2 Months

"What are you doing, Kuro?"

Ayame who saw Kuro violently launches the ball high-up in the air.

Because of how much force behind the kick, Ayame even almost thought that Kuro snapped out 'because of something.' Definitely not her fault…, she may pranked him last night, like using the ball o' to scare him… maybe it's her fault?

Wha!?

Due to Kuro ignoring her, she couldn't help but be surprised. After all, not even once, did he ignored her before!

The ball was launched perfectly 90 degrees but, due to the wind, it fell in different position, and falling at changed degrees.

Looking at the falling ball, Kuro slowly moved toward the place.

As the ball almost touched the land, the bounces Ayame imagined never came. Making an really small sound that couldn't be heard if it wasn't for her enchanted hearing, it was suppressed just above Kuro's feet.

Like a butterfly caught in spider's web. The ball remained unmoved above Kuro's feet.

Kuro smiled to that feeling.

His soccer sense from his past life remained the same.

to be honest, Kuro had no bullshit to explain the term about muscle-memory whatsoever.

"Wow, how did you do that, Kuro?"

Despite asking for Kuro's action, she never waited for him to answer her, and imitated Kuro.

Ayame's power was much above than Kuro. So obviously, the ball launched far higher in the sky… Though it doesn't matter as the ball exceeds a certain speed, it won't accelerates further. So the forces behind the falling ball was about the same as Kuro's.

"Ah, it bounced a bit."

It truly bounced, above her feet higher than she expected and the sound was not as suppressed as Kuro's. Moreover…, the feeling of whatever this is, made her feel good, even though she was just 90% done.

Holding tight of a ball without using her hand but a feet just felt too good for her. She who was rarely interested into anything, got attracted by this 'game' called soccer.

Now that she got attracted by it, she wondered. How much fun would it be if they played with the same amount as the story she heard in manga.

"Sorry to ruin things but, I am not playing with anyone but you."

Then, Kuro came forward to her side as if reading her thought. It was this close before this turned into a sports novel. Damn it!

"Why? Are you dissatisfied with this game or so?"

Weird. It was Kuro who personally introduced her this game. So why would he not like it?

"…I don't know myself, haha. I wonder why."

Kuro laughed it off then, continued.

"Anyway! Let's resume the training. Try shooting the ball with all your might toward me, and like the step ladder training, shout a body parts of me. I'll restrict myself to stop the ball with that called part."

***

The time moves by 5 year… *cough* *cough* 2 months.

Yep 2 months. Normally, Author wouldn't skip that long but he did it anyways!

Why 2 months you question? Because of a certain problem… and some coincidence. Let's take a look.

As always, in the forest which seriously seems to have no dangerous monsters or something, 2 person, one oni and one human, existed. They looked like a normal children but what they're doing aren't normal.

The girl is punching the boy. Reading the situation: an children boy getting beat up by children girl in deep forest seemed wrong but it isn't as weird as it seemed.

Daily beating now became an routine for Kuro.

Kuro somehow managed to master the art of masochi- the art of trapping(soccer) to insanity that he can 'trap' enemy's blow.

It's like jumping out the moment enemy's punch connected to you to reduce the force, but different.

It's like moving forward to cancel out the enemy's attack before they unleash their full force but different.

Nevertheless the procession, the results was amazing! He now takes 95% of the f***ing damage! Even until now, Kuro doesn't know why he's still practicing this bullsh*t.

Not that he knows why he is training, anyway…

'Come to think of it, why do I want to become strong?'

'Is it because I am angry for being treated as the cursed child by the citizens of Agrenoria? No…'

'Is it because I want to become stronger so I can protect her? Ridiculous if 21-Nii-chan's information is right, she's 1500+ years old and just from my daily life can I tell that she has the battle tendency. Not only is she strong, she has much more battle experience and I have no hope to caught up to her.'

'Do I want to become stronger and prove myself in this world?'

'…huh? What do I want to do in the end?'

0.8%

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"Kuro?"

"Eh? Ah, yes yes! What's the matter?"

"Botan-chan is here."

"Botan-cha-… when did you guys got so close…"

Popping out from the leaves, a silveric 'person' with nekomimi appeared. Besides her was the usual winter-elf. Both of them hasn't changed since the last time Kuro saw them. Though, this time the winter-elf isn't drunk.

'Oh, that's rare… it's going to rain tonight.'

What Kuro said wasn't some idiom or something, nor was this a sarcasm.

"Botan-Onee-Chan! Welcome."

"Hello, Kuro. Ayame-chan… Kuro, listen, something big has happened."

Before she actually talks the matter, Kuro interrupted.

"Before that, it's going to rain sooner so let's go there."

Where Kuro leaded Shishiro were the tree house Kuro and Ayame made over the time.

"Look, look, Lamy-chan. This ball is called Soccer Ball. It's very durable and even if I kicked it with all my might it won't break!"

Kuro who spotted both of them called the 2.

"Ayame-chan, it's going to rain soon so come inside the tree house. I may reveal to you guys what I've been making."

"Eh!? What is it, what is it?"

Ayame who was attracted like a children, then looked at Lamy who was left alone, staring at the soccer ball.

"Lamy-chan, come with me. I will explain you 'soccer' later."

Without taking long time, the 4 of them entered inside the tree-house. Inside had no furniture. There's a chair and table, it was too crude to be called as furniture. But they can supports the weight of a person.

Just… people may not be comfortable sitting in that kind of chair. It's like sitting in school chair.

Now that the four of them, sat down the chair, the room's atmosphere suddenly got serious. The first person who will break this silence shall be the person who controls the conversation.

*bang*

With a small sound almost comparable to daipan, a booze was landed above the crude table.

It was Lamy who was perfectly normal.

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''Ah, so that's how it goes.''

Both Kuro and Ayame's thoughts synchronised at this moment.