Shadow Bug

The training began the next day with Jason and Lisa calling the students together. Lisa had already made it clear to Jason that he would be doing most of the talking, as he'd been uncharacteristically quiet when they first met the students the day before. Since they were outside, the plan was to teach the basics of controlling lighter energy and using it to power up their techniques. Lisa's own techniques weren't particularly flashy, so Jason was the natural choice to demonstrate how to use a powerful lighter technique.

Lisa: (smirking at Jason) Today's the day you overcome your dislike of kids. It'll be good practice. How else are you going to handle things when you become a father?

Jason: (making a cartoonish face) Yeah, no thanks. I don't plan on getting married or having kids. Besides, I might not even live long enough for that, considering what we do.

Lisa: (mock pouting) Oh, come on. Don't be such a downer. Maybe it's because you haven't found the right girl yet. Besides, you can't use our jobs as an excuse not to live a little. Here they come—now, remember, you're doing the talking.

Jason: (groaning) What a pain.

Lisa: (sighs) Just give it a try, okay?

After doing a quick roll call, Lisa stepped aside, leaving Jason to address the group.

Jason: (to the students) So, does anyone know what lighter energy is?

Silva:(raising her hand) Lighter energy is the energy we Lighters are born with. It can be passed down from parent to child. It's also the power the All Mother gave us 800 years ago.

Jason: (thinking to himself) Little smarty pants. (aloud) That's correct. Now, who can tell me what a lighter technique is?

Rin: (raising his hand) Lighter techniques are abilities powered by lighter energy. We can use them for battle and to save lives. Almost everyone has one, but if you don't, you can learn one.

Jason: Good answer. (surveying the group) I assume most, if not all of you, have already awakened your lighter techniques. Most people do by the time they turn twelve. (Everyone nods.) Alright, then. I want each of you to tell me what your technique is. Takimo, you first.

Takimo: (nervous) Me? Uh, okay. My technique is fire manipulation. I control fire.

Kazemaru: (as Jason's gaze moves to him) I create glass barriers. My mom calls it the "Glass Prism" technique.

Silva: I wasn't born with a technique, so I learned "Body Reinforcement" from my uncle. It gives me superhuman strength and boosts my endurance.

Karla: My technique lets me turn invisible and make others invisible too, as long as I'm touching them. It's called the "Invisibility Technique."

Tendo: I manipulate iron ore to create weapons, but... right now, I can only manage a hammer.

Rin: (rolling up his sleeve) I can link with the animals tattooed on my left arm. (He reveals the intricate animal tattoos etched into his skin.)

Jason:(thinking) That's a cool one. (aloud) Okay, all of you have impressive techniques. But before you can fully use them, you need to learn how to infuse lighter energy into hand-to-hand combat. Then, we'll get to how lighter energy can power up your abilities.

Lisa: (playfully nudging Jason) Wouldn't you like to give us a demonstration?

Kazemaru: (eagerly) Yes! Please show us your technique, Mr. Jason!

Lisa: (cartoonish face) Go on. Show us.

Jason: (grumbling) Damn you, Lisa. (sighs as lightning crackles in his right hand) My technique is lightning manipulation. It lets me control lightning. That's it.

Kazemaru: (wide-eyed) Whoa! It's so much cooler up close!

Karla: (laughs)

Silva: You're such a fanboy.

Rin: I agree with her

Takimo: (laughs)

Jason: (deactivating his technique) Alright, now Lisa will supervise while you practice infusing your lighter energy into combat. You'll be graded at the end of the session. Good luck. (thinking) Finally...

Lisa spent the rest of the day supervising the students as they practiced, guiding them through the process of channeling their lighter energy into hand-to-hand techniques. By the end of the session, Rin Aikawa and Takimo Zenoshi had the highest scores, demonstrating better control than the others.

After class was dismissed, the group lingered, chatting and getting to know each other.

Karla: You were amazing, Rin. You infused your lighter energy perfectly

Rin: Don't be too hard on yourself, Karla. You'll get it next time.

