"Strength does not only mean being powerful – but knowing when to fight and when to let go." – Yamato Orochi
"Good morning, Aki!" Kichiro's voice rang out early in the morning. Although Aki had slept for eight hours, he was still dog-tired. "Mmmmh… What is it… Just one more hour…" The boy was a late sleeper, quite the opposite of Kichiro. "No, you're getting up now. It's already six o'clock, and work starts at seven." With a lot of effort, Kichiro dragged his roommate out of bed until he finally gave in and got up. "Good. While you were still sleeping, I already cleaned the apartment, made breakfast, and laid out clothes for you for the day. I also packed your bag and made you some food for the morning." Aki was confused and astonished. Just the day before, Kichiro had wanted to kill him, and now he was doing all this for him. "Why did you do all this? Thank you so much!" The blue-haired man smiled. "I owe you for what I did yesterday. Besides, I have to admit, I actually enjoy housework."
They continued with their morning routine. Even though Kichiro knew that Aki had already forgiven him long ago, he still treated him like a god. Somehow, this made the demonic boy uncomfortable, but it only showed how strong a friendship could develop from it. After breakfast, they had about half an hour left, not counting the ten-minute walk. In those free twenty minutes, the boy took a closer look at the dorm. The dormitories of Kenkai were not like usual rooms in a big house, but many small houses. The first number in the dorm number ranged from 1 to 4 and indicated the district in which the dorm was located. They went clockwise from the top left (1) to the bottom left (4). Aki and Kichiro's dorm was somewhat isolated from the others, almost directly by the lake.
Aki was still staring sleepily out the window while Kichiro cheerfully dried the last of the dishes. "You're really a morning person, huh?" Aki rubbed his eyes as he slowly sat down on one of the chairs. Kichiro grinned and set the dishes aside. "Well, someone has to make sure we leave on time. Otherwise, a certain someone will oversleep again." Aki raised an eyebrow and smiled weakly. "Hey, I don't oversleep. I just... strategically extend my sleep." He stretched and leaned back. "But seriously, I have no idea where you get all your energy from. Are you secretly working out at night or something?" Kichiro laughed. "It's called discipline, my friend. Maybe you should try one of my morning routines. You'd be surprised how awake you feel afterward." Aki shook his head. "I'll pass. You won't convince me to get up at five in the morning." Kichiro shrugged. "Your choice. But if you ever feel like it, I'm ready." Aki grinned. "Thanks, but I'll stick with my extra sleep." Shortly after, the two of them saw that Yamato had added them to a Sentinel group chat. The boy briefly wondered how the Sentinels had their numbers, then remembered he had to fill out a form before the exams, where he had to provide his phone number, among other things. "Come on, Aki. We'll be late otherwise." The two left their dorm and headed to their first day at work.
Moonfang Arc
Start of Work
Episode 9 – Life as a Sentinel
Miho had just arrived on the Kenkai grounds. Ryoko had left a bit earlier to have more time to find the room Yamato had posted in the group chat. The girl looked at her smartphone to check again which room she had to go to. "Ah, room 207!" But the young lady couldn't think any further because someone bumped into her. "Hey, why are you standing in the way?" Two young men, both about a head taller than her, surrounded the girl. "Oh, I'm sorry." But the apology wasn't enough for the two young men. One of them grabbed the girl by the collar of her shirt, while the other leaned down to her. "You're going to pay for this." Shortly after, a young man stood beside the two men and said, "The only ones who are going to pay for anything are you idiots. Get out of here before I get mad." When the bullies saw the man, who was much taller than them, they immediately stormed into the building. "Holy crap, sorry!"
Miho recognized the voice but couldn't believe it was actually him who had saved her. When she turned around, her suspicion was confirmed. It was Tatsuo. "Geez, they can't do anything but bother weaker people. Are you alright?" The girl smiled. "Yeah, thanks for the help. I didn't expect this from you. What changed that you're so kind to me now?" The young man looked down at the ground, a little embarrassed. "Let's just say... someone changed my mind." The girl immediately smiled happily. Tatsuo looked at her. "She believes in me right away... she's... so sweet..." Shortly after, Aki's voice sounded from behind them. "Hey, Miho! Good morning!" Tatsuo immediately got startled. After what had happened, he couldn't quite look Aki in the eyes anymore. He quickly slipped into the building, avoiding an uncomfortable conversation. "Good morning. Miho, right?" Aki remembered that Kichiro and Miho hadn't spoken to each other yet. While the two got to know each other, they searched for the room. They found one of the many staircases and went up to the second floor. Luckily, their room was right next to the entrance to the stairwell. "Ah, here!"
