In shock at Hoshi's sudden arrival, Kara was a bit slow to process the situation, but quickly regained herself.
"H-Hoshi-san?.. C-come in!"
She gently took Hoshi's hand, guiding her into the girls' room and softly closing the door behind them.
Inside, Jayu was already sitting on the bed, hugging her teddy bear while listening quietly to the story Kara had been reading moments ago.
She blinked, surprised by Hoshi's sudden appearance but said nothing.
The three of them sat together on the floor. A heavy silence hung in the air. Hoshi lowered her head, her face hidden beneath the hoodie, motionless.
Kara watched her carefully, uncertain, her voice soft and hesitant.
"Hoshi-san?.."
There was no reply.
The seconds dragged on. The silence was deep — uncomfortable — yet Hoshi still didn't move.
Kara leaned forward, her concern growing. She tried to peek beneath the hoodie but couldn't make out Hoshi's expression.
"C-can I take off your hoodie?.."
She finally asked, barely above a whisper.
After a long pause, Hoshi gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
With delicate hands, Kara slowly pulled back the hoodie, revealing Hoshi's face little by little.
At first, her expression was frozen — stiff lips, distant eyes, as though she was trapped inside her own mind. For a long moment, she simply stared downward, breathing shallowly.
The silence lingered.
Kara stayed still, watching her with growing worry, unsure whether to speak or simply wait.
Jayu, clutching her teddy bear tightly, scooted a little closer beside Kara. Her wide eyes glanced between both of them, sensing the weight of the moment.
Then—just faintly—Hoshi's lip quivered. Her eyes blinked once, and the glossy sheen of unshed tears began to form.
Her chest rose and fell unevenly. But she still didn't cry.
Another long silence passed, broken only by her shaky breath. Kara could feel Jayu's little hand clutching her arm, as if seeking comfort herself.
Finally, Jayu's soft voice gently broke the silence.
"Hoshi-nee... you don't have to hold it."
Hoshi's chin trembled. The first tear rolled down.
Kara immediately leaned forward, her voice tender, yet breaking.
"Hoshi-san... what happened?.. Are you alright?.."
Hoshi tried to speak, but her throat locked. The first small sob escaped, then another. Her breathing grew ragged, shoulders trembling as she finally crumbled.
She collapsed softly into Kara's arms. Kara pulled her close, wrapping both arms tightly around her, while Jayu quietly leaned in, hugging Hoshi's side with her small hands.
Hoshi suddenly lunged forward, and Kara instinctively caught her, wrapping her arms tightly around her. The force made them both slightly rock back, but Kara held steady.
With a gentle smile, she slowly patted Hoshi's head.
"There there..."
Hoshi buried her face into Kara's chest, her muffled sobs growing heavier. Her whole body trembled as the tears flowed freely. She tried to speak through her crying, her voice broken and shaky.
"I... h-he's..."
But the words tangled in her throat, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions.
Before she could force herself further, Jayu softly spoke, her voice calm and kind.
"Hoshi-nee... you don't have to force it yet... Take your time."
Hoshi heard the words. She sniffled, squeezing her eyes shut as she nodded against Kara's chest.
"Mhm!"
Kara continued to hold her gently, softly stroking her hair, giving her all the time she needed.
After a short while, Hoshi slowly managed to collect herself. She sat up straight, her breathing still shaky as she wiped the lingering tears from her cheeks with trembling hands.
Seeing this, Jayu quickly rushed over to the small table and grabbed a few towels. She hurried back, offering them with both hands.
"Here you go! Hoshi-nee!"
Hoshi looked at her for a brief second, her hands still slightly shaking. She softly accepted the towels and wiped her face again, trying to steady herself.
"S-sorry about that..." she mumbled.
"No, not at all! I don't mind, Hoshi-san!"
Kara quickly reassured her with a gentle smile.
"So?... Something happened?.."
Hoshi hesitated. Her eyes darted to the side, as if searching for the right words. Finally, she spoke, her voice still fragile.
"H-have I ever told you w-why I'm a kunoichi?.."
Kara tilted her head, thinking for a moment.
"Hm... not really."
Inside Hoshi's mind, her thoughts spiraled.
"She didn't know about my past... but she still accepted me... What is that?.."
She slowly lifted her head, speaking aloud now.
"T-there's something about my past that y-you don't know..."
Kara's expression softened even more. She thought to herself, quietly urging her.
