A Few Days Later

"Cursed, just look at my face, I look like a damn zombie..." Dash stared at his face and felt the world closing in on him because he had to go back home.

"What's the damn problem, kid?" Santiago on the side, who was eating popcorn in his underwear, didn't understand Dash's concern.

Dash looked at himself in the mirror and said, "Can't you see my face? Questions will be asked if we go to the airport, do you have a damn hamster in your brain?"

"Then spend more time here until you recover, damn it, what's the rush to go home?" Santiago asked, slightly bewildered. Was he being scolded by a kid?

"I'm going to take a shower..." Dash's dejected experience remained unchanged. He looked at Santiago, and after wanting to let go, he went to shower.

"Don't forget you'll receive the prize today, wear something nice..."

"Stop talking nonsense, old man. How do you expect me to wear something nice when the only nice thing on my body is this damn Magnos pajama?"

"Damn, those were on sale."

Dash didn't respond and walked towards the bathroom. What he had painfully discovered was that he found it hard to do anything, and if it weren't for Santiago's help, he would have really struggled.

Now, looking at himself in the mirror, he wondered, was it worth it?

Honestly, he no longer remembered the fight he had with his father, but there was still a bitter blind pain in his mouth. He just wanted to vent, and he did it in the best possible way. Now, his immaturity was not questionable, as he did this for Devon and her mother too.

But deep down, he was aware that regardless of what had happened, his father would have helped Devon's mother, and he didn't feel that at that moment. He was confused; he wanted to go back and feel accompanied once again. The loneliness in his soul had reappeared, and he believed that if he stayed alone this time, there would be no one to pull him out of that deep and dark abyss.

"I'm so sorry, what else can I do to have a simply normal life?" Dash wondered as he looked at himself in the mirror and cried silently.

He wanted parents who loved him; he really wanted to run and tell them everything that worried him, but he knew he couldn't do that long ago. The words didn't come out, and he thought it was fine; that was the path he had to take in both of his lives.

Dash wanted to accept the idea of never telling his mother that he loved her. Since he was a child, he had taken it out on his body and training because he couldn't do anything else.

"If you're listening, if you're somewhere, please, save Devon's mother since she's a good girl..." Dash murmured as he emotionally collapsed for a few minutes.

After taking a shower, he left behind those bitter thoughts and tried to push them aside as he walked away with Santiago to a room where the awards would be given to him.

"Just keep quiet and listen, I'll take care of the negotiations," Santiago said as he opened the door for Dash, who was walking with a crutch.

"Mr. Hale, please have a seat." A man in a suit walked over to a chair.

Dash nodded in gratitude and said, "Make this brief; I'm still very exhausted from the fights."

"Of course, as you were told, you generated over three point eight million dollars in the tournament. Five million in bets, four point five million in donations, and numerous prizes that would be delivered later after designating a suitable place to give them."

"What would that be?" Dash asked intrigued about what they would give him in addition to the money.

"Properties, cars, privileges, and many more interesting things..."

Dash nodded and asked, "How would the prize be delivered?"

"Through a lottery, you get the thirty million dollars sealed that would be given to you as an official reward, and the rest is thanks to the tournament you won."

"Weren't they thirteen?" Santiago asked a little confused.

"That's a gift from Mr. Jack to Dash for his magnificent victory. He's very happy not to have lost a small bet he made, so that's just a small reward."

"Then send him my thanks." Seeing that all the questions had been answered, Dash's attitude relaxed more, knowing that he wouldn't have to meet anyone else after this.

Shortly after, Dash turned to Santiago, who immediately nodded, indicating that everything was fine, and said, "Now that Dash has fulfilled this tournament, we are grateful for your invitation."

"Oh, don't mention it, we hope you have a good life with this money from now on and take fewer risks in such dangerous fights..."

"Well, someone else's importance is irrelevant..." Dash thought as he stood up.

After hearing all those words without paying much attention, Dash just wanted to leave this place for somewhere less suffocating before returning home. Of course, he couldn't go back right now, as that would worry not only Devon but many other people.

Considering that the All Valley tournament was near, there was no reason to return so quickly. He didn't want to distract his friends and hoped for good results from them in that competition.

When everyone left the hotel, Santiago, who had received his share of the money, looked at Dash and said, "I haven't been so excited since I left those Dojo competitions. Don't you have a place for me somewhere?"

Sakura Bushido had a good reputation, and it was known that there was a large branch in China, while the smaller one was in the United States, so for many, it would have been an appropriate time to expand.

But Dash, who had other plans, shook his head and said, "There's no place where someone can stand you, old man, but you can always come back..."

"I prefer the green fields. Well, kid, good luck, and don't go around fighting..." Santiago took a car and bid farewell to Dash, who just smiled slightly.

Elliot, beside him, had rented a car and asked, "Are we leaving immediately?"

"No, let's visit Mr. Chozen..."