บท 3: Preparing [3]
Kaigen could feel that something wasn't quite right. Thanks to Power Nap he was awake a few minutes after midnight, there was this slight discomfort of being fully rested despite being so late.
Kaigen sighed as he felt the moonlight stretch across his desk, helping his dim light, illuminate his textbooks and notebooks.
Kaigen had no choice but to study, considering he didn't inherit any memories of the original Kaigen. Thankfully the material wasn't hard for him, the only problem was that it was maybe too much.
He had a lot of catching up to do with subjects that had changed a lot over the past centuries. Most of his study material involved science, history, and Japanese literature.
Kaigen managed to study for seven straight hours without any breaks.
The amount of material he had managed to go through was baffling, thanks to the synergy between, Olympic, EAS, and Rapid Learning.
This let him learn and memorize faster while maintaining his focus throughout the seven hours.
Lawyer did help out quite a bit in regards to history and science, but just gave passing glances, and references more than detailed knowledge.
Kaigen was sure that at this pace he'd manage to review most of the material before the U.A. exams. If he keeps studying in class and after Self-Defence class he'll be able to finish a week or two early.
He stood up from his chair feeling the sunlight touch his skin and stretched out, he didn't need to —thanks to EAS, but it was ingrained as a habit.
Kaigen walked downstairs in some underwear and shorts, that pressed tightly against his skin. Thanks to Olympic, most of his clothes didn't fit him anymore, including his school uniform. He grew too tall and more muscle to fit in any of his clothes.
Kaigen rummaged through the garage and found his dad's old clothes. There was a feeling of dissonance within himself as he put on those clothes.
A small part of him screamed 'impostor', but he quickly shook it off, it wasn't like it was his choice.
He walked into the kitchen and found Mizuki in her pajamas cooking while drinking coffee and smoking. Which was problematic in so many ways, the first of which was that Mizuki didn't smoke.
Kaigen ran his fingers through his hair and thought to himself, 'Well, fuck.'
He sighed and checked she wasn't grabbing the pan, and gently guided her back. Her body tensed for a second before she relaxed again.
"Okay. That's enough just go by the window. I'll cook."
"It's fine. I'll cook."
He looked at her.
She was pale, the bags under her eyes and her slightly swaying posture showed her exhaustion and sleep deprivation. She seemed to want to take another drag from the cigar before she realized what she was doing.
"No. Just take the ashtray and make sure you don't burn the house down."
"Tch. Fine."
It didn't take long for a simple breakfast to be made—fish, rice, and miso soup.
Breakfast was eaten quickly and in silence.
Mizuki was the first to break it.
"You need to buy school clothes right? I'll call your teacher and you can pick it up at school. We can look for more casual clothes in the afternoon."
Kaigen nodded and said, "Thanks. Can we leave that outing for the weekend? If you don't mind." She needs time to rest and he doesn't want to push her too much.
Mizuki asks worriedly, "But what're you going to wear?"
He shrugs, "I'll just take dad's clothes."
Mizuki goes silent. Kaigen hesitates, he knows he needs to ask about how she's doing, but he feels he isn't the right person, after all, he's pretty much the source of all her stress right now.
An idea pops into his mind, if it can be him, it just has to be someone else.
As Mizuki is about to speak, Kaigen interrupts her, "Give me your phone."
Mizuki puzzled does as he asks. He flips through the contents and finds 'Iwa Sakura.' Though with a lot more heart and earth emojis.
Kaigen calls and the call connects quickly. A female but slightly rough voice, as if she smokes cigarettes daily.
"Mizuki-chan? What's up?"
"Kaigen here. Just calling to tell you that Mizuki isn't doing fine and it's my fault. Can you accompany her today?"
"Okay, I'm on my way." She hung up after that. She was no nonsense like that.
Kaigen then scrolled through the messenger app that was only for work, finding the HR department and filing for a day off work on her behalf. Citing grief and mental health reasons.
He then finally looked up from her phone and at Mizuki. She looked a bit relieved, but there was sadness as well, there were unshed tears in her eyes.
Kaigen pulled her into a hug, pressing her head into his collarbone. He isn't the best at sentimental moments, so it was better to keep things simple while comforting someone.
