I turned to Rabuki, who was looking at me like I was an alien who had just eaten her breakfast. I smiled broadly, ignoring the heavy atmosphere in the hall.

  "Listen, tell me something else instead. Rabuki," I expressively patted my empty stomach, "are you going to feed me? I'm owed at least lunch in a decent place for a masterclass like that."

  Rabuki slowly climbed through the ropes and walked up to me. Her gaze was glued to my face, as if she was trying to find an answer there to a question she was afraid to ask out loud.

  "Arkgrim," she began, her voice sounding surprisingly serious. "Are you... are you planning to join the Exterminator Corps?"

  I lazily stretched, rolling my neck.

  "I don't know. Most likely—no. Why would I need that? If there are going to be such 'strong' fighters like you guys there, then the world is completely safe. I have nothing to worry about," I laughed loudly, seeing her grind her teeth.

  "I'm asking seriously!" Rabuki took a step forward. "Your intuition... it's incredible. You don't just dodge, you know where the strike will land before I even think about it."

  "What do you mean 'intuition'? You two just move like sleepy flies."

  "Don't lie to yourself," she interrupted. "Your physical specs, reaction, stamina... they are beyond the norm for a schoolboy your age. You are simply obligated to join the Corps. With your potential, you could become a legend."

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  "I'm not obligated to anyone or anything," I stood up sharply, brushing off my pants. The conversation was starting to annoy me. "Alright, since there won't be any food, I'm leaving. My time is money, and you've got way too much pretentiousness per square meter here."

  I headed for the exit, but right at the doors, Rabuki's shout caught up with me:

  "Wait! Squirt... come again. To training."

  I looked back over my shoulder, winking mischievously:

  "I'll come. But only if you feed me next time. And not just with whatever, but with real meat!"

  Stepping outside, I took a deep breath of the cold air.

  "What is wrong with them?" I muttered. "People have some kind of mania—jumping right into the jaws of monsters. 'Heroes', 'duty', 'saving the world'... What kind of wannabe heroes are they? I don't get it. Can't you just live, eat pizza, and sleep?"

  I was just about to call a taxi (of course, Yanu will order me economy again, but I'll at least try), when suddenly the phone in my pocket vibrated.

  My heart skipped a beat. I frantically whipped out the handset. A message from Yoto!

  "Meet in an hour in the park? By that same tree."

  "YES! OF COURSE!" I yelled, almost dropping the phone.

  I started tapping on the screen with such speed that my fingers were practically smoking.

  "I'll be there in 40 minutes. No, 30!"

  To hell with fatigue, to hell with Rabuki and her "ceilings." The whole world around me instantly took on bright colors. I forgot about the training, and about my mocking of Leon. I had only one goal in my head now—her smile.

  I ran out onto the road, desperately waving my arms at the first car I saw.

  "Yanu! Faster! Order anything, even a truck! I cannot be late!"

  'Wow, such enthusiasm,' Yanu commented in my earbud. 'The master's blood dopamine level has exceeded all permissible limits. Calling the nearest vehicle. Try not to jump out of the car while it's moving.'

  But I wasn't listening to her anymore. In an hour I would see her again. And that was the most important thing of all.