The soft chime of his alarm stirred him from slumber.
He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
The events of the previous day played back in his mind: the rigorous training, the intense sparring sessions, and the knowledge of various poisons and assassination techniques. You'd think they were preparing for war. In a way, they were doing just that.
Determined to solidify his newfound skills, Shin quickly prepared for the day. After a refreshing shower and a light breakfast with everybody, he donned his training attire and made his way to the designated training areas.
The gun range was already abuzz with activity. Riku stood at a station, meticulously cleaning his handgun, while Director Sayuri observed from a distance, her arms crossed and eyes sharp. Other Japanese UW agents were practicing their skills as well.
"Morning, Shin," Riku greeted, glancing up. "Ready to put yesterday's lessons into practice?"
Shin nodded, taking his place at the adjacent station. He selected a standard-issue pistol, its weight familiar in his hands. As he loaded the magazine and chambered a round, he recalled Sayuri's emphasis on grip and stance.
Taking a deep breath, he raised the weapon, aligning the sights with the target downrange. The first shot rang out, followed by a series of precise shots, each bullet striking closer to the bullseye. The final bullet hit the bullseye right in the middle.
"Impressive," Sayuri commented, approaching. "Your control has improved significantly."
Riku, not to be outdone, began his own series of shots. While his aim was slightly off-center, his consistency showed marked improvement from the previous day. After an hour of drills, including rapid-fire exercises and simulated scenarios, the duo moved on to rifles and shotguns. The recoil from the shotgun didn't throw Riku off guard this time.
"You're getting better," Shin remarked, patting Riku on the back.
"Thanks, man," Riku said as he sighed and placed the gun carefully back on the table.
Post-firearms training, the pair transitioned to the martial arts room from yesterday. The spacious room, lined with mats and training equipment, was occupied by the same elite UW guards from the previous day. This made Shin pretty happy. Riku wasn't too happy about it, though.
The female guard, whose prowess had left an impression on Shin, stepped forward.
She spoke with seriousness but with an encouraging smile.
"Today, we'll focus on counter-techniques and situational awareness."
Shin and Riku engaged in various drills, practicing holds, escapes, and counters. The intensity escalated as they sparred with the elite guards. Riku this time kept up the pressure against his elite guard. He won pretty fast. Shin and Riku went up against each other. The fight, this time, went on for much longer. Shin was impressed with how fast Riku improved.
If Riku had trained more heavily before the virus, he may have won.
Riku over-threw his punch and got caught off balance. Shin took this opportunity to judo-throw him to the ground. Shin was declared the winner, but he was breathing fairly hard. Riku grinned at his improvement. Even if he lost, he was still better than yesterday. They took a break as they got some water.
Then it was time for Shin against the female UW elite guard.
Their movements were swift and calculated, each anticipating the other's next move. Shin took his time fighting her as he enjoyed the fight. This girl has spirit, he thought to himself as he ducked to dodge a punch. Shin then feinted his own punch back while following up with a surprise attack with his other hand, which grabbed her throat in surprise.
He then threw her to the ground, but gently.
"Well played," she acknowledged as she tapped herself out.
They finished their sparring session. Just as Shin was about to leave, the girl told Shin to come back sometime, but under different circumstances. It was certainly suggestive. Shin smirked and replied with something mysterious. He wouldn't mind choking her in private, but he wasn't about to let her know that.
The final training session of the day was held in a lecture hall, where the same seasoned UW operative awaited them. The topic: advanced poisons and assassination methods. The operative detailed various toxins, their symptoms, and antidotes. Visual aids and real-life case studies enhanced the session's impact.
"Understanding these substances isn't just about defense," the operative explained. "It's about recognizing threats before they manifest."
Shin and Riku took many notes, their earlier fatigue overshadowed by the gravity of the information. As dusk settled, the group joined together in the dining area for a well-deserved meal. The atmosphere was lighter; conversations flowed more freely as it was their last day at the hospital.
Shin, Riku, and the rest of the group then went to their bedrooms for the night happily.
It was their last day at the hospital. They might as well enjoy it.
That is exactly what Doctor Yuna, Rei, and Misaki thought to each other as they slowly opened Shin's door. Shin sat up in his bed, surprised. Doctor Yuna was wearing the same transparent gown from their night together recently. Rei was wearing a pink T-shirt with nothing underneath. Misaki was wearing skimpy lingerie.
"What are you all doing here?" Shin asked carefully with a slight smirk.
"We got nostalgic, is all," Doctor Yuna replied for the group. "Being in the hospital reminded us of how we all first met you. We want to remind you who you really should care about most."
They closed the door behind them as they approached Shin's bed.
They were hungry for him.