Aki and the others entered the room, ready for their first day with the Sentinels. Shiroi, Maki, Aimi, Ryoko, and Tatsuo were already present. They were the last ones missing. Unfortunately, no two seats next to each other were free, so Aki and Kichiro had to sit next to different people. Aki sat next to Shiroi, while the seat next to Tatsuo was open for Kichiro. Since Kichiro and Tatsuo hadn't spoken yet, they were able to avoid any arguments. Aki and Shiroi got along quite well. Miho, of course, sat next to Ryoko. Yamato then entered the room. "Well now," he said, a little confused, looking at the clock, "We still have a few minutes, but since you're all here, I guess we can begin." The room was like a small classroom. However, at the back, there was a pool table, a sofa, and a bookshelf. It seemed the Sentinels even had leisure activities provided.
The Sentinel leader had brought a small box, which he placed on the table at the front. He pulled out some sheets of paper. "I don't think I need to introduce myself. You all know me already. First, I'll hand out the daily schedule we'll be following. Aimi, I'll give you the stack. You all take one sheet and pass the rest along, okay?" He handed the papers to the girl. She took one and passed the rest along. Everyone did the same until everyone had a schedule. Aki briefly skimmed through how his day as a Sentinel would look.
08:00 -> Start of the day: Arrival, free time
08:30 -> Discussion of the day's plan
08:45 -> Morning training
09:30 -> Combat training: Module training, scenario practice
10:30 -> Tactics and strategy lessons
11:30 -> Lunch and free time
12:30 -> Theoretical lessons
14:00 -> Module control: Soul strengthening, meditation
15:00 -> End of the day
Shortly after the boy finished reading the sheet, Yamato spoke again: "So, attendance is mandatory at 8:00 AM, but since I often have other things to do, we won't start until 8:30. You can arrive and chat with the others before then. At 8:30, we'll go over today's plan, and at 8:45, we'll start. Today will be a bit different. The day will end at noon. Since it's Friday, you'll also be allowed to return home. I've brought you remotes that will allow you to switch between dimensions whenever you want. They even have a protection feature, so after the first use, only you can use them. Please take one when you leave." He then moved on to his next point: "Today, we'll have one large theory lesson where I'll explain everything important about Kenkai and the modules. By the end of the day, you'll all be on roughly the same level of knowledge. I should also explain that there won't be any grades. However, if I notice that you're regularly not paying attention or behaving inappropriately, I can and will strip you of your Sentinel rank – in other words, kick you out. This has happened enough times already."
Yamato then began the lesson, which was quite uninteresting for Aki. Since Yamato was explaining everything from the basics, there wasn't much new for him. Around 11:00, there were finally some new bits of information for the boy. "So, as you may have heard before, I belong to the Hidden Union. This is the unit made up of six people who lead Kenkai. The Hidden Union consists of the strongest members and the leader of each unit. First, there's Viktor, who leads the main unit. You already know him. The Kenkai members call him 'The Vine.' Then there's Marie Leveaux, leader of Aegis. She's referred to as 'The Tamer.' Jin-Ho Don leads Wraiths and has the nickname 'The Shadow.' Wraiths is led by Tommy Josta, also known as 'The Sonata.' Nazar Mahmuti, also known as 'The Berserk,' leads Vanguard. And then there's me, Yamato Orochi, known as 'The Serpent,' and I am, as you hopefully know, the leader of the Sentinels."
But Yamato didn't stop there. "But you're probably wondering: 'Who leads the Hidden Union?' This is where Kei Hoshizora comes into play. He's also known as 'The Star' and leads the Hidden Union, making him the leader and the strongest person in all of Kenkai. The Hidden Union members are the most important and strongest people in all of Kenkai." Aki was amazed. He could hardly wait to one day meet the Hidden Union and maybe even fight alongside them.
