As soon as the 4 hours was up, Ken was ejected from the Image training. His head felt like it was filled with cotton balls and all he wanted to do was sleep. Yet he was worried that his dreams would be within the hospital room again.
'If there's no Mika, I can't use sleep protocol anymore.' He mused.
*DING*
Hearing the system notification sound, Ken's eyebrow raised. Without a word, he opened up the system and tracked down the notification.
[Skill: Sleep Protocol has been acquired]
Ken read the words and couldn't help but smile. It couldn't have been a coincidence.
'Thank you Mika…' Ken said in his heart.
With the sleep protocol skill, he should be able to avoid being dragged into the other universes while he slept. Now he no longer had any worries.
He moved to his skill window and activated the skill. Even as his vision darkened, a smile crept onto his face. By the time he'd fallen asleep, Ken was already feeling better about his path forward.
The next morning, he awoke at 6am feeling well rested. The sleep protocol skill had the same effects of Mika's, allowing him to get a proper sleep with only 5 hours of rest. This would be crucial over the next couple of months.
During the 4 hours of Image training last night, he'd managed to pitch around 1400 balls. Unfortunately, not all had been strikes. The longer he stayed in the Image training, the more fatigued he felt.
He felt a weight upon his body, only now noticing that Ai had her arm and leg draped over him. Ken smiled, his hand gently moving the hair from her face.
However, he suddenly started to feel guilty. They were going to be getting married in a few weeks, but the information he was told last night had made things complicated.
Part of him considered asking Ai to push back the marriage until the next year, but he was worried that such a thing would hurt her. They had also already booked the venue and others would be flying to Japan to attend.
Ken shook his head. It was too short notice to postpone the wedding, he would just need to make sure that he kept up the Image training.
As he was gazing at Ai on his chest, she stirred.
Still half asleep, she raised her head and looked at him, "What time is it? Why haven't you gone for your morning run?"
"You looked too cute, I couldn't bear to move you." Ken said planting a kiss on her forehead.
Ai blushed, but her cheeks puffed out in the next moment. "Just because its the off-season, doesn't mean you can become a slacker okay?"
"Yes ma'am." Ken replied teasingly.
She leaned up and gave him a peck on the cheek, "Okay go, before I change my mind and keep you in bed with me."
Ken tilted his head, "Now that doesn't sound so bad after all."
However, Ai rolled over, bringing the covers with her and exposing his body to the cold air. She turned into a cocoon, the blankets wrapped around her tightly.
Ken laughed, feeling some of his anxiety melt away. He had half a mind to roll around with her, but Ai was right, he could not slack off, especially now.
He got up off the bed and got changed into his workout gear. Before leaving, he tossed his shirt over to Ai, covering her face with the intention of annoying her briefly.
However, she breathed in deeply and let out a sigh of satisfaction, "Thanks, have a good run."
Ken blinked a few times before letting out another laugh and leaving through the door. In high spirits, he left the hotel and began his run around the streets of Detroit.
Soon his mind began to wander as he got into a rhythm. Running was where he spent a lot of his time thinking, this time was no exception.
The pre-season training would begin in the middle of march which was less than a month away. After his wedding, Ken would return straight back to Ohio to begin. While he wouldn't have a traditional honeymoon, these next 3 weeks before his wedding would have to do.
By the time Ken finished his run, he was covered in a sheen of sweat. With Spring right around the corner, the cool air had started to warm up a little, but there was still some snow around.
Going through his stretches, Ken felt his phone ring in his pocket.
He answered.
"Hey, it's Edward, I didn't wake you up did I Ken?"
Hearing the real estate on the other end, Ken was a little surprised. He didn't expect to hear back from him so soon.
"It's fine, I just finished my morning run."
"Okay great. We got word back from the owner of the apartment. He won't budge on the 1.6 million… Apparently he doesn't know who you are sir. As for the signed items…"
Edward sounded a little embarrassed, as if he didn't want to continue.
"It's fine. Let's do 1.6." Ken concluded. He had many other things to worry about than this. There was no point in being stingy.
Edward was surprised, but he quickly said a few things and hung up the phone, clearly wanting to call his client back.
Ken let out a small laugh and finished up his stretches before heading back to the hotel. He was not going to let 100k come between him and the house that Ai wanted to purchase, not when things had come this far.
After all, his money would be useless if he couldn't save this universe.
Upon arriving at the room, he saw that Ai had fallen back asleep, now clutching his shirt to her face. Not wanting to disturb her, he made his way to the shower to get cleaned up.
Midway through, he heard the door open and a gorgeous naked figure appeared.
"Got room in there for 1 more?" She asked with a grin.