30th May 2007
The vast training grounds of the MIB Academy were alive with activity. Across the sprawling complex, rank 3 investigators, each from different squads, were put through their paces. The air hummed with a sense of determination, the kind of tension only found in the rare moments before a true challenge.
Takeru stood among the crowd, his heart syncing with the rhythmic clatter of weapons, the staccato of combat drills, and the rustling of vanguard coats. The academy had set up multiple training zones, each tailored to different disciplines: physical endurance, tactical maneuvers, monster combat simulations, and mental conditioning.
Takeru had just finished his first round of endurance drills, the sharp ache in his muscles a welcome reminder of his progress. He wiped the sweat from his brow, observing the others as they continued their respective training. Some were sparring in pairs, the sound of blades clashing echoing across the yard, while others faced combat dummies, practicing their form and precision.
Kaneki, as always, was near the front of the pack, a blur of speed as he sliced through a set of moving targets. His style was quick, calculated, and flashy, a testament to his skill with his twin blades. Meanwhile, Aiko was focused on refining her strikes with a heavy halberd, each swing leaving a small crater in the ground as she tested her limits.
Shun and Haruto had taken to hand to hand combat, their movements fluid, locked in a rhythm that spoke of countless hours spent refining their techniques. Ema, always calm, worked through a series of quick, precise strikes with her daggers, her posture unshakable.
Takeru took a deep breath and stepped forward to the training area. As a rank 3 investigator, he was expected to be proficient in many areas. Combat, strategy, endurance, and even leadership. His training wasn't about mastering a single style or weapon, but about becoming a versatile force capable of adapting to any situation.
He began with a series of footwork drills, moving with precision, imagining a series of foes closing in on him. His blade swirled in the air, cutting through the imaginary enemies with sharp, calculated movements. The sweat on his brow wasn't from the heat, it was the pressure of the stakes rising with every passing moment.
"Focus, Hoshino." a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Instructor Mibu, who had been observing the trainees from a distance. She had always kept a watchful eye on him, assessing his strengths and weaknesses with an intensity that both challenged and unnerved him.
Takeru nodded, adjusting his stance and tightening his grip on the hilt. There was no room for hesitation, not here, not now.
As he continued his training, he couldn't help but notice the subtle shifts in the atmosphere. Every rank 3 investigator was pushing themselves harder, driven by the same goal, to be ready for the final mission that awaited them.
Some of them were fueled by a desire to prove themselves, others by the fear of what the mission might entail. But all of them knew that their next step would determine the path they walked from this point on.
29th July 2007
Two months had passed since the grueling formal training phase began. The campus, once vibrant with the sounds of drills and instructors' commands, now stood quieter, more tense than calm. The final mission loomed over everyone like a thundercloud.
Rank 3 investigators had each received their mission brief. No group work. No backup. Each of them would be sent alone, assigned to different areas, sectors with fluctuating monster activity or unexplained phenomena. It was a true test, not only of skill but survival.
Takeru sat alone in the empty mess hall, the early morning light bleeding in through the high windows. A cup of untouched tea rested in his hands, gone cold long ago. He stared ahead, silent, not truly seeing anything.
Elsewhere, in a separate dorm wing, Kaneki stood before a mirror, adjusting the leather strap on his arm guard. His reflection looked older somehow, his once cocky grin replaced by a grim line of focus.
All over the academy, farewells were quietly exchanged. Some investigators scribbled last minute letters to family. Others trained until their legs gave out. No one knew exactly what their final test would look like, only that it would be unlike anything they had faced so far.
Back in the instructors briefing room, Commander Arima stood with arms folded as holographic maps displayed deployment zones. Each trainee's photo floated beside their assignment.
"Are we really letting them go alone?" Instructor Mibu asked flatly.
"They've had months of training." Shizune replied. "We trained them to survive. Now they must prove it."
Mibu narrowed her eyes. "They're still rookies."
"No..." Shizune said. "Not after this."
