Preparation and Determination

In the coming months, Ikari and Tatsuda ran themselves crazy focusing on the development of Ikari's skill and studying for their final exams.

At school the two would have their head buried in books and were always seen running off straight to the library even at lunch time to study and find different things Ikari could try to get more accustomed to bringing out his energy.

"You have to multiply these numbers together and then subtract the difference from these two."

Tatsuda was the brains. He was generally smarter than Ikari and had always known random fun facts about things Ikari wouldn't even think of.

Not only that, he was probably the most knowledgeable guy around when it came to hunters and skills. Even before Ikari awakened Tatsuda would find any source he could to gain more knowledge on hunters to the point he had multiple journels of information.

After lunch, they'd sneak away from gym class and go up to the roof to practice.

"I found a good video about bringing out Inner chi. He says it's all about knowing your body from inside out, so we'll try some exercises to get you used to your tail."

Ikari would wrap and tie the tail around his waist with his shirt and blazer covering it. Although it twitched from time to time, it was all he could do since he felt weird just having it out at school.

While Ikari laid out on the rooftop with his eyes closed, just slightly moving and flexing his muscles, Tatsuda would start doing some strength training exercises.

Ikari gave him a light regimen to follow and his dad gave him a diet he could follow on a budget.

Once the alarm went off for them to go to their next class, they'd leave the rooftops and go back to studying regular school material.

Following the school day's end, they'd be seen running off and going straight to Tatsuda's house where his mother would have light snacks prepared before they went to the backyard.

"Alright, go for it a few more times!" Tatsuda cheered as he watched Ikari activate his skill.

"Remember, slow movements and focus on the feeling of the energy! How does it feel in your arms, your legs, down to your toes and up to your head!"

While watching him, Tatsuda would use a journal to mark down the progress and the exact training they were doing. He had Ikari train in just shorts so he could feel the wind against his body, the grass between his toes and the sounds that hit his ears.

"I'll need to put something together so he can control his tail too." He bit on the head of the pin he used, trying to think of some exercises he could use.

"Would touch sensory work? If he gets paralyzed at just a tug, that'd be a big weakness, but cutting it off really isn't a factor since it'd probably hurt him like hell. Plus, it has to have some type of use with his awakening. I should look into transformation type hunters." Noting it down, Tatsuda went back to observing Ikari's form.

He'd do this form of training for 3 hours till 6:30pm before the two went off to the gym ran by Ikari's father.

"Tatsuda, you actually dropping by! It must be some girl you're trying to impress?" Hamura teased.

"Well if I'm not going to be a hunter with her, I might as well get the body of one!" Tatsuda answered back.

"Wow, the younger generation is so honest with themselves. Alright, let's get you started! Ikari, you can handle yourself right?"

"Of course, I just need to find out how strong I am."

"Alright, we'll leave you to it!"

Turning his focus on his own training, Ikari went over to a bench and put two 45's on each side of the bar. Getting under the bar, Ikari easily lifted it and went 10 reps without feeling anything before increasing the weight.

He was now lifting 360 and again he easily went 10 reps barely feeling some weight on him. Again he'd increase the weight. The bar was now bending as everyone in the gum seemed to watch him, murmuring that Humar's blood must be mutated to produce such a kid.

For 10 reps he lifted the 540 pounds with ease and went for 10 reps, surpassing his dad. The weight was enough for him to feel some slight muscle engagement, but that was it.

With no room to add more weight, Ikari decided to instead, lift with one arm. Even then the weight seemed like nothing.

"Of course after awakening, my son would become a monster! Hahahahahaha!!" Hamura roared into laughter, revealing to the gym that Ikari had awakened.

Tatsuda picked up on the fact, Hamura said this so the rest of the gym's members wouldn't be discouraged. Looking at Ikari's physique he surely didn't look like he could lift that much.

He was 5'10 with a slightly lean physique at a weight of 165. His years of casual training showed in the refinement of his muscles.

Seeing this, Tatsuda pushed harder going for one more rep with his weight of 120!

