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Tetsu no Chikara: Saigo no Kibo
Chapter 76: Rem and Takemichi in the army

Chapter 76: Rem and Takemichi in the army

— What's up? — Rem exclaimed, then sixteen years old, staring at a determined young man.

— I'm Takemichi! I came in second place in the recruitment test! — Takemichi, also sixteen, replied, trying to sound confident.

— Good for you! — Rem said, already walking away.

"She ignored me?" — Takemichi thought, perplexed.

Rem walked towards a group of girls.

— Who was that? — one of Rem's friends asked, curious.

— I don't know... Oh, I remember! He said he came in second place! — Rem replied, shrugging her shoulders.

— I get it! — her friends said in unison, laughing.

— Don't even come on! — Rem said, noticing their tone and walking away.

— Don't be mean! He's actually kind of cute! — one of her friends teased.

— That's not going to happen. I already know exactly where this is going... — Rem said, with a sigh.

A few hours later.

— You again? What's up this time? — Rem exclaimed, noticing Takemichi approaching again.

— You didn't let me speak this morning! I'm Takemichi, second place among the recruits, and I declare you my rival! — he said, determined.

— I don't want to. Thanks! — Rem replied, moving away quickly.

Takemichi ran and stood in front of her.

— Let me finish talking! — he insisted.

"I knew this would happen..." — Rem thought, sighing.

— In the First Division there's a recruit who's better than me. Use that guy as a rival! — Rem suggested, trying to end the subject.

— But I want it to be you! — Takemichi declared, enthusiastically.

— Look! The recruit is already declaring himself on the first day! — joked one of the veterans, watching the scene.

— Declaring myself? — Takemichi asked, confused.

Without thinking, Rem turned and advanced towards him.

— What?! — Takemichi exclaimed, trying to dodge.

Rem hit him with a sharp kick, knocking him to the ground.

— You can't even dodge that and you still want to be my rival? You're pathetic, boy. Good night! — Rem said, irritated, as she walked away.

Takemichi fainted, leaving the veterans impressed.

— With just one kick... Impressive! — one of them muttered.

— Are you sure? — asked one of Rem's friends, laughing.

— Leave him there! — Rem replied, impassive.

A few minutes later.

— Why are you looking at me? — Takemichi asked, regaining his senses.

— Are you okay? — asked one of the veterans.

— Yes... What happened? — asked Takemichi, trying to remember.

After a moment of thought, he stood up.

— Why did she attack me? — he said, irritated.

— Because you're an idiot! — the veteran replied, laughing.

— What did you say?! — Takemichi exclaimed, offended.

— Calm down! It seems that girl is trouble. If you want to win her over, then become stronger, boy — advised the veteran, in a low tone.

— Win her over? I want to become stronger, that's a fact! And I'm going to surpass everyone here! — Takemichi declared, determined.

— But tone it down a bit. Being strong here is one thing, but what matters is how you do on the battlefield! — the veteran retorted.

— I get it! — Takemichi replied, leaving towards the training room.

In the training room, some time later.

— One hundred and five... One hundred and six... — Takemichi counted, while doing push-ups without stopping.

— He's really trying hard! — commented one of Rem's friends, watching from afar.

“Good for him!” said Rem, walking straight past him and heading to another area of the room.

Takemichi continued his training, focused.

“He's really determined!” commented another friend.

Minutes later, exhausted, Takemichi fell to the floor.

A bottle of ice water touched his face, startling him.

“Don't come like that…” he said, turning around.

“Don't you want water?” asked young Kay.

“It's you! Where have you been?” asked Takemichi, grabbing the bottle.

“In my room, resting!” replied Kay, calmly.

“Little genius, you better train. Talent doesn't overcome effort!” said Takemichi.

“You trying hard? I see. Who are you trying to beat?” asked Kay, curious.

“The girl who's ahead of us in the rankings,” admitted Takemichi.

“Give up. That girl is trouble!” — Kay warned, with a smile.

— What a great friend you are, huh? You were supposed to support me! — Takemichi complained.

— First place. Sixteen years old. Swordsman. Strength and endurance greater than yours. And her suit percentage is 60%. Do you think you can beat her? Be realistic so you don't regret it! — Kay replied, analyzing the data.

— Go back to your girlfriend before she dumps you! — Takemichi teased.

— It's impossible. We're madly in love with each other. She'll wait for me to come home! — Kay said, confidently.

— Aren't you ashamed to say something like that? Anyway, I'm going to become stronger than her and take over as captain! — Takemichi declared, determined.

Kay put her hand on Takemichi's shoulder, smiling.

— Good luck! — he said, in a light tone.

— You're making fun of me, you bastard! — Takemichi shouted.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

— What are you going to do now? — asked Kay's father, watching Takemichi.

“Squats!” — replied Takemichi, determined, as he stood up.

“Good luck!” — said Kay's father, smiling before leaving.

