Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 153 - Tomohito Fukuyama

"Hn? Did someone just call me---"

Fukuyama tilted his head here and there to search for the owner of the voice before eventually spotting a young man loitering around the transfer gate.

Seeing the figure of a Japanese boy whom he still remembers as clear as ever, albeit now sporting a more rugged body in the few months he hadn't see him, Fukuyama's eyes opened as wide as the size of a saucer from the astonishment.

Perhaps, astonishment was a bit of an understatement. He looked so deeply shocked that the black plastic box he was holding in both arms dropped into the ground. It was like he had seen a ghost from up close---something that shouldn't have been possible by any means.

In contrast to the shaken Fukuyama, Tenji raised his hand and beckon him.

Still, unable to his shock, Fukuyama first looked at his surroundings for some reason before dashing up to Tenji with an intense expression.

"T-Tenji-kun!? I am not hallucinating, right??"

"Y-You're not. I'm Tenji Amashiro in flesh."

"Hold, err, hold on a second. ......Huh. Huhh? This is Mallorca's 75th floor, isn't it?"

"Of course. It's the 75th floor. In fact, that's what we want to know. What in the world is all apparent preparation for? Can you tell us?"

"HeyHeyHey, for real!? You really reached that floorm Tenji-kun.......for really real? But, huh, how could it be. It had just been a few months."

For a moment, Fukuyama kept patting Tenji on his cheek, or running his finger through hair gently, all an indication that his mind had stopped working. And finally, it took some time, the realization dawned upon him.

(I have been hearing some unbelievable thing, but he's really here......)

It wasn't a place anyone could reach just becuase they thought so.

It should have been so. It was supposed to be an extraordinary place. A place so dangerous with everything out for their skin that these professional explorers---with the achievement under their belt too boot---had to work in tandem with other professionals like president Limey etc. But the fact remain, Tenji was in front of him.

Just. Just impossible. It shouldn't be happening.

Understandable so. This was the same young man who wasn't even a match for him just a few months ago. However the same young man---Tenji Amashiro had reached this place through his own effort. He had even become more of a 'fitting person' than before.

Standing next to him in a composed yet innocent demeanor, was Fuyuki Kurou. A student with limitless prospects, and someone whose name was heard by every kid and their mother in japan. And next to him, was Chisato Shiroushi, a girl recognised by the world's zero grade explorer Leon Hakusei himself.

This fact further affirmed his belief---that it was reality.

Tenji suddenly pull a grin and said, "I am finally here."

This was the final straw that broke his hallucination as reality sink into him.

In fact, he knew Tenji was a talented prodigy. Well, anyone would have been in the same state if they knew the person before him was someone who had awakened his calling just half a year ago. Even if, let's suppose, the two standing next to him proclaimed themselves as being the helper, this feat was still miles away from what they should have.

However much he disliked that fact, Fukuyama knew very well what it meant to reach this floor after having a close-up call with death to reach there, and that was when there were other powerhouses to support. It was a tremendous feat.

However he might have loath not to know it, Fukuyama realized the unfairness of this world. That just a single action, a silver lining of luck and talent could lead one to farthest reaches of the world. Never did he try to reject something so badly.

At the age of 25, he gave a kick start to his explorer career and began to grasp the sensation of growth. He had encountered multiple walls until this moment, but somehow managed to work his way out. And finally, got himself into team A of Chariot. He was filled with a sense of appreciation at what height 'he had reached' as an explorer.

But unlike him, the youth standing before him most likely reach a place he never would be able to.

Fukuyama fixed his expression, put up a smile and replied.

"I see. I see. You turned out to be more of a heavyweight than I ever imagined."

"Heavyweight......you're not going to get anything from me no matter how much you praise me, you know?"

"Haha. I see you also learned to make some jokes. Anyway, let me take you to the tent of President Limey. Follow me. You will receive the answer to your doubt faster there. Fuhaha, I can't wait to see the surprising expression of Commander Kujou."

Almost unconsciously, A creepy smile appeared on the otherwise handsome feature of Tomohito Fukuyama. It was an innocent yet shady smile typical of adults.

Seeing that, Tenji commented, “You really seem to be having fun, huh.”

“Oh my, it seems like it's not just your strength, you have grown up enough to tease adults huh.”

Fukuyama laughed mischievously to divert the topic.

Not yet, it's not yet the time to show them my uncool side. After all, I'm still a ‘professional’ explorer.

There are still so many waiting for me to grant them dream and hope. What good would it do if I threw my towel already, right?

This was the type of explorer that he, Fukuyama, had always yearned for.