Ichiro had prepared a simple meal of egg fried rice, which he presented to Akihiko, who was still engrossed in his work on the computer. "Here," Ichiro offered with a soft smile.
Akihiko accepted the meal with a nod of thanks. He knew better than to expect anything elaborate from Ichiro, considering their current circumstances. Eggs, it seemed, were one of the few ingredients that were readily available in Akihiko's sparsely stocked kitchen.
Ichiro settled on the sofa and quietly ate his meal, lost in his thoughts. He wondered if Akihiko had noticed the changes in him, changes that had seemingly caught the attention of his cousin Ryoma and led to their confrontation the previous night.
"Hey, Akihiko-kun," Ichiro began, breaking the silence. "Do you think I've changed?"
Akihiko looked up from his work, intrigued by the sudden question. "In what way?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Ichiro explained the situation with a hint of gloom in his expression, pausing briefly as he recounted the events of the previous night. "My eldest cousin, Ryoma, came to me last night questioning me because he said I've changed. He didn't even let me go, despite me not knowing what change he meant. In the end, he told me not to act arrogantly towards his parents again."
Akihiko contemplated Ichiro's words for a moment before responding with a nonchalant "Hmm." His thoughts were inscrutable, leaving Ichiro to wonder what Akihiko truly thought about the changes that had taken place within him and the implications they might have for his future.
"Well, it all started because of you. They think you're the cause of my sudden change," Ichiro explained, his tone laced with frustration and confusion.
Akihiko turned to face Ichiro, looking dumbfounded by the explanation. He couldn't quite wrap his head around the idea that he was somehow responsible for the turmoil in Ichiro's life. "Huh?" he muttered, his thoughts racing as he tried to make sense of the situation.
Ichiro pressed on, trying to clarify his point. "I know what you're thinking, I found it strange as well. So, I suspected that those people who followed us yesterday must have spread nonsense."
Akihiko, growing increasingly bewildered, felt the need to address an issue that had been lingering unspoken between them. "Let me get this straight and once and for all, I ain't gay."
"What?" Ichiro's eyes widened in shock at Akihiko's abrupt statement. "You already stated that before, and why are you bringing it up?"
The situation took an unexpected turn, and an awkward silence settled between them. Both men blushed crimson, their embarrassment evident.
Akihiko finally spoke, his voice somewhat sheepish. "Well, they said you've changed, and I thought... in that way."
Ichiro shook his head, chuckling softly. "I don't think that's the change Ryoma was beating me up for last night."
"Then what?" Akihiko asked, genuinely curious about the reason behind the turmoil in Ichiro's life.
"I think he suspects I have some kind of power," Ichiro replied hesitantly, the weight of his words hanging in the air as they contemplated the implications of this new revelation.
"Don't you?" Akihiko replied, his curiosity evident as he wondered why Ichiro continued to act as if he didn't possess any form of power.
Ichiro shook his head, answering honestly, "Well, I don't." Despite the system's assistance in helping him gain strength and knowledge that could potentially lead to magic power or aura, Ichiro hadn't yet experienced any tangible evidence of such abilities.
Akihiko leaned back in his chair, a contemplative expression on his face. "Well, I know that you're strong, in regards to magic. Who knows, maybe you're just not ready yet."
Ichiro furrowed his brow, puzzled by Akihiko's cryptic statement. "What do you mean?" he inquired, realizing that Akihiko had been observant from the beginning.
Akihiko continued, revealing another piece of the puzzle. "I'm sure Emi noticed it as well, with her intelligence. You can't fool her."
Ichiro's eyes widened in realization. "Don't tell me..."
Akihiko confirmed his suspicion with a nod. "Yeah, I'm sure that's the reason why she paired up with you during the last mock battle. I guess she was testing her theory."
Ichiro contemplated this revelation as he continued to eat, a mix of surprise and intrigue coloring his thoughts. He had thought he had been laying low and keeping his abilities hidden, but it appeared that a few astute individuals had already taken notice.
"Then, did you approach me for the same reason?" Ichiro finally asked, his curiosity directed at Akihiko, wanting to understand the motivations behind their newfound friendship.
"Well, not really at first," Akihiko replied vaguely, opting not to delve into the full details of his initial motivations.
Ichiro nodded in understanding, not pressing the matter further as he continued to finish his meal. "Are you done? I'll wash up," he offered.
