I woke up with a start, groggy from sleep. My room was dimly lit by the morning light filtering through the curtains. I stretched and yawned, rubbing my eyes. As I reached for my phone on the bedside table, it started ringing.
"Hello?" I answered groggily.
"Izumi, get ready. We have a fight on our hands," Mei's voice came through, clear and urgent.
I blinked in surprise. "A fight? Now?"
"Yes, now. Hurry up and meet me by your window."
I stumbled out of bed, still half-asleep, and pulled open the curtains. To my shock, Mei was standing right outside my window, holding her phone to her ear.
"Good morning," she said with a playful smile.
"How did you…?" I started to ask, but she cut me off.
"No time for questions. Come on, we need to go."
I quickly changed into some comfortable clothes and opened the window. Mei grabbed my hand, her grip warm and reassuring, and we took off into the sky. The sun was hidden behind clouds, casting a dull light over the city below.
"How did you know where I live?" I asked as we flew.
"I've known since the day you discovered my secret," she replied with a wink.
We soared through the air, the cool breeze ruffling my hair. It felt exhilarating to fly, yet my mind was buzzing with questions and anticipation. Soon, we arrived at an isolated area, and Mei led me to a corner hidden from view.
"Spirit Arts: Time Pause," Mei chanted, creating a red barrier that enveloped the area.
"What's the plan?" I asked.
"Null Arts: Wide Search," Mei responded, scanning the area with her custom-made power. I watched in awe as her eyes glowed faintly, her focus intense.
"This is amazing, Mei," I said, genuinely impressed.
She smiled. "Thanks. Now, let's find that Kaiju."
The scanning process didn't take long. Mei pinpointed the Kaiju's location with precision. It was a mid-low tier Kaiju, cleverly disguised but unable to hide from Mei's scrutiny. As soon as it realized we knew its location, it bolted.
"After it!" Mei shouted.
We gave chase. The Kaiju sprinted through alleys and streets with incredible speed. Mei took to the rooftops, effortlessly leaping from one building to another, while I pursued it from the ground. The chase was intense and relentless, with the Kaiju weaving through narrow spaces and darting around corners. I struggled to keep up, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
Finally, Mei landed in front of the Kaiju, blocking its path. It turned to flee in the opposite direction, but I was there, standing firm. Trapped, the Kaiju roared in frustration. The fight was about to begin.
I took a deep breath and channeled my energy. "Demonic Arts: Mist Punch!" I shouted, my fist enveloped in a thin layer of white mist. I landed a solid punch on the Kaiju, knocking it back. Mei moved to a corner, observing my fight.
The Kaiju recovered quickly and retaliated with a speedy punch. Its speed was blinding, and I barely dodged, feeling the rush of air from its attack. The force of the punch created a sound that made my ears ring. I knew that if even one of those punches landed on my face, I would be out cold. I had to be careful.
I channeled more mist energy, my fist enveloped more fully this time. My brute strength, enhanced by the power of mist, surged. The mist increases my overall strength, and the more mist I channel into my fist, the more powerful it becomes. The white mist also increases my attack speed by letting me pull back my fist faster after a punch. However, the more mist I channel, the more energy—stamina—it consumes, and I already suffer from extremely low stamina capacity. When I channel mist energy, my entire body feels lighter, and the more I channel, the lighter it becomes.
With renewed determination, I launched another punch at the Kaiju. This time, my fist connected solidly with its face, sending it staggering back. The Kaiju's movements became sluggish, showing signs of fatigue, but it quickly recovered and charged at me again, its speed even greater this time.
I dodged again, but the Kaiju's punch was so fast that the air pressure inflicted a scratch on my cheek. The fact that it didn't even land a hit on me but still caused damage made me a little scared. Mei's voice broke through my fear.
"Focus on the mist energy flow!" she shouted. "Feel the energy that is wrapped around your fist. Make it a part of your body."
I called upon the mist energy once again, letting it envelop my fist. The mist became thicker and more substantial. I punched the Kaiju again, but it blocked my attack and countered with a powerful punch. I was thrown into a building, feeling the impact shake my insides, but I felt no pain. The wall behind me cracked, and my back's imprint was visible.
