Max, Oliver, and Gouten stood in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by the forest trees. Away from any dojo structures, the place was perfect for more free-form training.
The three Senkaynes stood in an invisible triangle. Gouten, with his trademark smile, kept his gaze fixed on Max. Max, somewhat more relaxed, watched Oliver out of the corner of his eye, curious. And Oliver, attentive to both of them, noticed that Gouten wasn't paying him the slightest attention.
"I'm going to kick your butt, Max," Gouten said with a defiant smile.
"Shut up, shorty. I don't want to disfigure my cousin," Max replied mockingly. "Who's going to jump first?" Oliver murmured cautiously, but with a spark of enthusiasm in his eyes.
Before he could finish his sentence, a silhouette leaped through the air. Gouten had launched himself into a leap, forcing Max to cover himself with his forearms.
"Nice hit…" Max muttered, smiling as he blocked the attack.
In a quick counterattack, he spun on one foot and landed a kick that sent Gouten sprawling on his back on the ground.
"Ugh!" the boy said, as he crashed to the ground.
Oliver narrowed his eyes. His moment was approaching.
The warrior swiftly dodged an uppercut from his own brother. A smile of excitement and pride spread across his face.
"That's my brother!" he muttered to himself, just before connecting with a punch straight to Oliver's chest, sending him flying against a tree.
But he didn't have time to relax. A flash of light ignited below him, forcing him into a backflip. A blast of ki sped through the air right where he stood, launched by Gouten.
"Both of them against me?" Max thought, tensing his body.
However, his doubt was immediately dispelled. Oliver instantly recovered, and with a swift movement, he grabbed Gouten by the arm and threw him far, far away from Max.
"No… it's clearly a free-for-all," Max concluded, with a half smile as he resumed his fighting stance.
Max raised his hand. A celestial sphere, with a white glow pulsing inside, formed between his index and middle fingers.
Oliver noticed it immediately and stayed alert.
— Detonation … —whispered Max, throwing the sphere towards him.
The projectile streaked through the air slowly, clumsily, almost floating. Oliver barely had to move to avoid it. The ball slammed into a tree trunk… and shattered it as if a wrecking ball had passed through it.
But the sphere did not disappear.
"That wasn't exactly explosive ," Oliver commented as he launched into the attack.
"It's a technique in development," Max replied, blocking his brother's blow with the palm of his hand. "It needs a few extra steps..."
He paused, and smiled.
—Be careful, little brother… because you don't expect what could happen.
Oliver stepped back quickly, his gaze fixed on the sphere still attached to the fallen log.
The name "Detonation" was no coincidence.
He decided to keep his distance.
Gouten appeared with a swift burst, dragging Oliver with him until they both crashed into a large rock.
Oliver tried to counterattack with a direct elbow to the back… but Gouten's tail coiled like a snake around his arm.
In one motion, Gouten lifted his brother over his shoulder and slammed him into the ground behind him.
"How is this possible?!" Oliver exclaimed, still on the ground, staring in astonishment at the tail holding him.
"Controlling the movement of your tail is like breathing…" Gouten replied with a smile.
He then launched a downward kick. Oliver, still on the ground, raised his arms and blocked the blow just in time.
Oliver, his arm still trapped, grabbed the tail with his free hand.
With a quick turn on the ground, he managed to get to his knees… then to his feet.
Without wasting time, it began to spin on its axis like a whirlwind, dragging Gouten with it.
—DAMN CHEATER!! LET GO OF MY TAIL!! —Gouten shouted, spinning uncontrollably in the air.
From the side, Max crossed his arms and chuckled.
—I said I considered it a disadvantage…
Oliver released Gouten, causing him to crash backwards against the rock.
But before he could breathe, a sphere of energy hit him from the side: it was Max's "Detonation" technique.
The blow dragged him violently until he crashed against the same rock, leaving him trapped between the solid sphere and the stone.
"Trigger…" Max whispered, throwing a small sphere of yellow light toward the "Detonation."
