A year had passed since the day Kousuke and Akane had played the laser tag game. After that day, he was taking small steps to get out more, it wasn't much but it was a start as he tried new ways to convince himself he wasn't the pathetic person he was before. He hung out with Akane when she was home for leave where she helped him learn beginner level self-defense techniques and workout routines for his growing body, he started learning how to cook from Mana at her restaurant so he could feed himself in the future. It was a great moment for her to spend time with him too, seeing him stumble or make a mess would make her laugh but still enjoy his company.
He started to spent more time with Itsuki at school than he usually did, a surprise for her that he was taking an initiative which she loved with appreciation. They hung out together when the field trips from school came, at one point they held hands when they had to split into groups of two. They would be embarrassed but it was platonic so it didn't make them that uncomfortable. They even saw a movie together with the family driver giving them a ride, they still didn't meet each other's family yet but this was nice still that they were getting closer on their own pace.
More and more he was getting comfortable with getting himself out of the mentality to be hiding away in his room and focusing outside of his studies.
He asked Akane last time she was down to show him how to use flame magic, she wasn't a master at it with her level or had a special affinity with any particular flame attribute but she was good at her current level and made use of it for various tasks out on the field. She was better at fighting with her weapons and being a good leader to her squad mates.
Currently, she was on another assignment. She had been gone for a while. Akane promised Kousuke if he practiced more she would show him more advanced techniques including videos of his Grandfather's victories, the most significant being the last big war when the Ghasts were lead by powerful masters. He wanted to watch them since they were not available to the public yet due to the brutality of the war. After he finished his homework assignments, Kousuke went to practice outside on his magic. It was the weekend and he wanted to get it done early to focus on training in other areas.
He could feel how a powerful mind affected the body and the atmosphere around it. How it could see a 'sequence' or 'code' in everything, deciphering it to use to its advantage. He thought he it was a natural talent for those with the Esper class till the screen popped up to give him a notice.
[Skill unlocked. Skill, Code Breaker. User has the ability to see the sequence of life in living beings, magic, and own self code. User can manipulate coding long as knowledge of User's target is within User's mindset]
'A skill? My first skill! I can't believe I got one now. Thankfully it's one that fits my personality. I did so many coding jobs for beta test games and and with how smart I am this is really going to be good'
This skill for code reading was perfect, seeing sequences of numbers and letters was easy for him to use to decipher his power and body and other objects. Being able to rewrite the coding in his white blood cells in his body, he found a way to make them work more proficiently to accelerate healing even more than he had now. He used it also on his muscle fibers to develop healthy muscle regeneration doubling his strength and body growth in the same way body builders lifted weights to increase size and mass. Since he had no affinity for healing magic he had to do this to heal himself up best as he could for now.
He flexed his little arm admiring his little muscle bump, even checking the wall outside were Akane and Mana marked his height increase every year seeing he made himself grow three more inches. He was excited, he felt better about himself that he was getting all this with hard work, a better payoff than he asked for with than getting high marks on exams or being top in class could get.
After practicing for three hours he could finally handle the fire magic Akane taught him with decent control. The Prime Caliber part of him made it easy to understand the fundamentals on casting it without using words or speaks tools as a medium, Kousuke's fire was stronger than Akane's ever was, but it still had a bad recoil to it because of him being so young and still in training. He almost burnt the skin on his hands trying to shoot flames or make big fireballs like he saw in his games.
"Ittttttai, hot hot." He yelled as he singed his hands. "Ok, so not quiet there yet. Gotta take it slow and figure out how to use it my own way before I accidentally burn the house down."
Instead of trying to shoot flames, he tried controlling it into a single point in his hands, making a burning fist.
'Imagine a small spot. Imagine a small flame. Focus on the flow of magic into a controlled area. Stay calm, let it come naturally.'
