Me and My Ball

This morning, I wore my torn-up shoes for running and warming up. I feel so me again. I ran myself around the village and visited one or two or three places before returning to the Playground. 

I went to the old lady's art store and watched her painting before getting back. The silence and intellectual conversation made me feel elevated somehow, which intellectual side isn't me for sure.

"..."

"Don't you have to go back?"

The old lady.

"I will after you finish this one."

"Why?...avoiding the training?"

"Haha, no. I just love how you paint."

"How do I paint?"

"Patiently, slowly in slow motion."

"..."

"Seeing you brush the stroke makes me learn how to be patient."

"Is it a compliment? Or just telling me that I'm old."

"Both."

"Hahaha. Yes...I'm old…but you're right. I learn how to be more patient by painting…So…you learn how to be patient on what?"

"On…training...the process…fight."

"I don't like those violent things of yours."

"..."

"But…it's a job…I can not judge what people do to survive their lives…but for fun…I'm not sure about that…I have someone in my life who used to live just like that."

"Who?"

"My brother."

"…and you paint to survive too?"

"Used too…now just for living."

After the art store I went to the convenience store to get several drinks for myself and the rest of the team. I thought that I don't have to run the errand anymore but it's a habit to do this for them.

"Mr. Laith."

I put down the basket on the counter and told the cashier.

Well, since I don't have to pay. 

The Playground

"What took you so long?"

Coach.

"Warming…and—"

I tell him and raise the bag.

"You lost track again."

Coach.

"We got a new match."

Mr. Laith.

"...Okay."

I answer him, search for the coffee bottle, and give it to him.

"..."

He smiles softly and takes it.

"Laith..."

Coach calls him.

"Yes. The match…in the new rank."

"New rank?"

I ask.

"The Mid-Rank...you can enter the Mid-Rank fight now, Roelle."

"Woah…"

'That means we can fight the stronger fighter? Yes!'

"Who is the fighter?"

Coach asks.

"..."

Then, the smile of Mr. Laith is fading away a little while looking at me.

"ARKARDY."

Mr. Laith.

"Mmm."

Coach makes a sound, and then I turn to see him and turn back to Mr. Laith.

Xin, have you seen their reaction? This guy must be...

'Awesome!! he must be strong! I can't wait!'

Aren't you scared for me at all?

'Of course I am, but we can do it.'

Don't be so arrogant that we can fight everyone.

'Don't be so humble and think that you're going to lose every time.'

…

"It's next week."

Mr. Laith.

"I see. Well, at least you already warmed up. Why don't we continue the train right now? Are you ready?"

"Yes, Coach."

The Dark room

When I get downstairs, the light turns on, showing the large ball floating midair, which is hung from the ceiling.

I see Coach standing under it, and I walk to him.

"Lose your wrap and weight."

"Yes, Coach."

"Thug!!"

I put them down on the floor.

"It's time for a new train."

I nod.

"This ball has a different mode switch. Each mode presents speed and aggressiveness."

"..."

"This time, I don't want you to dodge or duck…this time, I want you to take it."

"You mean…"

"Catch it, take it, against it…with your shadow. This train, the shadow, mainly works for you. Let him cover your body when the ball attacks, and spread out to the part where the ball will hit. He can block for you by getting out of your body; let him be the armor for you. Head, hands, legs, or entire body at once…so you will feel less pain."

"..."

"You learned how to fight, you learned how to defend, and now you have learned how to get hit."

"..."

"Roelle, this guy, Arkardy. He's the monster of the human, and he's also the monster of us. Even he's in the Mid-Rank, but he sure can fight like a fucking pro."

"You need to know how it feels when you get hit by someone, not a regular person but with the shadow's strength. So you can tolerate the pain, not because I think you're going to be beaten up. Understand?"

"Yes, Coach."

"And Kid, your weak point is not just body muscle strength. You think too much sometimes."

'That's what I told you.'

"You think too much, it drains your ability to do something...really potential. But it's also the best point, you can figure it out and create the fucking real moves. What I'm trying to say here is to balance them out. Let the body be free to do stuff to feel stuff... Also, use your brain when the harm comes. Not to be cautious all the time."

"Are you talking about life in general or the fight?"

"Hahaha, both, I guess."

"First, I was scared of you going to get hurt. And it accidentally formed the fear inside your head when it comes to fighting…that wasn't a good part. I apologize for that… since I really trained so hard to let you avoid the attacks, and you did a really good job. You have never ever been hit once. But we were playing safe here. And now it's time to let the real potential be free by…being yourself and…I don't want to say it…have fun."

'Woohoo, see? The ballcut is right again!'

"People seeing us…as violence. I don't want to be perceived in that way, but…it's my job."

"Can I ask you something, Kid?... Why were you looking for a job again and again? Was it because you find the job hard? Was it because it was not really your thing? Or Was it because they did you wrong?... Whatever it was, if you face one of those reasons again…now, will you quit again?"

"...I don't want to quit. Actually, I really like this job…Honestly, I secretly think this isn't a job…but like a fun hobby to me."

"If you're not going to quit for somebody else and want to keep on going because of yourself, then I think you find what you're looking for, Kid…I do this job not to try to survive my life, but I do this job because I live my life, and this is the part of me, and I enjoy it." 

"..."

"When you find something that you like and enjoy doing it…Then, you should really enjoy doing it... and not be afraid of what people are going to perceive."

"...heh, yes...you're right."

I smile.

'I'm always right.'

I mean Coach.

'I was the one saying you first! that hurts!'

Hehe… come on… I'll let you take over me this time.

'Mmm…'

Let's see how hard your body is

'I'm always hard.'

That…comes out wrong…Xin.

'What?'