Takemichi continued his training with determination. The next day, there he was again, repeating the same exhausting routine.

“To be stronger. To protect everyone. To beat her... And to become a captain, I need to train!” — thought Takemichi, as he sweated to the limit of his strength.

At the door of the training room, Rem watched in silence.

“I'd better train another time...” — she decided, seeing the intensity of Takemichi's effort.

Rem discreetly walked away. A few minutes later, the base's alarm sounded, breaking the silence with its shrillness.

“What's that ringtone?!” exclaimed Takemichi, startled, interrupting the training.

He left the room and saw the courtyard in turmoil. Soldiers were running from one side to the other, quickly arming themselves.

“Are they ghouls?” Takemichi asked, his heart racing.

“Stay quiet. We’re not going with them. We don’t have suits or weapons ready yet,” Kay’s father explained calmly.

“I know that!” Takemichi replied, frustrated, clenching his fists.

Further on, a scene caught his attention: Rem was arguing with the captain at the time, visibly indignant.

“Please, let me go too!” Rem begged, her voice full of determination.

“You’re at the level of a vice-leader, but you still lack training. And, above all, you lack the necessary equipment to fight!” the captain replied firmly.

“The suits don’t need to be tailored! Give me any that belongs to a girl my size. As for the weapon, I can use that sword I used in the test!” — Rem argued, his eyes sparkling with conviction.

— Research indicates that suits that have never been used tend to be more compatible with their first user. Besides, that sword was not made for combat and is less resistant. You are not going today, and I don't want to hear any more arguments! — the captain decreed before walking away.

Rem clenched his fists, shaking with anger, but there was nothing else to do at that moment.

The army vehicles began to move. Soldiers boarded efficiently, adjusting their equipment while the captain gave the last instructions over the radio. Soon, the engines roared and the convoy left the base, raising dust in the courtyard. As soon as the vehicles disappeared into the horizon, the place went silent, leaving only the recruits.

Takemichi looked around, scratched his head and sighed:

— Since there is no way, I will go back to training!

— No! You have already trained too much! Leave room for others, selfish! — Rem complained, walking towards him with firm steps.

— Why are you cursing me? I didn't take the training room for myself! — Takemichi retorted, irritated.

— Be quiet! — Rem ordered, interrupting him as she walked straight past and entered the training room.

— Who does she think she is... — Takemichi muttered, even more irritated, but stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

It was Kay's father, who gave a slight nod, indicating for Takemichi to look away.

On the other side of the courtyard, Rem's friends were whispering among themselves.

— There's no way... — whispered one of them.

— She wants to be alone. Let's do something else! — said another, shaking her head.

Rem's friends quietly left the courtyard, making it clear that the girl needed space.

— Got it? — said Kay's father, letting go of Takemichi's shoulder. — Let the girl train. Now go take a break!

— Okay, I get it... — replied Takemichi, huffing.

Kay's father stretched out his arms, relaxed, and said:

— I'm going back to the room. I have to call my girlfriend!

— Go on, you drooling! — mocked Takemichi.

— I'm coming, my love! — sang Kay's father, walking away carefree.

Takemichi rolled his eyes and shouted:

— If you're going to cling to her, then go back to her, you idiot!

Meanwhile, he went to get a bottle of water, muttering under his breath.

A few minutes later, curiosity began to bother him. He looked around and decided to take a "peek".

"It doesn't hurt..." he thought, approaching the training room door and looking through the crack.

The scene he saw left him speechless.

Inside, Rem was furious, and her voice echoed through the room. Around her, several training robots were in pieces, pieces scattered on the floor. She held a training broadsword in her firm hands, her eyes burning with rage as she shouted to herself:

"You're not ready yet", "You need proper equipment". What kind of captain is this? Does he think I'm weak? That I can't fight? If I use this weapon, even that imbecile can kill ghouls?!" she shouted, striking another robot with force, destroying it in a single attack.

She stopped, panting, and raised her sword again. Takemichi swallowed hard.

— "She's completely insane... and incredible..." — he thought, still standing at the door, not daring to interrupt.

Rem delivered another devastating blow to a robot, reducing it to pieces.

"Idiot captain! One day, I'll surpass you and make you eat those words!" he shouted, his voice echoing like thunder through the room.

Takemichi was still shaking when he finally gathered his courage and entered the room. Rem, with her back to him, seemed not to have noticed his presence.

"I already told you I don't want to be bothered. Get out of here." Her voice was firm, almost like a blade cutting through the silence.

Takemichi hesitated, his body trembling and sweat dripping down his forehead. All his instincts screamed for him to obey and run away, but something inside him, a spark of courage mixed with stubbornness, made him speak:

"Sounds interesting. If that's what you want... then let's compete to see who can surpass the captain first!"

Rem stopped, still with her back turned. The air in the room seemed to grow heavier, suffocating.

“Did you hear me?” she asked, without turning around, her voice as cold as ice.

