~~~UWDS Office~~~
[Fukuoka Branch]
The UWDS office lobby in Fukuoka was silent.
White walls stood firm under flickering lights, broken only by the rustle of paper somewhere deeper in the building. The sound carried farther than it should have.
Squad 663 sat in a straight line along the connected seats, their remaining luggage lined up at their feet—what little had survived the clash between Ayro, Kirashi, and the ronin.
No one spoke.
Ryujin sat at the far left, closest to the front door. His arms were crossed, eyes closed, posture rigid.
Next to him, Ayro calmly drank tea, as if he hadn't just come out of a serious battle.
Kara leaned toward him, waving her hands insistently.
"Ayro-san!.. Are you sure you're alright?.. Let me take care of your fatigue.."
Ayro didn't look at her.
"The tea heals."
Tomori sat beside them, managing Kara's, Jayu's, and her own luggage while checking through what Ayro and Kirashi had managed to save.
Kirashi slept next to her, drool slipping freely down his chin.
At the far end, Aldrin sat motionless as Jayu slept on his lap, her breathing slow and even.
One seat was empty.
Itoshi was nowhere to be found.
The flickering lights were drowned out by approaching footsteps.
Sharp, deliberate. The unmistakable sound of three-inch heels against tile.
Miss Gigi stepped into view, hands in her coat pockets.
"Jeez... you kids look like lost puppies."
No one responded.
The squad only stared at her, silent and unmoving, like they were waiting for orders.
A single bead of sweat slid down Miss Gigi's temple.
"So much for lightening the mood."
She straightened, shoving the awkwardness aside, one brow lifting.
"Hm. Where's Crow?"
Before anyone could answer—
"Here, ma'am!"
Itoshi stepped out from behind, voice sharp and immediate.
Miss Gigi exhaled softly.
"Ah. Perfect."
As everyone settled, Miss Gigi began her announcement in the empty lobby.
The only others close enough to hear were a handful of SPINE and a few paperwork staff moving through the branch.
She stood at the center, posture tall and rigid, folders tucked under her right arm.
"Since our situation has obviously changed,"
She began, eyes sweeping across the squad,
"The higher-ups—along with Hachi—have ordered me to keep you stationed here for now."
She paused, making sure she had their attention.
"You'll be staying in this office until Saturday. By the 15th of July, the plan on the other side will commence exactly as originally intended."
Another pause. A breath.
"At 1700 hours, we leave the city."
She stopped herself, sighing as her left palm pressed briefly to her temple.
"This mission took..."
She exhaled, shaking her head,
"a total of— and I cannot believe I'm saying this—only fifteen days."
Her gaze moved across them as staff passed by, unaware of the weight in the air.
"That is an absurdly large achievement,"
she continued.
"What you're doing for this organization— and for the world— is genuinely remarkable."
Then she paused again.
This time, the atmosphere shifted.
"One last thing."
Her eyes settled on Jayu, still asleep on Aldrin's lap, small and unmoving against the lobby chairs.
"You have until the 14th to settle everything."
A beat.
"That's all."
Miss Gigi snapped into a sharp salute, turned on her heel, and disappeared through the back doors.
As her footsteps faded, the squad exchanged glances—everyone except Ryujin and Ayro.
Silence stretched.
Ryujin was the first to speak, his tone firm and controlled. He cleared his throat.
"Like Miss Gigi said, we'll be staying here for our final days in the city."
Heads turned toward their squad leader.
"I'll take you all to our rooms later. Don't get picky—we'll be cramped. This branch is small."
He took a slow breath.
"And... we all know what we need to do about Jayu."
His gaze swept the line.
"Who's going to break it to her?"
Kara slowly raised her hand. It was obvious. Too obvious.
Ryujin turned his head away and closed his eyes.
"Alright... s—"
"Let me do it!"
The interruption cut clean through the room.
Every head snapped toward the voice.
Itoshi stood up from his seat, shoulders stiff, eyes locked on the floor.
"Can I please do it?"
He swallowed.
"Please."
A few seconds passed.
No one spoke.
They watched the determination settle into him—raw, unbuckled, impossible to miss.
One by one, they closed their eyes.
Smiles followed.
Ryujin finally spoke.
"Can you?"
