Improvement.

No one would stay in the cafeteria forever, as they entered it, they'll have to come out. And by now, people were done eating the delicious meal the cooks prepared as they were already sauntering out of the cafeteria. Hugo ate to his satisfaction as he had already emptied his plate.

He drank water as he stood up from the chair he was sitting on and began strolling out of the cafeteria. As he sauntered, he glanced at Captain Wayne, and Captain Wayne gave him the nod. That signifies, 'I see you, you're about to go train on your own'.

He was still strolling when he decided to glance around the cafeteria, and he sighted Vera staring at him. Why was she staring at him? Was he too handsome? That was Hugo's thinking. Why was this thought running through his mind? He quickly diverted his gaze somewhere else as he continued strolling.

He stepped out of the cafeteria as some other people stepped out along with him. Then he began sauntering to the spot where he and Captain Wayne do stay to train, that's where the wood were. As he was getting close to the spot, he brought out the gun from his pocket and glanced at it. Then he thought to himself,

'I must learn to use you as quick as possible'.

He got to the spot as he was in front of the two wood. There were no students on the compound, and it doesn't seem like there'll be one soon. The pistol was loaded with bullets already, so he raised it as it was about time to start shooting. He had aimed, targeted, but as he was about to pull the trigger, he thought to himself,

'Wouldn't the sounds of the gunshots disturb others? I haven't seen any student learning to make use of a pistol on his own by this time of the night. Wouldn't they think someone dangerous had entered the compound when they hear the gunshots? But I've got to learn to make use of a pistol under two days, that's today and tomorrow,

And today is almost gone, I've got just some hours left. I'll have to place most of my hope on tomorrow. And I'm doing this under Captain Wayne's permission, so'.

With that, he raised the pistol once again, he had convinced himself that what he was about to do was right. He aimed to shoot one of the red spots on the right-hand wood. So he aimed, targeted, and,

'BANG!'

Bullet came out of the gun as it headed towards the right-hand wood. But damn! it was the same case, close call, didn't penetrate the red spot he aimed for, but it was close to penetrating it...and he was f**king tired of this.

"Not this again". He said to himself audibly, he was back to this.

He raised the gun once again and shot, sound of gunshot echoed as the bullet headed to the left-hand wood, it was another miss. But with the determination not to give up, he kept on shooting and shooting though he was failing. He was sure that everyone in this academy must have been hearing the sounds of his gunshots.

But since there were no reactions from them, that means the sounds of the gunshots was normal thing to them. Who knows, lots of students might have engaged in this same practice before he made it to this academy. Learning to make use of guns at this time of the night, so they've been disturbed by gunshot sounds at this time of the night in the past.

Hugo had just fired another shot which was a miss when he heard someone call his name from behind,

"Hugo".

He glanced back to see Everett and Ryder standing and staring at him. He inquired of them,

"What are you guys doing here?".

"We just came to check on you, we've been hearing your gunshot sounds from inside the room. In fact, let me put it this way, everyone in this academy is hearing the sounds of your gunshots". Everett said.

"I know that". That's all Hugo said.

"Wouldn't you stop that gun practice and come inside?". Ryder voiced out.

"No, not yet, not until I've penetrated one of the red spots on the wood, most likely. I want to reach your stage, Ryder, that's why I'm practicing like this".

"Oh! you want to reach my stage, according to what I'm seeing, you making improvements already, your bullets are close to penetrating the red spots. And reaching the level I am currently, I didn't practice at this time of the night". Ryder uttered.

"I'll soon start learning how to make use of a pistol, and I wouldn't push myself hard as you're doing, I wouldn't practice at this time of the night". Everett said.

"Well, that's your decision, everyone has their own choice to make. This is my choice, to practice at this time of the night. And I have reasons for doing it, so". Hugo voiced out once again.

"Why don't you stop that gun practice and come inside". Ryder tried to persuade him once again.

"You guys should just go inside, there's nothing you can tell me that would make me stop this gun practice...sounds of gunshots would keep echoing".

"Everett, let's go". Ryder said to Everett as the both of them sauntered away shaking their heads a little.

Hugo sighed, there was something they weren't aware of and should never be aware of. He was doing this for a reason, for a certain reward that would come from his system...they must never know about it. He focused on what he was doing again, he raised his pistol and took a shot...missed. He took another shot, close call, and that's how it kept going.

But seems like things were about to change, Hugo had put a new bullet into the gun. As usual, he aimed, targeted, and shot, bullet came out of the pistol heading straight to the left-hand wood...and it penetrated the red spot he aimed for. What! it wasn't a miss? It actually penetrated the red spot?

Hugo almost jumped up in joy, he wished Captain Wayne was here. A smile had already appeared on his face as he glanced at the left-hand wood. How many attempts it took him just to finally hit his target, for one of his bullets to penetrate one of the red spots. But he shouldn't be too happy, who knows? It might be luck. He might keep trying again and end up not penetrating any of the red spots.

Remembering this, the smile on his face vanished. He'll have to keep trying to make sure that he was truly improving, not that it was based on luck. Raising his pistol again, sound of gunshot echoed, he had already pulled the trigger as the bullet was heading to the left-hand wood. What happened? The bullet penetrated the red spot he aimed for.

"Yes". Hugo voiced out with a smile on his face, he did it once again, he was improving...seems like he'll be able to accomplish this quest.

He took another attempt, but this time, it was a miss. But that didn't discourage him, he kept on shooting, his bullets penetrated some of the red spots and he missed some. As he was about to take another attempt, his finger was getting close to the trigger when he heard the system's voice,

[ Ding! Ding!]

[ You're close to accomplishing quest, host]

[ More efforts, and you'll accomplish it]

Hugo nodded his head, now, that was a nice notification, something he wanted to hear. Since the system said, more efforts, and he'll accomplish it, that shows he hadn't accomplished it...he hadn't learned to use a pistol completely. He knew that, but with more effort, he'll get there.

He kept on shooting and shooting until he noticed that he had improved some more, the misses were reducing. Captain Wayne would definitely be proud tomorrow, like, the personal practice had a great effect. He decided that it was about time to head to the compartment, but before he'll do that, he'll return the wood to their proper place and return the pistol to Captain Wayne just as he instructed.

Carrying the wood one after the other, he kept them where they were supposed to be. Then he began sauntering to Captain Wayne's office. His office was both an office and room to him. There was another door in the compartment which led to the main room where his bed was located. Reaching Captain Wayne's door, he began knocking on it.

Captain Wayne opened the door as Hugo handed the pistol and remaining bullets over to him. Then Captain Wayne said to him,

"The sounds of your gunshots were resounding around this academy".

"Yeah, that's how it's supposed to be". Hugo uttered.

"So, did you make any improvements?". Captain Wayne inquired.

"You'll find out tomorrow".

And after making that statement, Hugo sauntered away.