Sorry for the delay on this, had to cover a coworkers shifts all weekend because he got sick. Had no energy to edit this one XD

It is a short chapter, and should have gone up right after the last one but alas, work...

Anyways, setting up for the season one finale, strap in boys as we near the moment our story jumps the tracks!

Season One, Episode VIII

Training Days Part 2

. . .

Shikemono Ryoko

. . .

"Get up!" I demanded, glaring at my opponent, heart pounding in my chest. "We aren't finished yet!"

But Adachi was already shrinking back to normal, "N-No I... I'm at my limit," He complained, rasping for breath. "I think we're done for today..."

"You've got one more day before the Festival and you wanna slack off now?" I scoffed back at him, "Pathetic."

"Yeah yeah I'm pathetic and you are angry," He waved me off casually, "Sing a different tune already..."

I narrowed my eyes, "I do not sing."

"Well I'm sure you'd be very good at it."

Was... Was he mocking me? "Hmph, moron... Fine, if you're done then I'm going home."

But he wasn't going to let me leave yet, "Hang on!" Adachi barked, "I don't think we'll be training tomorrow, right?"

"That's right," I replied simply, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat from my bro as I stepped out of the ring. "Better to rest and recover, one more day of training won't make a difference anyways at this point..." This was the end of my stupid obligation, "See you at the Festival."

"Will you just wait one second!" I didn't stop, but I could hear Adachi forcing himself up and stumbling after me on weak legs. "Hey!"

Ugh, "What?" Turning halfway to face him.

He came to a stop before me, taking a second to catch his breath before standing up straight. "I just wanted to say, thanks... For training with me over the last two weeks."

"... What?"

"You didn't have to help me, but you did, so thanks." He added, putting on that stupid toothy grin of his. "I really owe you one."

Was this... Praise? Of course, he was thanking me for making him stronger, that's all any of us should care about right? "Yeah well using you as a punching bag helped me prepare too," I scoffed, crossing my arms. "So don't think you can beat me just because we've been sparring."

To which he laughed, "Man you are relentless, but you're probably right," Of course I- Wait, what? "But either way, it was fun, I know you don't like any of us very much but... I think you're pretty cool."

What was this weird- Wait, are my cheeks blushing? "Yeah yeah whatever, don't think a few compliments are gonna make me let my guard down!" I barked back at him, turning heel and starting to storm off. What is this? Why am I panicking?

"I would be disappointed if it did," He added, as I increased the distance between us. "I look forward to fighting you for real, so bring your all!"

Alright that's it, turning back to face him while glaring daggers I replied, "What the hell are you doing? Where did this come from?" I demanded.

But he looked back at me confused, "What are you talking about?"

He's screwing with me, I know it! Trying to throw me off, "The compliments, the praise, the challenge, what are you trying to pull?" I nearly shouted.

But Adachi held up his hands defensively, "I'm not trying to pull anything!" His expression changed again, looking fearful. Was he afraid of me? "I know you didn't want to talk much while we were training... But I had a lot of fun even if it was hard, and..." He seemed to hesitate briefly, "And it would be a shame if this was the last time we trained together like this." Shrugging casually, he added. "So, I figured I would try to... I don't know, befriend you or something?"

I visibly flinched, blinking in surprise. "Be... Friend me..." Something was wrong here, this wasn't like when I talk to that annoying teleporting girl. He wasn't screwing around, he was being serious!?

And just like that, I saw Adachi's confidence vanish. His shoulders slouched slightly and he lowered his head a bit. "But well, if you aren't interested that's fine, I guess."

What a fragile guy, backing down so easily. "... Damn you are a pest," So, I relented. "Fine, you said you owe me for the training? You're buying me lunch tomorrow." He mentioned his mom having a new job right? A free meal sounded good to me... And maybe it would get him off my back. "I'll send you the address we can meet at tomorrow."

And with that, I continued walking away. While the great blue dumbass processed my offer. "Wait... Is this gonna be like a date?"

"Gnngh!" I nearly tripped, "NO YOU DUMBASS I JUST WANT FREE FOOD!"

. . .

Surprisingly enough, Adachi actually followed through. And the next morning, I woke up to a message asking what time we'd get together. I figured as soon as possible was best, so I left before he had a chance to wake up...

I met Adachi at a bus stop not far from my home, leaving the row upon row of scummy apartments and making my way towards decent people. It wasn't long before he arrived, the bastard was punctual.

"So you live around here?"

"Yeah, I do," Shooting Adachi a sharp glare, "Got a problem with that?"

"N-No! I just... Well," He shifted nervously, "Not that different than my own neighborhood."

"Well its only one Ward away and in an equally shitty side of town," I shrugged, "Now lets go." Stuffing two of my hands into the pockets of my jeans, I began walking.

"Right, where did you want to eat?" He questioned, keeping pace beside me.

"Frying Fish, just down the block a little ways." My favorite place, not that I went very often. It wasn't exactly high class, closer to a fast food restaurant but... I would take what I could get.

"Sounds good to me, I love fish." Adachi shrugged, "So I take it you aren't exactly living the high life out here either huh?"

He said it so casually, "Yeah, and until your mom got that new job... You didn't have much either." He mentioned that before, when we were at the buffet with everyone... Wait a second, "Hold on," I stopped in my tracks, glaring daggers at Adachi. "Is this some stupid attempt to get me to open up like before?" I demanded.

