Chapter 1

The sun rises from the east just like how it usually does. It's already 6:30 in the morning and a sound that signifies urgency already envelops the whole studio apartment. This only means that Taketo must now work his time out from getting himself ready to getting his butt at the office on time. It is his first day working as a junior sales officer for a new startup company. With sheer luck, Taketo managed to get hired despite his school records showing nothing but the worst performance a senior high school graduate could ever have. You would not believe how he had performed during his Senior High School days. He was referred by someone he personally knows from the HR department. Taketo got the job after successfully passing all the necessary employment examination and interview as part of the hiring process. Basing it on his school records, Taketo can't help but think how he got hired in the first place.

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During his time in Senior High School, he had not excelled with any subject that is part of his academic curriculum. He also has no other extracurricular activities that may help him in his academics. But he does have one, the track and field club where he once submitted his application just to be a member. Part of the requirements is a filled up form and a performance check which complies of a 500-meter run just to see how he fares physically.

The track and field club coach Hirohito Inoshishi approached Taketo and asked, "So you're trying your luck in my club now?"

Taketo while anxiously waiting at one of the benches replied, "Yes coach,".

"What's your name again kid?" The coach then sat beside Taketo.

"It's Taketo Himukashi, coach."

"So this would be your first time running?" He asked as he faced the anxious kid.

Taketo took some time before giving his reply. He knows that he has been running before but not from the actual track and field league. He has always been a magnet for school brawl ever since his Junior High School years. Trying his best to avoid any physical injury, he excelled in running away from it. Considering that he is really not part of any school gang or group. It's just because of the fact that he is so unlucky that he always ends up being in the middle of a brawl whenever there is one happening in their school. He once tried stopping a brawl from happening by acting as a middle man for both parties of the school gang. Acting as a messenger for both parties, he tried to convey their message by tweaking it as if to sound more appealing to each group. That did not work well. Instead of resolving the issue through verbal discussion, it ends up into a bigger brawl due to the idea that both parties sounded too unreal and too good to be true. This resulted in Taketo being in the middle of the brawl. But that was before. He's a changed man now. He knows that he won't be able to help anyone in resolving their own issues. He started believing that all an issue needed to be resolved is a fist and a brawl.

"Yes, coach." He replied after some time thinking.

"But I do run from my house going to the school every morning." sounding as if he is proud as he followed his last reply.

"Wouldn't that be because of you trying to avoid being late in school?" The coach laughed off at the idea.

"Yes coach," This he felt a bit ashamed with his answer.

"It's okay, at least there is proof that you're a good runner." As he tapped the kid on the shoulder to calm him for a bit.

The coach suddenly shouted another person's name. "Mina Tsukimoto! Please come here.".

"Yes, coach?" A tall lady that seems to be of the same age as Taketo slowly approaches them. She is also a fellow student who had been part of Track and Field club since her Junior High School days. A lady with an hourglass figure, long hair tied in a knot slightly aligned to the left at the back of her head. Bright round eyes, slight pouty thin lips, long eyelashes, and light cherry coloured cheeks which really compliment her white clear and smooth skin. Everything seems just like a beauty contest as she parades while walking towards the direction where Taketo and the club coach is sitting.

"You will be running with this new kid and let's see how he performs in a race against you." While he pointed his finger towards Taketo.

He then tapped Taketo's shoulder again. This time urging him to change. "Kid, go change into more comfortable clothes and let's begin this race"

"Noted coach!". He felt the pressure of what is about to happen but Taketo still feels confident that he will win.

Before leaving the race track for the change of clothes Taketo turns around again and stared at the coach. "Coach, wouldn't it be unfair to match me with a woman on this run?"

The coach simply responded by smiling.

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After getting his clothes changed, Taketo returned again on the track for the actual test run. Mina is already on her side of track doing some exercises in preparation for the race. Taketo can't simply stop himself from looking at Mina while she bent down trying to reach as far her arms can reach as part of her exercise. This simply highlighted more of her figure, especially on her bust. Taketo just simply stares at Mina in awe because of how she looks.

Mina, feeling that someone is leering at her took notice of Taketo at the other side of the track. She directs her gaze to Taketo's eyes and fiercely looked at him indicating of her disapproval on what the other person is doing. Feeling agitated about what happened, she just felt she needs to win this match. "You jerk! I won't let you win this race. I won't let another jerk like you be part of this club.".

