~~~May 6, 2169 - 9PM~~~
[San Clinic]
It was midnight when Hoshi stepped out of the clinic. The world was quieter, the streets empty, save for the occasional rustle of wind through leaves or the distant bark of a dog.
The cold air nipped gently at her skin, and the stars above were bright and scattered like dust on black velvet.
She took a deep breath, letting it sit heavy in her chest before exhaling slowly. The silence around her didn't feel peaceful—it felt like judgment.
She looked up at the moon, pale and distant, and murmured under her breath:
"I'm such a failure... Sorry... Nee-san."
The words escaped her like a confession, carried into the night by the breeze. Her eyes lingered on the sky, waiting for an answer that never came.
A soft meow pulled Hoshi from her thoughts.
She looked down to see a small, scruffy cat brushing against her leg. Its fur was a mix of gray and white, and its golden eyes stared up at her as if sensing the weight in her chest.
She crouched slowly, her tired knees creaking slightly, and gently patted the cat's head.
"Heh... you scared me a little," she said softly.
The cat purred, leaning into her touch.
She smiled faintly, then looked back up at the sky.
"Gotta start making moves... just wait for me, Nee-san."
The cat gave another quiet meow, almost like a reply, before curling at her feet.
~~~May 7, 2169 - 12 noon~~~
[Some Remote Area In Nagasaki]
"ONE! TWO! THREE!"
Itoshi shouted, his voice echoing through the quiet clearing.
"Come on, Itoshi, try harder!"
Ryujin muttered with a half-smirk, arms crossed.
"I AM!!"
Itoshi barked back, sweat flying from his brow as he strained through another push-up.
The early sun barely broke through the trees, but the humidity clung tight. Itoshi trained hard—every repetition, every breath, each scream—a cry of desperation and determination. He knew bigger battles awaited. His body had to keep up with the fire inside him.
Unexpectedly, Kirashi had joined the session, matching Itoshi's pace wordlessly. The two pushed each other without speaking. Brothers in silence.
But what truly surprised everyone was the silent presence seated under a tree nearby: Jayu.
[Back in the hotel, earlier that morning]
"Ehh? You sure you're coming, Jayu-chan?"
Kara asked, brows raised.
"You're gonna get bored there, you know?.. it's just training."
Ayro added.
Miss Gigi joined in, smiling.
"The child wants to come, let her come."
[Some Remote Area in Nagasaki]
Ryujin glanced back toward the girl sitting cross-legged, her hands folded in her lap, eyes locked on Itoshi and Kirashi.
"Still surprised Jayu wanted to come..."
He muttered.
Miss Gigi took a slow drag from her cigarette, exhaling smoke lazily.
"She's a child, Ryujin. Curiosity is their strength."
"And ah... by the way,"
Miss Gigi added, flicking ash off the edge of her cigarette.
"Hmm?"
Ryujin replied, only half-turning his head.
"Just who exactly are the official members of your squad, Ryujin?.. It's quite a plethora here."
"Ah..."
He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Me, Ayro, Kirashi, Kara, Itoshi, and Aldrin. Jayu's the only non-member."
Miss Gigi raised an eyebrow.
"Ah... so you're really taking Aldrin in now too, huh?"
"Well... his role is the helicopter pilot of the squad. Might as well include him,"
Ryujin argued, shrugging.
Miss Gigi chuckled softly, looking out at the training boys.
"Guess it's not a bad idea. Every strong unit needs a solid wheel to keep turning."
The continued counting and reps of Kirashi and Itoshi's training echoed through the quiet forest, their voices mixing with the occasional snap of leaves and rustle of wind.
Jayu sat cross-legged, arms resting on her knees as she watched in silence. Beside her stood Ryujin, arms folded, and Miss Gigi a few steps back, cigarette slowly burning between her fingers.
"See that, Ryujin?"
Miss Gigi suddenly shot him a look, breaking the long stretch of quiet.
Ryujin glanced at her.
