Shu and Ryoichi dashed through the bustling crowd of students, their hearts filled with determination to confront the enigmatic situation they found themselves in. As they pondered their next course of action, Shu's voice broke the silence.
"By the way, Ryoichi, have you devised a plan?" he inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity. Ryoichi, taken aback by the question, met Shu's gaze with a smile. Without hesitation, Shu fired back, his words laced with playful sarcasm, "Aren't you going to contribute anything, dear Ryoichi?"
Maintaining his serene composure, Ryoichi responded calmly, his smile unwavering. "My role here is to support you, my brother," he remarked, his words carrying a gentle assurance. Shu's muttered response dripped with subtle sarcasm, "So this is how it shall be, huh?"
Undeterred by the exchange, the two continued to navigate through the academy grounds, eventually arriving at the high school section where the Bomber was rumored to reside. Ryoichi's eyes locked onto the towering structure, his voice barely a whisper as he shared his observation with Shu. Shu, displaying an unsettling calmness, became the epitome of still waters amidst the chaos, leaving Ryoichi astounded by his unwavering composure.
"Are you not afraid, Shu?" Ryoichi asked, his surprise evident. Shu's calm reply resonated in the air, tinged with a flicker of trepidation. "Yes, fear does dwell within me. However, succumbing to fear will not serve us at this moment. If we proceed, we must forge ahead together." Ryoichi silently whispered to himself, a smile playing on his lips. "Ah, indeed... You are the one."
Startled by Ryoichi's comment, Shu inquired, "Did you say something?" Ryoichi quickly dismissed it, replying, "Never mind, it was nothing." Realizing the urgency of the situation, Ryoichi declared, "We must press on; now is not the time for idle dalliances." Shu nodded in agreement, and together they sprinted towards the rooftop of the high school.
Amidst their mad dash, Ryoichi noticed a peculiar boy descending the staircase with an air of unease. Pausing momentarily, he murmured to himself, "Why does he seem so out of place?" Shu's urgent call interrupted his thoughts. "Ryoichi! We must hurry!"
Turning to Shu, Ryoichi made a decision. "Go on without me; I'll catch up shortly," he declared, his eyes fixed on the enigmatic boy. Shu, his face etched with frustration and anger, cried out, feeling abandoned in this crucial moment. But Ryoichi reassured him, his voice filled with unshakable confidence, "Trust in me, dear Shu. I shall return in an instant."
With that, Ryoichi swiftly changed course, following the trail of the peculiar boy. Meanwhile, Shu carefully calculated his next move, acutely aware that his decisions would shape the destiny of the academy. As he rushed up the stairs of the high school, President Airi Kamana spotted Shu and attempted to intercept him. However, driven by urgency, Shu paid her no heed, charging onward towards the roof.
Airi, her frustrations mounting, exclaimed in exasperation, "Already entangled in this web of confusion, and now this boy rushes headlong into danger! What madness has consumed this day?" She pursued Shu relentlessly, but he had already arrived at the gate leading to the rooftop of the high school. Airi, breathless from her pursuit, reached the gate just as Shu slowly pushed it open, his face devoid of expression.
With determined steps, Shu advanced onto the rooftop of Aiford Academy High School, where the wind roared forcefully. The gusts tousled his unkempt hair, revealing his mesmerizing sea-blue eyes. Brushing his hand through his hair to regain control, he continued his resolute stride. Airi, finally catching her breath, stood at the gate, rendered speechless by the sight that unfolded before her.
Atop the rooftop, a boy fixated his terrified gaze on Shu, his trembling voice issuing a warning, "D-don't... come any closer... or I shall reduce this esteemed institution to rubble." Unfazed by the ominous threat and devoid of any semblance of a plan, Shu bit his index finger, closing his eyes in a solemn display of resolve.
