CHAPTER 14: RECOVERY

The mansion was too quiet.

Rin sat on the couch in the dark with his phone in hand, thumb hovering over Leo’s contact where the profile picture showed him from two years ago, before the fracture event, making a peace sign while grinning like an idiot.

He’d watched the footage seventeen times now, seventeen times watching his best friend die, seventeen times hearing those last words echoing in his head.

"Get him for me."

His new phone buzzed with another news alert. He’d turned off most notifications but some still got through, headlines that made his stomach turn.

PORTAL CLOSER CONFINED TO HOME - Association Silent on Testing Timeline

WHO IS RIN MATSUDA? Everything We Know About the Mystery Hunter

CHINA OFFERS $50 MILLION FOR PORTAL MANIPULATION RESEARCH

He threw the phone across the room. It hit the wall but didn’t break, of course it didn’t, the Association probably gave him some reinforced model that could survive a nuke.

The ankle monitor blinked its steady rhythm, red light, pause, red light, a constant reminder that he wasn’t free, couldn’t leave, couldn’t even walk to the corner store without triggering an alarm.

Six days until the exam.

Six days stuck in this house that Leo bought for him, surrounded by furniture Leo picked out, living in a space his best friend would never see.

He got up, walked to the kitchen where the fridge was fully stocked. Someone from the Association must’ve arranged it because there were meal prep containers labeled by day, protein shakes, energy bars, everything a Hunter-in-training could need.

He grabbed a protein shake then immediately put it back. His stomach felt like a knot, the thought of eating anything made him want to throw up.

The office called to him. He’d been avoiding it but his feet carried him there anyway, past the living room, past the guest bathroom, until he was standing in the doorway looking at the desk setup Leo must’ve had delivered before the raid.

Three monitors, a PC that could probably run anything, a chair that cost more than most people’s cars.

Rin sat down, pulled up the center monitor. No password, just a sticky note on the frame.

"For Rin - password is your birthday, dumbass"

His chest tightened. Leo had set this up knowing he might not come back, knowing Rin would need it.

He typed in his birthday.

The desktop loaded. One folder sat in the center of the screen.

"Open This First"

He clicked it.

Videos, memes, screenshots of anime discussions. All stuff Leo had saved to show him when he woke up. The dates ranged from a few months after the coma started to three days before the raid.

The most recent file was a voice memo, dated the night before Leo died.

Rin’s hand shook as he clicked play.

"Yo, Rin, it’s me, obviously." Leo’s voice filled the room. Rin’s eyes immediately burned because hearing him again was like getting punched in the chest. "You’re probably wondering why I’m recording this. Honestly, I don’t know either, just felt right I guess."

A pause, sounds of Leo moving around, maybe pacing.

"Tomorrow’s the A-rank raid. Jin’s leading it so it should be routine, but I was thinking, what if it’s not, what if something goes wrong?"

"Don’t," Rin whispered.

"I know, dark thoughts, right, but bro, if you’re hearing this it means I actually died, which is insane because like, I’m a B-rank Hunter, I shoot lightning from my hands, somehow I still managed to get killed by some dungeon mob. That’s embarrassing."

Leo laughed but it sounded forced.

"Anyway, I wanted to say some shit in case I never got the chance. First, the house is yours, already paid off, everything’s set up. You’re my best friend, who else would I give it to?"

The cursor blinked on screen. Rin couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.

"Second, don’t blame yourself because I know you, man. You’re probably sitting there thinking this is somehow your fault. It’s not. I chose this life, wanted to be a Hunter, wanted to fight monsters, save people. If I died doing that then that’s on me."

"Fuck you," Rin said, voice cracking. "It is my fault."

"Third, I always knew you were special, even before the coma, before all this fracture shit. You just had this way of seeing things differently you know, everyone else would panic then you’d just crack a joke, make everything feel less heavy."

A longer pause. When Leo spoke again his voice was quieter.

"I’m glad you woke up because these two years without you were weird. I made new friends, got stronger, saw crazy shit, but none of it felt right without you there to talk to about it. I’d clear a dungeon, think ’Rin would’ve called that orc’s armor cosplay’ or I’d mess up a lightning strike, hear your voice in my head saying ’skill issue.’"

Rin laughed despite the tears running down his face because that’s exactly what he would’ve said.