Oliver, sensing something, pushed the blue sphere aside and deflected the new projectile with his arm.
The yellow sphere dissipated like a cloud of smoke.
Then he understood: Detonation was a contact bomb, and the Detonator was the necessary spark.
"Ha ha... you surprise me, Oliver," Max commented with a half smile. "You've made a lot of progress. What happened to the shy boy?"
—I don't know… I just know that fighting excites me. It's entertaining.
But Gouten wasn't done. From the ground, he wrapped his tail around Oliver's ankle and knocked him to the ground.
"Ouch!" Oliver groaned, just before receiving a stomp on his back.
From the ground, he charged up his energy and launched a sphere towards Max, who deflected it with a swipe of his hand.
Then, to everyone's surprise, the "Detonation" sphere moved on its own...
He hit Gouten hard, causing him to collapse next to Oliver.
Max walked over, arms crossed, and smiled.
—Did I win?
"Yes..." Oliver replied hoarsely, still on the floor.
Gouten dusted himself off and looked at him curiously.
"How did you make your own technique?"
Max adjusted his wrist and responded in a didactic tone:
"They're just two spheres of Ki at maximum charge. You make one extremely solid, like a rock, and the other fragile, like a spark.
" "So?" "When they collide, they share the energy between them. It's a collision of opposites. The explosion that results isn't due to the impact... but to the imbalance."
Gouten opened his eyes.
"Sounds great!"
Max smiled.
"The one I used just now was only at 5% power. I just wanted to push them back with the shockwave."
"Only 5%!?... Are you underestimating us that much?" Gouten demanded, frowning.
Max stared at him impatiently.
"Gouten... are you an idiot or do you just like acting like one?
" "Huh?" "I created this technique for destructive purposes. And you want me to throw it in your face at 100%? Are you listening to yourself?"
Gouten opened his mouth to respond, but Max didn't give him time.
"I haven't even tested it in a real fight. And you expect me to use it without considering the consequences against you or Oliver?"
"Right…" Gouten snorted, frustrated.
"See how your tail can also work against you?" Max commented, arms crossed. "You're lucky Oliver isn't like us. If I had grabbed it... he wouldn't let go until I'd beaten you."
"Yes, I see…" Gouten murmured, looking at his tail. "But… isn't there a way to adapt it to combat?"
He wrapped his tail around his abdomen and hid it under his dogi.
—To be honest… yes, it exists. But I've never practiced it. —Max rubbed his lip with his thumb.— It's a military art of an ancient Senkayne… there were two styles. I trained in the one that doesn't require it. I have no record of the other.
Oliver timidly raised his hand.
"Max… you told us about Kyodaina Fury… do you have control over it?"
"Of course," Max said with a calm smile. "It's the first thing you have to learn when your tail grows."
"Will you show it to us?" Oliver asked, curious.
"No... not today," Max replied, without pausing.
He turned around and started walking towards the dojo, his hands in his pockets.
—And remember: don't go out at night. Curtains and blinds closed... and just in case, move beds away from windows. Avoid starlight at all costs...
"Fine," Gouten snorted, crossing his arms.
"I wanted to see that power," Oliver muttered, disappointed.
…
Baldur and Hanabi were waiting at Tokyo Station, awaiting the arrival of the train to Kyoto.
The old man sat on a bench overlooking the tracks, listening to the soft humming of his granddaughter, who also sat by his side, gazing at the scenery.
The bustle of the station was intense, but not enough to distract Baldur from Hanabi's quiet singing.
He turned his head and noticed out of the corner of his eye a man in a suit talking on his phone. A peculiar green tie caught his eye. As he looked back at his granddaughter, a nagging feeling of being watched began to bother him.
He discreetly scanned the surroundings. No one was watching him. Not even the station's security camera.
He mentally counted: 37 people.
They were all absorbed in their own things.
What was bothering him then?
He came to the conclusion that it was just nerves… he wanted to make a good impression on his granddaughter.
