Three days had passed since Carmen’s birthday like a blur of sightseeing, trying all the restaurants they could, and training for the fights they couldn’t afford to lose.
For once, Jonathan wasn’t left out of training. Once the others returned to their rooms to rest, he visited Akane’s penthouse, the last time he could before they tracked down their targets.
It wasn’t just for her.
Candles lit Akane’s deep velvet red training room, incense giving the air a spicy tang. Sitting on the floor, Jonathan winced in pain as he stretched forward, reaching for his foot, sweat rolling down his bare chest. Behind him, Akane warmed a small fire in her hands. She pressed her palms into the scarring at the small of his back, easing the pain.
Stretching this far still strained the muscles, but it hurt less than it did yesterday. Yesterday hurt less than the day before that. Once she stopped, he rose to his feet, balancing on his cane. He still needed it to support his left leg, but his balance didn’t feel as off as before. Jonathan took a deep breath and swung both arms to his sides, his speed throwing webs of smoke.
No pain.
Akane lunged without warning, and Jonathan spun his cane around, swiping the tip back and forth to parry her strikes. He swatted her hand aside and slammed his cane downwards, steeling himself into an attack of his own.
Spider legs of pain crept up his spine and shoulders. His body locked up inches before the optimal position. Akane pivoted around him and pressed her heated palms against his wound. The pain subsided, and slowly, he extended further into a full upwards strike.
“Hold that position, Jonathan,” Akane said, massassing the wound.
From this close, he could taste the heat of her breath on the back of his neck. He took a deep breath. “I’m trying. I’m—”
The heat intensified, earning another wince. He swapped positions and fired an upwards strike from his other hand. Again, his body locked up, but the soothing heat helped him extend a little bit further, even more than yesterday.
Way further than three days ago, when he couldn't move this fast at all.
“You’re close. Something is still blocking you, Jonathan. The wound in your spirit has not been healed yet, but our exercises have helped expose the wound entirely. There’s only one last step, now.”
“The ritual.”
Akane ran her hand up Jonathan’s upper body. Her warm palms against his chest coaxed out a shiver. “Are you ready?”
His phone vibrated with an alarm, shaking atop his shirt piled up beside the door. Jonathan released his stance and paced over, turning his alarm off. “Unfortunately, it will have to wait. My students will be finished with their drills soon, before we leave to track down their targets.”
“I see.” Akane pulled away and snapped her fingers.
The crowd of candles silenced, and fluorescent lights took their absence as Jonathan buttoned his shirt back up. “I will come with you all. Will we begin the ritual afterwards?”
He nodded. “We must guide the next generation to their own battles before we finish our own.”
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“Down, back, forward, down, forward, back, forward punch!” Daniel punched at the air.
Beside him, on his own mat, Rafiq shuffled back and forth. “Forward, Down, Back, Up, kick!” Rafiq kicked at the air.
Meanwhile, Carmen sat on her own mat, gulping down water as her heart pounded in her chest. The breeze drifted across the rooftop terrace, cooling her sweat. She’d already finished the drills for her special moves and her ultimate, but Rafiq and Daniel were behind on theirs since they spent time arguing over movies instead of starting their drills as soon as Mr. Stone left.
But Carmen did, and now she could rest, for the small time they had. Once Mr. Stone came back, it would be time to find their targets and face the music. But, going days without using the Memory Shot had taken their toll. Her body felt restless, yet it never felt like she got to rest or sleep for long enough.
At that moment, a text from Mei dinged from her phone.
“Hey! I’m back in Japan. Where do you wanna meet? I live in the Shibuya area :D”
Carmen dropped her water bottle and responded as fast as she could, offering to meet in the convenience store across the street in five minutes. She grabbed her things, said her goodbyes, and flew down the stairs from the rooftop terrace in a rush, only stopping at her room to drop her jacket off.
Her head still spun from standing too fast when she reached the ground floor. This late in the day, the sunset tinted the blue sky like a spilled orange soda, though the looming buildings blocked most of her view from the narrow road.
A short walk later, the doors to the convenience store slid open. For a breath, she was back at the corner store back in South City, as if she’d stepped into a dream where every sign translated itself to Japanese. Across the store, in front of the drinks aisle, she recognized Mei’s black hair and white lab coat as she grabbed a can of coffee.
