My Scumbag System - Chapter 231

Chapter 231: How to Break a Girl’s Guard (Literally and Figuratively)
I moved to push my desk against the wall. The wooden legs scraped against the floor. Made Emi wince slightly.

She hurried to help. Set her datapad down on the futon. Grabbed the other end of the desk.

Our fingers brushed as we adjusted the furniture. Her hands were smaller than mine. Warm. Each contact sent a small jolt through my skin.

Together we shifted the futon. Moved the small bookshelf. Cleared a space in the center of the room.

By the time we finished, a thin sheen of sweat glistened on Emi’s forehead. Her breathing had quickened. She pushed a strand of blue hair away from her face. Tucked it behind her ear. Small smile.

“Alright,” I said. Stood in the center of the cleared space. “Let’s start with the basics. No fancy moves. No complicated techniques. Just foundation.”

She nodded eagerly. Stepped forward into the makeshift training area. Her enthusiasm was almost painfully genuine. Completely devoid of the cynicism that colored every interaction in my world.

“I’ve been watching tutorial videos. Should I start with punches or kicks? I practiced the basic jab in front of my mirror, but I’m not sure if my form is right.”

“Neither.” I shook my head. Planted my feet firmly on the ground. “Everything starts from your foundation. Feet shoulder-width apart. Knees bent. Weight on the balls of your feet. Your stance is the difference between staying upright in a fight and eating dirt in the first five seconds.”

She attempted to mimic my stance.

Her movements were stiff. Awkward. Like a puppet with tangled strings. Her back was ramrod straight. Shoulders tense enough to crack walnuts between them. Her feet were too close together. Weight distributed all wrong. Top-heavy and unstable.

“No. Your center of gravity is all wrong. You’re too upright.” I moved behind her. Close enough that she could feel my presence. “Here. Let me show you.”

My hands went to her hips. Applied gentle pressure to guide them lower into a proper fighting stance.

Her whole body went rigid under my touch. Muscles tensed like she’d been shocked by a live wire.

“Eep!”

That adorable squeak again.

Her hoodie rode up slightly as I adjusted her posture. Revealed a strip of soft skin at her lower back. Pale and flawless in the dim light. I could feel the heat radiating from her even through her clothes. My thumbs pressed lightly into the dip just above her waistband. Felt the subtle curve of her spine beneath my fingertips.

I held the position a fraction of a second longer than necessary.

“Relax,” I said. My voice dropped to a murmur near her ear. Close enough that she could feel my breath against her skin. “You’re too tense. Your muscles are locked up. You’ll tire yourself out before the fight even begins.”

She nodded. Her antenna strands bobbed with the motion. Brushed against my cheek.

“Sorry. I’m just nervous. I’ve never really done anything like this before. With anyone. Like this, I mean.”

“Don’t apologize.” I released her hips. Moved to face her. Studied her posture with a critical eye. “Fighting isn’t about politeness. It’s about survival. Now, hands up. Protect your face. That pretty smile won’t do you any good if it’s broken.”

She raised her fists in what I assumed was her idea of a boxing guard. Probably based on movies or anime she’d watched.

Her elbows flared outward like awkward wings. Fists too far from her face. Thumb curled inside her fingers in a way that would guarantee broken knuckles on her first punch.

I clicked my tongue. Shook my head. “You’re leaving your entire side exposed. A good fighter would put a knife right here.”

I paused. Let the threat sink in.

“Or worse, a claw.”

To demonstrate, I stood directly in front of her. Close enough that our body heat mingled in the space between us. My fingers traced the opening she’d left. A slow line from under her arm. Down her ribs. Deliberate. My knuckles brushed the side of her breast as I completed the motion. Felt the soft curve even through the thick fabric of her hoodie.

She yelped. Jumped back. Clutched her side like I’d actually stabbed her.

Her face bloomed bright red. The color spread down her neck. Disappeared beneath her collar. Her eyes were wide and startled. Like a deer caught in headlights.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to… I wasn’t expecting…”

“Stop apologizing.” I straightened up. Crossed my arms over my chest. “In a real fight, your opponent won’t be sorry for exploiting your weaknesses. They’ll be grateful you made it so easy for them to gut you. Apologies are for afterward, if you survive. During? You fight like your life depends on it. Because it does.”

She swallowed hard. Nodded. Her expression was determined despite the blush still coloring her cheeks. There was something in her eyes now. A spark of something beyond embarrassment. Recognition of the seriousness beneath my casual demeanor.

Good.

“Let’s try something else,” I said. Moved to stand in front of her again. “Basic punching technique. Aim for my palm. Don’t worry about power yet. Just focus on form.”

I held up my right hand. Palm facing her.

She squared up. Threw a punch.

It was terrible. Arm fully extended. No rotation. No hip movement. Just arm strength. Her fist barely tapped my palm with the force of a butterfly landing.

“Again.”

She tried again. Same result.

“Your whole body is a weapon. Not just your arm.” I demonstrated. Rotated my hips. Showed her how the power came from the ground. Up through the legs. Through the core. Finally the arm. “See? The punch is just the delivery system. The real power comes from here.”

I touched her hip again. She tensed. But didn’t jump this time.

Progress.

“Now you try.”

She reset. Took a breath. Threw another punch.

Better. Her hips rotated slightly. The impact on my palm was noticeably harder.

“Good. Again.”

We ran through it a dozen times. Each one got better. Her form improved incrementally. Her confidence grew with each successful hit.

By the twentieth punch, she was actually putting some force behind it. My palm stung slightly from the impacts.

“There you go,” I said. Couldn’t help the small smile that crossed my face. “See what happens when you use your whole body?”

“I did it! That actually felt good!”