underground fights.

On the first day, Kei Kazama took the bus home to the outskirts, walked 10 minutes, and fell asleep in his bed. He woke up in the morning with the alarm, completely sore, but continued training without rest. The first run of two hours to the training location made his muscles burn, and he hadn't even started the training yet. He entered the compound to look for Kovac, who had given him the military training the day before.

-Boy, come, I'll take you to your training spot, - said a security guard, guiding him through familiar paths to the clearing near the warehouse. This time, there was a circle made with some kind of chalk. The soldier wasn't there yet, so he regained some energy.

-I didn't think you'd make it, - said Kovac.

-Well, I couldn't give up over something as simple as a dislocated arm, though it does hurt a lot, - said Kei.

-That's because you don't have muscle. My mistake, you're too young for this training. Your joints aren't fully connected yet, and your muscles are just starting to grow. This time, we'll do physical exercise until exhaustion, - said Kovac.

It started with a 10-kilometer run with weights, which Kei couldn't complete and nearly collapsed. Training with an overloaded body is one of the toughest tests; it takes more than a strong will to push yourself. Your mind screams to give up, but remembering the beatings, Kei knew he couldn't surrender so easily.

They arrived at the warehouse and saw two oil barrels up front.

-Come, this will relieve your muscle pain, - said Kovac, opening the barrel. The cold spread out. -Come on, a few minutes in the barrel, then we'll run another 10 kilometers, and you'll get back in the barrel, as much as you can. -

The barrel was undoubtedly freezing. The cold spread through Kei's body, making his teeth chatter. He needed something to calm the cold he was feeling now. He wanted to get out, but Kovac's look held him back, enough to avoid disobeying the order.

-You can get out, soldier, - said Kovac.

Kei nodded.

-Let's go, we have another ten kilometers to run, - said Kovac.

If the first kilometers were hell, the next ten felt like needles piercing his skin with every kilometer. His body burned like a freight train running at full steam.

-Come on, get into the water tank. It's almost noon, and we need to replenish energy. A good meal can take away the pain you're feeling now, - said Kovac.

Kei did as told, staying 12 minutes in the water tank this time, to the point where he felt his legs freezing. If he repeated this feat, he was sure he wouldn't be able to move anymore. Kovac took him to a small dining hall. To Kei's surprise, they served a lot of oatmeal and a giant plate of pasta with meat.

-Eat, Master Takemoto doesn't usually make exceptions, but while you train under his guidance, he'll provide the proper food, - said Kovac.

Kei nodded. He owed a lot to Master Takemoto and would repay every cent.

-Thank you for the food, - said Kei, eating the entire portion served.

The oatmeal was tasteless, but he hadn't had breakfast at home, so he only had rice with vegetables for lunch. This meal calmed his hunger like never before since he arrived in this world.

-Come, we'll continue with your study practice. Soldiers must have some knowledge of military tactics. Only when you know the tactics can I leave you alone. For now, follow me, we still have other exercises to do, - said Kovac.

The class involved reading about different historical periods and the military tactics used in battles. After that, he learned some basic formations of how the armed forces worked and what their codes were.

This was followed by another exercise session. This time, it focused on his arms. Crawling through a 50-meter circuit 25 times became monotonous until they started shooting rubber bullets, which could leave bruises the size of baseballs.

Kei's whole body burned, but the ice bath eased his internal pains. The subway ride was as satisfying as the following days when the exercise intensified so much that he lost track of time, feeling nothing but eternal fatigue that overshadowed even hunger.

-Master, I can't come to train tomorrow. I have some family obligations, and I can't break my word, - said Kei.

Kovac observed him closely, almost as if he expected Kei to quit. The intensity of Kovac's training matched what the Japanese special forces underwent to infiltrate enemy territory or even worse, the - largest lawless zone in Japan. -

***

Kei had to visit Hiyo Kure's gang to complete his usual errands. He wouldn't be able to do them if he couldn't move his muscles, a feeling he experienced every time he returned home. He had made a huge mistake: a week of excessive training without rest periods had pushed his body to the brink. It felt like his body would explode like a nitrogen bottle, each step an agonizing process.

He arrived at the underground base, almost limping. He saw Bakudo at a poker table talking with some people and greeted him. Bakudo merely nodded in return; after all, Kei was the only kid who had completed more than four errands without screwing up. All the previous kids had made mistakes that displeased the employers.

Kei knocked on the door; it never hurt to knock on the mafia boss's door, especially one with a family of assassins.

-Come in, - said the voice.

Kei opened the door and saw Hiyo Kure calmly smoking a cigarette.

-The kid decided to show up, - said Hiyo.

-I came to complete my task as we agreed, - said Kei.

-Ah, always with that rebellious spark. What have you been up to these days, kid? - asked Hiyo.

-Well, I've been training a lot, so nothing interesting except running and rolling on the ground, - said Kei.

-I see, I still owe you a favor, hahaha. Do you want another beating? - said Hiyo.

-I'm saving it for a big favor, - said Kei.

Hiyo's black eyes widened like a snake's.

-Hahaha, and what would that big favor be that you're dreaming of? - asked Hiyo.

-Well, I'd add another condition: let me throw three punches. You can't counterattack until I've thrown three punches, - said Kei.

-An interesting condition. In that case, I owe you two favors. If you complete five favors, I'll let you have your controlled fight, as long as it doesn't last more than five minutes. I can't wait forever for you to throw your punches - said Hiyo.

-Sure! Let's do it, - said Kei.

-Hahaha. Calm down, kid. It's not time yet, but you can play cards or drink, - said Hiyo.

-I'll take a look around, - said Kei. Leaving the room, he saw Iji and Niji playing cards and approached them. Curiously, they never bet money but time, a few minutes, up to an hour. Time was valuable; no one wanted to waste it guarding or doing follow-up jobs.

-Brothers, - said Kei.

The twins just grunted in response. After some time, Kei realized his initial impression of the twins was completely wrong; they were cool in their way.

- How's it going, Kei? - asked Iji, finishing his card game and winning three minutes on his watch.

I-Doing my best, though I have a lot to improve on. Where's brother Hiroshi? - asked Kei.

-He's been practicing boxing again. You reignited the spark, Kei. Brother Hiroshi used to love boxing, but something in him died after losing to Hiyo humiliatingly, - said Iji.

-I'm glad. You two should train hard too. It would be a shame if your younger brother beat you, - said Kei.

Niji looked at him but returned to his game. Iji just nodded to his brother. The twins' communication was eerie.

-We are training. It's just that we have to stick to Hiroshi's schedule. Good luck with your deliveries. Since you've been doing them, the boss has been more lenient with Hiroshi's reckless behavior. So, I'll say it again, just follow the rules. Everything is fine for now, - said Iji, standing up.

-I'll try, brother. Sometimes, places are so terrifying that the thought of a fight calms me down, - said Kei, trying to tease his brother, who only nodded.

It was time to start his job as a courier.

...