"Yes! Please!"
Itoshi answered immediately.
A beat.
"Alright,"
Ryujin said.
"You're doing it."
Then, sharper:
"But next time, don't shout when you're asking for something."
"Got it, sir!"
Itoshi replied without hesitation.
[20:13H]
As night settled deeper, the squad moved into their assigned room.
It was small—two double-decker beds pressed into the corners far from the door, and one large futon laid out in the center.
The door slid open with Ayro and Ryujin at the front, the rest of the squad leaning in behind them to get a look.
Kirashi squinted.
"Dang... it really is small..."
Then a grin crept up his face.
"Hehe~"
Tomori leaned in beside him and immediately caught it. Her expression twisted in disapproval. "What the hell are you thinking about now..."
One by one, they stepped inside. Itoshi entered last.
"OI?!" he barked.
"LET ME TAKE THE TOP DECK!"
He pointed straight at Kirashi and Tomori.
"First come, first serve!"
Kirashi shot back.
Tomori said nothing. She simply smiled as she hugged her cold pillow, tail flicking as her cat ears popped out.
"Peace~"
Itoshi grunted and marched toward Kirashi.
"Get down!"
"No!!!!!"
"Only monkeys sleep on the top!"
A pillow flew.
It slammed straight into Itoshi's head.
Tomori's doing.
The room immediately dissolved into evening banter—Kirashi yelling, Itoshi climbing, Tomori laughing—while Aldrin sat on the futon holding Jayu's hands, an awkward smile stuck on his face.
Kara settled beneath Tomori's bed, hands resting on the mattress as she absentmindedly fiddled with the cold fabric.
Jayu let go of Aldrin and padded over, slipping between Kara's legs.
"Are you okay, Kara-nee...?"
Kara turned, eyes widening.
"Yeah! Just a bit beaten up by our tour!"
"Ah..."
Jayu lowered her head.
"Sorry..."
The room went quiet.
Even the banter above them died instantly.
Everyone turned toward Jayu.
"You guys did that tour for me, right...?"
Her voice trembled.
"Sorry if it took time when you should've been resting... and because of it... Ayro-sama and Kirashi-nii almost—"
"Hey, hey... shh..."
Kara gently stopped her, pulling her close.
"Don't worry about it, Jayu-chan."
She patted her pink hair.
"We all enjoyed it. And look—Kirashi-san and Ayro-sama are fine."
Jayu glanced up.
Ayro lifted his cup and gave a calm thumbs-up.
Kirashi struck a pose lying on his bunk.
"Don't worry about it, Jayu-chan!"
At that exact moment—
"OI GET DO—"
Kirashi yelped as Itoshi grabbed his leg.
Jayu looked back at Kara.
"See...? It's okay!"
Jayu nodded.
Ryujin exhaled deeply.
"Alright. Let's go eat."
He stood.
"All this moodiness is just hunger."
"Okay!"
They answered in unison.
They ate a simple dinner that night—one burger each.
It wasn't nearly as much as they were used to, but no one complained. They ate quietly and enjoyed it for what it was.
As the night wore on, they finally settled their sleeping arrangements.
On the right bunk, Tomori took the top while Kara stayed below with Jayu. Aldrin claimed the futon on the floor. On the left bunk, Kirashi sprawled across the top while Itoshi took the bottom. Ayro and Ryujin, as usual, prepared to sleep sitting upright.
They lingered around, killing time and rotating turns for the single bathroom.
Tomori stepped back into the room, towels draped over her head, fresh from the bath.
Itoshi glanced up.
"Oi, Kirashi. Your turn."
Kirashi let out a menacing laugh.
"Hehe~ Think I'll fall for that?"
A pause.
"FOOL!"
Itoshi clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. Your deck's yours. I can smell you from down here."
"Tsk tsk tsk,"
Kirashi replied smugly.
"Nice try."
"Fine. Have it your way."
Itoshi gave up.
A small voice tugged at his attention.
"Uh... um..."
Itoshi turned sharply.
"What?"
Jayu stood there, smiling, her picture book held up in both hands:
"The lost pups of Chaménos island".
"Ah—"
"Picture book reading!"
She whispered excitedly.
Itoshi sighed and shifted, sitting back against the bunk bed beside Aldrin's futon.
