"Lying isn't good, Menjou-san."
The other party spoke at this moment, teasing her lightly.
"...I-I didn't... lie—"
"Do you know, Menjou-san? Right now, I can completely label you as someone who trespassed into the quarantine zone, accidentally contracted the virus, and then, under proper procedure, exile you into the quarantine zone... or have you remain here forever for 'treatment' or human experimentation. The food here isn't very good, you know~? The treatment isn't pleasant either, and the experiments are even worse. Did you see those children? Maybe you'll end up even more miserable than them~?"
"..."
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably. Her eyes reddened, her soft lips parting again and again, yet no words came out.
Mio...
I... I'm so scared...
Mio... where are you?
What... should I do?
I... can't hold on anymore...
I'm sorry... Mio.
"...I..."
She slowly lowered her head, her bangs covering her eyes so her expression could not be seen... only a faint voice slipped from her lips.
"Hm?"
Segai revealed a hint of a triumphant smile.
"...I... don't... know anything."
After saying those words, a tear slipped from beneath her bangs, sliding down her cheek before dripping onto the back of her hand.
"...Is that so? Hmm—then there's no helping it. Sigh... I thought you were a smart one, but I didn't expect you to be this foolish. What a pity."
Segai finally stood up, shrugging as if relieved, then snapped his fingers.
Clatter~
The door to the room opened, and two soldiers walked in. They went to either side of the girl and mercilessly grabbed her wrists, pulling her up.
"Mm—"
She let out a pained grunt as she was forced down onto the ground, her knees striking hard with sharp pain.
"Take her back to the detention order room, complete prisoner registration and infected registration. Tomorrow morning, send her to the lab... write her down as... hmm—an experimental volunteer."
With his back turned, Segai waved his hand dismissively, then took out his phone, sat back on the sofa, and resumed playing a crossword game.
"Yes, sir!" ×2
...
Clatter~
The door to the detention room opened automatically.
Thud~!
"Mmgh!!"
Hare, who had been escorted to the doorway, was kicked in the back by the soldier behind her. The immense force sent her delicate body crashing straight into the wall inside. After a muffled groan, she gradually collapsed onto the ground.
Clatter~
The door shut tightly again. The two men left, leaving only her disheveled figure behind.
Thinking of what Segai had said earlier—being registered as a criminal and an infected individual—she would surely be thrown into prison, perhaps even forced to strip and change into prison clothes, subjected to experiments, never to see the light of day again.
"(sniff...)"
Her entire body trembled as faint sobs leaked from her throat.
"(sob...) Wuu..."
Click!
The lights in the detention room suddenly shut off... leaving only a dim red glow. This was the room's usual state—silent and oppressive.
"Wuu—"
She finally couldn't hold it in anymore and broke down crying. She lay on the ground, unable to get up, her tears flowing with gravity onto the floor, dampening her hair.
That's right—she still hadn't told the truth. And it was precisely because of that choice that she now cried in grievance.
No one knew how long she cried... exhausted from crying, she still didn't get up. Both her hands and feet were shackled, leaving her completely unable to move. She could only lie there on her side on the tear-soaked ground.
Her eyes were slightly swollen, her gaze dim, silent... even though her entire body had gone somewhat numb.
She slowly closed her eyes.
"..."
For some reason, she felt very tired. Mentally exhausted, physically exhausted—everything felt so heavy. She only wanted to close her eyes and fall asleep. If she slept, then nothing would happen, right?
Buzz~
At that moment, a warm violet light began to emerge from her body. Hearing it, she opened her eyes in confusion and looked at it. These violet particles floated before her, gradually forming a small object resembling a chess piece—delicate and refined, like some kind of precious item.
"...!"
In the next second, light finally returned to her dim eyes.
Buzz~
The object gradually dissolved into particles of light and reassembled, ultimately forming the figure of the familiar purple-haired woman.
"Hare... are you alright?"
The Shogun appeared before her. Seeing her like this, she felt a trace of self-reproach for asking such an obvious question, and quickly stepped forward to help the girl up.
"...Mi... Mio?"
Hare was still a little dazed as she asked softly.
