Training

[A/N]~ Wow! I usually only get about 10-20 notifications after a night but after getting in the ranking I got more than 140 xD.

The plot of HOTD should start in the next chapter or the one after that, for sure.

Alright, Enjoy the chapter!

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Akito glanced at the clock and saw it was 8 pm.

He and Saeko had been continuously sparring for 3 hours and unlike the first spar, the rest were casual fights.

Akito plopped on the guest room's bed and panted heavily. He was covered in sweat and the urge to bathe had never been so deadly before but his whole body was aching, he found it painful to even move his fingers!

He had never been so tired before, he honestly didn't want to do this every day but... but he knew he had to, there could be no excuses.

Till now, he was just an average guy living his everyday life but now? The DCG, Fictional Worlds and so much more were now a part of his life.

If he didn't even have the resolve to improve himself, he might as well drown in a handful of water.

His eyes drooped and he sent Saeko a message before ultimately falling asleep.

[Akito ∆: Goodnight.]

***

Saeko was currently taking a bath, she was very much tired but not as much as Akito.

Turning the shower on, cold water sprayed on her body that was hot with sweat. The cold water made her flinch but a second later it turned warm which helped her relax.

As she was cleaning herself a buzz sounded within her mind. She willed for the chat group to open and checked her chat with Akito.

[Akito ∆: Goodnight.]

A small smile appeared on her face as she replied with her mind.

[Saeko: Goodnight.]

"... He must be exhausted." She was still surprised that he lasted three hours.

At first, she thought that his appearance was deceiving and that he was very strong despite how his body looked but he had no stamina!

After the 2 hour mark, Akito was barely moving from his spot and just defending against her strikes.

But this wasn't all, he was learning too fast. It was as if he was a trained martial artist but the problem he had was his own body, which perplexed her.

She was impressed... or should she say as expected of the admin?

Feeling refreshed she wore some casual clothes. It was time for her to eat something.

Akito had already slept so she let him be.

...

After having dinner Saeko walked to a certain room inside her house.

Standing in front of the sliding door, she opened it slowly without a sound. The room decor was similar to a shrine but Saeko's eyes were focused on the sword.

The sword was in the middle of the room, placed in a glass case. It had a black sheath with beautiful golden markings adorning it.

The hilt was black as well but had a small red diamond attached to it, adding a sense of grace to it.

Her eyes were filled with fascination whenever she looked at it as if lost in its beauty.

It was her family heirloom.

"Saeko, Remember the sword is our life and our life is the most precious thing to us. There will be a time when you would want to use this sword and when that time comes do not hesitate..."

Her father's words echoed within her mind and she opened the glass case. Her hand pulled the sword out and the smooth feeling of the hilt comforted her.

She gently began to pull the sword out.

The sword was beautiful and elegant.

It had a red veiny-like pattern on it that moved in a zig-zag fashion. The sword was just as black as the sheath and it made the red pattern on it even more glossy.

"I'll be using you from now on, Muramasa. I wonder... would you drive me to kill myself as the legends say?"

It was connected to a popular myth in Japan.

The sword that was said to kill with a single strike, that was its name. A cursed sword that was said to kill its wielders. A Sword that couldn't be sheathed back until it draws blood, That was the Cursed Blade of Muramasa.

Her father never explained how the Bujishima family had gotten ahold of this but it had been with her family for more than a hundred years.

Putting the sword back into the sheath, she took it with her.

The world would soon be on the brink of collapse, when would she use Muramasa if not now?

***

"Mmm,"

Waking up while groggily rubbing his eyes Akito looked at the clock.

It was 5 am.

Had he been sleeping for 9 hours!?

He dragged his lethargic body to the bath because he couldn't stand the stinky smell of dried sweat.

After washing up he walked out with a towel around his waist and looked at himself in the mirror.

A lean body was what he saw.

To him, this was way better than his previous self but it wasn't enough.

"Eh, Early Morning Excercise it is then."

His body still ached a bit from yesterday but it was negligible.

Wearing his clothes, he left the house and started jogging. He didn't need to inform Saeko since she could just message him for anything.

...

Just like that Akito's daily training for 6 days began.

Waking up at either 6 am or 7 am he would go out and jog for 2 hours. Although tired, he would take slight breaks in between and hydrate himself.

He found some *cough* reasons *cough* to make Saeko jog with him. Honestly, he was no exercise freak and he had never done this before.

It was much more fun to have someone jogging with him than alone. It also motivated him to do better whenever Saeko would seem at ease but he would be a mess.

This also made Saeko and him closer, At least she didn't seem as distant as the first time they met.

After that, he usually rested till 3-4 pm while Saeko trained her basics.

So what if she was a swordmaster? That didn't mean she would neglect the basics and her daily training.

As for Akito?

To build his body he would do various exercises such as side planks, the boat pose, chair dips, pushups, etc.

He would also find stairs to climb and run down again and again.

In the meantime, he would have Saeko gather all the stuff they would need. He was planning on making either Saeko's house their safe-hold or Shizuka's house.

He preferred Saeko's house but Shizuka's friend would most likely try to find Shizuka at the location she knew.

So while he was biased towards Saeko's house, Shizuka's house was inevitably more important.

Not to mention the number of guns there.

If it weren't for the fact that the 'anime' needed the 'plot' to move they could have just stayed in that house safely for quite a while.

But noooo, they added a dog and a loli.

Incredible...

***

[3 Days Till The Apocalypse.]

Saeko was done with her daily training and placed the wooden sword down.

Wiping her sweat she got ready to go out shopping again. All the money she had stored over the years was quickly burning away but she could care less.

She knew that Akito needed more time to exercise than her so she didn't mind doing the stocking up.

But today was different.

"Hey Saeko, I'll come with you."

Akito's voice reached her ears.

She had gotten close enough to call him her friend from a trustable ally.

"Okay."

Akito casually walked with her shoulder to shoulder and made small talk, "Have you been practicing the sword for long?"

"10 years, Ever since I was a kid."

"Wow..."

"It must be hard for you to find people who can compete with you. Don't you find it boring, you know, not having a rival and all."

Was it?

Saeko sighed, It was boring. But what could she do?

She glanced at Akito and the DCG screen and the corner of her lips curled up, maybe life wouldn't be so boring anymore.

Akito had improved so much that their spars and fights didn't end up with her as the winner every time.

It was exhilarating for Saeko to be able to go all out in a fight. It also helped her improve a few flaws of her own, there were a few things she couldn't improvise on without a sparring partner.

The past few days had been fun but knowing what was to come dampened her mood.

She looked at the chirping birds in the sky and felt her mind grow peaceful.

Noticing her gaze, Akito said,

"I find birds annoying, especially pigeons, shitting everywhere as if the world was their property."

"..."

Saeko's lips twitched and she felt a desire to strike his head.

"What?"

"Nothing, Is there a reason you joined me today?"

"Not really, just got bored being cooped in your house, might as well check out this Japan for a bit."

"You probably won't find it any different than yours," Saeko said with a shake of her head and entered the grocery store.

Akito watched her enter and thought, 'Not different? Mind explaining why the boobs of women here jiggle like they were facing an earthquake?'

Not that he was complaining.

He followed her into the grocery store.

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The plot should start in the next chapter or maybe the one after that.

Apocalypse in a few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!