"Alright. Come on."
Jayu nodded and hopped onto his lap.
Aldrin immediately leaned toward Kirashi.
"There you go. Itoshi's distracted—go shower."
He covered his nose.
"You actually do smell, man. Think about what the ladies are thinking right now."
Lightning struck Kirashi's pride.
"Shit—he's right!"
Kirashi bolted out of the room.
Aldrin chuckled as he watched him go.
Jayu flipped through the book on Itoshi's lap, stopping at a marked page.
"We're here, Itoshi-nii!"
"Ah... is that so..."
Itoshi muttered, taking the book from her hands.
"As the pups ran around the island—"
Itoshi read aloud.
"They waited, as they always did, by the dock, just before the sun sank into the endless sea."
He continued, voice steady but soft.
"Shadows and flickering lights of boats passing by filled the pups with joy and excitement."
Everyone in the room silently listened to the two as they read their book.
Itoshi paused, taking a deep breath.
"They howled and barked, wagging their tails as they ran along the docks—watching the lights from afar."
Another pause. His chest rose and fell.
"And—"
Itoshi's voice caught slightly. He inhaled deeply.
"Jayu-chan..."
Everyone in the room shifted slightly as Itoshi called her name.
Jayu flinched, her brow rising.
"Wha—Itoshi-nii! My name's not here!"
"I know,"
Itoshi said softly. His eyes didn't leave hers.
She hesitated, then turned fully toward him, trying to hold his gaze. The little book in her hands shifted as she gripped it tighter.
"I... just want to ask you something..."
He began, voice low, careful.
Jayu blinked, a small smile forming.
"Sure..."
He inhaled, steadying himself.
"Are you happy... living like this?"
Jayu's gaze flicked to the pages of The Lost Pups of Chaménos Island.
She traced a paw print on the page with her finger, then looked back up at him.
"Yes! I really enjoy my time with all of you!"
Itoshi's jaw tightened slightly.
"But... we're at war,"
He said, voice almost a whisper.
"Our way of living... it's not something a child should be part of."
Jayu shook her head, her small hands clutching the book to her chest.
"I know! But none of that matters as long as I'm with you guys. I feel safe... with nee-sans and nii-sans. With you all... I know I'll be alright. I know I'll make it back home!"
Itoshi let out a slow breath, a faint smile touching his lips.
"I'm glad to hear that, Jayu-chan."
He reached forward and hugged her firmly as she settled onto his lap. She pressed the book against him, still tracing the pups on the page with her finger.
"Itoshi... nii...?"
She murmured softly.
"I really am glad,"
He said, voice catching. He looked down at her, then at the quiet room around them.
"But... seeing everything that's been happening... a warzone is no place for a child. No place for someone like you... never was. You know about the Spines, right?"
Jayu nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the picture book, on the pups waiting by the dock.
"Y-yeah..."
"You'll be safer with them... far from war... far from danger... far from those monsters, Jayu-chan."
His hand rested lightly on her shoulder.
"Earlier... we decided... we'll be leaving you in their care. You understand, right? Jayu-chan?"
Jayu closed the book, pressing it to her chest. She looked down at her feet for a long moment, swallowing hard.
"Yeah... I understand..."
Itoshi loosened his hold slightly, just enough for her to stand. She took a small step back, eyes still fixed on the floor.
Then, without another word, she dashed toward Kara's bed, slipping beneath the blanket, hiding in the small safety of the fold.
Itoshi stayed frozen, chest tight, staring at the empty space where she had been. He could hear her shallow breaths beneath the blanket, see the faint rise and fall of her shoulders, and yet he felt utterly helpless.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
"If she's safe with the others... maybe that's enough. Maybe..."
The little book they had been reading rested beside him, its pages still open.
The Lost Pups of Chaménos Island had played and explored, barked and ran along the docks, relying on each other for warmth, courage, and hope. Even though they were lost, they were never truly alone.
But the island was cruel, and the pups never made it home.
The quiet of the room pressed in around Itoshi as he sat frozen, the weight of her absence settling in. Outside, the city hummed softly, indifferent. Inside, only the small breaths of Jayu reminded him that, for now, someone was still safe.
And that was enough to linger on—for now.
~~~To be Continued~~~