Humans all have a wish.
And when they have a wish… who do they first come to?
No, it isn't gods. It isn't deities. The first thing they approach is a falling star.
"Rio, look—a shooting star! What do you wish for?"
I looked up and my red eyes reflected my father's smiling face.
"I want to be a good fighter! Like daddy!"
I raised both my arms and my lips curled into a big smile.
I adore my daddy very much. He teaches in a dojo with all sorts of martial arts! He may look like a hobo, but I love his beard.
That's why, when I grow up? I wanna be like daddy! Punching and kicking rocks!
"Hahahah, you wanna be a fighter? But why? Rio is very cute and small! You'd be much better if you became a model or a celebrity."
My cheeks puffed up as tears formed in my eyes while my daddy headpatted me.
"I don't wanna be just 'cute'! I want to be cute and be able to fight! Like Kmen Rider or Power Rngers!"
I puffed and puffed as I looked at my daddy with eyes burning with passion.
"Pffft… HAHAHAH! Okay, okay! Daddy will teach you. But if you really can't do it, daddy will stop teaching, okay?"
I looked down at the ground after hearing those words, and daddy seemed to feel it too. He squatted down and pinched my cheek to make me look at him.
"You wished upon the star, right? You want to be a fighter—so prove daddy wrong, okay? But again, if it doesn't work—"
"No! I'll become the best fighter ever!"
I nodded my head as I clutched both my arms together.
"Okay. Starting tomorrow, daddy will begin teaching you the basics."
My eyes sparkled and I kept jumping with glee after hearing daddy say that!
"Really?! Thank you! Thank you!"
I hugged my daddy and looked at him with a bright smile, leaning into his hand as he touched my head.
---
『The Next Day』
"Wo-woahhh!"
I closed my eyes as I stumbled onto my butt on the tatami mat.
"Rio! Are you okay??"
Daddy quickly ran up to me and helped me get up, then meticulously scanned every part of my body for injuries.
"Daddyyyy, I'm fine! You don't have to do all thattt!"
My face turned bright red as I looked at the other people in the dojo watching me with a smile.
Stop! Stop! Stop looking at me! I know I'm cute, but this is too embarrassing!
I wanted to bury myself in a hole!
"Daddyyy, stop! You're embarrassing me!"
I looked at my daddy, my eyes averting. And though I said that… I didn't really mean it.
"Hm, okay. Let's repeat."
I nodded and smiled.
From then on, I learned Judo, Karate, Kung Fu.
From the age of 8 all the way to 15.
But aside from those? I've come to love boxing the most.
I've attained a couple medals here and there, and my daddy is very proud of me.
During those times, I firmly believed that martial arts is the pinnacle of all things. That even in the era of guns, nothing is cooler…
Than being able to stand up for yourself.
"Rio, we're about to arrive."
My eyes instantly became focused as I stared at my manager.
"Ah. Yes, thank you!"
I gave my manager a warm smile and she coughed, a small pinkness appearing on her cheek.
"Please remember you have a competition next week, okay?"
"Yuppp! No problem!"
I raised my hand and formed a fist.
As the bus came to a halt, I took my bag and got off, waving my manager goodbye.
She doesn't need to come with me—she knows I'm safe the moment I reach a street near my dad's dojo!
Plus, I can handle myself just fine.
As I began walking, I stared at the empty street before me.
"This is… weird? Usually there's a lot of people walking at this time."
I looked at my watch. It's 3 PM—I'm right! Usually this time has tons of people walking here.
My eyes kept scanning the street as I walked, feeling a slight tingle on my spine for some reason.
But the moment daddy's dojo came into view, my worries and concern dropped immediately. I began skipping toward the dojo, not minding my heavy bag.
I skipped toward the dojo, my bag bouncing against my side.
"Daaaaddyyy, I'm backkk!"
I shouted, swinging the door open.
But the moment my eyes landed inside, my voice caught in my throat.
My daddy… was lying on the floor.
A dark pool spread beneath him, the smell of iron sharp in my nose. His chest barely rose. His hand twitched.
"D-Daddy…?"
My knees almost buckled. I stumbled forward, my hands shaking as I reached for him.
He turned his head toward me, red eyes dulling with pain, lips barely moving.
Run…
That single word, cracked and faint, hit me harder than any blow. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. My hands hovered over him, trembling.