Akihiko nodded and handed Ichiro his empty plate. "Here."
As Ichiro began clearing the dishes, he broached another topic. "By the way, can you contact Sato for me?"
"Emi? Sure, now?" Akihiko inquired.
"Yeah, I guess. What you said last time made me realize that it's time for me to be free," Ichiro replied with a hopeful smile, determination shining in his eyes.
"Sure, don't worry about the money. Just make sure to pay me back double," Akihiko quipped.
Ichiro chuckled at the remark, playfully responding, "Ha-ha, if I have lots of money to spare, I'll give it all to you."
Akihiko couldn't help but smile faintly at Ichiro's comment. He knew that Ichiro's family had a considerable fortune. His mother had been a renowned figure who had served the country for years, distinguishing herself as one of the youngest to ever fight against monsters. The secrets and wealth of Ichiro's lineage were gradually unraveling, revealing a complex tapestry that bound them all together.
Whilst Ichiro was doing the dishes, Akihiko made the call to Emi Sato.
Meanwhile, in the Sato residence, Emi was leisurely having her meal with her mother. She was not the type to wake up early in the morning, especially during the week.
"Emi-chan, how's school?" Mrs. Sato inquired, a warm smile on her face as she looked at her daughter with pride. She had been overjoyed when she received the news that her daughter had successfully controlled two mech-beasts. It had prompted her to leave her busy work at the company and rush to be with her daughter.
Emi replied nonchalantly, "Ah, it's fine," her interest in the topic minimal.
As they continued to enjoy their meal in peace, one of the servants approached Emi with an urgent message. "Miss, someone on the phone for you. They said it's urgent and they've been calling your phone."
Emi furrowed her brow in confusion. Who could be calling her repeatedly and have the audacity to contact their home phone? "Did they say who they are?" she asked the servant.
The servant shook their head. "No."
Mrs. Sato, concerned by the unusual situation, turned to her daughter and inquired, "Dear, who is it?"
Emi took the phone from the servant and answered the call, her tone crisp and to the point. "Hello?"
The voice on the other end responded with a casual "Yo," and immediately, Emi knew who it was.
"Get lost," she replied, her annoyance evident in her voice. The audacity of Akihiko to bother her and even call using their home number irked her.
"Hey, wait..." Akihiko began to protest, but Emi cut him off.
"I'll give you five seconds."
"Huh?" Akihiko sounded genuinely puzzled.
"Five."
"Okay, calm down."
"Four."
"Seriously..."
"Three."
"Fine."
"I'm hanging up."
"Ichiro," Akihiko blurted out before Emi could end the call. Instead of hanging up, she paused, her curiosity piqued by the unexpected mention of Ichiro's name.
Emi's curiosity was palpable, and even her mother noticed the unusual expression on her daughter's face. However, she chose not to press for details, trusting that Emi would share if she felt the need.
"What of him?" Emi inquired, her thoughts racing as she considered various possibilities. She wondered if Ichiro's injuries from their last encounter hadn't fully healed, but she also knew that the school doctor had attended to him, so it should have been fine.
Akihiko hesitated for a moment, not wanting to divulge the situation directly. "Can you come to my place?" he asked instead.
Emi's suspicion grew as she sensed something was amiss. "Is he there?" she probed, her instincts telling her that something had indeed happened.
"Yeah..." Akihiko replied, glancing at Ichiro, who was busy cleaning the kitchen in his apartment.
Without further hesitation, Emi agreed, her concern for Ichiro outweighing her curiosity. "Fine, I'll be there," she stated before hanging up abruptly, not giving Akihiko a chance to say more.
"Dear, are you going out?" Mrs. Sato inquired, noting that this was the first time her daughter had made plans to go out on a weekend without being persuaded.
Emi nodded. "Yeah, I'm visiting a friend."
"Really? Who?" Her mother's curiosity was piqued by the mention of her daughter's friends.
"Ah, Akihiko," Emi replied, mentioning a name her mother was already familiar with. She chose not to divulge the full truth about her plans, especially regarding Ichiro's situation.
"Oh, go then. He must need some help with some problem," Mrs. Sato assumed, unaware that Emi's visit had a different purpose altogether. She knew Akihiko worked for a secretive organization and had previously sought her help to improve the security of his place, which explained the need for occasional visits.