The blur gradually gave way to light as his eyelids crawled up. Kenji blinked once and twice. He glanced around only to find himself on a bed with white sheet. He shifted to the bandage on his left cheek. Akuma. The fight. I lost?
A sharp breath left his lungs. Footsteps echoed down the hall and paused in front of the door. Dachi walked in with a backpack and a clipboard.
"Kenji. Koshida Kenji."
His brows jumped. Kenji lifted his gaze with a gulp running down his chest.
Dachi handed him a bag, "You're now officially a warrior of The Vanguard."
Silence.
"Kenji. Qualified." Dachi's voice echoed down the arena. Akuma stopped dead. His left eye flinched as he mumbled, "What?" He stared up.
"Qualified?!" He tightened his fists and shifted his attention to unconscious Kenji before gazing at Dachi again, "Did you watch with your eyes closed?!"
Dachi adjusted his glasses, "You died three times with eyes opened."
Akuma jolted back. THREE?! He dropped his gaze. First on the rib. Second on the back. He caught something white on the back of his arm. The third one.
He gasped, "How…HOW?!"
The scene flashed back in his mind. He drove forward with a full burst of his flame. The punch shot but Kenji stepped forward. With his hand raised to Akuma's extending fist.
Third one.
His eyes quivered as he locked back to Kenji, "You…You tricked me!" He frowned hard and walked out. Slammed the door shut behind.
Kenji's eyes snapped wide. Goosebumps ran across his skin. His voice quivered and choked out of words, "I-I am qualified...?!"
Commander Dachi put the bag beside his bed and pushed his glasses, "Next training in two hours." Before Kenji could react, Dachi had already left the room. The door clicked shut behind.
Kenji's jaw dropped but nothing came out.
The constant hum of the fan marked the silence of the room. Kenji dragged himself up and reached for the bag. Tears welled up. The Vanguard outfit in the bag.
His breath caught as the familiar faces flashed in his mind. Faded and blurry.
A loud siren reverberated. Down the hall, footsteps met the concrete and drifted through his room. He pushed himself to the edge of the bed and landed his feet on the floor. Mostly bandages.
He grabbed the bed frame. Kenji pushed as his legs straightened simultaneously. He stumbled to the door and pulled the knob. Warriors walked past his door from the right to the left. Kenji stepped out and focused on where they were heading to. Dining Hall. His stomach immediately reacted with a hum.
Both legs dragged him after them. A strong arm caught him, "You're okay?"
His throat choked, "Ah-I'm good..."
"Thanks."
The warrior held him. Tall. Strong. The man giggled as he gazed at Kenji's legs, "That doesn't seem okay."
"I'm Ishida Homura. You?"
"Ah… I'm Koshida Kenji."
Homura raised his eyebrows, "You're..." He paused, "The one who had won over Akuma on the entrance test?"
Kenji flinched hard. Won… He scratched his head and looked away, "Akuma could have killed me a hundred times."
Homura patted Kenji's back, "But you are qualified." He continued before Kenji could react, "Did you know that Akuma had been undefeated for ages?"
"Wh…what?" Kenji's eyelids jerked up with his brows.
"And you broke his streak. Bravo!"
Kenji's jaw dropped. No words. His chest stiffened as his throat quivered, "I-I broke his streak…?"
Homura nodded once, "The dining hall is ahead. Let's go."
Kenji lifted his gaze only to find the crowd surrounding the food stall. The smell of curry found his nose. His stomach growled loud enough to hear when they stepped into the mess hall.
"Let's take this one. Best food here." Homura handed Kenji the bowl and onigiri.
Kenji looked down at the food. His mouth watered up instantly but he had to bite it off.
A young one stood up at the table of three, "Homura. We're here!"
Homura led Kenji to him. Three people had been there but their food was untouched. Kenji stilled. Homura glanced back and chuckled, "Don't worry. They're friendly."
Kenji paused for a second before taking another step forward. He sat down next to Homura and placed the food on the table. His eyes locked on the curry.