The stupid blue lizard stumbled slightly in his steps, "I-I uh, well... I mean," Stammering, the little bastard was up to something! "I did want to get to know you better... And you wanted to free meal so, why not kill two birds with one stone right? Heheheh..." His nervous laughter ended sharply as I slugged him in the shoulder, "OW! Hey that hurt!"

"You are relentless, you know that?" I scoffed, shaking my head. Turning right around, "I'm going home." I didn't want any part of this nonsense.

And he didn't argue, not at first anyways. But I didn't get far before I could hear him coming after me, "Why?" He asked, making me stop. "Why won't you even try to make friends?" His voice had changed, lost it's usual friendly tone for a sharp edge. "Do you really just not like us that much?"

Just keep walking Ryoko, move your damn feet.

"... Let me ask you something," But I was stuck in place. "Why are you trying so damn hard?" I questioned, not looking back at him. "Have I given you any incentive that I am interested in making friends?"

"No, actually... You've done the opposite," Adachi replied in quick order. "You actively push us away, and pretend you don't like us."

My eyes narrowed and I turned halfway around to face him, "Pretend?"

"Look at me, Ryoko," Adachi replied, motioning to his reptilian body. "I had no friends throughout most of my school years, and I know that the idea of shoving people away before they can hurt me has crossed my mind before." Before he brought his arms down, "You and I, we're the same in some aspects... So I know you probably feel a lot of what I did, so why not just give being friends a try? We can help each other out, and get through UA together, all of us."

"And what if you're wrong?" I scoffed, "What I do just hate you all and want nothing to do with the rest of our class?"

But he didn't back down, "If that was the case, we wouldn't still be talking."

"Hmm, never thought of it like that," I shrugged in response, "Guess you're right, bye."

With that, I continued on my way. Leaving him behind with no inclination that I wanted anything to do with him.

. . .

After leaving Adachi behind, I returned home. He didn't try to follow, which I was grateful for. I entered through the door of our floor level apartment, kicking off my shoes and looking around the dirty living room. The TV was already on, while a portly, balding older man sat firmly in his wheel chair in front of it.

"Ryoko? That you?" He asked, never looking away from the screen. "Where the hell have you been?" He demanded, "Nevermind, this place is a mess, and I need my breakfast."

"Sorry Dad, I'll get on it right away." And here, in here I was a different person entirely. Because in here, I had to put everything away, push it deep down inside.

"... So what were you up to?" He asked, shooting me a sideways glance as I picked up various empty bottles and cans. "More of that training?"

"Yeah," I lied through my teeth, while picking up his trash. "I gotta get ready, the Sports Festival is the day after tomorrow."

"And you're competing? Ha, I guess they need somebody to make the hero course look good..."

I didn't show any emotion over the comment, "Right... Well we aren't actually gonna compete with the Hero Course, we're having our own event during the halftime break." I explained, putting on a smile as I prepared his lunch, heating up a TV dinner in the microwave.

"And why the hell would anyone want to see that?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "UA must be getting desperate..."

His disdain for heroes was... Well, comparable to his disdain for me. "It's going to be fun, we're going to fight each other in a battle royal... One of my classmates came up with the idea and convinced the Principle." Once the food was ready, I carefully brought it over and placed it on his small table. "Here, it's hot..."

"You forgot my drink." He said sharply, holding up an empty glass bottle. "Refill, now."

"R-Right, sorry..." I bowed my head, going back to our meager fridge. Pulling it open, and finding nothing that would satisfy his thirst. "We're out."

"We're out?!" Raising his voice suddenly, "I just bought that pack the other day!" That was over a week ago. "Have you been getting into my drinks?!"

"What!? No! Of course not!" I didn't want anything to do with something that could turn a man into... Whatever my father was.

"Well go buy me more! How am I supposed to eat without a drink?" He could drink water, but such a pure liquid would be like poison to him I'm sure.

"Sorry... I'll run to the store really quick." I wasn't the same person that I was out there. Trying to become what he once was, thinking it would satisfy him. But my failures did nothing but reinforce his hatred of me and what I wanted to do. But if I could just show him what I'm capable of, make him believe in me... Maybe things would get better around here.

But, I also think he blames me for Mom not being around.

Still, I had to try. "Hey uh... By the way," I had stopped just as I was about to head out the door. "The Festival, they gave me a free ticket in case... Well, in case you want to come and watch us out there."

But he scoffed at the idea, "And why in the hell would I want to do that?"

I knew that would be the answer, but some twisted part of me craved his praise, any small show of support would mean everything to me. "I-Its just... We've all been working really hard and, I would appreciate it, if you would show some supp-"

"How about you show me my damn drink!?" I'd already been on thin ice, and tested his patience far too long. My reactions, they weren't like they were in combat. I could only flinch and cower, as the bottle in his hand flew across the room and struck me in the side of my head. Shattering against my skin, glass cutting the surface and drawing blood just above my brow. "And when you get back, clean that shit up."

Shutting up, I left through the door. Silently whimpering, as I did what I was told. On the surface, hiding my anger, my disappointment.

But it was bubbling beneath the surface, just like before the entrance exam...