"So yeah, if you’re hearing this I’m dead. That sucks, but you’re alive, that’s what matters. Don’t waste it feeling bad for me. Go do something cool, date that pink-haired girl from the observation deck because she was totally into you."

"She was into you, dumbass."

"Hey, if there’s an afterlife I better not see you there for like eighty years minimum. Got it? Live a long, annoying life, tell everyone embarrassing stories about me."

The recording crackled. Leo’s voice got serious.

"Love you, bro. Always did, always will. Even if I’m dead, I’m still your best friend. That doesn’t change."

Silence.

Then: "Oh, one more thing. That system you think I don’t know about? Yeah, I noticed. The way you went completely blank on mana scans, the weird look on your face sometimes like you’re reading something no one else can see. I’m not stupid."

Rin froze.

"I don’t know what it is or what it does but I know it’s something big, something that probably scares the shit out of you. So here’s my advice: use it. Whatever power you’ve got, don’t be afraid of it because the world needs people who can do impossible things. You? You’ve always been impossible."

The recording ended.

Rin sat there staring at the screen because Leo knew, he’d known the whole time, never said anything, never pushed, just waited for Rin to tell him when he was ready.

Now he’d never get the chance.

"I’m going to kill him," Rin said to the empty room. "Kazriketh. I’m going to find that thing, tear it apart."

[Acknowledged]

’You’ve been quiet.’

[You needed space to grieve]

’How considerate.’

[I am capable of reading situations]

He wiped his eyes, opened the briefing packet Reva had sent. Might as well see what he was getting into.

HUNTER LICENSING EXAMINATION Date: [6 days from now] Location: Association Training Facility, Sector 7 Expected Participants: 2,847

Two thousand people, all trying to get licensed, all probably way more prepared than him.

The exam had three stages:

Stage 1: Physical Assessment

- 100-mile run, no body enhancement allowed

- Time limit: 24 hours

- Failure to complete results in immediate disqualification

"A hundred miles?" Rin scrolled down. "That’s fucking insane."

[Average human can complete 100 miles in 20-24 hours with proper training]

[You have 6 days to prepare]

[Current physical condition: Suboptimal]

’Thanks for the vote of confidence.’

Stage 2: Combat Evaluation

- Tournament-style matches

- Fight until surrender or incapacitation

- Only top 10 advance to Stage 3

Stage 3: Power Assessment

- Mana output measurement

- Ability classification

- Rank assignment (F through SS)

The packet included a waiver. He had to sign acknowledging the risks: severe injury, permanent disability, death. Standard Hunter stuff apparently.

There was also a note at the bottom:

"Due to the unprecedented public interest in Participant #2847 (Matsuda, R.), all examination stages will be broadcast live. Participant may not opt out of coverage per Association Media Agreement Section 7.3."

"They’re going to broadcast it." He laughed without humor. "Of course they are."

[Publicity ensures legitimacy]

[Performing well will establish credibility]

’Or I’ll fail in front of millions of people.’

[Then do not fail]

His phone buzzed. The new one, the Association-approved device. A message from an unknown number.

Saw the news. You ok? - J

He stared at it. Who the hell was J?

Another message: It’s Joy. From the observation deck. Got your number from... well, I shouldn’t say how. But are you ok?

Joy. The pink-haired girl who wanted to meet Leo, who’d been there when everything went to shit.

Rin: how did you get this number

Joy: i have my ways

Joy: but seriously are you ok? i saw what happened with the association. ankle monitor everything

Rin: im fine

Joy: thats bullshit

Joy: you watched your best friend die now youre under house arrest

Joy: thats the opposite of fine

He didn’t know what to say to that because she was right, obviously, but admitting it to someone he barely knew felt wrong.

Joy: look i know we just met, i was being weird about leo

Joy: but if you need someone to talk to who isnt a reporter or government official

Joy: im here

Joy: no weird fangirl shit i promise

Rin stared at the messages. Part of him wanted to ignore her, keep everyone at arm’s length, but another part, the part that had been sitting alone in this huge house for days, wanted to talk to someone.

Anyone.

Rin: you taking the exam?

Joy: yeah. stage 1 is going to suck

Joy: 100 miles is no joke

Rin: tell me about it. i was in a coma for 2 years. my cardio is nonexistent

Joy: shit yeah thats rough

Joy: you training at all?