The train arrived and opened its doors.
"What?! What do you mean, your dog got away? I'll be right there!" the man in the green tie suddenly shouted, leaving the station and missing his train.
As the doors closed and the train moved forward, calm fell like an invisible cloak.
―Grandpa… ― Hanabi calls him in a low voice ― did you see the man with the green tie?
"Yes, dear... what's wrong with him?" Baldur answers.
―Why did she use a mirror with a phone case?...― Hanabi asks him innocently, this question left Baldur frozen
― What do you say?... ―
―I used a mirror as if it were a phone… or was it a new phone?...
"Surely... it must be a new phone," Baldur muttered, letting out a long sigh. Whatever it was, there was nothing he could do about it.
Hanabi remained silent for a few seconds, staring out the window. Then, without looking at him:
—Grandpa… why do you have a bad relationship with my dad?
Baldur took a moment to respond.
"I don't think this is the time to talk about that here, dear," he said, discreetly scanning the surroundings.
"Okay... but promise me you'll tell me. Mom always makes Dad avoid the subject," the girl commented, crossing her arms in mild annoyance.
Baldur smiled sadly.
—Your mother may have her reasons… as much as your father. But I promise you, Hanabi… one day I'll tell you everything.
Baldur and Hanabi walked through the streets of Kyoto. The old man carried his bag over his shoulder, and his granddaughter on his own.
Hanabi hummed softly as she gazed at the ancient temples in awe.
"My dear," Baldur said with a smile, "what made you want to learn martial arts?"
He held her firmly, making sure she didn't wobble.
"Kaaru practices them all the time," Hanabi replied cheerfully. "Sometimes she argues with Dad about being the 'Pillar of Fire.' Kaaru wants to be one, but Dad won't let her… even though Mom says we should do what makes us happy. That's why I'm here with you, Grandpa!"
Baldur smiled tenderly, though his eyes were lost for a moment.
—I'm flattered, Hanabi… but that doesn't answer my question. Why do you read karate manuals?
"I'm curious," he replied, tilting his head. "Because Kaaru trains all the time, and because Dad is so opposed to something that seems beautiful.
Movies show it as elegant, stunning, almost like an art… They say it's a lifestyle that helps those who practice it.
I don't understand why Dad is so against it."
"Do you know what a Pillar is, Hanabi?" Baldur asked as they walked through the cherry trees.
"No... what is it?" she answers, tilting her head.
—A Pillar is a herald of the knowledge of the natural element to which it belongs—he said in a slow, almost reverential voice.
—Wow! So… Kaaru wants to learn all about fire?
—You could say that… but to be a Pilar, it's not enough to want to be one. You have to be chosen by your master. You have to earn it.
—Wait a minute… a Pilar is the master of his own dojo?
-Exactly.
Hanabi thought for a moment, looked down… and her eyes shone with wonder.
—So… Grandpa… you are the master of the Water dojo… you are the Water Pillar!
Baldur paused for a second. He didn't say anything immediately, just looked at her, a smile forming on his face with restrained sweetness.
—That was an excellent deduction, Hanabi… you are very clever.
—Grandpa… if I try hard… could you choose me as the future Pillar of Water?
Baldur let out a deep laugh, somewhere between surprise and tenderness.
—Of course you could… but you'll have to earn it. Giving it to you like that would be unfair to my other students, who've been training for years.
"I'm going to beat them!" Hanabi exclaimed, raising her fist with a fierce, light-filled smile.
Baldur's laughter escaped again, this time softer, as he looked at his granddaughter with loving eyes.
…
They both walked along the path leading to the dojo, coming face to face with the water dojo.
Inside the house, Max was struggling against Oliver and Gouten, both boys wanted to watch the daily Dragon Ball episode, while Max defended the sports channel, since a baseball game was starting.
"COME ON, GIVE US CONTROL. It's only 23 minutes!" Gouten yells, with Max's hand pressed against his face, preventing him from getting closer.
