Another week has passed since Magatsu's spar with Ramon. They challenged each other at least twice, Ramon being the victor of all matches. Magatsu even considered calling Shinda to join the fun, but Dedalus said he'd rather train on his own. Knowing how stubborn his friend could be, Magatsu gave up on the first try.
Said boy was struggling to effectively use his Affinity in combat as he tried, again and again, to come up with a way to reduce the stamina consumption, failing miserably so far. He had to spend, in total, five days recovering from overworking, gaining scolding looks from his parents. He ultimately didn't care about that as only one thing was in his mind.
As for Sasha, she was still waiting for the day, or time, that one of her cousins would show up to check on her. Inside her house, she was preparing a really big sandwich for her to eat for lunch as she watched the news on the Tv. Nothing interesting, as usual.
She was humming her favorite song while adding the condiments when someone knocked on her door.
– I'm coming! – She shouts while cleaning her hands on her apron. Once there, she sees someone she didn't expect to anytime soon, if ever.
– Sasha! – A tall woman with black hair held in a ponytail, brown eyes, and dark skin greets the girl with a strong, breathtaking hug while smiling deeply. Sasha pushes her back.
– Knock it off! Someone could see us.
– Like I care. If I have to, I'll tell everyone around this neighborhood how much I love my favorite cousin. – Now letting her go, the woman joyfully rubs the top of Sasha's hair with a grin.
She had a white shirt with a blue jean jacket over it, ripped jean shorts, navy blue sneakers, a yellow bracelet, and a wedding ring. She was taller than Magatsu, meaning Sasha herself didn't even reach her shoulder.
– Yeah yeah, I know. – Sasha takes the woman's hand off of her head while welcoming her in. – Come in already. I'm starving and ready to dig in a sandwich I'm making.
– This early? – While walking inside, the woman looks at her cellphone to see the time. – It's not even 1:00 PM yet.
– I like to have my meals early, Selena.
Now back to what she was doing, Selena sits against the counter on the living room on a seat while watching the humongous 30 Cm sandwich her cousin was preparing. Her mouth got watery as her eyes widened.
– Not only do you eat early but also this much. While here I am trying my best to maintain a healthy diet to keep this body, you can eat about anything and maintain yours. So not fair.
Sasha chuckles while finishing her sandwich, cutting it in two and cutting yet another small piece from one of the halves, offering it to Selena.
– Want some?
– Nah. I'll have my meal when my lunchtime comes.
While eating for the following twenty minutes or so, Sasha and her cousin filled themselves up with what was going on with their lives. They had to since they were pretty much the only ones from the family that liked one another. To them, everyone else was so snob and cocky it was annoying to even stay near.
– Damn, things got out of hand quickly here. – Selena says after hearing about Yinsak and his past actions. Neither of them knew he was Magatsu's father, though. – And I thought my life was intense.
– It is, definitely more than mine. – Sasha says before taking the final bite of her lunch. After that, she sucks her lips with pleasure. – All I do is go to school, come back and train or... – She stops mid-sentence while thinking about the fun times she has with Magatsu. Selena notices the sudden change and furrows her eyebrows.
– Hiding something, from me of all people?
– No, not really. – She lies. – When I'm not training I just spend my free time with some friends, and...
– "Some", or "a"? – Her cousin cuts her while smiling smugly, almost as if she knew the entire story just from looking at Sasha's body language and expressions. Said girl gets a bit desperate and tries to get away with another lie, but Selena is smarter than this.
– Aha! I knew it! Not even you can escape the joys of love. So, who's the lucky bastard?
With an embarrassed face, Sasha looks to the window to her yard, only to be surprised with the sight. Magatsu was coming from school and getting his stuff to go to the dojo. Selena notices her cousin's expression change and looks to the same direction, grinning widely at the girl.
– Guess I found my answer.
– C'mon, Selena. – Sasha tries to clean her name out of this one. – You honestly think I would date anyone just like that? I mean...
– Wait – She is cut once again. – , isn't him that boy Magatsu I used to see you playing with when you were kids? Damn, he grew a lot! I almost didn't recognize him.
Selena kept messing with Sasha about that for another two minutes, Sasha constantly laughing nervously at some more spicy comments. By the time they end, Magatsu sprints with his gi under his arm to the dojo.
