Shinji woke up to the alarm of his small danger-detection machine. It was sending very strong signals. He immediately reported those signals to POX. However, he decided not to bring this topic up today so the kids wouldn't get scared.
Everyone arrived at 5:30 a.m.
Shinji: Good to see you all… except Akaimo. Where is he?
Shino: Wait, he didn't come yet? I thought he came before us.
Hey, Jeisuke, can you go to Akaimo's house and bring him?
Jeisuke: Sure, captain.
Jeisuke went to Akaimo's house. He called him for five minutes — no response.
Finally, Akaimo opened the door, eyes half-closed.
Akaimo: What do you want, Shino?
Jeisuke: What?! I'm Jeisuke. What are you saying?
Akaimo: Oh… my mistake. It's just too early. I can't open my eyes properly.
Jeisuke: Come on, we have training today. Everyone's waiting.
Akaimo: Ahh… yes… training session…
Akaimo then slammed the door and hid behind it.
Jeisuke stood there stunned.
Jeisuke: Hey, come with me or I'll call your parents and tell them you're skipping this.
Akaimo (thinking): Parents? Haha… funny.
Jeisuke: Come on, Akaimo. If you come, professor might treat us again.
Akaimo: Wait… seriously? Let me get ready, I'm coming.
Jeisuke: Don't you need your parents' permission? We've been friends since childhood, but I've never seen your parents. Can I meet them once?
Akaimo ignored the question, locked the door, and started walking toward Shinji's house.
Jeisuke: Hey, what's wrong with you? Wait for me. And why did you lock uncle and aunty inside…
(What is up with this weirdo…)
Akaimo and Jeisuke arrived at Shinji's house at 6 a.m.
Shino: What took you so long to bring Akaimo, Jeisuke?
Jeisuke: It's Akaimo. He wasn't coming.
Akaimo: So, professor… I came because you said you'd treat us.
Shinji: I never said I'd treat you today.
Akaimo: What?! But Jeisuke—
Jeisuke: I said that just to bring you here.
Akaimo: Jeisuke!! You—!! I'm going to beat you in every challenge today!
Jeisuke: Bet.
Shinji: Today you'll be training your hand movements and muscles. Hand movement is crucial in battle. And muscle is important too — if your opponent gets too close, you need to punch hard and create distance.
Shizuku: Understood… but I'm a girl. Isn't it weird for me to train arm muscles?
Shino: Heh… excuses.
Shizuku: Hey, it's not an excuse!
Everyone started training.
Akaimo and Jeisuke trained like their lives depended on it.
Shinji (thinking): Akaimo is difficult to understand… he may not have awakened eyes yet, but he definitely has potential.
Akaimo: Look! I'm lifting 25 kg like it's nothing!
Jeisuke: So weak. Look at me — 30 kg.
Shinji: Hey, you two, don't injure yourselves competing like that.
Akaimo & Jeisuke: Don't worry, sensei!
Shinji (thinking): I have to protect this team at all costs… They're more valuable than my life — especially Akaimo.
They trained nonstop for three hours. Break time.
Shinji: Clearly Jeisuke and Akaimo are leading in today's session.
Akaimo: Hey Shizuku, you heard sensei. I'm doing better than everyone — especially Jeisuke.
Before Shizuku could answer—
Jeisuke: You aren't beating me. I lifted more than you.
Akaimo: I lifted 40 for two seconds. What about that?
Jeisuke: I lifted 35 kg for four seconds. What about that?
The two of them kept arguing.
Shinji: Tomorrow I'll put you all against each other. Give it your best.
Shino:Jeisuke and Momoshimo have eyes. How can we fight them?
Shinji: Don't worry. Eye abilities will be forbidden in tomorrow's fight.
Akaimo: Put me against Jeisuke. I'll show him I'm better.
Jeisuke: Sure. We'll see, loser.
Akaimo: Did you just call me loser?!
Momoshimo:
Rockic Shield.
Momoshimo: Now both of you stay under the rock. You can fight and scream all you want in there.
After the break, they trained more.
Training ended.
Jeisuke and Shinji lived on the same roadside.
Jeisuke: Hey, has any of us ever seen Akaimo's parents? I never have. I wanted to see them today, but he ignored me when I asked.
Shino: Now that you mention it… me neither. We need to plan to meet them. We've seen everyone else's parents so many times, but never his. They didn't even come to the parents' meeting weeks ago — and sir didn't say anything to him.
Jeisuke: Since Akaimo's birthday is coming soon, what if we visit his house with cake and snacks along with sensei Shinji? We'll definitely meet them then. Akaimo can't refuse us. And it won't look suspicious — we're just celebrating our friend's birthday.
Shino: Nah, that's actually a genius plan. I'll tell everyone about it during tomorrow's training.
Jeisuke and Shino then went home.