The hum of routine shattered when the first call came in.
"110, is this an incident or an accident?"
"Help! They're shooting! People are dying—please, you have to send someone!"
The operator kept their voice steady. "What's your location?"
"The Kanagawa Facility—" A burst of static cut off the caller, replaced by muffled gunshots.
Another call came through before the operator could respond.
"They're everywhere! They've already shot the security team, and now they're—" The line went dead.
More calls flooded in, overlapping in frantic waves of panic.
"They're setting fires in the lower labs!"
"People are still inside! Send help, please!"
"They're armed! It's a massacre!"
Dispatchers worked quickly, relaying information to first responders. Their voices were calm but sharp, cutting through the chaos.
"All units, active shooter situation reported at the Kanagawa Facility. Shots fired. Partial fires confirmed. Location: Central District, Minami Street. EMS and fire crews are on standby. Approach with extreme caution."
The sound of distant sirens and radio chatter blended with the rhythmic hum of tires on asphalt. A sleek, unmarked car tore through the dark streets of the city, weaving between traffic.
Inside, the driver's hands gripped the wheel tightly, their face obscured in shadow. The dashboard screen blinked with updates from the dispatcher.
"First unit on scene, report your status."
A crackling response came through. "This is Unit One. Gunfire still active. Fire in the west wing of the facility. Structural integrity holding for now, but multiple casualties confirmed."
The driver's breathing quickened as they glanced at the passenger seat, where a buzzing phone lit up. The name "Yui" flashed on the screen, accompanied by a missed call notification.
"Come on," the driver muttered, the strain in their voice evident.
The car screeched around a corner, narrowly missing a parked vehicle. The dispatcher's voice cut through the tension:
"Reports indicate the suspects are heavily armed and targeting key personnel. Witnesses confirm people are still inside the labs. Proceed with caution."
The driver's jaw tightened. "Yui… stay safe," they whispered, pressing harder on the accelerator.
The car skidded to a halt near the barricades. Emergency lights flickered across the scene, casting jagged shadows against the partially burning building. Smoke poured from the west wing as bursts of gunfire echoed through the air.
Gunfire cracked through the air, sharp and relentless, as bursts of flames lit up the west wing of the Kanagawa Facility. Smoke billowed out of shattered windows, mingling with the shouts of officers and first responders scrambling to contain the chaos.
Detective Sato shoved past the barricades, his Valkyrie badge clipped to his jacket glinting in the emergency lights. Officers stared as he stormed through, some pausing mid-action but saying nothing. His presence radiated urgency and authority, but his frantic pace betrayed his composure.
"Where's Detective Hoshino?" Sato demanded from a nearby officer.
The officer hesitated, pointing toward the command post near the perimeter. Without waiting for a reply, Sato sprinted toward the cluster of personnel, his heart pounding harder with every step.
Detective Hoshino stood near a command vehicle, barking orders into his radio. His voice was calm but firm, cutting through the noise.
"Keep the perimeter tight! I don't want anyone inside until we neutralize the shooters. We're dealing with—"
"Hoshino!" Sato's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
Hoshino turned, his sharp eyes narrowing at the interruption. He didn't flinch as Sato approached, radiating barely contained panic.
"My wife," Sato blurted out. "Yui—she's in there. I need to get to the lower labs now!"
Hoshino raised a hand, cutting him off before he could say more. "Stop. Take a breath."
"I don't have time for this!" Sato snapped, stepping closer. "She's in there, and every second I'm out here—"
"Sato, listen to me." Hoshino's voice was steady but carried an edge. "Panicking won't help her. Rushing in without a plan will get you killed. And if that happens, you won't be saving anyone."
Sato froze, his breathing labored, his hands trembling at his sides. His eyes burned with frustration, but he didn't interrupt.
Hoshino took a step closer, his tone softening but still firm. "I get it. It's personal. But right now, I need you to calm down and focus. If we're going to save her, I need you sharp. Can you do that?"
