Kingston Mall-Lee’s Plan

Lee walks over to a table, holding Jacob and Davis.

Lee: You will never guess who I just met in the gym.

Jacob: Scorpion.

Lee: Scorpion…wait how do you know?

Davis, silently sipping his smoothie, listens to both of them talking.

Jacob: I see him here from time to time.

Lee: Huh, didn't know that. I talked with him about this thing I've been thinking about.

Jacob: What thing?

Lee: Well, it seems like Ringstone High has some sort of system among them

Davis, straw still in his mouth, nods in agreement.

Lee: So I was thinking about starting a system among us four. It seems like whatever Ringstone wants from us, they want from him too, so it would be cool if we all had each other backs in case they do anything.

Davis raises an eyebrow and nods, a puzzled expression on his face.

Jacob: I see…Lee, can I ask you a question?

Lee: Yeah, shoot ahead!

Jacob: Do you enjoy fighting?

Lee: …Yes.

Davis and Jacob share a glance.

Jacob: Why?

Lee smiles.

Lee: My dad owned a dojo. He taught me a few moves before he passed…

Davis took a slow sip from his smoothie, his gaze drifting to the table. The cheerful hum of the mall around them seemed to fade for a moment. When Lee mentioned his father's dojo, Davis felt a pang of empathy.

Jacob, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, glanced at Davis. Davis's grip tightened around the smoothie cup.

Lee noticed the change and offered a reassuring smile.

Lee: It's alright. It's why we moved here, a new beginning. I guess the fighting life chose me. Haha.

The weight of Lee's words lingered in the air, and Davis, in a gesture of quiet understanding, placed a hand on Lee's shoulder.

It was a subtle expression of sympathy, a recognition that some wounds were shared silently.