Takumi dragged Hero's equipment while the latter arranged the various firearms.
"Prof Hero, how long have you been an exorcist?"
"I can't really consider myself an exorcist; I'm a Kojin Ikimono."
"What? Why?"
"Most exorcists are quite elitist. They don't like sharing their title."
"Wow, so that's why they put specific names on everything."
"Yes, they're a arrogant bunch."
Takumi watched as Hero scanned the surroundings, the cold penetrating his bones.
"Prof Hero, how do I get a Boger?" asked Takumi, settling into the snow. "Tell me, so I can become a Class S and not just a Maldit."
"Unlike Ghosts, which are accumulations of negative emotions, a Boger comes from a single being."
Takumi's face showed little understanding, but he nodded as if he got it.
"No doubt you're Kohaku's student."
"I'm not that dumb."
"In short, your life must have been a complete pile of shit for you to have a Boger." Hero's voice cracked slightly, as if reliving unwanted memories.
"… Prof Hero, you…"
Before Takumi could speak, Hero stuffed a snowball into his own mouth and did the same to the boy.
A snowmobile was approaching at high speed. Behind the vehicle, several metal boxes were being dragged, all containing Bogers and Ghosts.
Takumi observed everything precisely. They were very far away. He quickly swallowed the ice in his mouth and spoke.
"Aren't we too far away?" murmured Takumi, his breath turning to vapor.
"In my whole life, I've only failed once."
Before Takumi could process it, the deafening noise of the cannon expelling the bullet left him stunned, hitting the driver right in the skull.
How can he shoot through all this thick fog!? Takumi thought, tripping in the snow and tumbling down the slope.
Hero, on the other hand, slid down the snow elegantly, watching Takumi roll.
"… We're going to have to train a lot."
Takumi laughed, amused by the snow, unable to get up because of the large coat.
"Prof Hero, why did you kill that guy? Didn't you need information?"
"No, I already had a man with all the necessary information," said Hero, retrieving the snowmobile. "And you're very calm for having just witnessed a murder."
"Yeah… being in the AOE, you see a lot of corpses." Takumi's voice was slightly lower, remembering all his dead comrades.
I hope Ren is okay, was his thought, before he heard Hero's voice.
"No one should get used to this. White, let's go."
The coat Takumi was wearing detached from him, turning liquid again. White consumed the man and then adhered to the snowmobile.
"INCREDIBLE!" Takumi chirped, jumping up suddenly as he watched White become the bike. "What other things can you do, White?"
"Anything you want."
"Even a video game console?"
"Yes, he knows the components and structures, so yes."
Takumi got on the snowmobile, completely enthralled by White.
"You're the coolest person I've ever met, White."
Hero just sighed and continued the journey.
---
POV HOTARU
Each day grew colder; after all, it was already November.
"Come on, be a gentleman!"
"I won't. We live in an equal society, don't we?" Ryouma gripped his sweater tighter.
"You're horrible! Can't you see a beautiful, delicate woman is freezing to death?"
"No, it's a no. That's what you get for prioritizing fashion over comfort," Ryouma mentioned, eyeing Rosse's dress.
"Damn you, Ryouma…" Before they could start fighting, I gave my sweater to Rosse. "Ah… Hotaru, you're the best. Learn something, Ryouma."
"Ha, ha, it's nothing," I said, hugging Rosse to share body heat.
"It seems my dear students are fighting."
Hearing that melodious voice, we turned to see who it was, and indeed, it was Kohaku. He arrived literally like a tornado.
"Professor Kohaku, welcome back. Where have you been?" I asked, letting Rosse pull away and run to him.
"I was a bit busy with family business and missions, the usual."
"For you."
"Prof Kohaku, what are we doing today?" Rosse's eyes shone brighter than normal when Kohaku put his coat on her.
"That's the enthusiasm! Ryouma, smile a little, don't be so bitter."
"I'm not bitter. And when will we see Takumi?"
"You'll see him when you're as strong as he is."
"WHAT?!" The shouts of all three of us mixed with the icy breeze.
"Takumi is becoming stronger right now, so you have to do the same."
My expression froze, still remembering when I saw Takumi's lifeless body. Could he be stronger than us? I couldn't allow that; I've worked too hard to get here.
"So we'll have more rigorous training?"
"Yes, but you'll be trained by another Class E exorcist."
"Fine, I'm in too," Ryouma mentioned.
"Me too, I don't want to be left behind by that fool Takumi."
"That's the attitude! Now we're going to see Lilith. Everyone, hold on to me."
"I'm ready~~" said Rosse, completely hugging Kohaku.
"Huh? Yes…" Quickly, I latched onto Kohaku along with Ryouma.
"Juten."
With that single word, we went flying through the skies. Our destination was clear: Russia.
---
POV NARRATOR
While Takumi's three friends were traveling towards Russia, he felt like he was in a game.
In front of Takumi stood an imposing, thick log thirty meters high, covered in a slippery substance.
"Do I really have to climb this?"
"Kohaku ordered you to do this."
"Why?"
"Not even I know, but you must reach the coin embedded at the top."
Takumi looked up. He couldn't see anything at all. His eyes squinted slightly, trying to focus on the void.
"I understand."
Hero watched as Takumi headed towards Kohaku's house, looking for a chainsaw nearby. His gaze returned to Hero.
"Were you looking for this?" Hero held the axe and the chainsaw in his hands.
