Today, 6 teams of Chasers came in to greet the recruits. Each team was assigned to one of the recruit teams and chose a specific recruit. They were told that these individuals would be their mentors until they died or finished their time as a Trainee. Kenji expected that Devin or Zac was going to pick him. However, Devin chose Watabe Ken, and Zac eagerly chose Chiba Ume. Instead, Kenji found himself alone in a room with Franky.

  “You look disappointed,” Franky said with a smile.

  “Ah, no, no! I’m just surprised. That's all.” Kenji blurted out.

  He had been told he was special since he showed up here. In the beginning he didn’t understand how, but as the days progressed, he was slowly starting to understand. The more he discovered about what he could do the more he wanted to explore his own limits. Which surprised and confused him. Through all of that he figured Zac wasn’t fond of him, but he expected Devin to mentor him.

  “Surprised, huh? Why’s that? We each choose recruits from your team that match us the best.” Franky explained.

  “Ah, I get it. Zac’s your team leader, so he took Ume. Devin is… strong, so he took Watabe.” Kenji understood. Kenji could imitate how others fought and could move his body well, but he didn’t really know how to fight. Even after he had “copied” those fighting styles, he still felt that if he fought Watabe, he would be at a disadvantage. But in the back of his mind he rejected that notion, he was sure that he could beat Watabe into submission.

  As that thought bubbled to the surface, Kenji instantly pushed it back down. He had never been this competitive before. Maybe, he was, and had just avoided situations where this trait could show itself. He was starting to think he really didn’t know himself at all.

  “Incorrect!” Franky, sharply interrupted his train of thought.

  “What?” Kenji responded to Franky’s sudden outburst.

  “Zac isn’t our Team Leader. Devin is.”

  “Huh?”

  “Zac isn’t leader material. He’s a master manipulator. Sure, some form of manipulation is needed to lead, but Zac is… a little much.” Franky explained.

  “What do you mean?” Kenji questioned.

  “Let me ask you something. Did you hear what your reward for completing Day 2’s ‘mission’ was? Or what your task today is?”

  “Actually, no. I hadn’t thought about it.” Kenji responded.

  “Because there isn’t one. There never was. You’re a recruit; this is an evaluation, mostly physical in nature. Why would we give you missions? That’s so dumb!” Franky laughed. Kenji just stood there in confused silence.

  “Did I give you a reward for breaking Zac’s records on Day 1? HAHAHA! On Day 2, instructors normally fight each of you individually, evaluate your abilities and potential, and then create the teams for you. They then fight your teams, test your synergies, re-evaluate you, and reform teams as needed. Normally you’d barely have 3 hours of rest before Day 3 starts.” Franky continued to laugh.

  “Zac felt his way was more effective, and honestly, we can’t argue with the results. He played you guys to get the desired results with the least amount of work. He even got you guys to form your own teams.” Kenji stood there in silence as he watched Franky double over in laughter. Kenji felt a cold shiver run down his spine, as he felt a migraine coming. He didn’t know whether to fear or respect Zac, but the more he learned about him the more he came to understand Zac’s annoyance with him.

  “Leaders inspire trust, and trust their subordinates. Zac doesn’t trust anyone… but Devin, and Dr. Varma. Also, Zac doesn’t inspire trust from anyone… but Devin, and Dr. Varma.”

  “But isn’t he the brains of your team?” Kenji asked, confused.

  “Yeah, but not because we trust him. We trust Devin, who trusts Zac. As far as Zac….” Franky let out a long sigh and continued,

  “We all know it’s in our best interest to follow his game plan. Because even if we don’t want to, that’s probably by his design.” Franky shrugged helplessly.

  “Wow… uh, he’s uh.” Kenji stammered.

  “Yeah, he’s a real piece of work.”

  “But Ume isn’t like that!” Kenji injected as he realized the implications.

  “Really? You know that, after knowing her for what? Barely 48 hours?” Franky chuckled.

  “She may not be quite as untrusting as Zac. But she’s not far behind. She didn’t trust you guys on Day 2; she trusted HER ability to use you for HER own means. She is a schemer, just like Zac. Watabe is a leader.” Franky corrected Kenji. There was a reason why Franky chose to mentor Kenji. Out of all the recruits, Kenji was the most like him.

