The Worlds Seeker

Soon Kai and Aoi's table was filled with two bowls of ice cream and a bowl of ganache in the middle. Aoi had menta and chocolate ice cream and Kai had a Neapolitan classic.

 

"Kai-san, where did you learn those Taekwondo moves? It was a very clean execution, and a very beautiful one too. Are you a black belt?" After Aoi spent several minutes talking about various things, she finally asked Kai something.

 

"More or less. I practice sometimes, but nothing too serious." Kai completely hid his mastery, "But and you? Even though you didn't get a chance to fight, your punch was well executed. Do you practice any martial arts?"

 

"Yes, I practice Kung Fu since I was little! My dad taught me and I always really enjoyed it!" Aoi spoke proudly of her years of practice. That was also why her [Status] was so high, far surpassing many boys and even grown men.

 

"Impressive, really. It's hard to watch someone stay focused for so many years, especially when you're young." Kai complimented her, which she received with a smile, and then continued, "You said your father is a martial artist. Is that why you have such high ideals of justice?"

 

Aoi was taken aback by the question, and had to think a bit before replying, "Well, I can say yes. But I also don't say I have high ideals. I've also asked myself this a few times, if what I was doing, trying to protect others, really was a form of high ideology. But then I realized it wasn't."

 

"And why?" Kai asked with a smile, not expecting Aoi to have delved into these questions yet.

 

"Just watch the people around you. How often are they indifferent, apathetic or even sarcastic with the suffering of others? People who stab and kill themselves for shallow benefits, or people who are supposed to represent justice but all they do is use it for personal gain." Aoi lowered her head to poke at her ice cream, "So I don't think my ideals are high. I think other people's ideals of justice are very low, and it tends to get worse."

 

Kai took a moment to look at her, and only when Aoi fixed her eyes on him did he speak, "You really are fantastic, Aoi. It was a very deep analysis that you had, completely different from the image of a knightess of justice that you convey. I like to see that side more."

 

"T-thank you!" Aoi blushed at the compliment, and couldn't help but lower her head and eat the ice cream to dispel her embarrassment.

 

"But you know, Aoi." He again caught her attention, "I have a different opinion of justice."

 

"And which one is it?" 

 

"You've heard the saying: Justice is Blind..." Kai looked deep into her eyes, and she couldn't help but fall into that abyss.

 

"Yes. Justice is blind, as it must look at the facts, and not judge based on the conditions of the trial." She spoke automatically, still locked in Kai's gaze.

 

"Excellent. But there's also another saying that complements this very well." Kai slowly slid his hand over hers without her noticing, "What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't feel..."

 

A few moments of silence passed, with the two looking at each other. Aoi was trying to process the sentences and trying to get where Kai pointed. And he himself just wanted to have fun looking at Aoi's distinct expressions as she thought.

 

Only after a few moments did she sigh and comment, "It's quite a different connection, but it really makes sense. I've never tried to think about it that way."

 

"Well, you should. It's good that your ideas of justice are always above the rest, but the world is not fair, and sometimes it will turn a blind eye to all that is evil. It takes strength to keep up and not get dragged down the pit of madness..." Kai gently squeezed her hand, and she finally realized.

 

"Are you worried about me?" She didn't take his hand off her but just enjoyed the warmth. She even felt a little funny when she saw that his hand covered hers entirely.

 

"Of course. You are a kind, fair, cute and a very beautiful girl. Only idiots wouldn't be worried." Kai withdrew his hand and went back to eating the ice cream. He almost laughed when he saw Aoi look at her hand and then back at him, as if she didn't want him to take his hand away.

 

"Y-you're a flirtatious type, aren't you? My mother told me to stay away from that kind of men..." Aoi again blushed, and even though she accused him, a smile appeared on her face.

 

"The exit is always open if you want to go." Kai was as brusque as she was in his response, and you could see it because Aoi's eyes widened a little. But not to spoil the mood, he continued, "But I know you won't. I'm a good flirt, you see..."

 

"Huh! I highly doubt that!" Aoi pouted and didn't want to look at him anymore. She felt more and more like a little rabbit entering the wolf's mouth, but she couldn't help the attraction.

 

"We've known each other for 30 minutes and you're already on a date with me. I am irrefutable." Kai stated the facts as he lightly smiled.

