In one of the small, special meeting rooms of the CREDHOS, Sera and the members of her group were sitting. There were different expressions on each person's face.
Kenzo's face was filled with joy and excitement after hearing everything.
"Do you hear that, genius? New skills, new powerful opponents, just for you and me!" Kenzo said to his teammate with shining eyes, as if he couldn't have asked for anything better.
However, Jaden didn't share the same perspective. While he welcomed the training, fighting Class C average-level HOUMs together was risky, even if they were trained for it. But he didn't have a choice.
Jaden let out an exasperated sigh because he couldn't do anything else. His life no longer belonged to him.
"Starting today, you'll be staying here, and you can visit your families on weekends." Sera stated, snapping Jaden out of his thoughts.
Wasn't this a bit too sudden? Sure it was, how would his parents react to the news? Plus, he wasn't mentally prepared for this.
He raised his hand to request to speak, and it was only after Sera had finished giving him an intimidating look that she nodded and allowed him to speak.
"I think... we should at least take today. I mean, Kenzo has just finished at the academy, and it would be good for him to go see his friends, and I could talk to my family about my absence." Jaden said while scratching his head from time to time.
Perhaps that was just a "reason" for Kenzo. However, it was true that he needed to inform his loved ones.
He could have done it over the phone, but he felt it was more appropriate to tell them in person. Plus, he considered it keeping his promise to his friends.
At first, Sera had decided to say no to whatever they asked, but after some thought, she agreed to let them have this day.
"Wednesday at 6 AM, I want you to be here. Any delay will be fatal. Let's go, Anna," Sera said as she left.
It was Monday afternoon, so she decided to give them a gift for the first and last time.
Anna bid them farewell with a beautiful smile and a wave as she followed Sera.
"So where are you planning to go, Ken?" Jaden asked once it was just the two of them left.
"I think I'll just rest here. My uncle is probably on a mission right now." Kenzo replied with a sad smile because, apart from his uncle, no one in this part of the country was waiting for him.
He was raised in a dojo by his grandfather because his father died on a mission fighting the HOUMs, and his already ill mother succumbed shortly after.
His lineage could barely make ends meet, so he lived on the outskirts of the red-gray zones, thanks to his father's efforts in making a name among the CREDHOS.
Two years before his admission to the academy, his uncle, who wasn't really an uncle, came to fetch him and enrolled him in a new dojo where he managed to stand out with his combat talent. It was in this dojo that he met Jaden.
Being quite young, he had seen many people suffer, but he was unable to help them because he was barely making it himself.
Over time, the death of his father weighed on him more and more because his grandfather's dojo wasn't profitable enough.
So Kenzo decided to become a superhero to lift everyone out of poverty, and ever since he made that promise, he worked like crazy to make it happen. However, he was alone on his journey.
His uncle, or more precisely, his father's friend, was only there to help him pave his way. They weren't really close, but he would lend a hand when needed.
His grandfather lived too far from the current city, and the time it would take to get there would be too long for him to enjoy, so it was better for him to stay.
It was the first time Jaden had seen a different emotion than joy, excitement, or determination on Kenzo's face as he lost himself in his thoughts.
"Hey, Ken! You're coming with me. We'll visit a great café nearby, then head to my place, and after that, we'll have some fun." Jaden said.
Before Kenzo could come up with a mundane excuse, Jaden took him by the hand and led him towards the exit.
As planned, they went to Joe's Café, where they enjoyed themselves while chatting about various topics. After finishing up, they took a taxi to the Lavender residence.
"Wow, is this your place? It's like a castle!" Kenzo exclaimed upon arriving at the Lavender mansion.
His amazement continued inside the house, but he couldn't help but compliment the statue on the mantle, which drew a curious look from Jaden. Who could have the same eccentric tastes as his uncle?
"You're talking about the statue on the mantel, right? Not the attic?"
The attic had a more modern look, and Jaden wanted to confirm if his friend was indeed talking about the statue because it had taken some getting used to for him and everyone at home to appreciate it.
After all, you tend to grow fond of something as you get accustomed to it, discovering its beauty over time until it becomes genuinely beautiful.
However, Kenzo confirmed that he was indeed talking about the statue. He liked it at first sight, and what's more, he liked it more than anything else in the house, as it was the only thing he couldn't resist complimenting. Jaden was amazed.
At home, only his mother, Evelyne, Suzanne the housekeeper, and his little brother, Richy, were present. Richy was thrilled to have a guest, especially one who was a CREDHOS – a real hero.
The three of them had a long discussion until dinnertime, and Kenzo was filled with joy because everyone was happy to see him. He didn't feel excluded like at the academy; it was like he was living a perfect life.
After dinner, someone spoke up. "Kenzo and I are going to sleep in big brother's room!" It was the enthusiastic Richy.
"Huh? Why? Each of us can go to their own room, and why him, Kenzo, and me as big brother?" Jaden asked his little brother as if he were the younger sibling.
"Kenzo is a hero, and heroes are called by their names. But you, big brother, I find it reassuring to call you 'big brother.' That way, you'll always remember that you're my big brother." Richy explained, as if imparting a lesson, while Kenzo nodded in agreement at the mention of his name and title.
As he smiled and ruffled his brother's hair with his hand, Jaden replied, "I'll never forget you, little brother."
"Come on, let's go to your room, big brother!"
"Huh? I never agreed to let you sleep in my roo- hey, wait! Richy!" While he tried to convince them to sleep in their own rooms, Richy forcibly pulled Kenzo and ran with him towards Jaden's room.
Once Richy opened the door, the two could see the spacious, perfectly organized interior. Every item seemed to have its designated place, creating an environment that was both harmonious and functional.
'It's quite a big room he has here.' Kenzo noted in his head as he continued to admire the room.
The shades of blue and purple continued in his room, matching the artistic stained glass windows on the façade.
The walls were adorned with elegant paintings, and a few of them seemed a bit out of place but somehow fit in. Anyone familiar with Louf would recognize the source of these paintings and some of the toys on the desk.
'He even has a desk. I thought geniuses didn't want to work too much.' Kenzo pondered as his eyes roamed around the room.
To him, Jaden was a genius, and he believed that once Jaden started something, it would come naturally to him. So, seeing a desk left him somewhat perplexed.
He then cast his eyes on the bed, a large, perfectly made bed with cushions neatly arranged. Next to it, an organized shelf displayed books meticulously arranged by size and genre.
A soft, thick carpet covered the floor, adding a touch of comfort to the overall ambiance.
'However, I must admit this room really suits him.' Kenzo thought after seeing the relaxation area in the room.
Jaden's room was calm and thoughtful, reflecting his organized and logical side. However, it also showed that Jaden was a hard worker, somewhat disrupting Kenzo's image of a genius.
There was a small library next to the relaxation area, complete with a comfortable armchair and an adjustable reading lamp.
During this time, Jaden finally entered the room, still disagreeing with the idea that they would all sleep in the same room. But in the end, there was nothing he could do about it.
They chatted and had fun for a long time before Richy fell asleep, and the two decided to do the same since they had a busy schedule the next day.
"Good night, hero," Jaden said before turning off the light in the room.
"Good night." Kenzo replied.
There was a genuine sense of joy in his words, but Jaden decided to let it slide and joined them in drifting off to sleep.