HOTD: A New Dawn

"D-Don't get closer!" 

Saya's eyes narrowed threateningly. What an idiot. Did she really think she could escape him? Tysone closed in. Saya slowly retreated—then gasped when he lunged and wrapped his thick arms around her lithe frame. "Here, let me smear some sweat on you."

"Kyaaaa!"

Tysone would have been a victim of abuse right there and then if he wasn't more intelligent than your typical dumbed down main character. He immediately scurried away when Saya began whirling her arms in a furious attempt to get free.

"You brute, why did you do it?!" Saya growled, her orange eyes ablaze with indignant fury. 

"It's part of the customer service." Tysone replied, self-righteously.

"You stink!" 

She hissed, wrinkling her nose.

"You'd stink as well if you pulled an 8-hour shift under this damn sun." He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "Still…" He smiled brightly. "Thank you, at least I get to bring some dough back home. I'll save some of it to turn your bratty ass into a proper rich lady that doesn't mooch off her parents."

He knew full well she was doing charity and was generous enough to give him snacks and food. He lacked proteins, after all. 

Saya rolled her eyes, her mouth slightly agape. Then, her thin, pink lips curled upward, baring her pearly-white, canine teeth. "Yeah right. Pfft. I really want to see how much you'll be able to save. You'll likely beg me for money." She crossed her arms and pointed her chin.

"It fills my heart with joy knowing how much faith you have on me, Saya. But I don't mind being the underdog for the moment. One day, I'll be rolling in the dough, trust me."

"Dream on, yankee-kun." She smirked arrogantly, sticking her nose to the air.

...

If being covered in dust or your back muscles being sore at the end of the day was part of his new reality, Tysone was pretty okay with that. He couldn't enjoy the luxurious lifestyle that was typical of anime, but that was alright.

After a quick shower in the locker rooms, Tysone and Saya made their way out of the noisy construction site. "I should have asked mom to find a job in the sewers." She huffed. 

"You make it sound like it'd be the end of the world. How dramatic."

Saya gave him a cute, skeptical look. "How desperate are you?"

"People who have rolled in poverty before know how to adapt in pretty much any environment. Give me a shovel, I'll dig a hundred feet deep hole. Give me a gun, I'll protect you. Give me an army of bad-ass goons and we can invade Russia in the winter. Or China. You know, there are many countries to invade during wintertime. Don't discriminate, Saya. How am I supposed to gain power for a cushy life if I don't work like a dog and protect you little fair maidens from all the bad people."

"..."

"Idiot…"

Saya mumbled.

Tysone grinned a little. "Come on, let's admit it. We'll become disgustingly rich in the future, Saya. Not that you already aren't, but you've got to put that cheeky brain of yours to use. I need your brain, and you need my body."

She glared at him, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I don't n-n-need your body!"

"Out of everything I've said, is this what you fixated on?" Tysone shook his head. "I don't know whether you're an idiot or simply a pervert."

"Ugh! I'm not a pervert!" Saya barked.

"Then you're an idiot."

"You…"

Defuse the situation before it escalates into some stupid anime trope. "But seriously, thanks for helping me. It wouldn't have been possible without you. In fact, none of my plans could ever be possible without you." He said in a much gentler tone, and ruffled Saya's hair. The pinkette harrumphed and brushed his hand away. "If someone ever tries to bully you, I'll come and beat them up. So please, rely on me."

Saya stopped, a blank expression on her face. Her eyebrows then scrunched up. Her mouth opened, and closed, as if she was struggling to find the words.

"W-What a stupid thing to say, y-yankee. Do you really think I need you to protect me?" She muttered, her voice wavering.

"Maybe, maybe not. But if the world ever turns to shit, we'll need little geniuses like you to rebuild what will be lost. Regardless of whether it's me or someone else, I wholeheartedly believe you're worth being protected."

"..."

…

Saya really didn't know what to make of Tysone. He really wasn't like any other guy she knew. A part of her felt like she was being manipulated, but then this stupid yankee would go on and say the right thing at the right moment, and suddenly, she'd find herself enjoying it, milking the compliments, the soft glances, and that smile for all they were worth. 

She felt appreciated. Rightfully so! 

In a way, her childhood friend couldn't compete, but she didn't like to compare them in the first place. It left a bitter, guilty taste in her mouth. 

Her emotions were spinning out of control. Takashi's face wasn't as prominent in her thoughts as before. Instead, she'd be thinking of tutoring that idiot American all the time. He was just so helpless without her!

"You're such an idiot…"

She said, mindlessly. 

"I didn't even do anything." Tysone didn't take offense—he seemed mildly amused, instead. Bastard.

"That's the problem. We can't slack off when learning such an intricate and beautiful language like Japanese." She snorted, closing her eyes before cracking one open. "I know I've said we'd have lessons only on the weekend, but you're such a dummy that I fear all progress will be lost if we don't hammer it on your skull every day!"

"Every day? But…"

"My parents won't be back for a while. If they see you…" Saya trailed off, glancing at him, suddenly lost for words. "Well…"

"There's no need to sugarcoat it, Saya. I know I wouldn't be seen in a good light. First impressions are important, but only when you're not black." Tysone laughed wryly. Saya felt guilty for leading the conversation to such a sensitive topic. "Don't make such a face, Saya. My beautiful dark shine simply means I'm deluxe."

She laughed. "How do you even come up with corny stuff like that?"

"You're my teacher, aren't you?"

She was so tempted to kick his shin, though her fair, maiden-like foot would likely bend out of shape. "Watch me not teach you anything." She crossed her arms.

Tysone shrank a little. "Come on, now. Yamete, sensei?"

Saya blushed. "It's onegai (お願い)!"

That tiny smirk on his face made it obvious that he was riling her up on purpose. 

Oh, but she'd have her revenge.

"You bastard. Just you wait." She smiled. A devilish curl of the lips.

'We'll go over Japanese Kanji today!'

Author Note: More chapters on [email protected]/LordCampione.