Infinity and Beyond

Ep-5 : The Showdown

"What was that? You suddenly shouted Langa's name during your sleep" i commented biting on the sandwich. Both the guys faces were bright red. "Geez, don't get embarrassed now" i sighed taking out my phone. "You know-" "No way" Langa cut off Reki. "But i haven't even said anything!" Reki whined. "I know you're gonna tell me to not skate against ADAM" Why do i feel like I'm between a lover's quarrel? But i did understand the way how Reki was feeling. Afterall, it isn't the first time something like this has happened in his life. Reki looked at me with pleading eyes. "No point in looking at me like that. He's as stubborn as you are. Langa has made up his mind about racing him. He's thinking about winning. The most we can do is support him, trust him" i said sipping on the strawberry milk. Langa's eyes were suddenly sparkling. "Chiyo! I want you to help me not encourage him!" Reki shook me by the shoulders. "You stop worrying too much!"

After school

Before school ended, I texted Kojiro-san to ask for permission to arrive at the work an hour late. Surprisingly he was fine with it and didn't ask anymore questions. Where did the sun rise up from today..? After school, instead of going home, me and Langa went to the park to help him with practice. MIYA and SHADOW soon joined us. I was now teaching him the Casper Slide, the one that ADAM did in his beef with Reki. "Yeah, that's it. Main thing is balance" i said watching Langa do it. After a few more tries he finally got it down. And then, i taught him a few more basic moves, moves that would help him to do something bigger. "So you keep your foot like this and in one breath, you turn" i demonstrate. "Okay, see me do it" he said before getting on the board. "Body should not be too crouched or too straight otherwise you'll fall on your face" i held his chest and back and fixed it. I heard the others talking causing me to turn around. Oh Reki is here too. Wait.. what's Cherry doing here?! After a few more practices, i went back home to freshen up before going to work.

Work went by today easily. Even though there were a lot of customers, there's nothing this Chiyo can't handle. HAHAHA! "Chiyo-chan, taste this dessert i made" Kojiro called me from the kitchen. "Yes, coming!" i replied before finishing cleaning the tables. "Where where? Let me see" i always enjoyed tasting out Kojiro-san's new recipes. I guess it helped him to change the new dishes a bit. "Mmm, isn't it a bit too sweet?" i asked. He fed me another spoonful of it. "Yep" i nodded my head. "Did you turn the-" "No, i didn't yet. I was about to after finishing cleaning the tables" i said before going towards the door. Just when i was about to open it, the door moved towards me and bumped against my forehead. "Ow! What the-" behind the door was none other than Cherry and the group from the afternoon. "Oh, Chiyo is also here" he smiled at me. "Of course, i would be. I work here after all, Kaoru-san" i rubbed on my forehead. "Yo!" the group greeted me as well.

"Woah, the place is rad" Shadow said. "I don't like tomatoes" Miya said. "Do you have any poutine?" Langa asked. "Like hell they would! I'd like a pizza" Reki chimed in. "Guys, sit where you find comfortable" Cherry said. "Hey! Why are you using my place without permission?!" Joe finally opened his mouth. "Tell 'im Kojiro-san!" i cheered on him. "Apparently, he wants to win against ADAM" Cherry brush past us. "Ah, that? Chiyo told me about it. You saw how ADAM skates don't you? Then don't act foolish" "Yes! Tell him Joe! Chiyo encouraged him to skate him!" Reki said pointing at me. "Hey!" i called him out. "What?!" the two men looked at me in shock. "Wha-" *growl~* It came from Langa then Reki then Miya and lastly me. "You too?!" Joe looked at me. My cheeks became red from embarrassment. "Five bowls of ramen!" Shadow slapped on the counter. "This is an Italian restaurant!" Joe and I snapped at him.

After that, i helped Joe with making food and then served it to the team. They all ate it with their mouths full. "Eat slowly! There's more" i said biting onto the chicken. "It's soo freaking good! I can't help myself!" Reki commented excitedly. "Well, that's true" i smiled before eating my fill. After our tummies were full, we got down onto business. "Starting now, we'll be creating how Love Hug works" Cherry said. "Why me?!" Joe grumbled. "Start with maximum acceleration in the direction of travel and using a spin, do a 180 with minimum turning radius. Now, this is the important part. Right after the 180, you forcefully bring down the nose you lifted up and by doing so, you still have propulsion even going uphill. And due to the sudden relative speed, it looks like ADAM suddenly approached you" Cherry explained before he finally stopped in front of Joe, their faces very close. KISS KISS FALL IN LOV- CONTROL CHIYO.