Carmen tapped her on the shoulder. Mei jumped, though her surprise warmed to a cheery smile. “Carmen! Hey!” she exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug. “How’s it going? Have you guys challenged your targets yet?”
“Nope! That’s actually why I’m here,” she said, letting Chip perch on her shoulder. “We’re going tonight, but I used all of my Memory Shots.”
“Wow. What did you think? The effect is so much better, right?”
“I couldn’t imagine fighting without it. Did you bring them?”
“Yeah…” Mei sighed, opening her hand and revealing the Memory Shots in her hand. “I only have a few.”
“Oh…”
“Wait…nevermind! You get one more for a birthday gift, and another for being the best subject we’ve ever had, girl!” She “magically” pulled Memory Shots from both of Carmen’s ears, and happily gave her a handful of pink vials.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Carmen popped the lid on one and chugged it in one go. Her senses sharpened back to 100%, even past that — she could take on anyone in the entire world. It was like she never felt tired at all. She couldn’t have asked for a better birthday gift.
“Mmm! Are you sure you guys didn’t make it taste even better?”
“Oh, is the essence of alligator vomit we added having a strong effect? Great! We were hoping it didn’t react negatively with the owl dandruff.”
“…the what?”
“Nothing. I’m kidding. We didn’t change a thing!”
Carmen threw her head back in laughter, but it reminded her of the one person she laughed with the most.
I just don’t want you to tear yourself apart for it. I don’t want you to tear us apart for it.
Her shoulders sank, gaze locking onto the several Memory Shots in her hands. A random person entered the gas station doors, but as they opened with a ding, she thought Daniel would trot through at any moment. She’d never made him mad or upset him.
What if he saw her now?
“Is something wrong?” Mey asked.
Carmen sighed. “My—” The word caught in her throat for a moment. “My boyfriend found out. About the Memory Shot.”
Mei’s face went white as a ghost, draining of all color. Mei’s face flared with red hot anger, twitching. Carmen blinked, hoping it wasn’t a truck of the light — yet, she casually shifted her glasses, clearing her throat as if nothing happened. “Really? That’s…a development.”
“He saw me during my birthday party, a few days ago.”
“Is he gonna break up with you if he finds out you’re still using it?”
“No! No, he’d never do that. It’s just…I don’t know. These few days without the Memory Shot were hard, but I don’t want to break his heart.”
“It won’t break his heart if he knows just how much good you’re doing for yourself, Carmen,” Mei said. “The Memory Shot makes you perfect. It makes you the best version of yourself. Shouldn’t he love you at your best?”
“Yeah…”
“So listen. Who are you challenging, again?”
“Sakura, the Cherry Ronin. I’m gonna have to break into the Imperial Palace to draw her out.”
Mei gasped. “I should’ve known you’d target someone so popular! Then the Memory Shot will be perfect for you. And if your boyfriend doesn't like the thought of you using it, you can at least know we will. We’ll be proud of you for winning. And you, I don’t know what extra goal you have from the fight, but I’m sure you can tackle it with the Memory Shot. You can do anything!”
Anything, like defeating Sakura without losing a single round. From Mei’s words, the prospect sounded even more possible. She smiled. “Thanks, Mei.”
“Now, go out there and break a leg! Figuratively. I wouldn’t recommend actually breaking your leg. The Memory Shot intensifies feelings of intense pain.”
“What?!”
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“Let us ensure we’re on the same page,” Mr. Stone said, stopping at the door to Daniel and Rafiq’s hotel room, Akane beside him. “Carmen, you do realize it’s illegal to trespass all the way through the Eternal Blossom Garden into the Imperial Palace, right?”
“I know! I won’t need to go in to challenge her. I’ll just have to call out to her.”
“And if she doesn’t answer?”
Carmen bounced on her heels. “She will. But I won’t break any rules. Promise.”
“Okay. Rafiq, do you remember how to get to the Tennoji Temple and find Ahng?”
“Yeha, I just gotta…uh…oh! Just gotta take the train down to Shinagawa and walk the rest of the way, right?”
