Pulling out my phone, I checked what time it was. The digital display on my screen read four twenty, and I let out a quiet sigh. Slowing down my pace, I decide to call Aroha, feeling a bit guilty for being late. Moving my thumb down to the phone icon, I press her name and wait for her to answer. After a few rings, she picks up, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and annoyance, "Oren, where are you? School ended an hour ago."
I respond, trying to sound casual despite my tardiness, "Sorry, slept a bit." She pauses for a moment, her frustration dissipating, and then continues in a softer tone, "A-actually, that's alright. Can you meet me at the Bun Café?" I phase out the call HUD and look at Google Maps to check my current location. Thankfully, I'm near the Bun Café, maybe just a five-minute walk away. I reply, "Yeah, sure. Why aren't you at the apartment, though?" She answers, her voice a mix of excitement and spontaneity, "I just wanted to do something fun out in the town, get it out of our systems."
I respond with a faint smile, feeling a sense of relief at her understanding, "Yeah, I needed a break too. I'll be on my way." She states, sounding more composed, "Y-yeah, sounds good. I'll be waiting." I pocket my phone, knowing that I can't keep her waiting too long, and quicken my pace towards the Bun Café.
Walking down the final road, I spot the Bun Café, a beautiful modern architectural marvel that catches my eye with its vibrant pink and yellow color scheme. The building exudes a sense of cheerful charm, and it's a stark contrast to the mundane surroundings. It's the kind of place that immediately lifts your spirits.
I see Aroha at a table on the café's outdoor terrace, and her radiant smile brightens the whole scene. She waves and calls out, "Come sit down!" As I approach, I can't help but admire her fashion sense. She's dressed to impress, and I can't help but think she's taken extra effort to look stunning today. I decide to compliment her, "You look good, Aroha. Your clothes really suit you." She twiddles with her hair and blushes slightly, responding meekly, "T-thanks, Oren."
A waiter soon comes by, stopping at our table. Aroha is asked by the waiter, "Your guest has arrived, right?" Aroha nods affirmatively, and the waiter continues, "then take these." It's a simple gesture, handing us menus. It's been so long since I've dined out and had this kind of experience. I don't even recall the last time I did this with friends. Aroha, trying to bring me back to the present, says, "Hey, Oren, what are you daydreaming for? What food and drink do you want?" I snap back to reality, realizing I've been lost in my thoughts.
I quickly scan the menu, which offers a limited but appetizing selection of buns, cookies, and tea. I decide, "I'll probably just have some oatmeal cookies and apple juice." Aroha laughs playfully, "Oren, sometimes you really are just like a child." I respond with a deadpan expression, "I am though, I'm only seventeen." An awkward silence lingers for a moment until the waiter returns to take our order, breaking the tension as we finalize our choices.
As I enjoyed my oatmeal cookies, the worry in Aroha's voice was noticable as she spoke, "Oren, are you going to be able to become Rank One?" I paused, putting the half-eaten cookie down, and replied with determination, "Yeah, I will. At my current state, if I get lucky, I can probably defeat the Rank Five." She shook her head, her expression a mix of concern and realism, "You won't. The top five are so much higher than the ranks below, it's a joke. Tony told me that if ranks six through twenty were 'one through four' on the power scale, the top five would go as high as ten." Sipping on the apple juice, I felt a shock coursing through me. The idea of such a power disparity was daunting. I asked, "Then how should I improve?"
She responded with a hint of exasperation, "Learn martial arts already; the police are too busy, unlike what those two said when we were still in North Carolina." I nodded, taking one last bite of the first cookie before replying, "Who? I can't find anyone." She answered, "Literally anybody at the school. They're all prodigies. You can learn something from even those weaker than you."
Her suggestion got me thinking, and I considered the possibility. Megumi might teach me some capoeira. Yeah, that sounds good to me! We both continued eating, the atmosphere lightening as we talked about various small things, including our experiences at our new schools. Aroha finishes her meal, and I follow suit, savoring the last bites of my cookies. When it's time to settle the bill, I reach into my wallet and hand my card to the waiter. She expressed her gratitude, as all waiters should, "Thank you, sir." The card is accepted, and we tidy up our table, preparing to leave.