Sato clenched his jaw and nodded reluctantly, his fists tightening at his sides. "Fine. What do you know?"
Hoshino motioned toward the command vehicle, where a map of the facility was displayed on a tablet.
"Multiple shooters, heavily armed. They've split into teams—some are in the west wing, and others are moving toward the lower levels. The fires are localized, but spreading fast. Witnesses say they're targeting key personnel, so yes, your wife might be one of their objectives."
Sato's stomach twisted. "She works in the lower labs. If they're heading there—"
"They're not there yet," Hoshino interrupted, holding up a hand. "We're staging a route to evacuate survivors, but I need cover teams to make it happen. The shooters are coordinated, and they're using the fires as a distraction to move deeper into the building."
Before Sato could reply, the sound of tires screeching against asphalt drew their attention. An armored truck pulled up to the barricade, its imposing frame glinting under the emergency lights.
Hoshino raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Looks like your team is here."
Sato sighed, rubbing his temple. "Don't start."
The truck's back doors swung open with a metallic clang, and thirty or so identical figures stepped out in perfect formation. They moved like a single unit, their synchronized steps echoing across the pavement.
The lead figure, a young woman with sharp features and an air of authority, stepped forward. She bore an uncanny resemblance to Yui, though her expression was far more composed.
"Lieutenant Aria, reporting for duty," she said, her voice clear and commanding. "The Valkyries are waiting for your command."
Hoshino glanced at Sato, his expression unreadable. "Seeing clones of your wife is… unsettling."
Sato let out a dry laugh. "You're telling me."
Sato started addressing Aria and the assembled Valkyries.
"The situation is as follows," he began, his tone sharp and authoritative. "We've got multiple shooters inside the facility. They're targeting key personnel and possibly heading for the lower labs. Fires have broken out in the west wing, so movement will be restricted. We're splitting into groups to neutralize the threat and evacuate survivors."
He turned to Aria. "Your team will divide into three groups. Aria, you're with me. We're heading straight for the lower labs. Group Two will secure the west wing and clear any remaining staff. Group Three will sweep the upper levels for hostiles and survivors."
Aria nodded crisply. "Understood. The Valkyries will follow your lead."
Sato pulled his pistol from the inner pocket of his blazer, checking the chamber before securing it in his grip. "Move out. Let's bring them home."
Hoshino gave him a brief nod. "Good luck, Sato. Bring her back."
Sato paused for half a second, his expression unreadable. "I will," he said firmly before turning and leading Aria and her group into the chaos.
The corridor lit up with the strobe-like flashes of gunfire. Sato peeked over the edge of his cover, his sharp eyes tracking the movement of the soldiers.
"They're trying to pin us down!" he called out.
"Negative," Aria replied, her voice calm despite the hail of bullets. "They're funneling us into a kill zone. Flank left!"
Sato fired another shot, taking down one of the soldiers before darting to the left. Aria and two Valkyries followed, providing suppressive fire as the rest of the team held their position.
"On my mark!" Aria said, her voice steady even as she dodged a burst of bullets. "Three… two… now!"
The Valkyries surged forward, their formation breaking into fluid, calculated maneuvers. Two soldiers fell in rapid succession, their weapons clattering to the ground as the clones advanced with chilling precision.
Sato fired a well-placed shot that struck one of the soldiers in the shoulder, forcing them to drop their rifle. "Stay down!" he barked before moving further down the hall.
As the last soldier in the corridor fell, the noise subsided, replaced by the crackle of distant gunfire and the hum of emergency alarms.
"Area clear," Aria said, lowering her weapon but keeping her stance alert. She glanced at Sato, her expression stoic. "The lower labs are just ahead."
Sato nodded, his grip tightening on his pistol. "No time to lose. Let's move."
The team pressed forward, their movements swift and deliberate. The lower labs loomed closer with every step.
