章 5: C5
Kai woke up to the soft hum of his automated blinds drawing back, flooding his room with golden sunlight. He groaned, rolling over to bury his face in the pillow, but the distant sound of Sugihara's approaching footsteps reminded him there was no escaping the day.
"Young master Kai, it's time to rise," Sugihara's voice came through the slightly ajar door, calm but firm.
"I'm awake!" Kai called back, muffling his voice into the pillow. Then, sitting up, he added, "Mostly."
With the promise of breakfast as motivation, Kai went through his morning routine. He brushed his teeth without theatrics this time, ran a comb through his streaked black hair until it was neat enough for Sugihara's standards, and slipped into his freshly pressed school uniform. By the time he reached the dining room, he could already smell the familiar spread of toast, eggs, and fruit.
After breakfast, Kai grabbed his bag, and Sugihara was waiting by the car, holding the door open with his usual poise. The sleek black vehicle purred quietly as they pulled away from the mansion.
As the car weaved through the city's clean, bustling streets, Kai's thoughts wandered to his quirk. He'd been chipping away at understanding its potential, but a whole new set of ideas hit him like a bolt of lightning.
"If I can store energy and release it," Kai mused aloud, "what if I could control how it's released? Like, instead of one big burst, I let it out in smaller amounts? Or even combine different types of energy?"
Sugihara glanced at him in the rearview mirror, his face neutral but his eyes sharp. "Fascinating theories, young master. Continue."
Kai's mind raced. "Right, so, say I absorb kinetic energy from running, and I hold onto it. What if I add heat energy from sunlight on top of it? Would it mix together into some kind of... hybrid energy?"
He tapped his chin, staring out the window as he continued. "Or maybe I could store electrical energy from something like a generator. That could be huge. Imagine turning someone's lightning attack back on them—only ten times stronger."
Sugihara gave a small nod. "You would become both a formidable defender and an unpredictable attacker. However, managing such a variety of energy types could be difficult."
Kai grinned, undeterred. "Difficult, sure. Impossible? Nah. I just need practice. I bet if I figure out the storage mechanics—like how much my body can hold—I can stretch the limits."
He paused, a wilder thought creeping in. "What if storing energy changes over time? Like, the more I use it, the more efficient I get. Maybe my body adapts, letting me hold more energy for longer without getting tired."
Sugihara's eyebrow arched slightly. "The human body's capacity for adaptation is remarkable, especially with quirks. However, there may be risks in pushing beyond your limits too quickly."
"Yeah, yeah," Kai waved dismissively, though he appreciated the concern. "I'll play it safe—for now. But what if my stockpiling isn't just for me? What if I could transfer energy to someone else? Like, share it in an emergency?"
Sugihara pulled into the school's driveway and stopped the car. "If such a possibility exists, young master, it could make you an invaluable ally. But it would also place great responsibility on your shoulders."
Kai nodded as he climbed out of the car, his excitement still bubbling under the surface. "Responsibility, huh? Guess I'd better figure this stuff out before I accidentally turn myself into a human firework."
As he slung his bag over his shoulder and headed toward the school gates, his mind remained ablaze with theories and plans. Each idea was another step closer to mastering his quirk—and to becoming the hero he dreamed of being.
The day at school passed in a blur, filled with lectures, quizzes, and classmates' chatter. By the time the final bell rang, Kai was more than ready to leave. As he exited the school gates, Sugihara was waiting in the sleek black car, standing dutifully with the door open.
"Welcome back, young master," Sugihara said as Kai slid into the backseat.
"Thanks, Sugihara," Kai replied, tossing his bag aside. "School was... educational. Let's put it that way."
Sugihara's faint smile was barely visible as he closed the door and got into the driver's seat.
As the car pulled away, Kai leaned back, staring out the window. "You ever think the teachers at those schools talk just to hear their own voices?"
"Frequently," Sugihara replied dryly. "Though I trust you managed to glean something of value from today."
Kai snickered. "Oh, I learned something, alright. Never volunteer to answer a question when you don't know the topic."
Arriving home, Kai was ushered into his father's study. His father was poring over reports on his tablet, a glass of whiskey untouched on the desk. He glanced up as Kai entered.
"Ah, Kai," his father greeted warmly. "How was school?"
"Same as always," Kai said, flopping into a chair across from him. "But let's skip the small talk. What's on the business agenda today?"
His father chuckled, setting the tablet aside. "Eager to learn the ropes, are we? Alright, let's talk market strategy."
Kai listened as his father explained the basics of supply and demand, weaving in examples from the family's ventures. Though the topics were dry, his father had a way of making them engaging, and Kai found himself absorbed in the discussion.
"Remember, Kai," his father said, leaning forward, "business isn't just about numbers. It's about people. Understand what they need, and you'll never go hungry."
Kai smirked. "Is that why you always say we're in the people business?"
"Exactly," his father said with a grin. "Now, go put that brain of yours to work. You're not going to learn everything by sitting in this chair."
Kai met Sugihara in the garden as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the neatly trimmed hedges and vibrant flowers. The butler stood beside a small table, which held a stopwatch and a notebook.
