Book 2.
Volume 2: Getting Stronger
Chapter Four: New Faces
*****
Miyazaki says goodbye to her grandmother and brother and promises them that she will return to them immediately after training, but in the meantime Toda has to look after the old lady and help her with everything. They both live in the best hotel in the Fire Country, just as officer Toshio promised. They will be looked after there and eat free food and change the sheets, so everything will be fine with Nana and Toda. So Miyazaki and Kai went even farther into the forest. They first drove along a path, then came to some village. Miyazaki goes outside and finally breathes some fresh air, it's incredibly stuffy in the carriage, her heart almost stops from the stuffiness when there are three people riding in a cramped cabin, there's very little air for everyone, she has to switch to economy mode.
- What kind of village is this? - Kai asked, for some reason his mood had changed. He was the happiest man in the world when he was at the Academy, but now, at the sight of the abandoned village, he looked up at the sky in a sad sort of way, he must have guessed that this was their training ground, he got upset.
- This place will be your new home. Don't worry, there are three more of you living here, so it won't be boring. - Officer Toshio said calmly, does he live in this village? Such a rich man in a place like this? It's hard to believe.
- Officer Toshio, tell me, will you train us... ...in this ruin? - Poor Kai, he's really sad. It all started so beautifully, and ended so badly.
- Well, well, you shouldn't judge training by the terrain. You know, when I was young, I trained here too, and what did I end up being? - The officer didn't like the fact that Kai called the village that, really, it's even worse than Miyazaki Village. Ruined houses, a well with no water, and a forest nearby, it's easy to get lost here.
- I can't believe it... - Kai approaches her friend and whispers in her ear. - I say we get the hell out of here, quickly.
- What? No way! I don't care where we live as long as Gran and Toda are safe and as long as they're safe and happy. I'm ready to train and live in this village, so let's get started! - Wow, Miyazaki's mood is quite impressive, she has a look of happiness on her face that Grandma and her brother are safe. She doesn't even think about Kai, it's already clear. Don't worry, don't worry, he'll get his ass handed to him anyway.
- Take your time. - the man said in cold blood. They just got here, haven't seen anything yet, and Miyazaki already wants to practice. She probably doesn't even know what kind of training is going to be there, she doesn't know anything about Warriors. - You have to show her everything first. You know, I'm not a fan of giving tours, especially of the villages, so let's take a walk there by ourselves, and in half an hour we'll meet you at this very place, okay? - How cleverly the officer shook off the burden of responsibility. And what's more, the guys didn't even realize it.
- Yeah, it's on. - Kai didn't even think about it, he just agreed. While Miyazaki was thinking whether to agree or not, they're still a long way from the capital, in some village, who knows what dangers are there in general, with an officer would be safer at least, but Kai does not think about it, he has everything on schedule: first do something without thinking, find the danger, regret it, escape, rejoice in the miracle that saved him. That's what Kai is all about.
- Okay, see you then! - The man waved and turned around, heading off into the woods altogether.
- Kai, you idiot! - Miyazaki yelled at her friend, which was supposed to be what she just said. - We don't know anything here, we go in the wrong place and get lost, did you even think about that?!
- Hey, you don't have to yell like that. Of course I did! We just walk around the houses and look around. We see a bear, we run. - And once again, a brilliant plan from a brilliant man.
- And how are you still alive... - surprisingly, Miyazaki isn't the only one asking that question.
The guys went first forward, then right, then left, until they stumbled upon something interesting. There's a playground not far from them, you know, a slide, a merry-go-round, a swing. And on the swing there was a girl with long blue hair, and standing next to her was an unknown guy with black hair and a suit of the same color. Kai wanted to go over in case the girl needed help. What else was there to do? Miyazaki, of course, stops his friend, he's getting weird again.
- Miyazaki, what are you doing? She might need help!
- Don't be silly, if she needed help, she would have called her a long time ago. These are ordinary guys, no need to play the hero!
- Ow! - but the girl with the blue hair started screaming. The guy in black took a knee to the head. But she defended herself and jumped off the swing.