"Eh? New recruit?" One of them tilted his head.
Kenji lifted his face up. Met the eyes. He turned away immediately.
A shy one finally spoke behind black straight bangs, "I'm Kanzaki Sora…"
"Kageyama Shiori." He nodded. Brown hair shifted down to his nose as he dipped his head.
"OH! My name is Saionji Akira. It's nice to see you." Blonde hair slicked back. He smiled and extended his hand to Kenji before he finished the sentence. Waiting.
Kenji lifted his gaze and paused for two seconds. He grabbed it, "I-I'm Koshida Kenji…"
They all jumped at once after the name came out, "You BEAT Akuma?!"
"So cool. You must be so strong."
Kenji flinched and dropped his face. Curry bowl. Warm. He looked up again, only to find the new faces. Not his mother. His attention pinned to the table as he slightly tightened the onigiri.
Homura saw this first. He rested his palm on Kenji's shoulder and patted gently before turning back to the friends, "Give him a minute."
Silence.
Akira stared at Kenji's onigiri, "Bro, you've been holding for two minutes. You're good?"
Kenji recoiled. His fingers gave out instantly. He shook his head, "Yeah, don't worry…"
They narrowed their eyes.
"Kenji."
Akira grinned and gave out a thumbs up, "Tell us when you're ready. Okay?"
Kenji stopped dead for half a second before nodding slightly. Akira sat down and glanced at everyone, "Let's eat."
"Lunch break is ending!"
Everyone took their bite of the onigiri. Kenji tasted the curry. The texture and the scent could never feel like home but faintly recalled the smile of his mother. His eyes welled up. Kenji blinked it off before turning to the onigiri.
"THUUD!"
All the bowls jolted. One spoon of curry. Akira jumped - knees struck beneath the table. "Oi-!" Sora recoiled and grabbed the bowl. Too late. His curry pooled beneath it.
Akira hadn't noticed, "This curry always tastes so good."
"You said this was the worst to eat yesterday." Shiori stared at him through the corner of his eye.
"That was yesterday!" Akira shouted.
"Tch. Two faces huh?"
"Shut it…" Akira turned away and swallowed the rest of the onigiri. He paused. "Oh…Kenji. Training session this afternoon. You're coming?"
"Maybe…"
Akira hummed once and paused. He tilted his head after glancing at Kenji up and down, "That's quite overwhelming when you're that injured…"
"I think I can do this…" Kenji shook his head slightly.
Shiori chuckled, "Blind or dumb? You must be both, Akira."
"Stop bullying, loud mouth!" Akira growled and grabbed the collars.
Completely unfazed. Shiori spoke slightly above a whisper, "Who's loud?"
"Damn you…"
Laughter. Homura started it. Akira sighed and sat down, releasing the collar of Shiori. He smiled after all. Shiori did it too.
Blinked. The bowls were licked clean.
Akira burped loudly, "Dang…thick one." He nudged Shiori's arm with his shoulder, "Right?"
"Oeuh…"
The bell echoed across the outpost. All eyes shot straight to the sound before making their way out the mess hall. Akira stood up and grabbed his bowls with a sigh, "Training. Again…"
Everyone else followed. Homura noticed Kenji's gaze at Akira, "Those commanders love Akira. You know?" He chuckled.
Kenji flinched, "Love…?"
"Stop spreading lies, Homura!" Akira bumped his shoulder to Homura. He didn't even recoil. Shiori watched and shook his head. They gathered the bowls at one place before heading out. Kenji did last.
The world snapped to the right. Kenji landed onto the ground with a thud as the bowl rolled down the hall. He looked up instantly. A tall, sharp figure. That look felt like Akuma.
"Eh? Another weak ass…"
Kenji flinched. Not Akuma. He gritted his teeth and got on his knees, "Who…are you?"
He swept his feet as Kenji dropped again. A loud laughter burst from his mouth, "Does it matter. Weak."
"Enough. Souma." Homura's hand moved to Souma's shoulder.