"Yes, it's me..."
She nodded, gently wiping the sweat from the girl's forehead and the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"You were crying?"
She asked softly.
"..."
The girl pursed her trembling lips, her eyes filling once more with thick tears—more and more.
"Mi... Mio... (sniff...)"
"Mm... it's me."
She answered patiently.
"Mi... Mio (sob...)"
She kept calling her name, her tone growing more intense, her sobs thickening.
"...It's me."
She continued to respond.
"Waaah—!!"
The girl finally burst out crying as if releasing everything, burying her face into her neck and sobbing uncontrollably, as though pouring out all her grievances through her tears while repeatedly calling her name.
"It's alright... I'm here. It's alright, don't be afraid anymore."
Hearing the heart-wrenching cries, feeling the constant dampness at her neck and that deep sense of longing, she comforted her gently.
She kept stroking the girl's trembling back, whispering softly into her ear with a voice as gentle as water, as if trying to draw all fear out of her.
"Wuu—! I'm scared... I'm sca— (sniff...) scared."
Even so, she continued crying, murmuring between sobs.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid... I won't let them hurt you. It's alright, don't cry anymore, be good."
She continued to hold the girl who was buried in her neck, her lips close to the girl's ear as she whispered these words.
"Mm— mm~ mm~"
The girl had probably cried enough, but the aftereffects hadn't faded. Her sobbing breaths still trembled, each inhale carrying the quiver unique to crying, accompanied by soft gasps. Her body trembled rhythmically, clearly not yet fully recovered.
"Don't cry anymore~ be good~"
Chu~
After thinking for a moment, she suppressed her embarrassment and, on her own initiative, lowered her head and gently kissed the girl's forehead to help calm her down.
"...Haa... haa."
Although Hare had yet to fully recover from the aftereffects of crying, she instinctively blushed at the kiss. Combined with her tear-streaked face—like a little kitten—it made her look especially pitiful and endearing.
"Mi... Mio... that's so unfair..."
Hare complained softly in a tearful voice.
"Is it? If it helps you stop crying... then it's nothing important..."
She smiled fondly, gently pinching the girl's nose as she spoke softly.
"Mm... I-I'm not crying anymore...///"
Hare, perhaps realizing she had cried too much, blushed and wiped the corners of her eyes. After all, she had just been facing despair—and then suddenly saw that warm violet light again, saw this familiar figure before her... she simply couldn't hold it in.
Sure enough, she hadn't been abandoned. She hadn't made the wrong choice. That feeling of seeing hope within darkness made her unable to stop her tears, releasing all the suppression and grievance she had endured. She clung to this warmth.
"Mm... take a moment. I'll take you out of here afterward."
Seeing that the girl had stopped crying, she let her bury herself in her chest again, gently stroking her back and hair.
"Mio..."
The girl in her arms spoke softly, her fragile voice still carrying a nasal tone, occasionally tugging at her heart.
"Mm?"
She lowered her head and responded gently.
"Mio... why... are you here?"
Hare asked in confusion. Just moments ago, she had appeared out of nowhere. She knew the person before her was no ordinary individual—extremely powerful even. After witnessing her slaughter the GHQ forces before, it was obvious. Yet she wasn't afraid. Come to think of it... she didn't know anything about her at all.
"Well..."
The Shogun smiled and took out the Gnosis in her hand, letting it sway slightly before the girl's eyes.
"So beautiful..."
Hare reached out instinctively, but then withdrew her fingers, glancing at the person beside her.
"Here... you can touch it."
Seeing the girl's small movement, she smiled and placed the small, exquisite violet crystal—like a chess piece—into her hands.
"...!"
Hare received it and examined it curiously, touching its surface. It felt slightly cool, but upon closer sensation, there was warmth within. Its exterior was extremely delicate, like a precious gem.
"What... is this?"
"A Gnosis."
She answered directly.
"Eh? A G-Gno...sis?"
A god?!
Eh?
That means...
"Mio... you're... a g-god...?"
Hare asked.
"Mm—this vessel is indeed that of a god. Did that scare you?"
She asked gently.
"...Mm."
Hare stared at her blankly.