Kraft

I walk into my apartment and proceeded to close the door behind me. I involuntarily announce that I was home. "Im home!". Obviously no one answered. I then take off my shoes and put it in the cabinet. I walk down the hallway and switch on the lights to see the mess that i made in my room. "Oh wow, Didn't knew that it was this bad. Better clean up a bit before I do anything". There were tons of metal parts and tools lying around the floor and at the desk. Books about kraft enhancement equipment were found half open on my bed. I put down my bag beside my bed. I then started cleaning up.

I start by picking up all the screws and bolts on the floors. I then continue my way to the desk. There, I find a few more screws and pick those up. I proceed to get a clear container under my bed. The container was where I put all the type of screws and it has dividers so that I know which screw is which. I arrange the screws accordingly and put the container back under the my bed. I then turn my attention back to the desk.

There, I find my latest project I've been working on for the past month. The blueprint to it was pasted on the wall infront of the desk. This project was a bit difficult to make but i was satisfied with end result that I got. I named the project 'Shockwave Mark ll'. It's basically an impact absorber in the form of a glove that starts from the hand all the way to the shoulders. It primarily consist of titanium, sorbothane, tungsten and rubber. The base material of the glove is made out of titanium due to it's strength and long-lasting. The light-weight was also the reason i chose it. The user can easily move it around with it while be protected without the feeling fatigue. For the inner most layer, I put in sorbothane. The use of it is to absorb impact so that it can distribute from one place to everyone. This will likely reduce the impact to the user but it doesn't fully protect the arm. That I'll come up with an idea to fully cancel out impact that is receive in the mark lll. As for the layer between the titanium and sorbothane layer, There's a thin layer of rubber to act as an electrical insulator. The titanium is enough to insulate electric but not 100%. That's why there's a rubber layer to reinforce it. Finally, the outer layer. It consist of tungsten. The reason i use it is for the great resistant to heat. The person I made it for is a bit aggressive and careless. He's the type of person to just jump into action if there's a fight. Don't get me wrong, he is a great fighter. Even one of thee best close-combat fighter if i say so myself. But because of his action. The last glove that i made for him got burned to ashes. He fought a guy with a fire type kraft. That's why in this new model, I put tungsten on the outer layer of the glove. But it has some drawbacks. The weight of the tungsten is too heavy. It isn't fit for combat. It'll hinder with his fighting style and he'll be rendered as useless. i didn't even want to put it in the first place since it'll ruin the lightweightness of the titanium. But i had to put it since I didn't want to have my works to be returned as ashes again. That's why I only put a really thin layer of it. I don't exactly know the specific width to it. its really thin. You could say i coated it with an airbrush.

i did had an idea to put on like a radio to communicate with teammates on the left arm but knowing him, he'll just destroy it in a fight. Other than that, there are a few safety measures I installed such as a warning to the user about when the tungsten is nearing it's melting point through an yellow LED i placed on the back of the hand. There's also a warning that will be given when the titanium is majorly damaged and can only use a few more times before breaking the whole glove entirely. This warning will be given in the form of a red LED.

With that, I pick up the gloves with a satisfied and proud look on my face. I then put it up on the bookcase for safe keeping until I finish the rest of the cleaning. I picked up the books and neatly organise it on the bookshelves. I spend a bit more time tidying everything up.

…

After a couple of minutes later, I finish up cleaning the rest of the mess in my room. With all the mess gone, I wanted to see how my room was looking. So,I go to the center of the room and put my arm on my waist and looked around the room with a smile on my face. Albeit it wasn't the most cleanest room as I didn't vacuum the floor nor clean the dust that's been piling up but I was still glad that I tidy up my room so that my eyes wont hurt from seeing all the mess. "Phew" I let out a loud sigh of relieve. I can now focus working on the glove without the feeling of restless from the mess in my room.

With all the mess out of the mess. I looked at the clock on my wall. "Oh it's already 9.08 pm?". I was quite surprise to see the time is already past 9.