He focused his thoughts to remain in a clear state of mind to shake the magic into his hands. The flames didn't go wild, they burn roughly still but were now focused in his tiny fists. He still felt the feeling of heat, he had to release it soon or risk scorching the skin on his hands.
Kousuke ran in the direction to throw a punch at the mannequin targets Akane setup for him, he smashed one with incredible force, the flames burning it to ash.
Kousuke had slight burns on his hands, his healing process treated them before any real damage could be done. The flames were basic red, Akane told him signature flames would be born when a Caster would find their synchronization to them. Every magic spell had their own affinities, unlocking was difficult since not everyone had the same lifestyles or souls, making the one the Caster wanted impossible to know until the day it would manifest. Akane never got her's because she never reached that condition requirement, she didn't mind though she achieved a lot without the need for it. She mentioned that most who got their affinity got it from emotional, spiritual, or sheer determination from pushing past one's mental and physical limits.
[Magic acquired. Flame magic will now be added to User's repertoire. Level Up! Increase to magic power achieved.]
"I got a level from this. Too bad there's no bar for Exp to see how much I gain or need. This world still has some mystery to it including this system but this will work for now."
The status screen had more pros than cons for things like this, it made it easier to track his progress and what he was capable of currently. He saw that level on the screen increased his endurance and casting time stat by one point. He sulked that it was only point but with his stats already high for a child his age he couldn't really complain.
"Let's see, my endurance is now 30 and my casting time is at 70. Most kids my age are barely at a three. This is good. I'll have to be careful for now so I don't break my body badly overestimating myself on accident."
"Oy, Kousuke come inside we're about to leave soon to pick up Mama Akane." Mana called from the kitchen window.
"Coming!" He shouted back, cleaning himself up hiding the residual burn heals before he left the house with Mana hoping his body would get rid of them before they got to the airport.
Akane was coming home again. She got her leave approved to visit the family for three weeks before heading back out to the war zone. Akane's unit was overworked, more terrorists were popping up lately and the Ghasts were evolving more often now than they did before. As if something helping in their evolution process, trying to speed up humanity's end.
Mana was worried for Akane's well-being being her partner, Kousuke wasn't bothered really, Akane was tough, she always came back from her missions with little to no problems, he would never believe anything like a simple Ghast would take her out easily.
The drive to the airport was about an hour and a half long thankfully with their being little traffic, Kousuke sat in the back with his earbuds in playing his music. He was admiring the scenery and at how much this new world was a reflection of his old one in the time he lived in it. Ranging from the same countries, same historical people, with slight differences in certain events in history such as the Salem witch trials never existing, death penalty to acts of racism, including gladiatorial events still on going for those who wanted to showcase their fighting abilities. Their were advancements in technology and medicine that were years above what he had but most of everything else was the same.
He did find it funny he was reborn as a Japanese boy again. For all he knew he could have been born in some fictional magic kingdom where he was an orc or a vampire, he joked to himself many times how funny it would be if he was some silly incarnation that saved the world, the joke of it all was he didn't care long as he got the same life he got now.
Mana and Kousuke made it to the airport finally, they waited for all the arrivals to exit baggage claim till they saw Akane in her uniform walk out of the room with her duffel bag in hand.
Mana called out to her partner, Akane heard her and waved with a smile. Mana ran up to her with joyous feelings in her heart as she embraced her partner's return home.
Kousuke caught up to them, he hugged Akane too walking her back. The trio looked like the perfect couple to everyone in the airport, they couldn't help feel happy for them.
"Welcome home honey!" Mana whispered.
"I'm home," Akane said with a smile as she kissed her partner. Akane turned her attention to Kousuke, giving him a hard heartfelt hug, him begging her to let go as he felt he was getting choked to death.
The three left the airport after their reunion to find somewhere nice to eat that wasn't their restaurant, Akane wanted something other than the taste of field rations she had to eat in the last few months that almost killed her palette along with the mountains of coffee she had to ingest to stay awake during the night shifts she had with her team during fire guard and patrols.
