"Hajime no AnoN! Chapter 4: Rememberance and Regret"
By BigBurd (https://pastebin.com/u/BigBurd)

URL: https://pastebin.com/chjBKqmx
Created on: Saturday 27th of October 2018 08:43:05 PM CDT
Retrieved on: Friday 23 of October 2020 02:56:24 PM UTC


"Yeah? What is it, Sunset?"
>You speak with apprehension. 
>"Well, it's about..us."
>You solemnly nod, unsure and anxious.
>"I think I got a little ahead of myself."
>Remaining silent, you intently listen to the beautiful girl sitting next to you.
>"I've ruined relationships before by doing this. Going too fast."
>"I want to slow down a bit, you know?"
>At first, you really don't like where this is going.
>"You're worth the time. We need to really experience each other. You matter."
>She, in this hushed and bashful state, looks away with an adorable, but small smile.
>It makes your heart flutter.
>It was a sensation you used to despise, because it meant you fell in love with someone who didn't even exist, like that one cartoon show you got way too into.
>You know the one.
>But now...
>It's almost like...no, it essentially is a drug.
>Dopeamine and serotonin are flooding your brain, wrapping your entire form in a gentle ecstasy. 
"That sounds pretty nice, actually." you say, with a much larger smile on your face.
>The rest of the evening proceeds smoothly.
>Everyone has some fun, tells some stories, has a little liquor, dancing and swaying to thumping, etheral beats.
>Bliss.
>You've never in your life had friends like them before.
>For a week straight, you dream of them.
>Of her.

>Two weeks later
>A monstrous right hook nearly obliterates your face.
>Jumping back, you ready into your fighting stance once again.
>You're sparring with Don, a lineman from the football team.
>He's in your weight class, but the difference is he is ALL muscle. Standing 6'2", he leers above you in the ring.
>No fear. Only drive, now.
>A left jab flies forth from your gargantuan opponent.
>He's frighteningly fast.
>You dodge low and to your left while simultaneously stepping in.
>You're just below his chin.
>Locking eyes with him, you can see a glimpse of shock as you tense your arm, ready to deliver your strike.
>He quickly raises his guard to cover his face, prepared for the incoming attack.
>Leaving his ribs wide open, your intended target all along.
>You throw your weight in with your step, and you connect with his ribcage, your elbow bent at almost 90 degrees.
>A sickening thwack echoes throughought the training room.
>His bones are far stronger than your average person, so no real damage is done.
>Bet it hurt like hell though.
>Sure enough, Don coughs and sputters, stumbling away clearly dazed by your attack.
>His guard is down.
>Vulnerable.
>One blow isn't going to cut it, you realize.
>Left jab. Right cross. Left jab. Right hook. Left hook, right upper. Right cross, left upper. 
>You pummel him with punch after punch in a furious series of strikes.
>He is defeated.
>Several weeks pass as you continue your training.
>7 sparring matches won. 
>Zero losses.
>Your strength has been increasing substantially, thanks to Bulk's undying devotion. 
>Your stamina is similarly improved as well.
>You've gone and lost another 30 pounds. Your form is steadily slimming up, and your muscle tone ever improving.

>You find yourself sitting in your car, hands and chin resting upon the steering wheel, deep in thought.
>You're going on your first "date" with Sunset.
>Even though you already know you like each other, you're taking the time to learn a little more about one another.
>In a way, mildly frustrating, but at the same time relieving. You can find peace in knowing that by taking this time you're doing your part to ensure the relationship starts with the best footing possible.
>Your car sits in the parking lot of a restaraunt of Sunset's choosing.
>Worry and anxiety creep up into the back corners of your mind.
>What if she learns something about you that turns her off of you completely?
>What if YOU find something about HER?
>What if-
>No, no more what ifs. Everything will be fine.
>You're certain of it-
>You're immediately startled by a knocking on your driver's window, pulling you out of your thoughts.
>It's Sunset!
>"Hey, I thought you were going to meet me by the door? What's up?"
>Oh hell, you forgot! All caught up in your cynical thoughts.
>Opening the door, you get up and out of your car to properly greet Sunset.
"Hi! Oh man, I'm sorry. I got myself lost in thought. I hadn't realized how long it was!"
>Giggling adorably, she replies
>"No, it's fine! I'm just glad to see you is all."
>She wraps her arms around you in a comfortable hug.
>"What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing, really. Nothing of importance, anyway. You know how it is sometimes, like getting caught up in Wikipedia streak."
>"Are you sure? You seemed kind of apprehensive."
>Curse you and your incredible empathic abilites, woman! 
"Ah, well...okay, I'll fess up. I'm just a little nervous. I don't uh... really do this kind of thing often."
>Or ever.
>Sunset smiling warmly, you suddenly feel quite silly for being so anxious.
>"Oh Anon, there's no reason to be nervous. I just want to spend some time with you."

