Chapter 5
[Two Days Later—Yamanuchi Courtyard
Ron finally felt his back loosen up enough to get out in the courtyard and go through the motions with the other students in the morning workout. Following Sensei's advice, he ignored his own insecurities and tried to move with harmonious motions.
Given that he tripped only twice in three hours, one might consider that a successful beginning for the teen hero.
When the group finally relaxed, Sensei approached him. "Stoppable San, I wish a test of your tai-sheng-pek-kwar." He motioned to a concrete post.
Ron stared at his teacher incredulously. "Here? In front of…?"
"Hai."
Ron gulped, feeling anxious about the test.
"If I may, Sensei-Sama?" Hirotaka requested. Getting a nod from the teacher, he told Ron, "Do what you did upstairs and at Monkey Fist's lair, Stoppable San." Then he smirked almost daringly at the other man despite feeling his own fears about the other's powers.
Yori nodded in support as well.
Ron took a deep breath while channeling his concentration.
Suddenly, the conditions changed. The sky grew dark and the wind kicked up.
"Stay where you are. This is normal," Sensei urged to his students.
As before, the blue cobalt aura outlined Ron's form. His eyes opened with a purpose clearly. He swung his hand at half speed.
The blow splintered the concrete, sending dust everywhere.
His classmates gasped. While they knew that he was the Chosen One, rarely had Ron shown the ability to channel himself in that fashion.
Ron, for his part, was just as stunned as everyone else. "Wow."
"As I told you, strike with confidence. How are you feeling?" Sensei advised.
"A little wiped but I'm cool for class," Ron told him and the others.
"Then we shall eat and then go to class," Sensei concurred while guiding the group toward the dining area.
Chapter 6 [An hour later
[Middleton HS
Kim sat in the lunchroom, checking over her notes for Mr. Barkin's latest quiz in the next class. Now I know why Ron is so paranoid! She ran her hands through her red hair, trying to get the gist of that sitch. While she knew she should've studied more, the bank heist in Upperton didn't give her the chance. Now she scrambled to master the information.
"Hey. You doing all right?" Rick asked.
She exhaled, letting her exasperation show through. "This is going to kill me."
"No it isn't," he disagreed while smiling at her. "Just relax, okay?"
She nodded anxiously. "Hope you're right." Hearing her Kimmunicator go off, she answered it, "Go, Wade."
"Hey, Kim. Got some footage of Ron's latest training. Wanna see it?" Wade inquired.
She quirked her eyebrow. Yori told her about Ron's latest injury in the Dojo. "Do I want to see it?"
"It's a good thing."
"Show me then," she agreed while angling the device so she and Rick could both see.
After watching Ron smash the concrete with his monkey powers, she gasped. "Whoa! Where did he get that?"
"I tried analyzing the energy source but can't determine what it is. The only thing I know is that it's coming from within Ron," the genius revealed.
"He was glowing like that when we were at Yamanuchi last fall. Remember?" Rick reminded them both.
She pursed her lips, trying to wrap her head around the developing sitch. She had promised to work with Ron on these developing abilities. She had to admit that while it was spanking that he could do it, she also felt nervous at the raw power of the filmed display. Get over it, Kim! You knew he'd be doing this when he went back to Japan!
For some reason though, she recalled the Atitudinator incident. What happens if that Zorpox persona gets loose again? She grimaced at that thought.
"Uh, Kim? Are you okay?" Wade asked.
"I'm fine. Glad that Ron's doing okay," she announced. "Rick and I have to get to our Art Class. See ya."
Before he signed off, Wade exchanged concerned looks with Rick. Both wondered how well Kim was dealing with the scenario at hand.