"We need to go get Blue" Red said, as he entered the hideout for the order of Blight.
"You come here after failing a simple mission and have the audacity to give us orders?" Asaka responded, before raising his hand, causing Red and everyone with him to fall to their knees.
"Know your place"
Red thought to himself, [where is this tremendous pressure coming from?]
5 walked up beside Asaka and turned his arm into a jagged blade.
This time, 5 did not have a smile on his face nor a grin. Just pure anger.
"You have 3 seconds to let them go, 0" He said, holding the tip of the blade to Asaka's neck.
As Asaka reluctantly deactivated his ability, 5 gave him a warning.
"If you ever touch even a hair on their head again, I will not hesitate to kill you"
"Do you believe you have the ability to do such a thing?" Asaka asked. 5 didn't respond. Instead, he walked to Red to make sure everything was okay.
"What happened, Red?"
"There were only 5 students, not 21 like you guys said. Also, the teachers put up a fight. Blue, of all people was hospitalised after fighting one of them.
Lance was interrupted by another one of the teachers who managed to take out both Black and White, before he could escape with one of the kids."
As they were having that conversation, 6 knelt in front of Lance, Black and White and began healing their wounds.
1 walked in shortly after, looking around and shaking his head.
"I take it you guys failed the simple task of returning with one of the students." He turned to face 5, "I thought you said these guys were the best? How disappointing"
"Don't act all high and mighty, 1" 5 said in response, "how many times have your over confident plans failed? The only reason I had to call them in was because your stupid plan at the horizon Academy failed so I'd advise both you and 0 to not piss me off any further"
It was weird for the group seeing 5 that serious. 3 stood in silence and watched as tension rose in the room.
2 intervened after she'd heard enough
"Guys, that's enough. We need to find a way forward instead of bickering"
"going after children was never the way forward." 3 added,"at least now that the police and the academy know the children are targets, that plan is not an option anymore"
2 looked at 1, who still had a calm expression on his face despite the chaos that was in the room.
"3 is right, 1. Where do we go from here? Security around the kids will now be tightened
We need a different approach."
1 thought for a few seconds before responding. "It seems we have to go into hibernation for the time being. All missions are called off. There is too much heat on us right now."
"what are we going to do about Blue?" Lance asked 1.
"Members of our team were captured too, young man. You'll just have to be patient. We will get everyone back."
"not good enough" Lance responded, immediately getting up afterwards and thanking 6 for healing him, even though she wasn't done.
"We aren't a part of this team. We will get Blue ourselves" He added.
5 placed a gentle hand on Lace's shoulder. "I'll help you guys in anyway I can"
Lace gave a nod of acknowledgement before they left the hideout.
1 sat down and sighed, while 2 shook her head and walked away.
She couldn't believe after all that, they were retreating.
A few days later, there was yet another meeting with principal Fujimoto and some government officials in the education department.
"Here we are again, Principal Fujimoto" one of the officials said, "it's barely been two months since you were last here and there has been another incident regarding the kids. I guess our warning was not enough. The members of staff at that institution are clearly very incompetent so we have decided to close down the academy. So, prepare transfer papers for all the students. I'm sure their parents will be pleased to know they're off to a school that can protect them."
Before Fujimoto could say anything in response, Zuno, who had accompanied Fujimoto to the meeting spoke first.
"with all due respect sir, I don't think that's a suitable solution. No child was harmed during the attack at the museum because the teachers made sure nothing went wrong. One of our teachers, Izume Jokira nearly lost her life while protecting the children. This is something all the teachers and principal Fujimoto are ready to do. We don't know why we are being targeted but isn't that the job of the police to find out? While we are on the topic of police, if we are being put out of a job, how many of the officers currently employed are going to lose theirs too?
During the museum incident, they took too long to respond to the call considering the fact that children were involved and after they arrived, without even making sure the children or any one else was okay, the first thing they asked was whether we all had permits.
They were ready to arrest and charge us even after what we had just been through. So, I personally do not think you should be dishing out punishments when your system is that broken. Your so called officers are the most incompetent group of individuals in this city-"
"that's enough, Zuno" Fujimoto said, interrupting Zuno before he said more things that were out of line. "I ask that you please reconsider. The children have all made tremendous progress and it will be a shame to cut that short right now. I do not mind stepping aside as principal if there must be a scapegoat but the education of these children comes first and then the jobs of my members of staff"
There was silence in the room for a few seconds while Zuno continued to look at Fujimoto with a puzzled expression.
