Chương 81: Chapter 80 Night Markets

As Tim's Honda Civic peeled out of the parking lot, its taillights quickly fading into the mountain gloom, an incredibly rare phenomenon occurred: Himari was at a complete loss for words. She stood on the cracked pavement, taking short, shallow breaths. Her heart was hammering against her ribs so hard she could actually hear the blood rushing in her eardrums. What the hell? Why do I feel like this? she thought, her fingers twitching nervously at her sides.

As the lethal shadow assassin Kira, she could stare at Core Formation beast without blinking. Her confidence was absolute. Now, her mouth felt like it was glued shut. She chanced a quick glance upward. Takeshi was standing there, looking directly at her. His eyes, a deep, swirling soul infused blue that seemed almost surreal against the dojo's dim outdoor lighting held her gaze effortlessly. Himari immediately snapped her eyes back down to the pavement, her cheeks burning.

Takeshi, meanwhile, watched the empty road where Tim and Riku had vanished and let out a warm, deep chuckle. What an odd couple, he thought. Turning back to his fellow dojo student, he noticed Himari staring intently at him. Ah, is there something on my face? he wondered innocently.

"So, Himari," Takeshi said, his voice deep and rumbling.

"Which way is home? Let me walk you there. Sorry I can't drive you. I left my wheelchair at home." Himari let out a little giggle, the tension breaking slightly at the joke.

"A walk is perfect, thanks. I like walking under the stars. It's probably why I was outside and got hit by the meteor fragment in the first place." She pointed down the sloping street.

"It's this way. I live toward the city centre. Just a small apartment, but it helps being close to my jobs." They fell into step beside each other. As they walked, Himari kept her head angled toward the street, occasionally stealing quick glances at his massive, sturdy frame, only to dart her eyes away the second he turned his head. Why am I so flustered? she scolded herself. Guys are always flustered by me. But he doesn't seem shy in the slightest. Does he... does he not find me attractive at all?

"Hey, Takeshi," she blurted out, breaking the silence before she could overthink it.

"What was life like for you before the meteor strike? Did you go to school? Have a job? A... girlfriend?" She mentally face-palmed the second the word 'girlfriend' left her lips. She couldn't believe she had just slipped that in so clumsily. Takeshi laughed. It was a deep, resonant sound that vibrated right through the night air and settled pleasantly in Himari's chest.

"Himari, do you know how old I was when I broke my spine?" Takeshi asked gently, his eyes fixed on the city lights twinkling below.

"I was nine years old." Himari stopped walking, her breath catching in her throat.

"From the neck down, I was completely paralyzed," Takeshi continued, his pace slowing so she could catch up.

"Even my vocal cords were affected. From that point on, for twenty years, I was stuck in a wheelchair. I couldn't go to school. I couldn't leave the house. I was as dependent on my parents as much as a one-month-old baby." He paused, offering a wry half-smile.

"Though, to be fair, my diapers were a lot worse to change. It's much easier now that I can change my own."

"Wait, what?" Himari said, completely thrown off balance by the dark humor. Takeshi chuckled again, a wide grin breaking across his face.

"It's a joke, Himari."

"Yeah, I got the joke," she said, her brain rapidly doing the math.

"But... wait. Twenty years? That makes you twenty-nine! You're older than 'old man' Tim! You look like you're nineteen!"

"Well, that's what a lifetime out of the sun will do for your skin," Takeshi said softly.

"When I was confined to the chair, I just watched movies, anime, documentaries. I immersed myself entirely in my own mind. As for friends... I had some carers who would help my parents take care of me sometimes, but that was it. Honestly, Himari? I had no hope. I pushed through for my parents. I put on a brave face and acted happy because I loved them, but inside... I was a prisoner who just wanted to die. The meteor strike? It wasn't a tragedy. It was an angel sent from heaven."

Himari felt a tight knot form in her throat. The sheer weight of his suffering, carried with such quiet, humble grace, floored her.

"Oh, Takeshi. I am so sorry," she whispered, looking up into his eyes.

"I can't even begin to understand what that was like."

"It's fine, Himari," Takeshi replied, taking a deep, savouring breath of the cool mountain air as he looked up at the stars.

"I am a new man now. Being Zulu, stitching my soul... it's given me an appreciation for every single breath, every feeling, and every second of my new life." Himari found herself utterly captivated. It wasn't just his monstrously powerful physique that drew her in; it was the unbreakable, beautiful spirit residing inside it.