Souma's arm snapped up and knocked it aside. "Don't you dare put your hand. On. Me." His sharp brown eyes pinned into Homura.
Sora, Shiori and Akira stood behind - eyes fixed on him. Silence.
"You're reaching Luminar."
"So what?" Souma walked away, shouldered past Homura.
Homura stepped back. He watched Souma go before kneeling beside Kenji, "You're okay? He's just a cocky one."
Kenji exhaled. He shook his head and stood up, "Don't worry. I'm good." Akira heaved his arm on Kenji's shoulders and grinned, "Tell us when he comes to you again."
"Ha..Haaa!" Sweat dropped and soaked his shirt. He glanced at the commander. Third lap. Dachi didn't want them to stop yet as he shouted, "Too slow. One more!"
All of them groaned at the same time. Kenji dragged his feet on the ground. Akira reached him. He didn't look any better than Kenji. His mouth opened and hand raised up. Nothing came out. Only weak breath as he gasped for whatever air was left.
Two of them crawled forward and some other ones slowed down. Dachi noticed Kenji and Akira first, "You two. One more lap!"
"Ehh…We're so done." Akira faced Kenji. Nothing Kenji could speak but a slight nod. Akira looked at Kenji again as his eyes lit up, "Good thing…I'm not alone this time."
He grinned, "So make sure you can catch me!" His feet were already moving before Kenji could react. Kenji flinched and immediately chased him down. Everyone already finished their warm-up run and lined up in front of commander Dachi.
Waited for two of them.
Sora turned to Homura and pointed at Kenji, "Kenji… He is injured right?"
"Uhm." He nodded and chuckled, "And somehow he's as fast as Akira."
Shiori's face stilled, "A snail would feel disrespected if you compared Akira with it." Sora couldn't help and giggled.
Akira noticed Kenji was catching up on the left. He jolted. This is Kenji with injuries?! The white straight line was five meters ahead. Akira pushed himself. For the first time, he had someone at his level to fight with.
Two meters. Kenji threw himself forward. Akira glanced down - only to find Kenji already past him. Homura flinched. Sora and Shiori's breath hitched with their eyes snapped wide.
He jumped?!
They went through the line. Kenji rolled on the ground as the dust thickened up. Akira didn't stop. He made his way to Kenji, ignoring the burning thighs, "Kenji!"
"You don't have to do this…" Akira propped him up and snapped his eyes wide. A tiny crimson line rolled from Kenji's cheek to chin.
Souma smirked in the crowd and mumbled, "Tch? A race to find who is the weak ass?"
Homura shifted back to Shiori and Sora, "This dude. Fiery one." All nodded.
Akira's shoulders dropped as Kenji looked up with a grin, "I'm good!"
"But…I won," Kenji wiped the warm blood with his sleeve.
Akira smirked and patted Kenji's back, "Lucky. I will beat you next time!" Unlike the joy between them, commander Dachi hadn't moved. Those eyes. They recoiled and instantly moved into the line-up.
"Four minute break. Sparring next," Commander Dachi reached up and pushed his glasses, "Pair yourself."
"Yes sir!" The warriors answered at once. Kenji's throat jerked and did it last.
The line-up scattered as they sought for their opponents. Shiori picked Akira immediately while Sora found Homura first. Kenji stood alone. He traced the strange faces but their eyes fixed on their paired opponents.
Footstep behind Kenji. Something hooked his ankle, Kenji hit the ground. He snapped back. Souma stood there with hands tucked in pocket, "Eh? Where are you running now?"
Kenji locked his jaw. His fingers tightened as he stared at Souma, "You want to fight me that much?"
"Scared?"
Homura glanced back and stepped in, "You don't have to do this, Kenji."
"Shut. Up," Souma rounded on Homura, "You love him huh?"
"You don't have good intentions."
Souma stared at Homura, "My decision. I want to fight him," He continued, "What's wrong about it, protective dog?"
Homura frowned deep and clenched his fists as he approached Souma, "Damn you…"
"Fight me then…" The sentence dropped between them.