Kaigen and Mizuki didn't speak after that, they settled into silence until Sakura came. They shared a nod and he left for school.
A part of him was left in unease about how he handled things but also didn't think what he could've done better.
He tries to shake this faint feeling of anxiety by checking if he had any rolls.
[You have a new Tier 0 roll available!]
To his surprise, there was one. which was enough for him. Maybe from meeting the hero yesterday?
-+-
Name: Medieval
Category: Tinker
Tier: 0
Description: You are knowledgeable in the techniques used to create Medieval technology, such as Iron Blades, Catapults, Forts and more. You have a strong understanding of the materials, tools, and techniques used in forging and are skilled in the creation of medieval technologies using these methods.
- [Scrap] - [Accept]
-+-
'Nope, don't need this. Scrap.' He can just learn this normally. Which he wouldn't do anyway considering it's a thousand years outdated, at the very least.
[You have used 5 Tier 0 Rolls! Tier 1 (Low) Rolls unlocked! Synthesize 5 Tier 0 rolls into a Tier 1 (Low)]
A smile spread across his face. He had an idea of how to get more rolls, that he'll check out in the afternoon.
-/-
Kaigen walked down the school hallway, a stark contrast to the average student. His body, once lanky and unremarkable, had undergone a dramatic transformation.
Towering over his peers at six feet tall, his muscular physique was both imposing and oddly graceful. Every muscle, every curve, was defined with a precision that bordered on the unnatural.
His skin, smooth and flawless, seemed to glow with inner light.
As he moved, heads turned. Whispers rippled through the crowd, a mix of awe and fear.
"Did you see him? He looks like a hero!"
"I wonder what his Quirk is. It's so weird. He didn't look like this yesterday."
"He's so... perfect."
Kaigen tried to ignore the stares, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Every glance, every whispered comment felt like a spotlight, drawing attention to his altered appearance. He yearned for the anonymity he once had, the ability to blend into the crowd.
He ducked into a classroom, seeking refuge from the prying eyes. As he sat down, he couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider, a creature from another world. He'd always been a bit of a loner, but now it felt like an insurmountable chasm separated him from his classmates.
A sudden realization struck him. This wasn't just a physical transformation; it was a psychological one as well. He was no longer the same person he used to be. He was something more, something less. He was a mystery, naturally, people wanted to solve it.
A girl brave enough to approach him, shily asked him, "Kaigen? What happened to you?"
Kaigen was a bit reluctant he didn't want to explain twice, "When sensei arrives, she'll give me a chance to explain to the class."
The girl nodded and got the hint. He didn't want to explain it to her just yet.
Time slowed down to a crawl. People stared and his nervousness increased. Whispers that normally wouldn't reach his ears now where crystal clear.
"It should be the effect of a quirk right? You know like that doctor that only attends celebrities."
"Maybe it's his own quirk? We just assumed he was quirkless because he didn't say he had one when he introduced himself."
It was surprising how someone reached an 'accurate' description.
Soon the homeroom teacher arrived and after a quick roll call, he was asked to come to the front of the class. There was an air of excitement.
His teacher started saying, "I know you are curious about Kaigen-kun's situation, he's a new student and he's gone a drastic transformation but give him some space and let him explain."
Kaigen nodded and smiled thankfully at his teacher.
He took a deep breath and said, "This is just the effects of puberty."
The class exclaimed with surprising coordination, "No way!"
Kaigen gave a small small, "Kidding. It's my quirk Roulette. It give me access of different manifestations of my quirk. So far it has only been minor. This time I hit the jackpot."
There was an understanding across the classroom, 'So its his quirk. It makes sense.'
A student near the back murmured, "Eleven years and he finally gets something good? Just how bad is his luck?"
Another student smacked the back of his head with a notebook and said with a glare, "Don't be rude."
Just like that the mystery was solved and the excitement was gone for the most part.
-/-
Is violence an integral part of human existence?
Two weeks ago it would've been a clear-cut case. Now, though? It was more doubtful.
Fighting was painful and exhausting and he knew a single mistake could end his life.
