He sees her and suddenly thinks to himself,
"Akito Koumiko? There's no way... She wields one of the five inherent synejis. Her syneji is called 'Earth Bounds.' Which, in effect, gives her geokinesis, at least I think. I don't know much else about syneji artistry, but I know her."
"Thanks for saving me, I guess," Zenatori said.
"Interesting, have you considered becoming a Syneji Artist? What's your name?" Akito said while smiling.
"Sakatoro Zenatori."
"I noticed that when I used my Venerated Sights of Divinity, you have some above-average levels of Isotonic force, you can train at Tokyo Regiment High School, and learn to manipulate it into Isotonic Force. You'll also discover your own Syneji. Only if you want."
"Alright, I'm not entirely sure what she's on about, but she said I have potential. I get to save people as well!" Zenatori thought.
"Sure, sign me up, I guess," Zenatori said.
"Great! You'll have to take the entrance exam. I'll need your phone number so that I can contact you when you start and such."
Suddenly, a girl races out of the convenience store, bursting the door open as she goes.
"What were you thinking!" she yelled, frustrated.
Zenatori said as if he knew he was blameworthy.
"Sorry..."
Koumiko looked in slight amusement.
"Oh, and who is this?"
Zenatori stared deeply at her as if he was touching her soul.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
Kurosawa furrowed her brow.
"You mind telling me what's happening right now?"
"It's a bit sudden, but I'm gonna move to Tokyo. I'll tell you the details later today."
Kurosawa froze, as if a shock had driven up her body. She stood for a few moments, processing the words, and then said.
"Wait, what..? You can't be serious."
"I told you, I'll explain the rest later. Just live with that sentiment."
"This is beyond sudden! You're just gonna leave everything behind? You'd better have a good reason."
"I never had anything in the first place."
"You had me!"
Zenatori looks down, those words struck something. He knew she was right, but a job as a syneji artist could be his future. After a few moments of silence, he recalibrated.
"I'll tell you later," he said.
"I want to hear it now!"
"W-well, I-"
Koumiko jumps in, cutting off Zenatori.
"He's going to become a syneji artist."
"For real?"
"For real."
Kurosawa's eyes light up in pure excitement. It was jubilation personified.
"That's so cool, Zenatori! You'll get to be a hero, how cool is that!"
Zenatori stared, puzzled.
"Wait, so she's just on board with this?"
Koumiko chuckles.
"Welp, I'm glad this is resolved. We just need to get the go from your parents, and Tokyo we go!"
"Yeah," Zenatori said quietly.
Suddenly, in a flash of dust, the pavement shifted as Koumiko zoomed away. Zenatori could only think of the scene.
"Was that right there, pure speed? I couldn't even blink."
Kurosawa says.
"That speed is insane. That's a syneji artist for you."
The two then continue to walk down the street and back to their separate homes. As they walked, Kurosawa said softly.
"Sakatoro, I was wondering if I could stay at your house since this is your last day."
"Yeah, that's fine by me."
"Yay!"
The two approach Zenatori's house and stare at it for a few moments. It was a one-story house, stubby, but felt fulfilled.
Zenatori walks up to the door, then pauses.
"Wait out here for a bit. I gotta tell my mom about this."
"Wait out here for a bit. I gotta tell my mom about this."
After some moments passed, Kurosawa awkwardly stood outside, waiting for anything. With a sudden creak, the door shoots open, and a woman comes out.
"Come in, Kurosawa!" the woman said happily.
It was Zenatori's mom. Kurosawa walks through, and Zenatori's mom walks to her, approaching her rather closely.
"So is it true? He's going to be a syneji artist?"
Kurosawa awkwardly said.
"Yeah..."
"I can't believe this! My boy will be a syneji artist," Zenatori's mom said ecstatically.
"Calm down, Mom," Zenatori said, embarrassingly.
He looked to see Kurosawa, and she only quietly smiled at the scene.
"This is great news! You basically have your future set out for you. Especially if you're strong, you can make a lot of money, you know?"
"Yeah," Zenatori said monotonically, but he knew she was right. If he were lucky enough and was an A-Division syneji artist, he could make up to $100,000 a year. But even with that considered, syneji artists are becoming increasingly more outdated. Nonetheless, this was an opportunity Zenatori knew he couldn't miss out on.
Zenatori's mom looks down as if something struck her. She said.
"That is, if you want to do this, Sakatoro. You know I'd love you either way-"
"That is, if you want to do this, Sakatoro. You know I'd love you either way-"
She was abruptly cut off.
"Mom, I know, and this is something I want to do," Zenatori said confidently.
