"Hiko, your cooking is really good. In the future when you and Gen live together, this guy will be lucky."
While saying these words of praise, Xia Yan kept shoveling food into his mouth.
The wooden lunch box's several layers were spread on the table. The rice and dishes were rapidly diminishing, while Gen was still sleeping peacefully in bed, unlikely to wake up anytime soon.
Although Gen had joined MAC, Director Ōmura had kept his room reserved.
So, the two didn't go to the common rest area. Guided by Hiko, Xia Yan carried Gen into the room and placed him on the bed.
Hiko, thinking it wouldn't be right to let someone help for nothing, invited Xia Yan to share the meal.
What she never expected was how much Xia Yan could eat.
When coming over, considering two men would have bigger appetites, Hiko had prepared enough for four people.
But now it seemed completely insufficient. Even Gen's specially prepared portion was unceremoniously taken out and eaten by Xia Yan.
Watching Xia Yan's voracious eating, the spoon in Hiko's hand felt stiff.
She forced a strained smile on her face:
"Uh... yes. Xia Yan-san, if you're still hungry, there's more here. I'm not very hungry either."
These were just polite words. In truth, Hiko had already decided: next time she brings lunch for Gen, she absolutely must avoid Xia Yan. He's a bottomless pit!
Perhaps Xia Yan's hurricane-like eating吓住了 Hiko. Her own portion remained untouched.
Then, hearing Hiko's words, Xia Yan's eyes lit up. He reached over and took Hiko's portion.
"Since you said so, I won't stand on ceremony. I'm indeed still not full."
Hiko was stunned.
Wait, I was just being polite! How can you just take it!
Watching Xia Yan devour her portion as well, Hiko felt like crying inside.
Her slightly parted lips欲言又止,止言又欲.
Actually, I am a bit hungry. Normally, shouldn't you politely refuse? Xia Yan-san, you really are...
Soon, all the brought lunch was completely消灭完.
"Ah, gochisōsama deshita (thank you for the meal)! I'm full!"
Patting his丝毫没有鼓涨的 stomach, Xia Yan stood up with a beaming smile, giving Hiko a thumbs-up:
"I won't打扰 you and Gen anymore, Hiko. Your cooking is excellent! Next time you bring lunch for Gen, remember to invite me too!"
With that, he waved goodbye, then turned and left with a satisfied expression.
Hiko snapped out of her恍惚. Looking at Xia Yan's departing背影, then at the空空如也的 lunch boxes.
She immediately gritted her teeth.
Invite you again? In your dreams!
Xia Yan was unaware of Hiko's无语. He genuinely wasn't very full.
Since evolving and gaining the ability to transform, his body felt like a bottomless pit.
Earlier, he absorbed Gen's light energy but didn't feel any energy overload.
Perhaps this was related to the Planck Space.
Currently, though he could vaguely sense it, Xia Yan had no way to enter it.
Ever since suspecting a likely connection with the Shin Ultraman Ribut, he occasionally tried to sense it.
The Shin Ultraman introduced the Planck Space concept. So, like a blind cat finding a dead mouse, he actually managed to sense a special space connected to himself.
Returning to the training area, he practiced all the combat techniques contained in Universal Boxing several times,刷完 the currently available experience, before leaving Minami Gymnasium.
Xia Yan estimated Gen would wake up soon and worried he'd be堵住 if he didn't leave.
[Universal Boxing Lv1 (35/100)]
Skills weren't immediately usable in combat just by acquiring them. After all, the brain might understand, but the body doesn't. Once his overall实力 improved later,触类旁通 from a higher vantage point, he could probably move as his mind willed.
Having just榨干 Gen's light energy, Xia Yan felt it best to avoid meeting him for the next few days. But he still wanted to get stronger.
His current strength was insufficient to handle future enemies.
All insecurity stemmed from inadequate firepower.
For now, Gen probably wasn't an option in the short term. So, he naturally thought of another Ultraman.
Xia Yan looked up at the sky.
When no aliens appeared on Earth, Dan Moroboshi usually stayed at the space station.
In his words, MAC headquarters' radar could monitor the entire Earth.
Any abnormal energy reactions could be detected immediately.
But that wasn't entirely true. If MAC's radar were that effective, they wouldn't have been completely wiped out later.
And the team's performance was consistently lackluster. Hard to say if it was due to equipment issues or simply being比较菜.
Xia Yan had an idea.
Arriving at a remote,无人山区, he took out his transformation device and pressed it.
With the transformation音效, a silver giant appeared in a flash of white light, its body条纹 now gray.
This form was Xia Yan's base appearance. Just for traveling, there was no need to消耗素材.
Standing on the大地, he bent his legs, then thrust his arms forward and shot into the sky.
However, his flight path was somewhat wobbly. Here's an Ultra joke: he actually hadn't known how to fly before.
Fortunately, Gen's Leo Kick required certain飞行技巧 to use. Otherwise, learning to fly might have taken who knows how long.
As he gradually适应, Xia Yan's body stabilized. Surrounding音障爆开 layer by layer as the silver streak of light pierced the clouds.
Just as he went to find his next victim, Dan Moroboshi, at Minami Gymnasium, Gen abruptly sat up in bed.
Looking茫然 for a moment, he suddenly remembered the earlier遭遇 and involuntarily shuddered.
The next moment, his face filled with怒容. He looked around, searching for Xia Yan's figure.
Damn it, that son of a—!
Hiko, who had been趴着守候 by the bed, saw Gen wake up and looked欣喜.
"You're finally awake!"
Seeing his face was still noticeably pale, her tone became责备:
"Gen-kun, even during training, your health is very important!"
Seeing the担忧 on Hiko's face, Gen's暴躁 heart slowly calmed.
"I understand."
His eyes searched the room but didn't see Xia Yan. He asked: "Hiko, where did Xia Yan go?"
Right now, Gen just wanted to catch Xia Yan and give him a good beating with Universal Boxing.
"Gen-kun, are you even listening to me!?"
Hiko looked不满, taking a mirror from the room and holding it to Gen's face:
"Look at yourself! Pale complexion, weak limbs,虚汗多汗."
"Xia Yan-san said you became like this from over-training. If this continues, your body will collapse!"
Hearing this, Gen's嘴角 twitched. Looking at his憔悴 reflection in the mirror.
And hearing that混蛋's made-up excuse, he clenched his fists. Xia Yan, you damn—!