In a separate medical facility, Shisui lay stable in an intensive care unit.
Up on the hospital rooftop, Hayato stood near the ledge, staring silently at the golden sunrise painting the morning sky. The cold morning wind blew against his bandages.
The heavy metal door behind him creaked open. Hayato turned his head to see a young woman stepping out onto the roof, her long dark hair swaying in the breeze.
It was Mei—Shisui's older sister, a year senior to both Hayato and Shisui. She had taken a high-speed overnight flight the moment she received news of her brother's condition.
Mei paused, her dark eyes scanning Hayato's heavily bandaged torso and arm.
Is he half-asleep standing up? Mei thought, noticing his vacant expression. She raised her hand, waving gently.
Hayato blinked, slowly raising his hand and waving back.
"Hayato..." she called out softly, walking closer.
"I'm sorry, Mei..." Hayato said, his voice quiet.
Mei stopped in her tracks, surprised by the sudden apology.
"It's my fault," Hayato continued, turning back toward the horizon. "I was the one who dragged Shisui into this... I pushed for us to search that village..."
"Hayato... did something happen down there?" Mei asked, her voice dropping an octave as she observed the profound change in his posture.
Hayato stared at the golden light reflecting off the clouds. "Nah," he said softly after a long pause. "Nothing at all."
Mei studied his profile for a moment before offering a gentle, reassuring smile. "You don't have to carry the sky on your shoulders, Hayato. If you're worrying about Shisui... you know how stubborn he is. He's one tough kid."
Hayato's lips curved into a faint, genuine smile. "Yeah. He really is one tough fella."
Mei smiled back, then snapped her fingers as if remembering something. "Oh! I almost forgot. Commander Sasaki is looking for you downstairs."
Hayato nodded. "Okay, Thanks, Mei."
Hayato descended the stairwell, stepping into the private administrative office where Commander Sasaki was reviewing medical clearance files.
"Commander, you wanted to speak with me?" Hayato asked, standing in the doorway.
Sasaki looked up, setting his pen down. "Our private plane will be arriving within the hour. I'll be escorting Shisui back to Tokyo for specialized neural rehab. Mei will be accompanying us."
Hayato nodded quietly. "Understood."
"So?" Sasaki asked, resting his hands on the desk. "What about you? Do you want to board the flight with us, or stay behind in the capital, Ottawa, for a few days to rest?"
"I'll come back with you," Hayato said without hesitation.
Sasaki searched his face before giving a single nod. "Alright. Get your gear ready."
Hayato turned to leave the room. As his hand touched the door handle, Sasaki's voice echoed behind him.
"Hayato."
Hayato paused, turning his head slightly.
Sasaki looked at him with a warm, grounded smile. "If you ever need to talk about what happened... remember that I'm here. Always."
Hayato looked at his superior, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. He offered a small, sincere smile and nodded. "I know. Thanks, Commander."
As the door clicked shut, Sasaki leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting out the window toward the rising sun. Memories long buried began to resurface.
The sky was painted in deep shades of amber and violet. A younger Sasaki sat along the wooden dock, his legs dangling into the cool, flowing water alongside another man.
The man sitting beside him had a commanding presence, yet his eyes were soft as he watched the current flow past.
"Sasaki..." the man said quietly.
Sasaki looked over at him, the man's silhouette outlined by the dying sunlight.
"You are genuinely the best human being I have ever known," the man said softly.
Sasaki blinked in surprise, chuckling awkwardly. "Where is this coming from?"
"I mean it," the man insisted, looking out over the water. "Sometimes... I wish I could be more like you."
Sasaki shook his head, looking down at his reflection in the river. "Thanks for saying that, my friend... but don't sell yourself short. I'm nowhere near the man you think I am."
"Don't sell yourself short either," the man replied with a warm laugh.
He reached out, placing a heavy, firm hand on Sasaki's shoulder. The laughter faded from his voice, replaced by an intense, quiet sincerity.
"Sasaki... if anything ever happens to me, just in case... promise me you'll look after my children. Promise me you'll look after Hayato and Himari."
Sasaki turned his head quickly, his eyes widening in sudden realization. "Hey... don't talk like that. What are you getting at...?"
The man didn't answer. He simply offered a quiet, peaceful smile, staring into the fading sunset.
A few days after that conversation, Sasaki had stood silently in the pouring rain in front of a fresh gravestone—engraved with the name of Hayato's father.