CH_3.11 (070)

CH_3.11 (070)

"You know... you have a tell."

Takuma's eyes widened as the words registered in his mind. He jolted up from the bed— "argh!" —and was punished by the pain stabbing in his ribs. He fell back on the bed and shivered in wait for the hurt to pass.

"They shouldn't have paired you against Bishop," the freckled brunette sighed, but there was no pity in her tone.

"I-I have a tell?! What is it?!" Takuma spat as the pain abated. Other than being crippled, having a recognizable tell was the worst thing for a fighter. A 'tell' meant that he was doing something that was giving away his actions, and if the tell was being picked by his opponents, he was practically telling them what he was doing.

Did his opponents pick up on his tell? Was that why he had lost thrice in a row?

The iryo-nin continued packing her duffle bag as she said, "How would I know? I don't watch scrubs like you fight."

Takuma didn't have the time to feel offended. "Then why did you say I have a tell?" he asked as he gingerly sat himself up.

"I heard someone in the passing." She slung the leather bag over her shoulder and glanced at Takuma, "Look, you can stay here if you want, but don't fall asleep because if someone doesn't wake you up, you'll be stuck here because they lock down the place at night," and with that, she headed towards the door.

"Hey, wait! Can we talk, I want to know more," Takuma jumped off the bed and winced as the pain stabbed him.

"No, thanks."

She didn't even look back and walked out of the door.

"I will buy you dinner!" shouted Takuma in a last-ditch effort.

But the echoing footsteps continued to move away— until they stopped. Takuma, who had hung his head, raised his head in surprise as the footsteps moved closer.

The iryo-nin stopped at the room's threshold. "Any place I want?" she asked.

Takuma nodded immediately. He had savings, and even though they were earmarked for the future, he could make some concessions for today.

The young woman smiled,

"Then let's get going. I'm getting hungry."

———

.

Takuma silently watched the iryo-nin as she conversed with the waitress about the menu. The waitress was uncomfortable looking at Takuma's swollen face, which was in the process of de-inflammation. It was because Hidden Leaf was a shinobi hub that they were even allowed— it had desensitized the civilian public to a level. So, he quickly gave his order and passed on the menu.

Contrary to his expectations, the place the iryo-nin had chosen would make him lose sleep, but it would definitely make his wallet shed weight.

"My name is Takuma," he introduced himself after the waitress left.

It wasn't a surprise that Takuma had no appetite for the rest of the meal in the expensive restaurant.

———

.

Was Takuma a greenhorn to adversity and challenging situations?

No, he was not— if someone dared tell him otherwise, he would shove his hand up their ass and take it out of their mouth.

Was he best at solving those challenging situations?

Given his track record, Takuma would be the first to say he wasn't the best.

So, he turned to the person he thought could help him the most.

"Perhaps it is my age talking, but it doesn't seem that long ago when we used to meet here every day, early in the morning, young Takuma."

Takuma, who had been warming up, greeted his teacher with a smile. He hadn't seen Maruboshi in a minute, but the old shinobi looked like he had picked a wrinkle or two since they had met. He, however, didn't let that make him forget the fact that the old man could wipe the floor with him.

"It's been a while for me," said Takuma, kipping to his feet.

"Let me look at you," Maruboshi made Takuma stand in front of him. He gave Takuma a look down before nodding in satisfaction, "You are growing more and more every time I see you."

Takuma scratched the bandage on his mostly healed nose.

"Now tell me, child, for what have you called me here today?" asked Maruboshi.

Takuma always appreciated how direct Maruboshi could be at times. "I apparently have a tell when I fight," said Takuma. "I need you to help me hammer it out. I've been getting absolutely battered in spars, and they won't tell me what's the tell."

Maruboshi's almost closed eyes widened in a sharp glare. "That's serious, child. Having a tell can be dangerous if it can be spotted and used against you. And from what you said, your tells have been successfully used against you. We will definitely need to work them out, but before that, I will suggest that you change your sparring partners. I do not believe them to be proper people if they won't share your tells with you— what's the use of sparring if not help improve each other."

Takuma didn't know how to reply except to nod. He prayed for his imaginary sparring partners as they had incurred the wrath of his teacher.

Maruboshi took a few steps away from Takuma. He held his hands behind his straightened back. "Come, child; show me how much you have improved," said Maruboshi with a smile. "After that, we will fix you."

Takuma hadn't sparred against Maruboshi since the day before graduation. If there was one yardstick he wanted to measure his progress against, it would be Maruboshi.

He grinned as he assumed his combat stance.

Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to Patreón [fictiononlyreader]. Link below.

Note: All the chapters will eventually be posted on public forums.