"W-What the hell?.."
Kirashi whispered to himself.
Ryujin rushed into the warehouse, breath steady and eyes sharp with determination.
"Right. Upstairs. Head straight, then take the two staircases up. Turn right, then left. You'll see a long, straight hall. Seele ahead."
Miss Gigi instructed through the comms.
"Got it, ma'am,"
Ryujin replied.
The battle ended in a breeze, Not even a screech from the fallen seele echoed in the halls. Ryujin continued running.
Ryujin reached the place where Kirashi and Hoshi stood. All he heard was the voice of the kunoichi, her identity still unknown.
"Do you see that?"
She muttered to Kirashi before slipping into the room.
Ryujin listened as Kirashi followed behind Hoshi.
"Kira!"
He whispered to himself.
"The people inside aren't moving, but they're alive,"
Miss Gigi said through the comms.
"Wait for the others, Ryujin. They're on the way."
She added.
From outside, Ayro and Itoshi rushed into the warehouse.
"What's the situation, Miss?"
Ayro asked.
"Ryujin is near Kira and The Stranger. They're in a room filled with civilians—they're not moving, but they're alive. I'll guide the way,"
Miss Gigi responded through the comms.
[Inside The Room]
In the room, The Kunoichi spoke to Kirashi.
"See this?... This is all the crap this country is doing."
"W-What..."
Kirashi said, confused.
"This has to stop. I will do it,"
She added with quiet sincerity.
"W-Why are you telling this to me?"
Kirashi asked.
Hoshi closed her eyes and said,
"Guess the Defense really only cares about money."
"Your friends are coming, aren't they?"
She asked Kirashi.
Kirashi hesitated to answer.
[Ryujins POV]
Footsteps echoed toward where Ryujin waited. He didn't look back—he knew it was Ayro and Itoshi.
Ayro knelt beside him as Itoshi caught his breath.
"They're inside, right?"
Ayro asked.
Ryujin simply nodded.
"What do we do?"
Ayro asked.
"We'll get by the door. We'll listen to their conversation."
The two nodded in agreement, and they quietly moved to the door. Pressing close, they listened as Kirashi and Hoshi spoke.
"N-No..."
Kirashi said, his voice trembling.
Itoshi whispered,
"What are they talking about?"
The other two shrugged silently. Then Itoshi decided to take a peek. His eyes widened in shock. He quickly covered his mouth and sat back behind the wall, rattled.
The others peeked too. Their eyes widened—but not as surprised as his.
"Tsk. Products"
Ryujin muttered.
As Itoshi regained his composure, he squatted—but accidentally bumped a nearby box, producing a loud thud.
Hoshi flinched, lifting her head sharply. She turned toward the noise.
"I know you guys are here"
She said.
Ayro and Ryujin entered slowly and calmly, hands raised in a gesture of peace.
"We're not here to fight"
Ryujin assured.
"Yeah, I know"
Hoshi replied in a low tone, before her eyes flicked to the bruise on Ayro's cheek.
"That makeup on your face looks nice, Ayro. Makes you look more appealing to women,"
She said with a smirk. Then she closed her eyes and turned, walking outside—her body language calm, unthreatening.
"Those ones inside are for you guys. I'll take my leave,"
She added.
As she stepped through the doorway, a tall figure blocked her path. She squinted, furrowing her brows.
"Oi, get outta my way,"
She said sharply.
The man's face was obscured by shadows—unrecognizable. But then, the moonlight broke through the high windows and spilled across his features.
Her heart dropped.
It was the Ronin.
Hoshi swiftly drew her kunai and lunged at the Ronin—but he caught her hand mid-strike and gripped it tightly.
She winced, struggling to pull free, but his strength was overwhelming.
Everyone saw it from the room. A single, chilling thought struck them all:
"What the hell?! Who is that?!"
They moved to help—but before they could take a step, a strange sensation washed over them. Their limbs grew heavy. Their vision blurred.
One by one, the boys dropped to their knees, gasping.
"Ugh..."
"Wh-What is this...?"
"I can't... move..."
Hoshi screamed in agony as the Ronin tightened his grip.