Taketo, knowing that Mina fiercely looked at him averted his eyes on the track. He is confident that he is going to beat Mina and gets the approval he needed to be part of the Track and Field club.

The coached walked in the middle of the track in between Mina and Taketo. This is a sign that the race is about to start. He raised his right arm "Ready!". At the movement of a second, he pulled his arm down and shouted, "Go!".

The race has started. Both Mina and Taketo started running pushing their bodies at their limits. They started sprinting in a competitive manner. It was Mina who has the advantage at the start of the race. With her tall figure, she manages to get the leveraged due to the large area that her legs manage to cover increasing the distance between Taketo and herself.

Seeing this how things are turning out, Taketo can't help but be amazed. "How can she move that fast even if shes just a woman?"

With a suck of air, Taketo pushes himself like he usually does whenever he was running away from a brawl. He felt a slight change in the temperature of his body whenever he does this. With a whiff of air coming from his mouth, he increased his foot movement on a much faster pace. This resulted in keeping his distance with Mina at minimum. Mina was amazed as she noticed what Taketo just did. She was the ace of Track and Field even during her Junior High School days. No one even from the guys managed to catch up to her. She knows that she was the best member of the current Track and Field club members. That is what she believed.

Achieving this, Taketo wanted to do more. He wanted to win. For Taketo, whispering something motivational really makes amazing things happen "Give me more. I want more".

Taketo has now surpassed Mina. He has now the advantage. He is now close on the finishing the 500-meter run first. But he wanted to show more about what he can do. Another whisper motivation came out again from him "Is this the best that I can give?"

A sound of a coin being tossed suddenly rang on his ear. Taketo suddenly stopped from running as soon as he noticed it. He did not know where that sound came from as Taketo lost his focus from the race. That put him in a disadvantage as Mina overtook him reaching the finish line first. By the time Taketo realized, he had already lost the race.

Everyone in the club clapped and cheered both Mina and Taketo seeing how tight the race was. It was just like during the National league. It was similar to how contestants on a National level performed.

Hirohito approached both Mina and Taketo with a satisfied smile on his face, "You two will make our school popular again in the coming leagues." The coach the left as he walks towards the other club members.

As soon as the coach left, Mina hesitantly approached Taketo "How did you do that? You suddenly increased your pace. It is like a movement, not a normal human can do."

"Don't bother to ask, it's useless since it's completely my loss. You still manage to beat me.". While the idea of the sound of a coin is still running on his head.

"By the way, I'm Mina Tsukimoto."

"Taketo, Taketo Himukashi." He replied shaking Mina's hand.

The coach shouted again "End of the training, everyone go get your things and go straight home. Get some rest."

Hearing what the coach said, she then approaches Taketo once more "Let's do our best to win gold in the competition partner!".

This leaves a smile on Taketo's face. He simply responds by raising his fist with a smile as a sign of approval. Mina then smiled back at him.

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Exactly 8:05 in the morning. Taketo arrived at his new workplace bathing in sweat as he sorted things out on his new work table. A sexy woman approaches him coming from behind.

"You're late on your first-day partner?!" it sounded a bit disappointed. It was Mina, his partner from the track and field club back in senior high school years.

Mina is part of the HR department where Taketo is now working. She was the one who referred Taketo to be hired as a Junior Sales Officer. Taketo and Mina had been the best of friends after their first race during Senior High School years and had never stopped calling each other as a partner.

Mina is now 22 years old and is working as an HR officer of this new start-up company. She has now a woman figure that would make every man beg for her attention. There had never been a Friday where she didn't get an invitation to go on a date. She had always been asked to go out every week. She just simply declines it every single time.

"You should get ready, your first meeting is about to start. Good luck Taketo"

Before continuing, Mina turned around again "Let's have lunch together. I will be waiting for you at the cafeteria." Sounding as if she demands it but later on followed it with a smile.

Taketo just simply nods and smiled back at her.

He has no time to think about lunch right now. It still worries him how his first day would turn out.

His life as a productive citizen starts now.

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Somewhere that is not within the earth.

A person wearing a hoodie from behind the shadows uttered, "We had now found the old lord. We must do what is necessary. His kingdom needs him now more than ever.".

Another person responded coming from a female that is hidden in the shadow. "Then initiate the first stage of the plan. I'm hoping for a better result this time. Do what is needed in order to save our kingdom."