With a sparkling will!

She listened in silence, her eyes seemingly clouded with thought. He had understood her deeper than first anticipated, but she supposed that was better than him not understanding at all. A few moments after he finished his minor speech, she nodded slowly, a brief, yet sincere smile gracing her lips in understanding and acknowledgement.

"I’m grateful that you understood quicker than ever imagined, I wasn’t prepared to elaborate much further. The only thing I can really tel you to do is… Listen to your heart, Nidai-kun. That’s all you have to do."

Her eyes flickered back over to her closed door, a brief inspection of the lock confirming it was locked accordingly. She decided now was a good time to leave, her time itself being very little given her recent schedule. She gave the taller male a small wave, turning on her heel in silence.

"These words only confirmed how honorable you are, Kirigiri-san. Even with a mess in love matters like me, you have the word prepared to be launched through the bullseye. I now udnerstand it... I'll let it flow, like the windy bluffs of autumn!"

He nodded for himself and waved the detective goodbye. For some reason, he felt much better inside... relaxed. The detective was someone he could trust, and even when he failed with all the Togami topic, being poorly tactful about it in his tellings, she instantly understood what intentions were true hiding inside the manager's soul.

She looked straight ahead as she listened to him speak, tilting her head from side to side, producing low, satisfying cracks. Her expression still remained fairly neutral, but she was in actuality attempting to pay attention; a privilige not many had gotten. It was in these small ways Akane showed that she respected someone, not by showering them with compliments, but by paying proper attention to them. 

But trust me, if you agree, I can multiply your possibilities… 

When he finally quieted down, the gymnast remained quiet for a moment, considering his words. What really got through to her was the last part; a promise of her body improving. She didn’t need someone who wanted to make her a better gymnast, but a better fighter. 

Slowly, Akane turned to him, just the faintest spark of interest evident on her tan features. “So… you really can help me become stronger then?” A faint smile grew on her face as she spoke. “I guess… it’ll be worth training then.” A short pause. “Okay, I accept your offer, old man. If I get to fight against you, then it’s okay.” Another pause, as the smile grew into a full-on enthusiastic but relaxed grin.

He remained quiet for a moment, looking with more than a serious expression to Akane, as he was saying that speech determined. But seeing now her adamant sight and a smile accepting his proposal, made him smile slowly himself until a big grin appeared in his face, too."Hahahahaha! Is that what you wanted? A parrying buddy? Listen to me, Owari-san... I'm more than a battling partner, I'll be sure you'll learn all about improving, not only muscle and moves, as spirit, determination and personal way of taking your raw strenght..." Now with the sweating wore off with the freshly nice towels, he putted on his coat while crunching his punches."Just remember... I don't teach violence! I'll make sure our matches bear within the honorable limits! As both as a fighter and athlete... I'll push up you to the stars!"

He felt the urge and grabbed Akane by the shoulders, getting her up already. It was a lot of confidence for a first meeting but he was just getting this excited to have a person like her in the areas of his talent."Oi, oi!" He tapped her back, pushing her to the door of the gym."You'll say whatever you like, but I'm not that old! I'm just as you! And being as you means that you can pulverize me with effort!!" Said pretty intense again, now the sparks in his sight crashing between themselves in a more vigorous lightning.

  "I’m right behind you, Koizumi-san!" Komaeda managed to say as he followed her, barely keeping up with Koizumi’s really fast and urgent walking.

To be entirely honest, Komaeda was more worried about meeting Nidai than excited. He was worried his physique would disappoint Nidai. Komaeda wasn’t the most physically fit, he was very frail and sickly, he’s surprised it hasn’t repulsed Koizumi or any of the others. He’s worried his form would disappoint a sports-person like Nidai, it would even be worse since Nidai was in a very similar position to Komaeda’s, but actually did something about it. He was envious of Nidai, to say the least.

The more he thought about this the more anxious and envious he got. Which, in turn made him more angry. This was just one item on an endless list of things he was afraid wouldn’t appeal to Nidai. Then he realised he’s putting too much thought into this. By the time he decided to stop his thought train, Koizumi’s words hit him.

"Ah, there he is."

He opent an eye when hearing the voice of the redhead, then smiled and opened both, giving them a sight and a warm smile. He raised up from his sitting stance and fixated his electric eyeballs in the guy. He was pale and thin, despite his high tall. His soul felt, for a moment, like weakened by something... And seeing him in this state remembered of his own time in the hospital, a feeling that he truly didn't liked. But far from taking him to repulse and be far from the boy, it produced the contrary effect: he felt the urge of aiding him at first sight. Perhaps he needed an extra pump to step on and put solution to that weakened figure.

"Yo, Koizumi-san!!Such a nice sun to have lunch outside!" He waved at the girl and then ofered his hand for a handshake to the white-haired guy."And you are...? Name's Nekomaru Nidai, the SHSL coach, such a pleasure to meet you and have to eat lunch together!"

But then, he grimaced and his face and attitude changed drastically. It was about the Oogami family clan. What was the deal?"The Ogre?" That title vibrated inside his head... He remebered it, but it wasn't from an Oogami-clan member. He couldn't remeber that well."What do you say? The Oogami clan is so honorable and the people are so kind! I met their female descendant a couple years ago, while I was doing a personal training by myself... She challenged me to a battle, one that I lost! That Sakura Oogami was such a tough battler... But had an incredible sense of honor and respect! She invited me to visit the dojo time-to-time and I learned a lot about martial arts and meditation with them! Perhaps, if I even ask her... They could give us a room and a bed for us. Did you had problems with the Oogami clan, man?" 

