Patience

Over the next few days, Yashiro became very reclusive, barely saying anything to anyone. Including his mother.

It was Wednesday 2:15pm, so all the students were in their specific pathway lessons.

In the police branch of the public service pathway, Zuno was going through certain scenarios with his students.

He asked, "Okay, in this scenario, a suspect has barricaded himself with a hostage in a small room. There is no window, there is only 1 door. He has a gun to the hostage's head, threatening to shoot if the police opens the door. What is the most effective way to ensure his capture while minimising damage to the hostage?" He pointed at Rando who appeared to be deep in thought.

"Rando?" he said after a few seconds and all heads turned towards him.

Zuno had an idea what was on his mind but decided he'll bring it up at some other point after the lesson.

"Sorry" Rando said, adjusting himself in his seat "What was the question?"

Zuno explained the scenario again, provoking a few seconds of thought from Rando, after which he responded saying, "Capture is a bit risky in this scenario. The slightest thing might set the assailant off and make him pull that trigger. So, keeping their distance, an officer should keep him engaged in conversation possibly using a megaphone. Even though it's an enclosed space there has to be some ventilation. Another officer could put both people in question to sleep using that."

Sando laughed, "You're off your game today Rando. Assuming things is how people end up dead."

"He's right" Zuno added, "Your answer was based on the assumption that there are vents in that that room. If the scenario specified that there were air vents, then you'd be fairly correct."

Rando nodded.

Zuno asked, "Sando, how would you tackle the situation?"

"There are too many unknowns with the criminal barricaded inside. The tables need to be turned. The officers present need to establish communication somehow and see what the demands of the criminals are.

Then you act like you are giving them what they want and destroy them when they come out"

"Apprehend, Sando" Zuno said, correcting him. "Apprehend, not "destroy""

Sando scoffed

Shihata added, "Well, Sando is right but the safety of the hostage has to be considered first. It also depends on the officers there. For example, if I was there, I would be able to see where the criminal would be a few seconds ahead by touching nearby officers, then I could react accordingly."

Zuno smiled, then added "you're all somewhat correct. The most appropriate solution is to establish a two way communication system. This can be done by slipping a mobile phone under the door or if applicable using an officers abilities. Then, a negotiator begins the attempt to persuade the suspect to submit peacefully. If that fails, then as Sando said, we lure out the suspect with the promise of compliance. At that point, snipers may even become an option." After a few seconds, he continued, " Shihata, you were correct in saying it depends on the officers who were present, because if there was an officer there who had the ability to prevent guns from being fired, they would "storm the castle"."

As the students took notes, Zuno looked at Rando again. He didn't look engaged at all,[he's not even taking notes], Zuno thought, and it didn't improve as the lesson went on. He didn't raise his hands to answer any questions and had a saddened look on his face the entire time.

After the lesson, after waiting for all the other students to leave he pulled Rando aside.

"Rando. Take a seat. Let's talk" he said, gesturing with his hand for Rando to sit in front of him.

Rando took a seat but remained silent. So, Zuno spoke first.

"So, what's bothering you? You were not yourself today"

"I'm sorry, there was just a lot on my mind today"

Zuno cleared his throat, "is this about Yashiro?"

Rando looked up, "You noticed too?"

Zuno sighed, "i was there."

"What could've dampened his mood like that?"

Zuno paused for a few seconds.

"The guardian. Long story short, he may have told Yashiro that he was not good enough to be a guardian."

"That's pretty heavy. I'll have to speak to him to try and reassure him"

"I don't think you should, Rando"

"How can I not, Mr Zuno? He's my best friend. I can't just let him suffer and feel inadequate. I have to say something at least. What type of friend would I be if I don't?"

"A supportive one" Zuno said calmly, "Listen, Rando. I don't agree with Akanori but right now Yashiro needs to overcome this by himself. Running to reassure him everytime something goes wrong will not help him grow. Proving Akanori wrong is something Yashiro will have to do by himself Rando.

As his best friend you have to believe this is something he is capable of and leave him to it"

Rando clenched his fists and sighed, "I hate seeing him that angry"

"I understand. However, there is an element of truth to what Akanori said. You attempting to rush to his aid just made me realise it. He needs room to grow, and I believe he'll be much stronger if he can overcome this."

Rando sighed but said nothing. He understood his teacher was correct though it was hard for him to accept the reality of the situation.

"Thank you, Mr Zuno" he said, after a few seconds of silence.

Zuno smiled softly, "You're welcome, young man. Now, make sure you pay attention next lesson or you'll be writing essays"

Rando smiled and exited the classroom but he was still slightly worried.

Yashiro skipped his guardian lessons that day. Tokiho was meant to be taking the lesson but 15 minutes into the lesson, he realised Yashiro wasn't coming.