>She cups your chin and gently kisses you on the lips, a calm reassurance to your once racing mind.
"Yeah, you're absolutely right."
>"Come on, let's go inside."
>As some time passes, you and Sunset get your food, conversation is struck.
>"So, Anon, can you tell be about how you got into boxing?"
>An expected question, but your simple autist mind still finds itself a little gobsmacked.
"Oh man, it's been forever. Let me think..."
"A few years ago, I forget how many, I caught a glimpse of a boxing match my grandfather was watching on TV. It was spectacular watching them fight. My paw was pretty pleased when he saw me getting into it."
>Sunset now wears a small smile on her face at the mention of your grandpa. You can't help but smile too, he always did make folks smile.
"I remember how he sat me next to him, telling me all about it. Explaining the rules simply, and describing how and why those men faught one another."
"He said: 'When those two men enter the ring, they are not enemies. I wouldn't even call them opponents. They're there to test one another, to find the strongest man among them.' "
" 'With honor and spirit, they prostrate themselves before this holy temple. When they leave the ring, one will stand tall with pride, and the other knowing he still has more to learn.'"
" 'My boy, to stand in such a ring means you are testing yourself as thousands of others have. From your opponent, you will learn of yourself. And from you, he of himself.' "
" 'To stand in that ring...isn't to start a fight. Not to win a battle, or to be showered with praise.' "
" 'To stand in that ring... you find your humanity.' "

>You take a moment to compose yourself, trying to keep from shedding a tear in rememberance of your wonderful and loving grandfather.
"That's what he said to me. Ever since... I wanted to be like them."
"I wanted to test myself, but..."
"I never thought I'd ever be good enough to even set foot near a ring."

"But...thanks to Rainbow and Bulk, to your friends... to you..."
"I know better."
>You look up from the table to see Sunset crying calmly, a few small tears gently rolling down her cheek.
>"Your grandfather sounds like an incredibly wise man." she says, expertly choking back a small sob.
"He was. He truly was."
>He'll forever be a part of you. He gives you strength.
>Your will fails and you shed a tear of your own.
>He'd be so proud of you.

>The next day at school, you are sitting in your desk during your 4th period math class.
>Christ, it's just too much sometimes. You're fascinated by numbers, but you've just never done quite so well with the calculating.
>Brrrring!
>At last! The period bell. Time for lunch!
>You might have improved your body tremendously, but your appetite hasn't waned all that much.
>Fortunately, you choose your food more carefully and easily work out enough to burn the energy.
>Before you can even process your next thought, you're standing in the lunch line.
>Sometimes it's scary how you can run on autopilot like that.
>You swear, you could solve a national crisis or something and not even realize you were doing it.
>Not terribly sure how that works, but hey, it makes things like school a hell of a lot more tolerable.
>Walking to the tables with your plate full of spaghetti [spoiler] CARBO LOADING BRO [/spoiler] you spot the girls waving you down from across the large room.
>Approaching their table, you prepare to greet them.
"Heya gir-"
>Your spaghetti is slammed into your face by an unseen person.

>The entire lunch room goes deathly quiet.
>That is of course, before erupting with cacophonous laughter.
>Taking a napkin, you wipe your face of this spilt spaghetti and sauce to see who the offender is.
>The laughter stops once your expression is clearly visible.
>Your features are almost neutral, but to the astute observer...
>You convey a cold hatred.
>After everything you've done, all you've worked for...
>This is STILL HOW YOU'RE TREATED!?
>You finally set your eyes on the perpetrator.
>You don't know his pathetic name, but you know who he is.
>From the baseball team.
>He's got a look of smug satisfaction on his face.
>His frame is much smaller and leaner that Line Drive's, potentially more fragile.

>Something within you fucking snaps.
>You faintly see the girls rushing towards you, clearly panicked by what you're about to do as red fog slowly hides them from you.
>Focusing entirely on this pathetic fucking whelp.
>"What's the matter, fatass? Weren't you hungry?" he says.
>Your left hand reaches out with blinding speed, your muscular hand clasping itself around his throat.
>His expression suddenly changes to shock and fear.
>You pull him to his feet in the middle of the lunch room.
>They all know what's coming now.
>It's almost a shame he didn't.
>With ravenous hatred, you throw your right fist into his sternum in a low short hook.
>Not allowing any time for him to even react, you throw punch after brutal punch.
>Bleeding profusely before he even hits the ground, you launch a titanic straight right directly into his chin.
>He's on the ground now, surrounded by spatters of loose blood flung from his face.
>Screams of shock and horror surround you as you drop to the ground on your knees above your vict- opponent.
>You continue striking him, throwing his face left and right as you go.
>You son of a bitch, who do you think I am?
>Did you seriously think you WERE GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS?!
>DID YOU REALLY THINK I WASN'T GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU-
>"ANONYMOUS! STOP!"
>Rainbow's voice reaches your blood fogged mind.
>Snapping out of your rampage, you look down to see the boy.
>Far from even resembling his past self, he doesn't even look like he should be alive.

>Oh my god.
>What have you done?