Itoshi, now free from the weight of his mask—and more importantly, from the eyes of the world—crashed face-first onto the plush couch of their new apartment in Fukuoka.
The soft whump echoed through the quiet room.
Click.
Lights flicked on.
At the doorway, Aldrin stood with arms crossed, eyes calm. His usual long coat was folded neatly over his arm.
"That's not how you're supposed to enter a government-assigned apartment,"
Aldrin remarked dryly.
Muffled from the cushion, Itoshi muttered,
"Man... that sucks..."
Behind Aldrin, Kirashi kicked off his shoes casually.
"Bro... you looked like a horror movie villain out there."
Itoshi didn't bother lifting his face.
"That bad, huh."
"Nah, it was awesome,"
Kirashi grinned as he plopped down on the armrest.
"But like... terrifying-awesome."
Ayro entered next, already scanning the room with a soldier's precision.
"Windows are wide. Third floor. Curtains aren't drawn."
He turned to Aldrin.
"You checked the perimeter?"
"Twice,"
Aldrin replied calmly.
"No bugs. No drones. W.E.S.C.U. can't tap this one unless they start digging tunnels."
"Hmph,"
Ayro muttered, somewhat satisfied.
Finally, Ryujin stepped in, loosening his collar and releasing a slow sigh. He looked around the apartment like a tired landlord inspecting a tenant.
"Alright. Two bathrooms, four bedrooms, and one paper-thin couch already occupied by a burnt-out Crow."
Itoshi, face still buried in the soft couch, muttered,
"Grawwwwww..."
Ayro crouched down and then settled on the floor, leaning his back against the couch where Itoshi lay face-first. But before sitting, he gave Itoshi a firm bonk on the shoulder.
"Ow,"
Itoshi muttered nonchalantly.
Next, Ryujin followed Ayro's lead. Another bonk, this time on Itoshi's other shoulder, before Ryujin lowered himself to the floor and leaned back against the couch.
Aldrin closed the door behind them quietly, then sat beside Kirashi on the small seat nearby.
For a few seconds, silence filled the room.
Then, almost in unison, the entire squad let out a deep, collective sigh.
Itoshi slowly raised his head from the couch, blinking.
Around him, the others glanced at one another—eyes wide.
A shared moment of confusion flickered between them.
"...Huh?"
The sound escaped from all five of them, echoing through the quiet room.
Then, without warning, the silence shattered.
Laughter.
Soft at first—Kirashi chuckling under his breath, then Ryujin letting out a tired snort, and soon even Ayro cracked a small grin.
Itoshi dropped his face back into the couch.
"What the hell was that..."
But he laughed too.
The once still apartment, wrapped in morning quiet, was now filled with echoes of tired laughter.
For the first time in a while—it didn't feel like the world was watching.
"I don't wanna do that agaiiiiiiiinnn..."
Itoshi groaned, voice muffled into the couch.
Ryujin sighed in agreement.
"Indeed... that sucked. Too many eyes."
Ayro gave a small nod.
"It felt like walking into a trap."
Kirashi, on the other hand, was beaming.
"Ehhh? You guys really hated that? We have fans now! Those girls were absolutely cute, weren't they?!"
He spun around to face Aldrin, practically glowing.
"Right?! Aldrin?"
Aldrin chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head.
"Walking out of that ship with you guys... it was pretty cool."
"See! Even he agrees!"
Kirashi threw his arms up toward Ryujin and Ayro, as if he'd just won a debate.
Still smushed into the couch, Itoshi turned his head slowly to face Kirashi. His cheeks squished, lips twisted by the fabric, he let out a distorted mumble,
"Hoew the hwill awre youw enjwing twaht?"
Kirashi suddenly stood up, legs spread wide and fists clenched like he was about to give a speech.
"Dude!! Fame is something a lot of people work hard for! But we did it so easy! You gotta enjoy it!"
Itoshi simply clicked his tongue and sunk deeper into the couch like a dying blanket.
"What the hell! That's boring as hell!"
Kirashi huffed.
"That's what happens when you only talked to rocks and trees for nine years,"
Itoshi muttered lazily.
Bonk.
Still seated on the floor, Ayro gave Itoshi's head a light smack without even looking up.
"...That was a joke,"
Itoshi added with a sigh.
Grrwoookk—
A loud stomach growl cut through the room.
Everyone paused.
Ryujin slowly turned his head and leaned it back against Itoshi's legs, his expression blank as he stared at the back of Itoshi's head still buried in the couch.
"...Was that you?"
Itoshi didn't move.
"...No."
"Liar."
Kirashi blinked.
"Wait... was it really his?"
Ayro, still leaning on the couch, narrowed his eyes.
"Might've been mine."
"You guys sound like dying seals."
Aldrin stretched his arms.
"Guess no one ate yet, huh?"
