A few days passed in silence. It was a very normal day in Nagasaki.
May 16th, 2169. A cloudy day. Exactly one week since Kara last saw Hoshi.
Itoshi sat at the table, deep in thought. His finger tapped rhythmically on the wooden surface, while his other hand rested under his chin. His eyes were narrowed in concentration.
"Hmmmmmm!"
"Never seen you think so hard before,"
Ryujin muttered as he sipped his morning coffee.
"Somethin' bothering you?"
"It's insanely quiet,"
Itoshi muttered.
"It's been a week since The Kunoichi left. Kara won't even talk to me."
"Ahh..."
Ryujin exhaled, glancing toward the couch where Kirashi lay fast asleep, mouth wide open and snoring lightly.
"Give her time, Itoshi. She's worried about the kunoichi, that's all,"
Ryujin said calmly.
Itoshi raised his head, turning to face Ryujin behind him.
"Yeah, I know! But... she worries way more about that girl than herself now."
Just then, Ayro and Aldrin entered the boys' room, carrying trays of food that had just arrived from the Defense quarters.
"We're back!..."
Aldrin announced.
"Eh?.. It's so quiet."
"Right?!"
Itoshi replied, throwing up his hands.
Before Ayro could close the door behind them, the door to the room across the hall creaked open slowly. Kara stepped out.
"Oh! Breakfast!"
She said, eyes lighting up.
They moved into their usual morning routine. Kara and Jayu began prepping breakfast, with Aldrin assisting them. The soft clatter of dishes and quiet conversation filled the kitchen space.
The rest of the boys remained seated in silence.
Itoshi hadn't stopped tapping his finger on the table, his gaze distant and unmoving, his other hand still under his chin.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound blended into the background, steady but tense—like something unsaid still lingered in the air.
Then, out of the blue, Ayro leaned toward Ryujin and whispered under his breath.
"Never seen our boy pondered so bad."
"It's strange, honestly,"
Ryujin added, keeping his voice low as he sipped his coffee again.
Suddenly, from the couch, Kirashi mumbled in his sleep.
"He's worried about Kara..."
They all turned.
He was still asleep. Mouth half-open, an arm hanging limply over the edge of the couch.
Kara froze, startled.
"W-Wha? Who's worried about who?" she asked, eyes darting between them.
Ryujin sighed and gently facepalmed.
"Didn't know he could reply even in sleep..."
Ayro muttered under his breath, raising an eyebrow at Kirashi's unconscious contribution.
Suddenly, Itoshi stood up from the table and pointed straight at Kara.
"I am! We are! Worried about you!" he declared.
Kara blinked, then forced a soft smile as she turned back toward the stove.
"Ehh... Thank you for worrying, but I am alright!.. This is almost done. Get prepped, ya'll!"
Itoshi clenched his fist, jaw tightening as he grit his teeth.
"Stop pretending, Kara! I know you well! You're putting someone else before yourself! You didn't even leave your room the entire day yesterday!"
Kara said nothing. She continued preparing breakfast, quietly, methodically.
Silence settled in again—this time, heavier.
"Oi! Don't you ignore me!"
Itoshi shouted, stepping forward with sudden force.
Jayu gasped, startled by the outburst. She dropped the spoon she was holding and ran behind Aldrin, clutching his sleeve with wide, trembling eyes.
Kara slowly turned around—but before she could say anything, Itoshi closed the distance. He pinned her between himself and the kitchen counter, placing both hands firmly on either side of her.
She looked down, her face hidden beneath her bangs.
"I'm right, aren't I?!"
No response.
Only the faint sound of the stovetop still sizzling behind them.
"Tsk. You're such a fool when it comes to these things. You truly are,"
Itoshi shot back, eyes sharp.
"You don't even know that kunoichi that well—yet you act like she's the only person in this world!"
Kara finally spoke, voice low but steady.
"She can be trusted..."
"Hah?!"
Itoshi snapped, incredulous.