"If it truly was heat that made him suddenly pass out,"
She said, nodding toward Itoshi,
"He would've passed out now just from the exercise. But look—he's not showing any signs of it."
Her tone wasn't accusatory, but there was weight behind her words. Suspicion. Observation. Concern.
"It must truly be an outside source"
He thought to himself.
Meanwhile, in a tree nearby, half-shrouded by shadows and leaves, Hoshi crouched low on a thick branch.
Her tri-colored hair swayed slightly with the afternoon breeze, twin tails brushing against her shoulders as she narrowed her eyes on the squad below.
But she was different now.
No longer the reckless, emotional girl who stumbled through her choices—her eyes carried focus. Steady. Cold. Determined.
There was a purpose in her breathing, a precision in how she studied each movement of the squad. Especially Itoshi.
Whatever her goal was, it had hardened her.
She wasn't just watching anymore.
She was preparing.
She pulled her kunoichi mask over the lower half of her face, concealing any trace of hesitation. The silver glint in her eyes remained, sharp and unwavering. With one silent breath, she turned away from the training ground.
Then—fwsh—she vanished into motion.
Leaping from branch to branch, her form was swift and fluid, like a shadow weaving through the forest canopy. Each landing was precise. Each step driven by resolve.
She was heading toward Nagasaki's downtown.
Whatever waited for her there... she was ready for it.
[Nagasaki]
Ayro was walking back towards the apartment eyes closed after he took a stroll around Nagasaki area for 3 whole hours.
He stopped walking all of a sudden, he opened his eyes and there in front of him in broad daylight. the short but slim kunoichi stood in front of him.
"I knew it was you"
"What a strange sense you have"
"Only the best"
Ayro replied with a smirk on his face
"Proud of it are we?"
She asked.
He looked at the kunoichi's eyes, for the first time. He saw her eyes. Ayro felt a feeling he hasn't felt in a while.
It sent shivers down his spine, he hasn't see determination in someone's eye's in a while.
"Your eyes.."
He muttered.
"They're pretty.."
he added the kunoichi nodded and she smirked behind the mask
"Only the best."
Ayro raised an eyebrow, still holding his smirk.
"Tch... quoting me now? That's bold."
The kunoichi stepped forward, her presence still light, but unmistakably intense.
She closed her eyes as she shrugged, teasing.
"Perhaps."
Her voice was calm, yet sharp.
A breeze passed between them, shifting the hem of her cloak and Ayro's coat. Neither moved.
He stared at her a second longer.
"You're not running this time."
She tilted her head.
"Wasn't planning to."
For a moment, everything slowed—Nagasaki's distant hum, the distant chatter, the ordinary day around them. But between Ayro and the kunoichi, a quiet charge filled the air.
Ayro crossed his arms, his tone slightly more serious now.
"What are you really after?"
The kunoichi didn't answer right away. Her gaze drifted slightly past him, then returned to meet his.
"Hm... Perhaps, someone to trust."
Ayro found himself at a loss for words, caught off guard by the weight behind her words.
"Hmm... perhaps that Roger guy was right?"
She added, a knowing smile playing beneath her mask.
Ayro swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. The moment hung between them, charged with unspoken understanding.
Ayro blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her tone.
"Roger, huh?"
He finally said, voice low and thoughtful.
The kunoichi gave a small, almost teasing nod.
"Yeah. Maybe he wasn't as wrong as I thought."
Ayro stayed silent for a moment, wrestling with the unfamiliar feeling growing in his chest — something like hope, or at least... a crack in his usual armor.
"Trust" he muttered, almost to himself.
"Not exactly a word we throw around lightly."
Suddenly, Hoshi's movement shifted — no longer the calm observer, she lunged forward with fierce intent. Ayro felt it immediately. This wasn't a test anymore. She was in for blood.
"Heh?.. You blocked it this time?"
She paused.
"You really did know, huh?"
"Tsk... just what are your true goals?"
Ayro muttered to himself, eyes narrowing as he studied her
~~~To be Continued~~~