Kara entered the girls' room quietly.
The soft sounds of giggles filled the space—Hoshi sat cross-legged on the floor, patiently letting Jayu dress the teddy bear in scraps of cloth. The little girl beamed with delight, totally unaware of the shadows looming outside their moment.
Kara paused for a moment at the door, taking it all in. The tension in her shoulders didn't ease, but the sight steadied her.
She slowly closed the door behind her and slid down to the floor, her back pressing against the wood. With a deep breath, she sat in silence, legs pulled in, arms wrapped loosely around them.
Hoshi looked up.
"Kara-san... is something wrong?"
Kara shook her head faintly.
"No... just needed to breathe."
Her voice was calm, but there was weight behind it. Hoshi studied her for a second—then looked back down, placing a blanket over the teddy bear.
"Did Miss Gigi say something?"
She asked quietly.
Kara nodded slowly, eyes on the ceiling.
"She doesn't trust you"
She admitted.
"But I told her I do."
Silence.
"That's not enough proof that I can be trusted though.."
Hoshi thought to herself.
Hoshi quietly rose to her feet and approached Kara, then gently knelt in front of her. Her fingers curled slightly against her knees, her voice soft and low.
"Sorry I caused you all this trouble..."
she murmured, her eyes cast to the floor.
Kara straightened her posture a little, blinking as she looked at Hoshi's lowered face. A calm silence settled for a moment. Then she reached out and gently patted the top of Hoshi's head.
"Don't worry about it"
She said, a warm, genuine smile blooming on her face.
At that moment, Jayu, full of energy and completely oblivious to the tension, jumped onto Hoshi's lap with a playful laugh.
"Pyon~!"
Hoshi stumbled a little, Jayu caught her by a surprise, then smiled softly. Hoshi hugged her tightly, clutching the teddy bear between them.
Kara watched them for a moment, her smile lingering—quiet, grateful, and a little tired.
Moments later, the laughter faded. Hoshi gently lifted Jayu off her lap and placed her beside the teddy bear. Her eyes drifted toward the window, then back to Kara.
"I'll be going soon"
She said quietly.
Kara's expression snapped—
"Ehh?! But..."
Hoshi forced a small smile as she stood up.
"I have a job, Kara-san. Don't worry. Apart from being the Kunoichi of Nagasaki... I work as a waitress. Of course I need the money..."
Kara quickly got to her feet and grabbed Hoshi by the shoulders, eyes sharp and desperate.
"It's not safe! It's..."
"I'll get taken, right?"
Hoshi finished for her, calm but with a pain hiding beneath her voice.
Kara froze.
"Y-You knew?.."
She asked, her brows furrowed in disbelief.
Hoshi's gaze lowered.
"My nee-san was a victim of it... I want to be taken... so I can find her"
She said firmly.
"So that's your reason... That's the reason you've been fighting alone all this times... But still.."
Kara's eyes widened in horror. Then she stepped back and shook her head sharply.
"No! There must be another way!"
Her voice echoed in the room—filled with emotion, fear, and something else... the helplessness of wanting to protect someone who won't stand still.
"Joining this squad could've given me a chance.. It is another way..."
Hoshi thought to herself.
"Of course there is another way... but it's just not possible.. At least, not anymore..."
Hoshi said quietly, her eyes distant—accepting, but hollow.
Kara opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her hands balled into fists. She wanted to scream, to argue, to block the door if she had to—but she didn't.
She knew this wasn't a decision made lightly. And she couldn't force it.
Silence hung thickly in the room.
Suddenly, small footsteps rushed forward. Jayu clung to Hoshi's legs tightly, her little arms trembling.
"Don't go... nee-san..." she whispered, eyes glistening as she looked up at her.
Hoshi froze.
She looked down slowly at Jayu—and something inside her cracked. She reached down and gently patted the girl's head, her hand trembling as much as her heart.
The words cut deeper than they should have. Because Hoshi knew that plea too well. The way it feels to beg someone not to leave... and still be left behind. The warmth of her sister's hand once felt, now just a shadow in her memory.
She knelt down to Jayu's level and pulled her into a gentle hug. Her voice was soft, barely a whisper:
"You're such a brave girl..."
But inside, she was screaming.
"I won't let my sister be just a memory too... I can't."
Kara turned away slightly, her hand gripping the edge of the wall. She couldn't look—because she knew, deep down, Hoshi might never come back.
Kara looked at Hoshi, her voice soft but steady.
"When will you be going?"
Hoshi glanced away for a moment, then met Kara's eyes again.
"I guess... tonight."
She forced a small, tired smile.
"I lost a day at work... I'll get quite the scolding from my boss."
The smile didn't reach her eyes. It was fragile, like the last flicker of light before darkness.
Kara's heart clenched, but she nodded quietly, not knowing what else to say.
Tonight. The word hung in the air like a countdown.
"Then... I won't be able to play with Hoshi-nee anymore?"
Jayu's small voice broke the quiet room.
In Hoshi's mind, the words repeated like a fragile echo
"Sorry, little one... Sorry..."
But no sound came out of her mouth.
Hoshi's dedication to finding her older sister was unwavering—nothing could stop her now.
Then, a sudden question bubbled up inside her.
"Umm, Kara-san?"
"Yeah?"
"How did you hide my identity?"
Hoshi asked.
Kara blinked as she smiled softly.
"It wasn't me... It was Ayro-san."
At that moment, Hoshi thought quietly to herself,
"Maybe I can trust these two... just maybe. That flame boy though... not so sure about him."
As the night slipped toward sunset, Hoshi gathered her mask and belongings inside the girls' room. She carefully put everything on, her movements quiet and deliberate.
"Are you really gonna go?"
Kara asked, her voice soft but heavy.
Hoshi stepped closer and gently patted Kara's head.
"Don't worry, Kara-san. We'll still see each other" she said, her smile faint but genuine beneath the mask.
"Bai bai... cya in a bit..."
With that, Hoshi opened the door.
The boys' room door was ajar, and every pair of eyes inside caught sight of her—mask on, cold and determined gaze fixed ahead.
Without hesitation, she walked calmly down the hall and slipped out the window at the far end.
Then, with a smooth leap into the night, she disappeared.
Kara and Jayu hurried after Hoshi, their footsteps light but urgent.
From a distance, they watched as Hoshi moved with fluid grace, leaping from building to building.
Her figure melted into the shadows, blending seamlessly with the night.
~~~To be Continued~~~