บท 40: CHAPTER 39 - Malevolent Presence (3)
The sight that unfolded before them left everyone in awe and disbelief. Ichiro, who had long been perceived as the weak and timid boy, was now moving at a speed that seemed beyond human capability. It was as if he had tapped into an entirely different level of strength and agility.
Ren and Emi, both among the top students known for their physical prowess, found themselves unable to match Ichiro's incredible speed. They watched in amazement as he effortlessly outpaced them, leaving them far behind.
Ren, known for his competitive spirit, couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for Ichiro's newfound ability. Emi, too, was astonished, her curiosity piqued by this unexpected development.
Senpai Fujimoto,was one of the top warriors in their school, was so impressed by Ichiro's speed that he decided to join in the race. He wanted to demonstrate to everyone just how fast Ichiro was going.
Meanwhile, Ichiro himself was running almost absentmindedly, lost in his thoughts as he replayed the events of the previous night in his mind. The newfound physical abilities he had been experiencing were a puzzle to him, and he was determined to uncover their source and purpose. As he raced ahead, his thoughts were consumed by the mysteries surrounding his transformation, oblivious to the admiration and astonishment he was drawing from those around him.
The students who had witnessed Ichiro's astonishing speed couldn't contain their amazement and disbelief.
"Seriously, how fast is he going that he's able to match Senpai?" one student marveled.
"Was Ichiro always this good?" another student questioned, still trying to wrap their head around the sudden display of talent.
"This can't be true, someone just pinch me," a third student said, pinching themselves to make sure they weren't dreaming.
The expressions on their faces ranged from shock to admiration. What they had just witnessed was something that had the potential to change the entire dynamic of their school. It was now clear that Ichiro, the son of the late Lady Takahashi, had never been weak or powerless; he had simply chosen not to show off his abilities.
This revelation was sure to send ripples throughout the school, and the students couldn't help but wonder what other hidden talents Ichiro might possess. It was a turning point that left everyone reevaluating their perceptions of him and what he was truly capable of.
After the supposedly simple run had concluded, the students were preparing for another mock battle. However, Ichiro remained absentminded, lost in thought about the events of the previous night. His strange new abilities had him preoccupied, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were somehow connected to what had transpired.
Emi couldn't help but notice Ichiro's distracted state and grew concerned. She wondered if what had happened the previous night was affecting him. Approaching him, she gently inquired, "Are you alright?"
Ichiro, finally returning to the present, turned to Emi, unaware that his recent display of incredible speed had already sparked rumors and curiosity among their peers. He responded with genuine confusion, "Hmm, why?"
Emi hesitated for a moment, debating whether to inform Ichiro of what had just taken place. She decided to go ahead and share her concerns. "Well, I was just about to warn you. What you did during the run, it's already causing quite a stir."
"Of what?" Ichiro asked, looking clueless as he awaited an explanation.
Emi gazed at his innocent expression, realizing that he had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed the commotion he had caused. She proceeded to explain everything, including the rumors that were sure to follow and the strange decision by the teacher to match Ichiro's speed, making things even more complicated for him.
"What, I did that?" Ichiro exclaimed, a mix of annoyance and shock evident in his voice. "Why would he...?" He mumbled, clearly frustrated and puzzled by the teacher's actions, which had only exacerbated his current situation.
"Well, at least we don't have to participate in the mock battle today. Since, we have won twice already."
"I'm sure that wouldn't help with the rumors at all."
Emi just laugh off what he said and knew how Akihiko will react after hearing what transpired in today's class.
During lunch the following day, Ichiro found himself feeling embarrassed as he sat with Akihiko at their usual spot. Akihiko couldn't help but burst into laughter when the topic of Ichiro's incredible speed came up.
"Must you laugh in my face?" Ichiro asked, clearly irritated by his friend's amusement.
Akihiko chuckled, realizing the source of Ichiro's embarrassment. "Come on, Ichiro. I wouldn't have laughed if you hadn't looked so shy about it. You practically blushed the whole way here. It's not a big deal."
