~~~July 11, 2169~~~
Knock, knock, knock.
Jayu stood in front of the door, her gaze fixed on the floor. The bruises that once marked her skin were gone.
Muffled chatter came from the other side, but her knock silenced it.
"I'll open it!"
A voice called.
Footsteps followed. Jayu's body tensed; her hands trembled slightly. With Itoshi watching nearby.
The door opened.
"Eh?.. who are you?"
[Earlier]
"I know I should've asked this ever since I laid eyes on that child..."
Miss Gigi's voice was low, barely rising above the rain as she leaned against the wall outside. Drops slid down her coat, cigarette tucked between her fingers.
"But... why is she with you?"
Ryujin and Ayro stood beside her, leaning against the same wall.
She lit her cigarette, the flame briefly cutting through the gray light, and exhaled.
"Why'd you bring her with you?"
Ryujin took a long breath before answering.
"She had no one."
Miss Gigi chuckled softly, looking up at the drizzle.
"Well, obviously she was alone with that thing in Kaba. What I mean is—what are you really trying to do?"
There was a pause. Then Ryujin finally spoke.
"I was reminded of my childhood."
Her eyes widened a little. She turned to him, then smiled faintly and brushed a hand through his hair.
"We'll get her back home in Tokyo. Only we can do that,"
Ryujin added, voice steady.
"I knew rumors like this would spread. So I decided to take her with us."
He chuckled, smiling to himself.
"Besides, Kara would probably bug me for days if we let her go with the Spines."
(Spines – the main support members of the United World Defense Society. Under them are the backbones of the squads: Logistics, Medical, Development, Transport, and Field-Men.)
Miss Gigi straightened again.
"There's more to it, isn't there?"
Ryujin didn't answer. Ayro only watched in silence.
Miss Gigi smirked, flicked her cigarette, and handed him a folder.
Ryujin flipped through it quickly, then looked up at her.
She smiled, flashed a peace sign, and went back inside.
Inside the folder were approval papers—Kirashi, Itoshi, Kara, and Tomori, now recognized as unlicensed members of his squad, with Jayu listed as their temporary mascot.
Beneath that were signed letters for both Jayu and Tomori... and under those, their next set of assignments.
Ryujin and Ayro exchanged glances as they both read the papers, before they nods at the same time.
[Jayu & Itoshi]
"Need something?"
It was a boy—no older than seventeen—looking down at the child standing quietly outside the doorway.
"Who is that?"
A woman called from inside, sitting on her bed.
The boy glanced back.
"I-It's a kid..."
He looked at Jayu again, confused.
"I think you're in the wrong room."
Then his eyes caught Itoshi standing behind her. He squinted, trying to recognize him.
Itoshi averted his gaze.
Before the boy could say anything else, Jayu spoke softly.
"Can we speak with her?"
She clutched a small basket of food offerings in her hands—meant for the woman.
"M-My mom?"
He asked, raising a brow.
"Ma! They wanna meet you!"
"Eh?... Let them in, I guess?"
The woman replied, uncertain.
Itoshi entered first, hands in his pockets, eyes half-closed, calm as he took the chair beside the doorframe. Jayu followed.
The woman's eyes widened the instant she recognized them.
"W-What are you doing here?!"
Her voice cracked as her son shut the door. Panic rippled across her face.
"Get them out! Those are demons!"
A sudden crack echoed from somewhere—wood splitting—but no one could tell where it came from.
The boy jumped, his mother's fear feeding his own. He stepped closer to her, voice shaking.
"W-What do you guys want?.. Where did that come from?!"
His mother pointed at Jayu, then at Itoshi.
"Look at her! She was a mess yesterday—and now she's completely healed! He must be one of them too!"
Itoshi leaned back on the chair, exhaled sharply, then spoke.
"If we were demons, you'd already be dead."
His fiery red eyes opened, cutting straight through the room.
"Then... what do you want? Revenge?!"
The woman snapped.
Itoshi said nothing. Jayu stepped forward.
"No..."
Her voice trembled; her whole body did. She couldn't look the woman in the eyes.
"W-We... W-want p-peace..."
Slowly, she lifted her head. What she saw on their faces wasn't anger. It was fear.
She inhaled, forcing her shaking hands to hold out the basket.
"I... I'm sorry! F-For what T-Tomo-nee did to you!"
The room fell silent.
Then the woman clicked her tongue.
"Tsk..."
Jayu flinched.
"Disgusting!"
Her voice rose, cutting through the small room.
"You're disgusting! Both of you! Demons! Fakes!"
The words hit Jayu hard—tears welled, but she stood her ground. Itoshi kept his eyes on her, refusing to look at the woman whose every word was igniting his anger.
He took a slow breath.