A lightbulb went off in Daniel’s head. He grinned. “Actually, don’t you have to go to Ueno?”
“Damn, I forgot! Do I?!”
“No.”
“You prove yourself more gullible by the day, Rafiq. That still means Daniel’s target is still the farthest, at Hachioji Castle. Akane, would you be open to accompanying anyone?”
Akane shrugged. “I do not see a reason why not. It would be exciting to see how your students compare.”
“In that case, it may be best for you to travel with Rafiq. I must remain with Daniel, as we’re traveling the farthest. I’m afraid you’ll have to go alone, Carmen, but I will still walk both of you to your respective stations. Understood?”
“Yes sir!” Daniel said.
“Yep!” Carmen affirmed, while Chip mimed a salute on her shoulder.
“Hai, Sensei! Nah, I’m playing. Let’s go!”
With water bottles in hand and their matching black and gold fighting uniforms on, they left Daniel and Rafiq’s hotel room, heading for the stairs down to the ground floor. The air felt charged with anticipation on the way down. The next time they returned, Daniel thought, he’d be past the millions, within the top thousands, maybe even a Golden Class.
On the way to the train station, Daniel tapped Carmen on the shoulder and trailed behind the other three, as Rafiq asked Akane about her recent “training” sessions with Mr. Stone. He loved to emphasize the quotes every time he said it, as if there was something else still going on despite Mr. Stone’s urging.
“What is it?” Carmen asked.
“Are you ready for this?” Daniel took her hand in his own, smiling. “You’re taking on the 3604th Fighter in the entire world.”
“That’s not that high.”
“It sounds like it when I say the exact number. We couldn’t do that for our past opponents. I’d be here all day naming off every digit of Eternite’s rank,” Daniel chuckled. “No, really. Do you think you have this?”
“Without a doubt. You?”
“Yeah, but…” Daniel paused, unable to think about how to break it to her softly. He buried his fear and leaned closer to her ear. “Did you take the Memory Shot again before we left?”
The slight dark circles below her eyes and the pimple beside her nose hadn’t gone away. She stiffened at his question, sipping her water. “I didn’t want you to worry about me more, after what you explained about your Dad. So…no. I haven't taken it.”
Daniel smiled in relief. It was the one thing he was worried about. It felt unreal to find her of all people using performance enhancers. Already, compared to him, he put her skill on a pedestal. It didn’t feel real, but hopefully, at this rate, it would be like a bad dream. “I’m glad,” he said. “I think you’ve got this, too. Just don’t be like me with Eternite’s sword.”
“So don’t have a horrifying existential crisis about being stabbed?” Carmen shrugged. “That might be a tall order, Danny.”
Daniel blinked. “Danny?”
Carmen facepalmed. “Stop. You’re right. That was terrible, I know—”
“Did you just call me Danny? Was that supposed to be a nickname?”
“Stop laughing!” She huffed, crossing her arms. “I was just trying to be nice and experiment a bit.”
“And you chose Danny of all nicknames? I don’t even look like a Danny!”
“Yeah, ‘cause instead, you look like a—” Carmen paused. “Nevermind.”
At her hesitation, Rafiq immediately turned around and walked backwards. “Go ahead, twin! Get on him!”
“I’m not getting on anyone! What does this even have to do with you? Don’t you have a fight you should be preparing for?”
“Yeah, and so do you, but now look at you being all lovey dovey instead. Sorry, Danny, I’ll do better with my nickname next time,” Rafiq mocked, walking backwards. “Could you gimme a kiss to make it better, boo?”
Daniel chuckled, rolling up his sleeves. “Making fun of her’s my job, you know. I’m gonna come up there.”
“Come on, then. We could use some practice before we—”
Mr. Stone jutted his leg out in front of Rafiq. He tripped backwards, but Mr. Stone raised his cane, catching Rafiq as he fell. “I suggest all three of you focus on the task at hand. Especially you, Rafiq. It’s not fair to make fun of someone for something you don’t have, after all.”
“Hey, what?!” Rafiq righted himself. “Are you tryna say I don’t get play?”
Mr. Stone raised his eyebrows.
“Damn. You kinda right.”