Jazz returned home, changed his clothes, and went downstairs to have dinner with his family.
"Jazz, wake up your brother." said his mother as she set the dishes on the table.
"There's no need, he's tired." Jazz said calmly.
"What? What's he tired from?" A puzzled look appeared on his mother's face.
His father was sitting there holding a book, waiting for his mother to finish setting the table, but when he heard what Jazz said, he was surprised too.
Although Deebt was a man of few words, he had never missed dinner with them.
"He was training under deputy principal J Martin." Jazz explained briefly.
"What?"
"What?"
The father and mother spoke at the same time, they hadn't expected such an answer, since Deebt had never trained because he wanted to be an employee.
"Jazz, are you sure about what you just said?" The father put down his book, stood up, approached Jazz, and grabbed his shoulders.
He was trying to confirm what he'd heard.
"Yes, he just hasn't told you yet, but he went to the principal to ask him to change his major."
"How did this happen? Why did he change his mind?" the father asked again, while the mother still looked on in shock.
"I don't know, but he came to me earlier and told me he was going to change his major and asked me to teach him how to fight. Why he changed his mind, I really don't know, and I didn't ask him." Jazz explained the situation further.
He never asked Deebt why, that was just how Deebt was, he wouldn't tell you everything.
"Dad, Mom, this is good news after all. Don't dwell on it too much. As I see it, my brother chose his own path, that was his wish." Jazz's expression was serious.
"I understand. That's good for him, at least it will ensure he has a good future." The father said in an emotional tone.
"Jazz, help your brother as much as you can. That's what I'm asking of you." The mother's tone was filled with joy.
They had truly been worried about Deebt's future.
They knew his talent, but they respected his wishes, and now that he's changed his mind, they'll respect his decision as well.
Doc Jacks, the father.
Mary X, the mother.
An ordinary couple, the husband was a government employee with a good income, and the mother was a housewife.
The father made an effort to raise his children and help them achieve their dreams.
Jazz wanted to join the sunset, so his father helped him learn to fight by enrolling him in several clubs earlier to give him a foundation.
Deebt wanted to be a government employee, so his father helped him with his studies by arranging extra lessons, until Deebt stopped asking for them.
The mother was loving and took good care of her children, providing good food, love, and tenderness…
They were a wonderful couple with highly talented children.
That's how the "system" was strange, it offered everyone an opportunity to develop, but not everyone had the mindset to want to develop, or the circumstances that would make them want to, many chose an ordinary life.
But for highly talented children to squander that talent for an ordinary, trivial future, that was difficult and strange.
Deebt was a prime example, when he wanted to be an employee with that talent, it was difficult.
To live the life that millions of people lived, ordinary.
But Deebt had made a different choice now... A better, more exceptional life.
This was better, his father and mother felt happiness flooding their hearts.
"Jazz, sit down and eat your meal." His mother's tone was relaxed.
Jazz sat down, and his father sat down, tonight's dinner was full of emotion.
…
At 4 a.m., the alarm rang, and Deebt woke up.
"Ugh, my body is so tired." Deebt grumbled.
The effort he had expended yesterday was immense, he was exhausted. As soon as he got home, he went straight to the shower and then fell asleep.
No one ever woke him up.
'Despite all this, I didn't feel my limits.' Deebt thought about his situation again.
Although the manager had explained his situation to him and the concept of "true limits" to Deebt, this feeling still felt strange.
Deebt went to wash his face and change into his workout clothes.
Despite all his fatigue and the effort he'd expended, he wanted more, he had to.
He had chosen to change his path, so he had to take responsibility for it.
Knock, knock, knock.
Deebt gently knocked on Jazz's door, it didn't take long for Jazz to open his door.
Jazz looked distracted, Deebt entered quietly.
"Jazz, what's up?" Deebt asked as he sat down in a chair.
"Nothing, I was just thinking about some things."
"Okay, so what are we doing today?" Deebt asked, not pressing Jaz to speak, in his view, if Jazz wanted to say something, he would.
"I asked you before about the essence of fighting, but today will be my last question, since tomorrow we'll head to another place to experience it firsthand instead of asking questions."
"I see. So what's your question?" Deebt asked calmly, his gaze steady.
"How do you control a fight?" Jazz asked.
"I believe it's simple and has a fundamental basis, calmness. Fighting with emotion never leads to good results, as combat must be built on its essence, whether it's survival or killing and neither of these is achieved without calmness." Deebt began to explain his point of view.
"What else, brother?" asked Jazz.
"Never make a single move without purpose. Every move must serve a goal, and if it doesn't serve that goal, it's useless. It's essential to note that attacking with your sword or weapon, no matter how foolishly or with a showy move, means your death in a dangerous situation, or even your death in a trivial one."
Jazz looked at Deebt in surprise, he hadn't expected this kind of opening to the answer.
'Jazz understands combat well, he understands its essence as it pertains to him and knows how to control it.' Jazz thought for a moment, then listened more closely to Deebt.
"It can be said that distance plays a role, a person must have very good spatial awareness, otherwise a single millimeter means death. Even timing, if your opponent's mind wanders for a moment and you don't take advantage of that moment, it could be the end of you." Deebt explained further, and as he explained, Jazz was amazed and impressed by what Deebt was saying.
"Brother, how do you know this?" asked Jazz.
"Through history and imagination, the mind can conceive of many things. I haven't tried it yet, but when I do, I'll be careful because I have this simple foundation."
"Brother, you're the only one I've heard talk about the essence of combat and how to control it in such a profound way, yet call it a simple foundation. What you just mentioned is everything combat relies on, these are the fundamentals, and this is what will determine your survival or your demise." Jazz smiled sarcastically.
"Brother, I'm sorry, but today's lesson is over. You can go back to your room, I want to sleep."
"Alright, I'll go back to sleep too. I thought today would be different, I put on my workout clothes for no reason."
Deebt left Jazz's room and headed to his own to finish sleeping.
…
Morning came, and Mary woke up both Deebt and Jazz.
She had prepared breakfast.
Doc sat down to eat his breakfast before heading to work.
"Enjoy your meal."
Mom was smiling happily.
Dad was also smiling happily.
Deebt noticed this and was surprised, but he didn't ask. Even they hadn't asked him about changing his major, he was going to tell them when he went to sunrise.
He didn't know that Jazz had told them.
He ate his breakfast quietly and left, this time, he and Jazz were going together.
"Didn't you visit Milly, Deebt? Her mom asked about you." Jazz said.
"Uugh, I'll go after school."
"Well, that's good for you." Jazz said with an amused tone.
Deebt looked at Jazz in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out when you meet her." Jazz smiled.
…
Deebt and Jazz arrived at high school, and each went to their respective classes.
Deebt entered the classroom and sat in his seat as usual.
Then someone's shadow fell over him, Deebt looked up to see who it was.
It was Sam Lucas.
"Hey, Deebt. I'll tell Jazz after class, I think he'll agree." Sam spoke confidently, a childish smile on his face.
Deebt looked at him, then at the other students staring at them.
They didn't know that Sam had started talking to Deebt, but what Deebt did yesterday would certainly make him famous, everyone was talking about him.
"The Slacker"
That was Deebt's nickname in class, they knew his talent, and soon even students from other classes would recognize it.
"Sam, you're drawing too much attention, I also told you to talk to Jazz." Deebt spoke in an annoyed tone.
"It's not me, it's you who's drawing attention. Besides, I only told you to remind you. Also, we're friends now." Sam's tone was relaxed and easygoing.
"Friends? What are you rambling about?" Deebt scoffed.
"Didn't we take the same exam yesterday? That makes us friends, so I'm your friend from now on."
"Do whatever you want, just leave me alone now." Deebt spoke with a hint of irritation.
"Alright, we'll talk after class." Sam said, then returned to his seat.
It was true that Deebt was calm most of the time, but he was annoyed by Sam's words.
Friends? What was that!!
In Deeb's eyes, friends were a nuisance, he never understood the concept of friendship.
Talking about trivial matters, talking about other people, talking about celebrities, chasing after nonsense… That was what Deebt saw in many people who claimed to be friends.
No one ever benefited the other.
But Sam spoke here with a sincere tone, training with Sam would be beneficial for him.
Sam really meant what he said when he mentioned friends, even if Deebt didn't agree, Sam had already made up his mind.
The teacher entered the classroom, it was history class again today, and the topic was new.
The gray matter.