𝐃𝐄𝐈𝐓𝐘 || ᵇ.ᵏᵃᵗˢᵘᵏⁱ

XXVII

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"You know what Hae Yeongju's quirk is, don't you?" Jinyoung asked as he and Aeri warmed up with a couple of laps around the dojo.

"Heatwave. She emits waves of stifling heat and can directly target objects to heat up. I'll have to fight quick or else I'll overheat and become sluggish," Aeri answered perfectly. "All three of her children have the same quirk but it's one that was introduced only two generations ago. The Hae family's old quirk used to be flame based."

"Good. Did you study over the weekend?"

"Yes, I did some research," Aeri said. "But I knew most of it already."

"Okay, let's stretch and then we'll spar." Jinyoung stopped running and moved to the centre of the room.

"As long as you promise not to stab me again," Aeri jested, jogging over to meet him in the middle.

"How many times are you going to bring that up? Did the Louboutins not make up for it? You told me you'd forgive me if I stopped buying you so many gifts." Jinyoung frowned, guilt washing over his features once more as he remembered that day.

"I was just joking." Aeri's face dropped.

"I have a present that I didn't give you for your birthday last month because Hyoseop said it'd be too much on top of the other gifts I got. I'll give it to you tonight," Jinyoung said shortly as he dropped down to stretch out his hamstrings.

"Do you have an extra one for Jungwon too? I don't want it if he's gonna feel left out..." Aeri warned.

"I suppose I can pick something up for him too. Now hurry and stretch so we can start training."

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"You haven't been training enough, you're getting sloppy. How do you expect to fight Hae Yeongju in this condition?" Jinyoung scolded as he knocked her on her ass for what had to be the 12th time that evening.

"I've got four days to get back up there. SHA does a lot less physical training than UA does, they just pull those bullshit competitions and expect students to improve from that." Aeri grumbled, pushing herself up into a sitting position, cradling the throbbing bruise on her rib cage.

"The competition would push anyone else to want to improve. Considering how you used to be, I assumed it would've done the same with you." Jinyoung held out a hand to help her up. Aeri took it, wincing when a sharp pain went up her side.

"Healthy competition, yeah. Not when the competition ends in girls getting their skulls fractured in the changing rooms for having a low rank," Aeri sighed. "You got a healer here? My rib might be cracked..."

"Hari's place is nearby. I'll text her and we can swing by before we go to the high street to pick Jungwon out a gift."

"Okay. Are we calling it a day?" Aeri tried to straighten up but winced again.

"Yes. Let's get you fixed up and then we'll come back early tomorrow morning. I'm going to whip you into shape before you embarrass the family on live television. You're set to take over me as soon as you leave school, how can you do that if you can't even beat a Hae?"

"How am I gonna get in shape if you're just beating me up all day?"

"You're going to fight each of my interns. That way I can get you in shape and you can get them in shape."

"Whatever."

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"Hello Hari," Aeri greeted as the older woman opened her apartment door.