20 chapters already? What am I doing with my life?! OTL
Black Cat mumbles something about 'caring' and 'life', but his mask makes his speech unintelligible.
"Alright, kid, here's a demonstration," Ayame sighs before turning to her right. Without another word, she runs, pushing off the ledge and landing on her feet on the opposite building.
It's too short, she thinks. There's no excitement, or exhilaration, or even pressure.
Ayame turns around to see Natsume rooted to his spot.
"Come on, Black Cat," she calls impatiently. "One short building-hop. You have nine lives. We don't have all night."
The boy still doesn't move. Ayame is briefly reminded of her child self, training under the Hattoris in the Oniwabanshu. She, too, was afraid to make the first leap; and she remembers very clearly how she was forced to jump.
"What do you think will happen if you don't cooperate?" she feigns a sigh. If she has to use Natsume's sore spots against him, so be it. "Imagine what will happen to your sister if you don't jump!"
The result is immediate. Natsume clenches his fist and runs up and off the ledge. Using fire from his palms as boost, he successfully lands beside Ayame, on his feet like a true Black Cat.