THE AWAKENING: BIO-GENETICS
Chapter 88: Lagging

Chapter 88: Lagging

Control Tower

"Kimura Hiro," Anzai said, sighing as the footage showed where he was.

On the screen, Hiro was far behind the others, way behind, as he struggled to keep up while falling to the mud floor countless times.

Touka just watches with sad eyes.

Anzai sighs heavily.

_ _ _

The Stimulation

Hiro fell flat on his face, the white leather material around his eyes stained with mud, his mouth taking some, and he coughed and split the dirt, gosh! This was so real.

"Dammit!" He cursed while slamming his bandaged fist on the ground hand, he raised his head, sensing the other’s auras, they were far ahead, almost reaching the target.

His head hung down as he frowned, his fist clenching hard.

*Footsteps Approaching*

He froze when he sensed someone coming, the boots stopped in front of him, and he raised his head sensing Yuki’s white aura.

Yuki?... he thought she was far ahead of the others, did she turn back because of him?

"Are you okay?" She asks squatting in front of him.

"I could carry your load for you" she offered.

Hiro’s teeth clenched hard at her words, she didn’t really think before talking, there was no way he was giving her his load, he can sure as hell carry it himself no matter how many times he falls.

"I don’t need your help," Hiro said, rising to his feet as did Yuki.

"Guys wait up, wait for me," Homura said, breathing heavily as he came from behind.

Hiro froze on hearing his voice, he thought he was only the one left behind.

Homura got to where they were, and his eyes widened in pure horror.

"I DON’T WANNA BE LAST!" he shouts running ahead at full speed while stumbling multiple times like a helpless creature in the wide.

Hiro’s sweat dropped behind his head. Yuki sighed.

_ _ _

Hours Later

Level 17: Bio-genetics Level

Room Hall

The lights dimmed down, everyone was fast asleep and tired.

Ten tussles and turn on his bed while yawning tired, his body ached in pain from all the training they had to endure, and tomorrow was yet another one. It’s been hell for them ever since General Anzai took over and he had a feeling that there was more to come.

He paused for a minute when he saw Hiro’s empty bed, he quickly sat up, looking around.

"Hiro?" He said.

He was sure Hiro was here hours ago, where could he be? And where did he go?

"Hiro," he said but this time in a worried tone.

_ _ _

Level 10: Training Facility

The stimulation was still on, showing someone was still in it.

Hiro took a harsh breath as he ran as fast as he could, the bag he had on still drew him back but he didn’t care, he had to meet up on time, he had to be faster, he had to keep moving no matter what. He desperately kept going, eager to reach the finish line as others did.

Yuki was behind him at a slower pace. ’Why?’ She thought with shaky eyes. ’Why keep moving?’. She didn’t understand why, it was obvious he was a weakling, it was obvious he wasn’t compatible like the others, it was obvious he wasn’t used to any harsh training or treatment... but yet he kept moving, his body didn’t heal like the others did so every injury they sustained that healed after their training didn’t for Hiro it was still with him, but yet... he kept moving.

’Kimura Hiro...’ she thought with puzzled eyes. ’What kind of person are you?’.

At a few distances inside the stimulation, Anzai was present, observing closely with an unreadable expression, his eyes on the two as they kept moving, the rain pouring heavily.

_ _ _

Hours Later

The stimulation off now showing the regular white hall, Hiro took a harsh breath, as he stumbled to the floor, he laid flat on it, his body numb and trembling, he was sweating profusely, his temperature high and unstable, he was unconscious and weak. His body stung with pain multiple times.

Yuki placed a small towel she dipped in the water on his forehead to at least calm his rising temp.

She moved to his leg-pulling his boots off, she froze when she saw his blistered feet, it wasn’t healing and she was sure it sent aching pain to his body.

"Hiro," she said with worried eyes facing him, even in spite of it, he completed the training. Her lips pressed in a thin line, as her fist tightened on her lap.

Anzai approached them with an unreadable expression. Yuki turned him.

"General Anzai?"

"Let’s get him somewhere more comfortable" he intoned.

She nods in agreement.

_ _ _

Level 11: Medical Facility

"He needs some rest to recover, his legs will heal in due time," Touka explained, going through the records on her transparent iPad.

Hiro was on the bed asleep, Yuki was seated beside him watching him.

"In due time you say" Anzai began in a serious tone, facing her with stern eyes.

"The only reason I’m training the bio-genetics ten times harder than I would any soldier twice their age is because I’m confident they will heal and not have the aftermath of their training... but Hiro in due time?" Anzai said, pissed.

Touka gulped hard at his words, she was about to speak but he didn’t let her.

"That bandages from his hand are from when he stayed up for three nights punching a bag" he pointed.

"Any other bio-genetics who engage in such to meet up with the others will heal like it was nothing, more like a simple sport. And that black bruise around his stomach is from where I hit him when he landed a blow on me, the rest of the bio-genetics I beat up don’t even have a scratch left from the training" he adds as his eyes beamed dangerously.

"Tell me Dr. Touka," he said in a pissed tone, his looks holding anger.

Touka’s eyes trembled.

"Is there something I need to know?!".