First Encounter with Ashe
The next day, I returned to school, still carrying the weight of questions in my mind about Hanma and the people around him. I wasn’t thinking about Bryan anymore I knew that wouldn’t be the last time our paths would cross, but for now, I had no intention of seeking trouble. I walked quietly through the school corridors, observing the students, each busy with their own world. Some groups were clearly Hanma's followers, while others seemed like victims of the system in place here.
As I headed towards the gym, I felt a strange aura from one corner. It wasn’t a threat, but there was an energy to it something familiar to me as a martial artist. I stopped and followed the source of that energy with my eyes. That’s when I saw her.
A girl was practicing her kicks by the side of the gym, each movement precise and flawless. It was clear to me that she was a Taekwondo practitioner. Every spin and punch through the air was accompanied by discipline and power. I realized I’d been staring too long, but before I could look away, she caught me watching.
Our eyes met. I couldn’t explain it, but I immediately knew she wasn’t like the other students here. She walked over to me, confidence in every step.
“New here?” she asked, straight and to the point.
I nodded, trying to gauge her intentions. I couldn’t see the usual arrogance that most of the students here carried. Others walked around like they were always looking for a fight, but she was different her discipline was evident.
“Ashe,” she introduced herself. “You? Jayden, right?”
I was curious how she knew my name, but I quickly brushed it off. “Yeah, Jayden. How’d you know?”
“I heard there’s a new transfer student who’s good at martial arts. I just didn’t expect to see you so soon.” She gave a slight smile, but there was a serious look in her eyes. “What’s your style?”
“Jeet Kune Do,” I replied. I noticed her nod as if she had some understanding of what I said.
“Hmm. Uncommon,” she said. “Most of the students here stick to boxing, karate, or just wild, undisciplined moves. But you you’ve got control in your movements.”
I looked at her more closely. “You’re Taekwondo, right?”
“Yeah. Started training when I was a kid,” she said, glancing at her hands. “But here, discipline isn’t enough. You have to prove yourself, not just in martial arts but in how you deal with people.”
She had a point. In this school, knowing martial arts wasn’t enough. You also had to stand firm amidst the chaos. But I knew I wouldn’t let the system control me. If I had to defend myself, I’d do it at the right time.
“Well,” I replied, “I’m not here to look for trouble.”
“But trouble will find you,” she said, her tone serious. “Especially if Hanma’s already hearing your name. He runs this place. If you want to live peacefully, you need to know how to deal with him—or his people.”
Hanma again. Everything I heard about him confirmed that he held great power in the school. He wasn’t just a typical bully he controlled the entire system of fear here.
“Is Hanma really that strong?” I asked.
Ashe shook her head. “Not just strong. He’s smart too. He doesn’t get involved with people like us. He has others do the dirty work for him.”
I became interested in what Ashe was saying. “Others?”
She gave a faint smile. “Yeah. You’ve probably already met Bryan. He’s one of Hanma’s closest. But besides Bryan, there are others. There’s Ravi, the Muay Thai fighter, and Kenji, a Karate master. Each of them is skilled in their own style. They’re the ones Hanma uses to keep the students in line.”
I thought about it. If that’s how things worked here, simply avoiding trouble wouldn’t be enough. The time would come when I’d face Hanma’s people, including him. I knew I was good, but I needed to be even more prepared.
“I’m not trying to get ahead of you,” Ashe said, “but if you want to survive here, it’s better to be ready. I know you can handle it. You’re different from the others. I just don’t know how far you can push yourself.”
I stood tall and looked at Ashe. “I can handle it. I won’t let Hanma or his people control me. If the time comes that I have to face them, I’ll do it with everything I’ve got.”
She smiled and nodded. “Good. I hope so, Jayden. I hope so.” As Ashe walked away, I felt a new sense of determination wash over me. It wasn’t just about discipline in Jeet Kune Do anymore I needed to prepare for a bigger fight. And in this school, everything was about survival. But I knew that one day, it wouldn’t just be about surviving it would be a clash of principles and skill.