A Talk With Monika and Full Activation

The rest of whatever time was left was spent on Monika explaining how we'd write a poem over the weekend and share it with each other on Monday when we have club activities. Natsuki and Yuri were a bit timid and shy about it, but a bit of coaxing from Monika and Sayori helped them put aside their anxieties and agree to at least try it.

In the end, we all agreed on it and everyone began to get ready to leave. But instead of going away with Sayori instantly, I turned to her and spoke, "Sayori, I need to have a talk with Monika so you can either wait for me outside or walk home on your own, okay?"

Sayori instantly cocked an eyebrow up at me, "You need to talk to her? About what?" she asked.

"About the poem I need to write. Don't worry, it's nothing serious or anything," I laughed it off, trying to diffuse both Sayori's worry and her suspicion.

"Hmmm..." she hummed before seemingly coming to a decision and breaking out in a smile, "Okay, I'll wait for you by the school gates. Yuri catches the bus there anyway so I'll have some company--But don't make me wait too long, okay?!" she gave a look that threatened something if I made her wait too long but I only ended up laughing and nodding in answer.

She pouted and went after Yuri who'd just left. I, on the other hand, turned around to see Monika sitting at a desk looking out the window at the slowly darkening sky, "So, what's it like being in the real world, Monika?" I asked, starting the conversation I'd been wanting to have since I got to club.

Monika smiled but didn't look to me. She seemed utterly content with watching the orange sky, "It's wonderful, Hiro. Absolutely wonderful," she sighed a breath of relief before she swiveled on the desk to face me, "So, what do you need to talk about, Hiro?"

I let out a sigh myself but not one of relief and I sat down on the desk next to Monika, "You and the Club weren't the only forms of media brought into reality, Monika. Some anime plots and characters have as well. Dangerous ones, as well. I don't know exactly which ones have been added but now would be the perfect time to tell me if you have any type of supernatural powers, Monika. So?" I asked, knowing it was a bit of a long shot to ask, but my instincts still told me there was a chance.

Hearing what I asked caused Monika to sigh before pouting, "That's what you wanted to tell me? And here I thought you wanted to have a romantic chat with me like back in the game...Oh well," she shrugged and looked at me seriously, "I know there are different anime here. I suspect that you're the reason they were brought to reality alongside the game, right?" I nodded, somewhat confused with her acknowledgment on knowing there were other anime in this world, and she smiled, "Well, thank you for that," she winked before continuing on, "I don't know why but I can still sense things a normal human shouldn't be able to sense. Like, I have names in my head - presumably different worlds - that have been merged with this one. I can also do this."

Monika lifted a hand and it...glitched out for a second before a book appeared in it.

"...So you can summon books? I mean, it's a pretty neat ability, Monika, but I doubt it's gonna be that effective against--" as I smilingly teased her, the book disappeared and was replaced by a box cutter, "--Oh. So you can summon items. That's actually a decent power. Can you summon guns or other weapons?" I asked curiously as the box cutter disappeared and was replaced with a revolver.

"I can summon whatever I want as long as it exists and I know how to works," she had a smug smile on her face before she pointed the gun up and blew over the barrel like she was in some western movie, "Pretty impressive, right?" she looked to me and I gave a nod before I stood up.

Placing my feet right, I got ready to blast forth but something felt...off. I didn't expect to still feel so weak after the genes I'd been given. But a screen popped up in front of me, out of nowhere, to explain what I was feeling.

[Commence full activation of Genes? Y/N *Beware, full activation of Genes will render you unconscious for 11 hours*]

I mentally clicked no, thinking it didn't make much sense to send me to this place without fully activating my genes. What if I was in trouble when I opened my eyes and instead of Sayori waking me up, it was some Martial Artist getting ready to beat my head in? Ah, whatever, man. Guess my mere mortal brain can't process what a R.O.B wants. Probably just wanted to mess with me.

Pulling myself back to reality, I burst forth using complex footwork that even this somewhat weak body could handle.

With a split second, I appeared in front of Monika, my fist centimetres away from the side of her face, "It's impressive, Monika. But if you're not strong enough to use it properly, it'll be useless," I said and Monika looked at me with shock written across her face before she gave a slightly embarrassed nod. Seeing her agree, I smiled, "Good. We can work on that weakness over the weekend."

"Eh? What do you mean?" she asked me with a furrowed brow.