"I ate stress and spotlight,"
Itoshi muttered.
"Didn't taste good."
Ryujin let out a long, exaggerated sigh before pushing himself up to his feet.
"Seems like the baby Crow is hungry..."
He placed both hands on his hips, taking a commanding stance.
"Our five-star chef is currently unavailable... Aldrin, Ayro—you know what to do."
Aldrin raised an eyebrow, already dreading the outcome.
"You sure about this?"
Ayro glanced at Ryujin, then at the kitchen, then closed his eyes. He took a long, solemn breath as he rose to his feet.
"Sigh... Desperate moments call for desperate measures..."
Kirashi threw both arms up in mock horror.
"Wait wait wait—Ayro's cooking?! I thought the mission was survival! Not suicide!"
Ryujin clapped his hands once.
"Too late. Operation Starving Crows begins now."
A few minutes passed.
No fire. No smoke. No explosions.
Just silence.
Then—
Clink.
A plate was placed in front of Itoshi.
He lifted his head from the couch just enough to see it.
On the plate was... food.
Kind of.
Some sort of scrambled egg–rice hybrid, shaped like it had gone to war and lost. Bits of instant sausage lay scattered like fallen soldiers. A cracked yolk drooled down one side like it was trying to escape.
Itoshi blinked at it.
"...This looks like a political statement."
Ayro, still holding the spatula like a katana, stood beside the couch expressionless.
"There was no salt."
Aldrin peeked over Ayro's shoulder and added proudly,
"But I cut the hotdog into a star shape."
Kirashi leaned in beside Ryujin, who had both arms crossed, watching silently.
"Welp. Bon appétit, baby Crow."
Itoshi stared at the plate like it might bite him back. He poked one of the star-shaped hotdogs with his fork. It wobbled slightly.
His face twitched. One eye squinted.
His tongue stuck out involuntarily.
"Gwek!.. Here goes nothing..."
He took a bite.
He chewed.
He chewed again.
He paused.
A moment of internal judgment.
Then he swallowed.
"Hm... meh. Kara's still better... but this ain't bad."
He muttered under his breath, mildly surprised.
Ayro blinked.
"You're welcome."
Aldrin fist-pumped quietly.
"Star-shaped hotdogs never fail, man."
Kirashi leaned over the back of the couch, grinning.
"I'm calling this dish: Crow Recovery Protocol."
Then, as if they were all synced on some hidden frequency, the room echoed with a loud chorus:
"Time to eat!"
Plates clattered. Forks moved fast.
They finally began their very late lunch.
The two leaders—Ryujin and Ayro—ate calmly, with that composed silence only honed through years of discipline. Hungry as hell, sure—but they never showed even a sliver of desperation.
Meanwhile, Itoshi and Kirashi were in full goblin mode. No brakes. Forks scraping, cheeks stuffed, occasional grunts of satisfaction as if they hadn't eaten in weeks.
Aldrin glanced between the chaos and the composed pair.
Then looked down at his plate.
He quietly slid it closer to Ayro's dish.
"...Yours and Ryujin's look... way cleaner."
Aldrin glanced over his shoulder again.
Itoshi and Kirashi were flinging rice like it was a competitive sport—forks working overtime, bits of egg flying, hotdog stars vanishing without a trace.
Slowly, Aldrin turned back toward the two leaders, who were calmly finishing their plates in near silence.
A bead of sweat formed behind his head as he leaned closer and muttered under his breath:
"...The other two are... dinosaurs."
Suddenly—
Cough.
Itoshi froze, eyes wide, face turning red.
"Gaeh— geuh— eguhk!"
He clutched his throat as he tried to swallow whatever unholy combination of rice and hotdog he'd just inhaled.
Kirashi, mid-bite, watched him struggle.
Then—
"Hu—gugh—guh—GWEK!"
He burst out laughing with his mouth full... and instantly choked too.
Panic mode.
Aldrin jumped to his feet, grabbing two glasses of water and practically diving over the table.
"Here! HERE—drink, idiots!"
Meanwhile, Ryujin didn't move.
Ayro didn't blink.
The two of them calmly took another bite in perfect silence, as if nothing was happening.
"...They'll live,"
Ryujin said without looking up.
"Eventually,"
Ayro added, chewing slowly.
Itoshi and Kirashi finished first, both completely stuffed. They collapsed their heads onto the table.
"Ugh... I'm full... I'm beat..."
Itoshi muttered, eyes half-closed.
Kirashi let out a loud burp.
"Indeed... I wanna sleep..."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he drifted off, snoring softly.
Suddenly, Itoshi shot upright.
"What the hell...? He's already asleep?!"
A muffled voice came from the table.
"I'm not."
Kirashi's eyes stayed closed, but his mouth moved.
With an awkward smile, Aldrin shook his head.
"He really does talk in his sleep... huh?"