"Alright. Enough."
Standing, he took the basket and set it on the chair.
"Jayu-chan, let's go."
He lifted her gently, turned toward the door, then paused. His face shadowed over, crimson eyes glowing faintly as he spoke.
"This child is the reason you're still breathing. Hell, she might be the reason you still have a city to live in."
He shut the door behind them.
The air conditioner hummed, but the boy and his mother were drenched in sweat—not from the heat, but from the fire that still lingered in the air.
Itoshi's footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway. The pink-haired six-year-old clung to him tightly, her small hands gripping his shirt as she whimpered.
"I-Itoshi-n...nii..."
He stopped. Her trembling voice lingered in the air.
"A... Am I... A bad k-ki-kid?..."
Her words barely formed, breaking apart between gasps.
"I-.. I d-d-did.. N-nothing w-wrong r-right?.."
"I.. I-I-I w-wa-was n-not a b-bad k-k-kid right?..
Silence. Only the faint hum of the lights above.
"M-m-m... m-mum.. w-w-w-w.. w-on't h-hate m-m-me.. r-r-right?.."
Itoshi's jaw tightened as he turned, watching her small palm tremble as it gripped his shoulder. He said nothing—just kept walking.
Jayu's sobs grew louder. Her body shook as she buried her face against him, tears soaking through his shirt.
He didn't tell her it was fine. He didn't tell her to stop crying. He just held her a little tighter and kept moving, his steps heavy against the cold floor.
~~~Hiikawa Apartment~~~
[14:23H]
It was another late afternoon. The rain had finally stopped.
The door creaked open into the dim apartment, where faint snoring filled the silence.
Itoshi stood by the doorway, still carrying Jayu. She was fast asleep now—exhausted.
Ryujin and Aldrin followed close behind as he flicked on the lights. Kirashi was sprawled out on the floor, half-buried under a blanket.
"Welcome back..."
Kirashi muttered in his sleep.
Itoshi shook his head, a faint exhale slipping through his nose as he glanced at the so-called homeless man.
He stepped inside and gently laid Jayu down on the couch. She stirred, turning toward the backrest, hugging herself as her breathing steadied again.
Itoshi knelt beside Kirashi, watching the man drool in his sleep. For a moment, he just stared, expression flat.
He closed his eyes.
"I need a distraction..."
When he stood, Ryujin and Aldrin were already sinking into their chairs, both letting out a long, tired sigh.
They watched Itoshi cross the room with one eye half open, a familiar look on his face.
Their thoughts aligned almost perfectly.
"Something's about to happen again."
~~~Nagao Hospital~~~
[17:14H]
"Got all your stuff, Tomori-san?"
Kara asked with a grin.
Tomori did one last check while Ayro leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed.
"Mhm! I believe so!"
She was finally out of the hospital gown—now in a simple hoodie and shorts. Her pink luggage handle clicked as she extended it, gripping it in her right hand.
Kara nodded.
"Let's go?"
Tomori froze. Kara caught it instantly.
"Tomo-san?"
Tomori's voice came out small, anxious.
"H-How should I... introduce myself?"
Kara and Ayro both laughed.
"You'll be fine," Kara said, patting her shoulder.
The door shut behind them with a solid thud as the three stepped out the back exit.
Ayro led the way. Kara slowed her steps to match Tomori's pace.
"How're your ribs feeling?"
Kara asked, glancing at her.
Tomori's hand drifted to her right side—the same ribs that had been shattered under Il-Min-Song's kicks. The pain was dulled but not gone; one wrong move and it could still turn fatal.
"Manageable,"
She said with a small smile.
Then she stopped. Her eyes fixed on a street ahead. That street.
Kara and Ayro halted, watching her grip the handle of her luggage tighter.
"Tsk..."
Tomori muttered under her breath.
After a moment, she started walking again, falling back in step beside Kara.
"It was... there?"
Kara asked quietly.
"Yeah,"
Tomori replied, her tone low—cold.
They walked together, closing in on the apartment the squad was staying in.
Tomori grew more restless with every step.
"What do I do, what do I do?!"
The question kept bouncing in her head.
Kara leaned over and caught her expression, chuckling.
Tomori frowned.
"Jeez! Kara-san! Stop teasing me!"
"Wutt! I didn't do anything!"
Kara shot back, grinning.
"We're here,"
Ayro announced.
"Eep!"
Tomori jolted, and a pair of cat ears popped up from her head.
Ayro glanced back with a smirk.
"A new jobless brokie on the squad, huh? How's it feel to get fired?"
Tomori barked back.
"Correction! I quitted!"
"Sure, sure... I do miss hearing you get scolded by your boss, though."
"STOPPP!"
Tomori shouted, face burning as Kara and Ayro burst out laughing.
