5 Chapter 5: Mundane Day
Making it back to the Beifong residence a few hours before sunrise, Toph looks back at me.
"Hey, Do you wanna... hang out with me again, one of these days? I-it's fine if you don't wanna"
Toph doesn't look as confident as she was during the tournament.
Hmm.
Is this what those japanese call 'gap moe'?
I kinda see the appeal.
"Hey, where'd all your confidence go? You're acting all shy now."
"J-just answer the question!"
"Hmm.."
Of course I'm gonna say yes, I'm just dragging it out for the suspense.
Toph just stands there, facing the wall bordering her home, holding her breath for my answer.
"...I got a better idea. How about I ask my Dad to allow me to train with you and your earthbending teacher."
Toph just stands there, her mouth agape and eyes wide.
"Why didn't I think of that!? It's perfect! My training resumes the day after tomorrow! I hope to see you then, Lu! Bye!"
Toph's mouth curls into a big (tom)boyish grin and she leans in to give me a bear hug, picking me up a few centimeters off the ground.
As quickly as she gave me the hug she hurriedly goes over the garden wall and out of sight.
I turn and start walking to my house, a small smile on my face.
"I guess today's plan of getting a positive opinion of me out of Toph was successful."
Now I just need to come up with a reason to train with Toph to give to my Dad.
----------
Getting over the wall bordering my home, I sneak back into my room though the window and replace my training clothes with my sleep wear.
I hop onto my bed while thinking of a few reasons to give my Dad.
I could just say that I'd like to hang out with Toph more often.
That's a good enough reason a 12 year old can give to his parents.
I mean, they'd have no reason to decline. Who wouldn't want to get their children to get to know each other. Especially children who they plan to marry off together.
Yeah, that reason alone should be pretty good.
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Waking up to the sun rising and shining on my face, I get up and stretch my self.
I hear a knock on my door.
"Young Master, the breakfast is ready. Your parents have already arrived."
"Okay, thank you for informing me."
I give the maid my thanks as she walks in with my permission and helps me get out of my sleep clothes and puts on some expensive Chinese looking nobleman outfit.
I think I know how Toph feels when she has to wear dresses all day and has to just stand there and wait for some maid to finish dressing you.
I have to put up with with for a year and I'm already tired of it only 1 day after I remembered my past life.
That's a good sign.
...
After getting dressed I head to the dining room and enter.
I see my parents already sitting down, but not touching the food on their plate. Waiting for me I guess.
I greet them like a proper noble boy, and not at all like the rascal boy from yesterday, who screams at the top of their lungs for their favorite wrestler.
"Father, Mother, good morning."
"Good morning, Lu. How are you feeling today? No lingering pains from the other day I hope?"
"No, Father, I'm completely fine. You don't have to worry."
"Hmm, good."
Sitting down in front of the table, I begin eating my breakfast.
A few minutes later my Dad speaks up again.
"Lu, I didn't ask you properly yesterday. Did you enjoy your time with Toph?"
This is my chance to ask him about training with her.
"Yeah. She's really fun to be around. She's pretty cute too. Hey, did you know she's an earthbender? She trains with the best teacher in Ba Sing Se!"
"Haha, yes, Lao had spoken to me a little about Toph. It's nice to hear you have such a good opinion of her. And yes, while she can indeed earthbend, she's only knows the basics as she is blind."
Knows the basics, my ass.
"I wish I can hang out with her more. Father, since I'm an earthbender too, can I train alongside Toph? I want to see her more."
Using my noobish acting skills, I invoke a blush and scratch my cheek, making it look like I'm embarrassed to say it.
Both my Dad and Mom look at each other in surprise.
Dad just smiles back at me, and Mom just looks ecstatic.
"Haha, it's very nice that you feel that way, son, but I'll have to ask the Beifongs for permission first. Since I have a meeting close by, I'll go over and ask Lao after."
"Okay."
I make myself look a little down from not getting an immediate 'yes' but I don't complain.
When Toph's parents ask her, if they haven't already, she'll definitely say yes to the prospect of spending more time with me.
They'll accept me coming over to the Beifong residence and training with Toph.
Then from there, we can secretly plan our escapades at night.
It's gonna be like that episode, 'The Runaway'.
The more fun Toph has, the better opinion she'll have of me.
I'll also get training from the best Earthbender in the world. Not that 'Kick it down' guy from the earthbending dojo. I'm talking about Toph, of course.
She might be 11 now, but in a year and some she'll learn metalbending, and she'll instantly learn sandbending while out in the desert during 'The Library'. She's an absolute monster, and I'm glad I'm gonna marry her.
----------
After finishing breakfast, my Dad sends me to study.
Looks like I'm homeschooled, because a female teacher arrived and bowed to me and my Dad.
My Dad said something about not overworking my mind this week since I came off an injury to my head.
I went to my room along with my pretty teacher and she started teaching me basic mathematics, history, language, arts, and manners.
No science is taught to nobles, I guess.
Math is easy, since there's almost no algebra, just how to count in higher denominations like 2's, 5's, and 10's. How to count money, I guess.
History is pretty interesting, though somewhat brainwashy, and sometimes full on propaganda.
We are still at war after all.
Language is just language.
Art is easy, since my past life was good at drawing.
Lastly, manners.
Both Lu Chen.and Xavier have experience in using polite forms of the language and they're no strangers to manners.
If young Xavier was rude to a guest it seemed his mother would later give his ass the 'correa'.
I still shudder in fear from that word.
After doing well enough with my studies, the teacher left for the day, and I was stuck in my room with nothing much to do.
It's pretty boring without modern electronics or games.
...
Ugh, looks like the only times I'll have fun are with Toph.
I guess I'll just read a book or something.
At least learning a little of the lore of ATLA through story books would be entertaining enough.
That, or taking a nap.
I lay on my bed with a book in hand until a maid knocked at my door, informing me that dinner is ready.
Hopefully, Lao Bei Fong accepted me training with his daughter. He tends to be overprotective of Toph.
