Collaboration II

Ren stepped forward to greet Unit 7. "Good morning, everyone. We're pleased to be working with Unit 7 today."

Kyouka nodded firmly, her smile thin but welcoming. "We are also glad to collaborate with Unit 10. This training will be a great opportunity to learn from each other and strengthen our teamwork."

I stood beside Ren, feeling a bit awkward but trying to appear composed. The fresh morning air helped to calm my tense nerves slightly. The sun shone gently in the sky, illuminating the traditional courtyard with its warm light. As we stood there, the atmosphere began to feel more familiar despite the initial tension.

A woman with short, yellowish-green hair who stood to Kyouka's left stepped forward, her eyes full of curiosity. This was Shushu Suruga. Her smile was wide, and her eyes sparkled mischievously as she looked me up and down. "Hee… So this is Chairman Ren's personal 'dog'? Not bad looking," she chuckled.

I could feel my cheeks heat up slightly, but I controlled myself and looked at Shushu with a relaxed smile. "Yes, it seems so. And who might the lovely lady in front of me be?" I asked in a friendly tone, trying to keep the mood light.

Shushu laughed softly, clearly enjoying the situation she had created. "My name is Shushu Suruga. Nice to meet you, Chairman Ren's dog," she replied teasingly, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Nice to meet you too, Suruga-san. I'm Jin Takeru, just call me Jin," I said.

Meanwhile, Himari Azuma, with her long sea-green hair and sharp yellow eyes, observed us with a calm expression. She looked serious, possibly trying to gauge our capabilities just from our appearance. I exchanged a glance with Himari, trying to give a reassuring smile.

Behind Kyouka, Nei Ookawamura stood a bit closer, her big blue eyes watching me curiously. Despite her young age, she had an aura of calmness and maturity beyond her years. I gave her a small nod, which she returned with a shy smile.

Ren continued the briefing, explaining in more detail about today's training plan. "This training will consist of several combat scenarios and teamwork tests. We want to see how you adapt to different situations and how well you work with another unit."

I listened attentively, trying to absorb every detail. Shushu kept watching me with a playful smile on her face, while Himari seemed focused on Ren's explanation.

When Ren finished, Kyouka took over, giving additional instructions and assigning training groups. I was placed in a group that would have to face Himari. Shushu stepped closer again, this time without the teasing look in her eyes, just enthusiasm for the upcoming training. "Come on, Jin. Show us what you can do."

Himari, with her long sea-green hair flowing gently over her shoulders, looked at me with her sharp yellow eyes. "Hmph, I don't expect much from a man without any abilities," she sneered dismissively.

I felt my blood boil a bit, but before I could retort, Kyouka, with her calm yet firm demeanour, reprimanded Himari. "Himari, don't be like that. No matter what, respect your opponent. Otherwise, something bad might happen later."

Himari immediately backed down like a scolded dog. I couldn't resist a snide comment. "Wow, looks like I'm not the only dog here," I said sarcastically, smirking at Himari.

Himari glared at me but couldn't say anything back since Kyouka was still watching her sternly. I stepped closer, feeling the need to rub it in a bit. "Don't worry, Azuma-san. I might not have abilities as amazing as yours, but I promise to make this fight interesting."

Shushu chuckled at my comment, seemingly enjoying the light bickering. "Alright, Jin. Don't be too hard on her," she said, grinning.

Ren, standing not far from us, observed with sharp eyes but didn't intervene. He knew this was part of the training, part of how we learn to deal with different types of situations and personalities.

Kyouka, after ensuring everything was calm, continued her explanation about the training. "This training will test your individual skills as well as your ability to work as a team. Remember, it's not just about winning or losing, but about what you learn from each fight."

I nodded, ready to face Himari. Although she seemed to underestimate me, I knew I had to show that I could adapt and fight well, even without extraordinary abilities.

As we prepared, Himari looked at me with eyes still filled with tension. "Don't think I'll hold back just because we're in a training exercise," she said in a low voice.

I smiled casually, looking straight into her eyes. "No need to worry. I won't blame you if you can't handle what I'm about to show."

With that, we both took our positions, ready to start the training.

…

Himari looked at me with a determined gaze, then took out her smartphone. She tapped the screen quickly, and within seconds, a holographic card appeared in her other hand. The card then absorbed into her body, causing a drastic change. Her right hand began to transform, turning into a large gatling gun that shimmered with energy. I watched as her Learning ability worked, allowing Himari to use other people's abilities after studying them.

I couldn't help but smile slightly. "Interesting," I muttered to myself, ready to dodge. Using my second ability, Application, with Application of Speed, I planned to dodge nimbly. However, I had to be careful not to reveal my true abilities, so I controlled my energy output as best as I could.

Himari didn't wait long to attack. She pulled the trigger of her gatling gun, and immediately a barrage of energy bullets shot towards me at frightening speed. I jumped to the side, moving with agility that appeared normal to others, even though I was actually using speed beyond human capability.

The energy bullets hit the ground where I had been standing just moments before, creating small craters and impressive bursts of light. I kept moving, spinning and jumping to avoid every shot. Every move was designed to look like an extraordinary reflex, not a supernatural ability.

The people watching from the sidelines seemed impressed, some even whistling in admiration. "Wow, that guy is really fast," whispered one of them.

Himari looked increasingly frustrated, realising that none of her attacks were hitting their target. "Don't get too cocky, you 'dog'!" she yelled, increasing the intensity of her attack. The barrage of bullets became faster and denser, creating a nearly impossible sight to dodge.

I jumped higher, almost appearing to fly, before landing smoothly on a large rock. "I'm not being cocky, just playing it safe," I replied in a casual tone, but full of vigilance. I knew that one mistake could be fatal.

Between us, the aura of the fight grew more intense. Himari stopped her shooting for a moment, observing my movements carefully. "Do you have any other tricks you want to show, Dog?" she asked mockingly.

I smiled slightly. "Maybe. But how about we see how good your copying ability is first?" With that, I jumped down from the rock and started moving quickly towards Himari, weaving through the bullets still flying towards me.

At high speed, I saw an opportunity to get closer. With swift movements, I circled around Himari, making it difficult for her to target me accurately. Every step was designed to dodge bullets while closing in on her position.

Himari tried to follow my movements, but my speed and precision made it difficult. "Try this!" she shouted, and suddenly her gatling gun hand transformed again, this time into a large energy cannon.

I saw her preparing to fire a massive blast, but I was already too close. With almost invisible speed, I leapt high into the air, dodging the massive blast that erupted from her cannon. As I was in the air, I twisted my body, preparing a counter-attack.

Landing softly behind Himari, I tapped her shoulder lightly. "Surprised?" I asked with a wide grin.

Himari spun around quickly, surprised to see me behind her. But before she could react, I had already locked her movement with a quick hold. "Remember, this is just training," I whispered, releasing her gently and stepping back a few steps.

She panted heavily, clearly frustrated but also impressed. "You... you're really fast. I've never seen anything like this."

I just nodded. "It's not about abilities, Azuma-san. It's about how you use them. And, honestly, you have great potential. You just need to hone it better."

Himari sighed deeply, seeming to think deeply. "Maybe you're right. I'll work harder."

Meanwhile, from the sidelines, Ren and the others observed closely. Ren smiled slightly, perhaps a bit proud, while Ginna seemed more relaxed seeing the skills I had just demonstrated. "Maybe we have a better chance than we thought," Ren muttered to himself

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