Ayro muttered dryly,
"That definitely never caused a disaster."
Ryujin added, without looking up,
"That definitely didn't turn a window into a blockbuster cinema."
Itoshi furrowed his brows, annoyed.
"Alright! Alright! I get it! That was ages ago!"
The pair just smiled knowingly.
"Nope. That's still fresh."
Ryujin muttered.
Ayro tilted his head, eyes sharp.
"What kind of films were you watching, Itoshi?"
Suddenly—
Ring ring ringg.
Ryujin's comms buzzed as it rested on the table.
Everyone turned to look as Ryujin pressed the button, putting the device to his ear while still chewing.
"Hello?"
"Okay, good."
He raised his head and glanced toward Itoshi.
"It's Kara."
"Ah! Can you ask if they ate?"
Itoshi asked eagerly, eyes brightening.
Ryujin smirked.
"Did you hear that?"
He paused briefly.
"Yes, they did... Along with Hoshi—she's awake."
"Okay! Thanks."
Itoshi replied quickly.
"Worried, are we?"
Aldrin teased softly.
"Shut up."
Itoshi muttered, cheeks flushing slightly.
Aldrin chuckled quietly.
"She'll be going home with us soon... Hoshi."
Ryujin added quietly.
"Eh..."
Itoshi exhaled.
Ayro raised his head, eyes sharp.
"She's already an official member... or at least a non-licensed official member. So, you can't do anything about it now."
"I know! I know!"
Itoshi replied quickly, almost defensive.
"It's just..."
"Still can't trust her?"
Aldrin asked, eyebrow raised.
Itoshi hesitated, voice softer.
"I... I trust Kara. But I don't know..."
Ryujin smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes.
"Hm... seems like the baby Crow is also petty."
"He wants to be wooed before he talks to her,"
Ayro added with a smirk.
From the table came a muffled voice.
"Definitely."
Kirashi snored loudly.
"No, that's not it!"
Itoshi shouted, flustered.
"Well... if you still have those hard feelings, there's nothing you can do now,"
Aldrin said calmly.
"Whatever discomfort is in your heart right now... you have to face it,"
Ryujin added firmly.
"She's coming, and you can't stop it. You're actually lucky—you get a chance to know what you're about to face. No pressure though, kid."
Ayro said as the three continued eating.
"Okay! Okay! I get it!"
Itoshi replied, exasperated but smiling.
The silent night had settled over Fukuoka, rain pouring steadily on the evening of July 2th, 2169.
Inside Hara Sanshin Hospital, the soft glow of lights illuminated a quiet room.
"Ahh!"
Kara murmured softly.
Hoshi was awake, happily eating dinner fed to her by Kara.
"Yum!"
Hoshi smiled as she chewed, sitting comfortably in her hospital bed. Beside her, Jayu sat quietly.
"How's your wound feeling, Hoshi-san?"
Kara asked with a gentle smile.
"My left arm's still hella rough... but I guess the tingles are a bit less now!"
Hoshi replied brightly.
"Okay! That's good to hear."
Hoshi opened her mouth again.
"Ahh!"
Kara fed her another bite, sitting on the edge of the bed.
The spoon slid into Hoshi's mouth as she cupped her cheeks with both hands.
"Hmm! Yummy!"
She glanced up at Kara.
"This your cooking, right? Kara-chan?"
"Yeah! I'm glad you're enjoying it, Hoshi-san."
Suddenly, Hoshi jolted slightly as she swallowed.
"Ah... Kara-chan... You can call me by my first name!"
"Eh...?"
Kara muttered, surprised.
Hoshi leaned forward with a bright smile.
"Yeah! Call me Tomori!"
Kara blinked, then smiled warmly, eyes closing softly.
"Okay! Tomo-san."
The two shared a quiet smile as the raindrops tapped rhythmically against the windowpane, filling the room with a gentle melody.
"I'm so glad you're back, Hoshi-nee!"
Jayu beamed with excitement.
"Ah! Sorry about that!"
Tomori replied, flustered.
"Ah—Jayu-chan, you can call me 'Tomori-nee'!"
"Okay! Tomo-nee!"
Jayu nodded eagerly.
But then—
"Hmph!"
A loud, pointed sound broke through their joy.
Both heads turned.
It was Kara, arms crossed, cheeks puffed out in a pout.
Tomori slowly turned toward her, eyes wary.
"Eheheh~"
"Why didn't you show up?!"
Kara demanded, leaning in closer.
Tomori leaned back slightly, hands up.
"Eh—eh..."
Her eyes darted toward the window, awkward smile blooming.
"I..."
But then, she met Kara's eyes.
And gave in.
She sighed softly.
"There's no use hiding now.."
Tomori thought to herself.
"Guess I can't escape you, huh...?"
After a breath, she continued.
"I heard an earth-type battle broke out before you guys left."