I would want to be your personal trainer, if you wouldn’t mind.

His proposition caught her off guard, and she looked over at him with mildly confused eyes. But when she remembered his title, the SHSL manager, a look of understanding crossed her tan features. Still, it surprised her that he asked, as she had only gotten this question one time before, and that personal trainer had not lasted long. Nidai seemed like the type who could handle more than a little difficulties though (her stubborn and lazy nature probably being the most challenging one), and the fight had deemed him more than worthy to train her. But despite wholeheartedy approving of the manager, Akane still seemed to be hesitating.

A couple of awakening lightning came in his eyeballs. Normally, it would irritate him so much seeing a person with this potential wasting it in lazy statements, but he fought her... challenged her and tasted it. Doing that experiencing, made him realize... That pure talent was even more brigthly than he thought. It made his soul want more, having even more interest in managing her. "I'm not a fanatic of lazyness. Of course a manager makes you go pumped to strict schedules, a lot of work... I usually practice here in this gym early in the morning, and late after classes. But my schedules are personal, and can adapt to the needs of every precise athlete. Perhaps you'll need more... Or less, judging your words. But trust me, if you agree, I can multiply your possibilities... I can give you motivation to crush lazyness and want to go to the next step!"

"The sauna is better when a session of hard work out is finished. The pool will not accomplish our expectations...  I'd talked with the headmaster, and it'll be better if you have your bag prepared for this weekend!!" He did a thumbs up, crushing his palm over the paper with energy.

That proposition made him smile. Was he offering sharing time... Like friends? He laughed so hard, peacefully happy."Hohoho!!Well, for the waterfall dare...We would need to do a trip to the mountainside during a weekend, friend. We can't do it just now! And burgers... Well, not exactly the healthiest food out there, but I think if I raise up by 100 the repeats of each of my basic routine's exercises for today... I could handle it!"

  "That sounds fun so why not? I’ll meet you here later then!"

"Kuwata-san!! Leon Kuwata!! My eyes cannot be lying to me!"

"Hah?" Blue tinted eyes looked at the man, and quickly brightened up, he knew it. Nidai Nekomaru was the Super High-School Level Coach. Without hesitating, he quickly ran over to him and just greeted him with a "brohug". Leon was very happy because he knew him, and just, kind of felt safer with him.

"Whaddup, maaan?! It’s been such a fuckin’ long time, don’t ‘cha think, coach?" Kuwata greeted the older man with a loud voice, coming from his lungs. He was too excited to see the new student, and just hung out with him, they were talking about their adventures, what have they learned, foolishness, everything in general. Leon was cheerful at the moment, and there was nothing that could stop that.

But then, that happiness came to an end, and Leon’s eyes turned into melancholy, he really did miss baseball, especially hanging around with his coach, that teached him in best way possible, so he just touched the topic.

That was true friendship.

"The shit? Hohohoho, Kuwata-kun...!! You talk so different from our past stories, aren't you? You seem so different now... I believed that you aimed for a major league considering your skills, but here you are, in this academy of talents! Did you changed your mind? If I can ask..."

Nidai was trying to analize this guy in a more deep way, but it seemed really difficult. He wondered if it was because his links with the supernatural forces, trusting in the idea of if they exist, first of all... Whatever, this dude seemed confusing as hell for him, but he knew that, at least at first glance, he didn't holded malice. In fact, when he was talking about how Nidai was, he did a mid-smile.

"What are you meaning for? It's true that sports is my main course here... Because sports have a really great bunch of special features that help you overall to walk healthy over life! But that isn't my only path, dude..." He opent his hand, like he was holding something."You say about holding the water of a waterfall with your back? The pressure and the meditation required for that? I did it in my training travels to the mountains... I learned how to maintain equilibrium in a bamboo stick, and chop wooden trunks with my bare hands, too. It's all discipline and an iron will."

"M-My  cheeks…?! What are you talki— ugh, forget it."

Two out of three punches… It still pissed her off that she had lost; that she had been so weak in the last moments. Did not giving up even mean anything when she had fought so poorly in the end? The competetive gymnast absolutely hated losing, but she wasn’t going to a bad sport about it. Nidai was strong and he had won, fair and square.

She shakily pushed herself up into a sitting position, her battered body angrily protesting as she moved. On the outside she didn’t look too bad; her clothes were rumpled and her hair was even messier than usual, but there were no external injuries on her. However, she knew that the next day would reveal bruises and bring even more aching muscles. Hopefully her head would be cleared up by then, because this dizziness was extremely irritating. 

Nidai’s words took her off guard again. Akane had been so preoccupied with the fight, she had nearly forgotten what the manager was actually like; surprisingly kind depsite the aura he gave off. A smile crossed her own features as she took his hand and let him help her up on wobbly legs, while wiping the nosebleed she had gotten on her cheek off with the other hand.

He bluffed heavily, in a resting intent, grabbing a fresh towel and putting it over his neck. He loved that reassuring sensation, cleaning the drips of hard work sweat from his face and cleaning the bloody ones too, being the mark of her triumphs in this match. He appointed at her with a finger.

"I'm pretty proud of hearing that. In fact, Owari... This battle was the more intense one in ages for me, too. Don't think it was that easy for me, because your spirit is a blazing star... I'm really impressed, so I must thank you for awakening that beat in my heart... I needed it!"