10 Saying Goodbye, for now

Opening my eyes, I turned off my alarm, and slowly sat up. Looking to my right I saw my suitcase, that was packed to the brim, and I also saw the picture of me, mom, and Shouko on my bedside table, right next to my alarm.

Picking up the picture, I looked at the three of us smiling, and in turn, smiled myself.

The picture was taken a year ago when Shouko got into Middle School. We went for pizza and ate until all of us were full. Well, they did. My metabolism made it so I could eat a hell of a lot more than normal people, so it was quite hard for me to get full. Though it was safe to say that I ate a lot.

Speaking of Shouko-neesan, I made sure that her bullies never tried anything too drastic on her.

How did I do this? Violence? Of course not. I used blackmail, instead. I practically stalked them and took pictures of them doing stupid stuff. Shouya, I blackmailed with a picture of him shoplifting. Naoka, I blackmailed with a picture of her physically bullying some of her classmates, along with enough information to get her expelled. The others? Well, it was along the same lines.

There were the few people I had to teach a proper lesson to, but it wasn't anything too drastic. Just a little bit of physical humiliation here, a little physical beating there.

Well, whatever I did, it worked.

Shouko-neesan was never hurt by Shouya, which was honestly pretty lucky for him, because if he still did something unbecoming toward my sister after the blackmail...Well, it's safe to say that I'd have ruined his life.

Miyoko never left the school and Shouko behind, either, and the two of them were becoming stronger and stronger friends as time went on. It was nice. They'd even started designing dresses together in their spare time. Miyoko apparently wanted to use her tall and slender figure to model their dresses, and Shouko was all for it.

Though this did come with the disadvantage that whenever they wanted to make male clothing...I had to be the model...but it wasn't too bad. Miyoko was like another older sister to me, and I fondly referred to her as 'Miyoko-neesan' now. Even if that did seem to make Shouko-neesan a little jealous.

Chuckling softly to myself at how my sister could be sometimes, I stood up from my bed and put the framed picture in my backpack which was next to the suitcase.

Today was the day I'd be leaving with Doppo-sensei.

We explained it to mom like this; Doppo-sensei wanted to take me around the world for me to compete in Tournaments for the next few years. I backed this up by saying that whatever money I won would be sent back to her, sort of like me helping her with the bills because it really was hard for a single mother to raise two children on her own.

At first she tried to deny me this by making me a bet that if I could pass both my Elementary School and Middle School exams, I could go.

So, I studied, and I did them.

And I got perfect marks, and the necessary certificates, so she had no way to deny me anymore. A deal's a deal, after all.

Of course it took much more persuasion, and she even made Doppo-sensei promise he'd protect me and keep me safe at all times. I've never seen him sweat so nervously in my life. Man, my mom can be pretty fierce, huh? Or maybe Doppo's just naturally weak against women? Who knows.

Though he'd naturally be breaking his promise because as he put it; this is a journey I have to take on my own. But what my mom doesn't know, can't hurt her, I guess.

Zipping up the bag, I went and put some clothes on before walking downstairs.

What greeted me...was a bit surprising, to say the least.

"Yu-kun!" Karla came up to me, wearing a black pleated skirt and a plain white top. She was also wearing black, knee-high socks, alongside some converse trainers. Her overall look was centered around the word 'cute', it seems. Before I could say anything in reply, she hugged me, her...eccentric traits really coming through this morning.

"Karla..." I said in a low voice before looking around the hallway and seeing two other girls, Miu and Saeko. Miu wearing a long pink sweater that went past her hips, along with some denim shorts that went down to her mid-thigh. Saeko, on the other hand, was wearing a white summer dress and sandals. Though she did seem a bit uncomfortable in such feminine clothing - she usually wore martial arts related clothing, after all.

Looking past the two girls, I saw my mom standing there, smiling with a slightly teasing glint to her eyes. Seeing my stare, however, she spoke up, "They're here to say goodbye to you, Yu-kun. We made secret plans to take you out for some ice cream before you leave with Orochi-sensei~" she playfully said, while her eyes twinkled at the mention of ice cream.

I felt my stomach grumble at the mention of it as well.

...What a weird genetic trait to pass down...

"Did we surprise you?!" Karla pointed her head upward from my chest, her arms tightening around me like two pythons.

Awkwardly smiling, I pried Karla off of me while nodding, "Yeah, you did..." I finally got her off me and she pouted before backing up. This. This is a small reason to why I kinda want to travel the world and get away from everything for a while.

Karla and Saeko.

The two of them were...well, they were in puberty, and like most kids going through puberty, it's a confusing time. You're finally attracted to whichever sex you're attracted to, and it's a real hassle. Even I've been feeling the effects of hormones, though my maturity, and having already gone through puberty once, does help me control them and not act like an embarrassing ass.

Those two, sadly, don't have the same benefit.

Karla gets incredibly touchy-feely with me, hugging me whenever she gets the chance, while Saeko takes glances at me with weird emotions in her eyes whenever she thinks I'm not looking.

They've both obviously got a crush on me. Whether it's my looks or how they've known me for a long time, or both, they like me. It's just a silly pre-teen crush, yet I don't want it to sour our friendship. That's why this time away will help. It'll give them some time to clear the crush out of their systems or it'll serve to show whether it was genuine or not.

If it's the latter, I'll deal with it when I get back. If it's the former, we can get on with our lives as friends.