The academy dorms were quieter than they had ever been.
No drills echoed. No shouting instructors. Just the soft hum of lights and the occasional footstep down the corridor. Rank 3 investigators, once rookies unsure of their footing, now sat in various states of stillness, each one aware that tomorrow could define everything.
In the lounge, a few trainees gathered for one last warm meal. The air carried the scent of miso soup and grilled fish, but no one commented on the food. Conversations were sparse, voices low.
"Think they'll send us to remote zone?" one muttered, not looking up.
"Wouldn't be the first time," another replied. "Final mission's meant to crush or crown us."
Takeru sat beside Kaneki, the two of them eating in quiet rhythm. Kaneki occasionally glanced around the room, eyes flicking between familiar faces.
"You nervous?" he asked.
Takeru paused. "Yeah… but it's not fear. More like... pressure. Like the world's about to tip."
Kaneki gave a faint nod. "It's the kind of night that feels like it should last longer."
Neither said more, but they didn't leave.
Instructors passed through the halls, not to bark orders but to observe. Mibu lingered at the lounge entrance, arms crossed. Her usual sharp tongue was absent. Shizune stood by the windows, watching the moonlit training fields.
"They're finally ready, I can tell." Mibu finally said.
"They have to be." Shizune replied.
Later that night, many couldn't sleep. Rooms glowed dimly with personal lights. Some stared at photos from home. Others sat with their squadmates, saying nothing but refusing to part just yet.
Takeru lay in his bunk, staring at the ceiling. The whispers were faint again, so distant they barely scratched the edge of thought. Yet they were there, and somehow… calmer.
"We've come this far," he whispered. "There's no turning back this time."
The sun rose earlier than usual on the day of the final mission.
Morning broke with a quiet urgency, its light spilling over the academy's high walls, casting long shadows on the training grounds below. Rank 3 investigators stood in rows, their gear secured, faces set with quiet resolve.
None of them spoke, yet the air thrummed with the energy of a shared understanding. This wasn't just another test, it was the final proving ground.
Takeru stood near the middle, his fingers instinctively running over the edge of his weapon. The weight felt heavier today, the grip firmer. Every sensation was heightened, every sound sharper.
He turned to Kaneki, standing beside him. The usually composed young man had a strange tension in his shoulders, his jaw clenched. Takeru could see his partner's gaze locked forward, his expression unreadable.
"You good?" Takeru asked, breaking the silence.
Kaneki barely nodded, but the faint crease in his brow spoke volumes.
"It's different this time," Takeru murmured. "Feels like something's off."
Kaneki didn't answer, but his eyes shifted to the distance where the rest of the world awaited. The mission would lead them into unknown territory. There would be no instructors, no backup. Only their own skill and instinct.
Shizune stepped forward, her voice cutting through the stillness.
"Listen up!" Her tone was sharp and commanding, a quiet storm waiting to break. "Today marks the end of your training. What happens next? That's up to you. Do not fail. Survive no matter what."
Her gaze swept over them, lingering for a moment on each individual before turning away. Behind her, a set of armored trucks waited, engines rumbling with anticipation.
"This is it then," Takeru thought to himself. "This is the moment."
There were no more words. No pep talks. Just a solid, single directive: survive and complete the mission.
The trainees began to move, and the collective shuffle of boots was the only sound that filled the air. Some tried to speak, to offer light words to one another, but no one could escape the weight of the moment. They were all rookies once, but now they were rank 3 investigators, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Takeru felt a slight tremor in his chest as he walked toward the waiting truck. The final mission was here. It was time.
As the engine started, Takeru caught one last glimpse of the academy. It seemed far away now, just a building lost in the haze. He wondered if anyone ever truly returned from their first solo mission as the same person.
The truck's door slammed shut, and the engine roared to life.
After a few hours, the truck stops with a jolt, the engine's growl echoing across the otherwise silent landscape. Takeru steps out, taking a deep breath as the cold air fills his lungs. The zone before him stretches into the distance, an eerie, desolate area, its nature far different from the controlled academy grounds.