Elsewhere in the Kanagawa Facility, the second Valkyrie team moved swiftly through another corridor. The sound of distant gunfire reverberated through the walls, but their immediate surroundings were eerily silent. The faint glow of emergency lights flickered, casting long shadows that danced with every step they took.
Their firefight had been short and brutal. A half-dozen soldiers now lay scattered across the floor, their weapons discarded beside them.
One of the Valkyries knelt next to a body, inspecting the soldier's uniform with a critical eye. "Their gear is standard issue, but the insignias are gone. No patches, no ID tags. Nothing to identify them."
Another Valkyrie stood nearby, her rifle at the ready. She scanned the hallway nervously, her grip tightening. "Who the hell are these guys? Mercenaries? Rebels?"
"No idea," the first Valkyrie replied, shaking her head. "Whoever they are, they knew what they were doing. Their movements were tactical—trained, not just hired guns."
As she spoke, one of the other Valkyries at the back of the formation stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "Wait," she whispered, her voice tense. "Did you see that?"
"See what?" the first Valkyrie asked, standing up.
The third Valkyrie pointed down the hall, her rifle now aimed at a corner where the emergency lights barely reached. "Something moved. Darted around the corner—fast."
The team immediately snapped into action, their formation tightening as they advanced cautiously toward the corner.
"Stay alert," the lead Valkyrie ordered, her voice low.
As they turned the corner, they froze.
At the far end of the corridor, illuminated by the flickering emergency lights, stood a figure—a young woman dressed in blood-streaked lab-issued clothes. The baggy white pants and shirt were meant for researchers working in sterile environments, but now they were soaked in crimson, sticking to her frame.
She was surrounded by bodies of researchers.
Their lifeless forms lay sprawled on the floor around her, eyes cold and one hand outstretched pointing her pistol at the dead researchers. Blood pooled beneath them, dripping into the cracks between the tiles.
The girl stood in the center of the carnage, a pistol hanging loosely at her side. Her hands were slick with blood, streaks smeared across her face and arms.
She lifted her head slowly, her cold, detached gaze locking onto the Valkyries.
The resemblance was uncanny. Despite her disheveled state, the woman's face was eerily similar to their own, as though she had been created from the same mold.
The Valkyries hesitated, their weapons trained on her, unsure of what to do.
"What the hell…?" one of them whispered.
The lead Valkyrie addressed the clone. "Identify yourself," she commanded, her voice steady but edged with unease.
The bloodied clone tilted her head slightly, her expression blank. Her pistol raised, the barrel leveling directly at the group.
The silence was suffocating until one of the Valkyries muttered under her breath, "Oh shit."
The bloodied clone's lips curled into a twisted, unsettling smile.
Deeper in the Kanagawa Facility, the third Valkyrie team moved through the smoke-filled corridors, their boots crunching on shattered glass and debris. The crackle of distant gunfire served as a constant reminder of the chaos still unfolding around them.
"Eyes sharp," the lead Valkyrie said, motioning her team forward. "We're looking for survivors. Stay alert."
The team advanced cautiously, checking every corner and doorway as they moved.
As they turned into a wide corridor, the faint sounds of whimpering and muffled cries reached their ears. The lead Valkyrie raised a hand, signaling the team to stop.
"Over there," one of them whispered, pointing toward a half-open door.
The team approached slowly, weapons raised, and pushed the door open. Inside was a group of civilians—researchers and staff—huddled together in the corner. Some were injured, their clothes stained with blood and their faces pale. Others appeared unharmed but shaken, their eyes darting nervously between the Valkyries.
"Clear," the lead Valkyrie said, lowering her weapon. She stepped inside, keeping her movements deliberate and calm.
"We're here to help," she said firmly. "Is anyone unable to walk?"
One of the researchers, a middle-aged man clutching his arm, shakily raised his hand. "I think it's broken," he stammered, his voice trembling.