"It's simple once you know what the magic trick is" Miya sighed in relief. "No, it's not that simple in reality. To give that illusion in perception, you must always keep your opponents right in front of you" i said. "Heh.. not bad" Cherry held his fan over his mouth before walking towards me. Eh? "Oih" Joe held him back by the arm. My eyes suddenly became anime heart eyes seeing that. "That's the end of Love Hug, right?" Reki asked me. "N-" "Reki" Joe called him before pushing his fist towards his, almost in contact causing Reki to shut his eyes. "Even if you know it, your body will still react. It's not that easy, you know" Joe said with a strained smile. "Then what do we do?" Reki mumbled hanging his head low. "Langa, would you like to practice with me?" i asked. "What what?" his eyes sparkled. "Love Hug" "HEH?!" it felt like all hell broke loose. The men were looking at me as if they saw a ghost. Then they started talking all together causing me to laugh at them.

Me - One at a time. I held out my index finger.
Che- Do you even know how to do it?!
Me - I do.
Joe - HOW?! Only ADAM can do it!
Me - ADAM went to America after finishing high school, right?

They all went quiet hearing my words. Joe's and Cherry's eyes were trembling. "Chiyo.. also lived in America" Reki said. "That's right. I.. I have known ADAM.. Ainosuke-san for more than three years" i said. "Then.. does that mean..?" Miya looked at me with wide eyes. "Yeah, i have skated with that guy for more than three years. So.. yeah, that's how i know the Love Hug. And I'm gonna help Langa with it" i smiled at Langa. "Chiyo.. thanks" he put his hand over mine and squeezed it. "I have a lot of questions to ask you" Reki looked at me. "So do i" "Me too" Cherry and Joe said looking at me seriously. "You know the word 'later' ?"

Within the remaining three days, i busted my ass off. With almost no sleeping, i studied, did my part time job and gave Langa skateboarding lessons whenever there was any free time of mine. My daily routine was down in the dumps. Finally, the night of the beef came. "Oh my, you look dead" Cherry commented seeing me. "I worked hard" I yawned. "Yeah, she did" Langa gave me a side hug. Suddenly the music that was going on, stopped. Red carpet was thrown towards us and after it settled down, a man with a bouquet of roses in his hand walked towards us. "This is a sign of our acquaintance. These flowers symbolize passionate love" ADAM handed the bouquet to Langa. Diligently, Langa took it and thanked him. "Oh? Are you guys on their side?" ADAM looked at Cherry and Joe. "Who knows?" Joe commented. "You're the one who parted ways from us first" Cherry added. "Was it so?" ADAM shrugged before his eyes fell on me. "Worked yourself to death again" his hand came towards me "You never change, do you?" his hand hovered above my cheek, his eyes were slightly strained before he covered it with his hair.

The match soon began. ADAM was faster in both speed and technique. But Langa was no less and soon caught upto him. ADAM started dancing on the board. I could never do that when i skated with him. He's testing how much Langa can endure i thought watching him 'dance' with him. The first time Ainosuke-san danced with me on the board almost killed me if he hadn't saved me instantly. Although i forgave him immediately, he kept on asking for forgiveness for days. I felt bad for the guy back now. But now that i see him, i feel like laughing at myself. "SNOW took him!" some of the people cheered. "He narrowed the turn radius to speed up!" Joe gasped. "There's another corner coming! He won't be able to do the Love Hug!" Reki sighed in relief. "Don't breathe yet. This excited ADAM can do the Love Hug anywhere, anytime" i said biting my lip. And ADAM proved me right.

"Langa broke out of it!" Reki cheerfully jumped on me. "Ahahaha, yes yes!" i patted his back. "I didn't think such a method-" I looked at Cherry as he stopped talking, only finding him staring at me. "Wot?" i raised my eyebrows "He's a fast learner. That was a big help" i smiled. I turned back to see ADAM's expression. The aura around him suddenly changed. I could feel it. And within a second, he began skating even faster. That never ceased to amaze me. "What's happening?! He's going toe-to-toe against ADAM!" Joe said. It's too fast! If they were to topple over.. Calm down, Langa! Calm down you tw- suddenly we heard police sirens. "No way! We've never seen cops around here before!" SHADOW said. "Why now of all times?! You guys better hurry, too!" saying that Joe was about to grab me before SHADOW grabbed me from the back. "You guys go! I'll take the kids from here!" he said. "Reki? Where's Reki?!" i looked around in worry. "He went off to bring Langa. Let's go you two!" SHADOW pulled me and Miya towards his car. I hope they all get back safe.

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