Smiling down at her, I took my fist away from her face and answered her, "I'm gonna show you how to exercise your body until you reach a high enough level to defend yourself. I'm also gonna teach you some self-defense techniques. It's gonna be fun, so don't worry about," I tapped her on the shoulder in a friendly manner and Monika just looked at me with a pout before seeming to realize something and smiling brightly and nodding in agreement.

...Probably something to do with any time spent with me is time well spent or something like that. Whatever. As long as it gets her to come and work out, it's fine. She could be a useful ally in the future.

"One last thing, Monika, what are those names in your head? Can you list them off? I'll most likely know them," I asked and Monika composed herself before speaking.

"History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi, Kengan Ashura and Baki," she held up three fingers before her face scrunched up in annoyance, "There are other names but they're too blurry for me to make out. Sorry, Hiro," she gave me an apologetic smile and I just nodded, too far into my own thoughts to mind right now. She'd already given me valuable information with just those three names.

'History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi' was the one I was least worried about. Most of the characters in this are very shounen-esque and most of the main cast won't try and kill me. If we consider the timeline of this world, the fact I'm in my first year of highschool means I should be in the same year as Kenichi. I searched my memory as hard as I could and I found a memory of a scrawny kid getting picked on by members of the Karate club...and that was quite recent. So, we're at the start.

As for the other two...I don't know. I have no memories of ever seeing anyone who looks like Baki or anyone called Baki.

"...Thanks for the info, Monika. I'll meet you outside the school gates tomorrow morning. Say...8:00 AM, okay? Wear some workout clothes if you have any," I said before looking at the clock and back to Monika, "Well, I better get going. See ya tomorrow, Monika," I smiled and gave her a wave before picking up my bag and leaving.

. . .

After walking home with Sayori and seeing her to her house, I walked to my house which was literally next door to Sayori's.

Just like my memories of Sayori, my memories of this house were odd. Both familiar and unfamiliar. I had a family. A mother, an older sister and an older brother. My older brother was married and lived in a completely different part of Japan while my older sister was a workaholic and she only ever came back to the house to sleep and eat. She followed after our mother in that regard. I hadn't seen either of them much lately, or so my memories told me.

Not that it mattered all that much. If my memories were anything to go by I was already used to such a dysfunctional family, so I didn't really mind.

Walking through the living room, I arrived in the kitchen where I opened the fridge and began talking out ingredients needed for some very hearty food. I had a feeling that I need as much nutrition as possible before I went through with the gene activation. Anyway, after about an hour of cooking, I was left with a whole chicken, a few full fishes, enough rice to feed a family of four and enough vegetables to balance the meat and rice out.

I also had an entire pitcher of sugar water and a whole carton of milk next to me.

Once this was all ready, I began scoffing it down. Even when I felt full, I kept eating until all of the food was inside me. I was used to it anyway. Martial arts required a lot of energy which meant I had to eat a lot to give myself the energy needed. But pushing yourself into such a heavy and substantial diet can be hard if your body isn't ready for it.

Patting my stomach that was slightly bulging, I let out a massive burp before I stood up and wiped off my mouth with a napkin. My stomach hurt somewhat but I ignored it and walked toward the stairs before going up to my bedroom.

Once I was in my bedroom, I stripped down to my underwear and looked over my body in the full-length mirror propped up against my wall.

I truly did look average. Apart from my height and my broadness, everything else was average. Not too muscular but not too skinny. Not fat either. But still with a bit of pudgy-ness on my waist and stomach. Though I guess it's to be expected - without the training necessary, no matter your genes and talent, you'll still be average if you just lay about and read manga all the time. Well, I guess you could get passed the rule if you were a Saiyan or something but unluckily, I didn't get their genes, now did I?

My face wasn't too average, however. Pretty good-looking, if I actually had to describe it. Defined, angular and strong features. A good smile, as well. If I had to say who I looked like the most...it would actually be Raiden Tameemon. Especially with my yellow eyes and blond highlighted black hair.*

(*A/N - If you want a reference just look at the cover photo for this fanfic. That's Raiden Tameemon from Shuumatsu no Valkyrie. I don't really know his eye color, so I just said it's yellow.)

Looking away from myself in the mirror to avoid being too vain, I sat down on my bed before lying down and bringing up the screen I saw earlier.

[Commence full activation of Genes? Y/N *Beware, full activation of Genes will render you unconscious for 11 hours*]

That last bit was why I answered no in the first place. Getting knocked out for 11 hours would've been quite inconvenient if I were still in school. But right now, on my bed, I was ready. It was about 5 in the afternoon so I'd wake up four in the morning.

So, with that in mind, I pressed yes and I instantly blacked out.