“Good morning!” the rookie chirped. “I’m Minami Nakano, and I’m so thrilled to be working with you!” She was a small, baby-faced girl in a dark pixie haircut. Her irrepressible energy and big round eyes gave the impression of a puppy in human form. “Ms. Quanxi, it’s such an honor to have you teaching me!” She grabbed Quanxi’s hand and shook vigorously. Quanxi gazed dispassionately at the shaken hand.
Kishibe gave a casual wave. “Hey there, Nakano. I’m Kishibe, Quanxi’s partner.”
“It’s been much too long, Mr. Kishibe!” the new recruit bubbled.
“Uh … Have we met somewhere?”
“Oh! Er, not personally. I saw you at the new-hires welcome party. At a distance. I remember you because when you introduced yourself, you said, ‘I like booze, women, and killing devils,’ and I thought that was so funny! It just stuck with me.”
“Ahh …” Kishibe said. “Well, sorry to disappoint. You are disappointed, right? Meeting me?”
“Ha ha! I know you were saying all that to break the ice! That’s real leadership!”
Faced with the young woman’s indefatigable positivity, Kishibe could only scratch his cheek awkwardly. He jerked a thumb at Quanxi. “Why’d you want this gal as your teacher? There are full-fledged members of Public Safety who are scared to get anywhere near her.”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I’m not scared. Maybe … reverent is the right word? Ms. Quanxi is so strong and so beautiful!”
“Ah, reverence. Of course.” Kishibe stole a glance at Quanxi.
After a long pause, Quanxi spoke. “Minami Nakano, you said?” She seemed to want to be sure she had the name right.
“Yes, ma’am! You can call me Minami.”
“All right, Minami,” Quanxi continued. “Which devils are you contracted with?”
“None yet. I thought I ought to get in some training first so I know what I’m in for.”
“Not a bad idea.” Quanxi nodded curtly. “Hunters who try to skate by on devil powers rather than their own merits rarely last long. We should start by honing your basic martial arts skills.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Quanxi followed up with more questions. “You’re confident in your stamina? Your physical strength?”
“Not, er, really … But I’m full of can-do attitude!”
Quanxi nodded and gestured for Minami to follow her. “All right, let’s see what you’re capable of. Come down to the training room.”
“I’m right behind you, Ms. Quanxi!”
The two headed for the Public Safety training room, Kishibe sidling along behind them. Quanxi allowed Minami to rush ahead, then shot Kishibe a glare. “I don’t recall including you in that invitation.”
“Just happen to have a little free time on my hands.”
“Then go smoke or drink or crash at some woman’s place, like you always do.”
“So cold! You know you’re the only woman for me—” He was cut off by Quanxi’s fist, which he narrowly dodged. He could hear the whistle of the air as it went by his ear. It would have killed a man with slower reflexes, but after nine years Kishibe had learned to be quick on his feet. He got to a safe distance and held up his hands. “Orders from the top. I was told to keep an eye on my partner.”
“Mad Dog Kishibe, meekly following orders? Don’t make me laugh,” Quanxi said with a straight face. “I’ll handle the training on my own.”
“Suit yourself. Like I told you, I don’t want to train any more dogs for a while,” Kishibe said. “It’s not the girl the brass wants eyes on, though. It’s you.”
Quanxi had trained a few rookies in the past. Thanks to the brutality of her training, every last one had put in for early retirement.
“Fine,” said Quanxi, but she didn’t sound happy. “Do as you please.” She turned her back on Kishibe and didn’t look at him again.
In the training room, Quanxi instructed Minami to start doing laps around the expansive area. She was fast enough. She would have to be to have passed her initial evaluation into the department. For a Public Safety Devil Hunter, however, basic fitness wouldn’t be enough.
After about a dozen laps, Minami’s breath was coming hard and fast. “Time to stop,” Quanxi said.
“I can k-k-keep g-going,” Minami huffed.
Quanxi crossed her arms. “Don’t push yourself from minute one. It’ll have an adverse effect on the rest of your training.”
“Understood, ma’am.” Minami came to a stop and caught her breath.
Beside Quanxi, Kishibe pulled on a cigarette. “That’s a change of heart.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember that guy who came through here six years back? He threw up eight times and you still kept him running.”
Quanxi responded, “He needed the extra push.”
“You pushed him all the way into an ambulance.”
His quip earned no leniency. “Oh, who can trust the memories of an old drunk?”
“Which means you know I’m right,” Kishibe pointed out.
Instead of replying, Quanxi stripped off her shirt to reveal a black tank top. “Now we spar. Come at me. Use any moves you like.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Minami looked nervous, but she assumed a fighting stance. Then she cried, “Yaaah!” and charged. Quanxi dodged without the slightest effort and sent Minami tumbling across the floor. “Yikes! Oh!”
“Again.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Minami jumped to her feet and confronted Quanxi a second time. Then a third, then a fourth. No matter how many rounds they went, she was always on the ground in the blink of an eye. At last Minami sat on the floor, breathing hard. “Y-you’re amazing … I can’t get near you …”
“Let’s take a short rest,” Quanxi said. “Make sure you hydrate.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Minami darted out of the training room. Quanxi watched her go, her face unreadable.