Chapter 8: The unexpected quest

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on existing works. All original characters and plotlines are my creation, but I do not claim ownership of any pre-existing characters or content. All rights to these pre-existing works belong to their original creators. This is a non-profit work created solely for the enjoyment of fans and no copyright infringement is intended.

AN: Thi is a reworked version of my old fanfic tribute: I'm a gamer.

The four lads were sitting in the waiting area, their tense energy obvious. Matsuda tapped his feet anxiously, while Issei fiddled with his fingers. Motohama was scanning through his phone, and Akio glanced at the ground, lost in thought.

Why did his popularity points erupt to that number? Who the heck was Saki Yoshida and her name was at the tip of his tongue.

"How long has it been?" Motohama said, checking his phone for the time.

"About an hour," Matsuda responded, sighing hard. "I hope everything is all right."

While thinking, Akio kept silent. He couldn't help but relive the events of the day in his head, wondering whether he could have done more to help the mom and her kid.

Issei saw Akio's sorrowful gaze and decided to break the silence. Hey, Akio, do you mind if I ask you a question?

Akio raised his head, his blue eyes meeting Issei's brown. "Sure, what's up?"

Issei's expression changes as if he is struggling to find the right words, "How did you know something was wrong? How did you hear that woman in distress?"

Akio felt a brief panic attack. He hadn't told anyone about how he'd overheard the girls say, but he knew he'd have to confess sooner or later. He paused before saying, "I heard some girls joking about beating up someone."

Issei appeared surprised. "Wow, that's incredible; you have incredible hearing."

"Damn, that's messed up," Matsuda said, shaking his head.

Motohama patted his friend's back, "Don't worry, we will get through this. We just have to stay for questioning."

Akio bows down in apology. "I'm so sorry for dragging you guys into this mess."

Issei, trying to lighten the mood, nudged Akio's arm. "Hey man, you're pretty badass. Breaking down doors and saving lives!"

Matsuda chimed in, "Yeah, but don't let it go to your head, big guy. You're still our friend, even if you are a towering giant."

Akio smiled weakly, still feeling the weight of the situation. "I'm just glad we were able to help her."

Motohama, ever the jester, decided to lighten the mood further. "I guess it's safe to say that your size is not just for show, huh?"

Suddenly, the door to the waiting room opened, and a police officer walked in. "Excuse me, are you the four boys who found theyoung woman in the restroom?"

Akio and his friends nodded, and the officer continued, "We need to ask you some questions about the incident. Please come with me."

The group followed the officer to a small room where they were asked to recount their story in detail. Akio explained everything, and the officer jotted down notes. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the questioning was over, and the group was allowed to leave.

Akio breathed a sigh of relief as he sat down, feeling exhausted from the ordeal. His mind was racing, thinking about how to make his lie believable to the authorities. He couldn't let them know about his supernatural abilities, as that could lead to more trouble than he wanted.

Suddenly, they saw the doctor walking out of Saki's room. They all slowly rose to their feet, watching with bated breath as the doctor approached them.

"Excuse me, are you the ones who brought in the girl?" the doctor asked, looking at each of them in turn.

Akio took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. "Yes, that was us," he said, his voice steady despite his nerves.

The tension in the room grew as the doctor took his time looking at each of them as if trying to decide whether to believe their story.

Finally, the doctor spoke. "I have some good news. The woman is stable, and she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. They are both going to be just fine."

Akio breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. He had been worried that his lie wouldn't hold up under scrutiny, but it seemed like they had gotten away with it.

As they left the hospital, Akio couldn't help but think about how he could improve his abilities. He had relied heavily on his weapon in the past, but he knew that it wasn't always the best solution. He decided that he needed to invest in some passive skills that would allow him to subdue his enemies without having to kill them.

Akio's mind was already racing with ideas, and he couldn't wait to put them into practice. He knew that he had a lot to learn, but he was determined to become the best that he could be.

Visiting hours were over, thus the four were requested to leave. None of them complained and decided to try another day for the guys' night out. As Akio's friends walked away, leaving him standing alone on the sidewalk. As he watched them disappear around the corner, his expression became pensive, and he turned to head in the opposite direction. Suddenly, he came to a halt, and Motohama, who was walking behind him, noticed his sudden stop.

"What's wrong, Akio? Did you drop something?" Motohama asked, puzzled.

Akio quickly thought of an excuse. "Yeah, my wallet. I must have dropped it back there. You guys go ahead, I'll catch up with you later."

Matsuda chimed in with a joke, "Geez, Akio, with that height and muscle, you should be more careful with your things." They all laughed, and then Akio watched them go, his expression turning serious again once they were out of sight.

As he stood alone on the sidewalk, a hologram suddenly appeared in front of him. It was a new quest, and Akio's eyes widened with surprise. He had never received a quest in the middle of the day before.

The hologram flickered for a moment before a soothing voice spoke, "Greetings, adventurer. You have been selected for a special mission. The details will be revealed once you accept the quest."

Akio hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should accept the quest. He had just helped save a woman and her unborn child, and he was tired. But then he remembered the feeling he had when he used his Observe ability to help the woman, and he felt a sense of purpose.

"Accept," he said, and the quest details began to materialize in front of him.

{New Quest: Protect Saki}

[Quest Details]: Your task is to protect Saki from danger in the next 12 hours. Failure to do so will result in dire consequences. Rewards for completing this quest include 1,646,576 EXP, a new set of armor, a potion of regeneration, and a legendary weapon.

Akio takes a deep breath, knowing the weight of the task that lay ahead. He focuses on the mission and his resolve strengthens. With a nod of his head, he accepts the quest.

Observe reveals no apparent danger in the immediate vicinity, but Akio knows that the danger could come at any moment. The possibility of failing the quest and the dire consequences that follow weigh heavily on him.

Akio considers the rewards of the quest, including the massive amount of EXP and the legendary weapon, and starts to plan his strategy. He also wonders about the unknown item he will receive upon completion of the quest.

As he begins to move toward Saki's location, he can't help but feel a sense of excitement and apprehension. He knows that the next 12 hours will be a test of his skills and abilities, and he is ready to face whatever comes his way.

But first, he needed a new skill, Akio's mind raced as he considered what passive skills he should buy. He knew that he needed skills focused on unarmed combat and takedowns. Looking at the menu, he saw a variety of options, each with its own pros and cons.

He considered Jeet Kune Do, which was focused on flexibility and quick movements, but he wasn't sure if it would suit his style. Taekwando seemed like a great option for its deadly kicks, but he didn't want to rely too heavily on kicks. Krav Maga was also tempting, with its brutal effectiveness in close-quarters combat, but he wasn't sure if it was the best fit.

Finally, his eyes landed on Art of Ali, Dirty Boxing, and Freestyle Wrestling. Akio had read about Art of Ali in the Baki manga and felt more comfortable with it. He liked the idea of utilizing Muhammad Ali Sr.'s martial art, which focused on powerful strikes and evasive footwork.

As for Dirty Boxing, he knew it was a gritty and practical fighting style that utilized unconventional strikes like headbutts and elbows. He believed it would be useful in situations where he needed to fight dirty to survive. Plus he doesn't need to adjust his style.

Lastly, Freestyle Wrestling caught his eye, with its focus on grappling and ground techniques. He knew that it would be useful in taking down opponents and restraining them without causing permanent damage.

After much thought, Akio made his decision and bought the three skills. He was eager to put them into practice and become a formidable fighter.