The lead Valkyrie nodded and motioned for one of her team members. "You two, help him. The rest of you, get these people to the evac route."
Another Valkyrie stepped forward, activating a small holographic map on her wrist. "Follow this path," she instructed the group, projecting the map onto the wall. "Stay low, stay together. The corridor is clear, but move quickly. Emergency personnel are waiting outside."
The civilians nodded, their fear tempered by the Valkyries' composed demeanor. With a mix of urgency and relief, they began to move, supporting the injured man as they made their way toward the exit.
The lead Valkyrie waited until the last civilian disappeared down the corridor before turning back to her team. "Good work," she said. "Let's keep moving."
The team resumed their search, sweeping through room after room. Most were empty, their contents scattered and broken. The sterile labs and offices had become little more than hollow shells, their glass walls shattered and desks overturned.
"This place is a ghost town," one Valkyrie muttered, her voice laced with frustration. "Where is everyone?"
"They probably fled deeper into the building," another replied, her tone grim. "Or worse."
The lead Valkyrie paused in the middle of a corridor, scanning the dimly lit hallway ahead. "Keep looking. There has to be someone left."
They moved forward, methodically checking each room they passed. Some were destroyed entirely, their contents burned or blown apart. Others were eerily pristine, untouched by the chaos outside.
"This is a dead end," one Valkyrie said, stepping out of another empty lab. "No sign of survivors or hostiles."
The lead Valkyrie frowned, glancing back toward the way they'd come. "We'll double back to the main corridor. If we don't find anyone there, we'll regroup with the others."
The team nodded, their movements quiet as they continued their search. The building felt heavier with each step, the weight of the destruction pressing down on them.
The Valkyries stood frozen, their weapons trained on the bloodied figure at the far end of the corridor. The clone stood motionless, her pistol steady in her hand, her twisted smile growing wider as she regarded them.
"What's the call?" one of the Valkyries whispered, her voice barely audible.
The lead Valkyrie glanced at the clone, then back at her team. Her grip on her rifle tightened before she slowly lowered it slightly. "Hold your fire," she said softly.
She took a careful step forward, her voice calm and measured as she addressed the clone. "Listen to me. You don't have to do this. Just put the weapon down, and we can help you."
The clone tilted her head, her eerie smile stretching wider. Her eyes, cold and unfeeling, glinted with something sinister.
"Help me?" she echoed, her tone mocking. "Why would I want your help?"
The lead Valkyrie remained steady, her tone softening further. "We're not your enemy. Whatever happened here, we can figure it out together. Just drop the gun."
The clone's shoulders shook slightly as she chuckled, her laugh low and unsettling. She raised her head, her twisted grin now fully spread across her blood-smeared face.
"Drop my weapon?" she said, her voice dripping with malice. "Why would I do that? Their screams..." She paused, her expression darkening with something almost euphoric. "...Their screams were music to my ears."
The words hung in the air like a thick, suffocating fog.
The Valkyries shifted uneasily, their weapons still trained on the clone. One of them, standing at the edge of the formation, nudged the Valkyrie beside her with her elbow.
The second Valkyrie glanced at her, frowning slightly.
"What?" she whispered back.
The first Valkyrie leaned in, her voice barely audible. "She's stalling. This doesn't feel right."
The second Valkyrie's eyes flicked back to the clone, her expression tightening. "You think she's—"
"Focus," the lead Valkyrie interrupted sharply, her voice cutting through their exchange without turning around. She took another step forward, her weapon still lowered but ready.
"Whatever you've been through," the lead Valkyrie said, addressing the clone again, "we can find a way to help you. You don't have to do this."
The clone tilted her head again, her smile fading slightly as if considering the words. Then, her lips curled back into that same twisted grin.
"No," she said softly, her tone almost playful. "But I want to."
Her pistol twitched in her hand, and for a split second, the Valkyries tensed, ready to react.
The lead Valkyrie's voice hardened, though she kept it steady. "Don't."