 

"This is not a date! Hunf!" Aoi's pout intensified, a blush spreading to her ear. 

 

Kai's lack of response and his predatory look only served to confirm to Aoi that she had better leave now...or else she would be trapped.

 

°°°

 

After about two hours of conversation and a short walk around the mall, Kai convinced Aoi to expose herself...less...during their fights and this ended up resulting in a visit to the sportswear stores.

 

"I'll drop you off at home, classes are almost over. Just tell your parents the principal released it early. Could it be?" Kai placed the bags of new clothes on the backseat and asked Aoi.

 

"Thank you very much for everything, and sorry for the inconvenience. Today was a wonderful day!" Aoi was grinning from ear to ear, having enjoyed this day like a princess. It was just incredible from the moment Kai arrived until now.

 

"No problem. I'm also going to use this trip to convince you to join my project that I'm starting tomorrow, so it'll come in handy." Spotting the perfect moment, Kai made his proposal. That was exactly the reason he left his position as captain of the basketball team.

 

"Are you going to open a school club? Isn't it a little late, since you're in your senior year?" Aoi was interested, as she knew of Kai's fame as the best student in the school. And not to mention that, because Kai is the best student, the expectations of his entrance exam score are also the highest.

 

She joined Horizon last year, but the two were in separate rooms and practically never saw each other. And that didn't stop his fame from reaching her class, who was just a year younger.

 

"First listen to the idea, then we'll talk about it..." Kai then began his journey of convincing this martial artist to join his project.

 

°°°

 

It wasn't too difficult. She listened for only two minutes before saying yes with bright eyes. The idea was really good, so good that the director asked Kai to give a speech the next day, so that the marketing could be bigger. There was, of course, a little bribery, but everything went completely to the institution. He already killed the last director who embezzled money.

 

He had already dropped Aoi off at home and was now driving to his. For obvious security reasons, the mansion he had was used for vacations, while his normal house was a normal apartment, with only room for this SUV he drove. No matter how rich one may be, maintaining a basic level of simplicity is necessary. Only rich people understand: Big things with high value is for status, but small things with much higher value is true wealth.

 

Shortly after he left Aoi's house, a heavy rain started. One of those where the wind carried the rain. As he drove to the apartment, Sora's voice rang in his ear.

 

{Honey, there's one more target close by. She's at a bus stop waiting for the rain to stop.}

 

'Thank you my love. You are the best radar I could wish for!' Kai taunted Sora again, but only received silence. He knew she was irritated, but it was none of his business.

 

He accelerated a little more and finally saw his target. He took the opportunity to analyze the status as well.

 

_________________________________

|   {Name: Kaori Hayami}

|   {Status}

|     [Strength: 0.9]

|     [Dexterity: 1.0]

|     [Constitution: 1.1]

|     [Intelligence: 1.4]

|     [Charm: 2.1]

|   {Skill Tree}

|     [Basic Education Skill Tree]

|     [Blissful Eye Skill Tree]

|     [Self-Defense Skill Tree]

|   {Destiny} 

|     [Lovemeter: 0/100]

|     [DP: 200/1000]

_________________________________

 

"Oh, so it's Hayami. I think the rain got her and now she can't go home alone anymore. I like her, and I hate her story, so it's more than an honor to change for the better." Kai spoke to himself as he grabbed an umbrella from the door and got out of the car as he parked beside the bus stop.

 

He ran towards her, heedless of the raindrops. 

 

"Hello, is this Kaori Hayami? From the Horizon Institute?" Kai shouted lightly as the noise of the rain got in the way.

 

Hayami seemed to be taken aback by the call, and became uneasy, but still replied, "Yes, it's me. Who is speaking?" As she was blind, she didn't need to turn her face and just kept looking straight ahead.

 

"My name is Kai Nakashima, 3rd Year 'A' at Horizon Institute." He opened his umbrella and placed it over Hayami, "I am part of the Student Support Commitee. We got a call from your mom saying you wasn't home yet, so they asked me to look for you. And I found!"

 

"Oh right! I understood. I heard about you, Kai-senpai. Thank you so much for picking me up, I was waiting for some bus to get me out of this rain." Upon feeling body heat, Kaori's wet body couldn't resist getting closer.

