"Sorry Ryujin. We couldn't help much.."
Bjorne offered a sincere apology to Ryujin as he drove, his tone heavy with genuine regret.
Ryujin waved his hands,
"No No! Bjorne-san! That was not the job you had to do. Besides.. If it wasn't for your insane driving.. The battle probably wouldn't have ended up the way it did."
"Hehe.. I guess so.."
Was all Bjrone could say as he scratched the back of his head.
[A Few Moments Earlier]
The same convoy that had brought the squad to the park, led by Bjorne, returned to pick them up. As they settled into the vehicle, exhaustion finally caught Kara—she drifted into sleep, leaning gently against Itoshi's shoulder.
Ayro, seated beside them, murmured softly,
"A girl like her shouldn't be caught in battles like these, but... her dedication is undeniably sincere."
Behind them, Kirashi sat quietly, a strange smile tugging at his lips as he muttered to himself,
"Kara-chan thanked me... Kara-chan thanked me..."
A faint blush warmed his cheeks, betraying the simple joy that lingered in those words.
"Yeah... sometimes I ask myself—where the hell did she get that bravery?"
Itoshi replied to Ayro, a mix of admiration and wonder threading through his words.
~~~Hotel Az, Nagasaki~~~
[May 3, 2169 - 10:48pm]
Itoshi slammed opened the door where Aldrin and Jayu were shouting out loud.
"WE'RE FREAKING BACK!!!"
A sharp voice cut through the quiet—
"Shut up!"
A resident next door shouted, breaking the moment with unexpected bluntness.
Itoshi's face twisted with arrogance as he snapped back,
"Huh?! What the hell did you say?!"
Kara hurriedly pulled Itoshi inside the room, moving with urgency to diffuse the tension. Meanwhile, Ayro offered a quiet apology to the nearby resident trying to rest, his tone calm and respectful despite the sudden outburst.
Itoshi lay face down on the floor, a massive bump swelling on his head.
Kara sighed softly, wiping the sweat from her forehead—equal parts exasperated and relieved.
"Jeez.. Koya, Sometimes your childishness is just..."
Jayu sprang down from her chair, her feet quick and eager as she ran toward the returning squad.
"Welcome back!"
She called out, her voice bright with warmth and relief.
"Good Work on the battle! Big sis and Big bro's!"
Jayu's voice carried a soft, comforting warmth that seemed to wrap around everyone who had just returned, easing their weariness and filling the air with a quiet sense of homecoming.
Kara reached out gently, patting Jayu's head with a tender, affectionate touch—an unspoken bond of gratitude and camaraderie shining between them.
"Thank you.. Jayu-chan!"
With a bright shine in her eyes, she smiled warmly and said,
"Come take a seat and eat! Aldrin-nii made yummy noodles!"
"Hehe.. It ain't much but.. I hope you guys like it."
Aldrin muttered, eyes closed scratching the back of his head.
Itoshi, still lying on the floor, suddenly sprang to his feet and shouted with infectious excitement,
"FOOD!!!"
Itoshi, Kara, Ayro, Ryujin, and Kirashi all settled into their seats, plates piled high before them. In perfect unison, their voices rang out with eager anticipation:
"Time to dig in!"
As they ate, Jayu quietly approached Kirashi. Without a word, she placed both her small palms on his back. Kirashi flinched at the sudden touch—but in the next moment, a deep, soothing warmth spread through him.
The tension melted from his body, replaced by a gentle wave of comfort. It was healing—pure and effortless.
"Ah.. That's amazing.."
Kirashi let out a deep sigh.
"Jeez.. Big bro.. You had the most fatigue among them!"
Jayu complained, brows furrowed.
"Hoh? Jayu can sense fatigue too?"
Ayro raised a brow, smiling.
"Wow!! Amazing!"
Kara clapped.
"No wonder she knew back in the boat.."
Ryujin added.
Jayu smiled, excitement feeling her.
"Yes!"
One by one, Jayu moved with quiet purpose. After Kirashi, she turned to Ayro, placing her hands gently on him. A soft glow of warmth followed, easing the weariness from Ayro's frame.
Next was Ryujin—stoic as ever, but even he couldn't hide the subtle breath of relief as Jayu's healing touch reached him.