But it was thrilling. It felt like a more dangerous roller coaster ride. As if he hopped off his seat and stood on the cart as it moved at high speeds.
A kick was blocked off by his forearm. Kaigen moved his right hand to grab onto the ankle, but it was too late.
Another kick, this time from the opposite direction. Kaigen barely managed to duck, the air trembled as the kick passed right above his head.
He took the chance to move in, his frame compact with his arms like a boxer as he tried to punch into his instructor's liver. His feet, legs, and hips twisted as he drove the punch in.
The instructor, a hulking man with a shaved head and a permanent scowl, simply grinned. He feinted with a punch to the face, drawing Kaigen's guard up. Then, in a blur of motion, he delivered a powerful kick to Kaigen's side.
Kaigen grunted, his breath catching in his throat. He stumbled back, trying to regain his balance. The instructor pressed the advantage, throwing a series of rapid punches. Kaigen blocked what he could, but a few landed, stinging his skin.
Determined, Kaigen countered with a low sweep, aiming for the instructor's legs. The instructor, however, anticipated the move and sidestepped, maintaining his balance.
"You're getting better, kid," the instructor said, his voice low and menacing. "But you need to be faster, stronger, and more ruthless."
Kaigen nodded, his face set in grim determination. He knew the instructor was right. He needed to push himself harder, to dig deeper.
The next exchange was a blur of motion. Kaigen feinted with a punch, then ducked under the instructor's counterattack. He launched himself forward, aiming for a takedown. The instructor, however, was too quick. He caught Kaigen's leg, tripping him to the ground.
As Kaigen fell, he rolled, landing on his feet. He glanced at the instructor, who was watching him with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
"Again," the instructor commanded.
Kaigen nodded, his heart pounding. He knew he had to be better.
Kaigen ducked another blow, his heart pounding in his chest. This was exhilarating, terrifying, and strangely satisfying. He'd always been a bit of a pacifist, but this primal urge to fight, to test his limits, was addictive.
He winced as a punch connected, a sharp pain shooting through his jaw. Yet, he couldn't help but smile.
This was what it felt like to be alive. He knew he shouldn't be enjoying this. This wasn't who he was. But at this moment, in this fight, he was someone else entirely.
Kaigen froze as he thought to himself, 'Is this my shard influencing me? Making me enjoy this fight so I go into conflict more often?'
A punch landed on his gut and he doubled down and heaved.
Kaigen knew it was unlikely, his perk made it so that he wouldn't have that drive toward conflict.
But even so, he doubted, it wasn't enough to see it written in a floating screen that only he could see. But so far that screen wasn't wrong. He knew he was overthinking it.
"You're done, kid. You're hesitating too much. Come back tomorrow." His instructor, Tetsu said.
Kaigen nodded and just focused on recovering, which wouldn't take long thanks to his slotted power.
He was thankful for Tetsu and his 'guidance' even if it could be a bit heavy-handed. The man was surprised by his transformation, but he had taken his quirk in stride.
Though the man had a point, he improved far more quickly by having a short session that showcased the moves before spending the rest of the time sparring.
Kaigen and Tetsu reviewed the fight and the points where he had to improve before the session finally ended.
Kaigen bowed, "Thank you for your guidance."
Tetsu stroked his nonexistent beard and said, "You mentioned your quirk gave you endless stamina right? Let's add another lesson in the mornings."
Kaiged nodded eagerly, the lessons were fruitful each time he advanced leaps and bounds.
He replied, "Sure, I'd like more lessons." Kaigen jokingly added, "Maybe it'll make you go easier on me."
Tetsu laughed and with a smile that sent shivers down his spine said, "No."
Kaigen wouldn't have it any other way. Pushing hard was the way to go, especially considering the short time frame he was on.
"I'm glad you're not going soft on me sensei."
Tetsu scoffed, "Never." Then with the expression of a rotten old man, he gave me the handsign signifying money, "These lessons won't be free though."
Kaigen grimmaced a bit, "Fine, fine. I'll have to talk to my Aunt. It's on her hands right now."
"My trip to Hawaii is coming closer and closer!"
Kaigen rolled his eyes. He said goodbye to his instructor and a smile spread across his face.
It was time to get more rolls.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง