kscans

Chapter 19 - Dazzling Youth

It's Sunday.

For office workers, it's a healing day to recover from the week's fatigue.

It's a wonderful day where you can fully relax under the pretext of preparing for work starting tomorrow.

Well, it doesn't go so smoothly if you have a family. There's probably family obligations and such.

Dads these days are amazing, aren't they? When I was a kid, I used to mock those gloomy, damp-looking middle-aged men at the station.

But thinking about it calmly, it's pretty tough. Working until you're exhausted every day, and on the rare day off, being rushed to take the kids somewhere. I wonder how their bodies can handle it.

Once you understand how incredible fathers are, those damp middle-aged men suddenly transform into strong characters hiding their true abilities.

"I'm sorry for bothering you on your day off."

"It's fine, it's fine. I was just lazing around anyway."

I laugh off Hikaru-kun's apology as he bows his head.

I had just finished lunch and was sprawled out watching some recorded dramas when Hikaru-kun contacted me.

He asked if I could help him with training, and I immediately agreed.

After all, I'm a free single guy with no wife or kids.

And now, I'm doing warm-up exercises with Hikaru-kun in one of the Mutual Aid Society's training rooms that we've reserved.

"Hey, Hikaru-kun. Do you know why we do these warm-up exercises?"

"Huh? Um, to avoid injuring our bodies by moving suddenly... right?"

He answered, though confused by the sudden question.

Yeah, that's correct. That's what they teach you in PE classes too.

"That's right. But that's for ordinary people. For folks like us, we wouldn't get injured even without doing this."

"Eh? Then why..."

"There's no physical benefit, but there is a purpose."

I continue explaining while doing squats.

"It's a mental switch. We do it to get ourselves in the mindset that we're about to move!"

There are various categories for people with power, but basically, the soul carries more weight than the physical body for all of them.

Take Chika-san, for example. She looks like a beautiful adult woman, seemingly far removed from combat, but if she wants to, she can move at a speed invisible to the eye.

That's because her power depends on her soul, not her physical body.

"The soul is greatly influenced by mentality. Not just in terms of performance at any given time, but also in terms of growth."

"I-I see."

"However, training the body isn't completely meaningless either."

The body does have some influence on the soul, and the act of training itself affects mentality.

If you think, "I've trained this much. I must be stronger than before," it becomes true.

Well, the effects vary greatly. Sometimes there are visible results, and other times the improvements are minimal...

"So, here's another mental-related question. What do you think is the best mental state to be in during a fight?"

"...Based on what you've said so far... should we be confident?"

"I can't give you full marks for that. Maybe about 50 points?"

"Huh?"

"Sure, if you can truly believe from the bottom of your heart that 'I'm the strongest! There's no way I could lose!' then that's good."

But can you maintain that all the time?

It might not be a problem against weaker opponents. But can you maintain that mental state against equals or stronger opponents?

"Can you believe in yourself without a shred of doubt even in a clearly disadvantageous situation?"

"That's... impossible."

"Right?"

Well, there are some types who can do that.

They might think, "This looks bad... I see, this is where my comeback begins!"

But such people are rare. Normal folks can't be that optimistic.

"That's why the trick is to try to maintain a neutral state."

Or for someone like Hikaru-kun, it might be good to focus on family.

If you die, you'll make them cry. Thinking like that can make you desperate.

"You don't want to make them cry, right? Those cute little sisters of yours."

"Yes! By the way, what do you think about when you fight, Satou-san?"

"Me? I... sorry, I don't really think too deeply about it."

These days, I rarely struggle in fights, and even in the past...

"I was desperate, but I can't say it was thanks to that..."

I guess that's what the old lady calls "bulldozing through."

Even Yanagi said my flaky parts haven't changed... Ah, I'm getting depressed.

"Well, I'm a bad example, so don't worry about it."

"O-Okay..."

"Alright, shall we get started? We'll do some practical sparring. Keep in mind what I just told you."

"Yes sir!"

Hikaru-kun closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

He's flipped the switch. I don't know what his power is exactly.

The Mutual Aid Society and Hikaru-kun himself recognize him as an esper with the simple ability of physical enhancement, but...

(He does seem like a protagonist type kid.)

And the fact that he doesn't seem to be related to the Star's Fallen Children, despite being an esper, is also curious.

I thought he might be one if this was the second story revolving around the Star's Fallen Children, but it doesn't seem so.

...Well, it's fine. Training him based on what we know now won't be a waste.

"Are you ready?"

"I'm ready anytime!"

"Good answer. Then, come at me."

"Here I go!!"

He kicks off the floor hard and comes at me with a punch. I grab his hand and throw him upwards.

I adjusted it so he wouldn't quite hit the ceiling, but Hikaru-kun looks completely baffled.

He probably has no idea what just happened.

After landing, Hikaru-kun seems confused and stops moving.

"Don't stop. Don't let your guard down. That's a penalty. I'm going for your stomach."

I approach at a speed just barely visible and swing my arm back exaggeratedly.

Hikaru-kun instinctively crosses his arms to protect his stomach... good judgment.

"Oof!?"

But it's useless... well, not entirely. I adjusted it so that even blocking would result in appropriate impact.

It is a penalty, after all. There's also the aim of making him more alert by feeling pain.

There's a possibility he might become timid instead, but...

"...I'm fired up now! Please continue!!"

That's right. You're that kind of guy.

We continued sparring without breaks for several hours until sunset.

By the end, he was so exhausted he didn't even have the energy to speak, but the light in his eyes hadn't dimmed at all.

I offered him a sports drink and decided to stay with him until he could move again.

After about 30 minutes, when Hikaru-kun could finally move, he downed the sports drink in one go and bowed deeply to me.

"Thank you so much for today."

"Yeah. I can't do it every week, but I'll join you when I can."

"...I appreciate it."

"Well then, shall we hit the showers and wash off this sweat? A shower after getting all worn out feels great~"

"Haha, you're right-- Oh, that reminds me."

"Hm?"

"Satou-san, do you have any plans after this?"

"Nothing in particular. I'm a single nobleman without a wife or kids. Actually, I might have upgraded to single emperor by now."

Such plans for a single emperor... there aren't any, right?

If I had to say something, I guess I'd either eat out on the way home or buy something to eat.

I'm more in the mood for the latter right now. I feel like going to a convenience store and buying a ton of stuff without thinking about the consequences.

"In that case, would you like to come to my place?"

"Pardon?"

"Well, my mother really wants to thank you in person."

"Ah, I see."

When stepping into the hidden world, whether to tell your family or not is left to the individual's discretion.

If you choose to tell them, someone from the Mutual Aid Society accompanies you to explain the precautions and such.

I didn't tell my parents anything, but Hikaru-kun apparently decided to tell his family after some deliberation.

I'm sure his parents have a lot of questions.

"Alright, I'll come along."

"Thank you very much."

But you know, this kid is really refreshing.

(What a dazzlingly bright blue...)

I cried in my heart.