A Ray of Sunlight

Chapter 21 - Training (Haruto's POV)

 "Hi." I say, knocking on the commander's office door. I got to the center a minute after 7 and Koichi wasn't there so I decided to just visit father and talk to him like how uncle advised.

"Come in." Father replied. I pushed open the door and walked into one of the cubicle offices. The office has a big table with a computer and endless stacks of paper. Father looked up from his papers and saw me. "Haruto, shouldn't you be at training?"

"Umm..." I looked around for a conversation starter and saw the scattered paperwork. "Well...what are you doing?"

Father looked back down at the paper "Organizing important paperwork." There was an awkward pause. "The paperwork is for the defense force to know how often each monster appears so we can be better at preventing another attack."

"What are the other commanders doing?"

"I think they're organizing scheduling or calling people to arrive at monster attack sites." Father said, pointing at the other rooms.

"So why are you organizing papers by yourself? Shouldn't you be helping the other commanders?" I asked curiously, sitting down on a nearby chair.

"Shouldn't you be at training?"

"Well, father, Yukio said I'm almost capable enough to join the defense team."

"He said almost."

"Yeah! That means I'm so so so so so so close to getting in!"

"But remember Haruto, you still need lots of training-"

"I know father, I know! Training, training, training! I get it! Can't you see the improvements I made?"

"Haruto," Father looked up from the paperwork and sounded stern. "Don't be overconfident. When I was younger, I was often overconfident and that led to many mistakes that I wish I could undo but-"

"I know I know! But can't you see how much improvement I already gained?"

Father placed his blue pen down. "Haruto-"

"Father! I'm just trying to tell you about something and you keep on turning it into an inspirational conversation. It's not that deep!"

"Haruto, if you're not going to let me help you, you'll never get better."

"I'm not asking for your help right now."

"Okay." Father returned back to writing on the paperwork. His eyes dropped but then he opened them again. He sighed, picked up a new piece of paper, gently placed them on top of the stacks of paper using his ink, stained hands and sighed again.

I sighed too. After a couple of minutes of watching father write, I got up from the chair and walked out, closing the squeaky door behind me.

"Haruto, there you are." Yukio said, pushing the door of the training center. He was holding his helmet and a piece of paper. "Perhaps you forgot about form. Better work on that, Haruto."

I stopped punching the punching bag and turned to look at Yukio while wiping the shiny sweat from my forehead. "Is something wrong instructor?"

Yukio smiled and handed me the paper. "There is a really good internship opportunity for training students to work with an experienced Sorian for experience. Though you would be putting in more effort than you are now, the opportunity provides more value than regular training." I looked up at the paper and saw Yukio's smiling face. "Consider it. I'll even see if I can pair you up with Koichi or someone you know."

"Okay. Thank you instructor." I said with a bow. Instructor nodded and walked out of the training center.

There were a whole lot of words on the paper I thought to myself as I sat down on a bench and read the paper. I decided I'll accept the offer. If father could see what I can do, he'll stop doubting my abilities and not give up on me!