Chapter 7: Bullied Two Kids.

After another ten minutes or so, the bell rang, and the students clambered up, mentally exhausted. His mouth opening slightly, Takeo let loose an ever so silent yawn. As he walked down the hall, suddenly, he heard a commotion erupt. Down the hall from the Baking Department, was everyone's favorite Fashion Design Department….. Though honestly, only a few people genuinely cared about fashion in that department.

By the door into one of the Fashion Dep. classrooms, a group of teens had gathered in their varying blue uniforms, whispering in excitement as they stared through a small window. Takeo walked forwards, high above the rest of the students as he politely made his way through the crowd to the front.

Looking inside, the Japanese native watched in amusement as two figures fought. Or to be more exact one dodged, while the other punched. The aggressor in question was a decently tall, well-built figure, who was obviously a boxer. His skin was pale but slightly rough, and his slim face could be compared to that of an actor.

Sharp eyebrows, along with a long small nose, not to mention a slightly bulged lower lip. His jet-black hair was gelled back, with the sides cut off, reminiscent of a crew cut. He had black piercings, and narrowed, fierce dark eyes that Takeo presumed to be brown.

Like Vin Jin, this guy also wore designer brands, with a smooth outer sweatshirt and black pants. His snazzy sneakers were from some luxurious brand, and a thin chain necklace had been clasped to his neck.

He would have genuinely looked like a cool guy, if not for that one….. Factor. His expression. Bulging veins, snotty snout, glaring hatred-filled eyes, and so much more. Looked like a complete bastard of a jerk. Everyone's favorite boxer, Zack Lee.

Takeo had mixed feelings about the guy. For one thing, he had guts, and good ones at that, which he had respected… But, there were a few moments that did not paint him in that…. Ideal of a light.

Fists flashing in powerful front-flying jabs, they whistled about, threatening to land a serious blow to the victim's face, but to no avail. Zack was a good solid boxer, with pretty good posture and deliverance, but in a fight-driven world like this, he was a dime a dozen. Even more so now at his "infant" stage, where he was simply just a slightly more powerful street thug.

In the room, countless students watched, their eyes gaping as the fight progressed with not many breakthroughs. It was a simple matter of someone punching out, and the other smoothly dodging….

Though, Takeo could tell the other guy was having some troubled thoughts at the moment. It was obvious, because Daniel (Default) Park, was the one dodging. Classic bullied main-character turned prodigy moment. While there were some favorable moments for the guy, Takeo for the most part, had a neutral view of the guy.

Out of nowhere, Zack's left fist struck out forwards, before he suddenly stepped forth on his other leg, a blistering right hook straight towards Daniel's face. A feint.

*Tpw!*

Daniel widened his eyes, arm whipping up instinctively, as the fist landed in his open palm.

Silence. As per cliche high-school bystander rules, everyone's jaws dropped as they stared at this "miraculous event". A group of girls began to squeal as they stared, starry-eyed at the apparently "handsome" new transfer student.

Takeo's eyes traced over Daniel. He was what one would call, your stereotypical perfect pretty boy. He was what could be called the embodiment of the Korean beauty standard. Wearing the standard uniform down to its core, he was tall and slightly muscular, with a lean figure and long legs. His skin was snowy pale and unblemished, and of course, there was his face. Semi-messy black hair coming down in bangs about his forehead, along with a handsome flowery face.

Long pointed nose, supple lips, hard-hitting jawline, straight piercing eyebrows, you name, it, he had it. One of his most defining traits though were those fierce inky grey eyes, almond-shaped and large.

They held tinted robustness to them that Takeo was sure that even the owner themself probably didn't know of, along with an expression of much hardship and terror, for the current situation. It was an expression that could be found in many of the newer generations back in the other Japan…..

That of the ones who struggled to make a name for themselves and fend off for themselves in a hostile environment already cemented and structured by the older generations. Of course, that didn't make Takeo relate in any way, as he was the one helping crush the newer generations. Not that they were much younger than him.