Aldrin stepped in and placed a firm hand on Itoshi's shoulder, trying to de-escalate things.
But Itoshi shoved his arm away and kept pressing forward.
"Trusted?! That was only a day!"
"I can tell by her eyes... what she told us was genuine..."
Kara responded, her voice trembling, but still holding firm.
"Tsk, th—"
Before he could finish, Kara cut him off sharply.
"Then what do you expect me to do?! Do nothing?! I can't stop myself from doing nothing when I know I can do something for someone!"
For a moment, the room was frozen.
"Koya... You're unfair..."
Then Ryujin stood up, calm but commanding. He walked over, gripped Itoshi by the shoulder, and gently pulled him back.
"Calm down now, Itoshi... You gotta give her time."
Itoshi let himself be guided back to his seat, sulking as he dropped into the chair.
"Yeah! I know!" he muttered, arms crossed, eyes avoiding everyone.
Kara wiped her tears quickly with the back of her hand and turned off the stove. Without a word, she began plating the food, moving in quiet coordination with Jayu.
"Let me help you with that,"
Aldrin offered gently, stepping in.
Together, the three brought everything to the table behind Itoshi, who sat still—his finger continuing its steady tapping against the wood.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound now felt heavier.
As Kara laid down the dishes, her movements were smooth, almost routine. But her tears didn't stop. They streamed silently down her cheeks, falling one by one—unnoticed by no one, but unaddressed by all.
Her hands didn't tremble. Her posture didn't falter.
Only her eyes told the truth.
And then, without warning—
The familiar wail of a siren echoed through the area. Sharp. Urgent. Unmistakable.
Itoshi shot up from his seat, snatching his jacket without hesitation.
Ryujin and Ayro rose with him, their expressions hardening into focus.
From the couch, Kirashi jolted upright, wide awake in an instant.
"Hoh! Fighting time!" he grinned, excitement blazing in his eyes.
The four of them stormed out in sync—no words, no glances back.
Kara dropped to her knees, her shoulders trembling as her bangs fell over her eyes, hiding the pain written all over her face.
"Nee-san!"
Jayu cried out, rushing to her side in a panic.
Aldrin was right behind her, kneeling beside Kara with concern flooding his face.
The siren still blared outside, but inside that kitchen, time had fractured—leaving only silence, tears, and the weight of everything unsaid.
Her voice trembled as she whispered,
"Sorry... everyone..."
She paused as she wiped her tears.
"It's not fair.. Am I not allowed to get close to her?.."
Aldrin smiled, facing the doorway.
"Well... If something goes wrong, You'll be held responsible."
He paused.
"I think that's what Itoshi is worried about."
Aldrin glanced at her, then offered gently,
"Wanna come with them?"
Kara looked at Aldrin in shock, eyes wide and searching.
A slow, understanding smile spread across Aldrin's face.
The four boys boarded the first SUV with urgency, engines roaring to life in a blur of speed.
Meanwhile, the SUV carrying the rest drove more slowly. The same female driver from their previous trip through Nagasaki sat behind the wheel.
Aldrin took the front passenger seat, while Kara and Jayu settled in the back.
The driver glanced back, raising an eyebrow.
"Hoh?.. Everyone's quiet today. Oi, Aldrin, what did you do to them?"
She asked with a teasing smirk.
Aldrin scratched the back of his head nervously.
"I-It's complicated, m-ma'am."
The driver narrowed her eyes, smirking with mock threat.
"If you did something to these girls, I'll burn you alive."
"Y-Yeah! Got it!"
Aldrin stammered, holding up his hands in surrender.
Meanwhile, in the first SUV, Itoshi stared out the window.
Scenes blurred past at blistering speed—flashing lights, crumbling buildings, distant fires.
Frustration was etched deep across his face—tight jaw, furrowed brows, clenched fists resting on his knees.
His mind churned, caught between worry, anger, and helplessness.
~~~To be Continued~~~