underground fights.

-Come on, kid! It's just another ten kilometers, not much for you. Kovac said you were lazy, but he was too lenient. You're as fragile as a daisy, I've seen elderly folks with more energy than you, boy. If you want to run, you better run, or don't waste my damn time. - shouted Yuza, a 62-year-old retired military man who, for the past two years, has followed Master Takemoto's guidance in his old age to train with Kei, passing the time and clearing his mind of bigger issues like post-traumatic stress.

-Soldier, keep running! Our last objective is just a few steps away, keep running, kid. - Yuza yelled, following Kei from behind. With his roaring voice, Kei, it was the first time he completed the 50-kilometer running exercise in six months, something he found complicated no matter how hard he tried. Initially, he thought pushing beyond the limit was possible, but that notion only applies to a few. Surpassing it is painfully impossible, and collapsing unconscious is the most likely outcome. After a few months, he came to understand this.

-Huff. - He couldn't articulate more than a grunt. His dry throat caused immense and considerable pain, exacerbated by the mosquitoes annoyingly adding to Kei's evident discomfort.

They kept running purely out of inertia from the activity, their rubber boots making wet sounds as they splashed through puddles. Kei tried to manage his breathing, but it turned into a sharper pain, an acute pain that hindered his ability to breathe, known as "the vase" on some occasions. It's when you stop propelling yourself with your legs and start pushing with your shoulders and arms, like the tick-tock of a clock. The result: was an afternoon of pain and joints that would render him immobile for hours due to extreme fatigue.

Both arrived at Master Takemoto's base. Kei tried to congratulate himself but could only nod, his eardrums burning from overexertion.

-Well, lad, let's move on to your cold water baths. This will help soothe your tired muscles for a while. Doctor Akihabara will be eager to continue with your bone hardening. - Yuza said solemnly. After all, he had heard the boy's screams, an immense pain that left his throat raw. Akihabara was more of a sadist, but as a medical expert, the bone hardening process involved high levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and a chemical chain of calcium carbonate, collagen, and phosphate compressed with iron, which accelerated Kei's recovery to astronomical levels. Applied daily for six months, the intensity and genetics were different.

-Don't even mention it. That damn guy smiles when he records the findings resulting from my pain. Sometimes I feel like ripping his throat out; it's a pain I've never experienced before. - Kei said. Next week marks six months since he started the treatment, meaning it's time to endure the worst beating of his life, a beating that leaves his bones so fragile that any ordinary blow would break them. After that, a solution of calcium, magnesium, iron, and many other nutrients would be injected into the bone matrix to strengthen it for the next two months. During those months, he would deliver gentle blows that gradually strengthened his bones while feeding them with more solution through injections.

The next three hours were a routine of rubbing Kei's body with various types of sticks, followed by hard blows in different body positions. His bony frame and lack of muscle were a blessing for the program. The numerous kilometers eaten up prevented him from gaining muscle due to his childhood age.

-Relax, kid, ten more minutes. - Akihabara said, licking his lips.

Kei was between unconsciousness and consciousness, the distant voice of the madman resonating in his ears, but it was nothing to his liking, nothing he approved of. He hated this scoundrel with all his heart, who recorded with pleasure every change that occurred. Worse than muscle pain is the powerful and eternal bone pain that is hateful, as if his body were being crushed, and a worm were squirming on his bones. He would be lucky to miss a week of school while he recovered from his wounds.

-Treatment's over. Take him to the infirmary; I need to administer the injections. Let him rest today and tomorrow. Roshi, did you note down the changes? - Akihabara asked.

Roshi nodded. Though old, his heart was sensitive, very sensitive, which made it painful for him to see the young boy who had sold his soul to the devil. He would be provided a machine that would serve the Special Army of the Japanese Forces when he turned 21, for ten years. He would be just a simple mercenary who would owe a huge debt to Takemoto, who would use him in despicable ways while teaching him everything he could about his unique style. Roshi handed the book to Akihabara, who could only get excited seeing the precise clippings of information.

-Take care of the boy. - Roshi said.

-Yes, sir, Roshi. - Bato said, gently holding a sheet used to support Kei's body.

