Yukira's voice cut through the tension with a sharp edge. "And that little stunt you pulled in the alley—how much attention did you want to draw to us?"
Astra's eyes narrowed, her tone clipped. "It worked, didn't it?"
Yukira's gaze was unwavering, her words laced with icy disdain. "That was an undercover operation, Katsuragi. A highly confidential mission from Haturii. For someone as sharp as you, your choices are surprisingly reckless." Her final whisper carried the weight of disapproval, leaving a palpable silence in its wake.
Astra's fear swiftly dissolved into a storm of defiance. How dare Yukira speak to her like that? A scornful sneer twisted her lips as she flung her head back, her eyes alight with fierce indignation.
A flash of lightning seared through the gloom, momentarily revealing the intensity in Astra's expression. The crack of thunder seemed almost to echo her sharp retort. "You take that back! Right now!" She demanded, her voice brimming with raw, unfiltered anger.
Orenji, increasingly alarmed by the insistent beeping of his mother's laptop, glanced between the two women and muttered in confusion, "Uh, guys…" The beeping grew more urgent, amplifying the sense of impending trouble that hung heavily in the air.
"Or else what?!" Yukira's voice cut through the thickening gloom, her tone a blend of anger and challenge.
Astra's freckled face flushed with frustration, her body quivering with pent-up emotion. "You're not on a mission, and you know it. At least, not an official one, anyway!" The words came out in a fierce burst, her eyes blazing with raw intensity. "You talk about my decisions, but diving headfirst into those creatures wasn't exactly a masterstroke either."
Yukira's teeth clenched audibly as she retorted, her voice strained and sharp, "That—" she spat the words out with palpable frustration, "—that was entirely different!"
"Guys, could we please take a moment?" Orenji's voice trembled with mounting frustration, his attempts to rein in the escalating argument met with indifference. His eyes flickered between the two, panic setting in as their expressions hardened with escalating intensity.
The beeping from the laptop had crescendoed into an insistent, rhythmic assault, its urgency echoing through the small room.
Astra's eyes blazed with irritation as she responded, her tone a razor-sharp retort. "Oh, really? Was it the fact that you clearly needed help and couldn't admit it, or are you just too stubborn and arrogant to face the truth?" Her words sliced through the charged air, laden with unrestrained anger.
"Guys!!!"
Their simultaneous, explosive shout of "WHAT!" jolted the room, making Orenji's stomach lurch. At least he had their undivided attention now.
The beeping from the laptop grew insistent and piercing, cutting through the air with relentless urgency. Yukira's eyes widened as understanding flickered across her face. The tension in her body became palpable. "That beeping... Hold on, didn't you say—"
"Exactly what I've been trying to tell you," Orenji cut in, his voice taut with urgency. "He's here."
"Who's here?" Astra's brow furrowed, her gaze sharpening with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"But how can that be?" Yukira's voice wavered with confusion. Then, the unmistakable sound of someone from outside cut through the murky silence.
As the door creaked open, Kiel's drenched figure emerged, his arms burdened with a precarious load of firewood. The wood slipped slightly, each piece clattering against the next, amplifying the gravity of his unspoken presence.
Kiel's eyes flitted nervously over the room's occupants, their faces now etched with shock and curiosity. The dampness of his clothes clung to him, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere inside. The silence that followed his entrance was thick with unspoken questions, the heavy rain outside mirroring the mounting tension within. Kiel could feel the weight of their scrutiny, acutely aware that his unexpected arrival had only intensified the gravity of the situation.
Kiel's stomach knotted as he took in the scene before him. The atmosphere was charged with an unmistakable tension, and it was clear that these individuals were not inclined to flee in terror. They exchanged quick, meaningful glances, a silent acknowledgment of the impending threat.
Suddenly, a sword materialized in Rikesho's hand, its cold steel gleaming under the sparse light. The sight of the weapon drew Astra's sharp attention. Without a second thought, she drew moisture from the rain-slicked ground, her command decisive as she formed the water into web-like strands.
She positioned herself in front of Yukira, her gaze never wavering from the tense figure. "Yukira…"
In an instant, Astra's voice cut through the air with urgent authority. "Kiel, RUN!"
Astra's water strands lashed out, a swift, shimmering arc that forced Yukira to evade with a fluid, practiced motion. The shed erupted into chaos, each moment crackling with the raw intensity of their desperate struggle.
Yukira wasted no time. She darted towards the Kaiju, her movements a blur of fluid grace as she dodged the snapping whips of water that lashed out with menacing precision. The rain-slicked ground offered little traction, but Yukira's fiery burst propelled her skyward. Flames erupted beneath her feet, lifting her effortlessly across the wall in a powerful jet-step.
She soared just as the water surged upward, a shimmering trap designed to ensnare and immobilize.
"Katsuragi, what are you doing?" Yukira's voice cut through the storm of chaos.
Astra, unfazed, met her gaze with steely resolve. "My job."
"Funny, so am I," Yukira shot back, using the burst of flames to propel herself swiftly along the wall. She deftly avoided a jet of water that surged towards her, launching herself closer to her foe. With a fluid roll, she sprang to her feet, her movements a seamless blend of fire and precision. Her sword, a gleaming extension of her will, was driven toward the monster's throat. The creature's sharp gasp echoed through the tension-filled air, capturing the astonished attention of everyone present.