A Training manual?
That's strange, I don't remember this lying around here.
There was a letter inside it. It read:
"I've been watching you for a while now. Everything you do, I've been keeping an eye on you. And from what I can see, you do have some flaws. Whether it's from the basics such as your posture to your breathing technique to more serious issues like over usage of your tendons in your stances you shouldn't need to, all in all...you do lack a lot of self-awareness about your own body. But most importantly, the biggest flaw of them all is...YOU! It's not easy to address it to you and help you change it over a short period of time, so use this manual to help yourself to whatever extent you can."
And that's all it had in it. I don't know who had left this here but this person happened to be watching me over a long period of time. I guess maybe it was this certain individual who had come here yesterday night. I hope so. Anyway, I started breezing through the training manual and so what was gonna get myself into...This is going to be as simple as knocking on death's door. Simple as that.
Aight, let's get into it...
Doors open...
Bustling footsteps...
Thank you for traveling with us. Welcome to XXXXX City.
"Where are you going?"
"Didn't think you'd show up."
"Well, you were gone for a while. The whole school thinks you're dead. Some have even started accepting your death."
"Wow, that's pretty amusing."
"You don't seem to be bothered by it."
"Why would I? In fact, I'd rather be dead than be the center of attraction for all the wrong reasons."
"You haven't changed much from what I had assumed."
"Why would you assume that?"
"Well, for a man to spend time alone in isolation away from civilization, almost like a stone-age man, I was under the impression that there would have been some change in you. But sadly, that isn't the case."
"Spending time alone in isolation? I don't remember sharing any details regarding my whereabouts or about the way of life I lead these past few weeks."
"Do you need to share any information? Let's be real. A man who has denied human relationships without any benefit would move to a tranquil place and seek human relationships all of a sudden in the pretense of growth?"
"Uh-huh? And what else? What else do you think about me?"
"I don't think it'd be appropriate to do it in a public place."
"Likewise, but I don't think having a little honest conversation like true men would hurt us."
"This ain't the Shogi era where we address each other like warriors."
"Well, you're quite informed, aren't you?"
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing. It's just that you're quite the amusing fellow."
"Am I? In what way would that be?"
"Considering the fact that you're not from around here, and that your ancestors have a good history of being well into colonizing, plus the fact that you're an heir to a 'what one would assume to be a company with power that could change lives forever', a bloke like you would actually have the time to read about the shogi era, or at least, in your case, has just heard a few facts about the shogi era, is actually quite facetious, though which begs me the question..."
...
"You think catching my collar in an empty playground would fetch you the answers you seek?"
"You're quite calm, meaning that you have some need of me. Besides, I'm not after the answers. If it is the answers I need, I have my own sources. Plus, my power of procrastination, when used well, can lead me to answers that I would just need to confirm later on by just having a chat. You're not a person that can fool me, nor a person that would astound me in any manner."
"Then why are we here?"
"I wanted to check something. But before that, there is something I must know."
"What?"
"For a person like you who keeps to himself and seldom has a chat with anyone even though he's the heartthrob defect of the school, why would such a character go out of his way to meet me and inform me about the school, and it's the current situation?"
"There are things that concern far more you and me, as individuals. Besides, if you haven't been keeping up with the everyday coverage of 'Lives that you have distorted and annihilated because of your mere existence', then it would be for your benefit that the school is on high alert and waiting for your return."
"Though that is quite commendable that I am well sought out,m that still doesn't answer the question I asked you? How does it concern you?"
"Aren't you listening? The school is in crisis."
"Yes, I heard that for a while now. But you're the one that isn't listening. Why does that concern you? And what is it that led you to this situation."
...
"Just because you swing your hand around and move your body like that, it'd doesn't guarantee that you'll get a hit..."
...
"That form just now..."
"It's not of your concern. What should be of your concern is going back to school and fixing the chaos you have unleashed."
"Tch! It's not like I have any other choice. I don't have plans of being held back."
"Wait, there's something you should know."
"Save it yourself. I have no interest in looking forward to something with joy or despair. It's pretty dreadful. Whatever it is, I shall have a look at it tomorrow, or whenever I shall show up to school, as I still have other stuff to attend to."
"The sooner, the better."
"That's easy said than done."
"Then at least know this."
"What is it?"
"There's a price for your head."
"Is that it? Then I'm off."