They finally reached the door. The infamous door.
Ayro stopped, his hand hovering over the knob. He turned his head, smirking at Tomori with that same annoying confidence.
Tomori frowned.
"Why the hell are you looking at me like that?"
"Jeez...a feisty homeless girl got lost in a rich home,"
Ayro said, tilting his head dramatically.
Kara stepped up, gently placing her hands on Tomori's shoulders as she smiled.
"You'll be alright! You'll get used to it!"
Tomori forced a small laugh, rubbing the back of her neck.
"You sound like my guidance counselor..."
Before she could say more, Ayro twisted the knob and pushed the door open. He strolled in like he owned the place. Kara followed behind him, waving for Tomori to come along.
Tomori took a breath, her nerves catching up. Then she stepped in.
The air inside was stale and quiet. Not tense—just... lifeless.
Her shoulders dropped.
"Y'all are so boring..."
She muttered, unimpressed.
Ryujin was at the table, flipping through reports, one hand supporting his chin.
Aldrin sat cross-legged on the carpet, frowning at a half-finished Rubik's cube.
Kirashi was sprawled across the couch, half asleep, drooling.
Jayu was perched on Itoshi's lap, both calmly reading a children's book together like nothing else in the world existed.
Kirashi mumbled in his sleep.
"Welcome back..."
Tomori squinted at him.
"Is he even really asleep?"
Everyone looked at each other, then shrugged at once.
"What?"
Tomori asked, stepping further in. She dropped her pink luggage beside her.
"Where do I put this?"
"Just anywhere,"
Ryujin said flatly, eyes still on his papers.
Tomori turned to Kara for backup. Kara just smiled and shrugged, that unhelpful kind of friendly.
"Help,"
Tomori thought, staring at her luggage like it would move itself.
Kara laughed softly and tugged her arm.
"Come on."
She pulled Tomori toward the living room, near Kirashi's messy sleeping spot. The couch dipped as they sat beside Jayu and Itoshi.
Jayu looked up from the book and waved, smiling like nothing bad had ever happened.
"Welcome, Tomo-nee!"
Tomori blinked in surprise.
"J-Jayu... are you—"
"Hm?"
Jayu tilted her head, bright-eyed.
"Nevermind! I just thought that book looked familiar!"
Tomori deflected, laughing awkwardly.
"You should rest, Tomo-san!"
Kara said cheerfully, patting her thighs.
Tomori froze, eyes flicking from Kara's glowing smile to her thighs, back to her eyes again. Her face heated up instantly.
"ARE YOU SURE?!"
Kara nodded, unfazed.
"MIND IF I DO!"
Tomori practically dove down, resting her head on Kara's thighs with a long sigh.
"I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW HOW THIS FELT!"
She stretched, clearly enjoying herself, before noticing Itoshi glaring over the top of his book.
"Heh~ jalusy?"
She teased, smirking up at him.
Itoshi clicked his tongue.
"Delusional," he muttered, flipping a page.
Then... Silence...
Tomori puffed her cheeks and sat up, crossing her arms.
"Do you guys seriously just... do nothing when you're not fighting?"
All of them answered in sync, like a choir of disappointment.
"Eh... pretty much."
Ryujin glanced sideways at Ayro.
"That complaint sounded familiar."
"He's distracted right now,"
Ayro whispered, intentionally loud.
Itoshi didn't look up.
"I can hear you idiots."
Kirashi stirred, his arm twitching.
"Predator..."
He muttered half-consciously. His face was covered in marker doodles, black lines across his cheeks and forehead like a toddler's art project.
"Shut up... homeless,"
Itoshi fired back casually.
Tomori's jaw dropped as her head tilted.
"H-How...?"
Ayro snorted.
"He's trained in sleep talking, don't question it."
Tomori blinked slowly.
"You guys live together like this every day?"
"Yup,"
Kara said proudly.
Tomori rubbed her temples, sighing as she leaned back on the couch.
"God help me..."
A beat of silence passed before Aldrin suddenly cursed under his breath.
"Son of a—this cube is rigged!"
Ryujin didn't even look up.
"It's not rigged. You're just stupid."
Tomori stared between them all—the chaotic calm, the mismatched energy, the strange normalcy of it—and quietly laughed to herself.
"Yeah... I might be cooked."
Tomori had finally found a new home—new people she could trust and rely on. In return, they trusted her just the same. Nothing too much, nothing too little. In her mind, it was balanced—just right. For now, it was all she could ask for as she carried on her search for her sister.
Jayu, on the other hand... faced an uncertainty no child ever should. The pain still echoed in her thoughts, looping without end. She smiled, like she always did—but how long could that smile hold?
~~~To be Continued~~~