The corridor was silent, every breath hanging on what the clone would do next.
The bloodied clone's grin widened, her eyes glinting with malice. For a moment, the corridor fell silent except for the faint hum of her weapon.
Without warning, the clone raised her laser pistol and fired.
A streak of red light hissed through the air, striking the wall beside the lead Valkyrie and sending a shower of sparks into the corridor. The Valkyries dove for cover as the clone fired again, her shots precise and deliberate, scorching the floor where they had just stood.
"Get to cover!" the lead Valkyrie barked, rolling behind a metal console as the laser beams continued to flash through the air.
The other Valkyries returned fire, their rifles emitting bursts of blue light. The corridor filled with the sharp hiss and crackle of laser beams, each shot illuminating the smoky haze that hung in the air.
"She's pinned!" one of the Valkyries shouted, her voice tense over the comm.
"For now," the lead Valkyrie replied, peeking over her cover. The clone was crouched behind a fallen lab station, her weapon aimed steadily in their direction.
The clone moved swiftly, her pistol releasing short, sharp bursts of red light. A beam grazed one Valkyrie's shoulder, leaving a smoking black streak across her armor. The injured Valkyrie hissed in pain, retreating behind cover.
"Stay down!" another Valkyrie called, firing a steady beam toward the clone to suppress her movements.
The clone darted out from cover, firing as she moved. Her agility and precision were unnerving, her grin never faltering as she kept the Valkyries at bay.
"She's fast," one Valkyrie muttered, her back pressed against the wall.
The lead Valkyrie glanced at her team, quickly formulating a plan. "Suppressive fire! Flank her from both sides!"
The team moved as one, two Valkyries laying down a steady barrage of fire while the others shifted positions. The clone seemed to anticipate the maneuver, firing a precise shot that forced one Valkyrie to retreat behind a metal crate.
"She's trying to split us up!" one Valkyrie shouted.
"Stick to the plan!" the lead Valkyrie replied sharply.
As the Valkyries closed the gap, the lead Valkyrie took aim with her rifle, her finger hovering over the trigger. When the clone peeked out to fire again, the Valkyrie's shot was ready.
A streak of blue light struck the clone's hand, her pistol clattering to the ground as a sharp hiss escaped her lips.
"Weapon down!" one Valkyrie called, rushing forward to subdue her.
But the clone wasn't finished. She lunged at the advancing Valkyrie with startling speed, delivering a sharp kick to her midsection. The Valkyrie stumbled back, her rifle falling from her grip.
"She's fighting back!"
The lead Valkyrie stepped in, swinging her rifle in a calculated arc to force the clone off balance.
when one Valkyrie lunged from the side, tackling her to the ground.
The clone let out a sharp growl as the Valkyrie slammed her into the floor, her pistol knocked from her hand and skittering across the tiles.
Before she could react, two more Valkyries swarmed her, pinning her arms and legs as she thrashed violently.
"Hold her down!" the lead Valkyrie commanded, stepping forward with her rifle trained on the struggling clone.
The clone kicked and twisted, her bloodied hands slipping against the Valkyries' grips. One of her wild movements sent a Valkyrie tumbling to the side, but the others quickly adjusted, tightening their hold.
"She's strong!" one Valkyrie shouted, struggling to keep her pinned.
Two more Valkyries moved in, their weapons trained on the clone as the others worked to restrain her. One Valkyrie produced high-tech restraints from her belt, snapping them onto the clone's wrists with a metallic click.
"Restrained!" the Valkyrie confirmed.
The restrained clone thrashed violently, her struggles growing weaker under the weight of the Valkyries holding her down. Nearby, one Valkyrie inspecting the bodies of the fallen researchers froze, her gaze fixed on one particular figure.
Her breath hitched, and she muttered, "Oh no…"
"What is it?" the lead Valkyrie asked sharply, glancing at her.