He looked around the empty house, thought about the gym setup he’d seen in the basement earlier.

Rin: starting tomorrow

Joy: want company? i can come by

Joy: not in a weird way. just like, training partners

Rin: i have an ankle monitor. cant leave

Joy: i know. thats why id come to you

Joy: unless thats weird. is that weird?

Joy: sorry if thats weird

Despite everything, Rin found himself smiling a little.

Rin: its not weird

Rin: but there are news vans outside. you sure you want to deal with that?

Joy: ive got an illusion ability remember? i can make myself look like a delivery person or whatever

Joy: plus i really need to train, my apartment has no space

Rin: fine. tomorrow morning. 8am

Joy: yes! ok cool ill be there

Joy: and rin?

Joy: im sorry about leo. he seemed really cool

The smile faded.

Rin: yeah. he was.

He put the phone down, went back to the briefing packet. Six days to get his body functional enough to run a hundred miles, six days to figure out how his powers even worked beyond closing portals, six days before the whole world watched him try to become a Hunter.

[Training recommendations available]

’Let’s hear it.’

[Stage 1 requires cardiovascular endurance]

[Suggested regimen: Progressive distance running, starting at 5 miles]

[Stage 2 requires combat proficiency]

[Suggested: Review footage of common awakened fighting styles]

[Stage 3 will be... complicated]

’Complicated how?’

[Your abilities do not register on standard equipment]

[You will need to demonstrate power without revealing true capabilities]

[This will require creativity]

’Great. So I need to fake being a normal Hunter while also being impressive enough to pass.’

[Correct]

He opened another file from the briefing packet. A list of common awakened abilities with their classifications: fire manipulation, ice manipulation, enhanced strength, enhanced speed, healing, barriers, telekinesis. All the standard stuff.

Nothing about portal closing, nothing about fracture synchronization, nothing about systems that talked in your head.

His phone buzzed again. This time from a number saved as "Association - Reva."

Progress check. Have you reviewed the exam materials?

Rin: yes

Reva: Good. Report to the facility tomorrow at 1400 hours for preliminary assessment. Bring your ankle monitor documentation.

Rin: i thought the exam was in 6 days

Reva: It is. This is a separate evaluation. Medical clearance, psych screening, baseline power measurement. Standard pre-exam protocol.

Rin: sounds fun

Reva: It’s not. Be on time.

The message ended there. No "good luck" or "see you then," just orders.

Rin looked at the ankle monitor. Tomorrow he’d have to leave the house for the first time since getting back, face the cameras, the questions, the people who thought he was either a savior or a threat.

He pulled up Leo’s voice memo again, didn’t play it, just looked at the file name.

"For Rin - Just In Case.mp3"

"I won’t waste it," he said to the screen. "I promise."

He got up, headed to the basement where the gym was set up exactly how Leo probably planned it. Weights organized by size, a punching bag in the corner, a treadmill facing a wall-mounted TV.

Rin stepped on the treadmill, pressed start.

His legs protested immediately because two years of atrophy didn’t fix itself in a week, but he kept going, slow, steady, one foot in front of the other.

Five miles. That was the goal. Just five miles to start.

He made it two before his legs gave out, had to stop, gasping, drenched in sweat.

’This is pathetic.’

[Progress is progress]

’I couldn’t even do two miles.’

[Yesterday you could do zero]

He grabbed a water bottle, chugged half of it. Tomorrow he’d do three miles, then four, then five. Six days to get his body functional, six days to become someone who could keep his promise to Leo.

His phone buzzed. Joy again.

Joy: forgot to ask. do you have a gym?

Rin: yeah. full setup in the basement

Joy: perfect. see you at 8

Joy: we got this

He hoped she was right.

Upstairs the monitors in the office still glowed, the voice memo file still sat on screen waiting to be played again, but Rin didn’t need to hear it anymore because the words were already burned into his memory.

"Use it. Whatever power you’ve got, don’t be afraid of it."

"I won’t be," Rin said to the empty house. "I promise."

He headed to bed because tomorrow started the real work, six days until the exam, six days until he proved he belonged in this new world, six days until he started the path to keeping his promise.

The ankle monitor blinked in the dark.

Red light, pause, red light.

Counting down.