1.43: A so-called Panic attack?

"This is it then… he's going to cut us out," Makoto said.

Franco, who seemed to be in a bad state, stopped and fell to the ground.

"What was it all worth…I did so much to make it in Legon City. And now my fate lays in his hands?!"

All the other staff of the hospital looked at them.

"Franco, this isn't the right-"

"YOU BE QUIET!! YOU KNOW CLEARLY THAT THIS IS NOT HOW IT HAS TO END FOR ME. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEADER!! NOT HIM! AND ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS ACCEPT THAT??!!"

"Franco, just calm down-"

"And then what? What will I do? He'll kick me out, and then I'm dead. You want me to stay calm?"

Makoto did not answer.

*Franco Exhales.

And then he punched Makoto in the face.

THUD!!

"…what, the, f*ck?!"

"You know it's fine. But you'll then be my last opponent!"

Makoto got up and took off his coat. He also exposed his muscles to the nurses. Without warning, he went for a high kick to his neck.

KICK!!

Franck followed up with an uppercut.

PUNCH!!

Makoto flew up the room but somehow landed on the roof. Hanging onto one of the vents, he drop-kicked Franco on his face and moved behind him to initiate a supplex.

SWING!!

Franco regained sight and realized what was going on. He timed it perfectly to land on his hands and flip himself back. Makoto still held onto him, so Franco went for a direct head-butt.

HIT!

The security arrived and took action. Makoto Roundhouse kicked one on his jaw when they tried to catch them. Franco rolled over Makoto's back and punched the other security. They both stood back to back and began to laugh.

"HAHAHAHA! What the hell are we even doing?" Franco asked.

Makoto swiped his leg between Franco's, leaving him in the air upside down. He then took a stance, "Karate," where he coated his arm with steel, and flames emerged from his hand.

~Flame Karate Style: FIST OF DISPAIR!

BAM!!

He connected perfectly to Franco's chest, leaving him flying to the other side of the room. Franco landed on one of the walls and momentarily lay there.

Makoto walked towards him, keeping his stance intact. "First time you fight without your zone?" He held his hand out.

"I'll count that as a win for you," Franco replied.

He held onto Makoto's hand and translated it to a bro-hug.

"You punch like a girl," Franco said.

"You fall like one," Makoto replied. 

And so they went to the nurses and guards to apologize.

"We are very sorry for the commotion. My friend here was having an anxiety attack, so I helped him vent out a bit."

They just stared at them, asking themselves if it was worse when it wasn't an attack.

***

Makoto and Franco returned to the room where the others were, but they were all asleep. So, they quietly left and went to the rooftop, witnessing a breathtaking sunrise.

"Hey, Max." Makoto looked at Franco. "Sorry for overreacting…"

He looked down as he said that, so Makoto turned towards him.

"Yeah, I hate it when you hit me out of the blue. If we weren't here, you would have used your zone; I would have used my gun."

"Yeah, we would have destroyed this hospital if that happened."

They stayed silent for a moment.

"What do you think he will decide?" Franco asked.

Makoto didn't know how to answer that. "You know, I always went with this saying. If there is a decision, it's better to wait to hear it. I don't know what's running in Tedashii's mind right now. But what I do know is that we messed up." He stood back up. "If we must pay for our actions, I don't mind. But I'm not saying I'll go down without a fight."

Franco just laughed. "Do you think I would also go down that easily?" 

They both walked out and smiled. Whatever may come, they were prepared to fight back.

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