We stand opposite each other. I stare at him and his body, which stands still, without any positions for defense or attacks. I move my right foot to the back, lower my body a little, raise both my fists out, and sprint myself to him. I'm about to hit him with the right punch, and he raises his left hand to protect the side of his face, as I thought. Then, I put my energy into my left foot, tilt it a bit, and push my body up, quickly raising my right leg to switch the hit from my fist to the back of my right foot, right at the back of the neck.
"!"
He's startled a bit but not losing his calm.
He turns his body to me and grabs my right ankle before I put it down. Then, I hook my left fist to the side of his jaw. He quickly raises his hand to defend in time so the impact isn't that aggressive.
'Finish it.'
Since he doesn't let go of my right ankle. I squat my left leg and push my body by spinning myself up along with my left leg and hit right at the side of his head and use my right foot to squeeze that side together to bring his face down to the floor.
"Thug!"
His face hits the floor along with my knees.
"!!"
Raden, Coach, and another Coach with Emris, including him, watching us with shocking feelings.
"Heh."
Mr. Laith sits up, puts his hand on his head to touch it, and chuckles softly in his throat.
"Is it okay?"
I turn my face to the Coach who has been analyzing my performance.
"...Yes."
He answers.
"Are you alright, Mr. Laith?"
I ask him.
"Yes, yes. Let me get up, ahem."
He tells me, clears his throat, and stands up before me.
"Good girl."
He tells me, patting my head.
"..."
"Another step... here."
He pulls out his paper in his pocket and gives it to me.
"Hm?"
I take it and look at it.
It's a list.
"Don't tell me…"
"Yes, as a newbie, you have to do it."
"You said running errands is not my job."
"Yes, it's not, but it's a part of the job as a new little cutie member."
He tells me with a smile.
"You are very tricky and hypocritical."
I say to him.
"!!"
And all the people in this room are shocked again.
"Hahaha. Yes, I am."
He laughs excitedly.
"Where then?"
I ask.
"Around here...Tell them that from Laith."
He smiles.
"Now?"
"Yes."
"..."
I get out of the ring, take my jacket, and leave the room.
…
All of them wait and watch as Roelle leaves the room.
"Are you sure you are okay, Laith?"
The shaved head coach beside him asks him with concern.
"I'm fine…"
Laith tells the guy next to him with a smile.
"But you're bleeding…"
The shaved head guy notices the red liquid running down from the back of his head.
"Ha ha ha…"
Laith laughs.
"Team leader...here is the towel."
And Raden quickly grabs the towel and gives it to Laith.
"So, how is she?"
Laith asks the coach.
"She has good technique. She seems to know how to find some moves in unexpected situations…"
"Or maybe she has thought it all inside her mind."
Laith suggested his idea.
"...How old is she again?"
"22."
"God, Laith.. you lure the kid into this kind of mess?"
"What mess? It's just another job."
"Just?... She's still young…and she's a girl."
"Don't tell me you didn't like what you saw?"
Laith smirks at the coach.
"I admit…she's good, but she doesn't have enough strength to beat the guys…Even she has figured it all out, has some plans, or knows the moves but without the power itself. How can a little tiny girl take down a big, massive guy... Look at Emris. The competitors are all men and big like him."
Coach explains while making a serious face.
"But she has her shadow… think about it. With those tricks and moves that she has, no one has ever done that, and no one can teach her that. And with a little help from her shadow, she's…better than many competitors these days."
"I haven't seen her shadow yet. How did you know her shadow got the strength."
"She might have told it to shrink down…"
Laith tilts his head.
"Coach, I've seen it too. It's nothing like others."
Raden tells the coach.
"...However, Laith. You got her into it…she is your responsibility."
"I know, hehe."
"What is that smile...Laith, you're crazy."
The coach shakes his head.
Emrys is looking hard at his team leader.
"I can take care of her… but you, Coach, you need to train her, and Raden can focus on his fight….Come on, I know you want to train her…she's good, isn't she?
Laith tries to convince his coach.
"*Sigh…Is her body ready to let the shadow out in the open?... Is she really able to control her shadow?"
"She's beyond ready…Roelle and her shadow are BFF."
Laith tells the coach while stepping down the stage.
"Huh...What?"
"Why do I feel…spinning...What do you say?"
"...Thug!"
And the coach throws the towel at him.
"Go wipe your blood off your head first!"
Coach yells at Laith.
…
The village during the day is also pretty nice. Not so many people walk past on the street, and I feel like there are only local villagers here. I see a few stores, and I don't know which ones Mr. Laith wants me to get them from.
I look down at the lists.
"Drinks."
That's vague.
'This store? it's like a convenience store.'
Sure…Hey, what do you think…earlier?
'You don't even show the full thing.'
But he knocked down first. I don't want to hurt him…
'He said give him everything.'
He's the team leader. How can I do that? I just got the job…it's my first day.
'Now, you're running errands?'
Oh, because of…shit. Should I apologize? But he praised me, Xin.
That called praise?
I guess so... good girl is the praise… No one told me that before… it feels a bit good…
'…'
I'll just buy everything that is in the drink category. His money, anyway.
The convenience store.
"Welcome"
Sounds like an automatic sound from a computer.
I look around, passing alley to alley, and finally see the drinks zone. And then Xin brings me the basket. I forgot to pick one at the entrance. I take it from him. Then, I pick every type of soda, energy drink, water, tea, and coffee and put them all in the basket.
'And that man... you shouldn't get too close.'
Who?... Should I get milk?
'That white hair, yeah, milk is in the drink category.'
Why? He's very cool. Sure... do you think I missed something?
'He gives me a strange vibe... and his shadow is in him… don't you think.. is it dangerous?… you forgot the chocolate one.'
Honestly, I feel everybody is dangerous here… but I feel more comfortable here than out there…ooh banana milk, I take this too.
'I'm just saying, Roelle. I don't like him… How are you gonna carry all of that!?'
But I like him…
'First time that you like someone first… and it's a man.'
Let the shadow get inside the body. That does not just sound dangerous but sounds unbelievable.
Then, I put the basket full of drinks on the cashier's counter.
"Mr. Laith."
I tell the employee.
"Yes."
The cashier responds.
But anything is possible. I have my shadows and talk to me, and I see another shadow fight like a superhero. Everything is just beyond my belief. I wonder how it feels to leave the shadow in his own body forever… if he decides to let him out, Can he be able to do that?
Xin, have you ever wanted to be inside me?
'…'
I started to think that the list that Mr. Laith gave me was just a joke or that he was just teasing me. Since the list only has drinks, I did my part. I wiped all of them for him. I'm heading back to the Playground building. I let Xin help me carry the drinks. I'm holding the left side of the bag's handle, and Xin is forming himself to hold the right side of the handle. Also, on the way, I bought ice cream in a cute monster shape in green color. And, of course, it's on Mr. Laith's credits.