HA3 4.2 – After Stalking Drinking
After taking a bath, Hide felt his body was so refreshing. Then, he just came out of the bathroom when he heard Hayashida’s loud voice. It seemed he already woke up from his ‘dead’, and now was throwing complain to Coach Kotaro.
“Old Fart,” Hayashida grumbly said. “I don’t want to become Hide’s sparring partner anymore.”
“Why?” Coach Kotaro nonchalantly replied.
“I hate dirty fighter.”
“Hide did indeed trick you in the third round, buy it was not dirty. I have to admit though. I never expected such a sly trick will come from a beginner like him” Coach Kotaro said. “However, a sly trick is common thing in professional world and you know it.
It can even be said that figuring out and exploiting the weakness in your opponent body, mind, and heart is the way of pro.”
“I know sly trick is common thing in pro world, but I still don’t want to become Hide’s sparring partner,” Hayashida sulkily said.
“Then, it’s your lost.”
“How can it’s my lost?”
“Only after one sparring session, Hide has figured out your boxing and nullifies it beautifully. He also knows how to exploit the weakness in your heart. Most of all, it’s very hard to find grappler with seamless technique like him.
In summary, if you keep training with him, I believe you will become a really good MMA fighter.”
“Really?” Hayashida had displeased look in his face, but at the same time his heart was brimming with curiosity. “Old Fart, you are overestimating his ability.”
“On the contrary, I think we have not yet seen the peak of his ability. When he is one level stronger than his current stats, you will find he is the greatest challenge you can find in your martial path.”
“Whatever,” After a short pause Hayashida firmly added, “I still don’t want to become his sparring partner and you can’t force me.”
Coach Kotaro instantly raised his left eyebrow and said, “Did I force you to become his sparring partner?”
“Ummm… Nope.”
“Exactly,” Coach Kotaro nonchalantly said.
As he looked at Coach Kotaro straight in the eyes Hayashida asked, “Do you really won’t force me to become Hide’s sparring partner?”
Coach Kotaro tilted his head to side as he gave Hayashida a confuse look. “Why would I do that?”
“That’s weird.” Hayashida creased his brows as he continued in low voice, “After telling me Hide will become my greatest challenge, I thought you will force me to keep having sparing with him.”
“Well, in the end of the day it’s your path, and you already become a prestigious undefeated boxing champ,” Coach Kotaro casually said. “It’s not my place anymore to force you taking the path I deem the most ideal option for your growth. Not to mention, there is a possibility this path will break you into pieces.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Old Fart, now you piss me off,” Hayashida said as displeased look in his face became darker.
“Feel free to get piss off as much as you want. I’m just telling you my professional view as your coach, and I don’t force you to accept it,” Coach Kotaro said, still in nonchalant tone. “Now, get the fuck out of my face. I have nothing else to say.”
“Damn Old Fart,” Hayashida vexingly said before leaving.
Then, Hide waited for a whole minute before coming out and walked over to Coach Kotaro. At the same time, Coach Kotaro took a sip of his tea before giving him a casual glance.
“Did you hear it?” Coach Kotaro casually asked as soon as Hide arrived before him.
“I did,” Hide honestly replied.
“How much?”
“Almost everything.”
“I see.” After a moment of silence Coach Kotaro continued. “Hide, don’t get cocky just because I praise you.”
“I won’t, Coach,” Hide firmly replied.
“Good.”
“And I’m sorry for the trouble I cause.”
“Do you mean the bickering I had with Hayashida a moment ago?”
“Yes.”
After a small smile Coach Kotaro said, “Don’t worry about it. Hayashida always come to me to bicker every time frustration hit him. He has no one else he can be selfish with after all, so it’s like our routine.”
“I see,” Hide said as his admiration to Coach Kotaro went up to another level.
“You also don’t need to worry about your sparring with him. Right now, I’m sure the rascal is racking his brain so hard to find an excuse to continue the sparring with you without sacrificing his face.”
“Understood,” Hide firmly replied.
