In my hand is yet another one of these long pens. I breathe in, tracing my forearm in the dark with an index finger. Bumps, again. As if my animal half is trying to come out from my body, there are scales ready to burst out at any moment. This makes, what, the third time in two weeks? I don't know what's happening but something about the medicine keeps it from worsening.

That's why I steel myself, readying the injector. At the far end is a locking mechanism that I twist to release the needle on the other end. Taking a deep breath, I stab the pen onto my arm, all the while wincing at the pain. 

Nnh...! I never got used to the feeling of taking injections, no matter how many times I needed to take it. I wouldn't let anyone know, but having someone calm me down before administering my dose helped me tolerate it more than just doing it by myself. Right now, though, I don't want anyone to see me in such a pathetic state.

A bright light fills the dark storeroom as the visible liquid shines through the side of the Monopyriac injector, glowing blue. A standard dose, enough to keep you going for a while. Or so it should.

As it drains into my body, the light gradually disappears, along with the scales that periodically start budding from underneath my skin. Automatically, the injector pulls its fangs from my flesh, giving my immediate relief. I stuff the now empty pen in my pockets. Once the school admins are back, I can trade these in for lunch credits, saving myself some money.

Click, clank!

The door to the storage room shutters open, the light blinding me before I could see who caught me here. 

"Pfff, I knew you'd be here! Like I always say, Three One Zero, there are better places to be meditating!"

"Yeah, yeah! Come on Saize, let's get back! We can't practice without you!"

It's the two other members of the sharpshooting team. The first one's Three A, our captain, if you can even call her that. She's a great shot but she's unable to control her Binding Currents well. It's fair given that she's the first generation in her batch of subjects, but it means she's been shooting blanks and physical rounds for the most part.

Seventy Six on the other hand is a junior of ours. He's excitable and eager, but is usually too much for Three A. He's got great Current control, and I fear the day that he'll surpass both of us once he just gets used to holding a gun.

"Hah, I just needed a minute to get my mind on straight."

"Well get a move on already!"

I grab my Focus Pistol and stand up, pushing both my friends outside as we get ready to practice for the day.

I can't ever let either one of them know.