"Feel that the mist is a part of your body," Mei's advice echoed in my mind as I stood up again.
With Mei's encouragement, I charged again, channeling even more mist energy. My body felt incredibly light, almost weightless. I dashed towards the Kaiju, the air around me seeming to part in my wake. I aimed for its face, but my punch landed on its chest instead, failing to take it down.
The Kaiju picked up a car nearby and hurled it at me. I barely dodged as the car exploded on impact, the area around us becoming blackened and destroyed. The Kaiju continued to throw cars at me, each explosion shaking the ground and sending debris flying. I dodged five or six cars before the Kaiju suddenly appeared in front of me, landing a punch square on my face. I was thrown into another building, crashing through a window that shattered around me. The building was in bad shape from the impact, and my body was covered in wounds, blood gushing from various cuts. But I stood up, determination fueling my movements.
I knew I could only channel my strength one last time. It was do or die. I called upon every last bit of mist energy, my entire body feeling lighter than ever. "Demonic Arts: Mist!" I shouted, my voice filled with desperation and resolve.
My fist was finally fully engulfed in mist. I dashed towards the Kaiju with such speed that the impact of my dash shook the curtains and broken glass around me. The Kaiju tried to block my attack, but my punch went straight through its arms, tearing them apart. My fist connected with its face, and the sheer force of the blow caused its head to pop off, blood gushing out and splattering the area.
Even Mei looked shocked, her eyes wide open. As soon as I landed the punch, my body gave out. I fainted, completely out of stamina, and collapsed to the ground along with my wounds. The Kaiju's headless body crumpled, blood pooling around it.
---
I must have been unconscious for over an hour. When I woke up, the sky above me was clear. I felt something soft under my head. Slowly, my senses returned, and I remembered the intense fight with the Kaiju. I opened my eyes fully and saw a girl's face with short blue hair. For a moment, I was in a daze, struggling to recognize her. Then it hit me: it was Mei.
I jolted, realizing my head was on her thighs. My face turned beet red as I tried to sit up. Mei gently placed her hand on my head, stopping me. "No need to panic. You can rest a little longer on my lap. This is your reward for working hard."
"Are... are you okay with this?" I stammered, still flustered.
"Yes, it's okay," she said with a smile. She looked up at the sky and asked, "Doesn't the sky look beautiful today?"
"Yes, it's really beautiful and blue," I replied, but my eyes were on her, not the sky. Was I starting to develop feelings for Mei? Was this love? I wasn't sure.
I soon noticed that all my wounds were gone. "Wait, where are the wounds?"
"I healed them," she explained. "Demonic Arts Level 18: Hydro. Hydro Heal."
After resting a bit more, I sat up, feeling surprisingly refreshed. Mei handed me a sandwich. "Here, I bought these for us."
We sat together, enjoying the sandwiches in a comfortable silence. It was wonderful, just being next to her.
When I got home, my sister Yuki greeted me with her usual teasing. "Where did you go so early in the morning, big brother?" she asked with a mischievous grin.
"Just out for some... training," I replied, trying to sound casual.
"Training with that girl, right?" Yuki pressed. "What's her name again? Mei?"
My face turned red again. "Yeah, Mei."
Yuki giggled. "You must really like her."
"Stop it, Yuki," I said, flustered.
At dinner, Yuki wasted no time telling our mom about my morning outing. "Mom, Izumi went out with a girl named Mei this morning."
"Oh, really?" Mom said, her eyes twinkling with interest. "Tell me more about this Mei."
"There's not much to tell," I mumbled, feeling embarrassed.
"Thank God, I will be able to see my daughter-in-law before I die," Mom said with a teasing smile.
"Mom, it's not like that," I protested
It's been a week since I met Mei. I feel stronger than before, but I know I still have a long way to go. Right now, I'm facing a lowest-low tier Kaiju, and even though I've improved, it's clear I'm not quite there yet. The Kaiju's punch lands squarely on my face, and I stagger back from the force of the blow.
