After meeting with the man in charge of the military, Kagura was even more fired up to join. Teus was all for the idea of fast tracking Kagura into the military.

  Kagura: Alright man let's go! When do we start missions?!

  Teus: After your training.

  Kagura: Oh that's great! Let's start now!

  Tsubaki: No can do. You need to do more than impress them physically, you need to be intellectually sound as well.

  Kagura: It's intelligent, and I've got plenty of it. Let's get to training!

  Tsubaki: We're screwed.

  Teus: You need to take this seriously Kagura, you don't have half the time the other entrants do. Your strength is impressive, but you have to admit that it far outweighs your intellect.

  Kagura: That's only because I'm super strong!

  Teus: Well think of it like this: I'm not confident that you'll be accepted into the military even judging by your strength alone. You're going to need to become much stronger, and that's not including your mind. If you really want to challenge our Leader, Kyo, you need to push every part of yourself to the limit.

  Kagura calmed himself and began to take things seriously. He steeled his mind in order to get through the lessons Teus had in store. Surprising everyone, Kagura was a natural at learning battle strategies and war planning. While he was busy reading about old attack patterns, Tsubaki pulled Teus aside.

  Tsubaki: Sir, I think that we can trick him into being smart.

  Teus: *chuckle* and what do you mean by that?

  Tsubaki: Well anything that he sees as a fight or competition, he seems to perform a lot better. Whatever lesson you teach, try to spin the topic back to fighting.

  Teus: Interesting, I'll try it. I thought you didn't want him to join us though? But now you're helping him out.

  Tsubaki: If he's going to be trained by us and go out there, I can't let him make a mockery out of our Company. He needs to do just well enough to not be an embarrassment, but still fail.

  Teus just shook his head. Kagura's routine was incredibly structured and overseen by Teus and Tsubaki. Teus mentored Kagura on his book knowledge while Tsubaki took pleasure in teaching Kagura the physical aspects.

  Tsubaki's small stature caught Kagura off guard. He completely forgot just how physically strong she was. Her skill with martial arts was also greater than his own.

  Kagura's first day of intense training and studying reminded him a little of his time in Tower 13. With only about half of the time to prepare, Kagura had to train relentlessly.

  Kagura: Two years of this each day?? Let's do it!

  While Kagura was getting whipped into shape, Jugo opened up his Dossier on Raioten's WRITE. What he read left him speechless.

  "Jugo Imeris

  Jugo is a very interesting man that I meant in the tower. When we first met, I saw Jugo as another opponent that I had to get past in order to survive. I used to always get a strange sensation around him and that made him seem pretty scary. I learned that he was really cool during the competition at the end of the year. Jugo was crazy strong and was able to outsmart Morgan and I to win it all. He always seems to have something on his mind, but whenever I speak, he seems really cheery.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  He's one of the kindest people I've ever met. When I didn't have anywhere to go, Jugo offered to get a place with me and I'll never forget that. Even now, he treats me like family, after everything he's already lost. He's like an uncle to me. Uncle Jugo, Ha!"

  Jugo sat at the dining room table, his eyes flowing with tears. He backed out of his file and saw one about Kagura. Jugo added "Ousia: Shadows" in a section that Raioten typed about his strange powers. After reading the other Dossiers, Jugo decided to make one for Raioten himself. He typed a few sentences about the young boy, finishing with "The toughest little dude with the purest heart that was forged in flames."

  Jugo went back to work with a full heart, as Raioten was coasting through the day at school. With the lack of an educational challenge, Raioten decided to challenge his personality. He wanted to be more friendly with others and vowed to make more friends before the end of the school year.

  Days turned into weeks as Raioten realized he just wasn't cut out for social interactions. No matter what he did, he couldn't bring himself to just walk up and talk to someone. In his solitude, Raioten remembered how Moira came to him and spoke her mind with no fear. He thought about when she'd return to school as he looked to her empty desk. With summer break fast approaching, Raioten wanted to make sure Moira was doing alright.

  One Friday after school, Raioten walked to Moira's house. When he got to the address, there was a large restaurant in the place where her home was. Raioten walked inside, scanning for anything he recognized. He didn't believe that he had the wrong address, but everything on the inside was completely different. After asking a few people about Moira, Raioten left with no information.

  As he walked down the street contemplating what could've happened, an older boy bumped into him and knocked him over.

  ?: Ah! I'm so sorry man. Are you alright?

  Raioten: It's no problem, I'm fine.

  ?: Wait... you're Raioten right?

  Raioten: Uh, yeah. How did you know that?

  ?: Everyone at our school recognizes you. I guess having sky blue hair will do that.

  Raioten: Oh right.

  Lars: Anyway, my name is Lars. Nice to meet you!

  Lars was a few grades older than Raioten and was noticeably taller as well. Lars had a slim build with short, chestnut colored hair

  Raioten: Nice to meet you too Lars. My name is..... nevermind, sorry.

  Lars: Ha! I always thought you'd be scary to talk to, but you're just awkward is all!

  Raioten: Why would I be scary?

  Lars: Dude, you have a resting face that would turn a lion into a house cat.

  Raioten: I'll try to take that as a compliment. I've got to go but I guess I'll see you around?

  Lars: For sure man! If you ever see me in the hallway, hit me up! Don't be a stranger!

  Lars jogged off into the distance and Raioten went back home. Raioten thought he seemed interesting, but couldn't think too much about it because of Moira. Raioten tried to tell himself that he might have just misremembered how to get to her house, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

  Raioten worried his entire weekend away and continued at school on Monday. He finally appeared to be doing work in class when he began scribbling in his notebooks. Raioten was thinking back to the last conversations he had with Moira and her father. He asked a few of his classmates about her, hoping to get some clarity. Not a soul knew much about Moira aside from her first name and appearance.

  After class, Raioten gathered his things, more confused than when the day began. As he was walking through the halls to his next class, his mind was still clouded.

  Suddenly, Raioten was grabbed by the arm and pulled. He very nearly struck out before he realized his situation.

  Lars: Here he is right here! Everyone, this, is Raioten. He's actually not neary as mean as he looks I promise.

  Raioten: Wut?

  The group of friends Lars was speaking to laughed at Raioten's confusion.

  Lars: Don't worry, most people just thought you were a scary little guy. Seeing you act weird like the rest of us is reassuring.

  Raioten: Oh... alright

  ?: Oh, he's so adorable! Look at him blushing!

  ?: You ever thought about joining the karate club little dude? I could turn you into a beast!

  Raioten: I um.. no thank you, sorry.

  Lars: Yeah back off, he's gonna pick whatever club he wants.

  Raioten: Actually Lars, I don't want to do a summer club.

  Lars: Whaaat? Why not?

  Raioten: Well... no, it'll sound dumb.

  Lars: C'mon man let me hear it.

  Raioten: Well, I think that a friend of mine went missing.

  Lars: Why would that sound dumb?! Come with me.

  Lars took Raioten up to the roof during their next class. He opened up his bookbag and pulled out different notebooks with nigh unintelligible writing.

  Raioten: What is all of this?

  Lars: The truth about this town. There's something going on here, and you're just the guy to help me find out what.