"THAT'S CHEATING! THAT'S NOT FAIR!"
"You were clever, but go on." Hero pointed at the log again. Takumi's expression turned gloomy.
He barely managed to climb a little before slipping. This went on for several minutes.
"This is impossible with brute force."
Hero nodded and then went over to him. He took off his shirt, revealing a chiseled body, toned arms, and a ring worn as a necklace. With speed, he began climbing the log using just his fingertips, White laughing at Takumi's scared face.
After about twenty minutes, Hero finally reached the top. The log bore the marks of the purple-haired man imprinted on its bark.
"…" Takumi's jaw dropped, his pupils completely dilated. "He's a beast."
Hero descended the log with the same speed.
"Just that easy. Your turn."
"Right, just that easy…" Takumi positioned himself in front of the log, mentally preparing to climb. Just as he was about to start, he heard that voice again.
You really think you can climb? You're so useless. Look at him, and look at you…
Takumi scanned his surroundings again. No one was there.
Dammit, what's happening to me? Takumi thought, interrupted by Hero's voice.
"Everything alright?"
"Ah, yes…"
Takumi's gaze returned to his objective. He quickly grabbed onto the holes Hero had left. It seemed he would climb, but something stopped him—he couldn't reach the other marks.
"WHAT?!"
A small, almost invisible smile formed on Hero's lips.
"It was obvious. I'm 193 centimeters tall."
"…Dammit! You're as tall as Kohaku."
Is being tall and attractive a requirement to be an exorcist? Takumi's thoughts became turbulent. Plus they're so muscular. Or is that just for high-level exorcists? But Ryouma is Class Dua and he's attractive…
"Are you okay, Takumi?" White's voice was heard.
"Yes… I'm fine. It's just hard being an ugly and weak exorcist."
Hero watched Takumi curled up in a ball, doodling on the ground with a stick.
"Beauty has nothing to do with being a high-level exorcist."
"Yeah, you would say that," Takumi's voice was muffled, full of sarcasm.
"Stop playing around. Let's continue the training."
Hero started playing cards with White while Takumi tried unsuccessfully to climb the log.
White began hanging the laundry; it was already afternoon, and Takumi still hadn't managed to climb more than two meters.
Takumi finally sat down; his body was drenched in sweat, his hands full of scrapes and bruises.
"Well, well, what do we have here? It seems someone gave up so quickly. That says a lot about you, little Takumi."
"I've been here for four hours and I'm not making progress."
"I saw. When I arrived, I thought you were a cockroach."
"A COCKROACH!?" Spotting the figure beside him, Takumi saw it was Kohaku. "Kohaku!"
"Hello, little Takumi. You're sure in pieces, huh? Log: one, Takumi: zero. The log is winning."
"Mmm… your training is horrible."
"Don't say that. Besides, I want you to climb that log in ten minutes."
Takumi's eyes widened; he didn't understand what Kohaku was telling him.
"Prof Hero climbed it in twenty minutes; I can't do it in ten."
"I told you to climb. I didn't ask for your opinion," said Kohaku, his face almost touching Takumi's. Even with the bandages on, the boy could feel a penetrating gaze.
Takumi stood up as a shiver ran down his spine. He prepared himself to climb again. Kohaku let him go.
"You were a bit harsh."
"I don't think so. He needs a firm hand. Besides, if he can't complete this simple exercise, the hell I have prepared for him will kill him."
Hero, somewhat reluctant, just nodded and sat down with Kohaku, observing Takumi.
The sky slowly darkened. Takumi could barely continue. Then he saw it. Kohaku brought out all his suitcases.
"When there's no talent, no amount of training will make you achieve anything. Leave. This is the first time you've disappointed me."
Those words made Takumi's heart feel tight. He wasn't running away; he was being thrown out.
"Hero, let's go eat."
Hero's gaze was cold, as if he had expected more. In silence, he followed Kohaku inside the house, and White, hanging his head, went with the two other men.
"Sorry…"
The young man's eyes welled up. He covered them with his forearm as his mind began to consume him.
"Good luck; keep going for us; be strong."
Each memory caused spasms on his skin, uncontrollable sobs, and a terrible headache.
Finally you understand. You are nothing. You're so useless you can't even climb a simple log.
Hearing it again, he banged his head against the log, snapping out of it.
White went silently to check on Takumi, only to find no one there. He quickly ran after Takumi, stopping him.
"Takumi, are you leaving?"
"White… no, I'm going to get something."
White nodded, silently following Takumi.
"You lost a student."
"No, I lost a coward and gained a student."
Hero didn't understand until he saw Takumi return with several sharp metal bars and a hammer.
Takumi began hammering each of the metal stakes into the log, creating steps, climbing little by little.
I'm 170 centimeters tall. If I stretch enough, I'll eventually make it, Takumi thought, climbing each stake.
Kohaku's smile widened. He stood up and watched everything.
Just as he was about to reach the top, one of the stakes fell, causing him to slip. He grabbed onto the bark, which scraped his hand completely raw. But unlike before, this time he kept climbing until he reached the end, retrieved the coin, and threw it to the ground.
"That is a student of my caliber!" Kohaku shouted, full of emotion.
Hero nodded, smiling, and White caught Takumi's body as he fell from the sky from exhaustion.
"He's ready for the real training now."
"Yes, now he'll survive."