It's a Friday evening, exactly one week after Mei and I had our first proper fight. We're in the central district mall, and the battle is taking place right in the heart of the bustling shopping center. Mei has created a "Time Pause" barrier around us, isolating our fight from the outside world. Despite the pause, people nearby can still be interacted with, and they can die if caught in the crossfire. Mei has warned me that Spirit Arts: Restore can't resurrect the dead, so I need to be extra careful.
Mei stands behind me, analyzing my movements and energy flow. This time, she's told me I have to fight on my own. The pressure is on, and I can't afford to mess up.
I land a punch on the Kaiju after recovering from its attack. The impact reverberates through my arm, and I feel a surge of confidence. I follow up with another strong hit, my fists enveloped in mist energy. The Kaiju staggers back, and I seize the moment.
I leap into the air, channeling more mist energy into my fist. "Demonic Arts: Mist Chop!" I shout, bringing my hand down in a powerful strike. My fist, surrounded by the swirling white mist, connects with the Kaiju's head, and I feel the satisfying crunch of impact.
The Kaiju collapses, defeated. I land gracefully on the ground, breathing heavily but victorious. The fight is over, and I've proven to myself that I can handle these challenges.
Mei walks over, a proud smile on her face. "Well done, Izumi. You've improved a lot."
"Thanks, Mei," I reply, trying to catch my breath. "I couldn't have done it without your guidance."
"Remember, every fight is a learning experience," she says. "You've got potential, but there's still much to learn. Let's keep working hard."
As we deactivate the Time Pause barrier, the mall comes back to life, and the bustling noise of shoppers fills the air. I can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. This is just the beginning, and with Mei by my side, I'm ready to face whatever challenges come my way.
A week later
Since school was closed for the day, Mei and I decided to hang out instead of heading home right away. We were in the mall, and I had some cash on me, so I decided to treat Mei to some new clothes.
"Hey Mei, how about we check out some of the shops? I want to get you something," I suggested.
Mei looked at me, surprised. "You don't have to do that, Izumi."
"I insist," I said with a smile. "Consider it a thank you for all your help."
She hesitated but then nodded. "Alright, if you insist."
We made our way to the second floor of the mall, chatting about different styles and what she might like. As we were about to enter a store, I saw a familiar face. It was Takashi, the guy who sometimes had lunch with me. He was with another guy, someone from our class, but I didn't recognize him.
It was too late to hide. Takashi noticed me and waved. "Hey, Izumi!"
"Hey, Takashi," I replied, a bit awkwardly. "What are you doing here?"
Takashi grinned. "Just hanging out. This is Kaito, by the way. He's in our class."
Kaito nodded. "Nice to meet you, Izumi."
"Nice to meet you too, Kaito," I said. "This is Mei."
Mei gave a polite nod, her cheeks slightly pink.
"So, what are you doing here?" Takashi asked, looking between Mei and me.
"We're just shopping," I replied. "I wanted to get Mei something nice."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Is Mei your girlfriend?"
My face turned red. "Oh, no, no! She's just a friend."
Mei's blush deepened, and the situation became awkward. To break the tension, Takashi clapped his hands together.
"Hey, how about we all go to the dolphin show? It's starting soon, and it could be fun," he suggested.
Mei and I exchanged a glance, grateful for the distraction. "Sure, that sounds great," I said.
"Yeah, let's go," Mei agreed.
We made our way to the dolphin show, the conversation flowing more easily now that the awkward moment had passed. The show was held in an open-air stadium within the mall, with a large pool at the center. The seats were arranged in a semicircle around the pool, offering a great view from all angles. The atmosphere was lively, with excited chatter filling the air as people settled into their seats.
As we found our spots, the dolphins made their entrance, leaping gracefully out of the water. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Mei's eyes sparkled with delight.
"Look at them go!" Takashi exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically.
"They're so agile," Mei said, her gaze fixed on the dolphins.
