The trucks returned with the soldiers. In the courtyard, the recruits and veterans waited anxiously and in silence.

“Don’t say a word, leave it to the leader!” muttered one of the veterans.

“Leader? Is this person a squad leader?” thought the recruits, surprised to see one of the trucks empty. They wondered internally about the reason.

The vehicles finally stopped near them, and Takemichi got out with the other soldiers. Some had minor injuries, while others seemed unharmed, but all showed signs of fatigue.

“What’s the situation?” asked Takemichi, analyzing them.

“Sir, of all the injured, unfortunately one ended up dying,” reported the squad leader, saluting.

“I understand. Follow standard procedure and inform the families of those who died,” replied Takemichi, with a firm posture.

“Yes, sir! But I have some information to pass on in private,” added the leader, keeping his tone respectful.

— Those who need treatment, go to the infirmary. The rest are dismissed. Go rest! — Takemichi ordered.

— Yes, sir! — the soldiers responded in unison, before dispersing.

— Come to my office — Takemichi said, addressing the squad leader and calling Kay and Mira.

Kay was lying on his bed when Takemichi entered, pulling him by the shirt with an expression of urgency.

— How did you know he was going to die? — Takemichi exclaimed, his voice full of intensity.

— Wait, Dad! It's not his fault! — Mira said, trying to intervene.

— "Dad?" — the soldiers around thought, surprised.

— How did you know? — Takemichi insisted, his gaze fixed and suspicious.

Kay stared at him with a challenging look, without hesitation.

— Because he... smelled — Kay answered bluntly.

— Have you seen this before? — Takemichi asked, increasingly serious.

— Now! — Kay replied.

— Where? — Takemichi pressed.

— That's none of your business! — Kay said, refusing to give any more details.

Takemichi's gaze hardened, but he didn't let go of the young man.

— Kay, my father just wants to understand. He doesn't mean any harm — Mira intervened, trying to calm them down.

— About my parents — Kay said, her voice firm, but with a hint of pain.

Takemichi finally let go of him, seeming shaken by the answer.

— Check the other soldiers. Yan said there was no visible wound on the soldier's leg. The others might be poisoned too! — Takemichi ordered.

— They're injured, but none are life-threatening. I was here when the others arrived — Kay replied, lying down again.

— I hope you're telling the truth — Takemichi said before leaving.

— Kay... — Mira murmured, worried.

Kay remained calm, just irritated with Takemichi, as always.

Outside, Takemichi spoke to Yan, the squad leader.

“Yan, they are under your command. As soon as the suits arrive, begin training.”

“Yes, sir!” Yan replied, saluting.

Takemichi was preparing to leave when Kay interrupted him.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“I don’t like you and I don’t intend to follow your orders, but since you are Mira’s father, I’ll give you a warning: if you’re going to make cuts on that soldier’s body, you’d better wear a mask and take a shower afterwards. Otherwise, you’ll die in a few hours,” Kay said in an indifferent tone.

Takemichi gave a slight nod.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Yan is the one in charge of you. You’ll only receive orders from me in extreme situations, like in a war,” Takemichi stated before leaving.

The animosity between the two was evident to everyone there. Yan took a deep breath and turned to the recruits.

— It seems I will be your leader. We will get along well. You are dismissed, go back to your activities — Yan said, in a professional tone.

Kay muttered stubbornly:

— I will not follow your orders either...

Yan heard, but decided to ignore it, controlling his irritation.

— I will talk to him later — Mira whispered to Yan.

— Do it. I don't want to dismiss a soldier right at the beginning — Yan said, turning to leave. — Oh, and one rule: girls are forbidden in the men's area, and vice versa. Go back to the courtyard.

— Alright! — Mira said, blushing slightly as she left.

When she left, Kratos and Slayer approached Kay, looking around.

— I knew he was problematic, but I didn't imagine he would be this much — Kratos thought, observing Kay.

— By the way, there was a "weird ninja" here in the room — Kay commented, remembering.

— Who is weird? That was my training clothes! — Slayer replied, irritated.

“So it was you?” — Kay glared at him with disdain.

“That’s the look I should give you!” — Slayer said, throwing himself into a chair.

Kratos sat on his bed, analyzing the space.