A different official finally spoke after a few more seconds. "Give us some time to think this over. The behaviour of those police officers was unacceptable. We will be having words with several captains but in the mean time, continue to teach and protect those children. That will be all."
Zuno and Fujimoto bowed their heads slightly before leaving the room. The three officials discussed amongst themselves.
"With Fujimoto out of the way, our plans for the academy will go very smoothly" the first one said. "He's been hindering our plans for years now and this is possibly a way out"
"I don't know. There may be a different way of doing things now. As it stands, we have good reason to close the academy down, or fire Fujimoto and proceed with project R but we could give Fujimoto an ultimatum instead of firing him. The man is brilliant" said the second official.
"What ultimatum is that?"
"We can proceed with project R with or without him at the academy"
The men continued discussing for a few more minutes before ending the meeting.
As they left, Fujimoto thought hard while Zuno apologised for his behaviour.
"I fear things might get worse for the academy, Shisuki"
"What makes you say that?" Zuno asked
"I just feel the government may try to pull something. We need to get ahead of this. I'm calling a press conference. Parents, members of staff, the police should all be there"
Zuno laughed, "I never know what you're thinking but I'm sure you've got this planned out as usual"
"Let's hope it works out, Shisuki"
At the academy, there was also a meeting being held between the teachers and the students, to address some of the issues the kids had.
Naturally, some of the kids were a bit scared that they had now become targets of the Order of Blight and they wanted to know what the next steps were.
Takeyomi asked a question, "I get it's not your fault as our teachers but my parents are very scared. They are talking about removing me from the academy though I have been talking them out of it. What are we going to do? Honestly, I don't want to leave the academy but I don't know what to tell them anymore"
Hirowa answered him.
"Takeyomi I understand the fear of your parents. We do not understand why the academy is being targeted but we are working with the police to ensure your safety and to ensure we find out the reason for these attacks. We will also be speaking to your parents and unfortunately, if they decide they want to pull any of you out, we can't say otherwise"
There were low grumbles in the crowd of students.
Izume, who had bandages wrapped around her head and hand addressed the students afterwards.
"We will be cancelling all trips for the time being and all learning will take place on academy grounds for further protection. At least until this situation with that group subsides. I'm sorry this is happening to you guys but the one thing we can promise is that under our watch, nothing will happen to you kids. No matter what it takes."
"Any other questions?" Ichisuda asked
Yashiro raised his hands.
"Not that I don't have faith in you but could we do some defensive scenarios with the teachers sometimes? Just incase we are ever in a situation where it's needed."
The teachers looked at themselves for a few seconds before Izume responded.
"Erm, we will get back to you on that, Yashiro"
He nodded, and she asked if there were any questions but the room remained silent.
Right after she dismissed them, Shihata turned around, and addressing all the teachers she said, "I don't think any of this is your fault. So please, don't blame yourselves"
Izume smiled, "thank you, Shihata"
At Imahaya's precinct, after reading a strongly worded email from the Commissioner, officer Hasu, his colleagues that were also present at the museum incident and Yagita were in his office.
He sat with his fingers interlocked in front of him, staring intently at the 5 people in front of him.
"So, what's all this? Detective Yagita, care to tell me exactly what happened at the museum?"
She cleared her throat before answering "well, I arrived a few minutes after officer Hasu, only to find he and the other officers pointing their service pistols at the victims because they refused to show permits, which they had might I add."
Imahaya buried his head in his palms.
"In my defence, Captain. They-" Hasu said in an attempt to redeem himself before he was cut off by a now angry Imahaya.
"Did I ask for your input, Hasu?"
The room went back to complete silence. It was rare for Yagita to see her captain so angry so she thought it would be best to be completely professional.
"Not only did you make citizens you're meant to be protecting feel unsafe, but then you get your ass kicked by one individual, and lose 5 of our suspects. What were you thinking when you pointed your guns at those teachers? Who had students behind them watching everything. What message does that send? You know what? Turn in your badges and guns. You're all suspended indefinitely. Yagita, find those escapees."
"Yes sir" She said, before leaving the room with haste.
"Get out of my sight. All of you " He said to the remaining officers.
He sat alone in his office afterwards thinking, [The Commissioner is right, the police officers of today are severely incompetent. At least my request for an anti-blight task Force was approved]
*
"You've found her?" A figure whose face was hidden by shadows said.
"We think so" two other figures kneeling in front of him said.
"Take a few people and bring her back here. I'm sure I don't have to tell you to be cautious"
"Yes, master Akizaki" they both said in unison before disappearing.