Meeting

Waking up, Nozomu started his daily routine of exercises after that he went outside to jog around his neighborhood near the Fujimi Academy. From his house to the school would only take a few minutes of walking so he's always on time whenever he goes there.

After the jog, he always meditates to ease his mind and to not stress out with the upcoming event. Then he checks if the evacuation and what is the current status. One of his subordinates told him that they were 80% complete and estimated that a day before the deadline, they will be completed in their phase 1 procedure wherein it entails that the immediate family will be going on an "all-paid trip" cruise outside of the country to not cause any panic. As much as he trusted his direct people, their family and friends were not included in the circle of people to be informed, at least not before its start. Besides, the family was happy that their husbands and wives are getting top-notch and problems with money were a thing of the past for them but they are still concerned about their behavior.

Nozomu even talks to them occasionally just to alleviate their mental fatigue and tell them that "what you do were necessary sacrifices to be alive" or "if it happens, then good that we made some precautions to keep your family alive and if it passes the will just continue in living without the fear of sudden death". Even if he said that they all know what would happen but they also know the one with the most burden is Nozomu, their leader, he even helped most of them with their problem just to gain their trust so the least that they can do is see these things to the end.

Putting those thoughts in the back of his head. He walks through the bathroom and to freshen up and get rid of the sweat he accumulated. Looking at a mirror after, he sees the results of his hard work. A V-cut body with a 1 digit fat ratio. His face even though not too handsome and can only consider being above average, most girls would still be swoon over with the addition of his eyes.

Cerulean blue eyes that even when the sun is high up, would be the first thing that most people see. It is a good thing that the school uniform covers the whole body or there might be a line of girls wanting to be his girlfriend.

Speaking of girlfriend, at first, he was contemplating whether to have one or not because he was not sure it would be a good idea to have a companion so early in his journey.

FLASHBACK 4 years ago

While I was getting out from a local convenience, I saw a guy stalking a girl late at night which from the way the girl was dressed she could be a middle schooler from near school. Even though I'm trying to be low-key, I would still do a bare minimum and try to save the girl if it really comes down to it.

I don't know at that time why was the girl going through a secluded place near a construction site. She might be thinking of losing the guy in pursuit if she goes but why is that she suddenly stop. Now the guy is closing unto her and I am ready to take some evidence just in case that when I move and save the girl, I would have an alibi in doing what I'm about to do.

Why the heck did she let the guy cling to her. Is what my first thought at that moment. But when I look in the girl's face and just notice a wooden sword in her hand. That was not the look a scared girl looks like. No, that was the look of a predator looking at her prey falling for the trap. Then it hit me and remembered who that girl was.

I already called the police after she walk near the construction site so they were able to get here fast. The scene that they saw is a man on his knees and grabbing his shoulder. When he noticed the police, he called them and tell them to arrest the girl but that is when I showed up and show the evidence to the police from when he was stalking the girl to the point she hit him with the wooden sword. The face of the man fell when he saw his face on the evidence. Long story short, the girl was only doing self-defense even and the guy was sentenced to a few years for attempted rape.

After that, the girl and I sometimes saw each other because that is when I started doing my martial arts training near the convenience store from when I first saw her.

One time I saw her looking at me practicing. It was when the instructors of the dojo and other students already left and spare keys to locking the dojo were on me. The instructors have high trust in me enough to have a spare key to the dojo. Generous donations and recommendations also help in gaining it.

Now here we are looking at each other for a few moments, I said.

Nozomu: "Welcome, the instructors already left so if you want to apply to be a new student, you would have to come back tomorrow to register."

??: "No no... Sorry, I was just curious because I always saw this dojo still open at this hour and heard some noise so tried to see what is going on. But when I saw you and doings some stances, I just watched in silence."

Nozomu: "Hehehe... I'm just trying some new kendo stances and see if can be used in a tournament or spar."

??: *smiles* "If it is alright with you, I would be happy to help you practice. I am in the kendo club in my school."

Nozomu: "Really? *scratching the back of his head* But... Ok... I will just clean up after a friendly spar. Oh right, my name is Museigen Nozomu."

??: "I'm Busujima Saeko"

Nozomu: "Just put your thing at the side so we can start the spar and from how you walk I don't think you can't wait to hit me with that bokken." *smiling*

Saeko: "That is quite rude Museigen-san. I am just excited to have a spar."

Nozomu: "Please, just call me Nozomu. I don't really like the formality. Besides, I think we're gonna be sparring buddies after this."

Saeko: "If you insist, then just call me Saeko. About that being sparring buddies, we will see."

Nozomu: "Then, ready" *smirking*

Saeko: "Begin"

If you were wondering, yes we both have put armors to spar. In the first few minutes, we were still doing competition standards for the spar but we don't know where it got to the point we were trading free-form sword blows. At the start, she always has the upper hand and pushed me back and because I'm not using my actual strength, I could really see our difference in skills. But because of my talent, I manage to defeat her.

Saeko: "And here I thought you were a beginner." *panting heavily(not the sexy type but just exhausted)*

Nozomu: "Yup but I just won because you got tired faster and not to brag but I have better stamina than most." *doing the breathing exercise from the manual*

Saeko: "I can see that" *looking at how he breaths then focusing on the lips for 3 seconds then turning her head away while blushing*

Nozomu: "Catch your breath, in the meantime, I will start cleaning to close the dojo."

Saeko: "I will help you with that."

Nozomu: "Nah... It's alright I can do it myself so just relax and regain your strength. If you have any change of clothes we have a washroom at the back. Don't worry I won't peek. Gonna be busy and all that."

Saeko: "I don't mind." *smiles and walk away to the washroom*

Nozomu: *blushing* 'If I don't know that she was just teasing, I would say she is telling the truth'

After Saeko and Nozomu finish preparing to leave. Nozomu insisted to walked her home which was denied by Saeko telling me that her house was already a couple of minutes' walk from the dojo which surprises Nozomu. Then he tells her to be careful on the way and starts walking in the opposite direction. A few days after that, they met again in the dojo but they only talked and Saeko invited him to watch the tournament in which she is going to be participating.