"Come on, Hoshi-san... It's okay. Ease out the load..."
"I... I had an older sister back when I was younger..."
Hoshi finally spoke aloud, her voice fragile.
She took a deep breath, but a few more tears still managed to fall from her eyes.
"She was the only person I had in the world..."
Her voice cracked, and more tears quietly streamed down her cheeks as the painful memories resurfaced.
"T-Then..."
Jayu, watching closely, noticed how much Hoshi was struggling. With her soft little voice, she spoke gently.
"Hoshi-nee... maybe you should rest first?.. We always have the time for you."
But Hoshi shook her head lightly, refusing, her voice tender yet determined.
"I-it's ok, Jayu-chan... Thank you..."
Jayu let out a small moan of worry. Kara, sitting behind her, smiled softly and patted Jayu's head for reassurance.
Hoshi lowered her gaze. Her trembling hands clutched her skirt tightly as she continued.
"S-she was the only person who I... considered 'family'..."
Her grip tightened, her whole body shivering as more tears gathered.
"T-that man... he took her away f-from me..."
Her tears fell freely once again. Her voice broke almost into a whisper as the final words escaped her lips.
"He... he will lead me.. b-back to her..."
"For all I know... that man took my onee-san... and he sold her to the U.K.F..."
Hoshi's voice was barely above a whisper, heavy with pain.
Kara's eyes widened in shock.
"No... no..."
She murmured, her voice trembling.
Jayu didn't fully understand the words, but she stayed quiet, sensing the heaviness in the room and respecting the moment.
Hoshi swallowed hard, continuing in a shaky voice.
"I–I've seen his face a couple of times... roaming around Nagasaki... but I never managed to catch him red-handed... I'm such a failure..."
She looked down, guilt and frustration swirling in her eyes.
"Before a new case of a missing girl from the city gets posted... I usually get a glimpse of that man... but I've never seen him so up close. But I'm certain... he's got something to do with selling women... He was a bald man.. With a blind slashed right eye.."
Her hands trembled as she clenched her skirt tighter, the weight of her confession hanging heavy in the silence as her tears continued to fall.
"Earlier... I accidentally bumped into him..."
Hoshi's voice trembled as she spoke, the memory clearly still fresh.
"He tried to take me... but I managed to fend him off..."
Her hands clenched tightly, knuckles white, as she fought to steady her breathing.
Kara's eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding as she took in Hoshi's words.
"You... you fought him off?" she whispered, a mix of relief and worry flooding her voice.
She reached out gently, placing a reassuring hand on Hoshi's trembling ones.
"That took so much courage, Hoshi-san... you're stronger than you realize."
Her gaze softened with warmth and determination.
"We'll figure this out together. You're not alone anymore."
Jayu's eyes sparkled with concern, but also admiration as she looked up at Hoshi.
"Hoshi-nee, you're really brave..."
She said softly, her small hand reaching out to squeeze Hoshi's gently.
"We're all here for you, okay? You don't have to face this alone."
Hoshi wiped her tears once again, her hands trembling as she spoke softly.
"Thank you so much... I deeply appreciate you two... I really do. I'm thankful for everything you're doing for me... but... sorry."
Her voice faltered, and in her mind, a heavy thought pressed down.
"I cannot let their lives get ruined because of me..."
Kara and Jayu exchanged worried glances, stunned by Hoshi's sudden apology.
Kara reached out gently, her hands hovering just inches from Hoshi's arms, wanting to comfort her.
But before she could touch her, Hoshi continued, her voice steady yet filled with quiet determination.
"I... I have to do this alone... You don't have to get caught up in my troubles."
Her eyes met theirs with a firmness that made their hearts ache.
"I... I will go with him tomorrow."
Kara's eyes went wide, her breath caught in her throat. Jayu's small hands froze mid-air, her expression turning to shock and worry.
Neither of them could find words for a long, heavy moment—only the stunned silence filled the room.
"T-to?... The U-U.K.F.?!..."
Kara stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief and fear.
Kara stood up as she weaved her one hand.
"No!.. No way!! I won't let you! The moment you get there... there's no chance you'll come back here!"
She argued, desperation creeping into her tone.
Hoshi's eyes flickered with sadness as she thought quietly to herself.
"Sorry, Kara-san... I have to do this..."
She looked away, swallowing the lump in her throat before speaking softly.
"I have no home to return to... My home is my onee-san... And she's in U.K.F."
