The test passed with complete normality, Alex ended up helping Soukaku with the demonstration and Sergio and I, along with the rest of the teammates, were watching how they were doing it. It was clear that my attention was not being directed to the simulation they were doing, rather it was focused on Alex more than anything else. His movements were impeccable, his attacks were formidable, fast and dangerous, making Soukaku bring out his maximum level. It was clear that my inferiority in combat compared to him was completely noticeable.
When they finished, we were told that we could go to our modules for half an hour before moving on to the afternoon exercises. Although it seemed like a joke, it was almost 15:00. Sergio and I went to the module with our legs dragging on the floor because we wanted to lie down for a while, and it was not because we were tired, it was rather because we wanted to laze around for a few minutes, it was what we liked the most of the day. While we were walking, just a few steps away from our module, Soukaku appeared in front of us.
-S-soukaku! What a scare..." I protested.
Soukaku smiled naturally
-Hey, well done in the simulation before, as I told you, you only need to improve your attack agility and some other facet," he said.
-Thank you, though... I'd like to be better in defense and support- I said with a sheepish smile
-Hehehe... Don't worry about that, not everyone has the gift of being good in all fields, if it were so, no one would have an assured position.
I smiled not knowing what to answer. Soukaku was absolutely right about that, but I still didn't think he was right.
-Well... I just wanted to tell you that...- Soukaku said- You may go, soldiers- He put on a military salute, I didn't know what that was for right now, but it was quite nice.
Sergio and I returned the salute and then we continued our way to the module.
***
When we arrived we could see how several of our companions were also there, resting. I approached the bed and without taking anything off I threw myself on it, letting out a big sigh of relief.
-DIOS.... It seems unbelievable, but the morning run affects the performance too much...-I said.
-At first it seems that it doesn't, but then that hour of running does have an effect -Sergio affirmed.
While I was looking at the ceiling I could notice the presence of someone else besides Sergio, I turned my look until I could see the face of our module partner, Mario.
-How is everything going, guys?" asked Mario with a friendly smile.
-All good, all good..." I said.
-I saw how you were doing the defense test with Soukaku before, you are certainly a very lucky guy," he affirmed while he averted his gaze.
I could notice something strange in him, something like.... Embarrassed?
-Hey... Are you ok?" I asked with concern and curiosity.
Mario looked back at me, coming out of what seemed to be a deep state of reverie.
-Well... I know that in this kind of places these things are superfluous and such but... I think that..." Mario doubted his words too much, but I think he already knew where he was going.
-No, Mario, I don't have that relationship with her to fulfill your wish," I said very sure of myself.
Mario looked at me confused
-What do you mean?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
-You want a date with her, don't you," I asked back.
-Of course... Of course not, that's not what I wanted," he replied surprised.
I noticed how my face blushed with embarrassment, that's what I get for being stupid and for being too smart.
-Oh... Of course... It wasn't that... -I said- Then .... What do you want? -I asked while I sat on the bed to pay more attention to him because if I stayed lying down I would surely fall asleep.
-I saw the attack test you did, if you're not one of the best you should be one of them," he exclaimed.
No one knew anyone's results, but since Alex and Soukaku had made it clear to me I knew I was number one.
-Thank you, but .... What do you want?" I asked
-I want you to teach me how to fight," he answered.
-What did I teach you to fight? Me? No, no, no, no, never, I'm not the one to teach anything to anyone, believe me.
-But you did an excellent fight....
-I know, but... I don't think I'm ready to teach anyone yet, you still want to learn better about it you should ask ....- My words got stuck in the middle of my throat, I couldn't speak. Just when I was about to mention Alex's name the test I asked to do with Soukaku came to my mind but I couldn't because of him, did I have a grudge against someone who motivated me? I don't think that was the case... Or was it?
-To whom?" asked Mario waiting for my answer.
-A.... Eh.... Sergio, yes, that's right, him- I said pointing to Sergio.
Sergio himself looked at me very surprised, almost in shock, I had no idea how to react to that.
-Really? -Mario asked
-Yes, really, even though he may not be an expert, he sure is very good at teaching," I answered.
I noticed how Sergio put a hand on my shoulder, beckoning me to come with him to a corner of the room.
-I'm lying Mario, I think your future teacher wants to talk to me alone," I said as I got up from the bed and walked away with Sergio.
Mario nodded his head and went to his bed to wait for our return.
Sergio and I stopped in the corner farthest away from Mario so he couldn't hear.
-Lucas..." Sergio murmured.
-Yes, tell me," I said.
-You know I love you as a friend and all that stuff but -.... Are you FUCKING BAD?" he asked with a muffled scream.
-What do you mean?" I asked with hesitation.
-I'm not good at attacking and you know it, don't fuck with me Lucas.
-Quiet, I'm doing it to make you better in two aspects- I said while I pointed two fingers on my hand- One, to improve as a person and two, to improve as an attacker- I said lowering one finger for each thing I mentioned.
-Lucas, you know I don't give a damn about being a good attacker or not, I've always wanted to be a great team stunner," he said.
-Yeah, sure, great- I stopped talking at that very moment, I was shocked with his answer- What did he just said?
Sergio stood with his mouth open, speechless.
-I told you I only want to be a stunner, not an attacker, got it?
-Don't mess with me... That's... That... YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE!" I shouted chokingly while I grabbed him by the shoulders and shook his whole body.
-YOU NEVER ASKED ME!
I stopped shaking him, averting my gaze elsewhere.
-It's true, I never asked you....
-I think the one who needs to improve as a person is you, you should learn to think before you speak.