"Sorry for dumping so much info on you," Takeshi said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"You know I'm not that used to talking to people. I just speak my mind."

"No, no, it's okay," Himari replied in earnest, her shy exterior finally melting.

"Thank you for sharing that with me. You know... I was a prisoner growing up, too." Takeshi looked down at her, his expression instantly shifting to quiet, protective attentiveness.

"It wasn't a wheelchair," Himari said, suppressing a shudder as old memories threatened to surface.

"It was an abusive stepfather. Most of the time, I would lock myself in my room just to keep him away. But as soon as I turned sixteen, I ran. I got out of there and I've been living and working by myself ever since. For years, I was just trudging through life, surviving week to week. But now... because of the sect, because of my qi... I see a future. I see a life where I am not just the victim anymore. The meteor truly was an angel for me, too." The heavy, shared vulnerability lingered in the air between them.

Himari looked up at Takeshi and felt a sudden, fierce urge to see him smile again. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"Hey, want to see something cool?" Himari asked, her voice brightening. Without overthinking it, she reached out and grabbed his hand. Takeshi's palm was surprisingly soft, and his massive hand completely dwarfed hers, but the warmth of his grip sent a jolt of electricity straight up her arm.

"Come on," she said, tugging him forward. She dragged a willing, slightly confused Takeshi down a few narrow side streets, navigating the maze of the district until the dark alleyway suddenly opened up into a sea of light. Before them lay a sprawling, old-style street market built into the side of the hill, overlooking the sparkling metropolis below. Countless red and gold paper lanterns were strung between the rooftops, casting a warm, flickering glow over the packed thoroughfare.

The air was incredibly thick with the mouth-watering scent of roasting meat, sweet soy glaze, and fried dough. Dozens of small food stalls lined the sides of the road, bustling with late-night crowds and laughing locals. Takeshi stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes wide with childlike wonder. He had spent twenty years in a quiet bedroom; this explosion of life and colour was almost overwhelming.

"This is the night market," Himari said softly, watching the lanterns reflect in his swirling blue eyes.

"Have you ever seen this before?"

"Only in anime," Takeshi whispered, almost afraid to speak loudly in case the illusion shattered. He looked down at their connected hands, then back at the glowing street.

"It's... it's incredible."

"Well, anime doesn't have the smells," Himari laughed, gently pulling him into the flow of the crowd.

"Or the taste. Come on, big guy. Have you ever had fresh takoyaki?" Takeshi shook his head slowly.

"My diet was mostly liquid and soft foods for a long time."

"Oh, you are in for an awakening," Himari declared. Himari was expertly weaving her way through the bustling Earth crowd, completely focused on making sure Takeshi experienced every bit of the life he had been denied. They stopped at a stall billowing with savory steam. The vendor, an older woman with a weathered face, smiled warmly at the imposing Takeshi and the beautiful blonde holding his hand.

"Two orders, extra bonito flakes," Himari ordered, tossing a few coins on the counter. She handed a steaming bamboo boat of the octopus balls to Takeshi.

"Careful. The inside is like molten lava. Even your stitched soul won't save your tongue if you eat it too fast." Takeshi blew on one gently, then popped it into his mouth. His eyes went comically wide, and a look of absolute, bliss washed over his face.

"Good?" Himari asked, leaning against the stall counter, unable to stop smiling. Takeshi chewed, swallowed, and looked at her with total sincerity.

"Himari, this is the best think i have ever tasted". As they continued deeper into the night market, the throngs of people began to thicken. The bustling energy of the street was infectious, but soon they were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with locals and tourists.

"It's getting too crowded," Himari said, raising her voice. She grabbed Takeshi by his thick forearm.

"Let's take a shortcut. My apartment is just on the other side of this block." Takeshi nodded, easily letting her guide him. She pulled him away from the glowing red lanterns and the smell of roasting meat, ducking into a dimly lit, narrow back alley. The sudden quiet was jarring. The only sound was the distant hum of the market and their footsteps echoing off the brick walls. As they rounded a corner halfway down the alley, shadows moved ahead of them. Himari instantly tensed.

Her shadow qi automatically flared in her meridians, ready to summon her daggers. In both her lives, dark alleys usually meant one thing: thugs. She instinctively stepped slightly in front of Takeshi, her eyes narrowing as the figures approached. But as they stepped under the flickering light of a lone streetlamp, the threat instantly evaporated, replaced by a completely different kind of annoyance. It wasn't a gang of thugs. It was a group of three highly fashionable, very cute college-aged girls.