The rest of the lesson went by without major incidents. Yamato patiently explained the structure of Kenkai and gave the Sentinels an overview of the organization's history. Aki listened attentively, even though he found himself drifting off to think about Tatsuo during some topics. The name "Kei Hoshizora" echoed in his mind – the strongest fighter in Kenkai and their future leader. It was an overwhelming thought to one day fight alongside such legends.
At exactly 12:00, the theory lesson ended, and Yamato rose from his seat. "Well done, Sentinels. I know this can all be a lot, but you've done well. Remember, this is the first step on a long journey. Starting tomorrow, things will get serious." The group began to stand up, some stretching after the long session. Aki glanced over at Kichiro, who gave him a small smile. It felt good to have made it through the first day. "Don't forget to take one of the remotes," Yamato added, pointing to the small box by the room's exit. "With it, you can switch between dimensions. We'll see each other on Monday."
Aki and Kichiro were the last to leave the room after taking their remotes. They descended the stairs together, leaving the classroom behind them. "It's kind of crazy, isn't it?" Kichiro said as they slowly walked towards the dorms. "A few days ago, I never would have thought we'd learn about things like the Hidden Union." Aki nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, and now we're part of it. It still feels surreal." They were silent for a moment as they walked through the quiet halls. "But we've got this, Kichiro. No matter what comes." Kichiro chuckled and put an arm around Aki's shoulder. "Of course we've got this. We're friends, right?" Aki grinned. "Exactly." They finally reached the door to their dorm and stepped inside. The day had been tiring, but it was an important step on their journey.
After entering the dorm, Aki collapsed onto the couch while Kichiro went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Aki stared at the ceiling, lost in thought, thinking about the events of the day. One moment, in particular, had stuck with him during the lesson: Miho. Ever since they had gotten to know each other better, he couldn't stop thinking about her. Something about her calm, kind nature touched him deeply. Kichiro returned and sat down next to Aki. "You're pretty quiet today, buddy. Everything alright?" Aki smirked slightly. "Yeah, everything's fine. It's just... I feel like a lot has changed recently." Kichiro raised an eyebrow. "Changed? How so?" Aki sat up and awkwardly ran a hand through his hair. "It's about Miho. I don't know how to say this, but I think I'm starting to develop feelings for her."
Kichiro grinned widely and gave Aki a playful pat on the back. "Aha! Now we're getting somewhere. I've had my suspicions for a while." Aki snorted in surprise. "What? Really?" Kichiro nodded. "Everyone's noticed how you look at her. Don't worry, man. Having feelings for someone isn't a bad thing." Aki laughed sheepishly, but a warm excitement welled up inside him, a feeling he hadn't known before. "I think I'll keep it to myself for now. I don't know how she feels, and now might not be the best time." Kichiro nodded understandingly. "That's your call. But if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here." Aki smiled gratefully and leaned back again. "Thanks, Kichiro."
Aki leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment. The thought of Miho remained, but he knew it wasn't the right time to act hastily. Instead, he would take the time to figure out how he truly felt – and how Miho might feel about him. For now, it was enough to know that those feelings existed, even if they remained unspoken. "You know, Kichiro... it feels strange to have so much on my mind and still have to keep a clear head," Aki said thoughtfully, as he looked out at the lake outside. The setting sun cast golden rays on the water, and a light breeze blew through the open window. "But... there's also something comforting about it. Knowing that everything will find its place eventually." Kichiro smiled and nodded. "Exactly. Feelings have their time, and just like everything else, they'll feel right eventually. You still have time, Aki." They sat quietly for a while, enjoying the peace and silence of the late afternoon. For a moment, the world seemed to slow down, and all the training, exams, and challenges ahead felt distant.
"You know what, Kichiro? I think I'm ready for whatever comes next," Aki said finally, his eyes full of determination. "No matter what it is. Whether it's battles, challenges, or... feelings." Kichiro smiled broadly. "That's the right attitude, Aki. Now let's go, we've got a tough day ahead tomorrow. Let's rest." With one last look at the glittering lake outside and a light but determined smile on his face, Aki finally got up from the couch. Together with Kichiro, he headed to their rooms, ready for whatever tomorrow would bring. And so their first day with the Sentinels ended – with unspoken words, deep thoughts, and a clear view of the future.
Hey, guys! In the next chapter, the first real mission begins! Get excited, because the action is about to start!
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