Shizuku was hospitalized for a full week.
Though her physical wounds healed steadily, the mental scars lingered.
Her teammates, her parents, and Shinji stayed by her side, helping her recover—slowly pulling her back from the fear that still haunted her.
Because of her condition—and the successful completion of the mission—Shinji granted the entire team a one-week break.
During that time, Shinji brought an ancient-looking rock into his backyard.
Its surface was cracked and unfamiliar, as if it didn't belong to this era.
He poured the dark purple liquid onto it.
Nothing seemed to happen.
After a week, Shizuku recovered enough to resume training.
For the first time since the mission, the entire team gathered again.
Shino explained everything that had happened during the mission, from the forbidden zone to the battle against the reberu 7 merus monster.
Shinji listened silently.
Shinji:
"I'm proud of all of you… but you took an enormous risk.
That decision could have cost your lives. You shouldn't have done that."
Akaimo stepped forward.
Akaimo:
"Professor… I want to say something strange."
Shinji:
"What is it, Akaimo?"
Akaimo hesitated.
Akaimo:
"A venomous snake was about to bite me… and then—once again—time froze.
Just like when the cannon fired toward my face back then.
Why does this keep happening? And why only to me?"
Shinji didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he smiled.
Shinji:
"Perhaps… there is something about you that we don't know yet."
Akaimo frowned.
Akaimo:
"I still don't understand what you mean… but I'll let it slide for now."
Shino stepped forward, his expression serious.
Shino:
"Sensei Shinji, the POX exam is only three months away.
And we haven't even activated our eye powers—forget mastering them.
Please… train us harder. We aren't children anymore.
We want pressure. This is the only path left."
Shinji looked at them carefully—one by one.
Shinji:
"By sending you on that mission, I was testing something.
I needed to confirm whether you were ready for the next stage."
The group fell silent.
Shinji:
"Tomorrow, your training will focus entirely on concentration and focus.
I'll explain everything then.
For now… you're dismissed."
One by one, they left and returned to their homes.
Unaware that tomorrow would mark the beginning of something far more brutal.