Chapter 75

Grumbling and with a few ugly looks, the tourists 'Americans', how Hitomi-san called them even though Danuja was pretty sure they weren't from America, the group walked at the counter and paid Hitomi-san for every dish under Danuja gaze and Dad threatening height.

'' This type always give me jitters.'' Hitomi-san said faintly after they left making Danuja hum, while stroking her back in unsure moves 

'' It would help if you stopped calling them 'Americans'.'' Danuja teased more or less '' Just call them tourists or foreigners.''

'' I'm old!'' Hitomi-san said loudly using her age as an excuse making Danuja tsk at her though the woman wasn't deterred. Before Danuja could add anything she walked to the abandoned table, taking the dishes back before mingling with the other people that were eating their food slowly.

'' A dog would do this place good.'' Danuja muttered before going to the back to check the supplies. It wasn't the first time this 'dine and dash' thing happened, especially in small, in the wall restaurants like this one.

Most of the time it was happening in the afternoon or early night when Danuja was already here and Hitomi-san was resting in the back. Danuja stare, her intense eyes like molted gold was enough to make any stray costumer like this to stop any mischief from happening and behave normally. Really, what was so interesting or exciting in eating and not paying your meals after?

Even middle schoolers that would go up to Danuja waist would give it a try from time to time. 

Danuja was pretty sure that whatever Hitomi-san child was doing, they were making enough money to hold this small business afloat with fresh supplies to boot.

'' Danuja-chan, take a couple of boiled eggs with you when you are done! '' Hitomi-san shouted from the front of the shop while Danuja was carrying the bag of rice closer to the small kitchen drawers

'' Sure! Thanks, Hitomi-san!'' Danuja shouted back with a small grin. Somehow she could hear Dad happy bark from the outside.

----

Danuja checked her phone one last time before Mr. Touma would get at the gym with his car. Dad was at home, secure, fed and hopefully asleep or not just staring at the front door. Her work at Hitomi-san shop was over and after making sure that she bounded her binder tightly enough around her chest.

'' Okay, did you take your ticket? We can't get in without it.'' Mr. Touma said after he arrived and both of them get into the car

'' I took it.'' Danuja waved the ticket between them before stuffing it back in her pocket

'' Good. Take that draft over there and look at it, it should help with your future training.'' Mr. Touma said pointing with his chin at the stack of papers from that morning, now clipped together at a corner

Danuja looked into those files, reading slowly over the letters before she frowned, looking more intently at them.

'' Who wrote this thing? The writing is too nice to be yours.'' Danuja added before he could snark at her while she was looking at each paper, filled with stats 

'' Do you remember my son?'' like usual, Mr. Touma answered her question with another question

'' The one that didn't want to come home, stayed at his boyfriend place and made your wife cry?'' Mr. Touma winced before nodding gruffly '' Yeah, I remember him.''

'' Apparently they broke up and my son come home crying his eyes out because of that little shit he was together with.'' Danuja looked at his a little wide eyed before she raised an eyebrow at him '' Wanted to go at his place and beat the shit out of him but that fucker already moved country's and I couldn't catch him at the airport.'' 

'' Well...lucky him I guess. And now your son is back to your house and doing....stats?'' Danuja asked squinting her eyes at the paper, catching her own name there

'' He is very good at math and since he was little, believe it or not, doing math problems helped him focus or empty his mind at last. I told him about you and this time he listened so he begin to make that thing to help you. Is your training progress since you come around the first time till now. At last what I told him.''

Danuja looked thoroughly at each paper, humming at every scale, raising an eyebrow when it would suddenly drop or raise higher before she stared at the straight line for a long time. From the states, her power and skill didn't get any better but remained at an average point not going higher or lower.

The straight line just made her remember of her school grades and of Kana who at this must have been in front of the school, for that grey car to take her home. Or maybe she was inside the Club room, taking care of the garden. Or she was on the soft sofa they got, napping there till the last bell rung.

'' I don't believe in states. They can 'talk' whoever much they want but I can do better than them.''

'' Brat.'' Mr. Touma snorted at her while she put the papers back in their place '' I'm gonna wipe your ass so much the next years. You a teenager, a fully grown one and your development is the best right now.''

'' You want me to be taller than this?'' Danuja showed off her shoulders, smirking

'' I'm talking about muscles. You need to bulk up if you want to survive. Lean and muscular can get you so many places but with your height, it would be better to bulk you up.'' he said nodding to himself 

Danuja tsked before opening her mouth just to stop herself frowning, looking out of the window. The car drove on a narrow path, bad patched with a lot of holes and bumps. Outside, familiar images where seen one after another but despite that there was no one on the street. It was afternoon, somewhere at 3 P.M. but the sky was gloomy looking making the outside look quite depressing.

'' Where are we now? '' Danuja asked and Mr. Touma just hummed amused

'' Took you long enough, boy.'' he said gruffly ''This is Mirokanai, the closest slums of Tokyo and the place where the Second Ring is placed.''