[South-West: A Few Kilometers from Night Raid's Base]
The midday sun was relentless, beating down on the three figures climbing the rugged mountain trail.
"How much farther? My legs feel like they're going to fall off!" Tatsumi groaned, adjusting the heavy basket strapped to his back.
He dragged his feet up the steep terrain, sweat dripping down his face.
Ahead of him, Akame and Bane moved effortlessly, as if the harsh incline and dense foliage were nothing more than a casual stroll.
"Stop complaining. This is good for your stamina," Akame said flatly, slicing through overgrown brush with her knife.
Tatsumi scowled and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Easy for you to say. You're not carrying this oversized basket, and you're practically gliding through the bushes!"
He glanced at Bane, who also also had a basket strapped on his back but walked calmly, his long coat fluttering slightly as he adjusted his mask. "And you! Aren't you dying under that coat? And how are you not sweating?!"
Bane turned his head slightly, his voice calm. "My mutation prevents me from sweating. My body regulates itself, as long as I'm well-fed."
Tatsumi muttered under his breath, "Must be nice to have such powers."
---
After what felt like an eternity, Akame finally stopped and gestured ahead. "We're here."
Tatsumi stumbled to a halt, panting, and looked up to see a stunning sight.
A crystal-clear lake shimmered under the sunlight, bordered by lush greenery and vibrant wildflowers. A waterfall tumbled down a cliffside, its sound blending harmoniously with birdsong.
The surface of the water teemed with life, schools of fish darting beneath the rippling surface.
"Wow," Tatsumi breathed, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "This is... beautiful. Way better than the frozen wasteland back home."
Akame nodded once, setting down her basket. "We're here to hunt. These waters are full of large tuna, and they're highly sought after for their quality."
Tatsumi blinked, confused. "Hunt? Don't we need fishing rods for that?"
Ignoring him, Akame began unbuckling her skirt.
"Wha—wait! What are you doing?!" Tatsumi stammered, turning away, his face bright red.
"These clothes aren't suitable for swimming," Akame replied matter-of-factly, now dressed in a simple white bikini that clung to her toned figure. "This is for better mobility underwater."
Tatsumi gaped. "That's not the point! You can't just—ugh, never mind!" He turned to Bane for support, only to see the masked figure calmly removing his coat and boots. "Wait, you too? Are you seriously going to dive in like that?"
Bane, now in his plain black shirt and trousers, replied evenly, "It's more efficient this way."
*Splash*
Before Tatsumi could protest further, Akame dove gracefully into the lake, disappearing beneath its surface.
Moments later, fish began leaping out of the water, landing perfectly in her basket on the shore.
Bane followed shortly after, his movements less fluid but no less effective. His hands emerged from the water, flinging tuna into his basket with mechanical precision.
Tatsumi stood slack-jawed, watching the two with disbelief. "They're insane. Both of them," he muttered.
Steeling himself, Tatsumi dropped his basket and waded into the shallows.
The cool water was a relief from the heat, but the moment he tried to emulate Akame's smooth, silent movements, he slipped on a rock and splashed loudly.
From the lake, Akame resurfaced briefly. "Too loud," she said simply, before vanishing again.
Bane emerged nearby, a large tuna in hand. "Control your movements. Fish react to vibrations."
Tatsumi threw his hands up in frustration. "Oh, sure. Just 'be one with the water.' Why didn't I think of that?"
--
Tatsumi's attempts to catch fish were laughable at best. Every time he lunged, the fish darted away, leaving him splashing helplessly.
"Erase your presence," Akame advised, surfacing briefly. "Watch the fish. Anticipate their movements."
"Easy for you to say!" Tatsumi shouted back, flailing as another fish escaped his grasp.
Meanwhile, Bane was systematically filling his basket, though his form was far from perfect.
He lacked Akame's finesse, and his strikes occasionally missed. Still, his persistence paid off, as his basket steadily filled with fish.
Akame, by contrast, moved like a predator, her strikes swift and precise. Each dive brought more fish to her basket, her efficiency almost robotic.
Tatsumi, on the other hand, managed to catch exactly one small fish after what felt like hours of effort. He held it up triumphantly. "I got one!"
Akame glanced at him, unimpressed. "You need ten more."
"Ten?! I'll be here all day!" Tatsumi groaned.
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, Tatsumi finally dragged himself out of the water, collapsing onto the grass. His basket was pathetically light compared to Akame and Bane's overflowing hauls.
"How do you two make it look so easy?" he grumbled, glaring at his companions.
"It's not easy," Akame said, wringing water from her hair. "It takes practice. You'll improve."
Bane sat beside him, his mask still dripping. "Don't compare yourself with us, instead improve yourself in the areas which you lack. That's what matters."
Tatsumi frowned. "That's not exactly encouraging."
Akame began sorting the fish in her basket, speaking without looking up. "Survival is the most important skill in this line of work. Everything else comes second."
Tatsumi sighed, staring at the lake. "You really don't go easy on a guy, huh?"
Akame paused, then handed him one of the larger fish from her basket. "Here. You'll need more protein if you want to keep up next time."
Tatsumi blinked, surprised by the gesture. "Uh... thanks?"
Bane stood, stretching his arms. "Next time, anticipate the water current."
Tatsumi groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Great. More cryptic advice. Just what I needed."
Despite his complaints, a small smile crept onto his face. For all their harshness, they were teaching him something invaluable.
As the three packed up their baskets and began the trek back to the base, Tatsumi felt a renewed sense of determination.
He still had a long way to go, but for the first time, he believed he could make it.