Absolute Duo:Volume 6 Chapter 2
Status: Incomplete
Chapter 2 『I Will----Steal Your Time』
A week passed since I got discharged.
The plaster cast was taken away, and I started rehabilitation.
There remained a scar, but I couldn't feel pain anymore.
If I'm careful, after dedicating some time to the rehabilitation it should disappear.
But the frustration from losing was something that didn't heal, aside from that, I had pretty much recovered on the mental side.
–––And with that, I was able to view the rematch with Sakaki from a different angle.
And so, I was considering a lot of different stuff.
First, since when did Sakaki obtain his current strength?
During that last battle, I did think that he had managed to get to higher level of strength during those two years, but actually, that was wrong.
I remembered that Ougi-san had labeled him a monster even before those two years.
So, when could Sakaki have been able to gain that strength?
According to my memories, that time in summer, Sakaki should not have reached his current strength, but...
Next, the weapon Sakaki used in the middle of the fight–––about that «Ogre».
He had said–––This is my «Soul».
It was similar to a «Blaze», but instead of being born from a «Blaze» it came from «Light», what could that weapon be...
As bad as it might be, «Gleam» is a complete mystery to me and there's not a single thing I have clear about it, but there where some remarks in the conversation we had that time that are bugging me.
“This is different to what you all have”
Sakaki was aware of the «Gleam».
I don't know how much, but it definitely is knowledge that those living a normal daily life will never get.
I can't help it to feel a dark presence.
Third–––Why was Sakaki at that place?
The reason he was at the remains of the dojo, he probably had something to do–––but, that too, was only left as a mystery.
I don't think it would be like he moves around for the sake of the people he murdered.
And last, after that battle was over, there's one thing, as vague as it may be, that I understood.
That is–––
“Kokonoe...!!”
“!!”
I was called by a strong willed voice, and I was brought back to reality immediately.
“If you're having trouble concentrating then you don't have to force yourself to continue”
Talking while frowning, it was the girl described best as “strict”–––Tachibana.
“S, sorry. I'm probably just a bit sleepy or something, my mind is just going blank...”
Returning to reality, I noticed I was just in the middle of the morning training.
Yesterday I was issued the permission to take part in the training, and so this morning I was once again training together with Tachibana.
“Yeah... I can understand your feelings but, I'll also say you're distracted. Training is not only about repeating the movements you know, someone like you who has learned martial arts before should already be aware of that”
“Right, that's true... Sorry for that, let's continue”
I apologize again, and I start focusing on the training more intently.
These are the basics.
This won't polish a «Fang» able to reach Sakaki.
But even so, I think I'm going to continue this training.
(Those who seek the span of a tree, will definitely strengthen their roots... was it, Master)
I'm not a prodigy like Sakaki.
Ougi-san even told me I don't have talent.
So all I can do is to pack my way with training, and the «Level Up» that follows will have to produce a body and mind that can withstand anything.
But after that fight, even if just hazily, I realized.
Something–––is lacking.
“That's enough!”
After a while, Tachibana voiced the finishing signal.
We had finished the accorded count of rounds, and I wiped the sweat running down on my brow.
We didn't had a lot of time, so at the start we would decide the number of rounds and so, we could concentrate more instead of going one round at everything, or so we thought.
But it was only recently that we were able to finish all the rounds before the time ran out.
First was to get used to the moves with practice–––
And second, since my «Level» became «IV», I should be able to move faster.
“As expected you became faster. ...Though, if at the start you wouldn't have been spacing out, we would have finished faster”
“Haha, I'm really sorry for that...”
While I scratched my head, Tachibana suddenly smiled.
“Then, though we went from start to finish, and there is still time–––”
Tachibana fixed her posture, and said the following.
“Let's see how you handle being thrown from behind. We already did this before so there's no need to explain it again, right?”
“We, well, no, or, how should I say it...”
“What is it. It couldn't be you forgot?”
