Hard choices

As 2 and 8 pulled the unconscious 5 and 7 into the hideout, 1 and several other members rushed to help them.

"Get them onto those tables" 6 commanded, authoritatively. While the group placed 5 and 7 onto the respective tables.

Meanwhile, 1 asked if the mission was a success. 2 staggered and aggressively handed the fragment 7 retrieved from the police station evidence room, which was currently wrapped in a cloth.

"There you go, since that's all you clearly care about"

1 clutched the artefact, looked over the 6's impromptu healing station, back at 2 and 8, then asked, "where is 4?"

"The cyborg detective got him" 8 said, as 1 sighed and walked away shaking his head.

2 looked over at the table, "6, focus on 7" She said, "He's lost a lot of blood and that wound on his back is refusing to close. It's like it was burrowing deeper into him. I had to knock him out to stop his screams. 5 passed out from power overuse he'll be fine "

6 nodded and as 7 was turned over, she examined the golf ball sized wound on his back, and also noticed how pale he was becoming because of the quantity of blood he had lost.

She placed her hand on his back, and activated a healing rune on his back, but despite her efforts, it wouldn't close.

[There doesn't seem to be a bullet. How did this wound get so deep?]

She rolled her sleeves back then tried again, this time, she noticed a little black flame burrowing into him.

She reached into her medical pouch, pulled out a glowing purple liquid and poured some info the wound, which woke 7 up.

As he screamed, 6 yelled for him to be held in place. She activated the healing rune again and the wound, very slowly began to close.

5 still wasn't awake, so she placed her hand on his chest and slowly healed him too, 2 fell asleep where she sat. Overall, the room was extremely silent, even though the mission was a success.

Keneda woke up with a banging headache and Yagita asleep on the chair in his hospital room. He smiled as he saw her but as he sat up, his head started pounding, the pain, originating from the back of his head.

[Damn] he thought, while laughing [she got me good] he touched the back of his head and groaned. It was very sore.

The sound of his groan woke Yagita up. He laughed, "sorry, I woke you up"

She sat up straight.

"How's your head?"

"It's very sore but at least I'm alive" He looked a bit saddened as he said this, "A lot of officers got hurt detective Yagita. I wish I was better prepared for a scenario like that "

"Don't do that Kaneda, this was a departmental failure. Fuhira and I knew something was wrong with that bank call but we did nothing about it, and as a result, some officers have lost their life and a member of the powered unit is in critical condition. On top of that, it seems their mission was a success. Even though those are the facts of the incident, no one could've anticipated a frontal attack of the police station. So do not blame yourself too much."

Kaneda laughed again, before wincing and touching the back of his head. "You have a unique way of reassuring people "

She smiled at him, "I'm really glad you're okay"

"Yeah, me too"

Imahaya and Fuhira were at a meeting with Yanagara Sashi the very next morning. The atmosphere in the commissioners office was tense.

They both sat on the opposite end of Yanagara, who; based on the expression on his face, was slightly angry.

"Do you know how incompetent this makes us look Imahaya?"

Both Fuhira and Imahaya remained silent. Yanagara continued

"5 officers dead, several more injured. A frontal attack on a police station? Why didn't your department request a task force after the second robbery?"

Imahaya answered, "based on investigations conducted by one of our finest detectives, we were on the verge on finding out the location of their next point of attack when we recieved a call saying the national bank was being robbed.

We didn't believe a task force was needed to tackle them because we were on the verge of intercepting them. "

"Well, look where your"belief" has gotten us Imahaya. This is a big mess. The media is already all over this, despite our efforts of keeping it under tabs. "

Slightly annoyed, Fuhira finally spoke. "With all due respect sir, I do not think this was a total loss. We managed to apprehend one of the culprits and two others were severely injured during the attack. My point is by the time they're ready to attack the next location we will be fully ready for them."

Yanagara paused for several seconds before replying, "detective Fuhira, are you saying the capture of one out of maybe ten individuals justifies the amount of officers who lost their lives?"

"I'm saying their deaths were not in vain."

Before he could continue, Imahaya silenced him, "that's quite enough detective, you may leave"

Understanding that his captain only did that so he wouldn't speak out of turn, Fuhira slightly bowed his head and calmly left the commissioners office.

Imahaya apologised on behalf of his detective and the men continued speaking.

*

It had been a few weeks since life at the Academy started. Everyone had a pathway and were getting on well with their respective pathways and generally enjoying their time at the institution.

Their time tables were all straight forward. They had lessons 5 days of the week until 4 pm and just like every other teenager in the city, were free to do whatever they wanted on the weekend.