Kai can't watch a guy attack an innocent my lady, so he runs at the aggressor and waves his fists at her, and meanwhile the guy and the girl get into a serious melee. Kai, when he saw that, decided to stay out of it. He stands ten meters away from the fight and tries to intervene, but they don't notice him at all. And then the black-haired man makes a slip and drops the girl to the ground. Kai can't stand it and stands up for the runaway girl, well in his opinion.
- Don't you dare touch her! - He sprawls out of the way and kicks her. The only pity is that the stranger intercepts Kai's fist and directs it towards Kai himself... So he punches himself.
- Who are you? - The boy asked with a strange smile on his face.
Miyazaki was so freaked out she wanted to get into a fight herself, but you know, why would she fight against a strong enemy? She doesn't want to get into a fight with a stronger foe. The girl runs up to her friend and pulls him to his feet. Poor Kai got hit in his own stomach, he certainly wasn't expecting that.
- I'm not done yet! - Where do you think you're going?
Kai threw another punch, and then another, and another. Here, take that enemy, tremble, fear and run away in fear.
- Ow, my back! - Ouch, Kai accidentally broke his back during the punch. So he was swinging his fists there, and the kid in black was laughing and ducking still.
- Kai, stop it! - Miyazaki demanded that he stop maiming himself, and she also looked at the kid with a disgruntled look on her face. - [Black hair, blue eyes, cute smile and such a calm, he's obviously very strong. Better not get caught by him again. And that girl with the long hair, she fought with that guy, they're kind of dangerous.]
- М? - The guy turned his attention to her, Miyazaki has just been looking at him for a minute now, only a blind man wouldn't notice that. - Do you want to fight me?
- А?! - Okay, she's kind of not ready for that at all. - No, I'm not! - And this is the one who wants to be strong.
- Hayashi, that's enough! We'll get in more trouble. - And the girl with the blue hair can talk. She's been quiet the whole time.
Hayashi Atsuto, fifteen years old, thick black hair, blue eyes, smiles a lot, wears a dark cape with blue sleeves, is very quiet and likes to fight with someone.
- Well Yamada, I'm only a little bit. - Hayashi was extremely frustrated, and he was just getting into the swing of things.
Yamada Yoshino, fifteen years old, has long blue hair and the same color eyes, and wears a sun hat and a light-colored dress with purple bows on the sides. Positive and cheerful, as long as you don't eat ice cream in front of her, she loves it very much and might even kill you standing in line for it.
- Wait, so you two know each other? - Miyazaki doesn't understand anything right now. She's standing there, batting her eyes.
- Yeah, we've been friends since we were kids. Why? - He asked smiling, annoyed at Kai's smile.
- If you're friends then why were you fighting just now? - Kai already asked. His question made sense. Why the fuck hit your friend in the head with a knee?
- It's part of our training. - Yamada replied, fixing her hat. - We socialize and walk around and then attack unexpectedly, this kind of training develops our reactions and keeps us on our toes. By the way, it wouldn't hurt you either.
- Yamada, they're just wimps, why would they fight at all? Look at that kid, he needs to learn how to punch. - Hayashi starts to make fun of Kai right here, making fun of him. There's nothing to add to Kai, it's all factual there...
- Who are you calling a boy, you parody of a man? - Kai starts snapping at him. Conflict seems to be brewing, only Miyazaki is well aware that they're going to get beaten up here. She tries to calm her friend down, but he can't be stopped. His honor is at stake!
- Do you have something to argue with? - Hayashi smiles again, as he closes his eyes and hints that he'll take the guy down with his eyes closed.
Kai threw a punch, but someone abruptly stopped him.
- Huh?" Kai was fuming, and pretty much everyone was fuming.
Kai's fist was blocked by Officer Toshio. The man heard about the kids' showdown and came running over to fix it.
- Officer Toshio? - The kids asked at once.
- How do you know him? - Miyazaki asked. Wow, so they're not the only ones in the guy's apprenticeship?
- Officer Toshio is our teacher, he brought us here yesterday, but how do you know him is a big question. - I'm not sure how you know him," she smirked like a bitch Yamada. Kai just wants to go over her pretty face, but it's so delicate and beautiful that he can't. And what business is it, after all, to hit a girl? And even though even if he wanted to hit her, there's luck left to be wished in general.
