Chapter 29

A man was floating in a weird place. In front of him, a black gargantuan shadow with four horns was visible. As if he was confronting him, the man was looking at him fiercely.

"Explain this to me." The man said to the shadow. However, the shadow was unfazed.

"What do you mean?" The shadow asks in a deep, hoarse voice.

"We had a deal. Now, explain to me why the future kept on changing. Every single day, the most essential part of the plan is blurring out in my visions." The man said. The shadow didn't answer for quite a bit of time.

"Prepare yourself. This time, it seems like you need to take some action." The shadow said.

"Why?"

"Because there's an entity that even I cannot see, nor predict. An entity my power doesn't dominate. Meaning, an anomaly – our plans are being compromised. The future isn't even now mine to control. You know what to do. However, wait for a moment, as you'll get your chances."

--Four months later--

"Is that the best that you can do?!" Jeimi screamed to Hisashi. He was currently blindfolded while being surrounded by countless balls of light. Although covered, his eyes were tiny white lightning which Jeimi is observing. At the same time, many of the lights were dispersing white lightning and white mana.

"Time's up." *Snap*

Jeimi snaps her fingers. Just then, what she sees made her raise her eyebrows. None of the balls of light came down to hit Hisashi.

"Well done."

That was because Hisashi analyzed all the 100 thousand lights conjured by Jeimi. It was the last phase of Hisashi's training that Jeimi devised.

To simplify things, Hisashi was tasked to train his Ki to its utmost limits. To the point that it can be used 24/7. This means that even in his sleep, Hisashi would be able to detect any danger or threats that come his way.

Although it's not a cure for his problem, it was the best prevention Jeimi could think of. After all, his bipolar-like tendencies only occur when his life was threatened. The best way to prevent that is to avoid the threat in the first place.

With Hisashi's abnormal strength, she knows that the only way that the weakest person can kill him is through surprise attacks – and this solves it.

For the first few times, Hisashi was only targeted by a dozen balls which he has to dodge. It also didn't help that Jeimi's sorcery type is Light, one of the best sorcery types when it comes to speed. Given Jeimi's mastery, it became the fastest thing that Hisashi has ever seen, or encountered.

Because the ball of light hits like a rock, Hisashi has to heal himself every round of attacks.

Halfway through the four months, Hisashi asked her if he can train his sorcery to which she agreed. By that time, Hisashi is already at the one-thousand-ball mark. Although he was happy at first, Jeimi changed the rules. Before, the balls would only come one by one, though at a very fast interval.

Now, he was only given 5 seconds to analyze it before Jeimi fires it all at once at him. At first, he thought that it was easy to dodge as the attacks would be concentrated in a small area. However, the old beaut had her beat as she already figured it out. In the end, on the first try, Hisashi almost saw himself die again in a vision.

The last part of Hisashi's training is that he cannot be angry. No matter what happens, he was told to maintain his calm and stop his anger. Something that he thought would be easy. But after experiencing the torture, he almost fought Jeimi back. That was because Jeimi kept taunting him.

--Three months ago--

A bruised Hisashi lay down on the destroyed field. The dust just settled and everything was a mess. Jeimi walks to him and he sees her looking down at him.

"If this is all you can do, then your decision of leaving your friend is great. Not only are you a bringer of disaster but you wouldn't be able to protect her… from the misfortunes you bring. I won't be surprised if your friend dies because of you. Worse, your family that took you in. Maybe you should leave them too."

After hearing her, Hisashi's eyes glow red and red lightning appears. Boots made of red raging lightning covered his legs and a sharp katana covered by darkness appeared on his hand. He grabs her collar and points the sword at her.

"Take it back." Hisashi angrily says. However, Jeimi just looks at him with displeasure. Hisashi then felt a stinging pain in his stomach, followed by his body flying to a tree dozens of meters away from their location.

"Make me take it back."

--Back to the Present--

Ever since then, Hisashi has grown. Even if vendors never sell him anything because of what happened before, he just gives them a smile before leaving.

Sitting at Jeimi's house, Hisashi was surprised. To see a huge amount of food. He looks at Jeimi who just gave him a shrug.

"Since you've completed your training, you don't have to go back anymore. That said, if you encounter any violence, always avoid it. After all, once that condition of yours acts up again, you might end up doing something you regret."

Seeing how much the kid is eating, Jeimi can't help but smile. These past months, Hisashi is her only companion. She's been alone for years now so she has gotten used to it, however, Hisashi's frequent appearance added another layer to her daily life.

Moreover, the one thing that she can't admit to herself is how much Hisashi reminds her of her late husband. Just like the kid's story, she and her husband were childhood friends. The two grew up together. When they reached adulthood, Jeimi and her husband left their hometown to explore other places, something that she retained after his death.

Just like Hisashi, her husband was quiet and a bit anti-social. He was also adventurous and protective like he was. However, just like him, Hisashi is also stubborn and prideful when they choose to be.

And last but not the least, they both have honest eyes – something that made her like him. Although Hisashi's was more obvious when he uses his sorcery, her husband never managed to hide something from her as a look is all it takes.

Remembering how her husband sacrifices himself for her on one of their expeditions, her smile fades away. Without even looking, Hisashi felt the change in her emotion.

"Doc, I know that you'll miss me but you don't have to. I can visit you anytime you know?"

*Woosh* A spoon flew towards his face which he dodges with relative ease. Just as Jeimi was about to throw another one, Hisashi raises his hands in surrender, while at the same time complementing her cooking. This made her stop as she bit her lips to her lingering anger. But that expression also changed when she saw how Hisashi smiles at her.

"Before you leave, take this," Jeimi says as she throws a knife at Hisashi.

"A knife?" Hisashi was confused.

"I know that you want to tend your broken friendship with her. A bouquet of flowers won't hurt. Get some from the garden at the back."

…

As Koyori finished eating her dinner, a knock coincidentally came from the door. She left her seat and went straight to it.

"Coming."

However, when she opens the door, a familiar face welcomes her. This caused her feelings to be mixed up. Surprise, excitement, anger, confusion, bliss – her ever-changing expression says it all. It was Hisashi holding a bouquet of white lilies, showing an apologetic expression and smile.

"Good evening… Can… can we talk?" Hisashi said.

Seeing her daughter's weird reaction, Furukawa calls out to her.

"Koyori! Who's there at the door?" Her daughter didn't answer and she just hears the door close loudly.

"Hmp! No one! A… Someone lost. Most definitely not my friend." Koyori yelled loudly so that her mom can hear, also, so Hisashi can hear.