Then came Itoshi. He blinked, surprised, as the warmth settled over him, softening the edge of fatigue clinging to his body.
Lastly, Jayu stood behind Kara. As her hands met his back, her eyes closed for a moment, and a calm washed over her—quiet, grounding, and deeply human.
A few moments later, the squad settled in for the night.
Kara and Jayu rested peacefully on the comforting bed of the room they had rented, their breathing soft and steady. Nearby, Kirashi and Itoshi lay on the floor, wrapped in warmth atop two extra futons, their expressions calm in well-earned rest.
Aldrin stood by the door for a moment, casting one last glance over the room. With quiet care, he slowly closed it, the gentle click of the lock marking the end of a long, hard day.
"You sure it's locked?"
Ayro asked.
"Yes it is!.. So that's also ours right?"
Aldrin pointed toward the small room down the hall, a tired but eager grin spreading across his face. Dust clung to his jacket, his movements sluggish after the long day.
"Yeah... We're gonna rest there."
Ayro replied, dropping his pack beside the door and letting out a quiet breath. His shoulders loosened slightly as he leaned against the frame, eyes half-lidded from fatigue.
"Where is Ryujin-san?"
Aldrin asked, glancing around the dim corridor. The soft hum of the building's old lights buzzed faintly overhead.
"He went outside... He's filing the evening report."
Ayro's tone was calm, almost sleepy, as he pulled off his gloves and stretched his hands.
"Ah... I see... In that case, you should take a rest. I'll go wait for him!"
Aldrin straightened up, forcing a bit of energy back into his voice. He adjusted his scarf, already stepping toward the door with quiet resolve.
"Alright."
Ayro gave a faint nod, watching him leave before finally pushing open the door and heading inside, the sound of his boots fading into the stillness.
Ayro stepped quietly into the room, the soft creak of the floor barely disturbing the stillness. He settled in silently, joining the others in their rest.
Meanwhile, Aldrin remained outside, standing watch in the dim hallway, waiting patiently for Ryujin's return—his presence calm, steady, and quietly protective.
Ryujin finally returned, his steps steady but tired. At the front door, Aldrin stood with arms crossed, ever watchful.
As soon as he noticed Ryujin, a subtle smile tugged at his lips, and he raised a hand in a quiet wave—a simple gesture that spoke of relief and welcome.
"Ayro?"
Ryujin's voice was low as he approached the dim corridor, his breath visible in the cold night air. The faint rustle of his coat followed each step.
"He's back inside... Resting... You should take one too."
Aldrin replied with a small shrug, leaning casually against the railing, his rifle slung over his shoulder.
"Alright. How 'bout you?"
Ryujin asked, glancing at him, the faint glow from the nearby lantern reflecting in his eyes.
"Imma go on guard for a while..."
Aldrin said with a grin, tapping the side of his weapon before turning his gaze toward the misty horizon.
"Alright..."
Ryujin muttered, his tone softer this time, as he gave Aldrin a brief nod before heading inside, the door closing gently behind him.
Ryujin stepped into the room, the soft creak of the door muffled by the stillness. Darkness wrapped the space in quiet, but his eyes quickly adjusted. There, in the faint glow from the hallway, he saw Ayro—seated on the floor, already asleep, his head resting gently against the wall, lost in quiet slumber.
"Heh.. There's a massive bed yet you chose the floor."
Ryujin quietly settled down beside Ayro on the floor, their backs resting against the wall. Though a massive bed lay empty nearby, he chose the solid ground—finding comfort in the quiet solidarity of shared exhaustion as sleep gently claimed them both.
Later that evening, Aldrin slipped quietly into the room. His eyes scanned the scene before he let out a dry chuckle, echoing Ryujin's earlier words:
"What the hell... the bed's so huge, but... oh well."
A wry smile played on his lips as he settled down beside them, embracing the unspoken camaraderie in their shared choice.
The whole squad slept through the night, greeting the dawn of May 4th with heavy eyes and heavier hearts.
Their arrival in Nagasaki was anything but welcoming—faced immediately with wary strangers and a reunion between their leader and an old comrade that spiraled into disaster. The cleansing of Japan was far from over.
Meanwhile, a certain man was making his way toward Nagasaki—his purpose shrouded in mystery, but one thing was certain: he would succeed.
~~~To be Continued~~~