"I should probably go start working on the glove. I only have around 3 hours left". With that, I proceeded to walk toward the bookshelf where I stored the glove. I reached for the gloves with both arms held high. But before grabbing it, I suddenly noticed an unpleasant smell coming from nearby me. I then change my focus toward finding where the smell is coming from. My first instinct was to check the bathroom. There was a smell but the it seems to be equally distributed in the room. I checked the toilet to see if there was something there waiting for me. To my surprise, there wasn't. I was a bit relieve as i usually flush it after i had done my business. But the smell was still there. So I go towards the trash can in my bedroom to see if the smell was coming from there. I put my face near the trash can and took a little sniff. "Sniff, sniff". As expected, the smell was still there but it wasn't really strong. The smell i got the most from the trash can are cardboard boxes as some of the parts that i need to create the glove needed to be sent from somewhere else. With nowhere else to suspect where the smell is coming from, I go back to the center of the room to rethink where might the smell come from.

"If the smell wasn't coming from the bathroom nor in the trash can, where could it be coming from then?" With a confuse face i displayed.

I was thinking and thinking where it could might be.

The smell is pretty much everywhere but whenever i smell it just smells the same amount everywhere. There should be a source where the closer i get the stronger the smell will become. But that wasn't really the case. The more I smelled it the more it smells something like vinegar. But i don't keep vinegar in my room so that's a bit odd.

Then suddenly a droplet of my own sweat came running down my forehead, all the way to the cheeks. The realisation suddenly kicks in that the smell might coming from myself. I quickly look down and lift my uniform with my hand and smelled it. " Ohhh. It was me all along that smell…".

The sweat that accumulated through out the day from school and all the way to my apartment had build up in my uniform was the cause of the smell. The tidying up in my room that made me sweat more might've reinforced the smell. The confine space of my apartment might also be one of the factors. Maybe that's why the whole room has been smelling up. I quickly decided on something i need to do.

"I should.. probably take a shower before I do anything else"

I swiftly bring myself to the bathroom to take care of the smell and finish it quickly so that I can continue working on the glove. Soon after I got to the bathroom, I turn on the water heater and undress myself. I start by taking of my shirt and undershirt. Then continue down to my pants but before I take it off, I look up and noticed something. the towel where I usually use to wipe down myself wasn't present on the railing. "Where did I put it?" I questioned myself while wondering where did I put it.

"Wait, didn't I put it in the laundry bag?". As that thought hit my mind, I made my way to my bed where i usually put the bag underneath it while grabbing my uniform with me. When I reached the bed, I bend my knees to lower myself as i was in a crouching position. I then took a peek under the bed and reach my arms towards the bag and grabbing it. "Got it!". I pull the bag out toward me and open it.

As I expected, the towel was there but it was dirty and smelled awful. I must've put it in the laundry bag this morning since it's been smelling. I put the towel back in the laundry bag and while I'm at it, I put my used uniform into the laundry bag as well and then proceeded to push back the bag underneath my bed. "I'll just get a new towel from the wardrobe" while brushing my hands off from the dust. I pick myself up and went to the wardrobe. I open the wardrobe with one arm and the other one, grabs the towel on the top shelf. After that I slowly close the door and hang the towel on my shoulder.

"Phew..time to take a shower… Eh? What's that?" Something caught my attention through the corner of my eye when I was turning around to go the bathroom. A rectangular object of some kind looks have fallen down by the side of my desk. I must've unknowingly knocked it off when I was working on the glove the past few weeks. I head my way to the side of desk and reach for the object while propping myself up by holding the edge of the desk. Once I grabbed it, I pulled up to see what it was.

"Ohh! It's a picture frame. Wait.. A picture frame? I don't ever recall owning a picture frame". I didn't think this picture frame was mine. It might belong to Sakura. It's probably a picture of her or something and she might accidentally left it here. That was the most logical explanation that i came up with.

So, I turned the picture frame expecting to see a picture of Sakura but the only thing i see is a layer filled with dust. I put my finger on the frame and drag it. The amount of dust that was accumulated on my finger shows that the picture frame might've been sitting there more than a few weeks. I then wipe the frame with the side of my hands and then proceed to blow on it.

" *Cough*..*Cough….ughh*". Some of the dust that has been blown had accidentally entered my mouth during inhaling. I coughed up a few more times before getting control of my breathing back. Once that's done, I turn my attention to the picture frame to see what picture Sakura might've taken.