“I, It isn't that but–––”
I haven't forgotten–––or should I say, there's no way I can forget.
Or instead, could it be that Tachibana forgot she's a girl?, that's the real question.
I can stop her attempt at throwing me until she's right behind me, but then, if her chest would touch me–––actually, if it would be pressed and squashed in my back, I would immediately be unable to focus on the training.
“So, shall be begin”
This enthusiast of martial arts training–––or should I say, even famous girl, smiled happily and “Come on” invited me with her hand outstretched.
“Tha, that's right! The remaining time, I thought maybe I would prefer to run a bit...!!”
“Yeah. Considering the state of your body, running would certainly be more beneficial”
Strong legs can become the foundation of a strong attack.
I'm running for that–––with that excuse, I was able to escape and luckily Tachibana showed no signs of noticing it.
“Alright then, see you again when it's time for breakfast–––”
“Hold on a second”
My hearth pounded violently, my legs stopped.
(It, it can't be she found out? ...no, it should be alright. If she had found out she would have yelled at me calling me shameless or insolent...)
Thinking like that, I turned around with accelerating hearth beats–––
“Take this with you. It would be good if you eat it after running”
Tachibana took a plastic box out from her bag, and gave it to me.
The contents were pickled lemons in honey.
“Lemons have a energy restoring effect, so it would be good if you ate it after running. ...Though it's already close to breakfast time so you should take care not to overeat”
“Okay, got it. Sorry, you ended up having to prepare even this”
“What's with that, you don't have to think about it so much. There are a lot of people who get exhausted from the heat, so I prepared a lot”
Probably I should say it was to be expected from the dependable class's main existence.
She's not only strong, but because she is always considerate like this, Tachibana became someone who is relied on by everyone.
(How nostalgic, I remember Otoha always made this...)
I took the pickled lemons, and because of those far memories my face loosened up a bit.
The very first time she made it, she wasn't sure how much honey to use, I can still remember that it turned into some really sweet lemons.
“...”
“Wha, what is it?”
She was staring intently at me, so I asked what it was a bit bewildered and–––
“No, it's nothing, it's just that you–––well, you just saw like you were remembering some nostalgic past or something, it was the first time I saw you look like that so...”
Tachibana made a wry smile like trying to tell me she was sorry for seeing me like that.
“Haha... , that was embarrasing. You see, a long time ago I had a little sister who used to prepare this, and I ended up remembering that...”
“Hoh, you had a little sister”
“Well, yeah...”
But she's already gone.
If I were to say that, I would definitely make things awkward, so I stopped before blurting that out.
I couldn't find anything worth to say anymore so I ended the conversation in a bit forceful way, and went away from there.
“Goo, Good morning, Tooru-kun”
I catched up with Miyabi–––well, actually she stopped to wait when she saw me–––and she greeted me before I could say anything.
“Morning, Miyabi. It's alright even if you don't stop, you know”
“Yes, I know”
She nodded, and started running at my side.
“Tooru-kun, did something happen today? It's not saturday...”
That was her first question.
After all, the days I had promised to run with her, were Saturday in the mornings.
So it as obvious, that if I showed up in the middle of the week like today, she would find it strange.
“Err... T, the training with Tachibana ended quickly today, so I thought that maybe I should pass the time until breakfast running”
I didn't say a single lie.
“So that happened. Well, at least it was a pleasant surprise”
“What was?”
“Even though it wasn't a Saturday, I was able to be together with you”
Seeing Miyabi smile happily like that shocked me.
I was aware that she had said that because of her affection towards me, in a bit excessive way.
Even with her breath distorted from the running, Miyabi was smiling.
“B, by the way. Your running pace has become quite fast, hasn't it?”
Being unable to hide the blush on my cheeks, I changed the topic–––but actually, what I just said is true.
Ever since she started running in April, in these five months or so Miyabi's body became quite strong.
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