Chapter 12
Genya had just burst into Hiroshi's room with a nagging smile, breaking the glass and the morning peace.
He was resplendent that morning in his new red jacket and jeans with cool red and dark sneakers.
Hiroshi reluctantly opened his eyes, the blindfold was still on.
"WAKE UP HIROSHI, ZENITH SENDS HIS GREETINGS AND A MESSAGE!"
"What message?" Hiroshi said, his voice still normal and calm.
"'GET YOUR SLEEPY ASS UP AND GET TO TRAINING, BEFORE I GET THERE MYSELF, RIGHT NOW!' HEHEHE!!"
"Oh. Ok I will be getting a bath then."
"SURE. BUT HURRY BRO."
Hiroshi sat on the bed and got up. He walked down stairs only to see Masami in her sleep coat also ascending the stairs.
She yawned and greeted.
Both siblings stopped.
"Good morning Hiroshi."
"Good morning Masami. Are you feeling ok?"
Masami's usual sweet tone returned.
"Yeah I am but how bout you cuz I heard some racking up there. Did something happen? Is someone there?"
"Well I guess…"
"GENYA'S HERE, HEHE!"
Genya slid on the railing of the staircase down. Hiroshi reached for his sister's hand and shifted her near the wall to avoid Genya.
Genya reached the ground spinned to the siblings.
"Sup Masami. I am taking Hiroshi with me to Zenith sensei."
"Oh it's you. I am ok. Take care brother."
"What about you sis? Won't you also head out to Selene?"
"Yeah I will but"
She raised her wrist up. It seemed a watch was there. It looked super modern with the time being "10:27 DD" — The DD stood for Divine Day because in the soul realm, there's no sun nor moon, only Divine Day and night.
"Selene told me to report by 12 so technically I have time, not you so hurry up big brother. I will meet you."
"Ok. So Genya…???"
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Hiroshi and Masami looked at him.
Genya had moved to the couch with the gamepad in hand and was loading the play station screen.
"Good luck brother." Masami went upstairs.
Genya turned his head to look back.
"Mmm"
"Nothing. I will be taking my bath."
"Right."
Genya recovered focus on the screen.
Hiroshi moved to the bathroom, taking his shower and brushing his teeth with autonomy techs. Meanwhile, Masami was using the automated vacuum with arms crossed but normal to clean the glass mess. Genya was just gaming with a smile, his head toward the screen.
Hiroshi got out with new but identical clothes from the tech wardrobe — The usual unzipped hoodie and knicker with white socks and sneakers with his blindfold on
The perfume of the shower on Hiroshi's body flooded the room's atmosphere, alerting Genya that he was done.
Hiroshi stood pocketed at the door looking at Genya, putting off the play station and tending to him.
"WELL LETS GO THEN, HIROSHI."
"Yeah."
Both marched toward the exit. The door opened and closed automatically. They walked out and headed toward the school, walking past the technological buildings, roads and the ice cream cart the siblings and Zenith met yesterday.
They reached the entrance — The Anima Academy actually has eight entrances because of how large the school was. This was another entrance, different from the first one near the grassland.
There was a rotary door and they entered. Once again the students buzzed, filling the school with their gossiping chatters.
Hiroshi and Genya walked past the students and classroom halls. It seemed they were marching to the cafeteria.
Why is Genya leading me to the cafeteria? Or maybe Zenith wants us to have something to eat before training. Am sure this will be more dangerous.
The two entered the empty and silent cafeteria only to see Zenith's green hair at a mid distance counter.
"WELL I WISH YOU LUCK, HIROSHI. SEE YA. HEHEHE."
Genya walked out past Hiroshi. Hiroshi turned to look at him as he went then quickly turned sight on Zenith.
He walked to him. Zenith had closed his eyes, his lips were happy and his face was proud.
"Good morning Zenith sensei."
Zenith remained calm.
"Morning Hiroshi. Sit take breakfast, we have some training to do before that exam."