And then, just before the darkness took them, through the comms, they heard Miss Gigi's panicked voice:
"Oi!? Oi!? Are you guys okay?! What's happening?! You're all fading!"
Then—silence.
As Kunoichi struggled to free herself from the man's grip, he smirked.
"Heh?.. You again?"
He said, before slowly peeling off her mask.
Beneath it, Hoshi's face was revealed—etched with fierce anger.
The man gripped Hoshi's wrist firmly with his left hand. Slowly, he raised his right hand and took hold of her index finger. A cruel snicker escaped him.
"Ah... let's see how well your performance is,"
He said before dislocating her finger.
Hoshi screamed in agony as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
He dropped her to the ground and stepped forward. Pulling out a comm device, he spoke into it.
"Yes, sir. All sixteen are here. I've encountered the squad—they didn't see my identity,"
He reported coldly.
"There's also one performer here. What should I do with her?"
The man said, his voice low as he listened to the response on his comms.
"Yeah, she's got quite the face."
Silence followed, then after a moment, the man smiled darkly.
He stepped forward again, a sinister grin spreading across his face. Grabbing Hoshi by the hair, he yanked her up to face him.
"Looks like you're gonna have a new home...
He paused, Smiling.
"In the Federation."
Hoshi's vision blurred, her strength fading fast. All she could see was the man's smile—half his face gleaming with metal, a glowing red mechanical eye staring down at her.
Two sharp horns jutted from his forehead, completing the terrifying blend of machine and flesh. The other half of his face remained disturbingly human.
[Hoshi's POV]
In the darkness, flashes of memories flickered across Hoshi's fading vision—her big sister, chasing her as they played.
"Nee-san..." she muttered.
"I failed you."
Slowly, Hoshi's senses returned.
"It's bright... Am I dead?"
She whispered.
Through blurry sight, she caught a flash of blue.
She heard Kara's muffled shout.
"She's awake!"
Hoshi jolted, realizing where she was—but she didn't resist.
"It's useless... they'll all see me now."
"I'm a failure."
She sank down sitting to the floor, curling into herself. Tears streamed down her face as those words echoed relentlessly in her mind.
Kara came back and saw Hoshi curled on the ground. She approached slowly, cautiously.
"A-Are you okay?"
No reply.
Kara moved closer.
"Why are you doing this?"
Hoshi finally asked.
"You need it,"
Kara said gently.
"Ahh..."
Hoshi muttered, but inside, chaos erupted again.
"How pathetic, getting help from strangers... You're a failure, crawling into the hands of others."
Suddenly, a sharp gust of wind burst from Hoshi, rushing past Kara. It didn't hurt—but it stung, sharp and warning.
Kara steadied herself, heart racing. Instead of backing away, she looked at Hoshi calmly.
"Did that feel good?"
She asked softly.
Hoshi said nothing.
She sat silent, distant, emotions unreadable.
"Can I see your hand?"
Kara's voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Why?"
Hoshi's tone was distant—half suspicious, half defeated.
"I'll patch you up,"
Kara said softly, eyes fixed on Hoshi's trembling form.
"Jayu will heal you."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Kara continued, deliberate, warm,
"Once you've recovered... you can go. I won't stop you. You still have a fight to face, right?"
She took a steadying breath.
"You won't survive it in this condition. Not physically... not like this. So let us help you—just enough to get you back on your feet."
Hoshi stared at the ground, unmoving. Her fingers twitched slightly—hesitating between shame and instinct.
Inside her mind, the voices clawed again.
"She's lying. She pities you. You're worthless."
But something about Kara's tone—her stillness, her refusal to leave—cracked through the noise like light beneath a closed door.
For just a second, Hoshi didn't speak. She listened.
Hoshi stood slowly, legs unsteady. She looked down at her hand—her broken finger wrapped and braced.
"You... already patched it up,"
She muttered.
Kara smiled gently, saying nothing. Just stood, present—offering quiet support.
That made it worse.
Hoshi's heart pounded. Her gaze locked on Kara but she wasn't really seeing her. She was drowning—deep inside herself.
"Weak."
"Pathetic."
"Worthless. Worthless."
The voices tore through her like knives.
"You needed someone else. You let them see you like this. You're nothing."
