Ashan's Phone Buzzes (8:02 AM, Saturday)
Ashan rubbed his eyes.
Saturday. No school. No gym till noon. Peace.
Then
BZZT.
BZZT. BZZT.
He groaned, rolled over, grabbed his phone.
Image Message:
It was Jerry Tyson.
Shirtless.
Standing in front of the Tokyo Tower with sunglasses on and flexing like a JoJo character.
The caption?
"YO. GUESS WHERE I'M AT, LOSER 😎🍣🇯🇵"
Ashan blinked. Sat up.
"What the?"
Ashan replied:
"Bro it's 8AM here and ur nipples are out in HD. Go to jail."
Delivered
Ten seconds later, another picture.
Now Jerry's in a conveyor belt sushi place, stuffing three rolls in his mouth at once.
Caption:
"BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS 🐟💪👊💢"
Ashan sighed and typed:
"Are you fighting someone or just on a food tour?"
---
Jerry's Voice Note (8:11 AM)
Jerry:
"YEAH I'M HERE FOR 'BUSINESS,' WHATEVER THAT MEANS."
"SOME GUY CALLED ME A 'GAIJIN ANGRY BULL' AND RAN AWAY.
I DUNNO, I THINK THAT'S GOOD."
"ANYWAY. TRAIN WHILE I'M GONE.
DON'T TURN INTO A SAD CROISSANT."
Ashan stared at his screen.
"A what?"
He rewound. Re-listened. Yes.
"Sad croissant."
---
12:25 PM, Midtown Boxing Club
Ashan couldn't stop smiling during his warm-up.
Something about knowing Jerry still checked in, even if it was via disturbing selfies, made training feel a little less lonely.
And maybe, just maybe…
"One day I'll be in Tokyo too."
"Except I'll keep my shirt on."
---
Project Dragon, Day 229
"Jerry's in Tokyo. Still insane." "Sent me voice notes that sound like they were recorded during a car crash." "But it's weird… I think I miss him already." "Never thought I'd say that about a dude who eats raw tuna like popcorn."
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