The next morning started quietly enough. I could still feel the lingering effects of my recent incidents. But at least my body felt functional... I sat in the mess hall and was sipping on a cup of the ship's mediocre coffee when Joseph plopped down across from me. His signature grin was plastered all over his face.
"Morning, Shin!!!" he said cheerfully.
"What do you want?" I asked suspiciously.
Joseph never approached me with that kind of enthusiasm unless he had an idea I wouldn't like...
"Relax!!!" he said while leaning back in his chair. "I'm just here to help. You've been through a lot, so I'm thinking you need a little pick-me-up..."
"Like what?" I asked cautiously.
"A light workout..." Joseph declared while clapping his hands together. "We hit the gym for a bit, sweat out all that post-scream trauma. Trust me, you'll feel like a new man..."
I raised an eyebrow. "I just recovered, Joseph. You seriously think hitting the gym is a good idea?"
Joseph waved off my concerns. "Come on, it's not like I'm suggesting we run a marathon. Just a light workout... stretching, maybe some cardio. It'll refresh your system. Plus, it's not like you're doing anything better right now..."
I frowned. "I don't know. I feel like I should take it easy..."
Joseph's grin widened. "Oh, did I forget to mention? Captain Zhang will be there."
That caught my attention. "Zhang? At the gym?"
"Yep..." Joseph said, leaning forward conspiratorially. "She's insane, man. I've seen her train with the punching bag a few times, and let me tell you—she could probably knock out an asteroid with her left hook. She's insanely strong. My girlfriend is a freaking legend..."
I gave him a flat look. "Your girlfriend?! Ohh... I totally forgot that she was your girlfriend now..."
"Dude... What do even think of me!!!..." he asked me while acting like he was in shock. "Anyway, you have to see this. You won't believe it until you do. Come on!"
Before I could argue further, Joseph grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the mess hall...
The ship's gym was located on Deck 4. It was a spacious area equipped with futuristic workout equipment that could simulate varying gravity levels. As we entered, the sound of rhythmic punching filled the air…
There she was: Captain Mei Zhang, standing in front of a punching bag. Her movements were swift and precise, each strike landed with enough force to make the heavy bag swing violently. She wore a sleeveless training top and athletic pants. Her muscles were taut and glistening with a light sheen of sweat…
Joseph and I froze just inside the doorway, our jaws dropping simultaneously…
"See what I mean?!" Joseph whispered, nudging me with his elbow. "She's a real beast!!!"
Zhang moved like a professional fighter, her strikes a blur of motion. She alternated between rapid jabs, powerful hooks, and devastating kicks, each blow landing with a resounding thwack that echoed throughout the gym…
"Look at that form!!!" Joseph said, his voice filled with admiration. "She's like a freaking action movie hero...."
I nodded, unable to look away. "Yeah... remind me never to piss her off."
"You're telling me…" Joseph replied. "She could probably take on a dozen pirates single-handedly. Makes you wonder what she sees in a guy like me…"
I smirked. "I think we're all wondering that."
Eventually, Zhang noticed us standing there. She paused mid-combo and turned to face us with her usual calm but intimidating demeanor…
"Mr. Joseph. Mr. Takamiya…" she said, her tone cool but not unkind. "Can I help you with something, or are you just here to watch?"
Joseph grinned, unbothered by her sharp tone. "We're here for inspiration. And clearly, we've come to the right place."
Zhang raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Inspiration, huh? Somehow, I doubt either of you plan to train seriously."
"Hey, I take my fitness very seriously," Joseph said defensively. "In fact, I was just telling Shin we should join you for a workout. Right, Shin?"
I gave him a withering look. "I was just planning to stretch."
Joseph ignored me and turned back to Zhang. "You should've seen Shin's face when I told him how strong you are. He couldn't believe it..."
"Is that so?" Zhang asked, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
I sighed. "I just recovered, Captain. Don't expect me to go ten rounds with a punching bag…"
"That's a shame..." she replied, her smirk widening. "A little sparring could do you good…"
Joseph's eyes lit up. "You hear that, Shin? The captain wants to spar with you. What an honor!!!"
"I think I'll pass…" I said quickly, backing away slightly.
Despite my reluctance, Joseph insisted we stay and attempt a light workout. While he jumped enthusiastically onto the treadmill, loudly proclaiming how he was "ready for battle," I stuck to simple stretches since my body was still recovering from the trauma of the previous days…
Occasionally, I glanced toward Zhang, who had returned to her training. Her movements were just as precise as before...
