HA2 19.2 – A Talk in the Morning
As soon as she opened her eyes, Shizuka immediately checked her surroundings. She was still inside the fighting cage. The lighting was already being turned off, and from the refreshing smell of floor detergent she concluded that the gym was already being cleaned.
‘Those fuckers must have been deliberately didn’t woke me up and left me here.’
Shizuka sourly muttered as she got up to her feet. Then, she felt a stiff sensation from her right cheek, but she found no bruise, swelling, or broken teeth. The pain was also already gone. All of that was thanks to the headgear that specifically designed to prevent blunt force trauma. Even though it couldn’t stop the impact that could lead into temporary unbearable pain, dizziness, and even blackout, the headgear would spare her from fatal blunt force trauma at least.
Even so, Shizuka couldn’t forget the unpleasant memory when Hide’s elbow hit her in the face repeatedly until she was knocked out cold.
‘He got me there.’ Bitterness filled Shizuka’s heart, while steel determination flashed in her eyes. ‘I will tear him apart into pieces in the next sparring.’
After taking her protection gear off and returned it to its place, Shizuka rushed to the kitchen. Over there, he found Takeo was working on something using his laptop.
“Where is Hide?” Shizuka asked.
“He went to school first,” Takeo casually replied. “Isamu Sensei had texted him last night. He wants to have some talk.”
“I see,” Shizuka sourly replied as she sat in front of Takeo.
Takeo then turned his gaze to Shizuka, “Are you okay?”
“No.” Shizuka was silent for a while before adding, “This is the first time someone at my age knocked me out. Not to mention he is weaker and slower. It makes me feel like a shit.”
“I didn’t ask about how you feel,” Takeo bluntly said. “What I want to know is, do we have to bring you to hospital for medical checkup?”
After pressing her lips Shizuka sourly said, “No.”
“Are you sure?” Takeo looked at Shizuka straight in the eyes as he continued, “I saw the footage from CCTV. Hide truly knocked you out very hard.”
“Twig, can we change our conversation into something that doesn’t make me feel shittier than I already have?”
Takeo instantly nodded. “Go take morning shower to refresh yourself. I will warm your breakfast.”
“Let me eat my breakfast first. I’m starving.”
“As you wish.”
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Without further ado Takeo got up and took a plate of omurice from the fridge. After warming it using microwave, he then served it to Shizuka along with kimchi and warm lemon tea.
As she looked at ugly face made of tomato ketchup on top of the omelet before her, Shizuka said, “Your drawing is still as ugly as ever.”
“Yeah,” Takeo openly admitted. “But I remember it clearly. When we were little snooty brats, omurice never failed to cheer you up every time something makes you down to the rock bottom.
So, after Hide showed me how he knocked you out, I decided to make omurice as our breakfast, and you always complained if I didn’t draw that ugly face on your omelet.”
“Thanks,” Shizuka casually said without turning her gaze to Takeo, but it was clearly visible that a small smiled bloomed in her lips. Then, she heartily wolfed the omurice down. “It’s still as delicious as ever.”
“Glad you like it.”
“What are you working on?” Shizuka asked after putting a spoonful omurice into her mouth.
“Just simple checking on Kamui’s overseas investment.”
Question mark appeared in Shizuka’s forehead as she asked, “They have overseas investments?”
“Yeah, other than legit investment in Americ and Eurova, Kamui invest tons of money to paper companies in Chyna, but Hide said it’s actually payment for illegal human organ.”
“What a nasty business,” Shizuka said as she furrowed her brows.
“It’s. Hide also said Kamui has solid relationship with Cheat Cheat Party.”
“Cheat Cheat Party? That’s the biggest crime syndicate in Chyna, right?”
“Yeah, and I hears their influence reaches Chyna’s officials at any level.”
“I see.”
Shizuka nodded two times before putting another spoonful omurice into her mouth, and then continued the talk with Takeo in light mood. Her left jaw was slightly uncomfortable, but eating Takeo’s omurice and talked with him truly cheered her up and erased her shitty moods.
Of course, she would still take her revenge on Hide, but that’s for another day. Right now, she just wanted to enjoy her moment with Takeo to the fullest.
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Actually, Isamu Sensei asked Hide to meet him after his daily training at Uruba Hill. However, Hide had to rush to Beauty and the Beast for endurance training at afternoon. So, he asked Isamu Sensei to put forward the meeting morning, before the class starts, and Isamu Sensei agreed.
In casual steps Hide entered the front gate, and then went straight to the staff office. Over there, Isamu Sensei already waited him in the counseling cubicle.
“Sensei, good morning,” Hide said as soon as he arrived before Isamu Sensei.
“Morning,” Isamu Sensei replied as he looked at Hide from head to toe, and even if Hide already took morning bath and wore his school uniform, he still could tell that Hide just did some exercise. “It seems you also train in the morning.”
“I do,” Hide calmly replied.
“In Beauty and the Beast?”
“No, I find stairs steps near my house that’s good enough to strengthen my knee, calf, and ankle, so I use it.”
Isamu Sensei lightly nodded before saying, “Morning training, Uruba Hill training, and training at Beauty and the Beast, you are truly a hard working kid. No wonder you cleared the goal I gave you sooner than the schedule.”
“Somehow, I enjoy the physical exercise very much, including the training for Hike Run.”
“In that case,” Isamu Sensei asked Hide to sit in front of him as he continued, “I guess I can give you your next target.”
“I’ll do as Sensei said,” Hide firmly replied.
After a smile Isamu Sensei said, “For the next three months clear the other six trails in Uruba Hill in less than 16 minutes.”
“Understood.”
“Just so you know, the trail you have cleared is the easiest trail. And normally, the time limit for this goal is four months. However, it seems you have unique and extraordinary talent for Hike Run, so I believe standard means won’t be enough to draw out your best potential.”
In a formal tone Hide said, “Thank you for your thoughtfulness and consideration, Sensei.”
“Other kids will curse me if I push them beyond their limit, but it seems your disposition is far mature than your age,” Isamu Sensei happily said.
“Thank you for your complement, but I’m just a brat.”
“Don’t be too humble, you deserve every compliment I can give you.” After a moment of silent Isamu Sensei then said, “Now, let’s talk about the sport massage you give to Miku and Nao.”
In an instant question mark appeared in Hide’s forehead. “Is that a problem?”
“No, up to this moment at least.” Isamu Sensei took a deep breath before continuing, “I mean, it help Nao and Miku improve their record, but it also has potential to go into unwanted outcome.
The three of you are young, healthy, attractive, and in an age where you start to have interest in intimate relationship. In such circumstance, physical contact will easily trigger your curiosity or desire to go to another level. So, as your teacher I have an obligation to warn you. Don’t do inappropriate things.
At the minimum, if you want to do it, do it properly in proper place. Most of all, don’t get your partner pregnant unless you are prepare to marry her and provide her a decent life.”
“Understood, Sensei,” Hide firmly replied.
“Good, you can go then.”
After slightly bowing to Isamu Sensei, Hide left the counseling cubicle right away. He also put aside the warning from Isamu Sensei almost instantly. It was a warning brimming with good intention and Hide truly appreciated it.
However, even without that warning, right now he had no time or mood to fooling around. It was only 15 days before the raid on Kamui’s office, so he had to put his mind for the job as much as he could.
*****