The Valkyrie knelt beside the body, her hands trembling as she brushed away debris and blood from the ID badge. Her eyes widened as she read the name.
Another Valkyrie leaned over to see, her face paling. "It's…"
The lead Valkyrie walked over, crouching to pick up the badge. Her expression darkened as she held it under the flickering lights. The name and photo on the badge left no doubt: Manami Yui.
"It's her," the lead Valkyrie said quietly.
The lead Valkyrie pressed her comm device, switching to the open channel used by all Valkyrie teams. Her voice was steady as she relayed the report.
"Team Two to command. We've detained a clone. She may be responsible for the attack."
There was a brief pause before Sato's voice came through the comm, calm but resolute. "Understood. Good work. Hold her until we regroup."
"Copy that," the lead Valkyrie replied, ending the transmission.
As the comms fell silent, the lead Valkyrie switched to a private channel reserved exclusively for the Valkyrie clones. Her voice, steady moments ago, now trembled with emotion.
"This is a private channel," she began, ensuring Sato couldn't hear. "We found big sister Yui… but she's dead."
A stunned silence followed. On the other end, Aria and her team froze mid-stride. Aria's composed expression faltered, her eyes widening as she exchanged shocked glances with the other Valkyries beside her.
One Valkyrie whispered, her voice shaky, "Are you sure?"
"She's here," the Valkyrie on the other end replied, her tone heavy with grief. "We confirmed it. Yui is gone."
Another moment of silence passed before the voice on the comm continued hesitantly. "May we… may we get her out before Sato finds her?"
Aria's throat tightened as the weight of the request settled over her. She glanced back at her team, their stunned expressions mirroring her own.
She hesitated, her mind racing, before finally nodding. Her voice, though soft, carried a tone of finality.
"Yes," she muttered.
The Valkyries around her remained silent, their shared understanding heavy with unspoken grief.
Smoke billowed into the night sky as the flashing lights of emergency vehicles cast a strobe-like glow over the chaotic scene. Sato stood with Detective Hoshino, recounting the initial findings from inside the Kanagawa Facility.
"They knew what they were doing," Sato said, his voice calm but heavy with tension. "This was coordinated. Their targets weren't random—they had an objective."
Hoshino nodded, exhaling a stream of smoke. "Inside knowledge, most likely. The kind of precision we saw doesn't come from guesswork."
Nearby, Aria stood with another Valkyrie, their usual stoic expressions tinged with unease. Both glanced toward a group of Valkyries huddled a short distance away, surrounding something covered by a white sheet.
Sato followed their line of sight, narrowing his eyes. "What's going on over there?"
Hoshino stepped in quickly, his tone casual but forced. "Probably just cataloging the casualties. You know how meticulous your team can be."
Sato frowned, unconvinced. "They don't usually gather like that for cataloging."
Aria stepped forward, her voice even. "Sir, we should focus on the detained clone. She's the key to understanding this attack. The rest is being handled."
The other Valkyrie nodded, her tone carefully measured. "We've got everything under control."
Sato's gaze lingered on the group, his suspicion growing. Without a word, he stepped around Hoshino and walked toward them.
The Valkyries near the sheet stiffened as Sato approached, their unease apparent despite their disciplined stances. He stopped a few paces away, his sharp eyes taking in the scene.
"What is this?" he asked quietly, his tone calm but commanding.
The lead Valkyrie in the group glanced at Aria, who had followed closely behind, but said nothing.
"Sato…" Aria began, her voice hesitant.
He ignored her, stepping closer to the group. His gaze fell to the sheet, and the realization hit him like a physical blow. Without waiting for an explanation, he reached down and pulled the sheet back.
The world seemed to fall silent.
Beneath the sheet lay Yui, her face pale and peaceful in death. Her once-pristine lab coat was stained with blood, and her hands rested limply at her sides.
Sato stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He knelt beside her, his hand trembling slightly as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.
