Though the challenge is like gazing, through the eye of the needle
I must defend the weak and punish the evil.
Fight for the right and let your mercy free
The HIGH SCHOOL SENTAI, Cherry Jubilee!

I walked into the lunchroom and made my way to the table to meet up with the guys.

Mike was the first to look up; he nudged Simon and pointe for Lucas to turn around. I had their attention.

“Is this seat taken?” I asked as I took the open seat next to Lucas.

The three looked at me as I placed the bento box on the table.

“Sure, but—” Mike started as he looked around the room.

“Well, I guess he’s not here,” Simon looked around as well.

“A friend of yours?” I asked. “I can find another seat.”

“No!” They answered in unison.

“It’s fine. “I’m Mike, this is Simon and Lucas. Gehn’s usually here, but…are you new?”

I nodded as I unclasped the band holding the box together. “New school, new challenges, and new friends, eh?”

Simon glanced at Mike, trying hard to not ask the question that was on all their minds: “Who is this girl and why would she sit with us?”

“Sakura Saotome.”

“Good to meet you. How do you like your classes?”

“Pretty good,” I replied.

“Have you been able to fool everyone so far?” Lucas asked.

“Yes, even Mr. Phillips.”

“I never would have thought you’d do this,” Mike said as he looked around.

“My family made me want to do it. Dad and Alan gave me a challenge, so challenge accepted,” I replied as I brushed my hair back.

“I’m impressed,” Simon replied as he took a bite of a slice of pizza.

“I’m comfortable in this…kind of feels right.”

The three of them changed their expressions. Mike looked to the table. Simon stared at the lone slice of pepperoni that made up school lunchroom pizza. Lucas closed his eyes and tapped his fingers on the table.

“Oh, come on, you guys too?”

“It’s not that, um-Sakura,” Mike started as he looked me in the eyes. “It’s that you’re a huge target if anyone finds out.”

“You’re giving a lot of the student too much credit, Mike.”

“How so, Si?”

“Think about it...as she said, no one’s said anything and in a school of about 1200”

“1182,” Lucas added and then took a swig from a coke bottle.

“Close enough. She’ll blend into the ether that is high school life. Especially if you continue to sit with us.”

“But, you can’t go to every class and expect no one to notice. You must have had a substitute teacher for English. There’s no freaking way Mrs. Daigler would not have called you to the front and lash at you in Spanish.”

“I sat in the back at another desk, no one asked,” I said as I finally took out my lunch: a California sushi roll. It was not as round and perfect as I wanted it to be, but it was okay for my third attempt at making it.

“And Alan?”

“I walked a bit and then got a ride from Kyle Franklin.”

“The running back on our football team? Six-foot, two-hundred and fifty odd—”

“Six-foot, five pounds and two-hundred and fifty-three pounds.”

“Yeah, what Lucas said. The dude would squash you into oblivion if he knew you were, well, you.”

“Maybe he already knows,” Simon said as he reached for a piece of the roll. I allowed it with a slight smile.

Mike laid his hands on the table and rested his head on them. “I see this ending badly…for all of us.”

“The three of you have nothing to worry about.”

“Kind of do, we’re your friends,” Simon said.

“Thank you,” I replied with the upmost sincerity.

“And because we are, we’re going to get slaughtered by the entire football team,” Lucas added.

“Maybe sooner than we thought,” Mike replied as looked ahead. Lucas and I turned around to see Jacob Parker and Ozzie Westorm stomping towards the table. Jacob and Ozzie were members of the football team, but they spent most of their time on the bench due to athletic code violations, drinking, and the occasional issue with bullying other students. How they stayed on the team—and were never expelled—was a question not even Yoda would want to try to answer.

They blazed their way to the table and their attention to me. “Why are you sitting with these losers?” Jacob inquired, as if insulting everyone around us would make me want to talk to him.

Mike’s eyes darted back and forth as he tried to think of answer that would not get him clobbered.

“The seat was open, so I sat down.”

“You’re new here?” Ozzie asked.

“Yes,” I replied as I turned back and took another bite of my roll.

“Let me give you some advice. You shouldn’t sit here.”

“Thank you for the advice, but I’m fine here.”

Ozzie leaned in further, too close for anyone’s comfort. “Sitting with these guys will tarnish a pretty girl like you.”

Mike choked back a laugh and Jacob turned to him.

“What do you find so funny, geek boy?”

“Nothing, Mike replied as he erupted in laughter and got up form his chair.

Jacob and Ozzie looked at each other and turned their gaze to Mike. Anger flashed red in their eyes as they moved towards Mike.
I stood up from my chair, darted around the table and kicked at Ozzie’s leg, causing it to buckle and he fell to the floor..

“Oh…” Simon said,

“Shit!” Lucas finished as they darted away from the table.

“You see what this bitch just did?” Ozzie yelled. You’re going down, girl!”

“Watashi wa jakusha o mamori warumono o basshinakereba narimasen!” I shouted as I took a step back. Jacob turned away from Mike, now both of them were leering at me.

We had the attention of the lunchroom as the two flanked me on each side. I figured they wouldn’t fight bushido and I do admit I felt that perhaps, maybe, probably, I over-stepped my cosplay as I didn’t have the magical powers to summon a fantastic beast to come to my aid. I prepared to be pummeled. Ozzie swung at me, but I move away and hit him on the side of his chest.

Jacob took that as an opportunity to slam me in the chest. It hurt like hell, but I was still up, so Ozzie made a step to pick me up.

“What the hell are you doing, Westorm?” A voice growled.

We all looked to see Kyle Franklin, his fists looking like they were channeling Chuck Norris.

I looked at Kyle, turned back to the table, grabbed my backpack, and raced out of the room.