  Sure, Kenji had far more potential than he could dream of, but Franky was also forced into this life. He had stumbled on something he shouldn’t have seen. Luckily, he was given a choice. To die or try his luck as a recruit. He was just as naive as Kenji and was content with everyday life. It had been barely 3 years since then, but he had already gone through more than enough to crush that naivety out of him.

  So while all the other recruits were probably getting pointers on their fighting style or weapon of choice. Or, in poor Genkei’s case, going through an entirely new physical evaluation that made him wish for death. Instead, Franky decided to use this time to educate Kenji about the world he was getting himself into.

  “What qualities does a leader need, then?” Kenji asked.

  “As I said, they must inspire trust. Other than that, they must have authority and the capability to maintain that authority, while being able to command respect. They must desire greatness or, at the very least, to get the best out of those around them. Most importantly, they must have the will and strength to put their team on their back when shit hits the fan. You have the potential to do that. But does that sound like you?”

  “Not really, no,” Kenji responded.

  As he reflected on the previous day, it was Watabe that chose their group, not the other way around. Not only that, but none of them rejected him. Instead, they were more shocked that he’d work with them. Obviously, they respected his ability and trusted him to get the job done. Kenji found himself imagining Watabe’s movements almost as much as Zac’s. He was one of the people he wanted to emulate and surpass. And when everything was said and done, it was him and Ume that made Zac bleed.

  “Dammit…” Kenji mumbled to himself. He didn’t know where this sudden desire for Devin’s and Zac’s, of all people, approval sprouted from.

  “Devin is not only the leader of our team but our entire organization. You didn’t even want to be here. Why would he waste his time on you?” Franky chided.

  “You want me to be the team leader? What about that freak? We all saw what he could do yesterday. Moves that took years of training, he copied and improved after a glance!” Watabe asked Devin, a bit annoyed.

  “What about him? He has tremendous potential, more than me. But he doesn’t have the drive, nor the desire.” Devin responded with a smile. He and Watabe stood in an empty training room.

  “Desires easily change.”

  “You’re right, and I’ve noticed a slight change already. Being the leader of that team won’t be easy. Dealing with someone like Zac never is, and you’ll have 2 versions of him! One with his potential and the other with his mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if they both challenged you for leadership at some point.” Devin joked.

  Watabe didn’t need to ask what he was referring to. Ume was hard to read and harder to follow mentally. That innocent face of hers hid a sinister temperament. She was immensely kind and supportive to those she cared for but equally cruel to those she didn’t. He’d tried his best to stay on her good side over the years. Otherwise, he’d be done before he knew what happened.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “You seem to know what kind of person Ume is?” Watabe asked.

  “Yeah, your uncle filled us in on the both of you, and-”

  “AND YOU WANT ME TO STEAL A POSITION FROM HER?!” Watabe interrupted. As Devin began to laugh hysterically.

  “Zac will handle that, don't worry. She seems to be a logical person; she’ll understand. If not now, eventually.”

  “Eventually…great.” Watabe wasn’t convinced. However, if there was anyone who could reel her in, it would be someone like Zac. Especially if he was going to be acting as her mentor. Watabe sighed as he calmed down.

  “What exactly are we going to be doing today?” After Watabe spoke, Devin tossed him a pair of daggers. They were very similar to the ones he had used the day before, only newer.

  “You’re a natural leader, so I don’t need to teach you anything. So we’re going to work on your weapon of choice. Your weapon of choice is the exact same as Zac’s. Eventually, I’ll ask him to give you some pointers, but outside of him, no one knows the ins and outs of those more than me.” Devin smirked proudly.

  “Do you use these as well?” Watabe asked. Even if Zac and Devin used the same weapons, it made sense that Zac was more proficient. Devin was a true Chaser with a Program. Zac had nothing but his body and wits; he’d need to bring everything he specialized in to its limit to even begin to compete.

  “Nope, never even touched them. But I’ve been Zac’s sparring partner… and training dummy for years. So attack me with everything you have, and I’ll point out every single flaw and tell you how to fix them. We have 12 hours together, so make them count.” Devin smirked.

  Watabe let out a deep breath as he properly equipped the daggers. He checked the wiring to make sure everything functioned properly. Watabe then charged forward toward Devin.