"As his thoughts closed in, the weight of choices swirled within Shu's mind. Each action he took held the promise of consequences, but which path should he tread? Shu realized that any decision would lead to either destruction or salvation. Thoughts raced through his mind, questioning why he found himself here again, potentially losing this second chance. For a brief moment, a feeling of depression and powerlessness enveloped Shu. However, the echoing words of Ryoichi resounded within him: 'Trust in me, Shu, and I shall support you.' These words fueled Shu with the determination he needed.
Amidst the gathering of students in the central area, all eyes are fixated on the high school rooftop, consumed by fear and nervous anticipation. Kirisame-sensei, while ensuring everyone's safety, inquired if all had evacuated. Suddenly, Hana Yamamoto cried out, 'Sensei, two boys are missing from the count!' Kirisame-sensei, her voice trembling, asked Hana-chan for confirmation. Without hesitation, Hana replied, 'I am confident in my noticing power, ma'am. We are indeed missing two individuals.'
In the midst of the commotion, Sora appeared in the central area, desperately calling out for Shu and Sera, gasping for breath. She exclaimed, 'Shu, Sera, where are you?' Catching her breath, she continued, 'Your big sis is here! Where are ya?' Sera, accompanied by her friend Ami, stepped forward, a tone of relief in her voice. 'Sis, you're being loud,' she remarked. Sora quickly embraced Sera, tears streaming down her face. 'Thank goodness you're okay, Sera. If anything happened to you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.' Sera reciprocated the hug, and both sisters cried their hearts out, releasing their heavy burdens.
Once the tears subsided, Sora wiped her eyes and inquired about Shu, asking if Sera had seen him. Wiping away her own tears, Sera responded, 'No, I haven't seen him. I searched for him everywhere, but he's nowhere to be found.' Determined, Sora stood up, gathered her sister and friends, and embarked on a quest to find Shu. Spotting Kirisame-sensei also searching, she rushed towards her. Kirisame-sensei, desperate to find her lost student, called out, 'Ryoichi, Shu, are you there?' In her mind, Kirisame-sensei acknowledged Ryoichi's sharp intuition and believed he would be fine. But the mention of Shu's absence startled her. Hana had to provide more information. 'Shu... huh? I have to find him!'
Suddenly, a girl approached Kirisame-sensei and inquired, 'Ma'am, have you seen a boy named Shu? He has average height, average looks, and messy hair covering his expressive eyes.' Sera, in haste, interjected, 'His looks are not average; he's a creep.' Sora scolded her younger sister, reminding her that this was not the time for such comments. Gentle and concerned, Kirisame-sensei asked, 'Do you know him?' Sora, wiping away a tear, answered hastily, 'Yes, yes, I'm his big sister.' She pointed towards herself and then at sera, stating, 'This is Sera shu's little sister, and this is Ami her friend , clinging to her.' Kirisame-sensei bowed and apologized to Sora for losing sight of Shu. Overwhelmed by panic and worry, Sora collapsed to the ground, crying out, 'What am I supposed to do? I have to protect him, or it'll be like last time.'
Ami, witnessing Sora's distress, cried out, 'Big sis!' She rushed forward and embraced Emi, who was searching for her classmates with Kirisame-sensei. Emi asked, 'Are you okay, Ami?' Through her tears, Ami managed to reply, 'I'm okay onee-chan. Sera-chan was there for me.' Emi looked at Sera and extended her gratitude for taking care of Ami. Emi then turned to Kirisame-sensei and informed her, 'Ma'am, we couldn't locate Shu or Ryoichi in the central ground.' Upon hearing this, Sora's senses heightened, compelling her to sprint towards the school buildings. Kirisame-sensei, grabbing hold of Sora, gently pleaded, 'Sora-chan, you have to calm down.',Sora, still grappling with worry, looked into Kirisame-sensei's eyes. "I can't calm down, Sensei. Shu is out there, missing, and I have to find him. I won't let him face danger one more time.The sky above Aiford Academy was adorned with helicopters, their blades slicing through the air as they circled the area. Within one of the helicopters, Mr. Ola and the Vice Principal sat side by side, their hearts filled with determination and trepidation. With unwavering resolve, Mr. Ola turned to the Vice Principal, his voice laced with determination, "We must proceed, ma'am. There is no other choice. The future of Kyoto and the lives of these children rest upon our shoulders." The Vice Principal nodded, her nerves palpable, anxiety etched on her features.
