Kenshin decided not to interfere in the training process without good reason. All this time, he was busy researching psionic properties and made some progress. First, with difficulty, he reworked the defense formation to be powered by psionics, discovering the shields became several times stronger.
After lengthy tests, he found that even with monstrous losses of about 85% psionic energy, a shield that barely withstood the weakest fireball could easily handle a one-and-a-half-meter fireball from Ichiro. But afterward, Kenshin couldn't use telekinesis for several minutes. He concluded he was expending all his psionic energy on defense. After numerous tests and checks, he found that even a minute after Ichiro's most powerful fireball, he lacked psionic power to repeat the feat.
Through trial and error, Kenshin determined that after fully expending psionic energy, it took about two hours to recover, after which he could again stop Ichiro's most powerful fireball with the weakest defense formation.
Recalling his previous experience, he lamented the inability to track this energy, and was pleasantly surprised when the "system" added a Psi energy amount entry, converting it to a numerical value.
Name: Nakayama Kenshin
Age: 21
Level: 14
Class: Patriarch
Available: 0 skill points
Skills:
Harem Master (MAX)
Will of Patriarch (MAX)
Patriarch Mind (MAX)
Talented Offspring [Level 8]
Shelter Creation [Level 4]
Formation Creation [Level 5]
Psi – 1118/1280
???
???
???
This was followed by another series of experiments, during which Kenshin calculated the approximate Psi energy expenditure and finally reduced defense formation losses from 85% to 72%. He urgently needed to level up "Formation Creation," as current knowledge wasn't enough for his plans.
On the morning of the 237th day, another key event occurred. After Kenshin arrived for his next treatment session and entered the office, he froze in surprise for a second, seeing Hitomi sitting at the desk in very atypical attire. She wore a tight white blouse that barely contained the pressure of her size-four breasts. He'd noted her large breasts before, but the white robe had prevented proper appreciation.
"Good morning, Hitomi." Kenshin greeted her with a smile and approached the desk.
Seeing the young man enter, Hitomi literally blossomed before his eyes, smiled warmly, stood, and hugged him. She hadn't even noticed how deftly Kenshin had introduced hugs as a greeting for good friends. Over the week, Hitomi had come to consider him a good friend and eagerly awaited each session.
"Good morning. How are your arms?" She asked with a smile, hugging him.
"Much better." He said, hugging her with his right arm, lightly running his fingers along her back. Then he pecked her cheek.
Hitomi stared at him in surprise with her snow-white eyes, and Kenshin hurried to reassure her. "Sorry, Hitomi, in our village, it's customary to greet good friends of the opposite sex this way. I couldn't help myself..." He whispered.
"Ahem, no problem. But try not to do it again. What if someone walked in? People might misunderstand, and my Hyuga clan wouldn't let it slide... We'd both have huge problems." Hitomi whispered with a sigh, returning to the desk and activating a fuinjutsu heater right under the kettle.
"Why not just lock the office door, and we could greet each other as much as we want?.." He whispered, sitting opposite the magnificent mature woman.
Hearing Kenshin's ambiguous suggestion, she blushed slightly but quickly regained composure and chuckled softly. "Good joke. In any case, a locked door would raise no fewer questions and problems."
"True... Problems never leave us alone. Speaking of problems, I hate to say it, but unfortunately, I have nothing left to pay for your treatment with, so this is probably the last time we see each other..." Kenshin whispered, sighing heavily.
"W-what? You said your father is an elder?" Hitomi said in a trembling voice. Most of all, she feared this bright spot in her life ending.
"My father recently spent on shinobi equipment, and our village is in decline right now, so..." Kenshin sighed again.
For half a minute, dead silence hung in the office, until Hitomi finally declared, "Maybe I can lend you some money?" She offered with a smile.
"Thank you, Hitomi-san. You're truly a wonderful woman... Unfortunately, starting tomorrow, I'll have to go back home... Maybe in the future, I'll come to the outpost with a caravan again, and we can have tea if you want to see a commoner like me..."
"Don't say that. You're the most wonderful commoner I've ever met. I'd gladly treat you to tea!" Hitomi declared, then added, "But what about your left arm? You can't stop treatment; there's still a small piece of bone that needs regrowth!"
"I understand, but I can't do anything about it." Kenshin said, then changed the subject. "Anyway, let's forget the sad stuff for now. You look great; is it some holiday today?" He asked with a smile, stroking her hand.
"Well... You said, umm, I should dress younger, so I tried..." Hitomi murmured embarrassedly, feeling not like a stately forty-year-old woman, but a young academy student praised by the handsomest sensei.
"It's true; if you appear like this in front of young academy graduates, you'll spark fits of terrible envy. All eyes will be on you." Kenshin said, and gently took her neat, tender hand again.
"You truly have golden hands, Hitomi..." He whispered, and lightly kissed her hand.
"Ah, stop... What's gotten into you? Flattering an old woman more than usual. Aren't you ashamed?" Hitomi laughed softly, then immediately grew sad, remembering it was their last session.
Dead silence fell, and they silently smiled at each other's faces, enjoying the wordless caress. Hitomi loved peace and was happy Kenshin shared that feeling. Over the last week, her icy heart had begun thawing under this young man's warm gaze. She'd scolded herself countless times for starting such relations with a man half her age, but couldn't help it.
"Kenshin, I can't leave you without treatment. I'd ignore anyone else, but not you. Wonderful people like you shouldn't suffer for life from youthful injuries, so I've decided. Come at seven this evening to this address, and for our wonderful friendship, I'll break protocol and heal your wounds." Hitomi said confidently, taking his partially healed but still very weak right hand and gently stroking it with her glowing palm.
"H-Hitomi, th-this... Good, I'll come, and I'll never forget your help." Kenshin replied emotionally, finally sighing in relief. This gamble had been incredibly risky for him, but even riskier would have been visiting the outpost daily for a month. He couldn't leave a huge trail linking him to Hitomi, knowing the Hyuga clan's wrath would be unsurvivable with his current power.
After warmly bidding Hitomi farewell, Kenshin and Ichiro left the hospital and, as if nothing had happened, went to a local diner. Above all, Kenshin didn't want excess attention right now, so he tried to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Six hours remained until seven, and Kenshin struggled to find tourist spots in the outpost. Right on time, Ichiro quietly separated from him and left the outpost with instructions, while Kenshin, strolling through wealthy districts, slipped unnoticed into a house courtyard.