  “First mistake. Your throwing hand is too obvious.” Devin said as an invisible force smacked the dagger out of Watabe’s left hand before he properly began to throw it. Watabe’s eyes widened as he didn’t understand what had just happened. He took a breath and picked up his dagger, and charged again,

  “Thank you, Sensei.”

  “Kill me, Sensei, please!” Genkai shouted out in pain as he lay on the ground.

  Strapped to him were all manner of weights and odd devices exclusively designed by Helena for training. Conciendiatally, a good deal of the “training” equipment she had designed was used for interrogation purposes. That is, once she had concluded that she was no longer getting “gains” from them. Helena looked down at him from atop a set of monkey bars. Her head tilted to the side. She was baffled,

  “Oh, you’re too much of a cutie to kill. Instead, I will make you even cuter with bigger, stronger, more powerful muscles! Come on now, we’ve only been at this for 3 hours! We got 9 more to go!!” Helena giggled as her legs swung.

  Genkei had always prided himself on his physique. He certainly was not one to shy away from hard work, especially if it was training. But this tiny woman was a lunatic. His worldview was already shattered when the thin woman carried these heavy weights like a stack of paper. Still, he was confident that she had gone through this training herself if she was willing to put him through it. He looked at Helena and observed her body through his ragged breathing. She wore a dark purple spandex bodysuit. Everything under her neck was covered.

  Still, he could see her impressively built body beneath. Those cut lean muscles could not be hidden. They also hid immense flexibility. If he could compare it to anything, she was like a world-class gymnast, only several times more impressive… in many aspects.

  “You keep staring at me like that, and you’ll make me blush. When I blush, things tend to break.” Helena smiled at Genkei.

  However, that smile didn’t carry the same playfulness as usual. Genkei felt a cold shiver run down his spine, and he instantly shot up from his lying position. Helena needlessly contorted her body to flip off the monkey bars while landing in complete silence. She walked over towards Genkei and rubbed her hands over his body.

  “Oh, come on, that’s not fair,” Genkei grumbled.

  “Oh shut up, I’m checking your muscles, not feeling you up.” Helena giggled.

  “You have great endurance and power, but there is still room for improvement. However, your flexibility is ass. I’ll need to focus on that.” Helena nodded to herself as she took mental notes.

  “They say we shouldn't get too attached to you guys on day 3 because you might not make the cut. But you won’t disappoint me. Will you? My little cutie?”

  “Of course not, Sensei,” Genkei responded with confidence.

  “Good!” Helena's excited shout filled the room as she pressed a button on one of the contraptions attached to Genkei. The sounds of gears shifting filled Genkei with dread as his body started to move on its own. He was forced into a very uncomfortable position, and it kept going.

  “This will help work on your flexibility. I’ve never needed to use this before. You’re so lucky! If it feels like you wanna die, it means it’s working.”

  “Kill me!!!!” Genkei shouted out as his large body looked more akin to a pretzel.

  “Oh good! it’s working!” Helena sounded excited as she squatted down and poked the agonizing Genkei in his sides.

  Akiko and a black-haired man sat in the middle of a room that was more akin to a lush garden. They both had their Katanas laid into their laps as they sat in the lotus position. They had been sitting there silently for upwards of 2 hours. Finally, Akiko could take no more,

  “Argh!!! You said you were going to train me! Making me into something that could not be imitated! But all we’ve been doing is sitting here!”

  “Your technique is superb, your physical condition leaves little to be desired, and your determination is satisfactory. What you lack is tranquility. You lack patience, as you have so brilliantly displayed.” Hachiman said as he opened his eyes.

  “We’ve been sitting here for 2 hours; how much longer do I need to wait?” She protested.

  “Until you understand the value of clearing your mind of all thoughts. If you could do as such, you’d hardly notice the time pass at all.” Hachiman shook his head.

  He saw what Akiko was like during her fight with Zac. He wasn’t disappointed; he expected precisely this. In his mind, Akiko had all the pieces she needed to be extraordinary. All that was left was for her to have the patience to let herself grow.