"23 minutes of lost game time! You've already watched Dragon Ball all the way through three times! Stop bothering us!" Max yells, pushing Oliver away with the sole of his foot.
Gouten pulled his tail out from under the dogi and tried to reach for control with it, but Max kept his distance.
"Come on, Max! Don't be mean! You like Dragon Ball too!" Oliver shouts, jumping to reach the controller.
"But knowing the story by heart isn't fun!" she replies. Suddenly, the front door opens. Turning her gaze, Max sees Baldur, but she also notices the little girl on his shoulders.
His eyes slowly opened and he looked at Gouten, who was shamelessly stretching his tail to reach the remote control in his hand.
Then, as if the world seemed to be in slow motion, Max let go of the controller, dropping it, and with his free hand, roughly wrapped his tail around Gouten's neck, causing him to crunch in pain. With a gentle kick, he got Oliver off of him. Only to tuck the coiled tail under Gouten's pants and sit him down on the couch.
As a final move, he landed a sharp blow on both children, easily knocking them out.
<< Max had never reacted so quickly out of fear, an absurd but surprising feat, the only motive was to prevent the girl from seeing a boy with a monkey tail >>
Max caught the controller before it hit the ground and sat down next to an already sleeping Gouten. Then, he turned toward the door, just as Baldur finished opening it.
The old man stood looking at the scene with a nervous smile: Max motionless, Gouten and Oliver knocked out.
He frowned, confused.
"I swear I saw them fighting over the remote… like always," he commented, narrowing his eyes.
"F-fight for control? What do you think?! Never!" Max replied, a drop of sweat sliding down his temple.
"Hello!" Hanabi exclaimed, raising her hand with a big smile.
"Oh... what a lovely little girl," Max said, visibly more nervous. "Hello, little one!"
"Where's the cat? I thought I saw a tail," Hanabi asked, peering curiously from her grandfather's shoulders.
"He escaped..." Max replied, in a dry tone.
"But… we don't have a cat," Baldur added, crossing his arms, looking more closely. Max swallowed.
—Lord Baldur, may we speak in private?
—Oh… yes, of course —the old man agreed, taking Hanabi off his shoulders.
The girl, wasting no time, bent down to search under the sofa for the mysterious feline. Meanwhile, Baldur followed Max into the kitchen.
Now alone, Max sighed with relief.
—Max, what's wrong?
—Gouten… grew a tail. I panicked when I saw the girl. It was an impulse…
—Oh… Gouten also entered that stage… What about Oliver?
"Yes," Max murmured with another sigh. "Oliver's hair hasn't grown yet, but I have a feeling he won't have much longer. My plan is for the two of you to stay indoors for the night."
-I see…
"By the way... who's the little girl?" Max asked, turning to look at her from the kitchen. The little girl was still rummaging under the sofa, looking for the nonexistent cat.
"She's my granddaughter," Baldur replied.
After a pause, he added with a slight smile:
—Thank you. You did well to hide Gouten's tail. We don't know how Hanabi would have reacted…
"You're welcome," Max murmurs, but after a pause, he frowns. "Granddaughter? You had children!"
—Of course. I had one thirty years ago. Now he has two children. For example, Hanabi… she's my granddaughter.
—Oh… I see. Did you come to visit?
—In part yes, but she is also the fourth disciple of the dojo.
—The missing disciple? Your granddaughter? Are you sure?
"Yes, absolutely. She'll even participate in the trials to select the new Water Pillar," Baldur tells her.
—New Water Pillar?... Ha… that will be interesting to see.
—See?... Aren't you going to participate?
"Nah... I'm not interested," Max confesses, scratching the back of his neck. "I'd rather see how Oliver and Gouten are doing, trying to win the title of Pilar from their granddaughter."
—I want to see how Hanabi will compete against them. She only read martial arts manuals… they both practice every day.
—Ha ha… that really piques my interest… I'm going to watch it with bated breath…