The three of them walked down the long corridor together. Raihtasu held the folder tightly in his hand."We need to read this and understand it somewhere," Raihtasu said seriously.
"Okay," Hiyori replied lazily.Elysia suddenly spoke up. "Let's discuss it in the library. It's peaceful there, and we can concentrate easily.""Hm… good idea," Hiyori nodded.Elysia frowned. "I'm not a child, you know."
Raihtasu sighed loudly. "Can you both stop this conversation? We need to discuss what to do about sensai grandson."
Hiyori smirked. "We can go on vacation. When they kill him, we'll come back and say, sorry, we couldn't save him. Sounds good, right?"Elysia tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… sounds good. I also don't feel like fighting. Let's drop it and go on vacation.""But where?" Hiyori added. "I want to see some cherry blossom trees."
"SHUT UP, YOU STUPID!" Raihtasu suddenly shouted. "Look—we've arrived at the library. Now come, instantly. We're discussing this."Elysia and Hiyori lowered their heads slightly and said in sad voices, "Yes…"They sat down at a table inside the quiet library."Let's open the folder," Raihtasu said.
"Open it fast," Hiyori urged. "Don't make suspense. I already feel tired."Elysia glanced at Raihtasu. "You like reading books, especially when you're alone, right?"Raihtasu nodded slowly. "Hmm… yes."
"Perfect," Elysia said. "You read it and understand everything. When you're done, call us and explain."
She stood up and grabbed Hiyori's arm. "Hey, let's go to the coffee shop and drink some tea. I haven't eaten since morning. Sensei called so early."
"You're right," Hiyori agreed. "Let's go.""Hey, Raihtasu," Elysia added, "read deeply, okay?"As Elysia and Hiyori stood up to leave, Raihtasu slammed the folder on the table.
"SIT DOWN. No one is going anywhere until I finish reading and make a plan," he snapped. "Sit quietly and stop making me frustrated!"Hiyori leaned closer to Elysia and whispered, "I think Raihtasu didn't eat since morning. That's why he's so angry."Both of them laughed quietly."Okay, okay," they said together. "We'll sit. You read—we're here."
Raihtasu began reading carefully. Elysia and Hiyori stared around the library, clearly not interested at all.After five minutes, Raihtasu closed the folder."Alright. So what are we going to do next?"."You were reading, not us," Hiyori replied. "You tell us."
Raihtasu took a deep breath. "Okay, listen carefully. We go to the Black Fang hub as normal people and observe. According to this file, he's being held there. It also says we must rescue him today. We don't have much time."
He continued, "We rescue him tonight. Before tomorrow morning, they'll send him to another city… and maybe kill him."Elysia frowned. "In all this… where is the plan?""This is the plan," Raihtasu said. "We go and rescue him.""But we need a real plan," Elysia argued. "We can't rush in. Douma is always there. If he sees us, he'll understand immediately that we're here to rescue him."Raihtasu rubbed his temples. "Okay… give me a few minutes to think."
After three to four minutes, he spoke again. "We go from the back side. We wear waiter dresses and explore the back area. He must be there."Hiyori's expression turned serious. "We go and talk directly to Douma. If he doesn't agree, then we destroy their hub—or whatever.""What are you saying?" Elysia said sharply. "There are innocent people there. We can't take their lives.""We'll just rush their basement," Hiyori replied calmly."That's final," Raihtasu said. "Now we meet at the destination."Elysia stretched happily. "Finally! I'm going to drink some coffee. Hey, Hiyori, are you coming?"
"No," Hiyori said. "I have some work."Elysia turned to Raihtasu. "You?""I also have work," he replied. "Sorry."Elysia sighed. "Okay… we'll meet at the destination."One by one, they left the library.
Elysia sat alone in a quiet café, holding a warm cup of coffee between her hands. Her gaze was distant, unfocused.Are they living well there? she wondered. I want to meet them… but I can't.Her chest tightened.How terrifying would it be if I were in their place? At least I'm happy just seeing them… even if I were a slave, I'd still be happy.
She lowered her eyes. But I made a promise. I can never meet them.Her eyes filled with tears "It's already time," she whispered. "I need to go."Raihtasu trained relentlessly in the garden of his house. Sweat dripped down his face as his fists struck the air again and again. He didn't stop—not even for a second.High above, on a mountain, Hiyori sat beneath a tree, staring at the empty sky. Memories pressed down on her heart.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.I can't keep pretending that I'm happy, she thought. I want to die.She wiped her face quickly, forcing the emotion back inside Elsewhere, the grandson sat tied to a chair, ropes tightly bound around him. His head drooped forward as he slept.Two guards stood nearby."We injected him," one said. "He irritated us too much. Finally, he's asleep."
Suddenly, the boy's eyes snapped open. The chair shook violently as he struggled with all the strength he had.A girl with frozen, icy-colored hair stepped forward calmly."You can't even handle a single boy," she said coldly. "Move aside."She threw a chemical into the room and quickly shut the door.The boy coughed, his voice echoing. "It stinks! Get me out of here!"
The clock struck 10:00 p.m.
Elysia, Raihtasu, and Hiyori now stood before the massive Black Fang hub."I'm so happy for this mission," Hiyori said with a smile."Don't say mission," Elysia replied tiredly. "It already makes me feel exhausted."They stepped inside.
As they entered the lobby, a 25-year-old man rolled toward them on skates, "Raihtasu," he said with a grin. "You finally came. I waited for you for three days."His eyes shifted. "Oh? You're not alone. The fifth and third commanders are here too. Please, come inside. Sit. Tonight, we'll talk a lot."
Hiyori's expression hardened. "We didn't come here to enjoy ourselves. Listen carefully—tell us where the grandson is.""I don't know what you're talking about, ma'am," Douma replied calmly."She already messed this up," Elysia muttered."Tell us fast where he is," Hiyori demanded."I said I don't know," Douma repeated.Hiyori stepped closer. "You know very well, Mr. Douma."
Douma paused, pretending to think. "Oh… the grandson of your gang leader?" He shrugged. "Maybe he's alive. Maybe he's dead. I don't know what my guards did to him."Hiyori grabbed his collar instantly. "So you won't tell us easily?" Her voice dropped. "Fine. Then this entire area will be blown apart.""Wait," Douma said calmly. "If you do that, what will you say to your sensei? His grandson died because of you."
Hiyori froze.
"I won't stop you from searching this area," Douma continued. "But if my guards see you, they'll attack—so be prepared."He exhaled smoke. "He'll be sent from here by ship in thirty minutes. If you find him, it's your luck. If not—well."He turned away. "Good luck, Yoshie ."Hiyori's eyes widened in shock.For two seconds, she collapsed onto the sofa, stunned. Then she ran after him—But he was already gone.
To be countined...