HA3 1.5 – Growth
As he walked back to the fighting matt, Hide couldn’t help but taking a deep breath full of relief. It seemed Coach Kotaro had accepted his explanation.
Actually, even though it was a fabricated explanation, it had some truth on it. Sensei Oniyama was truly exist and taught private jujutsu course for elementary school kids. He was also truly former member of 303rd MPC and a guest instructor there.
But now, Sensei Oniyama already became a senile old man who leisurely spent his time in his hometown. Even if Coach Kotaro managed to contact him, it would be very hard to discover the lies in Hide’s story.
As for the one who taught Hide the Taiho-jutsu, it was Kubota actually. He was the only Sensei Oniyama’s student who managed to constantly defeat him in sparring match. Kubota’s last station when he served in Nikko army was also 303rd MPC. So, Hide’s story was not entirely lies. He just had to replace a thing or two to make it more digestible, without compromising the secret about his second life.
At the same time, Hide felt a slight bitterness in his heart. Like most people in Nikko, Coach Kotaro thought that 303rd MPC was only a ceremonial unit. They were oblivious that in case there was an attack to the state guest, along with the security detail on the scene, member of 303rd MPC would without hesitation sacrifice their life to protect the state guest.
It was the true reason why 303rd MPC was called as the face of Nikko’s arm forces. It was not only because the member was handsome and tall or had good military service record. Unfortunately, it was a taboo to explain the true nature of 303rd MPC. They had their pride as an unseen shield, and Hide knew better than anyone to respect that pride.
And so, as he reached the center of fighting matt Hide let out an inward sigh. At the same time, Hayashida fighting spirit soared to the sky because now he won’t be able to catch him off the guard again.
“Little Rascal, don’t resent me,” Hayashida firmly said. “You already bags two wins from me. I have to take my pride back.”
“Understood,” Hide firmly replied.
Now, as there was no need to hide his skill anymore, he would just go all out. Then, the third round was started. Unlike in the first two rounds, this time Hide didn’t just wait for Hayashida to come to him. In a calm steps he walked forward, confidently welcoming Hayashida’s approach.
BAAM!
A heavy exchange took place as soon as both fighters merged in the middle of the fighting matt, and a few seconds later the fight ended with only one fighter calmly stood in the fighting matt.
---
After cleaning the fighting matt, Hide went to take shower. One by one he took off his clothes and put it to a laundry basket with his name. Beauty & the Beast provided a laundry service, so their laundry staff would take care of the rest.
The laundry service would cost some money for Hanna, but it was her who insisted that Hide should use it. So, he just obediently followed her arrangement. Not to mention, it would make thing easier for him as physical exercise required lot of change clothes.
Then, Hide turn on the shower and started washing his body. It wouldn’t wash away his tiredness, but it would help him refresh his mind at least. After drying his body, he then wore his school uniform before going straight to Hanna’s office. Over there, Hanna and Aizawa had been waiting for him.
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The two already took shower and changed their clothes. Hanna wore her usual office lady outfit, while Aizawa wore her uniform. They sat next to each other on the sofa in the middle of the room, happily having an Othello match using their smartphone. While in front of them, three breakfast packages laid peacefully, along with a pot of freshly made black tea, sugar cube container, and three cups.
Wasting no time, Hide joined the two, and as soon as he sat in front of them, Hanna and Aizawa immediately turned their gaze to him.
“As usual?” Hanna gently asked.
“As usual,” Hide calmly replied.
Wasting no time, Hanna poured Hide a cup of tea. After adding two cubes of sugar and gently mixed it, she then handed over the cup to Hide.
“Thanks,” Hide said before taking a sip of his tea.
After a small smile Hanna asked, “How was your training?”
“Tough but good as usual,” Hide took a sip of his tea for second time before adding, “Coach Kotaro put forward the schedule for sparring.”
“When will you have your first spar?” Hanna curiously asked. “I want to see it.”
“I just had it earlier,” Hide casually said.
“Huh?” A look of surprise instantly filled Hanna’s face to the brim. “Are you serious?”
“I’m.”
“Who was your sparring opponent?”
“Senior Hayashida.”