"So where should we eat I'm starving?"
"Sure you don't want to eat at our place? The staff can be ready in no time to cook for you." Mana asked, she was always ready to cook for beloved partner.
Akane smiled as she held Mana's hand.
"Please, they work hard enough for us already, especially with this little glutton here eating everything up like human garbage disposal." She joked looking at Kousuke, who pouted at the quip. "Say Kousuke, doesn't your friend have a restaurant too, the one I see you hanging with most of the time? I could have sworn you mentioned it before when I asked what her family does for a living."
Akane was referring to Itsuki, Kousuke had mentioned it before. He asked her at times what properties her family owned outside of their usual business.
"Do you mean Shirayuki Itsuki? Her family owns a five-star restaurant close by, I heard her say they use it to promote the food they develop. It's mainly for the elite though to eat. I don't think we would fit in."
"Nonsense. I'm sure they would let us in. Besides I have yet to meet her since I'm gone most of the time. I wonder why you don't invite her over or go to her place after school. Are you shy hanging around a girl hmm."
Akane was joking with him on the matter. It did seem not right that they still didn't meet yet, it was a decision they both made for now. Hearing Akane say Kousuke was asking shy being near a girl his age was a bit of a blow to his ego
'Not that I'm nervous. I really didn't invite her over because mentally I'm nineteen years older than her. It wouldn't feel right in a way even though I have a legal age body I still feel like maybe I'm gonna commit a bad idea.'
It was reasonable for him to think that way, it was the main reason he kept making excuses to not be around her after school.
"Don't be nervous, it's nice to see my son have one person he can turn to when I'm away. Just want you to have someone you can talk to and rely on when something could happen in the future at anytime with all the monsters out there."
Kousuke felt that comment. He could see Akane was worried for him. His original parents were never enlisted in the service, but he had classmates in that life who did. He saw how hard it was for them, and he didn't feel sympathy for them since it wasn't his family, but now he understood their feelings with Akane, apologizing in his heart at how inconsiderate he was to those students back then.
The family drove to Itsuki's family restaurant, the Shirayuki name was on it making it easier to find on the GPS map. It was just as fancy as they expected, a real elite eatery with barely parking too. The Mothers were in awe of excitement over the place and the atmosphere it had.
The hostess welcomed the family to come in, Akane showed her military ID and unit crest so they could get a table faster avoiding the insane wait time for those not on the list or from upper families. They were brought wine and fancy hor d'oeuvres to eat as appetizers, and regular milk for Kousuke a plate of gyoza for him.
"Amazing. I must learn how they make some of these it be great for our place." Mana loved the hor d'oeuvres, anytime she ate anything she thought be a help to her place in feeding the neighbors she wanted to know.
"Oh sweetie, don't doubt yourself. Your Ramen and Oden are the best in town, I bet they would hire you here with your cooking skills." Akane told Mana feeding her one of the hor d'oeuvres to boost her confidence.
Kousuke agreed, he wasn't fond of Oden originally but he loved it now the way Mana made it. Her restaurant made many dishes from Ramen, Oden, Sushi, and Sukiyaki, all of them delicious with the care Mana put into them and her honing over the years of perfecting the right recipes.
"Huh, what are you doing here?"
Kousuke heard the voice from a table across from his. He turned to see Itsuki eating with her parents and younger sister. Kousuke almost spat the milk out seeing her, but he held it in not wanting to make a scene in front of them.
"Oh, is that your friend Kousuke, you didn't tell me she was that cute hehe." Akane joked trying to get an expression out of him.
'I'm too old for that kind of teasing thank you. Man, I didn't think she be here today, what kind of cruel timing is this, oh well it be nice to introduce her to Akane and Mana I do owe them that for never inviting her over to the house even when she asked. God if you're hearing me, please don't smite me for this.'