[I figured as much] He said to himself as he pulled out a tablet. He pressed a single button which brought up a multitude of square tabs on his screen. Live footage from every camera on academy grounds. He scrolled through each tab until he finally saw a student in one of the gyms. He sighed as he watched Yashiro continuously kick one of the bags. He had abandoned technique and was lashing out, kicking the bag as hard as he could.

Tokiho pressed a button and sent the feed to the monitor in the staff room.

"How do we tackle this?" He asked, his voice blasting through the speakers in the staff room. He was speaking to Hirowa and Yahara.

Tokiho continued, "it's been like this for a few days now. I'm beginning to worry."

"It's his way of dealing with things." Hirowa said, "I'll give him a day or two more. If things don't change I'll have to reprimand him for missing so many lessons"

Yahara watched for a few more seconds before contributing to the conversation. "I'll observe him a bit more until Friday. My guess is, he'll participate in the combat training. After that, I'll be able to give him more detailed criticism. Mr Akanori might have done more harm than good to this young man's development."

Hirowa nodded in agreement. "Asking for help will probably become difficult for him. As his teachers, we have to make sure we undo the damage Akanori's words might have done"

Tokiho sighed, "Mr Yahara, after you make your notes on Friday, May I read them? I might have a way to help too"

Yahara agreed.

"I'm going to put this feed on the smaller monitor. Just so there are eyes on him at all times"

After doing this, Yahara turned the tablet off and headed to his workshop. He wasn't going to wait until Friday to begin implementing his own plan to help Yashiro.

Later that evening, Rando explained the situation to Rani, Shihata and Minako. They were in one of the common rooms eating snacks.

"Well that's a lot to take in" Minako said, after hearing all Rando had to say.

"That explains the mood he's been in all week" Shihata added.

Rani remained silent. She had a worried look on her face, which Shihata noticed.

"It's Yashiro, he'll come out of this stronger just give him some time" she said, addressing the whole group, but her words aimed at Rani.

Rando sighed, but Minako interrupted. "There's no point getting worked up and worried. Just believe in him. I mean, I do. He's one of the main reasons I even made it past the entrance examination because of his quick thinking. Stop worrying guys"

She put a reassuring hand on Rani's shoulder.

"He will be alright"

Rani nodded in agreement before Shihata asked if they all wanted to see a movie in her room.

Once again, Yashiro was alone with his thoughts. His body, pushed beyond the point of exhaustion. He sat at the foot of his bed, breathing heavily, thinking about what exactly he could do to improve. As usual, his mind was blank, which further frustrated him.

After a few seconds of more silence, his phone vibrated.

He sighed, and checked to see what the notification was. He assumed it was one of his friends again.

It was a message from his mother, saying, "I am starting to get worried. Is everything okay?"

It was 11pm. She was meant to be asleep, which could only mean she was having trouble sleeping. Yashiro felt bad. He didn't want to put his mother through that.

He didn't respond to the text, but he called her.

"Hi mum"

"Yashiro, what's wrong"

"Nothing mum, I'm fine"

"I can tell by the tone of your voice that something happened. Should I be worried? Or is it something you can handle by yourself"

At that question, Yashiro paused for a few seconds to think.

His voice broke as he responded. "I don't think I can this time, mum"

Kirinaha sat up, and clutched her phone. "Talk to me, Son. What happened"

Yashiro opened up and explained what Akanori had told him, and how he couldn't figure anything out. Kirinaha listened to all he had to say, feeling relief and sadness simultaneously.

However, for once in her life she didn't know what to say that would've made her child feel better. She wanted to suggest him coming home for a few days to clear his head but did not want to encourage him to run away from his problems. She decided to address a smaller problem first.

"I can imagine how you must be feeling right now but breaking your body is not the answer Shiro. Please, stop doing that. I'm not just saying this because you are my child, but only because it's factual. Your intelligence knows no bounds. I know you can figure it out but you will not be able to do so with a tired mind and body. Take tomorrow to rest and take things slow. It will come to you"

Yashiro smiled, "thank you mum, for always being there"

His tone had improved, which made her slightly happy.

"That's what I'm here for. Try to get some sleep just see what more things you can do with your ability tomorrow and maybe go from there"

"Alright mum, get some rest please. Goodnight"

"Okay Son, sleep well. I love you"

"I love you too mum"

After he hung up, he thought about how much he valued his mother, which put another smile on his face then the last thing she said hit him.

[wait, can I use simultaneous activation and still make individual parts of my body bigger? If I can do that, I'm looking at a somewhat exponential growth. This might be something, but my mum is right. This isn't something I can do with a tired body I'll try tomorrow]. For the first time in a few days, he felt something other than frustration. He was hopeful at the thought of what he could do with his powers.

[Some progress I guess]

He fell asleep in minutes.