Chapter 20

'' I think I like dangerous things.''  Danuja said absently and so, so hopeless.  Small drops of blood was dripping from her nose making her lick it without realization.

'' Course you do.''  Mr. Touma said before adding amused  '' You do realize that you are learning box from a bum like me in a gym of the middle of nowhere? With no actual protection or guarantee that I won't sack you.''  he said before getting her up the floor back on her feet

Danuja swayed slightly, grunting.

'' Are you sick? Did the guys that catch you yesterday give you a concussion?''  Mr. Touma asked with a serious face making Danuja frown confused

'' No.''  a hit at the back of her head made her wince

'' Then what the hell gathered in your head today? You missed more than twenty jumps in your warm up, then you missed your punches and almost broke your wrist on the wall and let's not forget this moment when you slipped. ''  he said tugging Danuja off the ring and making her seat on the bench

'' It wasn't that bad. And just so you know, your wall would break faster than my wrist.''  Danuja said huffing

'' Tsk.''  Mr. Touma said  before hitting the back of her head  '' Then it must be a girl. Just a girl could make you look like that.''  he said almost satisfied  '' It was time I suppose.''

'' What's that suppose to mean? And yeah I think I made a ...friend?''  she said confused. And she was confused.

It wasn't like Danuja didn't have friends before. When she was younger and people didn't know or cared about who she was living with there were countless of kids gathering around her to play. Sure at the end they were shitty friends but the idea is that she had them at some point.

Above all Danuja was pretty sure that one isn't suppose to feel that warm and give her whatever the hell that tingly feeling was at the back of her throat, around their friends.

'' Sure.''  he snorted  '' Keep telling yourself that. Or at last tell me when you finally get yourself a girlfriend.'' 

'' Girlfriend?'' Danuja asked surprise, feeling her ears strangely warm before cleaning the blood from her nose with her wrist, most properly smearing it around her face

'' ... you can find yourself a boyfriend too.''  Mr. Touma said a little reluctantly, shifting his eyes around the gym a little uncomfortable but still standing his ground

Right  Danuja though faintly before letting out an amused huff    He still thinks I'm a boy

'' Well-''  she begins getting up  ''- when I do, be sure that I won't take your advice old man.''  she said smiling meanly  before letting out a gape of disbelief at Mr. Touma next words

'' My wife would disagree with you boy. I did the wooing in our relationship.'' 

---

'' Find your rhythm Danuja and move your head already!''  Mr. Touma said when she got hit again by the old punching ball that was making a weird sound every time it was hit  '' Lean you head or pivot, stop moving all your body boyo!  Use that height you got there!''

'' You are tall, you are board and even though you on the skinny side that doesn't mean you aren't a big ass target. A shorter swarmer would kill you if you are like this.''  he yelled at her before shoving the ball at her, Danuja barely avoiding getting her nose broken

'' Are you still upset with me? ''  she asked not quiet hiding her amusement

'' I have no idea what are you talking about kid. Now come on, tie those weights on you and let's see how your core it's doing.''  he said sadistically before 'helping' her in tying the weights on her hips a flash of nervousness going through her when he looked a little too much at her belly

''  It was a good question Mr. Touma.''  she said taking a hold of the pole, wanting or not ready to begin with the pull-ups  '' I mean really-'' she begin smirking digging her grave further  ''- who would marry a bum like you? Ah!''  she yelled, more in surprise than anything when he slammed a ball on her abdomen  '' They were your words not mine! ''

'' Do I really look like I live here?''  he said and the only thing Danuja could do was laugh nervously

Sweaty clothes, a little more than needed grey hair, always sleeping in the gym and eating too much ramen. The gym somehow looked like it's owner.  Neglected but with it's own...charm.

'' Pretty much yeah.''  she gasped when the ball hit again. Exercise for strengthening core my ass.  '' If you do have a family why are you here in the first place?''  she asked 

And it was a good question. Because if Mr. Touma did have a family why was he here from morning to night? Why was he sleeping here every time she saw him? At the very last why wasn't he ever changing his clothes, always with the same dirty sweatpants and sweaty shirt.

In response Mr. Touma just sighed before stopping her sets, smacking her in the head making her hiss.

'' How can a brat like you be so dumb and smart at the same time hm?'' he said  '' I come here cause you are here and aren't leaving my ass, that's why.''

Some time passed where Danuja regained her sets and core straightening before she took a pause, beginning her final warm up. It was enough time for the warm in her chest to not spread any further.

'' My house it's right beside this gym, so it's not like I don't see my family and not spend time with them. You come here everyday because you need something even it's something to be done or you are just restless. And I come here everyday because you need me here. ''  he said patting her back making Danuja bite her lip  '' Now wipe your face and get out of here. I need at last half an hour of rest before I face my wife cooking.''

'' How did you even woo your wife like this.''  Danuja said roughly before clearing her throat. Fuck she was emotional now

'' Why do I need to speak nicely to a brat like you. Go home and think about your friend now.''  he said  'maturely'