"This is going so well. I am happy that all of you are cooperative."
Yemon was satisfied with the turn of event.
He thought this bunch of criminal would be way more disorderly. But it was the opposite despite having a few frictions between the members.
However, Yemon forgot that they were acting like this because they were bound by the 'benefits' of this deal.
"Cooperative? I just want to get what I want." Mara shot down the idea of Yemon.
Not just Mara, everyone else silently agreed with her.
For a brief moment, Yemon was feeling elated but he guessed that nothing goes according to anyone's plan in this world.
"I get it. You all will get what you desired."
"But when? When this mission will be completed?" Mara pushed for an answer.
"Maybe. It can be before that, I am just saying."
Another vague reply from Yemon. Mara was getting tired of his 'maybes' and wondered if she would get the receiving end of the deal.
Her patience diminished.
"Then why the hell are we waiting up to do this mission of yours? Let's get it over and be done with it."
Yemon wore a disappointed tone.
"Unfortunately, the way we are right now, we cannot accomplish anything."
"What? Why?" Gui also joined forces with Mara and questioned him.
"Because you all are not well trained and lack teamwork. Those two things are what we really need."
"What?" Gui was surprised after he listened to his preposterous comment. Yemon unintentionally coerced Gui to prove him wrong.
"Gui, don't."
Omocha saw Gui's intention. He immediately intervened and stopped him from taking any action. Gui was surprised by Omocha. He responded.
"What? You are accepting what he said? Even though you are an ex-SMF soldier? In fact, shouldn't you be the one furious more than me?"
To answer all of his questions, Omocha stated just a single, simple and straightforward sentence.
"Yemon almost killed me."
That took everyone including Virus by shock.
A sudden chill ran through Virus' spine, up to his head which instilled fear. He glanced at the individual beside him.
'How strong is this guy?"
Omocha, renowned for his bare-handed kills and a former SMF soldier. For someone to push him to the brink of death was hard to believe.
Even more so if that someone had no magical power. That was more fearsome than impressive.
Mara had her mind lightened by that claim Omocha made.
'If he is that strong, then my revenge will be...'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Gui who did not believe the words that exited from Omocha.
"Are you serious? This guy defeated you?"
"I am more surprised right now. Did he not fight you?"
"Yes, but I would not say he won."
That is right. Yemon was the only one left injured on the first encounter. But one thing to note is that the cause of his impaled hand was due to the element of surprise he received from Gui.
Out of nowhere, Yemon did not expect a swift attempt to kill. That is why he was a tad bit late in reacting.
But what about now?
He knows that there is a definite opponent and a fight will surely break out. A fair start so to say.
That is why Yemon proposed to Gui to shut him up.
"How about we decide right here right now. Come. I am ready."
He did not take a stance but his surrounding was meticulously monitored by his preying eyes, waiting for a strike.
Gui gulped by seeing Yemon prepared for him.
Jo, Shi, Lumen and Virus who were close to them started to disperse slowly, giving space for them to battle it out.
Gello and Mara did not move from their place because they were far from those two.
Understanding that everyone approved of Yemon's proposal, Gui made up his mind.
Omocha sat on the table and he smiled as he got to witness a fight on Yemon.
Gui clenched both his hands and both his feet.
"This is going to hurt. For you, that is~ More than the knife through your hands."
He dashed and lunged towards the unbudging Yemon.
Gui jumped and did a flying knee kick. It was fast and fatal if that hit. But it did not as Yemon dodged. He felt the gust of wind that accompanied that attempted strike.
It contained enough weight and speed to knock a person unconscious.
Yemon moved to his exposed right side and began to attack. He planted his left foot on the ground and lifted his right one as it made an arc trajectory.
As soon as Gui landed from his flying knee kick, he sensed the danger that came from the back of his head.
In a quick instance, with the help of the momentum that his body was experiencing, he ducked and rolled away from the kick.
The kick only just missed his brown hair. But the barrage of attacks does not stop here.
Yemon did not let Gui catch his breath as he darted at his next vulnerable section.
As soon as Gui stabilise himself from rolling away, Yemon aimed at his ankles with a sweeping back heel.
"Ga-!?" It made contact and Gui lost his balance.
His body became sideways and reflexively, Gui used his arm to break the fall.
*Thump!*
He tried to get up quickly despite the pain he felt alas, Yemon was one step ahead.
*Bam!*
Yemon stomped on the stomach of Gui. It felt like a log slammed into him.
"-!!!"
His mouth was open, letting out the extreme anguish translated through words.
Unfortunately, for him, he was not even able to speak a word. Only inaudible grunts exited.
Yemon looked down at his opponent with his unfazed expression. The outcome just confirmed the statement about him being not well-trained.
"That's disappointing..."
Omocha's end of his lips curved downwards.
He wanted to see more. More bone-breaking clash, more exhilarating moments and more brutal moves.
Just a fight that lasted for less than a minute was not stimulating for Omocha.
"You understand why I am telling you that you are not ready? I am saying it for your sake. For all of you."
He let go of the foot off of Gui's stomach and looked at each of them.
"Going there unprepared will only just bring your death closer than ever. That is why I am organizing a training session for all of you."
They comprehended what Yemon is trying to convey. He then looked at Gui below.
He was catching his breath from that stomp earlier.