  “You must have a fire in your belly, but be tranquil as a forest. The sharpest weapon you possess is your mind. With it, nothing is impossible.” With a motion too fast for Akiko to follow with her eyes, Hachiman drew his blade and resheathed it. Akiko only saw him placing his blade back into its sheath, she couldn’t follow the draw. She looked out in front of her and saw all the training dummies set up in the distance, cut to shreds. Hachiman placed his blade back in his lap.

  “However, if it is miss-handled, it is a danger to yourself and everyone around you.”

  “I don’t understand.” Akiko said with a despondent expression.

  “Of course, you don’t. You’ve never taken the time to just slow down, have you? Just to be alone with yourself in silence? To let everything go, your worries, your insecurities? Just clear your mind, forget everything you have learned, leaving only the barest of basics.” Hachiman said as he took a deep breath and smiled with his eyes closed.

  “Is this the beginning of your sword style?” Akiko asked.

  “Nothingness is the beginning of all things. You will not be learning my fighting style. It’s not something that can be taught. It is an expression of me. So too, will your fighting style be. It will be an expression of you. Something that can not be taught. Others can attempt to imitate, but they’ll just be fooling themselves. For you can not imitate that, which has no form.”

  “Yes, Sensei,” Akiko said with a nod. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Akiko tried to clear herself of all her thoughts and forget her worries. There was no way she could remove bad habits she had formed, but if she could forget them and start fresh, then maybe. However, the idea of doing that through will alone seems ridiculous.

  “Ergh, this is impossible!” Akiko said. She felt like she could only do this for a minute or two before going insane.

  “Impossible? Really? We only have 2 hours left in our session.” Hachiman smiled at her.

  Akiko’s eyes widened. She was in deep meditation for 8 hours, and it felt like just a few moments had passed. She giggled and then began her mediation again.

  In a separate room, Zac and Ume sat at a table with a chessboard. Ume had a distraught look on her face. Zac told her she would need to give up her position as team leader. Before she could protest, Zac challenged her to a game of chess, telling her if she could beat him, he’d reverse his decision.

  “Is this really all we’re going to do today?” Ume asked, a little annoyed.

  “Well, I said we could play Shogi, too. Look, I even let you be white.. What are you complaining about?” Zac shrugged helplessly.

  “You know exactly what I’m complaining about.”

  “Never shit on the classics! Two smart people having a conversation over a game of Chess. It’s so cliche, I love it.” Zac jokes.

  “Sensei!” Ume was not amused.

  “What, are you too good to work for a reward?” Zac chuckled.

  “I shouldn’t have to work for something that was already given to me!” Ume shouted.

  “Heh, the team leader position wasn’t theirs to give.”

  Zac and Ume went back and forth like this, all the while they continued their game.

  “Did my uncle do this? Did he say to make Ken team leader?” Ume sounded very upset.

  This was why she wanted to avoid teaming up with Watabe Ken. She expected this outcome. Zac held back laughter,

  “You’re uncle is so low on the totem pole as to be almost non-existent. He’s a historian more than anything, reminding us of the pitfalls of others so that we don't repeat them.”

  “Then why him and not me?” Ume said as she slammed a piece onto the board.

  “You’re not leadership material. Check.” Zac smiled as he moved his knight.

  A look of disgust layered onto Ume’s face. She never has been more insulted in her life. Before she could say anything, Zac interrupted.

  “Oh, don’t give me that look. You’re just like me. You want to be a leader and be at the center of attention. But deep down, we both know that’s not what you want; that’s not what WE want. Well, maybe that is what we want, but that’s not what we enjoy.” Zac smiled at her. Ume moved a chess piece as she calmed down.

  “Go on.” She said, her curiosity instantly peeking. She wanted to know exactly what this man thought he knew about her.

  “We enjoy playing the game. We love watching the pawns move as if they have free will; while enjoying the sight of them dancing to the steps we have dictated for them. We enjoy the look on the other party's faces when they understand it’s too late. Checkmate.”

  Ume looked down at her pieces and sighed. She gently knocked over her king and leaned back in her chair.

  “What’s so great about having all those eyes filled with expectations looking at you? Isn’t it more fun to run the show from the back?” Zac smiled.

  “I’ll be in your care, Sensei.” A dark smile stretched across Ume’s face. Zac looked at her with satisfaction.

  “Good girl.”