In a room which was assigned to Ashiro was dimly lit, with shadows dancing across the walls as faint moonlight seeped in through the small window. He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts a chaotic storm. But it wasn't just his restless mind that kept him awake. That sound—sharp, grating, and otherworldly—kept ringing in his head, a screech that felt like it was tearing through his very soul.
"Urgh!!!"
Gritting his teeth, Ashiro sat up abruptly. 'I can't stay in here,' he thought. His heart was racing, and his hands were clammy as he rubbed his temples in an attempt to silence the noise. It was no use.
Deciding he needed to clear his head, Ashiro stepped out into the hallway. The bunker was eerily quiet at this hour, save for the faint hum of the lights and the distant creaks of the structure. Wandering aimlessly, he let his feet guide him, hoping the silence and movement would calm the storm in his mind.
As he turned a corner leading to the living quarters, he froze. The sight before him was unexpected, and it rooted him to the spot.
"Sob... Sob..." Kaguya sat on one of the couches, her bio-shield leaning against the wall beside her. But what caught his attention wasn't her usual guarded demeanor—it was the vulnerability she exuded. Her hood was down, revealing her long emerald-green hair that cascaded over her shoulders, catching the faint light in its silken strands. Her face, often concealed, was now visible, and it was breathtakingly delicate, yet etched with sorrow.
She held a small, worn photograph in her trembling hands, and her quiet sobs broke the stillness of the room. The image depicted a man and a woman, both with features strikingly similar to hers. The man's confident grin and the woman's gentle smile radiated warmth and familiarity.
Ashiro felt a pang in his chest. He'd never seen Kaguya like this. She always carried herself with an air of stoic resolve, as if nothing could faze her. But here she was, weeping openly, her shoulders shaking as she clutched the photo like it was the only thing tethering her to the world.
He took a hesitant step forward, his movement inadvertently causing the floor to creak. Kaguya's head snapped up, her tear-streaked face filled with alarm. She quickly wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, her emerald eyes narrowing as she glared at him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly but still carrying her usual edge.
Ashiro raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I… I couldn't sleep," he admitted. "I didn't mean to intrude."
Kaguya turned her face away, clutching the photograph to her chest as she regained her composure. "You shouldn't sneak around," she muttered. "It's dangerous."
Ashiro hesitated. He could walk away and leave her to her grief, but something about the scene compelled him to stay. "Is that… your family?" he asked softly, gesturing toward the photo.
Kaguya didn't respond immediately. Instead, she traced her fingers over the image, her expression softening with melancholy. "They were," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ashiro felt the weight of her words. He wanted to say something, anything, to ease her pain, but no words felt adequate. "I'm sorry," he said simply, the sincerity in his tone evident.
Kaguya glanced at him, her emerald eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Don't be," she said, her voice steadier now. "Just… don't tell anyone you saw this."
"I won't," Ashiro promised.
She nodded, her gaze returning to the photo as if the conversation was over. Taking that as his cue, Ashiro turned to leave, but he paused at the doorway. "For what it's worth," he said, glancing back at her, "you don't have to go through this alone."
Kaguya didn't respond, but her grip on the photo tightened. Ashiro took that as an acknowledgment, however small, and quietly left the room, leaving her to her thoughts.
'I guess am not the only one that is suffering from the same predicament that befall my family' While going towards his room, Ashiro couldn't help but thought as he felt a mixture of grief and relief welling up within him.
....
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the bustling horizon as the family-sized RV rumbled toward the heavily guarded border of the Nagoya dorm. The massive structure loomed in the distance, surrounded by towering walls adorned with advanced security systems and stationed guards wielding high-tech weaponry. Even from afar, the hum of activity and the faint glimmers of light radiating from the dorm suggested a thriving community within—vastly different from the wastelands they had traversed.
Inside the RV, tension filled the air as Shikaku leaned against the backrest, arms crossed. His sharp gaze never left the small communicator in his hand, which flickered with the details he'd just received. His face was unreadable, but his voice was firm as he broke the silence.
"I've got confirmation," he announced. "The bio dual blades prototype we're after will be sold off in an auction. No way around it. This is our only chance to get them."
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances. An auction in a place like this wouldn't be a simple endeavor. It wasn't just about having the right resources; it was about navigating a sea of rival interests, deceit, and potential danger.
Lady Naga, seated in the front passenger seat, leaned forward. Her brow furrowed as she assessed the situation. "Alright," she said decisively. "Here's how we'll handle it once we're inside. We'll need clear roles to ensure everything goes smoothly."
"First off, Shikaku, hope we got the cash to battle it out for that blades there?"
"Of cause, we got even more than we need" Shikaku replied with a confident grin on his face.
"Good" She replied in satisfaction before she turned to Hanabi first. "You and Suguru will scout the auction house for security measures and potential exit points. Kyoto, you'll keep a close watch on the auction itself and ensure no one outbids us by... unconventional means if necessary."
The group nodded, understanding the subtle implication behind her words. This wasn't just an auction—it was a battlefield of wits and strategy.
Lady Naga's gaze then shifted to Ashiro, who was seated in the middle of the RV, staring intently. "As for you," she began, her tone firm, "we need someone to keep you out of trouble. Whatever you are or whatever you're becoming, we can't risk you going near death's door again. Not here, not now."
Before she could continue, Kaguya, who had been silent in her usual spot by the window, suddenly raised her hand. "I'll do it," she said calmly.
The RV fell into a stunned silence. Every pair of eyes turned to Kaguya, their expressions a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Ashiro himself blinked, his heart skipping a beat as he processed her words. Did she just volunteer... for me?
Hanabi, sitting near Kaguya, stiffened visibly. Her sky-blue hair fell over her face as she tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed on Kaguya. There was a flicker of something in her eyes—discomfort, perhaps, or confusion—as she glanced away, lips pressed into a thin line.
Lady Naga raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "You're volunteering to keep Ashiro safe?" she asked, her tone tinged with skepticism.
"Yes," Kaguya replied without hesitation, her emerald-green hair shimmering as she turned to face the group. "I'll ensure he doesn't die. Consider it my responsibility."
Shikaku sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of all people, Kaguya…" he muttered under his breath, though there was no real protest in his voice.
Kyoto leaned back in his seat, exchanging a wide-eyed glance with Suguru, who whistled under his breath, clearly amused. "Well, this is unexpected," Kyoto said, smirking. "Ashiro, you sure are lucky."
Ashiro felt a heat rise to his cheeks. "I-I didn't ask for this!" he stammered, raising his hands defensively.
Hanabi shifted in her seat, her expression unreadable as she stared out the window. Her knuckles tightened against her lap, but she remained silent.
Lady Naga let out a long sigh, rubbing her temple. "Fine," she conceded. "Kaguya, Ashiro is your responsibility now. Keep him breathing until we're out of there."
"I will," Kaguya said firmly, her voice as steady as her resolve.
The RV lapsed into a tense silence once more, the only sound being the faint hum of its engine as it approached the guarded gates of the Nagoya dorm. But in that silence, Ashiro couldn't shake the strange mix of emotions swirling inside him—gratitude, confusion, and a faint sense of unease.
And somewhere in the back, Hanabi quietly clenched her fists, her gaze fixed on the horizon as her thoughts churned with unspoken questions.