Aria stepped forward cautiously, her voice soft. "We didn't want you to find out like this."
Sato didn't look at her. His gaze remained fixed on Yui, his voice steady but quiet. "You thought hiding this would make it easier?"
"We thought it would help you stay focused," Aria said, her own voice wavering slightly.
The other Valkyries remained silent, their heads bowed.
Sato exhaled slowly, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He stood, his eyes meeting Aria's. "Thank you for trying to shield me. But next time, don't."
Aria nodded solemnly. "Understood."
Sato turned to Hoshino, his voice regaining its firmness. "Get a full report ready. I want every detail about this attack."
"Yes, sir," Hoshino replied, his tone subdued.
Sato looked back at Yui one last time before stepping away, his composure intact but his grief evident in his eyes.
*two months later*
The office was a stark contrast to the chaos of the Kanagawa Facility a month ago—calm, orderly, and suffocatingly quiet. Sato stood at Commander Morita's desk, his hands braced against the polished surface as he leaned forward, his jaw tight with frustration.
"You can't be serious," Sato said, his voice low but sharp. "You want me to babysit that thing?"
Behind him, Aria stood quietly, her hands clasped in front of her, her posture stiff. Her worried gaze flicked between Sato and Morita, who sat behind the desk with his usual composed demeanor.
"I'm completely serious," Morita replied firmly. "Akuri is the only surviving clone directly tied to the Kanagawa incident. Whether you like it or not, she's valuable, and she needs supervision."
Sato let out a dry laugh, straightening as he threw up his hands. "Supervision? She killed Yui!" His voice cracked slightly, and he clenched his fists. "And now you're telling me to play house with her? Do you hear how insane that sounds?"
Morita's expression remained unmoved. "Yes, I do. And I'm still giving you this assignment. Akuri is dangerous, yes, but she also represents an opportunity to understand what went wrong in that facility. You're uniquely positioned to ensure this doesn't spiral out of control."
Sato took a step back, shaking his head. "I'm still trying to get used to Yui not being around anymore," he muttered, his voice quieter but no less intense. "Why are you making me do this now? Why me?"
"Because you know better than anyone what's at stake," Morita said, leaning forward. "Akuri isn't just a reminder of what happened—she's also a reflection of the choices Yui made. If we don't guide her now, she'll become exactly what you fear. You can stop that."
Sato's hands twitched at his sides, but he didn't respond immediately. Behind him, Aria shifted nervously, her fingers gripping each other tightly.
"You won't be alone," Morita continued after a pause. "Aria will be with you every step of the way."
At this, Sato turned his head slightly, glancing over his shoulder. Aria stood a short distance behind him, her worried expression softening into something more sympathetic as she met his gaze.
"I'm here to help," she said quietly. "You won't have to do this by yourself."
Sato looked at her for a moment, his frustration momentarily replaced by weariness. He turned back to Morita, his tone flat. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"No," Morita replied evenly. "You don't."
Sato let out a slow breath, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Fine," he muttered. "But don't expect me to play nice."
"Noted," Morita said. "You leave tomorrow. Akuri's placement has already been arranged, and I expect you to take this seriously."
As the office door clicked shut behind them, Sato ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing.
Aria walked beside him, her hands clasped behind her back now. She glanced at him cautiously. "Sato…"
"What?" he asked, his tone sharper than he intended.
She hesitated, then said softly, "I know this isn't easy. And I know how you feel about her. But you're not alone. I'll be there to help you."
Sato stopped walking, turning to face her. "She killed Yui, Aria," he said, his voice raw. "I don't know if I can even look at her without…" He trailed off, shaking his head.
Aria stepped closer, her expression gentle but resolute. "I know. But if anyone can handle this, it's you."
Sato's shoulders slumped, and he exhaled heavily. "We'll see," he muttered.
Aria offered a small, reassuring smile as they continued down the corridor, the weight of the assignment pressing heavily on them both.