Not away. Not to the side. Into the kick.
The word again. The bruise-colored finality. The first exchange lasted 0.8 seconds.
He answered with his own weapon: the Buchikome High Kick —a jumping, 360-degree roundhouse aimed at the temple. Goro raised an arm. The kick connected with his forearm instead. The sound was a gunshot. Goro’s arm went numb. He grinned.
Inside: a ticket. And a note.