-You're right... -I was slowly walking away from Sergio, towards the door- You know... I think that... You should clear all this with Mario by yourself, I shouted as I opened the door quickly and ran out of there while laughing non-stop. I could hear Sergio shouting but I ignored him completely. I ran up to more or less the tents of the reconnaissance team in the area. I had never been this close to these sites before as only members of each Division and the recon team could be here. I was on the "borderline" between the zone for salads and the zone for specialized, something I was slightly nervous to see. "What would happen if I got caught walking around there?" I kept asking myself. As I was observing the area I could hear several familiar voices in a tent right in the soldier area. Curiosity got the better of me right then and there so without thought or hesitation I went over to listen. I crouched down and leaned against a pillar very close to the tent, almost next to it and put my ear as close as possible. I didn't know how it was that a second ago I was arguing with Sergio and now I was eavesdropping on a conversation I surely shouldn't be listening to.
"They are more than we could have imagined" Said a voice which I could not recognize.
"We lost too many reserves in the last mission, we need to redo the planning" Said another voice unrecognizable to me.
"Every day the backups serve less and less in the team, eh? Less and less people are qualified for this position, leaving the others at risk" Said the voice I recognized as Soukaku's "If we don't get more people from this very position, many of these soldiers will die"
"You're right Soukaku" Said another voice.
"I think you are confused. People should learn to fight on their own, imagine if the support of the team dies, should they run away just because one of them left them?" asked another voice.
Apparently there were more than 4 people arguing, but I couldn't make out any of what was going on.
"We'd better get back to the main topic, we'll clear this up another time" Said what sounded like Miyabi's voice "Cavity zero is becoming more and more untenable, the ethereal beings, even the lazy ones, are getting to the point of being a big threat. We have never seen anything of this caliber before."
"Yanagi, report the casualties" Said another voice.
"It's hard to take in all these losses but..." Yanagi, the sub-captain of division 6 seemed to doubt her words "Almost all the reserve members have been reported dead, we only have Alex left" She said.
Alex was the only survivor of the last operation? But... Is it that bad to use the entire reserve unit? Shit... That means... The reserve unit will be out of service until there are more soldiers...
"We can't afford any more casualties like this, we must do something" Soukaku said.
"Yes, we should..." Miyani fell silent, I think they had noticed my presence.
"Shut up, I think someone is here" Said another voice.
Hearing that last, I slowly backed away so as not to make noise and then ran off somewhere different.
-Fuck... Things are really bad....- As I was running, because of not looking where I was going, I bumped into someone- S-sorry.... Ouch...
-N-no, I-I'm sorry, hehe.... I wasn't looking where I was going," said a female voice.
-I wasn't either, hehe... -I looked towards the face where the female voice was coming from, revealing a beautiful girl with the anti-cavity division suit.
-Are you... Are you a soldier," I asked.
She laughed, revealing a rather cute smile on her face.
-Yes, I am, I think it shows, don't you think?
-Yes, hehe...
-Well, I'd better go, I'm late for the stall.
-Sure, no problem, see you later- We both said goodbye with the military salute and sharing a big smile.
It was amazing how there were people who managed to get into the different divisions without first signing up for the army and going through the hard tests we went through before getting here. I didn't stop to think too much as the next tests were about to start and I still had to go back. On the way I took a look at the sky, it was quite cloudy, with a dark blue considering that it was still too early for it to start getting dark. The clouds were very dark suggesting that sooner or later it would start to rain, which I would not like to happen considering that I had to do push-ups, squats and other workouts.
I arrived at the module and entered, seeing how everyone was still lying down and talking to each other.
-You're finally here," Sergio said in an annoyed voice from his bed, "Where have you gone so far away?
- I took advantage of the fact that I left the module to go for a walk and get some air," I answered as I approached Sergio's bed.
-And to leave all the brown stuff to me," he clarified.
I nodded my head and gave a wicked smile.
-So tell me, what did you end up with," I sat down on the bed next to him.
- Let's say that... I'm a teacher now," he answered.
A smirk formed on my face.
-See? I knew you would accept.
Sergio got up from the bed and came close to my ear, whispering to me:
- Last time you do this shit to me, ok?" he whispered.
I nodded my head still knowing that if necessary I would do it again.
- Let's put this topic to rest for the moment and go to the gym, it's time for the exercises," said Sergio.
- In the end it's going to be that this little motivation has been good for you.
I got up from the bed I was sitting on and started walking next to Sergio, back to the street, towards the gym.
- I hope it's not the general who makes us do the exercises, I'm exhausted," said Sergio.
- He came back from some meetings a little while ago, I guess he's resting, but well, I don't care who makes me do anything, to tell you the truth.
- You do, but I don't.
***
Already in the gym we saw how all the soldiers were waiting outside to enter the gym, but apparently we had arrived just in time. General Ray was at the door, ready to teach the penultimate class of the day. Although it seemed that there were few classes in reality all this was a real hell.
-Okay guys.... And girls. Today we're going to do push-ups, pull-ups, pull-ups, deadlifts and the occasional back exercise. Today's workout is going to be the most intense you've done to date as I need to evaluate your fitness.
-But wasn't the evaluation in a month's time?" a soldier asked without even letting the general finish speaking, luckily, he hadn't bothered him.
- Yes, you are right, but from above I have been asked to do it today. Of course, don't slow down after this, as there will be more tests around this month and next month.
Have they upped the number of diagnoses? That should be from what I heard earlier? Things are really bad...
- Well, come on, let's go into the gym so I can explain what to do and how to do it.
The general opened the door with a key he had in his pocket and we all went in behind him.