"Why are you here, Captain Lilly?" Kentaro's voice cut through the crackling firelight, his gaze cold and unwelcoming.
Lilly leaned back against the couch, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "That's the first thing you ask after all these years?" Her eyes searched his face for any hint of warmth, but found none.
Kentaro's expression remained impassive. He crossed his arms, standing rigidly in place. "Just answer the question."
Lilly let out a sigh, her gaze dropping to the flickering flames. "At least sit down," she said, a faint hint of something almost pleading in her voice. "It's been a long time... and I wouldn't mind a cup of your coffee."
Kentaro exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. "Still as demanding as ever." Without another word, he disappeared into the kitchen.
The rhythmic clinking of ceramic cups and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. His movements were methodical, almost mechanical, as he poured the dark liquid into three mugs. He stared at the third cup for a moment, his brow furrowing.
Returning to the fireplace, he placed the cups on the table. Lilly's face brightened at the sight of them. "Three cups?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
Kentaro didn't answer. Instead, he shifted his gaze toward the dimly lit hallway. His voice was calm, yet sharp as a blade. "Come out. Hiding any longer won't change a thing."
A faint rustling of fabric preceded the figure that emerged from the shadows. She moved with calculated precision, her pale skin almost ghostly against the fire's glow. White hair framed a pair of sharp, emotionless eyes behind thin-rimmed glasses.
"How did you know I was there?" she asked, her voice void of curiosity, as if she already suspected the answer.
Kentaro leaned against the armrest, taking a sip of his coffee. "If you're going to stare that hard, it's obvious someone's lurking."
Lilly chuckled, shaking her head. "That's Kentaro for you, Anri."
Anri adjusted her glasses with a practiced flick of her fingers. "My name is Anri Shun," she said flatly.
Kentaro gestured to the sofa without looking at her. "Sit. It's cold. Have some coffee."
Anri took a seat beside Lilly, her movements precise, deliberate. Kentaro settled into his chair opposite them, his eyes scanning their faces.
"So," he said, voice low and steady, "now that you've got your coffee, why don't you tell me why you're here?"
Lilly cradled her cup in both hands, blowing gently on the steaming surface before taking a sip. "You've changed, Kentaro," she said, her gaze lingering on him. "The reason we're here... we need your help."
Kentaro's fingers tightened around the handle of his cup, the ceramic creaking under the pressure. His jaw clenched, but he didn't speak. Help? From Futaba Company? That didn't sit right.
Futaba Company wasn't the type to ask for favors. It was an empire of chemical and medical research, where cutting-edge experiments blurred the line between science and morality. Divided into nine specialized teams, each unit had their purpose—Team 9 focused on medical advancements, while Team 7 dealt with chemical weapons. But Team 10... that was different. A fusion of medicine and warfare. His team—once. And now, it seemed, Anri had stepped into his old role as vice-captain.
He leaned back, forcing his grip to relax. "What kind of help?"
Lilly set her cup down gently, her expression darkening. "It's about Kirishima Company."
At the mention of that name, the room seemed to constrict around him. The warm glow of the fire felt suffocating, and his pulse quickened. His eyes, usually guarded, darkened with something far more dangerous.
The tension in his shoulders grew, and his breath came out slow, measured—controlled. But inside, his thoughts were anything but calm. Kirishima... That name clawed at the back of his mind like a wound refusing to heal.
His voice, when he finally spoke, was laced with a chilling edge. " Tell me everything. From the beginning."