"D-Daddy, don't… please…"
The dojo felt impossibly quiet. Only the dripping of something dark somewhere in the shadows broke the silence. My stomach churned. My heart slammed against my ribs, screaming disbelief.
I wanted to scream, to beg, to shake him awake—but my hands froze, slick with his blood. Every instinct told me to run. Every part of me wanted to stay.
Then I heard it: a low, sultry voice that didn't belong to anyone in the dojo.
『My my~ what an unfortunate event…』
I spun around. Nothing. Just shadows. My heart jumped into my throat.
"Show yourself!"
I demanded, my voice stronger than I felt.
『But of course. Why else would I be here? He claimed to be the best. I tested… he's utterly weak.』
My finger curled involuntarily as I balled my hands into fists, anger and grief flaring.
"So? Why are you still here then?"
I gritted my teeth.
『Hmm… because I'm bored, and I want an extra snack.』
The cat's face twisted into a smile that no cat should be capable of. Its yellow eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.
My stomach turned, and a shiver ran down my spine—but I refused to show fear. My anger burned hotter than grief.
The black cat arched its back, fur bristling, and then vanished in a blur, reappearing midair with claws extended.
I leapt back, narrowly avoiding the slash, fists clenching. A smirk tugged at my lips despite the fear.
"You think you can beat me? I'm stronger than daddy!"
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and settled into a fighting stance—feet grounded, core tight, fists ready.
Every muscle coiled, every nerve sharp.
When I opened my eyes, the black cat crouched low on the tatami, claws scraping the mat like tiny knives. It could strike at any second.
『Are you now? We'll see about that.』
The cat vanished in a blink.
I scanned the dojo, sensing nothing—no shadow, no sound, not even a whisper of movement.
Then… a faint brush of air grazed my cheek. I pivoted, my body shifting instinctively to the right, a flash of Judo footwork ingrained in me, and there it was—in my peripheral vision.
Our eyes locked. Mine narrowed, hers glinting like ink spilled under moonlight.
A small, defiant smile tugged at my lips.
"Dumbass,"
I whispered.
I spun, twisting my hips into a fluid arc, the motion honed from countless Karate katas. My leg shot out, catching the black cat mid-pounce with a crisp, precise kick-
It moved almost too lightly, unnaturally, as if weight were an illusion.
But the moment I struck, its body arched, launching through the air with a violent grace, tearing through the roof in a spray of wood and dust.
It didn't take long before the cat eventually fell through the dojo once more, coughing and sneezing dust
『Human, I may have underestimated you』
The black cat hissed, it's claws scraping the tatami mat
"You think?"
I retorted, crossing my arms
『That confidence of yours will cease』
A black pillar erupted in the dojo, the wind grew heavy causing me to slide a couple inches off
The pillar enveloped the black cat, I couldn't see what was happening. But I knew this isn't good.
I crouched down as I protected my eyes from the wind and dust and took a few steps back even more
Then-
Boom!
A huge shockwave erupted, causing me to fly and hit my back against the wall
"Gah!"
Saliva forcedfully escaped my mouth as I fell through the floor
『You poor thing, you could've escaped. But no, your hubris got the better of you』
A very deep and feminine laugh erupted at the dojo, I looked up greeting my teeth and my eyes widened.
Infront of me wasnt a cat, but a woman who looks around 20 or 30.
She had long white hair, and her skin was as white as snow as well. Her eyes were yellow and I could see that her pupils werent round like us humans, but slits
She wore this black off shouldered dress, she was beautiful, but even Satan was known to be bewitching!
I clenched my hands into a fist as I stood up. Legs shaking and my chest wheezing from the blow from my back.
This is bad
Very bad.
She's right, I should've escaped
But
I looked beside the woman and saw my daddy lying in his pool of blood.
My daddy was a warrior, he wouldve loved to die fighting.
But not like this, not without honor!
I gritted my teeth as I assumed a fighting stance once more.
『Still gonna fight huh? Pfft, so be it. This will be your last』
The white haired woman began walking towards me ever so slowly
My heart is beating fast
Every nerve in my body screamed at me to run
But I knew the truth.
I ain't getting outta here alive
But even so, I believe a star is born from being disturbed by another force so great they begin pulling inward.
It just so happened I wished upon a star.
-To Be Continued