Bully Lord

Part-33

A frantic shout pierced the tense air in the gym. A girl, Anika, burst through the doorway, her eyes wide with alarm. "Mili! Mili!" she gasped, pointing towards the grappling ring. "The Judo club guys are picking on James!"

Mili's stomach clenched. James, the boy who'd surprised her with his courage in the cafeteria, was being targeted? The idea of the boy who tried to save her, James being bullied by the Judo Club because of her, angered her.  She wasn't going to stand by and watch it happen.

Mili knew exactly where to find Ryan – they shared a few classes, and she'd spotted him just a few minutes ago.  Bursting into his classroom, she ignored the surprised stares of his classmates and teacher.  Her eyes landed on Ryan, who was meticulously sharpening a pencil, a picture of studious innocence.

"What did you do?" Mili demanded, her voice laced with barely contained fury.  "Why are you sending your Judo club goons after James?"

Ryan, taken aback by her sudden outburst, blinked in confusion.  "What are you talking about, Mili?" he stammered, his carefully constructed facade crumbling.

"Don't play dumb!"  Mili spat.  "I know James didn't randomly pick a fight with those guys. This is all your doing, isn't it?  Well, let me tell you something, Ryan – if you think you can bully James around, you've got another thing coming.  And if you keep causing trouble, I swear, I'll tell my dad, and he'll have you transferred out of this school faster than you can say 'bully'!"

The threat hung heavy in the air.  Ryan's face flushed red, a cocktail of anger and fear simmering beneath the surface. He wasn't afraid of James, but Mili's father held a powerful position.  The thought of being transferred was enough to make him reconsider his tactics.

"Look, Mili," he said, his voice surprisingly mild, "I didn't send anyone after James. Maybe James just has a knack for getting himself into trouble. And even if I have enemity with him, I can handle him by my own, I didn't fallen that low."  It was a weak defense, and he knew it.

Mili narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. "Maybe," she conceded, "but I'm keeping an eye on you, Ryan. Make one wrong move, and you'll regret it."  With that, she turned on her heel and stalked out of the classroom, her anger simmering but slightly abated.

Mili burst into the gym, her anger boiling over as she witnessed the scene unfolding before her.  James, trapped in the center of the small grappling ring, was struggling against Sourov's superior strength and technique.  The hulking Judo student expertly maneuvered James, throwing him off balance with a series of swift throws and holds.  James, despite his newfound determination, seemed outmatched.

A surge of protectiveness welled up within Mili.  She couldn't stand by and watch James get manhandled.  "Hey!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the gym. "Leave him alone!"

All eyes turned towards her. Sourov, momentarily distracted, loosened his hold on James. James, seizing the opportunity, scrambled to his feet, a grateful look flashing across his face.