บท 26: Weekend Plans
"So, on Saturday, you'll be with me, then Yukinoshita and Shion will be together, after which you'll leave with Yukinoshita, leaving me and Shion alone…"
During lunch, Akagi ate his bento while listening to Shin relay Yukinoshita Yukino's plan to him, nodding along continuously.
After hearing Yukino's plan, Akagi had no objections and immediately agreed, seeming quite satisfied with it.
However, as he agreed, Akagi gave Shin a look that hinted at something more, with a slight smirk in his tone:
"But, you and Yukinoshita leaving together… and you still claim there's nothing between you two."
"We're leaving to give you and Tamiya some alone time, yet here you are, teasing us."
Shin looked at Akagi with a hint of exasperation. Did this guy even understand the point of the plan? Would he even muster the courage to win Tamiya over?
Shin had already thought that Yukino's plan was a bit shaky, but seeing Akagi's reaction made him even less confident.
"Just remember, according to what we found out from Yukinoshita, Tamiya doesn't seem to have a particular interest in anyone in the soccer club, so you have to seize this chance."
"I get it. Once you guys create the opportunity, I'll definitely go for it."
Akagi knew this was a chance created by Shin and Yukino for him, so he nodded earnestly.
Although he hadn't really gotten to talk to Tamiya Shion before, he knew that if he didn't put in the effort now, he might not get another chance.
After all, Yukino had accepted a request from Shion, and by next week, Shion would likely gather the courage to submit an application to join the soccer club as a manager.
By then, facing all the guys in the soccer club, Akagi wouldn't have any particular advantage, so he had to establish a solid connection with Shion before that happened!
"Good to hear. Don't waste the effort Yukinoshita and I put into this."
Seeing Akagi finally get serious, Shin nodded in satisfaction. Whether or not Yukino's plan was foolproof, at least they'd created a real opportunity for Akagi.
"But Saturday—that's the day after tomorrow, isn't it? I guess I'd better ask my cousin for help tomorrow to pick out a cool outfit for me."
Taking a bite of the drumstick in his bento, Akagi glanced at his phone. Today was Thursday, so the day after tomorrow would be the day they all met up.
Akagi was a typical sports guy, and unlike the polished boys in comics, he wasn't great at picking outfits. His fashion sense could best be described as disastrous.
So it wasn't surprising that he wanted to ask his family for help, but…
"Your cousin… you don't mean Akagi Goken, do you?"
Shin, munching on a bread roll from the school shop, looked at Akagi with mild disbelief.
"My suggestion is to ask your cousin Haruko instead. Your cousin Goken's advice probably won't be much better than what you'd come up with on your own."
Akagi's cousin, Akagi Goken, was the basketball star at another high school, something Akagi had mentioned before.
Though Shin hadn't met Goken, he'd seen his story in past manga. Having that "gorilla" teach Akagi about style?
Just imagining it made Shin feel this date was doomed.
However, Goken's sister, Haruko Akagi, might give Akagi some good advice. At least she could prevent him from showing up in shorts and a tank top.
"You're probably right. My cousin doesn't seem all that stylish himself."
With Shin's comment, Akagi nodded in agreement; his cousin seemed only good at basketball.
When it came to style, he figured it was better to ask a girl.
"Speaking of which, since I'm asking for help with my outfit, shouldn't you consider it too?"
But once his plans were sorted, Akagi shifted to consider Shin's appearance.
"After all, you'll be spending time alone with Yukinoshita, right?"
"I'm only leaving with Yukinoshita to give you and Tamiya some private time; it doesn't mean we'll be spending time together afterward."
Shin looked at Akagi, feeling slightly helpless. What was up with this guy? Why did he insist on implying something was going on between him and Yukinoshita?
Though they'd quickly exchanged contacts, it was purely for the purpose of helping Akagi with Shion—nothing more.
Yukino wasn't someone to fall for a person at first sight. Shin was self-aware enough to know that she wouldn't develop feelings just from a brief encounter.
Despite Akagi's persistent teasing, Shin wouldn't let a few comments give him any wrong ideas. "After we split on Saturday, I've got other plans and won't be with Yukinoshita."
"What are you doing on Saturday?"
Akagi looked at Shin curiously, as he generally knew how Shin spent his weekends.
Usually, Shin would hole up at home doing three things: gaming, gaming, and more gaming!
If not for the fact that he still socialized well enough at school, Akagi might really have thought he was a total shut-in.
Hearing Shin say he had plans outside was quite a surprise.
"I'm planning to find a martial arts dojo or something to brush up on some techniques."
Shin didn't try to hide it; it wasn't exactly a secret.
His power level had increased, and his mastery of "Ki" was proficient, but his combat technique was still lacking.
While he could unleash a force stronger than his power level in specific areas by channeling "Ki" with skill, it was simply a matter of technique.
Even Saiyans, for all their brute strength, had their own fighting style—a system honed through countless battles.
Unfortunately, when Shin entered the mission world, he inherited Saiyan abilities but not their combat techniques.
In the Dragon Ball world, Earth was the best place to learn martial arts. Both the Turtle and Demon schools offered solid systems.
Too bad he couldn't head to Earth in the Dragon Ball world anytime soon. Rather than stubbornly waiting to learn only Dragon Ball-style techniques, he decided to pick up skills in the real world instead.
Although real-world martial arts wouldn't teach him to fire energy blasts, it was still better than his clumsy brawling.
He could still remember when he'd tried to demonstrate his moves to Bardock and was asked if he had "any lingering injuries."
…
To be continued…
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