Several hours later.
The night dawned.
Three figures were sitting in front of a fireplace in the living room.
Alena and Azura were under the same blanket, looking like pair of sisters.
Ichiro, on the other hand, was on his phone, scrolling down the thousands of messages he had.
Even his parents had sent messages and became worried after he didn't reply because he usually replies within a day.
It took him nearly an hour to respond to all the messages, and once he was done, he could finally relax.
He took a glimpse outside of the mansion, and the area around the metal gates was void of any people.
Ichiro snorted and turned his head away. Even though the reporters listened to his warning, they will come back tomorrow.
Alena, who could barely sleep a wink the past week, finally fell asleep, her head resting on her daughter's shoulder.
Ichiro scratched his head and watched as the fire flickered on the fireplace, which sent a heatwave straight at him.
He almost had no time to relax since he left Arya and went to Damio, but now, in front of the fireplace.
He finally had time to spend his brain's capacity to think about something other than improving his strength and survival.
First of all, he remembered the Secret Quest he completed and planned to find out more about it but decided to do that later.
''Ichiro, are you alright?'' Azura asked after seeing her boyfriend daydreaming like his focus was on something entirely else.
''Yeah…'' Ichiro moved his toes around and pulled his head back, so he could look at the ceiling, ''Just wondering things…''
''About your Iron Style?'' She asked with a whisper, trying to do everything in her power not to wake up her mother, who could finally relax and sleep.
Even though it seemed that Azura was the only one who was worried about Ichiro's safety, it wasn't true.
The thoughts of Ichiro's death mortified Alena. She knows that Abyss would never let anything wrong to happen to them, and if Ichiro really died, she knows that Abyss wouldn't be able to rest in the afterlife.
Also, Ichiro saved her life, so she owes him a lot, and she has gotten quite fond of him.
If he really died, nothing would be the same anymore.
Azura would fall into a pit of depression, and she wasn't sure can she climb back from it.
Even though her obsession can be unhealthy, Alena knows that it was only a phase in her life and that it will pass.
Like her obsession.
Abyss once told that it might be something about her secret bloodline that caused such an unhealthy obsession, but it was only a guess and had was no way of knowing what the reason for it was.
It might be like the saying, like a mother, like a daughter.
She was worried that Azura was like this because of her, but she was at least relieved that Ichiro didn't hate her for it, but she had also noticed him having some obsessive tendencies, but she thought that it was only her imagination.
Currently, Alena was dreaming about her life before meeting with Abyss.
The life, which was so simple, but everything changed in the weirdest way possible.
Ichiro, after hearing Azura's whisper, replied, ''No… Iron Style can wait, and so can improving my strength.''
Azura nodded and patted the spot next to her, ''Come.''
Ichiro tiptoed towards her and sat down next to her.
She put her hand on his broad shoulders and inhaled his scent, ''Haahhh… I wonder what kind of family we will have.''
Ichiro's eyes almost bulged out of the sockets, ''R-Right…''
Azura pouted and playfully patted his thigh, ''Can you at least act like you want children?''
''Well…'' He rubbed his forehead and was genuinely speechless.
''Why don't you want any?'' She asked, wondering why he seemed to dislike the idea of having kids.
''Sigh…'' Ichiro sighed and replied, ''I think I would be a horrible father, being absent all the time and never present.''
Azura raised her head slightly and whispered, ''Liar…''
Ichiro pursed his lip and didn't really want to tell the real reason.
It was a very embarrassing experience, which he would like to forget, but he was unable to even after several decades.
Azura didn't pry further and helped Alena lie down on the floor.
She took off the blanket and covered her mother's body with it.
Seeing her mother's fatigued face, she remembered how much she used to love Abyss, even though their relationship was very rocky.
''I wonder… Will she ever get over it?'' Azura whispered and moved Alena's bangs to the side so that she could see her closed eyes.
''It needs time, but she will overcome the pain, like when she acted cheerful when bedridden and in agony.''
Azura nodded and then asked, ''What are you planning to do from now on?''
Ichiro crossed his arms and shrugged, ''Not sure… I think I will go get a leave of absence from the school. I think I can get it fairly easily.''
''Have you heard about what happened in the school?'' Azura asked but then remembered that there was no way he would know.
''What happened?'' Ichiro asked.
''Well… Martial Arts Club lost their funding, and the principal pretty much disbanded it, even though not officially.''
''Why would he do it?'' Ichiro asked with a frown.
''Well, he lost hopes of the Martial Arts Club and did a press conference, etc., saying that he would focus with High School of Cold's principal to improve their Martial Arts Club and perhaps go for the championship, but this time with a different school.''
Ichiro shook his head, ''So narrow-minded.''
Azura nodded vigorously, ''You and the rest of the Kings will destroy everyone in 2 years!''
''Not in 2…'' Ichiro grinned and said with confidence, ''In next Battle of Cities, we will win and enter Battle of Countries, where we will destroy everyone.''
''Are you sure you guys can do it?'' Azura asked, but she had blind faith in Ichiro and knew he could do anything.
''Yes…'' Ichiro replied and smiled, ''Michael and the rest… Might not even really need my help in winning, they are genius of their own ways, but maybe I also have a role to play.''