Karla: (smiling) Yeah, I'll do my best.

Silva: You were pretty good too, Takimo.

Takimo: (blushing) Oh, thanks. I've always been a fast learner.

Kazemaru: Hey, no bragging!

Takimo: I wasn't bragging.

Kazemaru: (grinning) I know, I'm just messing with you.

Tendo: Seriously? (Everyone laughs.)

Silva: Hey, guys. I didn't get to ask this yesterday, but why did you want to become Hunters?

There was a brief silence before Kazemaru spoke.

Kazemaru: Well I want to become a Hunter to make the world a peaceful place for my mom and little brother.

Silva: I want to send money to my parents back in the countryside.

Tendo: My family doesn't believe in me. I want to become a Hunter to prove them wrong.

Karla: I want to change the world by killing all the shadows.

Rin: Same. Shadows are nothing but monsters. They killed my father and brother. I'll become a Level 1 Hunter and take them down.

Kazemaru: Whoa, dark... (gets smacked by Silva) What? It's the truth!

Tendo: What about you, Takimo?

Rin: Yeah, you've been quiet.

Takimo: Well I decided to become a Hunter to find my friend.

Tendo: Your friend?

Takimo: Yeah. My parents died when I was young and for as long as I can remember, I never had many friends or family until I met my best friend. We've been friends for nine years and he and his mother took me in and treated me like family but then he was accused of being a shadow and now he's a wanted person. They all say that he's an evil monster but I don't want to believe any of that. So I want to be a hunter so I can go on missions in hopes that I run into him again.

There was a brief silence before...

Rin: "Run into him again?" (laughs) If you do run into him again, he'll just kill you. That's what shadows do. They're monsters. Don't be delusional thinking a shadow is your friend.

Takimo: He is my friend and I'm choosing to believe that he's a good person. If he truly was a shadow like everyone says he was, then the reason he didn't say it is because everyone would assume he wants to kill someone.

Rin: Then you're a bigger idiot than I thought you were.

Silva: Hey Rin! Knock it off!

Rin: (ignoring Silva) So you think that somehow your friend is different from those scumbags?! The fact he didn't even kill you makes you extremely lucky. But Shadows and Shadow monsters are the same. Shades just pretend to be humans. He treated you like family? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!!

Kazemaru: That's okay dude. You made your point.

Takimo: (to Rin) Don't talk like you know him, Rin. Have you ever thought that maybe our perception of shadows might be wrong? Shadows are evil but is it really all of them that are like that?

Rin: You're crazy dude. Thinking that shadows can be good people. Keep chasing after this friend of yours and it's gonna get you killed one day.

Takimo: I don't want to succumb to the way of thinking that everyone else has decided to accept. I want to see things with my eyes and come to my own conclusion, not what everyone else thinks. Just because shadows killed your brother and father doesn't mean that they're all like that.

Rin:(enraged, punching Takimo across the face)

The others quickly intervened to break them up. Takimo realized he'd crossed a line.

Takimo: It doesn't matter how many times you insult me or punch me. I'm not going to change my ideologies just because you think it's stupid. But....(bowing) I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that about your family. That was out of line.

Rin: (sighs) You're going to get yourself killed chasing after shadows. (He grabs his bag and storms off.)

The others followed suit, keeping their distance from Takimo. Jason had been listening to their conversation and called Takimo when he was about to leave.

Jason:I overheard everything. Is this all just to find Kato Hamura? I told you to give up on him. Why continue down this path? You're not going to make friends like this.

Takimo: (pausing) If you overheard my conversation with Rin then you already know your answer sir. Excuse me. (he walks away)

Later, as Takimo lay in his bed, reflecting on the day, he remained resolute. He would prove to the world that Kato wasn't the monster they said he was.

Meanwhile, at the Hunter Force Association HQ, Gabriel, the head of the HFA, was leaving for the day when he stumbled upon a body at the front door. His breath caught in his throat—he recognized the corpse.