CHAPTER 4
[1%… 12%… 76%…]
[Binding Successful]
He tried his best to hold back the ecstasy that had built up inside him at that moment, and also to consider the fact that his plans might fail depending on her circumstances.
He watched the children train for a few more minutes before deciding to go home.
His hurry to obtain an external or light energy talent was due to a great reason: it was a talent that most awaken at very young ages, ranging from five to ten, and no one had ever learned or obtained any type of ability without that very stage coming first.
It had come as a surprise to many when he wasn't able to awaken said talent even after he turned five, and it had become very disturbing for him as well.
He knew that it would only be a while before she would awaken her external talent—a month at most.
As soon as he arrived home, he took off his clothes, leaving nothing on apart from his black trousers.
It was an act in preparation for another day's worth of training, which didn't take long for him to begin: fifty push-ups, sit-ups, and kilometer runs ranging from five to ten.
He didn't train like that every day, and there were sometimes when he would reduce the latter numbers to a bare minimum of five; this was mostly when he messed up his daily schedule.
This was to help his body become accustomed to all the stress he would be putting on it in the upcoming years; it was better to be safe than sorry when he went binding with many characters in the story.
After he was done with his training, he made use of his towel and returned to his room.
He didn't have any knowledge of the world he was currently in aside from the few ramblings he heard from his friend, so studying was another part of his daily routine.
For a boy his age, everything he did was practically impossible for any other person his age, even considering the improved standards that the world he found himself in imposed.
Most would be drained from physical and mental exhaustion, even the likes of him. An early morning meditation was his only medicine, but even he wasn't sure how long it would be before his body would finally give in.
After his daily routine, he went to sleep and woke up the next day feeling tired as usual; this was when he usually meditated, and then a siesta would follow to aid him in his fatigue.
While he was still meditating, the door to his room was suddenly and forcefully pulled open.
He didn't react to this, besides simply opening his eyes and refraining from his earlier hand position.
"What are you doing?"
He heaved a sigh as soon as he heard the feminine voice coming from the door. One that he had long gotten used to.
Having not received an answer from him, she continued:
"Whatever. I just came here to tell you that Mum won't be around for a while, and I'm leaving." She said, quickly walking into his room. "You're free to come with me if you'd like."
'Yay!!!'
He wanted to scream out loud.
He already knew that his mum wasn't going to be around for an entire week, but the news from her was a great surprise.
"How long is it before you leave?" he asked, quickly standing up from the floor.
"Depends—at most an hour from now." She replied before leaving.
He didn't say anything else before she left; his silence was all the answers she needed.
********
Now at the luxury of being at the house alone, he instantly cancelled every schedule made mandatory for him.
A few of the servants assigned to him had tried to talk him out of his decision, but he had blatantly refused.
Though they were much obligated to fulfil their duties of helping him in one way or another, Megumi was one big problem; his charm was almost irresistible, and his words and voice were never ones anybody could turn a deaf ear to.
This action left him with nothing to do but his additional daily routines of workouts and studying. It was already afternoon by the time he was done studying, and he quickly got dressed, not in his usual attire but in plainer clothes this time.
There wasn't anyone to watch him or scold him with the usual babble of him being the future head of the family, so he could enjoy the liberty while it still lasted.
His destination was one that took him a while to get to without his guards, as usual by his side, but he did manage, regardless.
Before him were low-slung eaves that hovered like a monk's bowed head, sheltering what looked like sliding shoji doors. There was a raked gravel garden unfolding around him, bordered by smooth stones and sparse greenery. It was a harmony of wood, space, and quiet.
Standing just outside the front door of the building, he breathed heavily as he slowly raised his hand to knock on the door.
All it took was three knocks before someone came running to unlock the door for him.
He was taken aback for a moment as he looked up at the girl standing before him. She was stunning, with jade-white skin and was a little taller than him, about one hundred and thirty-six centimeters in height.
She had emerald green eyes just like her younger sister and dark brown hair.
"Oh," she said, turning his gaze towards him, "you must be one of Yuki's friends. I'll go let her know you came by to pay her a visit. What's your name, though...? You can also make yourself at home in the meantime."
" Yeah… Sure." He said with a slight chuckle.
With that, he took off his footwear and slowly walked into the house behind her.
It was a decent house in his opinion. Not anything breathtaking compared to what he had seen so far; their living room was only a bit larger than his bedroom. They seemed well-off from what he could tell.
The furniture was just like that of most Japanese living rooms: mostly low to the ground with tatami flooring and zabutons along with sliding paper screens that allowed rays of sunlight into the room while giving them all the privacy.
He sat patiently on one of the zabutons as he continued to look around the traditionally made Japanese-style house while he waited for her.
It didn't seem like their parents were around, and it took a good amount of minutes before he began to hear her footsteps heading down the stairs of the house.
As soon as their eyes met, the first thing he noticed was that she was sweating and had a towel around her neck.
Her dress spoke the same as his thoughts; with the small cami and high-waisted leggings paired with supportive shoes, it was obvious that she had been training.
"What did you come to see me for?" she asked, slowly taking the towel off her neck.
"Well…" he said, placing his right hand on the back of his neck nervously, "you don't mind if I have a word with you, right?"