Chapter 68

Days of Youth is the sixty-eighth chapter of the Black Cat manga and the first chapter of Volume 8.

Plot
''Thirteen years ago. ''

''Ten-year-old Train Heartnet is firmly holding on to his gun and standing just outside the room his mentor, Zagine Axeloake, is in. He quickly opens the door and shoots at Zagine, who is reading a book, and misses, shooting a vase instead. The recoil knocks him down. He tries to get up, but Zagine slams his foot into the boy's head, keeping him down. Zagine states that he is rushing and tells him not to aim at an enemy's head, as it is a very small target. Instead, he should aim at the heart, so that even if he misses, he will still hit something vital. The assassin also tells him to keep his arms steady so that the recoil does not throw him off. Train vows to kill him. The man just smirks and praises Train's blood-thirst, before walking away, laughing. ''

''Later, Zagine is making Train do thumb-ups. Train is getting tired, but continues when Zagine threatens to shoot him. Once Train was done, the two sit at the table and Zagine offers him a cup of milk. Train refuses, but the man persuades him by saying that the drink will help him build his strength. ''

''Train is practicing shooting and manages to hit the edge of the target. Zagine berates him and demonstrates his marksmanship by shooting the target several times, which impresses Train. Zagine tells the boy that in this world, power is everything and that the powerful have the right to "call the shots". He cautions Train to never let himself rely on anyone, for the only person he can trust is himself. ''

''As the days go on, Train keeps on practicing everyday, slowly building up his strength so that he can one day, kill Zagine to avenge his parents. ''

''On a rainy day, Train returns from buying groceries to see a bloody Zagine on the sidewalk. He asks his mentor if he is bleeding. Zagine replies that it seems he has grown weak. Train drops the grocery back and angrily states that killing the assassin was his goal. Zagine laughs and asks him if he was Train's target. He tells Train that if he wishes to surpass his teacher, then he must grow stronger by living on his own. Train screams and shoots with Zagine's gun into the sky.''

Back to the present, Sven asks Train to help him and Eve. Train refuses, as he is not good at mechanics. Eve tells Sven that they can use Train's food expenses to fix the car. This "motivates" Train to help them.

In Loel City, Jenos Hazard is flirting with every gitl passing by until an angry Rinslet Walker shows up.