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As we're cleaning up, Aroha is suddenly approached by two guys, a big bald man and a rather handsome yet short young man. I notice Aroha instinctively backing up, trying to retrieve something from her purse. The two men, however, don't seem to take the hint.
The big guy leers at Aroha and makes an inappropriate comment, "Hey, you look pretty good, wanna go to this hotel with me?" Aroha, clearly uncomfortable, quickly responds, "I have a boyfriend!" She grabs the cup she was about to toss in the trash and hurls it towards the big man, who instinctively raises his arm to shield himself. He retaliates by grabbing her by the neck.
This sudden act of aggression triggers a surge of anger within me. I subconsciously activate my skill, my body and mind gearing up to respond to the unfolding situation.
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Soul: 55 (-20)
Skills:
Lvl. 1 Speed Booster - Increase your speed by 150% for three seconds. 20 soul to use, one minute cooldown. (Activated) The one minute cooldown has commenced.
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I wasted no time and, with a surge of adrenaline, tore Aroha from the grasp of the aggressor, placing her safely away from the escalating scuffle. In one swift, decisive move, I slammed the antagonist's face into the table, halting his aggressive advance instantly. He didn't even have a chance to comprehend what was happening, his speech reduced to gurgling. Despite the man's futile attempt to regain some control, he managed to blurt out defiantly, "You can't handle me!"
I couldn't help but respond with a cocky smirk, "I'm pretty sure I can handle this." My hands found their way around the back of his neck, and I started to apply pressure, choking him into submission. He struggled fruitlessly, but I managed to knock him unconscious shortly after. I don't even think he has the gift. As I turned my attention away from the big guy, I sensed movement behind me. The shorter companion, who had been momentarily disoriented, attempted to strike me with a chair. With a quick and precise backhand, I sent him flying onto the sidewalk.
I approached him and crouched down, my gaze intense and intimidating. I demanded firmly, "Get out of here, take your friend too. Calling the cops would be a pain. If I see you ever bothering people again, I'll make sure you regret it." The short man nodded in agreement and proceeded to carry his unconscious friend away. He displayed surprising strength, given the circumstances.
Aroha, grateful for my intervention, grabbed my hand and said, "Thanks, Oren." I replied with a reassuring smile, "Let's go home." She nodded in agreement, and we began our journey back home, making a brief stop to return the chair to its rightful place. The waiter expressed her gratitude for our help as we left the café.
As we walked home, Aroha couldn't contain her amazement and asked, "Damn, you really took out Rank Nineteen like that?" I responded, modestly downplaying my feat, "Yeah, it took all my strength, sure, but I didn't use any skills or buffs." Her eyes lit up with admiration, and she clapped, "That's pretty cool!" Wanting to unwind, I asked, "Hey, what do you want to watch when we get home?"
She thought for a moment and then replied, "Probably some Attack on Titan." My excitement bubbled over, "Hell yeah! Dude, Eren is so bad**s this season! He must defend his home, no matter the cost, a parallel to the first three seasons with Shiganshina!" As we continued our journey, Aroha suddenly grabbed my hand, a gesture that felt completely normal given our relationship as girlfriend and boyfriend, but hasn't happened before.
When we reached the apartment, I tossed my things aside and collapsed onto the couch, feeling the exhaustion of the day catching up with me. I remarked, "Damn, what a tiring day. I need to rest." Aroha placed her belongings on the living room table and then disappeared into another room. I wondered where she went when I suddenly noticed her on all fours above me when she returned. Was she hiding on the blindside of the couch? Her eyes had a distinct and intense look that I hadn't seen before. I felt a mixture of surprise and happiness, wondering what she was doing. Surprise, because, well, she's on top of me; and happiness, because she's my girlfriend and incredibly attractive.
She confessed, "I can't wait any longer; you're the only one for me!" Without warning, she leaned in and kissed me, her tongue entering my mouth, exploring with an unprecedented intensity. Is this our first kiss? My mind is now racing, the sensation is unlike anything I’ve known.