"Yeah! And you didn't appear!"
Kara snapped.
Jayu chimed in beside her.
"I was waiting for you... I thought that was the last time I was gonna see you!"
Kara continued,
"Indeed! I was waiting for you too!"
Jayu joined in.
Tomori's expression softened. She reached out, patting Kara's head with her right hand—then Jayu's.
"Well... I wasn't planning to say goodbye just yet. That's why I didn't show up."
The two listened silently.
"I heard Ryujin-san's announcement... I was hiding behind the glass in your old apartment.."
She looked down briefly.
"When he said that man... is in Fukuoka."
Kara's eyes widened a little.
"It just so happened that your squad was moving to Fukuoka too... So I made a decision."
"Eh—eh?"
Kara tilted her head, confused.
Tomori gave a small smile.
"That same day, I packed everything. I left the restaurant... my coworkers... all of it."
She paused, voice a little quieter.
"I guess I just wanted to take another step forward in life."
Tomori rested her back against the pillow, her eyes now fixed on the rain sliding down the glass.
"I thought... maybe it would feel freeing."
She smiled faintly.
"To leave everything behind. Start fresh. New city.. New leads!"
Kara and Jayu listened quietly—Kara's smile fading to something more understanding.
"But when I packed up and looked around that old rooftop, I realized something."
Tomori's voice dropped to a murmur.
"It's not the kind of life I wanted.. It's mine but.. It no longer feels like.. Home."
She turned to them, her tone light—but her eyes didn't lie.
"I smiled a lot at the restaurant, right? I was polite. I made decent food. Laughed when they laughed."
She raised her bandaged left arm and stared at it.
"But I was just... existing. Like a shadow that learned how to act normal."
Jayu crawled closer on the bed, her small hand gently holding Tomori's free one.
Tomori looked at her, blinking.
"You know what finally made it all feel real again?"
She turned to Kara this time.
"It was you."
Kara's eyes widened.
"When we trained. When you offered to help. When you didn't ask too many questions."
Tomori smiled gently.
"You saw me... but didn't pressure me."
Her voice trembled a little.
"It reminded me I still had a heart."
Kara bit her lip, holding back a response—but her eyes glistened slightly.
"So yeah..."
Tomori laughed softly, brushing her bangs aside.
"I didn't show up that day because I was scared. Scared if I said goodbye, I wouldn't have the courage to follow."
She looked at Kara again, smiling genuinely now.
"But I'm here. Thanks to you."
For a moment, there was nothing but the soft sound of rain tapping the window.
Then Jayu whispered,
"You're already family, Tomo-nee."
Tomori blinked fast, swallowing hard.
Kara chuckled through her nose and leaned forward.
"Yeah. So you better not disappear again... or next time, I'll drag you by the collar."
Tomori laughed with them this time.
"Y-Yes, ma'am..."
And the room, once quiet and cold, now felt just a little more like home.
Kara carefully placed the tray of food on the side table, steam rising gently from the bowl.
Then—without thinking—she leapt onto Tomori, wrapping her arms around her with a happy squeal.
"Ow—ow ow ow..."
Tomori's voice tensed, almost like a squeaky whimper.
Kara immediately sprang back in panic.
"Ah—sorry!! I forgot!"
Jayu frowned from beside them.
"Jeez, Kara-nee... I really tried not to hurt her."
"I said I was sorry!"
Kara waved her arms defensively.
But Tomori just gave a tired chuckle, waving them both off with her good arm.
"Nah... it's alright."
She leaned gently into her pillow again, looking at both of them with a faint smile.
Her eyes then shifted to the ceiling.
"So..."
She took a slow breath.
"I guess I'm part of your squad now, huh?"
Jayu lit up instantly.
"Yup! Forever!"
Kara gave her a confident nod, fists clenched at her sides.
Tomori chuckled again, but this time... it sounded a little more nervous.
She looked away from them for a moment—eyes drifting toward the rain-laced window.
Her fingers fidgeted with the blanket.
"...I'm a bit scared."
The words left her in a whisper, but both of them heard it.
Kara tilted her head.
"Eh?"
Tomori didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes were still on the glass, watching as rain traced slow paths down the pane.
"Because of... everything."
She spoke barely above the sound of the storm.
"Joining the squad. Being found out. Leaving behind what I had..."
She gently touched her bandaged side with her good hand.
"Everything's different now."
There was a silence.
But not the heavy kind. Just a pause.
Soft and real.
Kara sat down beside her, this time much more carefully, her expression calm.
"Well... you're not alone in it."
Jayu climbed onto the bed too, hugging Tomori's waist.
"Yeah! We're already a trio now!"
Tomori smiled—tired but warm.
She looked back at the two of them, rain still trickling in the background.
Her voice came quietly.
"...Thank you."
~~~To be Continued~~~