HA2 18.3 – State of the Mind
Unlike paintball or bb bullet, simmunition was specifically being designed to work in real firearms with certain modification. The projectile was made of plastic cup that contained compressed chalk powder or paint. It was relativity light so the velocity and energy low enough to enable the shooter to shot other people with minimum protection gear without killing them.
In summary, simmunition could give a shooter a highly realistic CQB drill, such as the experience of getting shot back at, clearing jammed weapon in middle of fight, or unintentional friendly fire due to combat stress and pressure.
And so, in the simulation to raid Kamui’s office, Hide and Shizuka could have their fun to the fullest. Hide also didn’t flood Shizuka with theory or knowledge about CQB. He only gave her advice when she made basic mistake that got her ‘killed’ by Takeo. This training method was called ‘Practice first, theory later’.
The method would cost Shizuka a lot of pain, but it was the fastest way to ensure she understood and remembered the reasoning behind every action she had to take, in order to survive and win a close quarter fight.
Unfortunately, Shizuka took too many ‘killing’ from Takeo. Therefore, Hide decided to stop the simulation thirty minutes earlier than the schedule, and used the remaining time to teach Takeo and Shizuka how to disassemble, clean, and reassemble Haka VP9.
“Have you watched the video I gave you?” Hide asked as he pulled out his Haka VP9 from holster.
“I have watched it dozens times,” Takeo replied.
“Me too,” Shizuka added.
“Good. Now, watch how I do it.” Wasting no time Hide started the disassembly procedure. “Take out the mag, double check the firing chamber, make sure the gun is unloaded. Pull the slide into rear position and hold it with slide-stop lever.
Put the take down lever into six o’clock position, and then release the slide back into front position. Pull the trigger once, and you can separate the slide from the gun.”
“Wait a second.” Takeo raised his hand as question mark appeared in his forehead. “In the video you gave me, the shooter can directly separate the slide release after putting the take down lever into six o’clock position. He doesn’t need to pull the trigger first.”
“Yeah, I have checked the manual from Haka website too, and it’s as you said,” Hide casually replied. “But it doesn’t work that way on our VP9. That’s why I can only teach you the disassembly procedure right now.
Because only yesterday, I figured out that after putting the take down lever into six o’clock position, I still have to pull the trigger once before I can separate the slide.”
“Do you mean the construction of our VP9 and the real Haka VP9 is not exactly the same?” Takeo curiously asked.
“Yep, but it’s not rare occurrence for untraceable gun.” Hide paused for a second before added, “It’s open secret that small arms manufacture or its subsidiary participate in the production of untraceable gun to some extent. It’s a good source of profit after all.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
Other than make sure the components have no mark that can be linked back to them, they usually will also modify the construction or the material of the gun. And even if it’s only minor difference, it will still help them a lot in case they have to say ‘It’s not our product’ in the court.”
Takeo nodded and said, “I see.”
Shizuka who so far was only listening decided to ask, “How about the quality of our VP9?”
“It’s pretty decent,” Hide firmly replied. “Full size Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 rail, perfectly molded into solid polymer frame. Cold hammered forged and canon grade steel barrel with modified browning-style cam-locked action.
These two components alone are already a testimony of how high the quality of our VP9.”
“I see,” Shizuka said and slightly nodded two times.
“Now,” Hide said as he continued the disassembly procedure, “Take out the spring recoil and the barrel from the slide. Then, clean everything through fully, and applying proper amount of oil, not too much, not too little.
Got it?”
““Got it,”” Takeo and Shizuka replied at the same time.
After a smile Hide said, “Try it then.”
Wasting no time Takeo and Shizuka disassembled their VP9. After they cleaned every component and properly applied the oil, Hide then showed them how to reassemble everything.
Takeo and Shizuka didn’t satisfy to disassemble and reassemble only one gun, so they repeated the procedure using other Haka VP9 in the armory. After that the three went to the martial gym for martial art training.
---
Even if Coach Kotaro didn’t supervise him, Hide carried the training regime he received from him through fully and diligently. He didn’t slack off, but also didn’t overdo it. He was fully aware he couldn’t rush his progress. And so, after he completed the warm up and basic exercise, he continued his martial art exercise with his regular water bag.
Meanwhile, in other corner Shizuka supervised and trained Takeo. She fully understood that she didn’t have enough time to make Takeo mastered fancy technique. Therefore, she focused her training to ensure Takeo had flexibility, agility, and endurance, along with the basic method to defend himself.
In short, other than full body stretching, push up, sit up, pull up, jumping rope, and other basic exercise, she asked Takeo to have shadow kick boxing or mitt hitting with her. Usually, Shizuka would focus her attention solely on Takeo, but today something distracted her mind.
The sound when Hide palm, fist, elbow, knee, or feet made a contact with water bag was louder than usual. She knew that Hide was on a correct track and his explosive power would take a shape sooner or later. However, never did she imagined it would start to appear far sooner than her estimation.
‘He is like an experienced fighter with solid skill and technique,’ Shizuka took a deep breath before continuing her mutter, ‘Right now he is not there yet, but in a year or two he will definitely break even with me in speed and power.’
After taking another deep breath Shizuka said to Takeo, “Let’s propose to Hide to add sparring to our morning routine.”
“Okay.”
Takeo immediately canceled his preparation to kick the mitt. He didn’t fully grasp the reason why Shizuka suddenly wanted to add sparring session to their routine, but he decided it would be the best to just trust her. He then followed Shizuka walked over to a corner where Hide had his water bag.
“Hide,” Shizuka said as she arrived next to Hide. “Can we have sparring in our morning routine, twice a week at least?”
Hide didn’t immediately reply even though he stopped his water bag training. He took two big gulps of mineral water before turning his gaze to Shizuka.
“How is Takeo progress?”
“It’s time for him to learn how to take a beating and hit back with everything he has?” Shizuka blatantly said.
Hide nodded and then turned his gaze to Takeo, “Are you ready to take some beating with your current condition?”
Takeo looked at Shizuka as he said, “I trust her judgment.”
“Let’s have morning sparring then, twice a week, starting tomorrow.” After taking a glance at the fighting cage in one corner of the gym, Hide looked back at Shizuka. “What style do you want to use?”
“MMA,” Shizuka replied.
“Are you sure you want us to spar under MMA rules?”
“Yeah,” Shizuka firmly replied. “When we have sparring against non-karate user, member of Ryusen Dojo will use MMA rules, so I’m familiar with it.”
“In that case, let’s use Pacific Rim’s rule for entry level fighter, three rounds of two minutes each.”
“Okay,” Shizuka happily replied, and then she turned her gaze to the dark bluish mark in Hide’s left arm. “Hide, may I know how you can have an insane level of pain tolerance, you didn’t even flinch when simmunition hit your arm from point blank?
“It’s a state of the mind,” Hide casually replied.
“A state of the mind?” Shizuka asked as big question mark filled her face to the brim.
“Yeah, it’s your greatest weapon. It can overcome hunger. It can beat heat. It can eradicate pain. It can control anger. It can help you find your brothers and sisters. You learn how to use it. It’s a state of the mind.”
“The fuck,” Shizuka said as she gave Hide a palmed face. “Did you get those lines from Ninja Assassin?”
“No, those lines are from Britiss Royal Marines Commando recruitment ad. Maybe it sound ridiculous, but believe me, your mind is far more powerful than you can imagine.”
“I’ll remember it,” Shizuka seriously said as she got an impression that Hide didn’t joke around.
“Yeah, you should.”
Hide, Takeo, and Shizuka then ended their morning exercise. After taking morning bath and ate their breakfast, they went to school as usual.
*****