Ichiro let out an exasperated sigh. "But seriously, enough already."
"Alright, alright," Akihiko agreed, finally reigning in his laughter. He couldn't help but feel impressed by Ichiro's newfound talent. "I have to say, though, I'm genuinely impressed."
"Whatever." Ichiro shrugged, not particularly interested in receiving praise for his abilities. He had hoped to keep his newfound talents a secret, but it seemed that was no longer an option. Despite his embarrassment, he knew that he would have to get used to the attention and curiosity of his peers.
Ichiro and Ren found themselves on the rooftop of the school, away from prying eyes and curious onlookers. Ren's expression was a mixture of anger and frustration as he confronted Ichiro.
"Hey, Ichiro, why did you do it?" Ren's voice was laced with intensity, and he locked eyes with Ichiro.
Ichiro was taken aback by the sudden confrontation and the intensity of Ren's emotions. "Do what?" he asked, his confusion evident.
Ren remained silent, only gesturing for Ichiro to follow him to the rooftop. Ichiro reluctantly complied, growing more uneasy with each step.
Once they were alone on the rooftop, Ren didn't waste any time getting to the point. "Why did you hide your ability?" he demanded, his voice sharp with anger.
Ichiro blinked in surprise. "My ability? I have none," he replied honestly, his expression serious. He proceeded to explain to Ren that he couldn't use magic or aura, hoping to clear up any misunderstandings.
Ren's frustration deepened as he listened to Ichiro's explanation. He couldn't help but feel like there was more to the story, but for now, he had to accept Ichiro's words at face value.
As Ren was in the middle of offering help to Ichiro and mentioning his family's willingness to sponsor him, a sudden gust of wind swept through the rooftop. Ren's instincts kicked in, and he immediately assumed a defensive stance, realizing that he was under attack.
The wind swirled around them, growing stronger and more chaotic by the second. It was clear that someone was using a powerful wind-based magic, and Ren had to act quickly to protect himself and Ichiro.
Ichiro, on the other hand, was caught off guard by the sudden change in atmosphere. He had no idea who or what was causing this, and he didn't possess any magical abilities to defend himself.
Ren's eyes darted around, trying to locate the source of the attack. His senses were on high alert as he prepared to counter the magical assault. He couldn't let Ichiro get hurt, not when he suspected that there was more to Ichiro's abilities than he was letting on.
Ren was seething with anger as he confronted Akihiko on the rooftop. Akihiko, seemingly unaffected by Ren's frustration, floated in the air with an air of superiority.
"I'm very impressed, because you can't win against them, use money to get them," Akihiko remarked sarcastically. His comment only fueled Ren's irritation.
"What do you want, Akihiko?" Ren's voice was sharp with annoyance. He knew that Akihiko was the only person who would dare speak to him in such a manner without fearing any consequences.
Akihiko's gaze met Ren's, and for a moment, the two friends locked eyes. Despite the tension between them, Ren couldn't help but admire Akihiko's control over his magic. It was on a level far beyond that of a typical student.
Akihiko broke the silence by explaining his motives. "Well, I don't like anyone taking my only best friend away from me."
Ren's anger waned slightly as he realized that Akihiko might genuinely care for Ichiro. His focus shifted to a more pressing question. "Does that mean you made an offer as well?" Ren wanted to know if Ichiro had accepted any sponsorship or assistance from Akihiko's family.
Akihiko's response was cryptic. "Well, I gave him money, does that count?" He didn't provide a clear answer regarding whether his family was sponsoring Ichiro or not.
Ren began to suspect that Akihiko might be playing mind games with him. "Get lost," he finally snapped, dismissing Akihiko with a wave of his hand.
Akihiko chuckled softly, his mischievous smile never leaving his face. "Oh, Ren, you're so easy to rile up." With a casual wave, he floated backward, descending to the rooftop's surface.
Ren watched as Akihiko touched down gracefully. He still couldn't decipher Akihiko's true intentions or whether he was genuinely helping Ichiro. There was an underlying complexity to their friendship that left Ren feeling uneasy.
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