Bab 17: CHAPTER 16 - Unveiling Strength in Shadows (1)
Ichiro was left utterly dumbfounded by the situation. He never could have imagined in his wildest dreams that Akihiko Nakamura would come to his aid.
'I must be dead,' he thought, as if this surreal moment was some sort of afterlife experience.
"Despite all the injuries received, the likelihood of you being dead is impossible at this moment," the system interjected with its typically factual tone.
"I know that," Ichiro unconsciously replied, momentarily forgetting that Akihiko was still by his side.
"You sure you're okay?" Akihiko asked, his concern evident.
"I'm fine now, thanks," Ichiro assured him.
Akihiko's response was a simple, "Hmm."
Akihiko had never been the type to run around and save people. Even as he approached graduation, he had no intentions of joining the military or becoming a hero who battled monsters and saved people. With his mother's family coming from a well-off background, he had more than enough wealth to last him a lifetime, allowing him to live life on his terms. He was well aware that his father wouldn't force him into a life of monster hunting; after all, his father had plenty of other children to carry on the family legacy. Akihiko simply had no interest in their family's wealth or status and had chosen a path that suited his own desires and aspirations.
"Can you stand?" Akihiko inquired, his concern still evident.
"I think I can," Ichiro replied as he rose to his feet without any apparent difficulty. Despite the bruises and broken ribs he had sustained, he was still strong enough to stand on his own. His earlier act of weakness had been a deliberate ruse to conceal the truth about his abilities from others.
"You sure are weak," Akihiko commented, observing Ichiro closely.
"Yeah, I know that already," Ichiro replied, puzzled by Akihiko's remark.
"But, why are you acting weak?" Akihiko questioned further.
"Huh?" Ichiro looked stunned and bewildered, struggling to comprehend why Akihiko would suggest he was acting weak.
"Nevermind," Akihiko replied, deciding not to press the matter. He didn't want to delve into why Ichiro was feigning weakness, even though he could sense that Ichiro possessed a hidden strength.
Akihiko didn't fully grasp the extent of Ichiro's strength, but he had been quietly observing from a distance. With his keen vision, akin to that of an eagle, he could clearly see that despite the brutality inflicted on him by the bullies earlier, Ichiro had endured and remained standing. Some of the bullies had even employed magical reinforcement in their attacks, yet Ichiro hadn't bothered to cast any shields or defend himself. This observation led Akihiko to believe that Ichiro's body was capable of withstanding tremendous force, and it left him intrigued and curious about the true nature of Ichiro's abilities.
"Come with me," Akihiko suddenly suggested.
"Huh?" Ichiro was once again left speechless. He didn't dare ask where they were going or why Akihiko was extending the invitation.
'Is he planning to beat me up?' Ichiro couldn't help but entertain the thought, despite Akihiko having just saved him. The notion that Akihiko might still harbor ill intentions gnawed at the back of his mind. He wondered if Akihiko's interest in him was somehow tied to his miraculous return from the dead.
"Stop with the look; I don't plan on killing the person I just saved," Akihiko remarked, cutting through Ichiro's apprehensions.
Ichiro forced an awkward smile. 'Was it that obvious?' he silently mused.
Akihiko let out a sigh and added, "I'm sure you're thinking if it was obvious. The answer is yes."
"Oh?" Ichiro awkwardly laughed as he scratched his head, embarrassed by the transparency of his thoughts.
Silently, Ichiro followed Akihiko. He found the young man to be of the cold and aloof type. Ichiro couldn't help but feel that there was an air of mystery surrounding Akihiko.
"So, where are we heading?" Ichiro finally asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"To get some groceries," Akihiko replied simply.
"Groceries?" Ichiro couldn't help but wonder why he was being dragged along for a grocery run. At the same time, his mind started to conjure some rather peculiar thoughts. 'Isn't it strange to go shopping together, especially for food, just two guys?'
"Stop with your weird thoughts. I'm not gay, and I'm not into you," Akihiko stated bluntly, wanting to dispel any misconceptions that Ichiro might have.
"Oh, sorry," Ichiro responded, feeling awkward once again as he realized the absurdity of his own thoughts.
As they arrived at the mini-supermarket, Akihiko took a basket and began selecting ingredients. Ichiro quietly trailed behind him, soon realizing that the items Akihiko was gathering were the same ingredients he had used to prepare lunch earlier.
"Are you planning—" Ichiro began but was abruptly cut off by Akihiko.
"No, you are," Akihiko bluntly stated, making it clear that he had no intention of cooking and expected Ichiro to prepare the meal instead.
"Me?" Ichiro pointed at himself, utterly dumbfounded by this sudden turn of events.
