The excitement for the Blue Star Festival was overshadowed by a lingering unease within the team. Despite the vibrant decorations and the growing anticipation of the event, Silver's presence within Unit Zero created a palpable tension. Silver, though newly integrated into the team, was an enigma distant, methodical, and unnervingly robotic. He followed commands from Kyle or Maya with precision but exhibited no interest in forming bonds with the others. This cold demeanor unsettled the team, and after repeated attempts to interact with him, Josuke and the others decided to approach Kyle and Maya about their concerns.
Josuke knocked on the door to Kyle's office, his usual confidence slightly muted. Maya opened the door, noticing the group's serious expressions.
"What's up, Josuke?" Maya asked, her tone warm but cautious.
Josuke glanced at the others, then spoke.
"It's about Silver. Is he… a machine or something? He doesn't feel human to me."
Hinata nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. It's like he doesn't care about anything. We've all tried talking to him, and he either ignores us or walks away. He's too distant it's like he's not part of the team." Arthur crossed his arms and added, "I understand he might just want to focus on work, but this level of detachment? It's not just awkward it's destructive. A team's only as strong as its bond." Ace chimed in with a story, clearly frustrated.
"I helped him move his stuff to his room, and the guy locked the door in my face! Then he slid 20 myrin under the door as 'thanks.' What kind of teammate does that?"
Kyle leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin as he processed their complaints. Maya, noticing his hesitation, decided to speak up first.
"Silver isn't like any of us. He's… well, a bionic being.the only result of a failed experiment, to be exact."
The room went quiet as Maya's words sank in.
"A experiment?" Josuke asked, his brow furrowed.
Maya nodded, her tone measured.
"The elders of the ranger community were running a project to create super soldiers. Silver is the only result of that experiment that survived. The project failed because it was draining resources Elaris alone spent 4.5 billion myrin funding it, and eventually, they pulled the plug. Silver was the only success, but… well, you've seen how he is. Emotionally, he's incomplete."
Hinata's eyes widened as she added, "My father always complained about that project eating into the national budget."
Josuke stared at her in shock.
"Wait, wait, wait. Isn't the nation budge arranged by the royal family, that means your father is King Henry Jewel? That makes you… the princess of Elaris?"
Ace blinked at Josuke, surprised.
"You didn't know?" Did leave under a rock or something didn't ever see her on the news
"No! I thought she was just… Hinata," Josuke stammered, his voice rising.
Arthur couldn't resist taking a jab.
"Surely, the great Josuke Akari would've figured it out after accidentally walking in on her while she was changing."
Josuke turned red as the memory resurfaced.
"That was an accident!"
Lily smirked.
"Tell that to the royal executioner."
Arthur, Ace, and Lily burst out laughing as Hinata covered her blushing face with her hands. Josuke, now sweating, waved his arms.
"I said it was an accident! Don't joke about execution!"
Kyle cleared his throat loudly, his voice cutting through the laughter. "Alright, enough. Let's not turn this into a circus." He turned to Josuke with a rare grin.
"Besides, I can't afford to lose you just yet I'd have to find someone to replace you, and that sounds exhausting." Josuke exhaled in relief, though Kyle's teasing grin made him squirm. Kyle then became serious, addressing the team. "Listen. Silver is a bionic being. He's not like us, emotionally or mentally. He follows commands because that's what he was designed to do. And there's one rule you all need to remember don't remove his helmet."
"Why not?" Arthur asked, his brow furrowing.
Kyle's voice dropped, adding weight to his words. "That helmet emits a special gas that keeps his brain stable. If it's removed, he becomes unpredictable a wild card. He could attack anyone, even you. Understood?" The group nodded solemnly. Kyle looked at them, his tone softer."I get that it's hard to work with someone so different, but give him time. He's not just a machine he's learning, even if it doesn't seem like it. And as Maya said, his situation isn't his fault. The experiment shaped him into what he is, and that's not something he can change overnight."
With that, Kyle dismissed them, and the group left the office, deep in thought.
As they walked away, Josuke muttered, "Man, this is crazy. A bionic teammate, Hinata's a princess, and apparently I'm a dummy. What's next?"
Arthur smirked.
"Calling you a dummy isn't news, Josuke. But thanks for reminding me you're an even bigger idiot than I thought."
Josuke rolled his eyes and retorted, "And you're still an emo."
Arthur scowled, and the two began bickering again, much to the amusement of the others. Amidst the chaos, the Blue Star Festival loomed on the horizon, promising both celebration and the unknown challenges ahead.