"Ehh?? W-why are they're pictures here??". The picture wasn't as I thought it was. It was a picture of a family. More accurately, My family. I haven't really seen them nor have I talked to them in years. Last time i seen them was the day that I left Tokyo and that was 9 years ago. This picture was taken to commemorate my father's achievement in his recent mission. He fought against an army of 200 while rescuing civilians. He got awarded a medal of some type by the queen in a ceremony. I was 4 at the time and all i can remember is that we took the photo after ceremony with the queen's family, my family and my grandparents. In the picture, my father was holding me on his shoulder since it was my first time attending a ceremony of his, he wanted to show me the what it feels like after saving people's lives. He didn't really care about the medal. Even the medal and plaques he owns at home he just keeps them in the box. The one thing and one reason only why he saves people is he just wants to see everyone happy.

"So Fritz, This is why I save people. It's to see their smiles with their loves one."

"Wow! So cool!"

"Soo, Do you want to be Krieger like me and grandpa?"

"Of course!"

"Heheh but first look at the camera there"

"Huh? What camera?"

'Snap'. With that, a picture of me looking clueless on my father's shoulder as he points to the camera with my family and the royal family was taken. Now I remember how i got that picture. As to how it ended up by the side of the table must've been cause I knocked it down while busy working on my projects. It must've sat there for around a year looking at the thick dust that's been sitting on the picture frame. I should probably be more aware when I do my projects. Moving that aside, I turn my focus back to the picture frame. "Mom, dad… grandma, grandpa… my siblings". I avert my gaze from the picture frame and to the window to look up the sky as I was reminiscing something.

"I hope you all are doing well"

…

"No no. It's not like that Futaba. You gotta do like this. 'Creak'. See? The logs now is cut in half You gotta relax and let the kraft come to you and then quickly release it. Just like dad taught. c'mon let's go one more time"

"Woaahh! Alright, let's do it one more time"

I sat there by myself at the side of the field at my home observing at my older brother and sister as they train to cut logs in half. My brother was successful at it as he already got his kraft a year ago and already has some experience on it. My sister on the other hand, wasn't successful and had been trying to cut the logs a few times but wasn't able to. She did recently got her kraft around a week ago. She did had lessons with my father but he usually had to cut it short due to his job as a krieger. Even now he just left her with my eldest brother since he got a notice from his school to transfer to Tokyo Kraft academy due to his achievement at such a young age. He was known as a protege since he aced all of his exams and got rated a 10 kraft and was recognise by the government and royal family.

So to fill in the gaps, my sister asked my older brother to teach her just a bit so that she can continue her lesson with our father without being left behind.

"Hiyaah! 'creak'… I did it. I DID IT! Look Fritz I did it" Futaba said excitedly as look toward me

"Woww! You really did it onee-san!" While clapping my hands. I was excited for my sister since she finally cut one log but i was a bit jealous of her at the time cause I really wanted to get my kraft now. After I calm downed my clapping. They continue their training so that Futaba can easily cut a log in half. I fall back into a laying position with my back on the floor because i was bored and impatient to get my kraft so i lied there with my arms stretched out.

While i was laying there, I was thinking about what my father had said about the uniqueness and strength of a kraft. He said that a kraft was just like a chicken egg. When the egg is laid, it needs to wait and be taken really good care to be turn in chick. Same with getting a kraft. You need be patient and take good care of your body until the time comes to receive a kraft.

He also did say that a kraft is a mysterious ability that no one knows but it was estimated that the first few kraft appeared around 1000 years ago. "So we must be careful and always use this power to good use or not we'll regret if it disappears" is what my father told me. The first kraft was founded in Sweden hence the name kraft that means power was born. The kraft is usually inherited by one of the parents at the age of 5. There can be cases when the child inherited a different type of kraft. That's an abnormality, it can be either good or bad depending on the kraft that the child receive.

My father also told me about his job as a krieger. The word krieger was from Germany and it means warrior. They adapted this term cause back in the day the Germans kraft were the most powerful in the world. They were merciless warriors when they fought in the wars. So that's why the krieger name was used to show this occupation the hard work they do and sacrifice they made. There were different occupation that also used kraft to work but not in the combat kind of work.

