Chapter 37
The Aftermath, Part 1
Overseers Headquarters
An old man said groggily,
"Principal Hayoku-sama is a threat to society as we know it. Regardless of his intentions, he must be contained. Are there any objections?"
A white-robed middle-aged man stood up from his seat,
"Supreme Overseer, since Hayoku was born twenty-five years ago, he has done only good for the most part. He does seem like the type to threaten the world."
"As I said, regardless of his intentions, his power is far too immense. He was announced "The Strongest" at the age of twenty, and combined with his immense talent, he could become the first five-way kinesis user to master all aspects of the five-way kinesis. He has the potential to rival Sendainoshi, which alone puts us all in danger. His mere existence has left him unrivaled on the world's throne. Who knows what will happen when he's done playing hero?"
Another white-robed old man stands up.
"Supreme Overseer, I have been in the Japanese Ryodan Assembly for over thirty years now, and I can say with absolute certainty your delusions have gone too far now."
"Is that so? At the very least, Tsuyo Hayoku from here on out will now and forever be labeled as a Jouten-Class Threat. Does anyone object to that?"
One white-robbed man clenches his jaw but is unable to form a sentence. Silence. It bestows upon the room.
The supreme overseer licks his lips.
"Good," he said.
Day 96, School Hallway, 12:55 am
Zenatori begins walking to Mashaka's class while thinking to himself,
"Everyone in this world has their own story, their own lives outside of what one person sees. No matter how good you are, you will forever be bound to the chains of being an imperfect human. Someone's body language can tell much about their story. That is why I put it upon myself to suppress mine as much as possible. It's not that I don't feel sadness; there is just no point in showing it. That logic applies to most of my emotions. But I don't suppress my happiness, I just never smile because, in my story, I truly have no reason to."
Suddenly, Yachi shows up next to Zenatori, walking next to him.
"Gee, Sakatoro-kun, what's got you so gloomy?"
Zenatori thinks shockingly
"What the hell? Is she way more observant than she lets on? I've spent half a decade training my emotions and facial expressions, but she saw right through it!"
Zenatori clears his throat.
"I feel perfectly fine. What makes you think I'm so gloomy?"
Yachi looks at Zenatori,
"Hmmm, perhaps I misjudged."
Zenatori thought,
"What a fool, it seems I overestimated her."
Yachi skips around
"Jeez, saying kun is getting tiring."
"You don't need to say it, you realize that?"
"Hmm, in that case. Sakatoro, is there anyone you like?"
Zenatori pauses for a few seconds,
"What brought this on?"
"I guess you could say I was just wondering."
"Well, I've never been in love before."
"Really? Did you even love your parents?"
"Of course, I loved my parents."
"What do you mean 'loved'"
Zenatori continues,
"But anyway, is there anyone you love, Yachi?"
"Ooo, is this a confession, Sakatoro?"
"No."
"The person I like won't even say my first name."
Zenatori glances over
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Suddenly, Yachi begins blushing.
"Are you gonna make me say it?"
"Yes."
"Sakatoro, can you call me by my first name?"
"Is that it?"
"Yes."
"Ok, Akikyo."
Yachi's face pulses red.
Zenatori thinks to himself,
"Why is her face so red? Is she sick? WAIT A MINUTE. What did she mean by the man I like? Does Yachi like me? No brain, think realistically here, she probably meant something else by that. But what if Yachi did love me? What would I do? I need to get my mind out of the gutter, I mean, isn't it only natural to think of stuff like this, I am a guy after all. Even then, it is impossible for anyone to love me. What reason would anyone love me for?"
They finally arrive at Mashaka's classroom, and Zenatori takes a seat and begins to read a book. He thinks,
"This isn't the usual manga I read, but books aren't too bad either. What page was I on again, 252?"
Zenatori flips halfway through the book, trying to find his page, but before he can start, Akari stands before him.
Zenatori thought,
"Woah she looks pissed."
"What are you looking at?" Akari said, glaringly.
"The only person standing one foot away from my desk?"
"Tch. Smartass."
"What do you want, Akari?"
"I'd like to begin training you every day after class."
"Is that so? Well, that's fine with me."
"That's it? You aren't gonna question anything past that."
"Why would an invitation suggest an ulterior motive? Besides, I'd just get myself out of any situation."
"Really, now? So who exactly are you?"
"I am what I am. A genius."
"Pffff, we'll see about that."
Mashaka walks into class and begins her lesson.
--- An Hour Later ---
The bell rang with Mashaka concluding,
"I suppose that is it for today, everyone goes on with your day."
Zenatori thinks to himself,
"I'll check out the cafe."
Zenatori puts his hands in his pockets and walks through the hallway of the school. Suddenly, he is stopped by Akari,
"Come to my dorm so we can train."
Zenatori looks slightly flustered and thinks,
"Wait a second, a girl inviting me to their dorm. I've definitely seen this in a rom-com. My rom-com arc, I knew it was inevitable."
Akari glares,
"You seem quite lost in your thoughts, don't get the wrong idea. This is merely training."
"I must say, why are you training me?"
"I said I would train you if you beat Utakushi in an arm wrestle, remember?"
Zenatori thought,
"Why is she just now remembering that?"
"Well, you said you would teach me isotonic force, not train me."
"Your memory is better than I expected. Well, you already learned isotonic force, so what's the point of teaching you that? I'll teach you your syneji, and I will be the foundation for the mastery of your syneji years later."
"Years? How long do you plan on teaching me?"
"Who knows, Zenatori-kun?"
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