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[i]Drip. Drop. Drip.[/i] The blood, having calmed from its initial burst, travels down Kaz's lips and chin and onto the floor below. Bleeding profusely from one's nasal orifice certainly isn't a hallmark of good health. His entire damn body feels heavy right now. His head, however, feels light... from the blood loss. This is not a flowery metaphor regarding some newfound sense of mental clarity. Yeah, some sleep would be nice right about now, Kaz thinks. Just slip into blissful unconsciousness Kaz. It's all over now... But then an all-too familiar voice calls him back from the brink of passing out.

[color=ed1c24]"Kazuto Akechi,"[/color] Kaz's vision returns to him and he notices Lorken in front of him talking. [color=ed1c24]"You are weak,"[/color] [color=#A31221][i]"Yeah, I figured out that much."[/i][/color] [color=ed1c24]"Untrained,"[/color] [color=#A31221][i]"Got it."[/i][/color] [color=ed1c24]"And seem to only use your brain when its time to run your mouth,"[/color] [color=#A31221][i]"Okay, now you're just being a dick."[/i][/color] Kaz sighs. Yeah, he's heard it all before. Is there a skip button to the part where Lorken tells him that he failed? [color=ed1c24]"Despite your flaws,"[/color] Hmm? [color=ed1c24]"You do have potential and a degree of wit that some heroes in the industry are sorely lacking."[/color] What the hell kind of Twlight Zone-esque shit is this? Kaz is actually being... praised? Needless to say, Kaz is rendered pretty much speechless from what he had just heard. Lorken gets up and holsters his pistol before making his way over to Kaz.

He leans over and gives Kaz a pat well done accompanied by a fierce grin. No comment escapes Kaz's lips as he just quietly kneels there in contemplation. Before dismissing Kaz, Lorken asks the shocked young lad what it's like to care for once. He is quiet at first. Kaz then looks down and sees the broken finger on the hand he used to block one of Lorken's monstrously powerful punch. Maybe it was the angle of where Lorken was standing but one could swear that some semblance of a smile appeared on Kaz's face just then. [color=#A31221]"It freaking hurts."[/color]

Kaz grabs his cardigan while standing up and wipes the blood from his face. Earlier in the bout, Kaz made a mental remark about forgetting something. It isn't until now that he finally remembered what that was. Just right then, Lorken dismisses him. Perfect timing. [color=#A31221]"I'm going off school grounds. There's something important I have to do. Don't worry, this isn't an excuse to run away. I'll be back before long."[/color] At the exit, he turns around to face Lorken. [color=#A31221]"Hey, I want you to teach me how to punch."[/color] Kaz says with a serious expression and his left hand balled into a fist.

Some time later, Kaz is at the convenience store stuck in a long checkout line; he has a few comic books and DVDs in hand. [color=#A31221][i]"I forgot the latest issues came out today... Damn it, why is this line taking so long?"[/i][/color] Kaz starts tapping his foot as his patience runs thin. [color=#A31221][i]"This sucks."[/i][/color]

[@Zelosse]