"You know…" Joseph said as he jogged beside me... "You should really consider taking up boxing, Shin. You've got the face for it…"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, because nothing screams 'fighter' like someone who recently screamed his lungs out and passed out for two days..."
"Exactly…" Joseph said with a grin. "Comeback story of the year…"
After a few minutes of warming up, Joseph's usual enthusiasm was already in full swing. He had taken over the treadmill, loudly proclaiming how ready he was to "get shredded," while I stuck to basic stretches, trying to ease back into movement after my recent ordeal…
Meanwhile, Captain Zhang continued her training, her strikes against the punching bag echoing through the gym like thunderclaps…
"You know…" Joseph said, glancing at Zhang with admiration, "She's not just a great captain… she's a martial arts master. Isn't that right, Captain?!"
Zhang paused, turning toward us with a raised eyebrow. "Martial arts master? That's an exaggeration..."
Joseph grinned. "Oh, come on. I've seen you. You're incredible."
Zhang shrugged modestly, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "I practice. It's useful to stay sharp..."
Joseph leaned over to me, whispering loudly, "She's so humble. It's adorable..."
Zhang sighed, though her smirk didn't entirely disappear. "If you're so impressed, Mr. Joseph, why don't you demonstrate your skills? Let's see if your mouth is as fast as your reflexes."
Joseph blinked, caught off guard. "Wait. Are you... challenging me?"
"Why not?" Zhang said while crossing her arms. "You're always boasting. Let's see if you can back it up…"
I couldn't hold back a laugh. "This is definitely going to end badly..."
Joseph grinned confidently, stepping forward and flexing his arms. "All right, Captain. But don't go easy on me just because I'm charming..."
Zhang smirked, stepping into position. "Oh, I won't…"
The two squared off in the center of the gym. Joseph bounced lightly on his feet, throwing a few playful jabs in the air. Zhang remained still. Her stance was calm and calculated…
"Ready?" she asked.
"Born ready..." Joseph replied, grinning.
The next second, Zhang moved. She stepped forward with a single, fluid motion and delivered a precise roundhouse kick to Joseph's midsection… The force of the blow sent him flying backward, landing with a loud thud on the padded floor…
I winced. "Oouuchh... That looked like it hurt..."
Joseph lay there for a moment, groaning. Then, to my utter disbelief, he started laughing…
"That's my girlfriend for you..." he said, giving her a thumbs-up.
Zhang's smirk faltered as a faint blush spread across her cheeks. "Girlfriend?" she repeated, her voice sharp.
Joseph sat up, brushing himself off. "What? I'm not wrong, am I?"
Zhang crossed her arms, looking away briefly. "Get up, Mr. Joseph. You're embarrassing yourself..."
"I'm impressing myself, thank you very much," Joseph replied, his grin undiminished.
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "What the hell am I even doing here?"
Captain Zhang then turned to me and asked with a grin across her face, "Mr. Shin why don't you give it a try!!!"
I shook my head to refuse, but Joseph insisted that I should fight her and said, "It is not like you are gonna end up breaking your bones or anything…"
The moment Joseph gave me that extra shove toward the ring, I knew there was no backing out. Captain Zhang stood in the center, her stance calm but commanding, her sharp gaze fixed on me…
I climbed into the ring, the soft padding beneath my feet doing little to cushion my rising tension. "I can't believe I'm doing this…." I muttered under my breath.
"You'll be fine…" Joseph said from the sidelines, grinning like a proud parent. Then he added with a wink, "Or not. Either way, I'm entertained..."
Before stepping fully into position, I tugged off my shirt, revealing my well-toned physique. Muscles rippled under the gym's fluorescent lighting—not overly bulky, but lean and strong, the result of years of keeping in shape to endure the physical demands of space travel…
The room fell silent for a moment.
Joseph's jaw dropped. "Hold on, hold on, hold on…" he stammered, pointing at me dramatically. "When did you even get that hot body? Is this why you wear those baggy uniforms all the time? You've been hiding this from me!!!"
"Joseph shut up!!!" I said while rolling my eyes as I adjusted my stance.
He pointed an accusatory finger at me. "Don't you dare steal my girlfriend. I'm watching you, Shin..."