"I saved your life, so you're going to cook my meal," Akihiko stated firmly, his voice commanding, and his gaze piercing into Ichiro's eyes.
Ichiro gulped and replied meekly, "Yes, sir."
For the first time in his life, Ichiro felt genuine fear emanating from another person. He had never feared a living person before, aside from the monsters he had encountered. The way Akihiko looked at him at that moment made it feel as though he was being scrutinized by a formidable creature.
As Akihiko paid for the ingredients, Ichiro hesitantly asked, "Where am I going to cook?"
"At my place," Akihiko replied simply.
"Your what?" Ichiro inquired, his mind racing with all sorts of thoughts.
"Stop with your weird thoughts," Akihiko chided, his expression growing more exasperated with Ichiro's questions.
Ichiro didn't harbor any strange thoughts about their situation; instead, he was plagued by unsettling ones. What if this was all part of Akihiko's plan, an elaborate ruse to lure him and test whether he would come back to life once again?
The two of them walked side by side as Ichiro reluctantly followed Akihiko to his place. He had the sense that they were headed to an apartment since Akihiko had long left his family's residence.
When they finally arrived at the apartment complex, Ichiro was taken aback by the simplicity of the place. He had expected Akihiko to be living in one of those elite, well-guarded complexes reserved for the wealthy and powerful.
"Let's go," Akihiko said, and Ichiro followed him with a bewildered expression on his face.
Akihiko's apartment was on the second floor, tucked away at the very end of the hallway. He handed the groceries to Ichiro and fished out his keys from his pocket. When the door swung open, Ichiro's eyes widened in surprise at the sight that greeted him inside.
"So what if the outside was old and rusty," Ichiro thought as he stepped into Akihiko's apartment and beheld the modern and high-tech interior. It was a stark contrast to the modest appearance of the building's exterior.
Upon entering, the kitchen was situated on the left, and the bathroom was on the right side near the entrance. Directly ahead was the living room, which was adorned with surveillance monitors and various technological equipment. It resembled an office space for a tech-savvy hacker more than a typical living room.
"Are you—" Ichiro began to ask but hesitated, not wanting to pry.
"It's for work," Akihiko replied curtly, giving no further details about the purpose of his elaborate setup.
"Cool," Ichiro remarked, genuinely impressed. He hadn't expected a high school student like Akihiko to be working already and was curious about the nature of his job.
"Anyways, get cooking," Akihiko instructed, turning his attention to the computer to check for any notifications or messages, leaving Ichiro to prepare their meal.
Ichiro remained silent as he busied himself in the kitchen, preparing the meal based on the ingredients Akihiko had selected. He was well aware of what he was expected to make, given the items Akihiko had picked up.
Throughout the cooking process, Akihiko periodically checked on Ichiro's progress. Ichiro understood the reason for Akihiko's close scrutiny; he was almost certain that Akihiko had sensed the healing magic from the meal earlier. Akihiko's request for the same meal was likely to confirm whether the healing effects were real or a mere illusion.
Ichiro couldn't help but ponder the likelihood of the food having such healing properties. He sent a mental inquiry to the system, asking about the chances.
-With the lack of some ingredients, only 7% effect.-
Ichiro hadn't expected the odds to be so low. Knowing that some key ingredients were missing, he had already anticipated that the meal wouldn't replicate the exact effects of his earlier creation.
Without further delay, Ichiro completed the cooking and served the dish to Akihiko. Given the absence of a dining table, Akihiko ate at his desk while Ichiro settled onto the sofa, awaiting Akihiko's verdict on the meal.
"Just eat," Akihiko replied curtly, already digging into his meal. Seeing Akihiko's lack of reaction, Ichiro inferred that the healing effects he had experienced earlier were absent this time.
After a few minutes, both of them finished their meal. Ichiro didn't wait for Akihiko to initiate the next move; he immediately began cleaning up everything. Once the tidying was complete, he hesitated briefly, casting an uncertain glance at Akihiko, silently seeking permission to leave.
"Take care," Akihiko offered, not bothering to turn away from his computer screen.
"Thank you for the meal," Ichiro replied, expressing his gratitude, as it meant he didn't have to prepare another meal when he returned home.
Without further words exchanged, Ichiro exited the apartment, closing the door behind him. He looked up at the darkening sky, filled with shimmering stars.
Meanwhile, Akihiko stepped out of his own door and watched Ichiro as he unconsciously started to run at a surprisingly swift pace. A faint smile graced Akihiko's lips as he observed Ichiro's unexpected display of agility.
"How interesting," he mused to himself, intrigued by the revelation that Ichiro had been playing the role of a weak and naive individual all this time.
Hadiah
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