Roshi stayed at the hospital table all night, reading sonnets of poetry and philosophical phrases. Sometimes he read aloud to Kei when he woke up, telling him all the correct details of life's subtleties, as only the mental practice delivered in literature was a factor Kei eagerly needed in his sleeping hours.

-The injections will be administered, Roshi. Try not to startle yourself; the boy will feel the same unimaginable pain as last time. It's better to tie his body to prevent him from suffering; he could break his bones if not handled carefully. - Akihabara said.

-Just do it. I'll check the general library for an interesting time. - Roshi said, wanting to avoid the issue, intending to read until the boy woke up, poor child. A tragic life forgotten by his mother, his siblings in a struggle that should not have been borrowed from him, and several dangerous connections that only brought bad teachings.

The halls were filled with practitioners; how famous Hisayusa had become, thinking that some time ago, everything was so different. But he walked quickly, avoiding hearing the boy's screams, avoiding the annoyances that his mind scratched day after day, as they were heavy on his ignored heart, which could do nothing more than ignore its poor heart.

Yazu also followed, wanting to avoid such acute problems pursued in his mind. He didn't like to see children suffer, as he had sweet grandchildren, and recalling such dangers was something he would avoid at all costs, in his memory.

-See you later, Roshi. Next time, I'll make sure to read the books you chose for me. - Yazu said.

-Read them carefully; you need enough rest. - Roshi said, forgetting his companion, believing it would be another young person seeking advice, another young person who needed some words of wisdom.

Roshi departed from the library to the small infirmary where young Kei once again lay pale and bathed in sweat; Akihabara was noting everything immediately, almost with a morbid and twisted desire.

-These are very interesting data, although according to the signs, it's the limit. We can't continue administering the bone-hardening work; intraosseous injections aren't good for him. We'll vary the applications in a way more suitable for his body to endure, in smaller doses. I don't want the boy to suffer too much. - Akihabara said.

-Done. I just hope your intentions are good, Akihabara. - Roshi said.

-Don't worry; they will be. I'll do my best. - The scientist said, calming down after his periods of excitement that caused discontent among his experiment's companions.

As Roshi had thought and said, he rested in front of young Kazama's room, who slept so peacefully that it was impressive that just a second ago he had screamed so heart-wrenchingly. How good it was to be young; he read deeply into Watsuji Tetsuro with all the interest his mind could muster for these sleepless nights. The brighter light of dawn pulled Roshi from his stupor; he would have to prepare the solutions for the boy; the better he ate, the faster he would recover.

An option of herbs to relieve pain and speed recovery as a catalyst, a glass of powdered bones mixed in milk, a plate of oats with chopped vegetables, and some tofu. Such tasteless food, but it was Kei's breakfast for the following months, which he ate ravenously. Most likely due to the lack of food, but the bone powder milk was necessary; sometimes, he ground fish bones and ate steamed sardines with some vegetables.

He carried a plastic tray with two large ceramic plates. Steam billowed from the plates like chimneys, hot vapor from a meal that, if kept ambient, could last from 8 to 12 minutes warm enough for consumption.

The boy slept deeply, but it was time to wake him up. - Kid. - Roshi said, shaking Kei.

-Kid, wake up; it's your breakfast. - He called Kei, for the second time.

-Kei, it's time for your meal. -

He pushed a little carefully for this to wake up with the movement of the bed, and with a light push, the boy woke up. - Kei, it's time for your meal; come on, it'll help you get better. - Roshi said.

Kei Kazama opened his eyes, deep black. In a state of doubt, in a state of despair. He breathed calmly. - You scared me. -

-Here's breakfast. - Kei said, savoring it. - Delicious! Come on, hand it over, Roshi; I'm starving, and haven't had anything substantial since yesterday. - He said.

As he did, he ate without the comfort of tranquility; the milk didn't last a sip, nor did the plate of food.

He finished with the herbal tea, which he most despised drinking because of his gestures.

-I think I'll need someone to take me to school. - Kei said, checking his body, feeling exhaustion throughout.

-No problem, I'll take you. You should rest first; I'll visit your mother and tell her you've been training at school. - Roshi said, knowing the little bird that was Kei Kazama's mother, a scared and quiet woman. Very good for a world like this.

...