A sense of urgency hung in the air as Mr. Ola retrieved his trusty sniper rifle, an M24, from its case. He held it firmly, the weight of the responsibility pressing against his hand. Peering through the scope, he prepared himself to take down the Bomer threatening their city. However, to his surprise and anger, his eyes landed on a boy standing in front of that Bomer on the rooftop.
Mr. Ola's voice betrayed both confusion and fury as he muttered, "What is that boy doing up there with that Bomer?" The Vice Principal, equally taken aback, watched the scene unfold before them, astonishment etched upon her face. Their hearts raced with anticipation and unease, unsure of
What the middle school boy is doing there.
Shu approached the young boy, who was holding a trigger to a bomb, with genuine concern in his eyes. He spoke gently, trying to reason with him, "My dear friend, pressing that button will not only bring harm to others but also yourself. Look up in the sky, there's a helicopter. I believe they might be planning to snipe you. Giving up is truly the best course of action."
A tear streamed down the bomber boy's face as he pocketed the bomb's trigger. Speaking with a trembling voice, he revealed his inner turmoil, "You don't understand, Shu. This school, this organization, they're all filled with darkness. They only care about their own goals, completely disregarding the feelings and families of others."
Shu's surprise turned into a worried gaze as he tried to comprehend the boy's words. "I can't fully grasp what you're saying, my dear friend. But please, put those triggers away." However, before they could continue their conversation, Mr. Ola, paying no mind to Shu's presence, aimed his weapon at the boy.
Just as the situation grew dire, something extraordinary happened. Shu's eyes turned a vibrant shade of orange, capturing everyone's attention. The bomber boy froze in his tracks, captivated by this unexpected turn of events. Both Mr. Ola and the vice president were shocked, unable to comprehend the sudden change.
Mr. Ola tightly held onto the trigger, attempting to analyze the situation. Meanwhile, President Airi, who was on the rooftop gate, couldn't believe her eyes as she witnessed the transformation. The once tense rooftop scene transformed into a warm autumn setting, with red leaves gracefully falling from the branches.
As the scenery shifted, nostalgia washed over the bomber boy. Overwhelmed by emotions, he accidentally dropped the remote triggering the bomb. The sound of the remote clattering against the ground snapped the boy back to reality. Confused and distressed, he exclaimed, "How... how is this possible? What in the world is happening here?"
Taking a step back, Shu bowed ever so slightly, embodying the character of an old lady. Speaking in a feeble, soft voice, he uttered, "Ta-chan! My, how you've grown." The bomber boy was taken aback, stepping closer and expressing his disbelief, "Granny... but you left me that day."
Continuing with the act, Shu maintained the elderly voice and said, "I apologize for leaving you alone, Ta-chan. I'm glad to see you're safe and have become a fine young man." The bomber boy sobbed, feeling both depressed and relieved. He pleaded, "Granny, even though I know it's not real, can I come near you just this once? After all that I've done, how can I..."
Cutting him off gently, Shu dismissed his concerns, "Ta-chan, come here. I could never be angry with you. All I want is for you to live a happy life.
Shu, still portraying the role of the grandmother, smiled affectionately and said with a feeble voice, "There is one more thing I wished for, my dear. I wanted to play with your children before I go. But I realize now that I may have asked too much from you."
The bomber boy, filled with determination and love for his grandmother, ran towards her and clung tightly. Choking on his tears, he stammered, "Granny, you never asked me for anything in return for your kindness. You gave me so much... So, I will live my life happily, get married, and have lots of children. Please, can you watch over me and them?"
With a bittersweet smile lingering on Shu's face, she replied, "Of course, my dear. As long as I can, I will always watch over you... and your future grandchildren." As the scenario faded away, leaving behind the memory of that warm autumn day, both Shu and the bomber boy felt a sense of peace and hope within their hearts.