Takemichi swallowed hard, but did not back away.

— No need to answer. Since I said it, then you heard it. — Rem stepped forward, raising her sword.

Takemichi tried to steady his feet on the ground, but his body was paralyzed with fear. He felt every beat of his heart like a drum inside his chest.

Rem finally turned, her eyes fixed on him, shining with a cold and relentless gaze. Slowly, she pointed the sword at him, the blade stopping near his neck.

— Since you saw me... then I will have to kill you. — Her voice was low, but carried a deadly intensity.

Takemichi swallowed hard, feeling the tip of the sword so close that he could swear his breath deflected the edge of the blade.

The silence in the room was absolute, except for the sound of Takemichi's heavy breathing. He knew that one wrong word could be the end. Even so, he clenched his fists and, trembling, muttered:

"I won't run away..."

Rem kept her gaze fixed on Takemichi for a moment, assessing his every move. Then, slowly, she lowered her sword, but the intensity in her eyes remained.

"Very well, second place. Let's make one thing clear." She took a step forward, almost making him retreat. "If I manage to become captain before you, you'll have to leave the army."

"Why?!" Takemichi exclaimed indignantly.

"Because I don't like you." Rem crossed her arms and glared at him with disdain. "Your presence disgusts me."

Her words were like a knife to Takemichi, but he clenched his fists and controlled his anger. Instead of exploding, he smiled mockingly.

"If that's the case... then, if I become captain before you, you'll do whatever I want!" — he challenged, his tone firm but full of determination.

Rem raised an eyebrow and, unexpectedly, crossed her arms near her breasts with a look of disdain.

—Pervert.

Takemichi's eyes widened and he took a step back, red with embarrassment.

—I-I-I didn't mean it like that! That's not what I meant! — he stuttered, trying to explain himself.

Rem let out a short laugh and returned to her serious tone.

—Okay. That's never going to happen anyway. — She extended her hand towards him. —Then it's a bet. But if you tell anyone what you saw or heard here, I'll kill you.

Takemichi hesitated for a moment before shaking her hand, looking at her seriously.

—Now you're officially my rival.

Rem closed her eyes for a moment and smiled, but then opened her eyes with a defiant gleam. Without warning, she punched Takemichi in the face, throwing him away. He hit the wall hard and slid to the floor.

“Your rival? Don’t get all cocky, idiot.” Rem adjusted the sword on her shoulder and turned to leave the room. “I’m just making a bet with you.”

As she left, Takemichi groaned in pain on the floor, but a new determination shone in his eyes.

“I’ll beat you, Rem. You can bet on that.”

Rem didn’t answer, but a slight change in her expression indicated that she had heard.

The days of training continued intensely for Takemichi and Rem, each keeping their distance from the other, as if a tacit agreement had been made not to share the same space. Finally, the suits and weapons were ready, and it was time to test them in action.

Takemichi was wearing the newly delivered suit.

“It’s a little tight!” he complained, trying to get comfortable.

“Training like crazy, of course there would be changes in the body!” — replied Kay's father, also wearing his suit, adjusting the sniper in his hands with excitement.

Takemichi took the two axes he had received and assessed them with an admiring look.

—But the captain was right. These axes are much more resistant than the ones used in training. And the grip... much more comfortable too!

—That's right! — said Kay's father, raising the sniper. — I also liked the design of this beauty. You can feel that it's going to be lethal!

On the other side, Rem adjusted the broadsword she had on her back while analyzing the suit.

—This suit is a little tight — she said in a neutral tone, pulling on her gloves to adjust them.

—It really is tight — agreed one of her friends, trying to adjust the suit.

—What's the point of giving us our measurements if it was supposed to be this tight?! — grumbled another of Rem's friends.

Takmichi was watching the complaints, and at that moment, Rem looked to the side, caught sight of Takemichi, and narrowed her eyes in disdain.

"Pervert."

Her friends followed her gaze and immediately shot the same accusing looks at Takemichi.

Takemichi turned red with anger and frustration, but he just turned his face away, huffing.

"I didn't even do anything!" he muttered irritably, as he focused on the weapons in his hands.

Before the situation could escalate, the captain arrived at the courtyard with firm steps and an imposing presence that made all the recruits instantly shut up.

"Enough!" the captain shouted. "A few days ago, you said you wanted to fight. So show us what you're capable of today. Ghouls have been spotted outside the wall. Let's eliminate them!"

The recruits and veteran soldiers looked at each other, adrenaline pumping through the air.

"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison, saluting.

Soon, the sound of the alarm echoed through the base, a sign that the battle was about to begin. The soldiers began to mobilize, preparing their weapons and forming attack groups.

Takemichi, still clutching the axes in his hands, took a deep breath.

"This is it."

Rem, in turn, tightened her grip on the sword hilt on her back, her gaze determined.

"I won't lose to anyone."

The two, without exchanging a word, knew that this would be the first opportunity to prove who was the strongest.