One slash down. Mikey slipped aside. Another horizontal sweep—barely ducked. The third came screaming in. Mikey caught it mid-arc, wooden blades grinding against each other. Their teeth clenched, shoulders trembling as they shoved for control. Mikey snarled, forcing Tobi backward until his spine pressed against the balcony wall across from the railing. But Tobi's eyes sparked with an idea of his own.
"Not done yet!"
He hopped, planting both feet against the wall behind him, and shoved off like a spring. His full weight slammed forward, aiming to crush Mikey against the rail. Mikey's grin only widened.
"Perfect."
He let go of the sword. His arm snapped around Tobi's torso. And with a reckless roll of his body both boys went over the edge.
"WHAAAAAT?!"
Tobi's scream echoed as they plummeted twenty-five feet.The crash was thunderous. They obliterated the table beneath them, wood exploding into splinters and dust, the impact rattling the entire room. Gasps filled the air. Ryosuke let laughter slip, a booming, proud, delighted sound.
"HA! Magnificent!"
Beside him, Luce pressed a hand over her mouth, trying—and failing—to hide her grin. She followed after Ryosuke, shaking her head. In the wreckage, Mikey pushed up through a haze of dust. He straddled Tobi's chest, one hand pinning the broken sword's hilt against Tobi's neck. His grin was savage, victorious.
"I win… asshole…"
Tobi coughed, blood smearing his lips. His hand twitched.
"Y-you sure… prick?"
Mikey's smirk faltered. He felt something hard against his ribs. He looked down—Tobi held a jagged shard of wood, angled at Mikey's chest. Both froze. Then Mikey wheezed a laugh.
"Fuck… okay…"
He rolled off, collapsing to Tobi's side. The boys lay on their backs amid splinters, staring at the ceiling, their chests rising and falling like overworked bellows. Tobi winced, wiping blood from his face. His voice rasped, half a groan.
"I don't like you much… but you're not too bad."
Mikey coughed out a chuckle.
"Yeah… you're not that bad either."
Tobi turned his head, squinting at him.
"And for the record—I care about Amelia. But not enough to keep fighting your crazy ass. Who the hell launches themselves off a balcony willingly?"
Mikey smirked through a wince.
"Me. I do."
For a moment, they both just lay there, silent, listening to each other's ragged breathing.
Finally, Mikey whispered, voice hoarse.
"Tie?"
Tobi gave a slow, exhausted nod.
"Tie."
Mikey dragged up a trembling fist, knuckles raised.
Tobi eyed it, muttering, "Asshole…" But he raised his own fist, tapping it against Mikey's so neither was left hanging. Mikey grinned faintly.
"Nice to meet you too, Tobi."
Tobi groaned.
"Yeah, yeah. Nice to meet you, Mikey."
And just like that—through blood, splinters, and insanity—their first of many fights was finished.