Kousuke complained in his head at first but relented for his moms' sake trying to be less selfish, praying for first time in his life that he wasn't going to have extremely bad karma his way.
"Itsuki is that the boy you mentioned from your school? The one that is a natural born Prime Caliber you're acquainted with?" Itsuki nodded yes to her Mothers who asked the question. The parents got up from their seats to walk over to Kousuke's table, with Itsuki and her sister following by. Kousuke's Mothers were nervous seeing the Shirayukis. Such a refined noble family coming their way was a sight to see, just the air of them walking their way breathed royalty.
"Hello, you must be the mother of this young boy. It's a pleasure to meet the ones who birthed a Prime Caliber." The first Mother said. The first Mother was Yue Shirayuki, she wore a well-tailored suit with her hair combed back. The other Mother was Ayaka Shirayuki, she was the beautiful one with a red dress and white shawl. Itsuki's little sister Kaede clung to Itsuki's side, nervous to talk.
Akane stood up and saluted the parents.
"Yes, mam, Captain Hayashi Akane at your service. This is my partner Mana and our son Kousuke."
Akane felt better calling herself a Captain again. She worked hard to get her rank n' grade back, she was demoted recently due to punching a fellow Captain in the face when she saw said Captain leaving her troop behind to save herself during a ambush.
"Oh, Hayashi. By chance was your father Hayashi Sei. I have a business partner who worked alongside him during their service." Yue said with admiration.
"Yes, mam!" Akane said back with a proud response.
Yue saluted Akane back, and she asked for a handshake as well. The families sat together to talk and eat. Kousuke and Itsuki looked annoyed at their parents drinking and joking around about the theme and ideas of arranged marriages. A typical reaction to kids embarassed by their parents in these situations.
"Do your parents always do this Shirayuki-Hime?" Kousuke asked. Kaede chortled a bit at the nickname, Itsuki's cheeks puffed in irritation from that.
"No, you should be grateful for this since you never let me come over or visited my house when I asked. And stop calling me that, you know I hate that nickname."
Kousuke couldn't help but grin at her being annoyed. He just knew how to push her buttons. She let out an annoyed breath before talking with him to drown out their parents' conversation.
The evening felt great, everyone was happy and enjoying the food and talk. It was a nice moment that should have been cherished, but something bothered Kousuke, he felt an eerie chill down his back, like a slither of ice water running down his skin chilling into his bones, a feeling that made him terrified to his core.
'Found you!'
A cold and distorted voice in his head called out.
Koutetsu's eyes widened, he turned his head around to look out the front windows of where the voice was coming from. He saw a pale woman in white clothing and a white hat with platinum blonde hair. He couldn't see her face but her lips were colored in blue lipstick. She gave a malicious smile before pointing a finger in Koutetsu's direction.
"Everyone get down!!!" He shouted trying to worn everyone at the table.
"Bang!!!"
An explosive blast of energy shot at the restaurant. Koutetsu was too late in warning everyone.
The restaurant was totaled in the blast, many of the patrons were killed, and others were injured.
Kousuke struggled to open his eyes when he was able to regain his consciousness. He saw Mana holding Itsuki and Kaede as they were shielded by the Shirayukis' ice barrier Ayaka and Yue made. The barrier was small and seemed only to fit the Shirayukis and Mana. The time it took them to make it was quick but not enough for the protection they were trying for.
Akane wasn't in there, Kousuke wanted to look for her till he felt warm liquid hit his face, and he looked up to see Akane covering him from the blast. She was bleeding and injured, Kousuke's eyes widened more, he was terrified, he was truly terrified for the first time in his existence.
He was having a powerful panic attack at the sight of Akane's battered body and face. The blood hitting his face, her covering over him with her injuries, he couldn't figure out how to react to it logically. It wasn't logical, it was just horrible, a horrible sight a child shouldn't see, even one with a mind like his.
'What the? What the? What the hell is going on here!'