"Wrong stance, keep your heels upright!" Megumi's stern voice cut through the training area as he delivered a sharp reprimand, his disapproval evident in his body language. With precise aim, he wielded a stick to tap my errant heels, prompting me to immediately adjust my footing. I wondered if I had been pushing myself too hard, given the initial discomfort in my legs. My anticipation of sparring had led me to disregard the importance of mastering the fundamentals first.

Megumi's critique continued, accompanied by a firm strike to my head with the stick. "First, I'm going to show you proper form, and then in the last stages of your training I will demonstrate how to apply these techniques in real fights," he explained, his eyes reflecting a mixture of seriousness and patience. I replied, determined to absorb his teachings, "Yes, Megumi-sensei!"

An awkward smile crossed Megumi's face, revealing the genuine care he had for teaching me well. With his guidance, our training continued. Over the next couple of hours, I delved deep into 'his' martial arts, focusing on the intricacies of stances and attacks. Each moment was an education: mastering the finesse of a well-executed kick, perfecting the alignment of a punch, and learning how to move without telegraphing my intentions. It was exhausting, no doubt, but I could feel the immediate benefits. My unrefined punches and kicks from just a few days ago now felt noticeably more fluid and, surprisingly, more comfortable to execute.

The school bell rang, its shrill tone signaling the end of another grueling day. As the students began to disperse, I mustered the courage to voice the question that had been lingering in my mind. "Is the training over?" I inquired, my voice laced with both eagerness and fatigue.

Megumi, my dedicated instructor, met my anxious gaze and offered a reassuring nod. "Yes, you're doing good," he affirmed, his words laced with genuine encouragement. "Keep this up, and you definitely won't lag behind the rest of us." Putting my hands on my knees, I let myself rest for a couple of minutes.

I then swiftly gathered my belongings, slinging my backpack over my shoulder as I made my way towards the exit. "See ya, Megumi," I bid him farewell. He waved in acknowledgment, his smile reflecting the mentorship he provided to me.

Walking towards the gym's gate, I found Aroha waiting there, her presence catching me by surprise. I couldn't help but wonder why she had arrived so early. Our school days typically ended around the same time, and she had the added challenge of attending a school located several miles away. As I approached her, I couldn't contain my curiosity. "Yo, what's going on, Aroha?" I inquired, a hint of puzzlement in my voice.

She met my gaze, her eyes gleaming with warmth. "Nothing much," she replied, her smile casting a sense of comfort. "I just wanted to walk home with you from school."

My bewilderment persisted as I considered the logistics of her early arrival. "But your school ends around this time, and it's quite a trek. How did you manage it?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Aroha's answer shed light on her clever solution. "The last hour of school is just self-study, and since I have all A's," she explained, her tone modest, "I decided to take my leave early."

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I nodded in understanding, appreciating her dedication to maintaining our daily ritual. With a sense of reassurance, I reached out and gently grasped her hand, our fingers interlocking as we began the journey home together. The bond we shared, forged through shared experiences and unwavering support, felt all the more profound in that moment.

Nearing the apartment, Aroha suddenly came to a halt and pointed towards an inviting arcade. With a gleam in her eyes, she asked, "Can we play in here for a little while?" The neon lights and lively atmosphere drew us in, and I enthusiastically replied, "Sure, sounds like a lot of fun."

As we walked inside, the arcade revealed itself to be a veritable wonderland for gamers. The expansive room was filled with a mix of retro and modern gaming cabinets, each beckoning with its own unique allure. We headed over to a change machine, and I inserted a crisp ten-dollar bill. It seemed like a sufficient amount to indulge in the arcade's offerings.

Aroha's eyes lit up with excitement as she spotted the Street Fighter machine. With a playful challenge, she declared, "I'm going to beat you at this, Oren!" I couldn't resist the temptation, so I readily accepted, replying, "Let's see if you can!"

We each selected our characters; I chose Baraka, and she opted for Bison. Bison is the strongest character in the game, how am I supposed to beat that? The arcade cabinet had a divider that prevented us from seeing each other while we battled. As the match began, I couldn't help but adopt a button-mashing strategy, hoping to catch her off guard. To my surprise, she displayed remarkable skill, effortlessly defeating me in the first round. I couldn't fathom how she had become so proficient at the game.

Undeterred, we entered the second round, and this time, I decided to change my approach, playing a more defensive game. With a bit of luck, I narrowly clinched the round, much to Aroha's chagrin. She playfully whined, "Lucky! I'm finishing you off this time!"

With determination in her words, we initiated the final round of the match. However, halfway through the game, her character inexplicably stopped moving. Confused and concerned, I asked, "Aroha, what's going on?" My question hung in the air, unanswered, and a sense of worry began to creep in.

Getting up from my seat in the arcade, my heart skipped a beat when I realized that Aroha was no longer in her chair. Her backpack remained on the floor, untouched, suggesting that she hadn't stepped away momentarily to retrieve something.

My anxiety spiked as I scanned the bustling entrance of the store, my eyes locking onto a disturbing sight. A tall, hooded figure had taken hold of Aroha, hoisting her effortlessly onto his shoulder. His imposing stature and obscured features made me wonder if he was from the Criminal Alliance. I strained to catch any distinguishing details about him, but the hood concealed his identity entirely.

My fear intensified as the ominous figure turned towards me, his voice cold and calculated. "I sent a location to your phone," he declared with an air of chilling authority. "Come there alone, or something happens to this girl. I'm going now."

He swiftly made his way towards a sleek motorcycle parked just outside the arcade, his movements purposeful and unhurried. The engine roared to life as he prepared to depart.

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Soul: 180 (-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 summoned all my inner speed. The ground beneath me shuddered and trembled. With mighty effort, I propelled myself forward, closing the distance between the hooded man and me in a matter of seconds. As I drew nearer, I reached out my left arm hoping to grab him. Making a resolute guarantee, I promised him, "You're dead."