As Natsuya stepped out of the line, a person in a black jacket looked at him in surprise.
The Black Jacket Person: "Is this you? It can't be... Are you... Natsuya?"
Natsuya: "*Recognizes the face of the Black Jacket Person* How do you know my name—wait... are you... A-A-Akira? You're alive!"
Akira: "*Surprised* Yeah, I always have been! How's it going? Any trouble lately?"
They greeted each other warmly, laughing and even tearing up a bit.
Natsuya: "I didn't know you were in Korea. I'll wait for you to finish your application."
Akira: "I already finished it. Arayuki was shocked when he saw you from a distance—like he wanted to wait for you. Let's go to him."
As Akira and Natsuya walked toward Arayuki, who was sitting on a bench, he stood up as if meeting someone special.
Natsuya: "Arayuki! It's great to see you here!"
Arayuki: "NATSUYA! IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!" he replied eagerly.
Natsuya: "I know, right?"
Arayuki: "How's Yurika doing?"
Natsuya: "Good, I just left my apartment. What brought you here?"
Arayuki: "After what happened with High School, I had no option but to become a hunter."
Akira: "That's unfortunate. On my end, a cursed spirit crashed into my house—about the size of ten stacked cars—devastating the living room. Worst part, the doorway disappeared! "
Arayuki: "Think carefully about how the Program works. There's no guarantee you'll be accepted. It's more about survival. The Fighters in the Program are the ones who can extinguish curses easily; if we fight outside the Program, we face penalties—or even death. This is my free time as a C-Grade fighter; I was resting from these cursed demons and stumbled across Akira."
Natsuya: "I felt sorrow when Miseong City High School shut down. If it weren't for that, we wouldn't even be here worrying about this."
Natsuya tried his best to hold back his tears, ignoring the events that happened back at Miseong City.
Arayuki: "We're going to reclaim what's ours. Miseong City will be free soon. We'll reside there again—that's a promise."
Natsuya: "What are your strengths?"
Arayuki: "I can exterminate curses with my Cursed Arts, which are similar to my Capoeira skills. My best skill? Sheer Will. I can scare off curses and quickly exploit my opponents' mistakes."
Natsuya: "Well, my strengths are just... fists."
Akira: "You're horrible at punching, Natsuya. One swing, your hand is fractured."
Arayuki: "Life presents numerous opportunities to become stronger. You have to enhance your resilience and adapt your skills to different situations. That's called adaptability."
Akira: "Do we have any money? We should spend it on something unique here, since I haven't been in Korea for eight years."
Arayuki: "Japan is more unique, but let's try finding something interesting here with what we have."
Natsuya: "I only have 25 U.S. dollars in my wallet. I guess we could get something to eat."
* * *
The Three started walking to an affordable Korean BBQ House, got their seats, and sat down at the table. The table had a BBQ Grill, some condiments, and kimchi as a side dish.
Natsuya: "*Relaxed* It sure smells good here."
Akira: "I ain't going to eat much, I feel thirsty."
Arayuki: "I guess I'll have to rely on you guys. I hope you answered honestly on your application form and feel proud of it. Even if you guys don't get accepted, be happy still. Because this Program is no joke, a lot of fighters struggle in the process. I can't tell you guys what is inside the Program yet."
Waitress: "What would you like today?"
Natsuya: "*Looking at the menu* I would have the Full Course Tender Combo for everyone."
Waitress: "*Jotting her note down* Full Course Tender Combo... what would you like to drink?"
Natsuya: "Eh... Chilsung Cider."
Arayuki: "Zero calories of that one."
Akira: "Beer."
Arayuki slammed Akira's head to the table, and he lifted his head, saying,
"I was joking... Water... sounds good."
Waitress: "Thank you for ordering. Your food will come soon!"
Arayuki: "You bastard! Never ask for beer at your age!"
Akira: "SAYS MR. CHIVALRY! EXPECT ASKING THAT WOMAN OUT AT YOUR AGE!"
Arayuki: "*Mocking Akira* Delusional? I can't help with your brain cells decreasing!"
Akira: "*Mocking Arayuki* Infatuation? No shit, you're blushing so hard that the BBQ grill thinks you're competing with it!"
Akira and Arayuki: "*Chairs Scrape, stands up angrily* YOU WANT TO GO, YOU PIECE OF GARBAGE?!!!!?"
Natsuya: "People are watching us! What a show!"
Every customer watches Akira and Arayuki fighting at our table, and they sit down and apologize.
Akira and Arayuki: "*Trying not to laugh* Oh, uh... sorry."
After a while, the waiters cooked the meat for us, a plentiful amount that we could eat for a day.
After eating at the restaurant, The Time is 3:00, 2 More Hours for The Approval, they are headed to A Melee Shop in The Corporation, to see which Weapons fit Natsuya. Akira has a Glaive; he uses a katana, a sword from Medieval Japan, called the Shirokaze. He was a Hunter, but outside of The Corporation. If his Grade were to be in The Corporation, then it would be around a C-B Grade. He wanted to join the Corporation to infuse his skills with supernatural powers and mana. He also has a similar goal to Natsuya's, to be remembered as the one with unwavering loyalty, while Natsuya's is to stop all demons from ravaging the earth.