There were 4 types of kraft that are discovered and 2 Sub-types. The most common kraft are energy kraft. They usually use up energy around or in them to produce the kraft. It ranges from emitting a fire from a hand to controlling the direction of wind. This type of kraft produces some of the most powerful kraft in the world but the only drawback is that it consumes your energy a lot. The other type kraft is the mutated type one. This type of kraft is a permanent change to the body and are born with the kraft. Their are rarely seen in the city or generally anywhere. The only best way to see this type of kraft in a person are usually in the krieger occupation. In the public there's hardly any of them due to the their conscious of looking a little different. They are pretty strong by themselves. The next is the companion type kraft. This type of people are usually not in krieger job field. They usually work under a krieger and become their scout. Since they aren't using their own bodies to go scout somewhere. They usually are safe and can be relied on. There are some exceptions, Some people can make their companions covering it's users body and they fight. The last kraft is the altering kraft. This kraft is the one my father and his side of the family and my siblings has. It's just like the mutated type kraft but it's different since the altering kraft can activate on and off according to the user's will. They also use a bit of energy but not as much as the energy type kraft. The 2 sub-type kraft are extremely rare but it's generally just a combination of kraft of the parents. It can be either combination separated type kraft(CS) or combination mix type kraft(CM). The CS Is for when the child inherited both of the parents kraft without being mix together. This means the child will have two separate that can be used by the child. On the other hand, CM is when the child inherited both parent's kraft but it is mixed. This means the child will have one kraft but it'll be combination to the parent's kraft.

As a child from the Fuji family. I am guaranteed the same type of kraft my father has. My father also told the Fuji family is the most prestigious krieger family. The Fuji family created many well known krieger and has achieve many feats that seemed to be impossible for anyone.

At that time, I was really excited to be a krieger such as like my father and his father. I dreamt to get such feats like them someday. I can even hope that I can inherit my mother's kraft also. Her kraft is a energy type kraft. She can produce a shield thats quite big. She's not active in the krieger work field anymore. But my mother was also from a well known family in Germany. She is one of the strongest kraft user at that time but she stop after she met my father. She now mostly takes care of me and my siblings. If I did manage to also inherit my mothers kraft, I'll probably won't use it like how she did to raise to the ranks.

After all the thinking in my head. I jump back to a seating position with an excited look on my face. "Alright, one more year until i get my kraft. I'll just have to wait until then. I'll be a great krieger like my father!" I nodded to myself not knowing those dreams will never come true.

…

I quickly snapped myself back to reality. "Woah". I quickly look at the clock on the wall to see that i had been daydreaming for 10 minutes. I put the picture frame down nicely on my desk and took one more look before quickly bringing myself to bathroom to take a shower.

While I was in the middle of my shower, I heard a loud knock followed by another one. "W-wait, Gimme a minute!". I quickly cleaned out the shampoo that was caught in my eyes from the knocks that received. I turned the shower off then quickly dry myself. Another loud knock was banging against the door and I was going as fast as I can. After i thoroughly dried myself , I then quickly exit the bathroom and swiftly make my way to the entrance door. When I got there was no knock nor i heard there was someone on the other side. I checked through the peephole and sure enough there was no one. I thought to myself, the only person that could’ve been must’ve been the land lady and not soon after that question was solved.

I found a letter at the floor. It must’ve been slid through the cracks under the door. I pick up the letter and proceeded to open it. The letter was about late rent pay. The rent that i’ve been piling up is worth 3 months including this month. The letter had a final notice that I need to pay within the next week or two or not I’ll get evicted. The land lady has been really patient since i usually pay the rent on time but i guess she gotta do what she gotta do to put food the table.

I can’t pay the rent right now since I’ll need my savings to do daily tasks. The money that’s been affording to pay the rent the past 3 years was from my father and he suddenly stoped sending. The only way I can contact is relaying a message to Sakura’s dad. That’s the only way but i don’t want to trouble the Yuuki family. I at least want to resort that as my final option. All I can do is meet up with ‘him’ and asked what happened to my father

“What happened father?”