 

"Don't worry, I'll drop you off at home and talk to your mother. May I?" He asked and touched her arm, indicating that he would guide her, "I came in my car, it has a heater. Spending any more time in this rain can give you a cold."

 

"Please!" Kaori nodded and leaned a little closer. She felt Kai's strong arm gently hug her from behind and pull her out of the rain.

 

He first opened the door for her and then guided her inside. Since he hadn't turned the car off, the heater was already on. Then he climbed into the pilot's seat and closed the doors.

 

"Here, this towel will help dry you off until then." He took a dry face towel from a compartment in the car and touched Kaori with it. And where did he get the towel? European cars have those things.

 

"Thanks again, Senpai. I don't know how long I would have to wait if you didn't show up." Feeling the warmth of the heater make the chill of the rain go away, Kaori couldn't help but make herself more comfortable on the seat. Through the touches, she felt the leather soft and nothing compared to the synthetic material of her mother's car.

 

"It's always an honor to help, Kaori-chan. Can I call you that?" Kai waited for the light to change before starting to head towards Hayami's house.

 

"You can call me Kaori. It's the least I can do to say thank you." As a very kind girl, she enjoyed the treatment she was receiving and felt indebted to Kai.

 

"And the least I can do is help a pretty girl like you." Kai threw in his line and didn't wait for it to take effect before continuing, "You were admitted this year to the institute, right?"

 

Kaori couldn't help but blush, but she listened to what Kai asked, "Yes, I had to take two years without studying due to a possible cure for my condition. And since only Horizon has a skip years system, I went to do it on it. I passed all the tests over the holidays and here I am."

 

"So you really must be really smart to pass the tests that easily. Incredible!" Of course he knew she was amazing. Her kindness can be confused with stupidity, but a 1.4 in [Intelligence] already proves that she is far above average. Even Mariko, who is a high-level student, only has 1.3 in [Intelligence].

 

"It was nothing..." Kaori blushed again and was flattered by Kai's compliments, but didn't dare accept it.

 

A few minutes later he managed to drop Kaori off at her house. Inside, he had a conversation with Ms. Hayami, who is a single mother, and explained the student support commitee situation and so on.

 

While Kaori went to shower and change, Kai talked to the woman and told her about how he could help with her daughter's case, taking her to and from school every day, as it was on the way home.

 

He obviously showed his student credentials and threatened the principal with death when he too had to call to verify the situation. Now there really was a student support commitee, but the only member was Kai, and the only one who needed support was Kaori.

 

Talk goes, talk comes, Kai had his cup of tea and said goodbye.

 

"See you tomorrow, Kai-san!" Kaori said goodbye to him at the door and waved her hand.

 

"Until tomorrow, Kaori. Have a great night, I'll come by to pick you up here in the morning. Bye bye!" Kai also said goodbye and left in the car.

 

Behind Kaori, her mother appeared in the doorway and sighed in relief.

 

"This really was come in handy on the part of the school. Our money is already tight and it was a big gas saver."

 

"Kai-san really helped this time..." Kaori replied with a smile.

 

"So you already got yourself a boyfriend, huh? I'm really getting old!"

 

"Mom!" Kaori blushed with embarrassment and went inside the house.

 

"What? He's a good kid, I'm more than supportive!"

 

°°°

 

As soon as he arrived at the apartment, Kai threw his car keys on the counter and took his cell phone out of his pocket. A few unread message notifications were on the screen, but he directly ignored them all.

 

It was then that a call appeared on the screen, with Madoka's name. She probably got it from Aki, as he doesn't remember giving her his number. But that doesn't mean he didn't have her number, so he knew who was calling.

 

He answered the call and her voice rang out.

 

"Thank God! Kai, I really want to so-" 

 

"I'm busy."

 

And then he ended the call. That simple. He put his phone on silent and went to bed. 

 

"Soak for a while longer. There is still time."

 

Entering dreamland, Sora came to visit him, but only an ethereal contact. It was still nice, seeing her after so long.

 

And that was the end of the first day.

 

___

Author Note: Any grammatical errors or wrong spelling, please let me know. Sometimes it passes... :)

 

Bad Joke#8:

What do you call an alligator in a vest?

An in-vest-igator.