PROJECT ALPHA

"Following a discussion with the individual at the Mission Desk, Hataki proceeded to the squad meeting room to relay information regarding the training ground."

In the meeting room, the squad had already gathered—all except Yoto. The air was lively with chatter, though a note of unease lingered beneath it.

Eiji, as usual, was the first to break the silence. "Hayato! Hayato!" 

Hayato sighed, rubbing his temples. "What now, Eiji?"

"It's been 24 hours since we got the power serum," Eiji said excitedly. "Do you think we've gotten our powers yet?"

"How would I know?" Hayato replied, irritation creeping into his voice.

"Don't be like that!" Eiji pressed on, leaning closer. "Aren't you curious about what power you'll get?"

"No," Hayato said flatly, avoiding Eiji's eager gaze.

Eiji grinned mischievously. "Oh, come on, Hayato. I know you're interested. You're just too shy to admit it!"

Hayato's patience snapped. He swatted Eiji on the head. "Shut up already! Instead of pestering me, why don't you worry about Yoto? It's not like him to be late for a squad meeting."

Eiji rubbed his head, his eyes watering. "You didn't have to hit me…"

"Quiet!" Hayato snapped, his annoyance peaking.

Meanwhile, Yushin sat apart, her brow furrowed with concern. "Yoto's never late," she murmured to herself. "He's always the first one here…"

The door to the room swung open, and Hataki entered, his commanding presence silencing the room. The squad rose to their feet, greeting him in unison. 

Hataki scanned the room and frowned. "Where's Yoto?" 

"He's not here yet, Sensei," Hayato replied.

Hataki's frown deepened. He was about to go check on Yoto himself when the door creaked open again. Yoto stepped in, his movements slow, his gaze fixed on the floor.

"Good morning, Sensei," Yoto mumbled.

"Morning, Yoto," Hataki replied, his tone laced with concern. "What happened? Why are you late?" 

"I overslept," Yoto said softly. "I apologize for being irresponsible." 

"It's fine," Hataki said, though his worry lingered. "Take a seat; we're about to start."

Yoto walked to the bench, avoiding his teammates' eyes as he sat down. Yushin watched him carefully, her worry deepening as she noticed the redness around his eyes. It was clear he had been crying.

"What happened?" Yushin whispered gently.

Yoto forced a weak smile. "Nothing. I'm fine." 

But Yushin wasn't convinced. The pain behind his smile was impossible to ignore.

Hataki stood at the front of the room, his commanding presence immediately drawing the attention of every member of the squad. It had been 24 hours since they had been administered the power serum, and the time had come for Hataki to share something important. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation. 

"Attention, everyone," Hataki began, his voice steady and authoritative. "It's been 24 hours since you were given the power serum, and now it's time for me to reveal something crucial. Are you ready for this, squad?"

The squad responded in unison, their voices filled with determination and resolve. "Yes, sir!"

"Good," Hataki said, a small nod of approval acknowledging their readiness. "Today, you will undergo special training."

The room fell silent for a moment, and Eiji, ever the curious one, could hardly contain his question. "Special training? What's it for, sir?"

Hataki's gaze was unwavering as he continued. "It's training designed to awaken the true power within you." 

Murmurs rippled through the squad as they exchanged puzzled glances. "Awaken? Awaken what?" they whispered among themselves, confusion clear in their voices.

Hataki raised a hand, silencing them. "Let me explain fully," he said, his tone calm but firm. "You won't truly understand the extent of your abilities until you push yourselves beyond your limits. Normally, we use sandbags for punching drills, but today… today, you will punch something far stronger than that—a tree."

The squad fell into stunned silence. Eiji, unable to process the magnitude of what he was hearing, took a step back, his face draining of color. "Punch a tree? What are you saying, sensei? Are you trying to kill me?" His voice was tinged with disbelief, his hands trembling as the reality of the situation hit him. "Sensei… is this training meant to kill us?"

Hataki chuckled softly, a sound that carried no malice but was filled with quiet assurance. "No, Eiji. You'll see for yourself."