Hanna instantly dropped her jaw, and after a moment of silence she got up to her feet, walked over to Hide, and sat next to him.
“Hide,” Hanna said in a drop dead serious tone. “Did Coach Kotaro really put Hayashida as your sparring opponent earlier?”
“He did.” After taking a glance at tense expression on Hanna’s face, Hide asked, “Is that a problem?
“Let me check you first.”
“I’m fine. The medical staff already examined me.”
Hanna meticulously took a look on Hide’s face before asking, “How many punch did you receive?”
“One jab in the face and one body blow to my right.”
“Wait a second, only two?”
“Yeah.” Hide took another sip of his tea before saying, “And just a reminder, you still don’t reply my question and it make me super curious.”
“Which question?” Hanna replied while gently touching Hide’s right side without taking off his shirt.
“The sparring with Senior Hayashida, is that a problem?”
“Technically no,” After she was sure Hide didn’t suffer concerning injury, Hanna immediately took a deep breath full of relief, and then she continued, “But Hayashida holds the Lightweight title four times in row until last year. This year he will switch to MMA, and he step down from his tittle undefeated.
So, it’s rather weird to put him as sparring partner for a newbie like you.”
“Was Senior Hayashida truly a four times Lightweight champion?”
“He was,” Hanna firmly replied.
“Damn,” Hide weakly said. “No wonder he is super tough, and his jab is fast and lethal.”
“For your information, Hayashida put down lot of boxers using his jab, and his straight is three times more dangerous.” After a short pause Hanna asked in a drop dead serious tone, “Did Coach Kotaro tell you the reason why he chose Hayashida as your sparring opponent?”
“Not in particular.” After letting out a sigh Hide continued, “He didn’t even tell me that Senior Hayashida is undefeated Lightweight champion.”
“And what is the result?”
“Let’s talk about it later. For now, let’s eat our breakfast. I’m starving”
“Okay.”
As Hide didn’t suffer injury, Hanna decided to put aside the matter. Not to mention, Hide also didn’t show sign of post trauma from the sparring with Hayashida. So, Hanna considered it’s a good outcome worthy of celebration. Of course, later she would go to Coach Kotaro to ask for an explanation.
As for now, wasting no time she returned to sit next to Aizawa, and a moment later the breakfast was began in happy atmosphere.
---
In a calm mood, Hide, Hanna, and Aizawa stood in the drop off and pick up area. A moment later, a White MPV entered Beauty and the Beasts’ front gate and stopped in front of the three. Wasting no time, Aizawa opened the sliding door and happily hopped in to the White MPV.
As he handed over Aizawa’s school bag, Hide said, “Have a safe journey, and be good in the school.”
“Mhm,” Aizawa happily replied while received her school bag.
After giving Aizawa a smile, Hide then turned his gaze to the White MPV driver and gave him a slight bow. In return, the driver slightly nodded his head to him. Then, Hide closed the sliding door and fixed his gaze on the White MPV as it started to move.
“Hide, don’t forget we have dinner date tonight,” Hanna said as soon as the White MPV exited the front gate.
“Yeah, I will go to your place after my afternoon training and wait you there,” Hide casually said.
“Just go slightly slower than usual for today training. Don’t get too tired.”
“Roger.” After a slight pause Hide asked, “Can I have a kiss before going to school?”
“No, you imbecile,” Hanna said before puffing her cheek. “It will be damn weird if I kiss a high school kid in public.”
“Well, let’s have it tonight, after our dinner date.”
“It’s still two days before the schedule,” Hanna firmly said. “I will beat the shit of you if you force your dick on me.”
“Message relayed, loud and clear,” Hide obediently replied. “Let’s just have a good dinner out. That’s already plenty.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m going then.”
“Have a safe journey.”
After giving Hanna a small nod, Hide went to his school. His body was tired, but it’s not as tired as when he started the MMA class. At that time, he had to struggle to just stay awake in the class. But now stayed awake was not a problem anymore, with ease he could followed the lesson.
Hide also felt that in two weeks, his body would be strong enough to have another one-hour study session at evening, just before he went to the bed.
‘My growth is better than what I expected,’ Hide muttered as he continued walking leisurely.
*****