– A fighter, just how your dad would like. – Selena says while sighing. – The love of my life is an engineer, so some from our family keep picking on me because of it. – She messes with her ring for a bit. – But quite honestly, his job pays our bills and I couldn't ask for someone more romantic than him. And between you and me, if that means annoying my old man I'm taking that any time of the day.
Both girls chuckle at the comment. Sasha couldn't agree more.
– But you know I didn't choose him because he is a fighter.
– Of course. Like someone like you would ever do that. I know there's a catch. The best relationships always do. So, what is it?
– I think I'll keep that one for myself. – Sasha proudly says while smirking a smug. Selena contents herself with a chuckle.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
– It's been how long since I last saw you? Two years? Three? You grew a lot in so little time it's ridiculous, and you grew to be so like me it's scary...
– Anyway. – Sasha breaks the silence that followed while stretching. – I'm pretty sure you want to do something other than stay here and chit-chat. Wanna race around the city block? If you win, I'll pay you your lunch.
– Hm?! Mind your tongue, girl, because I have a good memory and I always charge my debts. – Now standing, Selena stretches herself like her cousin.
As soon as they leave the front door, Selena starts sprinting, soon followed by an annoyed Sasha. They both leap over the front fence Selena with far more struggle than Sasha, and run around the city block in around three minutes, dodging people, objects, and whatnot. Once back to the front yard, they both stop to catch their breath as Sasha smiles proudly.
– Looks... like... you need to practice more. – She says between heavy breaths. – You barely reached your 30s and I'm already faster than you?
– Shut... up! – Now standing straight, Selena closes her eyes with both hands on her hip. – Not even with a heads up I manage to beat you.
– Someone here had to practice every day, you know. – Sasha says with a grin. After a good laugh between them, they both enter the house.
– So – Selena starts after sitting down on the couch, a glass of water in her hand. – , about your training. How is it?
– Going alright, pretty much. – Sasha sits next to her on the same couch but drinks an isotonic drink instead. – Nothing worth mentioning.
– Good, because I think you know why I'm here. – Sasha nods with a more serious face, only to be surprised by Selena's response. – That's not the case. I won't test you, not me at least. It'll be Jeffrey this time.
Selena had some sadness in her voice and face while saying those words, worrying Sasha a bit.
– So you just came to visit? You could have brought your husband, I wouldn't have minded.
Her cousin shakes her head slowly. – That's not it. I was supposed to be the one to come and test you, but our parents decided we were too close and that this detail could affect my judgment, if not something more serious. So while I was coming, they called me and told me they would instead send Jeffrey to inspect you.
– At least he is kinda cool too. – Sasha says. – If they were to send, say, someone like that pervert Jeremiah, I would nail his head across the street the second he tried something funny.
Selena holds in a chuckle before saying. – Either way, he should arrive by the end of the afternoon. Get rid of him and you'll finally be free to do whatever you want.
– So... – Sasha looks to her cousin with expectancy. – What are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?
For the rest of the afternoon, Sasha and Selena had as much fun as they could by gossiping a bunch of facts, sometimes lies, about things they heard, going to the movies, and messing with Magatsu when he came from his daily training. Selena kept making fun of the fact that he was using weights around his body to train but he just laughed along. After all, he didn't even remember her and was already enjoying himself as if they were childhood friends.
Selena even said hi to Agatha, who was much better in comparison to two weeks ago. Almost no traces of the incident remained in her voice or posture, almost as if the thing didn't even happen.
That's when Magatsu had an idea. He decided to take them to one of his favorite places around town. Sasha knew where he was going to so she encouraged her cousin to come. It was on the very top of an abandoned energy tower. High up there, he made a makeshift floor with wooden planks and anyone that wanted to go there had to climb it. Since it was dangerous, he agreed to carry Selena on his back, saying he already did it with Sasha before, but she said he didn't have to.
Sasha was on Magatsu's side, so two on one didn't give her an option.
– But I'm taller than you. – She argues. – Won't that be an issue?
– Not one bit. – And with that, Magatsu gestures to his back. She sighs and obliges.
Now midway through the 50 meters climb, Selena starts to feel a bit dizzy while looking down.
