The New Ajin

Chapter One

Sweat rolled off of my forehead and dripped onto the concrete ground as I sent punch after punch to the beaten up black punching bag.

My knuckles were throbbing with pain but I needed to push through. My mind had finally started to blank everything out of my mind. I was in my own very world where it was just me and this punching bag.

I swung my right leg and kicked the swinging bag. Jab, jab, uppercut, left hook, right hook, jab.

Time seemed to leave me as my body cried out for me to stop. My knees were wobbling and were about to give out. My lungs burned as if they were the left over ashes from a raging fire that rampaged through a forest.

I hugged the punching bag to bring it to a stop. My breathes were short and choppy and it felt like no matter how many mouthfuls of air I took in, I would never catch my breath.

I leaned against the bag for support and sucked in air like a fish out of water. How pathetic. This just showed how I need a lot more training.

I felt something soft land on my head and my vision was covered in white. I raised my right hand to take the towel off of me.

I did not have to ask who threw it, I already knew. 

"What do you want, Naoki," I asked as I used the towel to wipe the sweat off my face.

I turned to face him.

His six foot, three inch muscular body was leaning against the gym wall. His wavy dark brown hair was tied up in a man bun and his emerald green eyes stayed on me.

I used to train with Naoki when I first started training for the Underground Fights, but then he grew taller and muscular , making him too big to be an effective sparing partner for me.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

I balled up the sweaty towel and tossed it to him. He made a face as he caught it.

"What? You don't want me here?" I asked him with a teasing smile.

I walked past him and toward the women's locker room.

He followed close behind me, "No, it's not that. I haven't seen you at the Ring, and I was worried about you. I was so happy to see you in here training this morning."

He grabbed onto my upper arm and brought me to a stop. 

I snatched my arm back and snapped at him, "I'm here now, okay?"

"Woah, no need to get feisty, save it for the Ring," he held up his hands in surrender.

I sighed and muttered an apology.

"Talking about the Ring, where's Ren? I need to sign up for this weekend's fights," I asked him.

A flash of doubt crossed his face and he said, "you sure you're up for it?"

"Of course I am. I'm Eri, the undefeated champion of the Woman's Underground Fights," I said to him. I had tried to keep my emotions in check and not explode on him again. It was not like me to brag about my title, but hearing him doubt me made me upset. 

"I know, I know. But when you were gone, a new girl showed up. Seems real tough and these men are always around her. I don't like nor trust her one bit," Naoki said.

"What ever. As if this new girl is going to scare me," I said. I started walking towards the locker room, as far as I was concerned, the talk about this new opponent was finished. 

Naoki walked faster to walk in front of me to block my path, "Oi, Eri, you want to talk about what happened last month over breakfast?" 

I crossed my arms and looked up at him. Naoki was the closest thing to a friend that I had and I had not seen him in a month. It would be nice to catch up with him.