At that moment, Kara's eyes filled with a heavy, helpless sadness. The words Hoshi said pierced her heart like a sword. She realized, there was no changing Hoshi's mind.
Slowly, she sank down to her knees, defeated.
"T-there must be another way... Hoshi-san..."
She whispered, her voice breaking with desperation.
Hoshi met Kara's gaze and gently shook her head from side to side.
"There isn't..."
The weight of those words hung in the air, a silent acceptance settling between them.
Kara then took a deep breath, Moments later with full of determination, Kara furrowed her brows and thought fiercely to herself,
"No! I'm not gonna allow you to go!"
Her fists clenched tightly as she stood up, her steps heavy with fury and resolve.
"Jayu-chan! Stay here with Hoshi-san! Don't let her leave until I come back!"
She ordered firmly.
Without waiting for a response, she swung the door open and stormed out, letting it close firmly behind her.
Hoshi and Jayu sat frozen, shocked by Kara's sudden action, their eyes locking in confused silence.
"No... I won't let you go..."
Kara's words echoed relentlessly in her mind as she hurried down the hall.
Bursting into the boys' room, she flipped on the lights.
"Wake up! Everyone!"
She called urgently.
The sudden burst of light jolted Itoshi, Adrin, and Kirashi awake, their eyes snapping open in surprise and confusion.
Ryujin and Ayro, however, remained unfazed—calm and alert as ever, barely stirred by the disturbance.
"What in the world?! "
Itoshi exclaimed, rubbing his eyes as he sat up.
Kirashi threw his hands in the air dramatically, shouting with a wild grin,
"I'M GOING TO HEAVEN!!!"
Adrin groaned, half amused and half annoyed,
"It's still night, what's going on now?"
Ryujin and Ayro exchanged calm glances, already sensing the urgency beneath Kara's sudden entrance.
Kara's voice rang out, sharp and urgent:
"We've got new leads on the sellers! Everyone, listen up!"
In an instant, the squad's scattered energy snapped into focus. They all knew—this was no ordinary disturbance. Their sleep had been shattered for a very good reason.
"Hoh?.."
Ayro muttered quietly, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
Meanwhile, just outside the boys' room, Hoshi and Jayu sat close to the door, straining to hear every word Kara spoke. The girls' room faced the boys', and the thin walls carried the voices clearly.
They exchanged a glance, hearts pounding as the conversation unfolded beyond the door.
Suddenly, the door of the boys' room closed shut, cutting off the voices. The corridor fell silent once more.
Inside the dark, quiet girls' room, Hoshi and Jayu sat together on the floor. The faint hum of night filled the heavy silence as they exchanged a long, quiet glance.
Without warning, Jayu leapt into Hoshi's arms, wrapping her in a tight embrace.
"You're not allowed to leave!" she mumbled into Hoshi's chest, her small voice trembling.
Hoshi closed her eyes, her arms wrapping tightly around Jayu in return.
"Mhm... I'll stay here,"
She whispered softly.
"For now..."
For a moment, neither of them spoke—just holding onto each other in the stillness.
"I've just gotten new details from the kunoichi."
Kara reported.
Everyone locked their eyes on her. Their hair was messy, clothes wrinkled, and faces half-awake, but their expressions were serious—dead serious.
Not a single one of them even thought of laughing.
Kara's voice dropped, heavy with tension.
"There's a bald man in this city right now. His right eye—slashed, blind."
She groaned softly as she forced the words out.
"She's encountered him. Multiple times."
The room grew colder as her next words followed.
"She told me... before a new missing woman gets reported, she always catches a glimpse of that man nearby."
The weight of those words pressed down on the squad. A long silence followed.
Ryujin let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temple before calmly giving his order.
"Ayro... you know what to do."
Ayro gave a small nod, voice steady.
"Got it, boss. I'll start tomorrow."
Then Itoshi spoke up, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Is the kunoichi still here?"
Kara hesitated for a brief moment, but answered firmly.
"Y-yes... in the girls' room."
Adrin couldn't resist teasing, his voice light but warm.
"Jeez... Kara-san... you're gonna get scolded again!"
But Kara shot back, her voice full of fiery determination.
"I don't mind! She wants to be taken by that man! I'm not gonna allow it!"
The boys exchanged glances and smiled. This side of Kara was rare—so fierce, so unshakable—even though she had no power to fight, her heart refused to waver.
~~~To be Continued~~~