– I'm starting to regret coming here.
– No time to chicken out now – Magatsu tells her without stopping his climb, Sasha right beside him. – so might as well hold tightly to me and not look down again.
Not risking another peek, she does as he says and stays like that for the rest of the climb. Once up there, she sighs with relief while holding her chest with anxiety.
– Fear of heights? – Magatsu asks her, to which she nods. He grins. – You could have told me when you saw the thing from down there. I would have taken you somewhere else.
She shakes her head and takes a look at the sight before her. Since it's the end of the afternoon, the sunset is in its peak in the horizon ahead, making one of the most beautiful scenes either Sasha or Selena ever saw before.
The Sun was getting close to saying it's goodbye as its reflection blended with the city's famous Summoner's Lake further ahead, a really big green colored lake that lots of people used to swim, fish, or just enjoy themselves. The cozy orange and yellow of the Sun could be seen across the entirety of the lake as well as some of the green land that surrounded it.
– This... is... – Selena tries to find the words, but didn't think anything she could come up with would make just to how amazing the scene was. Yet, Magatsu finished for her.
– Breathtaking? – She slowly nods with an awed face.
– If anything from my ride to here was worth something, this sure is the best.
– Glad to hear that. – Magatsu says with a smile, one she returns.
After that, the three of them stay up there watching the sunset go until the sun was completely engulfed by the limits of the horizon, slowly giving space for nighttime to greet the city.
– Well, it's sure getting late. – Magatsu says while looking around and down from the platform they were on. – We should go back. Your other cousin, Jeffrey, was it? Could show up anytime now.
After agreeing with him, Selena takes another deep sigh and holds tightly to Magatsu's back as they swiftly climb down and back to safety. Once back to ground level, she internally thanks the fact that she won't have to do that again in a very long time, if ever.
Their walk back home was considerably long but filled with topics to talk about, mostly trivial, such as favorite dessert or favorite past-time.
Once there, however, the three of them realize someone waiting in front of Sasha's house with his hands inside his pants' pockets. The guy was odd to look at.
He was taller than Selena, had shaggy discolored hair, dangerously sharp black eyes, pale skin, and a tattoo of what seemed like black flames in his neck that seemed like they were coming from further inside his back. His attire revolved around a long sleeved white silk shirt with an in-built hood, one that he was wearing, ragged large blue jeans, and black shoes. A closer inspection revealed a cigarette in his mouth and the face of a 20ish years old that barely slept the past few days.
– What am I looking at right now? – Magatsu asks with forced disbelief, almost sarcastically. – Is he your cousin?
Both girls nod with ashamed faces.
– One hell of a family you ran away from, eh, Ashlair?
– Don't refer to me by my last name, you moron! – Sasha punches his arm with an annoyed face. He laughs. – You know how I don't like it.
– You can say that again. – Selena agrees with her friend. Now close enough, Jeffrey acknowledges their presence and raises his head.
– Oh, welcome back, Sasha, Selena. – He greets them with a small smirk, his cigar in between his mouth, before he looks to Magatsu. – And who would this one be?
– Magatsu Astarosa. Pleased to meet you. – He extends his arm for a handshake but doesn't gain one. Instead, Jeffrey takes his cigar with his fingers and blows a cloud of smoke in the boy's face, who coughs while wiping the air in front of him.
– Jeff, what was that for?! – Both Selena and Sasha, the latter especially, shout at the same time. He shrugs and puts the cigar back in his mouth.
– What was what? I'm smoking and he is near me. Speaking of which, scram, kid. – He raises his eyebrows as he says that. The comment makes Magatsu internally flinch as he struggles to keep his cool. Ever since the incident, Magatsu stopped smiling as often as before, and right now, any reasons to do so were nonexistent. Still, he forces one and looks inside Jeffrey's eyes.
– In any case, you're in my friend's way. Care to get out? – With the statement, Jeffrey lets an annoyed grunt out as he furrows his eyebrows to the boy in front of him.
– Mind your place, kid. My business here is with Sasha and if I decide I'm in the way, I'll decide if I'll move or not.
Magatsu breathes heavily through his nose at least once while closing his eyes. He didn't want to break his jaw, not in front of Sasha anyway.