Yet Kara didn't turn away. Didn't flinch. Didn't pity.
She just stood there. Smiling.
A contradiction Hoshi didn't know how to process.
She clenched her jaw, fists trembling at her sides. Her wrapped finger throbbed—a reminder that yes, someone had helped her... and she was still standing.
But the voices didn't stop.
"You're a failure."
Hoshi's breathing grew sharp, uneven. Hands trembled—one bound, the other clenched.
Kara's smile held, soft, understanding. But to Hoshi, it twisted the blade deeper.
"Stop looking at me like that,"
She muttered, voice shaking.
Kara blinked.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm... salvageable."
Venom in the words—more to herself than Kara. They hit the air like glass shattering.
Hoshi stepped back.
"You don't know me. You don't know what I've done."
Her voice cracked, fury and pain blending cold.
"So stop acting like you care."
Kara didn't move. Eyes soft but steady.
Kara tried to reach out or Hoshi.
"Bu-"
She raised her right hand, but before she could,
"I SAID STOP!"
Hoshi shouted, shoving her arm forward with a gust of wind—not deadly, but a reflex.
Kara was pushed back a step; her coat flared.
Silence suffocated the space.
Hoshi turned away.
"You helped me. Fine. But it changes nothing."
"I won't let you go,"
Kara said quietly, firmly.
Hoshi froze.
Anger rose like fire.
She stormed toward Kara, heavy steps, ragged breath. Gripped Kara's shoulders, face inches away, glaring.
"Y-you can't come to me and suddenly decide on the way my life will go!"
Her voice trembled with rage.
"No one can!"
Her grip tightened.
"I won't let selfish people like you control me!"
Hoshi, declared.
"I'm leaving no matter what—bring me back my stuff!"
Voice cracked raw, feral.
"I'm sick of seeing your pathetic smile."
"Yes, I am selfish,"
Kara said calm, steady.
"Selfish for putting others before myself."
She met Hoshi's eyes—no fear, no resentment. Just quiet truth.
"If that makes me pathetic to you, so be it."
She paused as tears started to fall from her eyes.
"But I'd rather be pathetic and care... than walk away from someone hurting."
Hoshi's hands faltered.
"You can hate me. Yell. Leave."
Kara's voice softened.
"But if I can stop someone destroying themselves... I will try."
She took a breath.
"Even if it's you."
Tears fell quietly on Kara's cheeks—glistening in dim light.
Hoshi's breath hitched.
Her mind screamed,
"What is this? Guilt? Pity? A trick?"
But then she saw.
The way Kara looked—no judgment, no fear. Just sorrow. Warmth. Truth.
Something cracked.
"Is it okay? She's... genuine? Those tears... those eyes..."
Fingers trembled, loosening on Kara's shoulders.
Memories surged—brief, blinding. A face from the past. Hands that held hers not to restrain, but to pull her back.
Chest tightened.
Voices faltered. Just a little.
Something stirred.
Not a trick. Not an illusion. A memory.
A warmth buried long ago—surfacing like a whisper.
A woman's eyes—familiar, kind, broken and brave all at once. Watching. Protecting.
"That's right... you gave me those eyes too," she told herself.
Her legs gave out. Hoshi sank slowly, arms limp at sides. Didn't look at Kara.
Eyes stared forward, dazed.
Voice barely audible, fragile,
"Nee-san..."
For the first time since waking, she stopped fighting.
Body faltered, soft and fragile.
Thoughts swirled in quiet storm.
"I'm... getting weaker?.. Do I allow myself?.. Is it really okay?"
Kara knelt gently, steady.
Hoshi lifted her head, eyes meeting Kara's.
Trembling fingers reached out—tentative.
Her hand hovered over Kara's cheek, mind wavering.
"Can I trust this? Can I trust her?"
Hoshi hesitated, hand trembling, then stopped mid-air.
Softly, Kara took Hoshi's patched left hand in both palms.
She smiled warmly, reassurance in her eyes.
Slowly, Kara lifted Hoshi's hand, pressed it to her right cheek, rubbing softly.
In that moment, the storm inside Hoshi quieted.
All noise, doubts, voices faded.
And all Hoshi could hear was—
"Warm."