บท 14: CHAPTER 13 - Unlikely Allies (3)
Ichiro had brought along only a bottle of cold green tea, as he had already prepared his own lunch. He wandered around the campus, searching for a quiet place to enjoy his meal in peace. However, he hadn't anticipated that he would bump into someone unexpected.
"Don't go, just eat here," a voice urged.
Ichiro was already happily engrossed in his meal, but he hadn't noticed because of his preoccupation with his surroundings. As he looked up, he realized that someone was sleeping on top of a tree branch nearby.
"Would you like some?" Ichiro offered a portion of his meal despite his lingering worries about his unusual encounters earlier in the day.
Akihiko, who had been resting in the tree, looked confused at Ichiro. He knew little about him, having only recently learned of the bullying Ichiro had endured in school and the fact that his family seemed to care little for him. Despite this lack of interest, Akihiko couldn't explain why he felt inexplicably drawn to Ichiro.
Akihiko accepted one of the egg rolls, examining it curiously. He wondered whether the food would be any good; having lived alone, he had learned to cook for himself.
"Did you make this?" he asked, aware of Ichiro's likely solitary living situation.
"Yeah, why?" Ichiro replied casually, his attention mainly on his own meal.
Akihiko said nothing and took a bite of the food. As the flavors mingled on his palate, he was stunned by a sudden sensation that overcame him. It felt as if his body was healing from the inside out, a sensation he hadn't experienced since his mother used her small healing ability to tend to his wounds as a child.
"Is something wrong?" Ichiro inquired, noticing the strange expression on Akihiko's face. He suspected that Akihiko had sensed the healing magic within the food.
"Nothing," Akihiko replied, still bewildered and at a loss for words.
Ichiro extended his meal toward Akihiko. "Want some more?"
Akihiko descended from the tree and sat next to Ichiro. He accepted the offered food and began to eat with him, the two of them sharing a meal together in unexpected harmony.
They sat side by side, quietly savoring the meal Ichiro had skillfully prepared. Not a word passed between them; only the rustling of the wind through the leaves broke the silence.
"I'll go ahead first, you can finish all of this," Ichiro said, handing the remaining food to Akihiko before he rose from his seat and departed.
Akihiko accepted the offered meal with a grateful nod, secretly relishing the simple, satisfying flavors that Ichiro had crafted. He watched as Ichiro left, a sense of contentment warming him from within.
When Ichiro reached his class, he hurriedly retrieved his sports bag. There was no time to waste; their training class awaited. Despite his initial lack of any extraordinary abilities, their training centered around combat and martial skills. But those times were behind him now. Ichiro had transformed into someone capable of astonishing feats, like catching a speeding rabbit in a single leap.
Rushing to the changing lockers, Ichiro was determined to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention. As he emerged, the rest of his class had begun making their way to the lockers as well. He paid no heed to the hostile glares directed his way and continued on his path toward the training grounds, his focus squarely on the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.
"Oh, Ichiro, you're here already?"
"Senpai Fuji, I didn't want to..." Ichiro began, but he was quickly interrupted.
"Ha-ha, don't worry about it. I've heard all the crazy stories already," Senpai Fuji chuckled.
Kazuki Fujimoto, their PE teacher, exuded an air of sophistication. Always impeccably groomed, he sported neatly combed black hair and a clean-shaven face. His fashion sense was top-notch, often showcasing designer sportswear. Despite his delicate appearance, he ranked among the top combat soldiers.
"Why don't you go ahead and start running?" Senpai Fujimoto suggested, aware of Ichiro's stamina and strength limitations.
Ichiro nodded in agreement and began to warm up with a slow jog around the field. Gradually, his pace increased, catching the attention of the observing teacher. Despite Ichiro's ghostly appearance, it seemed he was not only doing well but performing better than before.
"I think I'm seeing a living ghost," Senpai Fujimoto mused, shaking off his disbelief.
Completely absorbed in his workout, Ichiro failed to notice his remarkable speed. It wasn't long before the system alerted him.
-You have completed the necessary lap.-
"What? Already?" Ichiro exclaimed, looking around. His classmates had yet to arrive, but the expression on his teacher's face told a different story. "Damn it, I'm screwed."
