The tension in the room slowly ebbed, replaced by a heavy silence, while Hiroki was staring at the wall, lost in his thought. His gaze kept drifting back to Ayuri, whose presence, while comforting, filled him with questions. "Ayuri... Who exactly is she? What her goals?"
Breaking the silence, Hiroki leaned forward. "Ayuri," he began, his voice low and firm, "you said earlier that you got goals. Plans to help us. Can you clarify?"
Ayuri's lips curved into a playful smile. "Oh Hiroki, the haste never seems to leave you. Don't worry, everything will be revealed... in time."
Her response did little to quell his frustration. "In time? We don't have time." Hiroki stood up, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice. "Amaya's brother is gone, and we're left with nothing but more questions. Shouldn't we be doing something now?"
Her smile started fading, replaced by more serious expression. "Trust me, Hiroki. I understand your frustration, but the situation is more complicated than you realize. There are forces in play, dangers beyond your immediate perception."
"Dangers? What Dangerous" Hiroki narrowed his eyes. "What aren't you telling me..? Haven't we had enough of what happened until now, and you say there is more?"
Before Ayuri could respond, Yoru spoke up with a sharp voice. "Hiroki..." She glanced at him, a silent reassurance in her tone.
Ayuri sighed, and rested her hand gently on Hiroki's shoulder. Her tone softened, carrying weight. "There's a reason I'm here, Hiroki. You can say I'm protecting you from a threat you can't see yet. One far greater than what you've faced so far."
Hiroki opened his mouth to respond, but words couldn't come. He sat back, trying to process everything she said. "Threats? It didn't make sense, but..." a part of him knew she wasn't lying.
Yoru leaned forward, breaking the silence more again. "And what about your goals, Ayuri? We don't know yet much about your own motives"
Ayuri's eyes flickered with something deeper inside. "Well.. What can I say.. My purpose is personal a bit. I want to restore what I've lost... my family, my past, my home. And I want to bring Yumix to be a safe place again"
Tense silence descended upon the room once more. Hiroki reeled from the weight of Ayuri's revelation.
Just few seconds till she returned to her normal self, "Uh, oh, whatever.. I was lost in my thoughts... That's a story for another time. Right now, our focus is on our missions and works"
Attention turned to Amaya, who had been sitting quietly, lost in her gloomy thoughts. Yoru spoke first, her voice gentle. "You Fine...? We'll find a way for you to stay, Amaya. You don't have to worry about anything right now."
Hiroki nodded, though his exhaustion started showing. "Well.. That's a good idea I guess. We will Teach you everything you need to know.. You can make this place a shelter and a home for you since you can't go far in the PHG's private residences, and we can equip it with what we will need anyway. Until you become ready to join the PHG officially."
Ayuri added then "I see no problem with that, I can also provide a helping hand and the necessary supplies as well."
Ayuri's words lit up her eyes, but she hesitated before reverting to her shy, frowning self.
Amaya whispered in a barely audible voice, "B - But... I don't know... can I really stay?"
Miyu stepped forward, smiling brightly, while holding her hand "Of course, you can Amaya! You're welcome to the group. Hiroki might be a bit odd, and Kenji... well, he's Kenji. But we're always together." her eyes shining with warmth. "Let's be friends, okay? We can train together, learn from each other, and do a lot of things"
Amaya's shy smile peeked through her tear-streaked face. The warmth in Miyu's words and the outstretched hand offered a lifeline, a chance to connect and move forward. "Friends... okay."
Kenji, standing off to the side, grumbled "Did you really need to call me out like that? Makes me sound weird."
"But that's what you always seem like." Yoru said with sarcasm.
Kenji responded with a bit of irritation. "HEY, what do you even know about me, HUH?"
The banter between them lighten the mood, and even Ayuri laughed softly. "Ahh, no no.. You all are really something. I'm glad I met you all."
The group felt a sense of peace for a short while. But it was just a momentary relief, and Hiroki could feel it, beneath the surface, the tension was still there, waiting for return.