For the following 2 months, Ikari and Tatsuda would stay on this schedule until it was time for their final exams. The two had done enough studying and put their all into it, so when the test finally came they gave it their all and completed it with their hearts full of confidence.

….

"Maaaaan, even though we studied a lot, a test is still a test." Tatsuda said with a wary expression.

"Yeah, the pressure was overwhelming, but I think we did good. I want to say we put in more work than anyone in these last two months." Ikari replied with a light smile.

"Oh, I think I'll go for a PR of 140 today! I can feel it, I know I can get at least 1 rep in!"

"Oh yeah? Then I'll spot you."

"So that's where you two have been running off all this time? I didn't take you for a muscle head, Tatsuda!"

Looking behind them, Ikari and Tatsuda saw Naomi, Reina and Uzume approaching them.

"Woah you went all blonde?" Tatsuda prattled, noticing her pink highlights were gone.

"Yup, decided to switch it up since we'll be graduating soon!"

Getting more into their description, Reina was the eccentric type. She had long , back length hair which was now blonde and had clean, white skin. She had cat-like, gray eyes which held mischief in them wherever she looked.

She was slimmer than Uzume and Naomi, but she knew how to style herself and usually wore clothes from different fashion genres.

[Image]

"How do you guys think you did on your test?" Uzume chimed in shyly.

"I think we did better than what we expect, but it's better that way right?" Ikari answered.

Nodding her head, Uzume fixed her glasses wordlessly.

More so shy than being reserved, Uzume was the observant type and liked to keep her peace. She had lightbrown eyes with shoulder length hair that had blonde-highlighted tips.

She gave off an aloof vibe, but she was smart and usually helped out in any way she could. The biggest shocker would be that her and Tatsuda were cousins on his mother's side.

[Image]

"Well, I'd say if you set your expectations high it'll force you to do better." Naomi argued.

"But then that'll make the disappointment double if its doesn't meet your expectations. You guys think you did good?"

"Nope, I totally yolo'd it." Reina said with a smile.

"Even after all the studying we did?" Naomi could only sigh.

"Where you guys going to the gym again?" She asked.

"Yeah, but it was probably gonna be around 6:00 or 6:30. We got a bit of training to do in between."

"Something you can't do at the gym?" Uzume chimed.

"Oh right, I never told you guys, but I awakened after the accident. I'm now a D rank hunter. Nothing great, but I have a feeling it's a start."

"Really you awakened?!" Reina questioned as her eyes glanced towards Naomi.

"That's not even the best part, but this guy here couldn't even use his skill on the assessment, so he's more like a C rank in actuality." Tatsuda informed them with a grin.

"What? Why didn't you use your skill?" Naomi asked with furrowed brows.

Uzume also looking towards him with curiosity.

"Well it was more like I couldn't. I didn't have the control I do now." Ikari stated with a bashful smile.

"So what's the skill? Oh no, actually what's your class? No actually, just let me see your Hunter's license!"

"Reina, would you calm down! You're making a scene!" Uzume voiced.

Looking around them, they noticed the eyes landing on them from around the school exit.

"Oh, sorry. I just get so worked up when it comes to hunters! My father and mother were hunters too and my uncle!" She explained.

"It's fine, this guy keeps loads of records on hunters. He's like a library." Ikari said, taking his Hunter's license from his wallet.

As the three girls looked over it, they could say they were surprised since they didn't think he'd just awaken like that and be a C rank.

"Tatsuda, maybe if you're around him enough you'll awaken too." Uzume inquired.

"Wow, thanks for that. It really helps with my self awareness." Tatsuda replied sarcasticly.

"Ah, we gotta go or we'll mess up our schedule."

"Right, we'll see you guys at the graduation ceremony!" Tatsuda said as they departed.

"Hey, we should go to a cafe and talk about hunter stuff sometime, Tatsuda!"

In his heart he pumped a fist in the air victoriously as he agreed with her, saying he'd text her later.

"Ikari, you're the best wingman a brother could ask for."

"Hmph, same to you, brother! Low five!"

*twack!!*