As Ichiro approached his teacher, his mind raced, searching for an excuse to explain his astonishing performance. Right now, he had showcased the skills of someone on the level of a Tier 4 combat soldier.
"I'm sure he wouldn't care, right?" Ichiro thought nervously.
"Yo, Ichiro, when did you start working out?" Senpai Fujimoto's inquisitive voice cut through Ichiro's thoughts.
Ichiro's face contorted into an odd expression. He had hoped his teacher wouldn't inquire, but, of course, that wasn't his luck. What he had just accomplished was nothing short of extraordinary.
"Recently," Ichiro replied vaguely, careful not to reveal the existence of the mysterious system. Explaining it would likely lead Senpai Fujimoto to believe he was crazy.
"Impossible, with your current speed. It's almost at the same level as mine, and I'm a Tier 6," Senpai Fujimoto remarked in disbelief.
"What?" Ichiro's mind spun in confusion. He hadn't realized he was moving that fast.
-Analysis report-
"I don't like this," Ichiro muttered inwardly.
-Average speed during the lap was 849 mph-
"I just said I don't want to know," Ichiro cursed silently, not wanting to comprehend how fast he had been running.
"Sir, I think you've been standing out in the heat too long," Ichiro offered an explanation.
"You think?" Senpai Fujimoto pondered for a moment, wondering if he was indeed seeing things. However, it was evident that Ichiro had been running at a speed comparable to his own. While it was still slower than his Tier 6 status, only the top students of the academy could achieve such a feat.
"Maybe you're right," Senpai Fujimoto conceded.
Ichiro couldn't help but think, "Me, a Tier 6? Has Senpai Fuji gone nuts?"
-Tier Explanation-
"Oh, here we go again," Ichiro muttered under his breath, clearly not in the mood for another lecture from the system.
Tier 1: Novice
Description: Novices have just embarked on their combat training journey and possess only basic skills. They lack experience and often find themselves struggling in combat situations.
Tier 2: Apprentice
Description: Apprentices have honed their basic skills and are beginning to develop their unique combat style. They are more competent but still have much to learn.
Tier 3: Adept
Description: Adepts have reached a level of competence that allows them to hold their ground in most combat scenarios. They have a solid understanding of their chosen combat style or magic.
Tier 4: Expert
Description: Experts are highly skilled combatants, capable of taking on multiple opponents or formidable foes. They have mastered their chosen combat style and are often sought after for their expertise.
Tier 5: Master
Description: Masters are legendary figures in the world of combat, renowned for their unparalleled skills. They are both feared and respected by all, and their abilities are almost god-like.
Tier 6: Grandmaster
Description: Grandmasters are exceedingly rare and almost mythical in their combat prowess. They have transcended mortal limitations, and their abilities are the stuff of legends.
Tier 7: Ascendant
Description: Ascendants are beings of god-like power. They are not merely combatants but forces of nature, capable of reshaping reality itself with their extraordinary abilities.
-Your current speed is on par with someone of Tier 6, however, your combat ability is still at Tier 2.-
"Yeah, yeah, I know that already," Ichiro grumbled inwardly. He was well aware that he still lacked the necessary skills. Despite all the training he had undertaken, he had never faced a real combat situation. Dealing with bullies had been the extent of his combat experience thus far.
As the rest of the class gathered, Ichiro couldn't shake the feeling that someone was staring at him. Scanning the classroom, his intuition was proven right.
Emi Sato was observing him with eager curiosity. He wondered why she had been doing so since earlier in class.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Ichiro mumbled to himself.
Senpai Fujimoto, unaware of the specific source of Ichiro's unease, asked, "You okay?"
"I'm fine, Senpai. I just feel like I'm getting too much attention from unwanted people," Ichiro responded honestly.
Little did Senpai Fujimoto know that the unwanted attention Ichiro referred to came from both Emi Sato and Akihiko Nakamura. He genuinely didn't relish the idea of having the elite students' focus on him, as it felt akin to inviting trouble.
"You should consider dressing up more and fixing that hair of yours," Senpai Fujimoto suggested, thinking that a fresh appearance might alleviate some of the boy's concerns.
"I'll think about that," Ichiro replied, knowing that it wouldn't solve his problem entirely. Nevertheless, the idea of improving his appearance was already high on his priority list.
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