“I see... That’s why there are two bunks. Who’s the last one?” — Kay asked.

“It’s me!” — a recruit answered next to him.

“Since when have you been there?” — Kay looked at him, surprised.

“You’re good at hiding your presence. Did you have hard training for that?” — Slayer asked, respectfully.

“I admire people who take things seriously,” Kratos added.

“No... Actually, I’ve always had a weak presence. It takes days for people to get used to me, it’s a nuisance, actually,” the recruit said, a little embarrassed.

“And what’s your name?” — Kratos asked.

“Sky,” he replied, with a slight nod.

— I don't know if I would call it a skill or a condition, but you have a talent — Kay said, observing Sky. — You managed to pass for someone with the ability to easily find enemies and for someone with a keen sense of smell. Use this to your advantage, and I guarantee it will also work against the ghouls!

“Were you evaluating me?” Slayer exclaimed, surprised.

“I'm not a fool to blindly trust someone,” Kay replied, with a sharp look.

“Talent? This is the first time someone has said that to me!” Sky said, not hiding his surprise.

“Fool... If you're here, it means someone else has already recognized you,” Kay retorted.

“The captain?” Sky was even more surprised, reflecting on the statement.

“Whether it's a weakness or a strength, whether it's useful or not, it's up to you to decide!” Kay said firmly. “That's what my master always said. And, by the way, now that I've smelled you, you won't go unnoticed anymore. Keep that in mind.

Kay's words touched Sky deeply, and she began to cry with emotion.

— Thank you... thank you very much! — Sky said, with a happy smile and teary eyes.

— You had a good teacher! — Kratos observed, admiring.

— She was terrible! — Kay replied, with a bitter look.

The rest of the day went by peacefully, and the soldiers returned to their normal activities. Kay, in turn, remained in the room, immersed in her thoughts.

Second day in the army.

— He doesn't wake up for anything! — Kratos said, giving up on waking Kay.

— He didn't do anything yesterday and how did he get so tired? — Slayer exclaimed.

— After he wakes up, he'll have breakfast! Let's go ahead! — Sky suggested.

— There's no other way... — Kratos agreed, laying Kay back on the bed.

They went to the dining hall.

— Please, it'll be quick, I promise! — Mira begged the cook.

— It's the same meal for everyone, I can't let you make coffee here! — the cook replied firmly.

Mira left, sad.

“What happened?” Slayer asked, approaching with the others.

“Mira wanted to make coffee to wake Kay up, but they wouldn’t let her use the kitchen!” Thais explained.

“Is that how they tried to wake him up? Now I understand why I tried and he didn’t wake up!” Kratos said, sighing.

“I almost sliced him up with so much irritation, I thought he was faking it!” Slayer commented impatiently.

“Did they hurt him?” Mira exclaimed, worried.

“I can’t deny that I felt like it…” Kratos admitted.

“He only wakes up on his own if he feels danger or smells coffee. Other than that, he sleeps all day!” Mira explained.

Yan approached, listening to the conversation:

“This isn’t a vacation. Find a way to wake your colleague up, or I’ll have to let him go!”

“That’s what I tried to explain to the cooks, but they wouldn’t let me make coffee,” Mira lamented.

— What’s the difference between the coffee you make and the one they make? — Yan asked, intrigued.

— He only drinks it if I make it. Somehow, he always knows when I made it. I don’t understand it either, but that’s how he wakes up! — Mira said, trying to justify herself.

— We won’t give special permissions, especially to that boy. Find another way to wake him up! — Yan replied, walking away.

— Okay... — Mira replied, disappointed.

She got in line to get the coffee, worried.

— Aren’t you going to try to wake him up? — Sarah asked.

— It's impossible... I hope he can wake up on his own before training — said Mira, sitting with the others. Her concern was visible.

After breakfast, the soldiers went to training.

— He really didn't show up... — said Thais, worried.

— Follow me to his room! — ordered Yan.

Kratos, Sky and Slayer followed Yan to the room. Kay was still fast asleep. Yan poured a cup of coffee and brought it to Kay's nose, but he didn't react. Yan sighed and drank the coffee.

— Carry him! — ordered Yan.

Kratos picked Kay up on his shoulders and followed Yan.

In the courtyard, Kay was handcuffed to the wall, still asleep.