He simply covered his eyes with his palm, rested his elbows on his knees and fell silent. For long and unbearable minutes. It was scary to look anywhere other than him: the bodies of recruits, torn аpart by demons, covered the entire small clearing in the middle of the forest. It stank of blооd and she felt a little sick, but she stubbornly sat on the grass in front of him, holding the hilt of the katana with both hands to hide the adrenaline trembling in them.

It was damn scary. And her side was sore from the blow. It was the first and only blow she received when she rushed after her teacher, who had been thrown back somewhere into the bushes by a demon's attack. Maybe because they were both not in that mess at the beginning of the massacre, they remained alive, having time to react.

It was a routine training for newly selected recruits, no one could have predicted that they would accidentally stumble upon a nest of demons. Not even Sanemi. Sanemi, whose breathing was even and steady, despite the recent battle and all the dеаd students. They diеd because of him, he let his guard down. But he had to keep a straight face, because the last student was still alive, which meant he was still a teacher and had to set the right example and raise a fighter. Besides, he felt her lost and scared gaze on him.

Inhale. Exhale. To keep breathing even.

"If I see even one tear, I'll give you a punch in the ribs. Get up. We have to go."

He said sternly and hoarsely, getting to his feet.