But honestly? I just don't wanna deal with two kids who have crushes on me. That shit freaks me the hell out. I don't like lolis. Maybe when the two of them get older, but not now.

Ahhh, emotional shit is always annoying to deal with. This is why I like training and fighting more.

Well, at least I'm not like a dense MC who can't tell when people hold romantic feelings for him, right?

With all this out of the way, Shouko-neesan and Miyoko-neesan came out from behind mom, I went to go and get dressed in some proper clothes, and then we all piled into the car (practically a mini-van) and went to the nearest ice cream parlor. I sat between Shouko and Miu, the only two solaces I had. Miu was as romantically dense as always, and she saw me as a brother of hers, just like how I saw her as a sister of mine. Shouko, as deep as her bro-con behavior went, was still my older sister and wouldn't cross the line and do anything too far.

So I got a bit of a rest throughout car ride.

The seating in the parlor was different, however...

"Miu, let me sit next to Yu-kun," Saeko calmly said, and the dense Miu just nodded and sat opposite me on the big table.

"Shouko-nee~! Let me sit next to Yu-kun - I'll make it up to you!" Karla smiled and without waiting, she plopped herself down next to me, earning her a huff from my sister, who nonetheless just went and sat next to Miyoko-neesan.

But even then, I decided to have some fun. Something told me this would be one of the last carefree days I could afford to have for a while.

So I ate ice cream, I laughed with my friends and family, I teased my sister, and I teased Karla, Saeko, and Miu. I spoke to my mom over a few scoops of ice cream and I promised that I'd keep in contact with her through my phone, calling her every night to tell her that I was okay. Tears were shed by my mom whenever she brought up that I'd be leaving for a while but she didn't want to hold me back.

She knew this trip was important to me, after all.

Shouko-neesan kept close to me whenever possible, because despite having her own friends now, I would always be regarded as her closest friend. I was there for her before Miyoko and any of the others, and yet, here I was, having to say goodbye because I was going away. Shouko didn't want to be someone who limited me, so she didn't say anything, or try and convince me to stay...but she was obviously distressed by me leaving.

Nothing was said between us, but the occasional reassuring smile from me seemed to help her.

I also told her that I'd text her every night, just like how I'd call mom every night as well. This lifted her spirits considerably, even if she still did look sad about me leaving for a while.

By midday, the carefree day had to come to an end, because I had to go back home to get ready.

I showered, dressed myself in some casual and comfy clothes, before having to give a goodbye.

"I..." I paused while looking at the people in front of me, "I won't be gone forever, you know?" I cracked a smile to try and lighten the mood, yet all I got were some teary eyes and some sniffles, causing my smile to falter a little, "Don't worry, I'll be fine, and before you know it, I'll be back. You can spend all the time you want with me then," I put some extra energy into my smile as I looked at the people in front of me.

Apart from Shouko-neesan and mom, who were my family, the others were also practically extended family to me by now. For the past 5 or 6 years, I'd spent every waking hour with them. Well, every hour when I wasn't training.

Karla, the eccentric, outgoing one.

Saeko, the calm and mature one.

Miu, the naive and lovable little sister of the group.

While they weren't normal people like my mom or sister, or Miyoko-neesan, they were still people I wished to protect. Not because they were girls or any of that chauvinistic shit but because they mattered to me. They could protect themselves, sure, but in case they couldn't, I wanted to be there to help them.

Guess the group of people I want to protect just keeps getting bigger, huh...? Well, that's kind of annoying.

I'd try and say I'll try and hide it from 'him' but he already knows they're more weak points of mine to exploit. So I'll spare the effort and just get stronger. For both myself and the people I need to safeguard from that bastard.

Turning around, I saw Doppo-sensei pulling onto the drive with his car, smiling through the wind screen at me. He playfully lifted his wrist and tapped his watch, chiding me for wasting time.

Bastard. I grinned at the sight of my master.

I came into this world with nothing, and here I have...everything I could ever need. Truly, what a treasured existence this is. Thanks to whoever reincarnated me. I don't know why you did it, but seriously, thanks.

Turning my head to look back over my shoulder at the teary eyed group, I gave a wave, smiling and holding in my emotions, before walking forward.

But I felt a pair of arms wrap around me, stopping me from advancing.

Shouko's.

"Yuu-kunn..." my sisters sad voice came from behind me, "I-I'll misss y-you..." she got out before I felt another pair of longer arms wrap around me.

Mom's.

"Make sure to call every night otherwise I'll be one sad mother, you know?" she tried to sound strong, yet the sadness echoed from deep within her voice, showing me just how fragile my mom was even when she seemed so strong.

"Mhm...I will, mom," I nodded, feeling my distressed emotions getting harder and harder to control.

More arms wrapped around me, saying their goodbyes. Miu, Karla, Saeko, even Miyoko-neesan, all of them hugged me and said goodbye.

Truly...a life worth protecting no matter the cost. That's what I have.

Yujiro...I will defeat you. I'll become the strongest creature that defeats and decimates the Ogre.

I felt the tears collecting in my eyes, so I quickly broke free from the myriad of hugs and brought my suitcase to Doppo-sensei's car before putting it in the boot and getting in the front passenger seat only to see my grinning teacher.

"Shut up and drive, old man," I quickly said, looking away and discretely wiping my eyes, though from his chuckle, my actions weren't discrete enough.

With that, I waved from the car window at my family and friends, and before I knew it I was on my way to the airport, the first step for my world-wide adventure.