They were laughing and checking their phones, clearly taking their own shortcut. As they passed, the girls stopped dead in their tracks, their eyes trailing all the way up Takeshi's massive, impossibly broad frame. They took in his towering height, his strong jawline, and those deep, swirling blue eyes.

"Whoa," the boldest of the trio breathed, completely ignoring Himari's presence. She stepped right up to Takeshi, twirling a lock of hair around her finger with a practiced, flirtatious smile.

"Are you a pro wrestler? Or a model? You are huge." Takeshi blinked, looking down at her in mild confusion.

"Uh, no. I just train at a local dojo."

"A martial artist? That is so hot," another girl chimed in, giggling and holding out her glowing phone screen.

"Do you want to get a drink with us? Or at least give us your number?" Himari's jaw clenched. Her shadow qi hadn't dissipated; in fact, it was suddenly swirling violently in her dantian. She crossed her arms, fixing the girls with a glare of a cold hearted killer. But Takeshi didn't even look at the phone. He offered a polite, gentle smile and raised a hand in refusal.

"No, thank you," Takeshi said, his deep voice carrying a tone of absolute, immovable finality.

"I am just walking my friend home." The girls pouted, instantly deflated by the sheer lack of interest, and quickly hurried past them down the alley, whispering to each other. Takeshi turned back to Himari, completely unfazed.

"Shall we keep going?" Himari didn't move immediately. The word echoed in her mind, ringing louder than the bustling market. Friend. A part of her chest fluttered, he had turned down three gorgeous, eager girls without a single hesitation just to stay by her side. But another, much more selfish part of her chest physically ached. Stop it, Himari, she scolded herself mentally, taking a sharp breath. It is far too soon. Logically, she knew she was being ridiculous.

They had only just started truly talking to each other. Opening up about their deeply guarded childhood traumas tonight had been a massive step forward. Being considered a true "friend" by someone as pure and isolated as Takeshi was a victory. It was a profoundly good thing. But logic had absolutely nothing to do with how her chest felt right now. She knew it was incredibly silly, but she couldn't help the irrational annoyance bubbling up in her throat anyway.

The lethal, cold assassin who had survived on her own for years suddenly just wanted to pout like a normal, disappointed teenage girl.

"Yeah. Let's go," Himari said. Her voice had dropped ten degrees, and a stubborn pout touched her lips as she aggressively looked away from him. She let go of his arm and started walking briskly, keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead so he couldn't see her flushed cheeks. Takeshi easily matched her pace, entirely oblivious to the sudden, turbulent drop in atmospheric pressure.

"Those girls were nice, but I really don't like crowds. The dojo is much better."

"Mhm," Himari replied sharply, her arms crossed tight over her chest. Takeshi frowned slightly, his thick brows knitting together.

"Did I say something wrong to them? Was I impolite?"

"No. You were a perfect gentleman," she clipped, her tone dripping with a subtle, icy sarcasm that Takeshi entirely missed. They reached the end of the alley and crossed a quiet street to a modest, slightly rundown apartment complex. Himari walked right up to the metal security gate and stopped. She didn't turn around to face him, still fighting her own silly annoyance.

"This is me," Himari said curtly.

"Oh. Well, it was a really nice walk, Himari," Takeshi said warmly, his pure heart completely missing all of her non-verbal cues and her rigid posture.

"Thank you for the food. I will see you at the dojo tomorrow." Himari finally glanced back over her shoulder. Despite knowing better, she couldn't stop the slight, bitter pout on her face.

"Goodnight, Takeshi. Thanks for walking your friend home." Clang. She shut the heavy iron gate behind her and disappeared up the concrete stairwell without looking back, mentally kicking herself the entire way up for acting like a brat. Takeshi stood alone on the pavement under the dim streetlights, the echoes of the gate rattling in his ears. He scratched the back of his neck, his deep blue eyes filled with absolute confusion. The air had been so warm and nice, and then suddenly, she seemed a little different.

He replayed the last ten minutes in his head, trying to find the puzzle piece he had missed. Had he walked too fast? Had he offended those girls in a way he didn't understand? Takeshi let out a long, heavy sigh, looking up at the sprawling starry sky. Hmmm, Takeshi thought to himself, resigning himself to his absolute lack of worldly experience. I will definitely have to ask my dad about this tomorrow.