Suddenly, she began tearing up.
"Sometimes I forget, you aren't so little anymore, aren't you, Sakatoro?" she said as a tear traveled down her face. She ran to Zenatori and quietly embraced him. A truly cherished moment. In a moment of awe, Kurosawa joined and embraced the two of them, together.
"Sometimes I forget, you aren't so little anymore, aren't you, Sakatoro?" she said as a tear traveled down her face. She ran to Zenatori and quietly embraced him. A truly cherished moment. In a moment of awe, Kurosawa joined and embraced the two of them, together.
"I love you, Mom," Zenatori said as the warmth of the two of them was felt.
"I love you too, Sakatoro."
As the night fell, Kurosawa slept in the same bed as Zenatori. Since there was only one bedroom and neither of them wanted to sleep on the floor, they slept on the same bed.
At first, it was awkward, but as years passed, they eventually got used to it. They never felt anything from it, it was normal for them now.
Zenatori checks his phone one final time, and he had received a text 4 hours ago.
"Tokyo Regiment Academy, Unknown Number: Come to Minamiazabu, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0047, Japan. Pack your stuff, 10:00 am! All your expenses will be paid."
Zenatori thought to himself.
"How am I supposed to get there? It seems that I'll have to take the train."
Zenatori thought to himself.
"How am I supposed to get there? It seems that I'll have to take the train."
Zenatori shut his phone off and saw Kurosawa sleeping. He could only smile as he saw her endearing face. He closed his eyes and waited until he drifted off.
The final day rose, the day when Zenatori moved to Tokyo. As Zenatori waited for the train at the station, he thought back to the hug. Was he actually sure this was what he wanted to do? There wasn't time for indecisiveness. It's far too late for that. Zenatori internally reassured himself.
"I'll worry about it when the time comes to worry about it."
For now, he had to keep moving forward. The world of syneji artistry dawns upon him, and he will have to embrace it.
Growing up, he only lived with his mom, and they were never rich by any means. She planned on having a second child but knew she could never afford the expenses. Even then, she tried her hardest to make a living and essentially sacrificed much of her time to give Zenatori a decent life. Now is the time for him to pay his debts. He will become a strong syneji artist and save his Mother, only he could do it.
Regardless of his conflicted thoughts, he readies himself to finally board the train. As he steps through the doors, he feels a tug on his arm. As he turned around, Kurosawa instantly hugged him tightly. Zenatori felt as if he was certain about his goals in the Syneji Artist Academy. He returned her hug and felt her quiet sobs around his arms. He knew this would be something he would never forget. After these three long years, he will come home and make everyone happy. He was certain of it.
As the train treads along the tracks, it suddenly comes to a screeching halt. Zenatori noticed from out his window the blossom trees and their beautiful skies.
Zenatori got off the train and looked around.
"The beauty of Tokyo. This is truly my chance at a new life," he thought.
He looks at his phone and uses the GPS to walk to the location. He finally arrives and sees a massive school. The prestigious Tokyo Regiment Academy.
Zenatori gets to the gates and is instantly stopped by a guard. The guard says,
"Who are you?"
Zenatori says.
"I'm a new student, I guess."
The guard says.
"Oh, we rarely get newbies. Master Hayoku told me to look out for you. I'll get him here."
Zenatori thought.
"Hayoku..? Master?"
Suddenly, a man with an all black suit walks out of the building. He walks toward the front gate and says.
"I take it you're a new student, huh?"
"What's your name, kiddo?"
"Sakatoro Zenatori."
Hayoku smiles.
"Well, Sakatoro Zenatori, welcome to Tokyo Regiment Academy. I'll show you your dorm room and then you can get acquainted in class."
"The beauty of Tokyo. This is truly my chance at a new life," he thought.
He looks at his phone and uses the GPS to walk to the location. He finally arrives and sees a massive school. The prestigious Tokyo Regiment Academy.
Zenatori gets to the gates and is instantly stopped by a guard. The guard says,
"Who are you?"
Zenatori says.
"I'm a new student, I guess."
The guard says.
"Oh, we rarely get newbies. Master Hayoku told me to look out for you. I'll get him here."
Zenatori thought.
"Hayoku..? Master?"
Suddenly, a man with an all black suit walks out of the building. He walks toward the front gate and says.
"I take it you're a new student, huh?"
"What's your name, kiddo?"
"Sakatoro Zenatori."
Hayoku smiles.
"Well, Sakatoro Zenatori, welcome to Tokyo Regiment Academy. I'll show you your dorm room and then you can get acquainted in class."
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