- Officer Toshio and our teacher too! - Miyazaki objected, and rightly so. Can't win physically, win mentally. Prove that you're the one more valuable than those two rascals.
- You? The officer's apprentices? Hmm... Yamada, is today prank day? - Hayashi is literally freaking out. Why would Officer Toshio take these weaklings as his disciples? That's how he thought and even pondered it seriously.
- Everyone calm down! - The man finally spoke, his loud, stern voice causing everyone to fall silent at once. - You four are my students. I'll tell you about it later, but now let's better go to the well, I talked to our director, he agrees to see you.
- Director? - Amazed Miyazaki, there's also a director in this abandoned village?
- Yes, he used to train me, now he will train you, if you pass the test of course.
- A test...? - the girl swallowed her saliva hard. She must be in a lot of trouble.
- Let's just go.
When the boys arrived at the well, a tall old man with a confident face, long beard and gray hair, wearing armor and a uniform underneath was already standing by it. Miyazaki and Kai immediately realized that this old man was the headmaster, you can tell by his stance and calm look, and he was dressed respectably, it is unlikely that the headmaster would walk in rags, well though in such a village anything is possible.
- Master Tadamichi, I have brought new students to you! - It was the first time the officer bowed so sincerely in front of someone. The boys were surprised by this and immediately realized that this old man is incredibly strong, since Hoshi Toshio himself almost worships him at his feet.
Kawai Tadamichi, sixty-eight years old, the teacher of Officer Toshio and the director of this academy, loves peace and quiet and utterly hates arrogant people and all sorts of self-confident weaklings who only pay lip service to being cool. Kawai also serves the Fire Nation, but is in the shadows. He doesn't take part in the war and trains young boys.
- [Even Officer Toshio bowed to the old man, which means the headmaster isn't as weak as he may first appear. We have to be careful with him, there's no telling what he might do in his old age, make him fight against himself.] - Miyazaki sweated a little from uncertainty, she was a little scared away from her grandmother and brother.
- Oh, four of them, two girls and two boys, it'll be a shame to part with them. - The old man said in a quiet voice.
- Officer Toshio, what is the principal talking about? - Yamada asked. She is also smiling, but an experienced person would notice a little excitement on her face.
- You see, every month I bring a new student to Tadamichi's teacher, and then everyone fails the initial test and goes home.
- What kind of test is that? - This time Kai asked, he's really looking forward to it.
- Oh-ho-ho," the old man laughed and smiled. Eh, he remembers the times when he too was so young and silly. - And that's what you kids are about to find out. Hoshi, get a match.
- All right. - The officer obeyed and took a matchbook out of his pocket. Seriously, does he always keep it in there?
- Listen to me, kids, my name is Kawai Tadamichi, I may seem kind and good on the surface, but in reality I'm very harsh and cruel. Your first test is about to begin. Hoshi will light a match, and while it burns, you will fight against me. Your task is simple, you must hold out when the match burns and at least one of you is on your feet, that means you've passed, but if you all fall down, you may not come back here.
- Do we have to fight...? - this is not good for Miyazaki at all. It's good that even though Yamada and Hayashi are there, they clearly have more experience in fighting than she and Kai, two ordinary country boys.
- As soon as Hoshi lights the match, the battle will officially begin. I won't feel sorry for you, so fight hard!
- Yamada, do you think that old man will stay awake during the fight? - Hayashi asked, his blue eyes flapping back and forth, apparently the guy doesn't think the headmaster is a serious opponent, you see Kawai's age.
- You guys don't even know who you'll be fighting against. You're good guys, and it would be my pleasure to train you, so please hold out. A match burns for exactly one minute. - The officer begged the boys not to lose, for there were no pupils yet capable of passing the first test.
The match is lit and the fight begins.
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Author: Youn Ji-min
Cycle: Madness
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I'll post two chapters in one day and then do the same every other day. Occasionally there may be pauses to rest and build up new ideas.
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