Hiroshi looked at the hot coffee in a white mug and some freshly baked cookies, the vapour ascending to heaven.
"Eerm Ok."
Hiroshi sat adjacent to Zenith
Hiroshi had never actually drank coffee nor cookies, but today he tried it.
Hiroshi took his time and took in the coffee with unwavering confidence despite the burning heat of the coffee.
He tried the cookies, taking bites gently. The crunch of cookies echoed in the empty cafeteria. Zenith was still the same.
Hiroshi finished the cookies. Now he took his time to finish the coffee. He had taken his breakfast now.
"Are you finished?"
"... Yes, sensei."
"Now today we are doing something…new, but before, know that this is actually your first mission rather than training."
Zenith opened Boundless, the spatial door appeared. Zenith rose from his seat and entered Boundless. Hiroshi also stood up and joined his sensei.
As soon as Hiroshi entered,
"HHHHHUHH…TCH" Hiroshi murmured, his mouth opening slightly.
It seemed they had arrived in an underground hideout with some lighting and railings, where some rebel celestials in black attires like hoodies and jackets.
The rebels looked at the proud Zenith and confused Hiroshi.
"OH NO, IT'S THE KING OF YOUJUTSU, WHAT DO WE DO!" A hoodie rebel with a mohawk screamed in fear.
"You baby. LISTEN EVERYONE, THIS IS OUR TIME TO PROVE OURSELVES AS A REAL THREAT!" said the leader with a nose mask who was on the railing with five others who stared.
"YEAHHH!"
The rebels stampeded at them, their legs pumping and roaring furiously through the hideout.
Zenith was levitating as usual.
Hiroshi looked at him and then returned his sight on the rebels.
The first fired his fist. Hiroshi dodged — LEFT!
He spinned and lashed a left kick — PAAAW! The rebel crashed to the ground.
The next came with a right punch. Hiroshi absorbed it with his left. Hiroshi crashed his fist with his face. Blood sprayed.
A rebel run to him and at a distance, forwarded his hand with a flames erupting
HAAAAA!!
Hiroshi swerved right and started running around. Another with a sword met him from the air, his red blade whistling.
Hiroshi sidestepped. The blade slashed the ground when the rebel landed. Hiroshi held his hand. Lightning danced from his palm to the rebel.
AHHHH!!!
He fell like a roasted meat landing.
Another rebel with dark and white hair threw a pneuma infused punch, his hand embedded with a dark and white flame.
Hiroshi shifted his head right and back kicked his stomach. He then spinned with a blue flame kick. The rebel's face scraped the ground.
All of a sudden, lightning bolts started shooting at Hiroshi. Hiroshi hurled over to the left. He saw the sorcerer on top of the railing with blue hair and an innocent face.
He didn't stop, he launched more, and as he did, more rebels with pneuma embodying their fists and bodies also charged at him.
Hiroshi looked at him. He started running, his hands wavering behind.
I have to get to him or else I won't be able to take out the others fully.
A lightning bolt shot. Hiroshi swerved left. A rebel appeared with a punch to his face.
I gotcha ya now bastard.
BAAAM! — a right kick struck his face. He flew in the air and landed with a roar.
Hiroshi kept on as the bolts rained. He ran past them — LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT RIGHT.
A sword lunged diagonally at him — WEAVE! — Hiroshi slipped past the blade and continued his marathon.
Hiroshi kept on. Another hoodie rebel lashed a flame arc toward him. He slid below with his knees, the flames glowing on his eye balls.
A pillar or rock rubbled and suddenly ejected toward the roof.
Lightning roared with liberation, scattering the pillar into gravels and dust. The landing rubbles drummed the hideout.
The rebels lost sight of him. The blue haired rebel raised his head up with fear after hearing the song of lightning.
Hiroshi leaped forward, lightning in hand heading toward the blue haired rebel.
The rebel stared at the hungry sparks of electricity that roared through his soul and reflected on his eyes.