After giving Coach Kotaro a slight bow, Hide then went to Hanna’s office to have breakfast with her and Aizawa.
---
To ease Naoto’s stalking job, Paolo rented him a lodging house located in the Hide’s neighborhood. It was small but comfortable lodging. Most of all, it’s located near Walrus, an old Britiss pub in the basement of pastry shop.
The old Britiss bar didn’t offer lot of option for cocktail, but it was Britiss pub in the first place and not cocktail bar. Most of all, the place was nice and comfortable, while the Old Bartender was skillful.
Like yesterday evening, after following Hide until he entered his house, Naoto went straight to Walrus to enjoy some drink. As soon as he sat in the bar counter he immediately ordered his favorite drink.
“Old Man, one salty dog, lot of ice in the glass.”
“Right away.”
Without delay, the Old Bartender mixed Tequila and grapefruit juice, and then poured it into a salted glass full of ice.
“One salty dog, lot of ice in the glass,” The Old Bartender said as he served the drink.
“Thank you, and put it on Paolo’s tab.”
“Roger.”
The Old Bartender then went to other guests while Naoto calmly enjoyed his drink. A moment later, Paolo entered Walrus and went straight to Naoto.
“You don’t call me for the whole day, so I suppose nothing unusual,” Paolo said as he sat next to Naoto.
“Morning training in Beauty & the Beast, school, afterschool training in Uruba Hill, afternoon training in Beauty & the Beast, small shopping in Sakura Shopping District, and then go home,” Naoto calmly replied. “Hide is like a clock.”
“I see.”
“He also has way too many physical exercises in his daily routine.”
“Hide will participate in Haka Outdoor, and it seems he is very serious about it.”
After nodding his head Naoto asked, “What about Takeo? Do you find something noteworthy in his daily activity?”
“Nope.”
“What about their online activity?”
“Nothing noteworthy.” After giving the Old Bartender a signal to give him his usual gimlet, Paolo continued, “Lately, Takeo do lot of small part-time engineering job. It’s his way to make money before he was joining hand with Hide.
As for Hide, he collects lot of information on people he trains with in Beauty & the Beast, and he definitely has a knack to become a grappler.”
“How do you know he has a knack to become a grappler?” Naoto asked before taking a sip of his salty dog.
“Check it yourself,” Paolo said as he put forward Hide’s sparring footages he had in his smartphone to Naoto.
A moment later, Naoto replayed the footage while saying, “This is one of hell seamless rear naked choke.”
“Definitely.”
“Who is his opponent?”
“An undefeated boxing champ who will switch to MMA this year.”
“How do you get this footage?”
“His trainer sends it to Unagi. He wants Unagi to train Hide and he agrees.”
Question mark instantly popped in Naoto’s forehead, “Are you referring to Unagi the Old Eel from Kiotto Café, that no one have ever managed to throw or put into submission.”
“Yeah, that slick Old Eel.”
“Do you have other footage of Hide’s sparring?”
“Nope, the CCTV in his gym uses isolated network. To get my hand on other sparring footage, I have to breach into his coach office and copy the file directly from his computer.”
“I see,” Naoto weakly said and he was clearly disappointed. Then, he asked another question, “Don’t you find it’s strange that Hide and Takeo suddenly stop their not so legal online activity?”
“Not at all,” Paolo casually said. “It’s highly likely they know I will run an intensive observation and background check on them after they contact me. That’s why right now they dial back their not so legal activity.
But it’s not a big problem as our main objective is their background, not their latest activity.”
“I see.”
After a moment of silence Paolo said, “I heard a raid took place in Chikara Tower.”
“Let me guess. We won’t see it in the news or newspaper.”
“Metro Police and Tower management agree to cover it.”
“I see.”
“Do you want to hear it?” Paolo casually asked.
“Yeah,” Naoto replied before ordering a small plate of assorted nuts.
Without delay, Paolo then told Naoto about the raid on Kamui Finance’s office.
*****