8:49 p.m. November 12, 2022
The Cafeteria buzzed with the low hum of conversations and the clinking of utensils. Trainees grouped around tables, sharing their experiences of the day. The building was warm, with soft yellow lights and homemade food putting the members at ease.
In stark contrast to the warm atmosphere, Kurashi sat alone at a corner table, his plate untouched. It was as if there was some invisible barrier separating him from the lively world around him. The conversations and laughter seemed to slowly fade into a distant murmur, drowned out by the deafening silence of his isolation.
As night fell, all members began to make their way back to the dorms for the night.
Lights off
Doors shut
The grounds went silent, signaling the end of the day.
However, that signal did not speak for Kurashi, as he threw on his hoodie and left the dorm unnoticed. The night was cold with the consistent gust of wind, the half-moon behind a veil of thick clouds. In front of the gym, Kurashi opened the door and stepped inside, the fluorescent lights buzzing softly, casting a harsh white glow over the space.
Inside, a lone figure caught Kurashi's attention.
It was the guy from his group, his pitch-white hair unmistakable. As he worked through a set of pull-ups, sweat poured from his brow, obvious that he had been working for a while now. When the door closed, he paused and looked over his shoulder, his sharp blue eyes meeting Kurashi's indifferent gaze. For a moment, neither spoke, creating an awkward tension between the two.
Throwing a towel over his shoulder, the white-haired boy made his way over to the entrance where Kurashi stood, his shoes scuffing softly against the polished floor.
"Hey, you're Kurashi, right? I don't think we've had the chance to meet yet. My name's Jin..."
Kurashi nodded his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
"I noticed you keep to yourself, so I won't hold you up. Just thought I'd introduce myself before heading out." Jin said as he walked past Kurashi to the door, wiping the sweat from his face with the towel. "See you around."
For a moment, Kurashi watched the door swing shut, Jin's footsteps fading away as he left the gym. Now the gym to himself, Kurashi returned to his routine.
7:02 p.m. November 13, 2022
Training had passed by just as the day before, and the trainees clustered in the cafeteria. In the same isolated seat, Kurashi sat alone at the corner table.
But his solace was broken when someone walked over to his table.
"Mind if I join you?" Jin asked with a tray in hand, his voice carrying a genuine warmth.
Kurashi responded with a subtle nod, a fraction of movement that indicated acknowledgment rather than invitation. But Jin took this as permission, seating himself across from Kurashi.
"I've gotta say..." Jin stated as he unwrapped a rice ball. "A lot of people are talking about you."
"Me?" Kurashi questioned softly.
"Yeah, I mean...you came out of nowhere. No one expected there to be a survivor from the Ito clan, so everyone's talking-"
Their conversation was interrupted when a voice from another table caught their attention. It was the boy who was partnered with Kurashi during hand-to-hand combat, his face cut and bruised.
"Seriously, I don't get why he has to hit so damn hard! It's like he doesn't know how to hold back!"
His complaint was met with sympathy and agreement from the others at his table.
"I can't believe the instructor let him get away with that." Another trainee added in.
Even with the constant complaints, Kurashi didn't seem to mind.
Tuning out of the other table's conversation, Jin leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head.
"You know, Kurashi...I appreciate having you in the group. It's refreshing to have someone I can compete with."
After a moment of silence, Jin leaned forward, his arms resting on the table.
"When we get back to the base. We should spar sometime." Jin stated with a competitive glint in his eyes. "I want to see what you're capable of firsthand...What it's like to fight an Ito."
Kurashi scratched his head, trying to come up with a response.
"Okay..."
Three weeks of training went by, repeating the same day over and over again.
Wake up
Train
Eat
Sleep
9:02 a.m. December 3, 2022
"All trainees, please report to the field at this time. I repeat...all trainees, please report to the field at this time." A woman's voice commanded over an intercom, just as every other day.
Lined up on the field once again, the old man from before had returned.
"Three weeks...for three weeks you have pushed through relentless training. Your dedication and resilience have not gone unnoticed, and I am pleased by what I've seen so far. But...what you have faced so far is merely the foundation for what's to come. The training from here on out will be far more intense...The true test starts today."
The old man paused for a moment, surveying the determined trainees in front of him.
"You will now partake in situations that resemble the chaos of actual combat. Teams of five will be formed, and inside the forest, will battle against five other teams. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir!"
"There will be four rounds, each having a winning team. After rest and recovery, those winning teams will battle it out once more to determine who stands above the rest...However, there are set rules that will be followed. Any unnecessary attacks, actions that only produce harm, will result in the immediate disqualification of your team. This exercise is about honing your skills and understanding the true nature of combat, not for blatant violence. Now, your objective is simple...be the last one standing."