Duality (DxD) (Part 1)

Ch 35 - Living Alone

Jin was finnaly back in his home. The place he had come to call home and lived in for so long. Bans dojo now his. So while things had slightly returned back to normal, they had forever changed. Jins routine had forever changed. From when he woke up to when he went back to bed, his routine entirely changed. When Jin opened his groggy eyes, he first had to check his commissioned figures. Checking if they were drying and separating the dry ones from the drying ones. Checking his phone for new commissions and writing notes to research characters he didn't know.

When he was done with that, he got changed. Going out into the cold for his morning run. Running far and for a while, all around Kuoh and sometimes a bit further out. On Fridays he even ran to the shops and ran with his shopping back home. But when he got back he made himself a high protein breakfast. Sometimes Aika would even come around with the permission of her parents and eat with Jin. Though that was months into him living alone and knowing he could really live by himself and be completely independent.

Afterwards Jin would take a quick shower on the weekdays or a bath on the weekends. Studying afterwards. His basic core subjects. The equivalent of a collage student. Studying his Youjutsu more, feeling his Senjutsu.

When he finished his studying, he began training. His styles of Fist of Flowing Water, Crushing Rock; Exploding Heart Release Fist style and Hyper Karate. Combining his styles. Training in the dojo as intensely as he had done before. Even more intensely now that Ban was gone. He had Ban's requests to uphold and if he wanted to help the Fist of Flowing Water, Crushing Rock style grow and evolve; he needed to be better. Stronger.

Then afterwards, when he would usually go out for chess, he first had to create his commissioned figures or paint the dry ones. But while he took an hour or two before. He could feel himself get better and better with each figure made and each figure painted. His hand got more steady, his vision more acute. Maybe he was just getting better, but he was getting better a lot faster than any normal person could get. It was inhuman. Beyond that even.

When Jin had finished his scheduled amount to keep up with requests he was getting a lot further than Kuoh. He went out. Meeting Aika to do his regular sole chess. But he didn't just do that, Aika convinced him to play in the snow while it was here. However, that meant snowball fights, and tackling him into the snow because he refused to make a snow angel. But he didn't not like it.

After walking Aika back home, Jin would go home and practice martial arts some more. Finishing his figures all before dinner, where he relaxed. Playing on his phone, reading a novel, maybe a manga he made a figure of. Maybe he took another bath to relax. All before going to bed hugging his stuffed Snorlax.

It was his new routine and he stuck to it. He had finally shouldered all his burdens. He didn't need help from anyone now. He was stronger. Now, he could help other people shoulder their burdens.

Though through the months, Jin had learned a few things. First, this town was extremely perverse. He received many requests for erotic figures and had to do the research to find out what Mrs Kiryuu meant by "not very age-appropriate manga."

Secondly, Aika was likely perverted as she knew exactly what many of these "not very age-appropriate manga" were. This also made Jin realise she was very touchy-feely and that was most likely something more than friendly hugs. He believed it was her perversion.

Thirdly, he found out after participating in a chess competition. People weren't that good at chess or in actuality, Hex was amazing at chess and so was he. Winning without much effort.

Lastly, while hugging the stuffed Snorlax he needed to find sleep comfortable. He realised it was more comfortable to bug someone else.

Maybe Aikas habbits of hugging him rubbed off on him. Maybe it's because he originally never slept alone from a young age. But he knew one thing.

Stuffed Snorlax would stay in his bed.