Chapter 16:Surface Tension Go Out

The ruins was a theater of kinetic energy.Rei moved like a ghost,disappearing left and right with his “Kinetic Fever” or Sam Jeol Bong whistling through the air,while Mio using her Tachi to strike and throw imaginary slashes at every shadowly figure she sees with precision to let Rei’s guard down.

“Your left shoulder is rising two degrees too high on the rotation,Rei!” Hiyori shouted over the clashing of two fierce warriors,her camera shutter clicking like a metronome.”Mio,you’re over extending.You’re losing your ‘Laminar Flow’ by following the fast shadowly target.”

The sparring session went on as one of the stone pillars was snapped in half by the high-velocity speed of Rei’s weapon and air rippling caused by Mio’s intensity weaponry strength and speed.

After the sparring session was done,Kenji was up against Mio as part of her so-called “Striking Practice”,which was a sparring session by Mio.

Kenji,seeing a momentary gap as Mio reset her stance,decided this was his moment.He adjusted his glasses and stepped in like he practiced for this moment before,”cool” flourish of his practice sword.”Allow me to demonstrate the statistical probability of a counter–”

WHACK

The cool moment when Kenji thought he had it,was immediately cut off by the wooden tip of Mio’s sheath poking Kenji in the solar plexus before he could finish his sentence.

“Your ‘calculated’ statistics don’t matter if your feet are glued to the floor,‘Data Nerd’! Make your feet start moving and pay attention to the attacks that are coming towards you,not the numbers in your head!”

Kenji wheezed,doubling over.”I… was merely… just creating a diversion.” Before collapsing on the pavement.

“Oh yeah,Hiyori,you are going to go out with Koga right?” Mio asked,which Hiyori nodded.Mio turned her head towards Rei Koga,her eyes stared coldly into Rei’s eyes,”If you make Hiyori angry or get her hurt,I’m going to make sure you have to use that weapon to its fullest potential.”

“I trust Rei,he wouldn’t do such a thing or let me get hurt.” Hiyori defended.

“Oh well,enjoy Hiyori!” Mio said excitedly,”Also Koga,let me have this ‘Data Nerd’ for more practice and training”.

Kenji heard this and turned to Rei begging Rei to take him to go out as well.”For the hundredth time,His name is Kenji Sato and sure go ahead.” Rei allowed Mio.

Mio,with a predatory grin, thanked Rei for borrowing his student.Mio dragged the crying Kenji,who was crawling to evade Mio’s training.

An hour later,the scent of ozone and sweat was replaced by the aroma of roasted coffee and strong smell of expensive perfume.

Rei felt out of his element.In a fight,he knew every variable.In a mall,the variables were chaotic.He walked beside Hiyori,his body language looked stiff.

“Relax,Rei,” Hiyori laughed,swinging her camera bag.”This is a ‘Field Observation' remember?”.Rei nodded in agreement.

They spent the afternoon drifting through stores,window shopping with every chance they get.At an electronics store,Hiyori’s eyes lit up.”They have the new 50mm prime lens!Stay here,I want to compare with the aperture specs.”

Rei nodded,leaning against a pillar outside the outlet.He closed his eyes,practised his breathing,trying to minimize his presence.

“Hey… handsome,are you busy?”

Rei’s eyes snapped open.Two girls,dressed in a delinquent style-like fashion,were leaning into his personal space,a bit too close.

“You waiting for someone?Or are you a model actor modeling for the pillar?” The taller one smirked,reaching out to brush a stray hair from Rei’s forehead.

Rei froze.His brain began to calculate which slowly made him overthink.”I.. I am waiting for someone,” he managed,his voice sounding a bit hesitant.

“Come on,don’t hesitate.You can come with us.” The other girl giggled.

“Actually,he’s done waiting.” A voice that Rei was hoping to hear.

A warm weight suddenly clamped onto Rei’s arm.Hiyori was back,leaning her head against his shoulder and locking her arm firmly through his.She looked up at Rei with a sugary, possessive smile that made his heart skip a beat.

“Sorry,girls,” Hiyori said,her voice said with sweetness.”But we’re in the middle of something okay? Maybe try the fashion store? You can find your handsome model there too.”

The two girls looked at Hiyori,then at Rei,then muttered something about “lucky guy” and hurried away.

Rei exhaled,the tension leaving his shoulders.”Thank you,Hiyori.That was… a close one.”

Rei tried to move his arm but Hiyori didn’t let go of his arm.She looked up at him,her smile fading into a jealousy pout.”Is that all it was?”

Rei blinked in confusion,”Was there a secondary objective?”

“Rei” she said,stopping in the middle of the hallway.”What do you actually think of me? Be honest.”

Rei felt the air he was breathing slowly getting thin.He looked at her,at the way the mall lights caught the gold in her eyes.”You are…the only person who sees the ‘Still Point’ in me.I don’t even know what I become without you.Probably a random scary looking local in this town.”

Hiyori’s face flushed.She still clung onto his arm and huffed,though her eyes were shining.”Fine… I won’t tell this to Mio if you treat me to some crepes,maybe the ones with extra blueberries flavoured.”,her face stuck to his shoulder and her eyes looking up at him.

Rei,with a defeated look in his face,agrees to buy her requested crepes while Hiyori has an excited smile on her face.

As the sun dipped below the horizon,they walked toward the station,sharing a tray of warm,sugary snacks and 2 blueberry crepes.For a few minutes,they talked about the stars,the upcoming fireworks festival,and the quiet beauty scenery through the window of a train.

One hour went by,Rei saw Hiyori was sleeping.Rei thought to himself,”Does he pull her in to let her head rest on my shoulders or should I let her sleep comfortably like this?”,his mind starts to overthink.

Suddenly,Hiyori pulled herself in and rested her head on Rei’s shoulder,now Rei has an answer but at the cost of his heart rate beating twice as fast.

Rei and Hiyori arrive at the next station,they drop off the station with Hiyori not realizing what she did.Rei walks with Hiyori beside him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,Rei,” Hiyori whispered softly after arriving at her gate.waving as she entered her house.

Rei stood there for a moment,the taste of blueberries still on his tongue.He felt joy and thought to himself it was just going to get better from here.

A hundred yards away,in the dark alleyway,a black sedan sat with its engine idling in a low,rhythmic tone to prevent disturbing nearby people.The windows were tinted with black covering the whole window.

As Rei turned to walk home,the car began to roll forward,silently into the other direction.It didn’t follow him.It simply watched him leave,then reversed slowly back into the darkness,its tail lights flickering.

Author's note:

✍️ Fun Fact:

Kenji’s "Solar Plexus" moment with Mio is a classic martial arts lesson. In physics, Kenji was focused on Theoretical Potential (what he could do), but Mio reminded him of Kinetic Reality (what is actually happening).