Captain Zhang raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching as though suppressing a smirk. "Are you two finished?!"
"Yes, Captain…" I said quickly, giving Joseph a glare.
Joseph crossed his arms, still mumbling something about betrayal, but thankfully he stayed quiet.
"Ready?!" Zhang asked, settling into her fighting stance.
"Not really…" I muttered.
"Good…" she replied, and without warning, she struck.
Her first punch came fast… So fast that I barely had any time to dodge. I stumbled backward, my feet awkwardly shifting to regain balance as she followed up with a rapid sequence of jabs. Each strike was precise and relentless, her movements were perfectly calculated to keep me on the defensive…
I threw up my arms to block, but she was quick to adapt and landed a sharp kick to my side that sent me staggering toward the ropes…
"Come on, Shin…" Joseph called from the sidelines. "Do something! At least try to look cool!!!"
I gritted my teeth as I tried to focus. My body moved on instinct, throwing out a few counterstrikes that she easily dodged. Every time I thought I saw an opening; Zhang was already one step ahead. Her movements were fluid and controlled…
But then, out of nowhere, a wave of dizziness hit me. My vision blurred slightly, and the sound of the room seemed to muffle as though I were underwater. My limbs felt heavier, and for a brief moment, I felt like I might collapse...
Zhang didn't notice my faltering state, or if she did, she assumed it was exhaustion. She pressed forward, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
Then it happened…
A sudden surge of energy coursed through me, overpowering the dizziness and filling my limbs with strength I didn't recognize. My movements became faster, sharper—no longer clumsy or hesitant…
Zhang threw a punch aimed at my ribs, but I sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing her wrist and twisting her arm to throw her off balance. My body moved like it knew exactly what to do, executing flawless maneuvers that I had never learned…
Joseph's eyes widened as he watched from the sidelines. "What the hell...?" he whispered.
Zhang stumbled backward, clearly caught off guard. Her controlled expression faltered for the first time as I pressed the attack, delivering a series of precise strikes that left her scrambling to defend herself…
I didn't stop. My fists and kicks landed with an intensity that made the ring shudder beneath us….
The tables had turned completely…. I was no longer on the defensive. Zhang tried to counter, but each move was met with an overwhelming response…
With one final sweep of my leg, I sent Zhang toppling to the mat. Before she could recover, I pounced, pinning her to the ground. Her eyes widened as I raised my fist, poised to deliver the finishing blow…
"Shin, STOP!!!" Joseph's voice rang out, filled with panic.
My vision blurred again, but this time it wasn't dizziness. It was something darker, more primal... It was a surge of rage and power that wanted to release. My fist came down, aimed straight at Zhang's head…
At the last possible second, something inside me clicked. My consciousness returned, and I redirected the punch, slamming it into the mat beside her instead…
The force of the blow was catastrophic. The metal beneath the padding buckled and bent, and the sound of the impact echoed through the gym like a gunshot…
Zhang stared up at me, her expression a mix of shock and something else—wariness, maybe even fear…
I stumbled backward, clutching my hand as pain shot through it. Blood dripped from my knuckles, staining the mat beneath me. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath, my mind racing to process what had just happened…
Joseph rushed into the ring, his face pale. "Shin, what the hell was that?!"
I looked down at Zhang, who was still lying on the mat. Her gaze was locked on mine. "I... I don't know…" I said, my voice trembling. "I don't know what just happened…"
Zhang slowly sat up, wincing slightly as she pressed a hand to her side. "That wasn't normal…" she said, her tone calm but firm. "You were holding back at first. Then... something changed..."
I clenched my fists, staring at the blood dripping from my injured hand. "I didn't mean to... I wasn't myself..."
Joseph crouched beside me; his usual bravado gone. "Shin, you went full-on beast mode. Like... terrifying beast mode. And that punch—dude, you bent the freaking floor..."
Zhang stood, brushing herself off as she faced me. "We're going to figure this out, Takamiya…" she said, her voice steady but laced with a commanding edge. "Whatever that was… It's not normal. And we can't ignore it…"
I nodded weakly as the weight of her words pressed down on me...
As Joseph helped me out of the ring, he whispered, "I think my girlfriend might be scared of you now. Don't steal her, Shin..."
I shot him a glare, but the humor did little to lighten the tension. Whatever had happened in that ring, it wasn't over—and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning…
TO BE CONTINUED