War

"...So, let me get this straight."

"..."

"while you were in the gravity room, Mr. Number 1, Chao Yuchen, entered and asked you if he could adjust the setting since it was too easy for him."

"..."

"Even though you clearly~~ couldn't handle it, because of your pride you not only stayed quiet, but you also tried to prove that it wasn't bothering you."

"...kuk."

"A-and.. pft... before you could j-jump,..pfft.. y-you died mid squat..."

"..."

"I-I c-can't...pft... ku..haha...hahahahahaha!!"

"... shut up."

"Hahahahaha!... Be-Because you were so mature for your age... I almost forgot that you're just a kid! Hahaha!"

"Hah... how long are you planning on laughing?"

"Hiehiehiehiehie."

"...Tsk! I'll tell sister Teresa about this."

"Kuk...cough cough!... this is no laughing matter."

"...this bi-"

"But in all seriousness, never do that again."

"..."

"Although you were lucky enough to not get any permanent damage, that doesn't mean next time would go the same way."

"...How's my body?"

"...You should thank your gift for saving your life."

"?"

"If it was a normal person then he/she would've stayed unconscious for days, and stayed bedridden for weeks."

"!?"

"But you... hah... rather than bedridden, you woke up after 20 hours almost in tip-top shape."

"20 hours! It's been that long already!?"

"...didn't you just hear what I said? It should've taken DAYS!"

"Ahem!... yes, your right."

"Hah...this weirdo (mumble)... But that's not the reason why I and the doctor were so surprised."

"Then why?"

"...You've told me before, right? That every time you push yourself in training, things like muscle cramps and such don't occur to you after a good rest. Not only that, but you immediately notice improvement right after."

"...Yeah."

"Jericho, do you know how muscles and bones grow stronger?"

"...Through hard work?"

"...No not that, what I meant was the mechanism behind it."

"Ah."

"This is already common knowledge but let me remind you. Muscles and bones grow stronger through the repeated process of tearing and healing. Every time you work out, muscle fibers are constantly mended by your body to become newer and stronger versions of themselves."

"The same could be said for bones and other nerves inside our body, they are broken then they are healed, they are cracked then they are mended, at the end of the day, it all depends on how fast your body repairs itself that will dictate your growth speed."

"...And?"

"Considering all of those points, and the inhuman regeneration you've shown us so far. I think that your gift might've affected you more than we originally thought."

"!?"

When Kendrick said those words, my body suddenly started to feel strange. It was unique yet nostalgic

{This feeling...this familiar feeling... it's just like that time!}

This feeling, I don't really understand what it is or why I sometimes experience it as it has only happened to me twice before.

First, was when I suddenly felt uncomfortable for a short time when I was training, and second, was when I was forced to decide between staying in the orphanage or joining the organization.

It's as if my actions are being guided, like I'm being told to do actions that will benefit me. One thing I'm certain of though is that this feeling stems from something within me.

I first thought that my gift [Physical Breaker] was the most possible suspect but lately I'm doubting myself on that.

Although I do feel that this uncomfortable feeling stems from the same place in my body where my gift is supposed to be, I can't seem to pinpoint exactly what it is.

{Hah... Let's not mind this for now. If I can, I'll make time in the future to investigate it further, until then let's focus on the present.}

"Ken... why do you think so?"

"Your gift allows you to disregard physical limits, right?"

"Yes."

"Then this is only a guess but... I believe that by the term physical limitation, human capabilities such as regenerative capacity are included."

"...Wh-what?"

"As I said, this is only a guess so don't treat it as an undeniable fact.... but I think you could do something that was supposed to be humanly impossible... improving your body's repair speed."

"N-no way...right?"

"No... now that I'm saying it out loud I think I'm right. Although not permanent, I've heard that athletes could improve their regenerative capacity through certain methods. Eating vegetables, getting chemotherapy, etc... If we go by that logic, then maybe, just maybe, my hypothesis has some logic to it."

"B-but... how can you expect me to believe such-."

"Jericho, words like impossible or miraculous... now that the world has become like this... no longer hold as much meaning."

"!"

"...Come on now, you're the same kid who pointed a knife out of nowhere to someone you don't even know and demanded an explanation... where is the cool-headed and open-minded boy I met back then?"

"... I don't know why you'd think that action was cool-headed but... Phew*...I think I get what you're trying to say."

"Hey, be more excited. Think of the possibilities! If I share this with the higher-ups then maybe as early as next year, you could be promoted to the advanced class!"

"...hmm...maybe."

"...haah*... I really~~ don't get you, sometimes, just like back in the gravity room, you act like your age, but then you act like a calm old man at times like this. pick a lane"

"Hehe..."

The mood in the room was peaceful, to say the least. It has been a while since we last saw each other so joking around and having conversations like this was a good way to wind down after all the excitement.

But now that I was thinking normally, I noticed that there were people missing.

"hm, now that I think about it, where's Jake and Des? Did they not even visit me?"

"About tha-"

"This is an emergency! Move out of the way! Move! Move!"

"!?"

Just when Kendrick was about to answer, loud shouts suddenly resounded outside of my room.

"Another one huh?"

"...Is the hospital always this busy?"

"No, all of our members are highly trained, so although we go on numerous missions the amount of injured personnel is usually at a manageable level."

"Then... is it because of gifts?"

"Heh... fast as usual."

"..." I stared at Kendrick with serious eyes, signaling to him that I wanted answers.

"Haah...I won't go into too much detail but... when ambiguous people with evil intentions suddenly gain enough power, what do you think will happen?

"..."

"Anyway~ the organization carries a sort of responsibility to move in times like these so of course, not all of us can just go home unscathed. That's all I'm going to say, you're a clever kid so think about it yourself."

----------

After getting one final check-up from the elderly doctor who took care of me and seeing that there was no longer anything wrong, I was permitted for discharge today.

Wearing the shirt and shorts Kendrick who left a while ago prepared for me, I leisurely walked toward the dormitory.

I've slept through the night and morning so going out of the hospital and looking around, the fortress was bright as expected since it was supposed to be afternoon now.

Throughout my long walk, I thought about what Kendrick said to me and came up with an answer to his question.

"...If there was enough resistance... then WAR."