"You only fight while relying on your instincts. You have got good strength and flexibility but you don't know how to use them."
Gui was rendered speechless. How could he retaliate that if he got beaten so quickly?
"You all need training and I will be the one guiding you. Does anyone has any objections?"
No one raised a question except for one.
Virus lifted his hand in the air and asked.
"Do I have to take part?"
"Of course." Not even a shred of hesitation.
"Is it that necessary for me? I mean I am a hacker so..."
"There are no exceptions here. Stop complaining."
Virus resigned and was left frustrated by the upcoming hell for him. He is not the athletic type of guy as seen from his room.
This was the worst for him.
"Starting tomorrow, all of you must be present right here at 8 pm. We are going to do this at night so that some of you will have time to come. I am making this easier so that your loved ones don't suspect you."
Yemon passed on the message of protecting some of their identities. Such criminals include Jo, Gello, Mara, Shi and Virus.
He wants that anyone in their private lives is unsuspicious of their activities.
"Get it? And make sure no one follows you when coming here."
"Yes," Shi said.
"Gotcha'" Jo said with his carefree smile.
"....." Gello, Virus and Mara were silent.
Lumen nodded to Yemon.
Gui got up slowly and patted the dust off of him. Awkwardly, he responded.
"...Got it."
"See you next time."
Omocha took off and one by one they did the same. The gathering for the has been dismissed.
The training session will start.
....
"Speaking of training, haven't you been coming home a bit too late? Are you really training~"
Akane's cat face mischievously nagged Kana who just came home. Before, she would arrive before her big sister had finished work but now, it was after.
So Akane figured that something was going on.
Harue eavesdropped them from the kitchen, preparing dinner for the day. He thinks he more or less guessed who the cause for Kana's tardiness is.
The image of Eiji came up on his head but he did not unveil that boy's name to Akane
He did not want to confirm anything before knowing everything in detail. Harue is not the type of guy that is inconsiderate to other people's feeling.
Amongst the Drama Club members, he the most attentive to other's emotions and feelings.
That is why he is not rushing Kana. He let his sisters talk.
Kana had an annoyed expression as she envisioned Eiji blabbering in her mind.
Noticing that Kana paused to think about something, Akane pressed as her delusions kept growing.
"Who are you thinking Kana? Don't tell me...Your boyfriend~? Kyaaaa!"
She shrieked like a high school girl finding out that her best friend attained a boyfriend.
The more it went on, Kana was getting the urge of screaming uncontrollably. However, that would be against her nature.
Kana refuted Akane, backed with facts.
"No Nee-chan. I was really training. There is an upcoming tournament that I will be participating so I am spending more time in the club."
"....*Sigh*...How boring."
Akane was dejected by her answer as she laid back on the sofa.
Seeing how Akane did not continue to pester her, this time, it was Kana to get revenge.
That too by Akane's own medicine.
Kana dropped bombs without hesitation.
"Nee-chan, you are disappointed in me for not having a boyfriend, right? But, do you have the right to act like that? Do you have a boyfriend?"
She turned swiftly to Kana, surprised by her words.
"What!?"
By the kitchen table, Harue almost slipped when he heard that. Irrepressible chuckles came out of his mouth.
Kana continued slandering her older sister.
"In truth, you are in the same position as me."
"..-Wha-?! T-Th...K-Kana??"
Akane's mind was jumbled as well as her words.
Harue still kept laughing. He put his hand in front of his mouth to block the sound but the muffled laughter was still seeping through.
"I can hear you Harue!"
Akane turned to the kitchen as she was stunned by the piercing attacks from Kana.
"Sorry...*chuckles*...I am going to do the laundry..."
With that said, Harue quickly exited the kitchen and went into the washroom.
"You already did your laundry!! And why are you going to the washroom!? You little runt!!"
Akane understood Harue's action. She was even more embarrassed that her little brother was taking pleasure in Kana badmouthing her inability to get a boyfriend.
He laughed so much that he had to lie to her.
Unbelievable!
Akane finally focused on Kana and prepared to talk back. But Kana cut her right off and asked.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
".....I-I.....I..." Nothing.
Kana smirked and approached her.
"You do not have one. So, I say we should stray away from this topic. It would be ideal for both of us."
"I-...I agree...."
"I will pray for you that there someone will come into your life. But not for me. I am not too fond of that."
"Y-Yeah...But you can change."
Kana smiled.
"Not happening."
Akane regained her normal state.
"Refuse that much and it will definitely happen later in the future."
"What is that? You are starting to believe in little superstitions?"
"No, I believe in my past experience."
"Yeah right."
Kana did not take her words and started to undress, leaving only her bra and underwear on her.
She threw it on the sofa opposite to Akane.
"Don't throw it everywhere, Harue is going to get angry." She nonchalantly warned Kana. But she was unconcerned.
"His anger is the same as a child's tantrums."
"Yes, I know. It's cute."
The main reason Akane lets her off is that she wants to see that.
With that said, Kana headed to the bathroom and opened the tap of the shower. She washed off the sweats and fatigue built up from the training.
Meanwhile, Harue who, shortly after exited the washroom, was met with the mess that Kana left.
He was unhappy and vented his anger towards Akane.
"You did not stop her?"
She wants to see his cute reactions and take revenge on his laughter directed at her.
2 birds 1 stone.
"Payback for earlier."