With that, he motioned to the door, his expression resolute. "Alright, everyone, let's move out. It's time for your training." 

Despite the uncertainty that lingered in their minds, the squad followed Hataki's lead, stepping out into the unknown. Each member, though unsure, trusted in their sensei and prepared themselves to face whatever challenge lay ahead.

Hataki led his squad to a secluded area on a nearby mountain, where he had carefully prepared everything for their training. The air was thick with tension as the training began in earnest. Yushin, Akemi, and Yoto were pushing themselves to their limits, each trying to break through their boundaries. Meanwhile, Hayato and Eiji struggled to keep from passing out, their bodies drained but their spirits unwavering.

By afternoon, Eiji collapsed from exhaustion, unable to keep going. Hayato, though equally worn, remained by his side, doing his best to keep him conscious. Akemi and Yushin, showing no signs of slowing down, went to fetch food with Hataki. 

But Yoto was a different story. His determination to push through was absolute. He refused to stop, relentlessly pounding his fists into the sturdy tree before him. His knuckles were bleeding, but he didn't flinch. In between strikes, he muttered to himself, his voice firm despite the pain.

"I have to become strong so that I can protect everyone," Yoto repeated, his words a mantra. "There is no time for slacking."

Hayato, glancing over at him, couldn't help but feel a sense of concern. He called out to Yoto, hoping to pull him away from the tree before it was too late.

"Oyee, Yoto! Sensei said we can all take a break while they bring us food. Come over here and sit for a while."

But Yoto didn't respond. He simply kept punching, his focus unbroken, as if his body was pushing itself beyond what it could handle.

As the evening drew near, Hataki gathered his squad for their final evaluations. The first student he called forward was Akemi. Hataki spoke to her calmly but firmly.

"Cut the trees in front of you without moving."

Akemi positioned herself with her sword, taking a deep breath to steady herself. With a swift, fluid motion, she slashed the air, her sword cutting through the space before her. In an instant, the trees in front of her were sliced cleanly through. Hataki nodded in approval.

"Impressive, Akemi. You combined your slash with the air element—your ability to control the wind not only enhances your agility but also makes your strikes more powerful."

Next, Hataki turned to Yushin. Her agility was unmatched, allowing her to move through the air with such grace that even Hataki, with all his experience, couldn't sense her during their mock battle. Her mastery of stealth made her a formidable assassin.

"Yushin, your abilities are impressive. You've truly honed your skills to perfection."

The third student, Hayato, stepped forward. Hataki immediately sensed something familiar about his power. As Hayato demonstrated his control over electricity, Hataki's eyes widened in realization.

"Hayato," Hataki said, surprised. "You have the same power as me."

Hayato's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really, sensei?" he asked eagerly.

Hataki smiled. "Yes, Hayato. You and I share the same ability. I will teach you everything I know."

Hayato's face lit up, his determination growing stronger with every word. "Yes, sensei!"

The fourth student, Eiji, was up next. His senses had developed to an almost inhuman level, a rare and powerful gift. Hataki wanted to test this ability. He stepped far away, deep into the forest, and tossed a glass into the air. In a place so secluded, with no clear line of sight, the glass was nearly invisible. No one would be able to track its movement, not even Hataki. But Eiji, his senses honed to perfection, did not hesitate. In an instant, he took aim and shot the glass out of the air with a single, precise shot.

Hataki smiled, impressed. "Excellent, Eiji. Your senses are beyond anything I've seen. You are a sniper in every sense of the word."

Eiji's face broke into a wide grin, and Hayato, standing beside him, jumped in excitement, sharing in the joy of their newfound powers.

Finally, Hataki called Yoto to the center of the clearing. The others fell silent, watching as Yoto stood still, his body trembling slightly. A minute passed, then two, and still nothing happened. Hataki, sensing the tension, stepped forward with concern.

"Yoto, are you okay? What's going on?"

Yoto's voice was shaky, confusion written on his face. "I… I… don't feel anything."

Hataki's heart sank. "Yoto, what are you saying?"

"I don't feel anything," Yoto repeated, his voice laced with confusion. "I didn't get any power…"