The terrain is rugged, a mix of dense forest and crumbling infrastructure from what used to be a small town. Shattered windows, abandoned vehicles, and overgrown streets tell of a place once lived in, now overtaken by monstrous creatures.
Takeru checks his map and the device on his wrist, his mission is simple: eliminate every monster in the zone. Over 100 C-rated monsters and 24 B-rated monsters are scattered across this vast area. No backup. No support. He's alone.
"Focus," he mutters to himself. He tightens his vanguard coat around his shoulders, the weight of his equipment a constant reminder of the responsibility he carries.
He can hear nothing except the distant rustle of wind through the trees and the soft clicking of his boots on the dirt. The quiet is unnatural, and his senses are on high alert. The task: find and eliminate all monsters that have been sighted.
The air feels thick, heavy with the scent of decay.
Takeru moves carefully, scanning every corner of the area with practiced eyes. The trees provide cover, but also conceal danger. A low growl breaks the silence, the sound of something heavy moving in the underbrush. He freezes.
A hulking, insectoid creature, its legs clicking against the ground like a giant's footsteps. Its segmented body, covered in rough, brownish armor, moves toward him with terrifying speed. Low B-rated monster, but still dangerous in its own right.
Takeru's hand moves to his blade, and he falls into a fighting stance, body tense, every muscle ready. The creature senses him and charges, its pincers snapping like jaws.
Takeru rolls to the side, narrowly avoiding its first strike, and counters with a quick slash at its exposed flank. The blade connects, but it barely leaves a scratch.
"I gotta aim for the weak spots." he thinks, remembering his training.
The battle is swift but intense. He strikes again, more focused this time, aiming for the creature's joints. It roars in pain, staggering back. Takeru takes advantage of the opening, leaping forward to pierce its head with a precise strike.
The monster collapses, twitching in its death throes.
Takeru watches for a moment, his breath coming in sharp bursts. The first kill. It's a victory, but the silence around him feels oppressive. There are more to come.
"I must keep moving." he mutters under his breath.
As Takeru continues deeper into the zone, the quiet becomes almost unbearable. He keeps his senses sharp, but there's a growing unease in the back of his mind. Something feels off.
Suddenly, the silence is shattered. The sound of rapid, skittering footsteps fills the air. He turns just in time to see a wave of smaller, faster creatures charging toward him, their jaws dripping with saliva. They're not particularly strong, but their numbers are overwhelming.
Takeru's eyes scan for a plan. The creatures move in from all directions, forcing him into a tight corner. He leaps back into a nearby alley between two crumbling buildings. It's a narrow space, but it'll give him an advantage if he can manage it.
The creatures swarm toward him, their sharp claws clicking against the broken pavement. He swings his blade, cutting down two with swift, clean strikes, but there are too many. Another rushes in, and this time, he's forced to use his agility, ducking under its swipe and slashing upward to take out another.
The alley is filled with chaos, but he's starting to feel the exhaustion. Every movement is a battle, and there's no room for mistakes. Takeru stumbles, barely keeping his footing, and it's then that he notices something, two of the creatures seem to be coordinating, moving in sync with each other.
"I see... they're not just any mindless monsters…" Takeru thinks, his heart racing. There's something more at play here.
He dispatches the last of the creatures, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The zone is still. But now, more than ever, he feels the weight of the mission pressing on him.
Takeru leans against a broken pillar, taking a moment to catch his breath. Sweat stings his eyes, but he wipes it away and checks his gear. His blade is still sharp, but his muscles ache from the constant combat. He's been moving for hours now, with little more than brief pauses in between.
He pulls out his wrist device again. The map shows the remaining monsters scattered across the zone, but there's a larger concentration in the eastern sector.
"That's where I need to go."
He checks his surroundings one more time before setting off, pushing through the pain.
The air feels heavier each step. Something's waiting for him out there, he can feel it.