The dolphins began their routine, performing a series of impressive tricks. They jumped through hoops, balanced balls on their noses, and even "danced" to the music playing in the background. Each trick was met with applause and cheers from the audience.
"This is amazing," Kaito said, his eyes wide with excitement. "I didn't know dolphins were so smart."
"Yeah, they're incredible," I agreed. "They can be trained to do all sorts of things."
One of the dolphins leapt high into the air and did a somersault before diving back into the water. The splash was spectacular, sending a spray of water into the air.
"Wow, did you see that?" Mei exclaimed, her face lit up with joy.
"Yeah, that was awesome," I replied, smiling at her.
Takashi leaned over and whispered, "Izumi, do you think you could ever train a dolphin?"
I laughed. "I don't think I have the patience for that. Besides, I'd probably end up getting soaked every day."
Kaito chuckled. "It would be fun to try, though. Imagine having a pet dolphin."
"Yeah, until it starts making a mess of your house," Takashi joked.
We all laughed, enjoying the light-hearted banter. The dolphins continued to amaze us with their performances, each trick more impressive than the last.
As the show went on, one of the dolphins swam over to the edge of the pool and wagged its tail enthusiastically. The movement sent a spray of water right towards us, catching us by surprise.
"Whoa!" I shouted, trying to shield myself from the splash.
Mei giggled, wiping water from her face. "That was refreshing!"
Takashi and Kaito were both laughing, their clothes damp from the splash. "I guess we got a little too close to the action," Takashi said, grinning.
"Totally worth it, though," Kaito added, still chuckling.
I then noticed that mei was wearing a white dress and so when the water fell on her ,the clothes became see through and now her skin right below her cleavage was sort of visible,I tried to indicate mei without letting kaito and Takashi noticing .
"Shh.mei,mei!" In a soft and low voice"mei"
On the second call she turned to me "yes,what is it izumi?" She asked
"Mei" I tried to indicate it to her by looking into the wet spot,and then she finally noticed
The wet area revealed the starting of her cleavage and her face became red,she tried to cover it and told me "turn the other side" to me while still being beet red.
She then quickly used her powers ,the wind one from the other day and dried her clothes ,she tried to do it in such a way that nobody would notice .
The dolphin show continued, and despite the unexpected soaking, we all had a great time,along with a unexpected picture that is now burned into my mind. The combination of the dolphins' incredible tricks and the easy conversation made for an enjoyable afternoon.
After the dolphin show, we decided to grab lunch at a cozy restaurant inside the mall. The atmosphere was relaxed and perfect for unwinding and chatting. As we walked in, our conversation continued.
"What's your favorite type of food?" Takashi asked as we entered the restaurant.
"I love ramen," Kaito said immediately. "There's something about a good bowl of ramen that just hits the spot."
Mei smiled. "I like sushi. It's light but flavorful."
"Izumi?" Takashi turned to me.
"I'm a fan of curry," I replied. "Spicy food is my weakness."
"Nice choices," Takashi said. "I think I have to go with burgers. There's just so many variations and they never get old."
We found a table and sat down, the friendly banter making the atmosphere comfortable. The waiter came by, and we placed our orders. Soon enough, our food arrived, and we began to eat.
"So, where do you all live?" Kaito asked, taking a bite of his ramen.
"I live a few blocks from here," Mei said. "It's a small apartment, but it's cozy."
"I live near the park," I added. "It's a nice area, lots of trees and open space."
"I live a bit further out," Kaito said. "But it's a quiet neighborhood, which I like."
Takashi cleared his throat. "I live in an apartment complex by the station."
Kaito laughed, shaking his head. "Takashi, don't be modest. You live in that big mansion with the huge garden. It's practically a park."
Takashi looked a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, well, it's my family's place. I'm not trying to show off."
I felt a pang of jealousy. Takashi seemed to have it all—handsome, popular with girls, great at studies, and from a rich background. I wished I had at least one of those things in common.
"That's really cool," Mei said. "I'd love to see your garden sometime."
"Maybe we can all hang out there one day," Takashi suggested.
