While Loki was enjoying reading in the library, in the first year class C of the martial arts course there was a student who sat in a seat at the end of the room near the window and he too was enjoying reading a book.

The student had numerous bruises on his body, and some cuts on his hands. This student was Michael Rosales, he was the only one in class C that took classes seriously. Among the students of the martial arts course, he was the person considered to have the weakest body.

…

Once class ended, some students took out their lunches and ate in the classroom, others headed out to eat in the cafeteria. Michael was also about to leave so that he could continue reading his book in the library.

As he was about to leave the classroom, two students blocked his path. These two were part of a delinquent group within the school that has members from both the regular course and the martial arts course.

When the other students saw their actions, they knew what was coming next. One of the two students sneered at Michael as he spoke.

“What’s this leaving already? Did little Michael forget that he has to do something first? Aren’t you suppose to pay us today since it’s the start of the month.”

Michael meekly backed away as he shuddered before he answered.

“I don’t have any more money. I already gave you everything I had.” One of the two delinquents hanged his arm over Michael and pulled him close.

“You’re not getting this Michael, we’re doing this to help you. The reason you’re paying us is so that the others won’t go on and bully you. Seeing as you are the weakest student in the Martial Arts Course, if it weren’t for us you would’ve been beaten up a couple of times already.”

‘You two are the only ones who keep on doing this to me.’ Michael wanted to say this, but of course, no words came out of his mouth and he just lowered his head. The other students were watching and there were some that wanted to help but couldn’t.

The two delinquents might not be a big deal individually but the group they were in was a problem. If they get involved with them, not only will they be unable to help Michael, but they might become part of the ones being bullied.

“I really don’t have any more money,” Michael responded, making one of the delinquents sighed.

“This is what happens when someone that isn’t from a martial arts family gets to somehow invoke inner energy.” After sighing again, one of the delinquents noticed the book Michael was holding and took it from him.

“Oh, this book looks nice… Wait! A martial arts book for advanced level techniques. What the f*ck where did you get this?! This is a hard-to-find copy it’s said that only the upper-class martial arts families can get a hold-off this. Did you steal it?”

“No, that was given to my father by a friend of his that’s from a martial arts family.”

“A normal guy like your dad being friends with a member of the upper class, I doubt it. How about you give this book to us instead? If it’s with you, it’s pretty worthless since you can’t even use your inner energy properly. If you give this to us we won’t ask for protection fees anymore. So how about it, do we have a deal?”

Michael looked at the two smiling delinquents and clenched his fist as he remembered the expression his parents had when they first heard that their son had inner energy. They were so happy that his mother was crying.

“That’s incredible! I knew it, our son is a genius!”

“If you do well, we can finally be able to live better lives.”

The two of them were so excited to hear that he had the talent to become a martial artist, that they gave everything they had to support their son. Even though all martial arts courses from any school were extremely expensive, this one was even more so. This school was considered the best in the city and was not something his parents income could afford. Even with that knowledge they still told him to try and enter.

Michael was able to pass the written test of the school with a perfect score, and he barely passed the practical exam for the martial arts course. When his father found out he passed, he was ecstatic. Since they could not afford to pay for the tuition Michael knew that his parents have sold a lot of things, one of which was their car, it was easy to guess since now his father needed to commute to work. Even his mother would now take all the night shifts she could and was barely home.

Yet he had failed them, he had failed their expectations of him. Once he entered the school, he found it difficult to use his inner energy. He also learned that he could not increase his inner energy like the others. Even with these setbacks, he tried his hardest but he found it difficult to keep up.

Then there was that book, his father excitedly told him that his old friend who was a martial artist gave it to him after learning that his son was able to manifest inner energy.

“Son, me and your mother will try our best to support you. So don’t worry about the money and just keep on doing your best.”

…

When Michael remembered those words, he could no longer hold it in and shouted.

“No, give that back to me!” Michael tried to attack the delinquent holding his book, but his punch was easily evaded and the delinquent countered with a kick. Michael knelt on the ground trying to suppress the pain he was feeling.

“Oi, oi, did you see that? This guy actually attacked me.”

“It would seem that a lesson needs to be taught.” One of the delinquents lifted his hand and was about to punch down, but then someone grabbed hold of his hand.

“Can I join in the fun?”