Lisa spent the remainder of the day overseeing the students as they trained, carefully guiding them through the art of channeling their light energy into hand-to-hand combat techniques.
By the end of the session, Rin Aikawa and Takimo Zenoshi stood out with the highest scores, showing far greater control than the rest of the class.
After dismissal, the group didn't rush off. They lingered instead, talking among themselves and slowly beginning to get to know one another.
Karla: You were amazing, Rin. You infused your light energy perfectly… unlike me.
Rin: Don't be too hard on yourself, Karla. You'll get it next time.
Karla: Yeah, I'll do my best.
Silva: You were pretty good too, Takimo.
Takimo suddenly began to feel self conscious and nervous which Rin took notice of.
Takimo: Oh, thanks. I've always been a fast learner.
Kazemaru: Hey, no bragging!
Takimo: (puzzled) I wasn't bragging.
Rin: Yeah… He wasn't.
Kazemaru: (grinning) I know, I'm just messing with you.
Tendo: Seriously?
Everyone laughed, clearly enjoying the peaceful aura they had around themselves.
Karla: So… where is everyone from anyway? I mean, we're all from different cities, right?
Rin: Yeah. I'm from Ryokan City… the outskirts mostly. Not too bad, though Shadows show up sometimes.
Takimo: Benville, like… right by the transit district. It's pretty normal… except for the Shadow incidents, obviously.
Kazemaru: I grew up near the old industrial area with my mom and little brother. Shadows pop up from time to time. Soni learned to run before I could even ride a bike.
Tendo: Sounds rough. I'm from Nara Town. Quiet place, rarely any incidents. I guess that made me nervous about actually fighting.
Silva: Nervous? You look like someone who has a lot of confidence.
Tendo: Hah… yeah, I don't know about that. I may look like that but I'm nervous as hell when it comes to certain situations.
Karla: Oh… I understand that. I joined the HFA because I wanted to protect people, but every time I think about an actual Shadow showing up, I get panicky.
Rin: I don't get scared that easily…
A memory of him witnessing someone's death flashed in his mind.
Rin: After what I've seen, I can't.
Takimo's face fell after Rin said this.
Kazemaru: I've been there.
Silva: Me too but I can't say I'm not terrified. But when I remember that those who were here before us probably felt the same way we're feeling now, it's kind of comforting, actually, knowing I'm not the only one.
Tendo: Yeah… I guess we all have fears, just different ones. It makes sense why the academy is so intense.
There was a moment of silence before it was broken by Silva.
Silva: Hey, guys. I didn't get to ask this when we all first met, but why do you guys want to become Hunters?
There was a brief silence while Takimo hoped in his mind that no one would answer that question but just then, Kazemaru spoke.
Kazemaru: Well I want to become a Hunter to make the world a peaceful place for my mom and little brother. We've been through a lot and I just want to keep them somewhere safe.
Silva followed afterwards.
Silva: I want to send money to my parents back in the countryside. The Hunter is dangerous but it pays well so I'm risking my life for it.
Tendo had a tough time getting ready to talk but then once he did, it was in a solemn sad voice.
Tendo: M… My family doesn't believe in me and they basically wrote me off. I want to become a Hunter to prove them wrong.
There was a bit of silence as the atmosphere grew cold and sad before Karla continued.
Karla: I wanted to be part of the people who tried to change the world.
Rin then finally spoke.
Rin: I feel the same way. Shadows are nothing but monsters. They killed my father and brother. I'll become a Level 1 Hunter and slaughter them all with my bare hands.
Kazemaru: Whoa, dark... (gets smacked by Silva) What? It's the truth!
Tendo: What about you, Takimo?
Rin: You've been quiet.
All eyes turned to Takimo who realized he couldn't get out of this one.
Takimo: Well, I decided to become a hunter to find my friend.
Everyone was puzzled by this.
Tendo: Your friend?
Takimo: Yeah. My parents died when I was young and for as long as I can remember, I never had any friends or family members until I met my best friend. We've been friends for nine years and he and his mother took me in and treated me like family.
Takimo paused for a while before he continued.
Takimo: But then… he was accused of being a shadow. Everyone assumes that I'm supposed to think that he's a bad person just because of it, but I don't want to believe any of that. So I want to be a hunter so I can go on missions in hopes that I run into him again.
There was a brief silence before...
Rin: "Run into him again?" (laughs mockingly) If you do run into him again, he'll probably just kill you. That's what shadows do. They're monsters. Don't be delusional thinking a shadow is your friend.
Takimo clenched his fists.
Takimo: He is my friend and I'm choosing to believe that he's a good person. If he truly was a shadow like everyone says he was, then the reason he didn't say it is because everyone would assume he wants to kill someone.
Rin shook his head in disbelief.
Rin: Then you're a bigger idiot than I thought you were.
Silva: Hey Rin! Knock it off!
Rin ignored her.
Rin: So you think that somehow your friend is different from those monsters?! The fact he didn't even kill you makes you extremely lucky. But Shadows and Shadow monsters are the same. Shadows just pretend to be humans. He treated you like family? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!!
Kazemaru: That's okay dude. You made your point.
Takimo: Don't talk like you know him, Rin. Have you ever thought that maybe our perception of shadows might be wrong? Shadows are evil but is it really all of them that are like that?
Rin: You're crazy dude. Thinking that shadows can be good people. Do I need to remind you about the calamities and what they did on Koroma island?
Takimo: That was one shadow. They didn't all collaborate to do that.
Rin: How would you know that?
Takimo: And how would you know that they did?
Rin stopped himself and when he realized he couldn't answer that question, he immediately ignored it.
Rin: Keep chasing after this friend of yours and it's gonna get you killed one day. Fucking wake up!
Takimo's voice suddenly grew cold.
Takimo: I don't want to succumb to the way of thinking that everyone else has decided to accept. I want to see things with my eyes and come to my own conclusion, not what everyone else thinks.
Rin: So all the damage they caused around you isn't enough?
Takimo suddenly looked at Rin with the same cold expression in his eyes.
Takimo: Just because shadows killed your brother and father doesn't mean that they're all like that.
Rin remained silent for a few moments before rage took over him. He immediately stood up, moved towards Takimo and punched him in the face. The others quickly intervened to break them up.
After they had separated them, Rin spat on the ground in front of Takimo.
Rin: You're a piece of shit, you know that right? A big piece of shit!
Takimo however responded calmly.
Takimo: It doesn't matter how many times you insult me or punch me. I'm not going to change my ideologies just because you think it's stupid. But…
Takimo bowed his head.
Takimo: I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that about your family. That was out of line.
Rin sighed and turned away from him.
Rin: You're going to get yourself killed chasing after shadows.
And with that, he grabbed his bag and stormed off. The others followed soon after, not saying anything to Takimo.
But what they didn't know was that Jason had been listening to their conversation a few feet away from them and they were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice him.
Jason: So that's why he joined the academy…
Takimo stood quietly for a while after they left and when he was about to leave, Jason called out to him.
Jason: Takimo!
Takimo turned and when he saw Jason, he knew exactly why he was calling him.
Takimo: You heard everything?
Jason nodded his head.
Jason: You're doing all this to find him? I told you to give up on him that day, didn't I? Why continue down this path? You're not going to make friends like this.
Takimo sighed.
Takimo: If you overheard everything sir, then you already know your answer sir. Excuse me.
Takimo then slowly walked away once he realized that Jason had no questions for him.