I stared at the floating window for a few more seconds. The other options looked tempting, but at that moment I had no doubts.
"One week of spiritual energy that's what I need so Tenzin can teach me." The selection was confirmed instantly.
An invisible surge passed through my body from head to toe. It wasn't painful; instead, it was an overwhelming sensation of revitalization. The accumulated fatigue vanished in an instant, my muscles stopped aching, and my breathing became light and deep.
After the surge ended, the world turned blurry. I barely had time to process it before my legs gave out and my body collapsed onto the bed.
The next morning, I woke up with a jolt. I sat up and checked my body there was no pain, no stiffness, none of the usual exhaustion after training.
"Spiritual energy really does make a difference."
I completed the daily mission without any issues. Every movement of my body felt more efficient, more natural, as if my body knew exactly what to do. I could feel my movements with greater precision, and that in turn made me more efficient in using my body.
When I left the house, I ran into my brother and his group of friends. They were laughing loudly, taking up almost the entire sidewalk.
He saw me first and stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder.
—Kaito, what a surprise to see you. We don't usually run into each other— my brother said with an exaggerated smile.
The smile didn't reach his eyes. After the greeting, his expression changed for just a second pure, undisguised contempt.
I didn't lower my gaze. I calmly grabbed his wrist and moved his hand away.
—Sorry, Ren. I'm in a hurry— I said, and kept walking.
Behind me, I could feel his anger, but I didn't stop.
A little further ahead, near the road to school, I noticed something strange. A backpack was hanging from the branches of a tree, swaying gently, and below it, a rather small girl was jumping, trying to reach it without success.
—Hey… are you okay? Who did that to you?
The girl turned toward me abruptly, with almost aggressive energy.
—Are you stupid or what? Obviously I threw it up there myself! Who would dare mess with me?
I stayed silent for a second.
—Ah… sorry, that wasn't my intention. Then if you'll excuse me, I'll be going.
I turned halfway around, but a lower voice stopped me.
—Wait.
I turned back again, and the girl, trying not to look directly at me, spoke once more.
—Could you help me get it down?— she asked, clearly embarrassed.
I nodded without saying anything, climbed the tree with ease, grabbed the backpack, and tossed it down to her carefully.
—Thanks, you saved me from wrecking that tree! By the way, my name's Aoi Iwagami. Don't forget it.
—Takashi Kaito— I replied.
Aoi nodded, picked up her backpack, and without saying anything else, hurried off. I continued on my way as well.
Classes went by normally, nothing out of the ordinary… until lunch.
I was eating with Pig, as usual, when he lowered his voice and leaned toward me.
—Hey, Kaito, did you hear the rumor?
—What rumor?
—They say there's a crazy guy going from school to school looking for fights. He doesn't join gangs like yesterday's idiot, he doesn't ask for money or anything. Apparently, he just wants to fight the strongest people at each school.
I frowned and kept eating.
—And why should we care? He's just a lunatic.
Pig swallowed and smiled.
—Maybe it's nothing to you, Kaito, but for everyone else here, it's a big concern… But I know that with you here, there's nothing to worry about, hahaha.
Pig paused for a moment and added:
—We don't know when he'll show up, but in case you want to look him up, his name is Tatsuo Naoya.
"Tatsuo Naoya… Look for him? As if I were a madman."