Episode 13, My teammates

TAKUMI TSURUGI

The next morning, the bell rang with a loud, resonant clang that jolted me awake. I looked around groggily, the reality of the previous day still fresh in my mind. Kiyomasa was already up, moving around the room with a sense of urgency.

“Come on, Takumi,” he said, shaking me gently. “Time for morning jogging. We don’t want to be late.”

I stumbled out of bed and quickly dressed, my muscles still sore from the previous day’s encounter. Shinji was already dressed and left the room quietly, leaving us to catch up.

We joined the other students in the courtyard, where everyone was already in motion, jogging in disciplined rows. The rhythm of the running was almost meditative. Kiyomasa kept pace with me, occasionally offering words of encouragement.

After the jog, we were led to the training site, a sprawling area filled with various combat equipment and practice areas. The intensity of the training was palpable, and I could feel the collective energy of the students around me.

Kiyomasa and I were assigned to spar with each other as part of the morning session. As we moved through the basic drills and combat techniques, my focus was interrupted by a sight that caught my eye.

Nearby, a girl was working out with impressive force. She was punching a heavy bag with such power that it swung wildly with each strike. The sheer intensity of her training was mesmerizing. Her movements were precise and powerful, her focus unwavering.

Curious, I glanced at Kiyomasa. “Who is she?”

Kiyomasa followed my gaze and nodded towards the girl. “That’s Yumi Yamamoto She’s the strongest female here. She’s been training for years and is incredibly skilled. Her strength and discipline are something to aspire to.”

I watched Yumi with admiration. Her dedication was evident, and her ability to make the bag seem like it was barely holding up under her strikes was awe-inspiring.

"Is that so," I whispered.

As the training session wrapped up, a figure arrived at the training site. It was Rykeru Goro with a stern expression and an authoritative presence. His uniform was more elaborate than the others, indicating his higher rank.

“I’m Rykeru Goro, your mentor,” he announced, his voice carrying clearly over the gathered students. “Today, we’ll be preparing for an upcoming hunt. You’ll be grouped into teams, and each team will have to combat against the others using practice swords. The objective is to ‘kill’ your opponents with these fake swords. The team that makes it out alive without losing a member will receive a cursed sword. This sword is a powerful tool that will aid you in fighting demons.”

Once he mentioned demons, a little flash of that brutal night hit me but luckily, Kiyomasa was fast to hold me.

"Are you okay, Takumi?"

I nodded. "Yes."

We were interrupted when Rykeru Goro motioned for the students to pick up wrapped papers from a nearby table. I grabbed one and unrolled it to reveal a slip with my team assignment. I scanned the names listed and saw that I was grouped with Yumi, Kiyomasa, a tall, muscular guy named Daichi, and a quiet girl named Hana.

We gathered in a corner to discuss our strategy. Yumi took the lead, her confidence and expertise evident. “Alright, we need to coordinate our attacks and defenses. Kiyomasa and Daichi, you’ll handle the front lines. Hana and I will provide support and cover for Takumi.”

I nodded, trying to keep up with the rapid discussion. Despite my inexperience, I felt a surge of determination. The stakes were high, and I wanted to prove myself.

A bell rang, signaling the start of the combat. Our team moved swiftly, taking down the initial opponents with a well-coordinated effort. We were making good progress, but as we advanced, we encountered Shinji’s team. The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Without hesitation, Shinji’s team launched their attack. Shinji’s eyes locked onto mine, and before I could react, he struck with lethal precision. His sword connected, and I was taken down in an instant. The force of his attack sent me sprawling to the ground, my vision blurring.

The chaos continued around me as Shinji’s team overwhelmed the remaining members of my group. The sounds of combat were harsh and unrelenting. In moments, Hana and Daichi had also fallen, leaving Yumi as the sole survivor of our team.

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