"Training session, round two," Kai said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's do this."
Sugihara nodded. "Today, we'll focus on control and stamina. Shall we begin with energy absorption?"
Kai started jogging laps around the garden, just like the day before, building up a steady supply of kinetic energy. This time, he focused on absorbing every footfall, every push of his legs against the ground. By the time he stopped, his body was humming with stored power.
"How do you feel?" Sugihara asked, clicking the stopwatch.
"Like a soda can about to pop," Kai said with a grin. "Let's see what I can do with it."
Kai concentrated on releasing the energy in small, controlled bursts. First, he channeled it into his fists, throwing punches that sent small ripples of force through the air. Then, he shifted to his legs, testing how much power he could release with each jump.
At one point, he tried combining energy types, standing in a sunlit spot to absorb heat alongside his kinetic reserve. The result was a strange, buzzing sensation that made his punches slightly warmer.
"Interesting," Sugihara commented, jotting down notes. "You're beginning to experiment with synergy."
Kai grinned. "Yeah, and it feels awesome. But there's gotta be a better way to mix it. Right now, it's like putting chocolate syrup in water—not bad, but not great."
The butler gave a rare chuckle. "Perhaps practice will refine the recipe."
As the session continued, Kai experimented with holding energy for longer periods and releasing it in precise, measured amounts. Sugihara had set up targets—simple wooden planks—and Kai worked on hitting them with just enough force to break them without overshooting.
By the end of the hour, Kai was drenched in sweat, his chest heaving. But his grin was unstoppable.
"Not bad," he said, leaning on his knees. "Think I'm getting the hang of this."
Sugihara handed him a towel and a bottle of water. "You've made significant progress today. However, remember that overconfidence can be as dangerous as undertraining."
"Yeah, yeah," Kai said, waving him off. "I get it. But admit it, Sugihara—I'm pretty good for a beginner."
The butler inclined his head. "Indeed, young master. You are showing great promise."
Kai laughed, collapsing onto the grass. His body ached, but his mind was buzzing with ideas. Every training session brought him closer to understanding his quirk—and closer to becoming someone who could stand among the best.
Kai's evening routine began, as always, with a hot shower. The steam fogged the mirror as he toweled off, his hair sticking out at odd angles until he gave up trying to fix it. "Style through chaos," he muttered with a smirk, pretending to strike a dramatic pose in the mirror.
He stepped out of the bathroom in his usual soft pajamas, their fabric cool and luxurious, and wandered down the hall to find his parents. They were in the sitting room, his father reading a business magazine while his mother was engrossed in her knitting.
Kai flopped onto the couch beside his father, throwing his legs over the armrest. "So, how many billions did you make today, Dad?"
His father didn't look up but replied with an equally casual tone. "Oh, just the usual. Enough to keep you in those designer pajamas."
Kai gave a mock gasp. "Designer? No wonder they feel so heavy. I'm probably walking around in ten kilos of money!"
His mother chuckled softly, setting her knitting aside. "Oh, stop teasing. You know your father works hard to keep this family comfortable."
Kai rolled his eyes playfully. "Comfortable? Mom, we're so comfortable we're practically floating on a cloud of cash. I'm surprised we don't have butlers for the butlers."
Sugihara, passing by with a tray of tea, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his impeccable poker face unshaken.
"I like Sugihara's style," Kai continued, grinning. "Silent but deadly. He's probably an undercover superhero. Or a ninja. Bet you've got secret powers, huh, Sugihara?"
The butler paused, giving Kai a faint smile. "I assure you, young master, my abilities are strictly professional."
Kai laughed, and even his father cracked a smile, lowering his magazine. "Don't push your luck, Kai. Sugihara might actually surprise you someday."
After saying goodnight to his parents, Kai made his way to his room, the familiar space already dimly lit by a bedside lamp. He flopped onto his bed, the events of the day replaying in his mind.
Training had been intense but exciting. The idea of combining energy types still buzzed in his head like a puzzle waiting to be solved. He stretched out his hands, flexing his fingers as if he could feel the power still lingering there.
"Controlled bursts," he muttered to himself, staring at the ceiling. "Kinetic plus heat? Maybe if I focus on balance instead of stacking..."
The targets he'd hit during training came to mind—how precise he'd gotten by the end. That had felt good, like he was finally understanding the rhythm of his quirk. But there was still so much more to learn.
Then his thoughts turned to his family.
His father, with his sharp wit and unshakable confidence, always seemed to have everything under control. It was easy to take that for granted, but Kai wondered how much effort went into keeping things running so smoothly.
And his mother... Kai smiled, remembering her warm laugh earlier. She always had a way of making him feel grounded, even when he was charging ahead with his wild ideas.
"They're not so bad," he said softly, turning onto his side. "Annoying sometimes, but... not bad."
Kai pulled the blanket over himself, staring at the faint glow of the moon through the window. His mind shifted back to his quirk.
With a yawn, he turned over, his body sinking deeper into the mattress. "One step at a time," he murmured, his eyes growing heavy. "Just gotta keep training... and maybe mess with Sugihara tomorrow."
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Give me stones or I retire 🔥
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