As we continued eating, the conversation shifted to family.
"I have an older sister. She's pretty cool, but she can be bossy sometimes," Kaito mentioned.
"Yeah, I can relate," Mei said. "I have an older sister too. She's always looking out for me, but sometimes she can be overprotective."
"I have a younger sister," I said. "She's a bit of a handful, but I wouldn't trade her for anything."
Takashi sighed. "I don't have any siblings. Sometimes I wish I did, though. It must be nice to have someone to share things with."
I chuckled. "Trust me, Takashi, you might starve to be an only child once you experience having a sibling. They can be a lot to handle."
Takashi laughed. "I'll take your word for it, Izumi."
As we finished our meals, the topic shifted to rumors about mysterious creatures that had been circulating around town.
"Have you guys heard those rumors about strange creatures being spotted?" Kaito asked, leaning in conspiratorially.
"Yeah, I have," Mei said, her face carefully neutral. "But they're just rumors, right?"
"I don't know," Takashi said. "Some people swear they've seen things."
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I think it's just people's imaginations running wild. There's no proof of anything."
"Yeah, it's probably just stories," Mei agreed, giving me a subtle glance.
Kaito nodded. "Maybe. But it's still fun to think about."
Takashi grinned. "Yeah, like living in a fantasy world. Sometimes I wish life was more like that."
We all laughed, the conversation lightening up again. As we settled into a comfortable silence, Mei looked at Takashi and Kaito with curiosity.
"By the way, are either of you in a relationship?" Mei asked, her tone casual but interested.
Kaito shook his head. "No, not right now. I haven't found anyone who would become my girlfriend, but I really hope to someday."
Takashi also shook his head. "Nope, no girlfriend for me."
There was a brief pause before Takashi's face lit up with a grin. "Well, actually, there's someone I have my eye on. I'm planning to propose to her in a week or two, maybe a month."
"Really?" Mei's eyes widened with interest. "That's exciting! Who is she?"
Takashi blushed slightly. "She's in our class. Her name is Yumi. We've been friends for a while, and I think now's the right time to tell her how I feel."
"That's awesome, Takashi!" I said, clapping him on the back. "I hope it goes well."
"Yeah, good luck," Mei added, smiling warmly.
"Thanks, guys," Takashi said, looking both nervous and excited. "I'll need all the luck I can get."
Kaito chuckled. "Don't worry, Takashi. Just be yourself. She'll see how great you are."
The conversation continued, touching on everything from school to hobbies. We laughed about funny moments from class and shared stories about our childhoods. The easy camaraderie made the afternoon fly by, and it felt like we had all become closer friends.
As we finished our meals, the waiter came by to clear our plates. "Can I get you anything else?" he asked.
"No, we're good, thanks," Takashi said. "Let's settle the bill."
We all chipped in for the meal, and as we left the restaurant, Takashi turned to me. "Izumi, you really should try the new ramen place near the station. It's amazing."
"I'll check it out," I promised. "Thanks for the recommendation."
As we walked back into the mall, Kaito stretched and yawned. "That was a great meal. We should do this more often."
"Agreed," Mei said. "It's nice to hang out like this."
We all nodded in agreement. Mei and Kaito started chatting about their favorite TV shows, walking a few steps ahead. Takashi took the opportunity to lean in and whisper to me.
"Hey, Izumi, I have to say, I think there's potential between you and Mei."
I blinked in surprise. "Really? You think so?"
Takashi nodded. "Yeah, I see the way you two interact. There's definitely something there. Just take your time and see how things go."
I glanced at Mei, who was laughing at something Kaito had said. She caught my eye and gave me a warm smile, causing my heart to skip a beat.
"Thanks, Takashi," I whispered back. "I'll think about it."
"No problem, man. Just be yourself," he said with a reassuring pat on my back.
As we rejoined Mei and Kaito, I couldn't help but feel a bit more hopeful. The rest of the day was spent wandering through the mall, chatting and laughing. The easy camaraderie made everything a little brighter, and I felt grateful for the friends I had.
To be continued...