The fight continued on, with more intensity and nerves to it, as Zack Lee became closer and closer to hitting Daniel Park. His fists began to land nearer and nearer, each punch probably capable of shattering any old thug's bones.

*Fshiu! Fwum! Ftoo!*

As Zack's fists closed in, Takeo's eyebrows quirked, as he saw the bullied child take his first step into the fighting world. Inside the classroom, the sun's light illuminated the metal desks, and dust particles floated about. The students watched with bated breath as the two, standing in the midst of a row both pulled forth their fists.

Just from the look on his face, Takeo could tell that Daniel was filled with inner turmoil. The pent-up emotions and stress had created a new rage, allowing for the kid to now channel this, into a defining first punch.

Well, that was how it ended in the story. In Lookism, Daniel had punched Zack in the solar plexus, giving the boxer-bully something to think about. Sadly for them, this wasn't their "Lookism" story anymore. It was his time to shine and make an impression on everybody around.

And so, as the two both made moves to act, suddenly, Takeo's vision began to… Change. It was as if time itself had slowed down. He watched as Daniel's fist slowly inched its way towards Zack.

This was one of the gifts that Jacob had given him. A very simple and wide-ranging ability.

[Everyone Else Is Basically A Sloth]

When activated, everybody around him, including himself, slowed down to a….. Sloth's pace. It was basically bullet-time, but with a few twists. The most prominent of these was the "sloth" part. It didn't only mean that everything seemed to move in slow motion.... There were some confusing intricacies too it.

It was very confusing to explain, but while in this mode, all attacks became "sloppy", and easily "blocked". For example, a flying straight jab, full of speed and power, would become a wiggly, powerless punch that some ten-year-old dished out.

In his eyes, it would be like that, and the results would act like that until it made contact, but in the eyes of everyone else, including the puncher themselves, it would still be their powerful straight jab. Strange stuff.

Within a second in this slowed reality, he had taken off his blue coat, hanging it over an arm as he burst through the doorway. Barely anyone reacted in this closed silent world as Takeo jumped over a desk, throwing his coat to the side.

By this time, he was now in front of the pair, and the punch was reaching closer and closer to Zack.

On the final stretch, he sped forwards, coming in between them, catching their fists with ease, as his ponytail flipped back gracefully.

*Twck! Smp!*

With a defining flash, time returned to its normal pace as the roaring of the students became stifled. Both Zack Lee and Daniel Park were shocked, as a new man had entered the conflict. They stared down, their closed fists completely immobile in the iron jaws of the pony-tail-bearing teen's large hands.

Everything had happened in just a few seconds…..

"Well, well, well... Why can't we just all get along? It isn't that hard of a process, no?" Smiling warmly, Takeo opened his mouth and began to talk. "By the way, where are you guys from? I'm from Sendai, by the way. Just wondering."

"You f*cking b*tch! Die!" Being the impulsive one he was, Zack Lee switched to his left hand, sending a punch.

*Thoom!*

Twirling down, he elbowed Daniel, sending the pretty boy crashing to the ground. The punch missed completely as Takeo sent a counterattack of his own. It was a solid, technique-less punch that took out Zack, a demolishing blow to the solar plexus.

"Ktargh!" The teen clutched his gut, coughing out saliva as he wheezed. Looking up, he glared at Takeo, who simply shrugged back. "Y-you…."

"You threw the first punch. I was simply trying to stop a fight. All in self-defense…. But I might have overdone it. My bad~" Grabbing Zack's hand, he hoisted the delinquent to his feet. "See ya kids."

The rest of the crowd watched the whole procession in some horror. This guy… He could be said to be as handsome as Daniel, in his own right. And, he was even stronger than Zack Lee, one of J-Highschool's strongest. To take the guy down in a single hit…. What a monster.

Despite this, Takeo had truly gained many fans from this occasion. He was hot, good at fighting, what else did people need to say? It truly showed something about "lookism".