On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, their days were split between general studies. 9am to 1pm, comprised of mathematics, science and a variety of language lessons. They had lunch breaks from 1pm - 2pm and finally from 2-4pm, they had lessons based on their chosen pathways. So those who chose the medical pathway had lessons based on their specific medical branch.

On Thursday's, they focused on strengthening their powers and trying to find better ways to use them.

Friday's consisted of fitness and optional combat training. Those who didn't want to partake in the combat training were encouraged to spend that time studying.

It was a cool and breezy Thursday afternoon. White fluffy clouds partially blocking the rays from the sun as they drifted across the sky.

The students were all in an open field on campus grounds with the wind blowing across their faces.

Ichisuda and Hirowa supervised the students as they all attempted new things with their powers.

Minako attempted to create semi-complex structures with her ice, like staircases.

Sando tried to extend the time he spent in the air by shooting a jet of flames from his feet.

Aibuto was trying to see if he could mimic two substances at once.

Hirase's tremor ability didn't give him many options, so instead of finding new ways to use his power, he refined it instead. He was trying to limit his much damage it caused to the environment and to himself.

Shihata tried to increase the time her foresight lasted and how far into the future she could see, so she was constantly going around touching her classmates.

Koda, just like Minako was doing tried to make things with his rock other than the 'rock prison' he used to entrap Ichisuda during the entrance exams.

Rezu was the only one who was slightly further away from the group as she worked on having better control of the water around her. Hirowa gave her certain scenarios like putting out fires and breaking objects with water.

Mika felt she didn't need to work on anything so sat on the ground, crossed her legs and mediated.

Rando kept it simple, he tried to test what the maximum and minimum tensile strength his steel skin could reach and see if he could exceed it.

Tanori realised he had stamina problems although his powers allowed him a broad range of abilities, he couldn't use them for very long so he repeatedly activated his powers so he could use them for longer.

Dota was trying to manipulate the air around his feet so he could levitate.

Rani worked on having better control and also worked on creating new toxins.

Chibi communicated with the birds around her, trying to give them complex commands.

Murake tried to improve the complexity of his illusions. At the moment, his illusions only decieved the eyes. He wanted it to deceive all the other senses too.

Seeing as Fukuma's specialty was electronics, he worked closely with Tokiho Rarada. So he wasn't outside in the field with the rest of the students.

Sezato stood blindfolded in front of a machine designed to randomly shoot plastic balls at him at high speed. He was trying to improve his reaction time by solely depending on his ability to dodge them

Chino worked on her aim and improving how many energy beams she could shoot out at once .

Takegai was attempting to see how long he could keep his invisibility up for, and possibly extend the time.

Just like Mika, Hayasato didn't think there was anything he could do to improve his abilities. However, unlike Mika, his belief didn't come from a place of over confidence, but the lack of it.

He didn't think his powers could be used for anything other than transportation and escapes.

Takeyomi teleported from place to place, teasing his classmates as he did so because the vast majority of them were working on improving their powers as hard as they could and the rarity of his ability made him feel invincible.

As Yashiro looked around, he felt helpless. They all seemed to be working hard on making their powers better but he couldn't think of anything to do to improve his.

[I don't belong here] he thought, as he sat down on the grass.

Takeyomi noticed this and a split second later, appeared sitting beside Yashiro.

"You that confident in your abilities too"

Slightly startled, Yashiro responded. "Crap, Takeyomi. You fucking scared me. You need to stop doing that"

Takeyomi laughed. Yashiro shook his head and sighed before answering his question.

"I'm not confident, I just don't know how to improve my abilities"

"Can I make a suggestion?"

Yashiro smiled. "Go ahead"

"I've seen you use your powers before. Why not try to further decrease the time it takes you to switch your powers from your arms to your legs and vice versa"

"that's a good idea" Yashiro said, his facial expression slightly improving. "Thanks Takeyomi"

"No worries" He replied, disappearing as quickly as he appeared.

Yashiro got to his feet and began practising.

About an hour later as the students sluggishly returned to their dorms, Ichisuda called Yashiro and pulled him to the side.

"I've been watching you Yashiro. You show a lot of potential but I feel I should let you know you're using your powers wrong. Which is why your progress has been slow. That being said I believe I could guide you, but it's up to you. If you're interested, come and see me in the staff room. That will be all young man. You may return to your room"

As Yashiro watched Ichisuda walk away, his mind raced. He didn't want to be spoon fed but he saw no other way he could improve. He weighed the pros and cons of Ichisuda's offer as he returned to his dorm.