Crimson's Funeral – Honoring a Hero
The sky burned with warm hues as the sun dipped below the hills. In the clearing near Emjay's base, the team gathered around a wooden casket draped in their emblem. A small crowd stood in solemn silence, but among them stood a young girl, no older than seven, clutching Kai's hand. Her black hair swayed gently in the breeze, her wide eyes filled with a mix of confusion and quiet grief. No one knew who she was, and Kai offered no explanations—yet.
Earlier that morning, Kai had approached Emjay privately, his usual carefree expression replaced by something heavier. Pulling him aside, he whispered, "There's something you should know... Crimson had a daughter. This is her." His gaze dropped to the girl, who clung to his side with a grip that spoke volumes of fear and loss. "He asked me to take care of her. Didn't want anyone else to know—thought it'd complicate things."
Emjay's expression softened as he knelt beside her. "Hey there," he said gently. The girl nodded shyly, her small fingers tightening around Kai's hand. Emjay looked back at Kai, his voice low. "He trusted you with this... Thank you for honoring that."
Kai shrugged, masking the turmoil beneath a familiar grin. "Didn't feel like a choice. Felt... right."
Now, standing at the funeral, Kai took a deep breath and stepped forward. The wind rustled through the trees as he glanced at the casket, then at the girl beside him. He began, "Crimson... wasn't just a teammate—he was my best friend. I met him years ago, long before any of this. Back then? He was just some loud guy in an underground fight club, throwing punches and cracking jokes no one asked for. Didn't even have powers—just raw stubbornness and a grin that made you wanna punch or hug him. Probably both." Laughter, tinged with sadness, rippled through the team.
Kai's gaze softened as he continued, "He joined the team before things got bad. Said he needed 'purpose beyond punching idiots.' Turns out, punching idiots was still part of the job. But that was Crimson—always finding a reason to laugh, even when the world gave him every reason not to."
He glanced down at the girl, his voice thickening. "And... turns out, for him, it wasn't just about us. He fought for something bigger—for her. For family." The revelation hung heavy, but no one questioned it. There was only respect.
Kai stepped back, gently squeezing the girl's shoulder. Tears threatened, but he held them at bay. "He wouldn't want us crying," he said quietly. "He'd want us celebrating his absurd, ridiculous, incredible life."
A Humorous Tribute – Just Like Crimson
Later that evening, back at the base, the weight of grief still lingered—but Kai, determined to honor Crimson's spirit, clapped his hands. "Alright... one last thing."
Nami raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
Kai's grin widened. "Crimson wanted us to laugh. So... we ordered 100 ranch pizzas."
Yano blinked. "You what?"
Kazuki shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. "And we're dropping them off at the enemy's outpost."
Leon groaned but couldn't suppress a grin. "He'd love this."
Half an hour later, the team crouched behind a hill overlooking the enemy's perimeter. Crates of steaming ranch pizzas sat in plain view, delivered without explanation. From their vantage point, they watched as confusion rippled through the opposing soldiers.
"Is this... a trap?" one soldier muttered.
"Why ranch?!" another demanded.
One soldier took a tentative bite. "...It's kinda good."
That did it. Emjay's team erupted into laughter—deep, belly-shaking laughter that echoed across the quiet battlefield. Kai doubled over, wiping tears from his eyes. "Crimson... you'd be howling right now," he managed between gasps.
Leon shook his head. "Only he could turn pizza into psychological warfare."
Yano, usually composed, giggled. "They look more confused than when we ambushed their supply run."
Kazuki smirked. "Maybe next time we drop off karaoke machines."
"Or inflatable pool toys," Nami added. "Imagine the chaos."
Kai wiped his face. "Guys... this isn't just a prank. This is us remembering him the way he'd want—laughing, being idiots." He glanced at the young girl, who watched with wide eyes. Slowly, she smiled—a small but genuine spark of joy. Kai's chest tightened, but he grinned wider. "That's it, kiddo. That's how we honor him."
On the Enemy's Side – Reflection and Plans
Back at the enemy stronghold, tension hummed through the command room. Lester sat at a table surrounded by flickering screens displaying battlefield footage. Evena leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "So... Lathan's gone," she remarked.
Lester's gaze didn't waver. "Reckless fool. Let ego lead, paid the price." His fingers tapped rhythmically. "But Emjay's team... they're unpredictable. That pizza stunt? Ridiculous. Effective."
Evena smirked. "Half our soldiers thought it was poisoned. The other half? Stuffed their faces."
Esami entered, shaking her head. "Morale's weirdly high. One guy said it was the best meal he's had in months. Pretty sure another's trying to barter for leftovers."
Lillie flopped into a chair. "So... what's next? We retaliate with, what, 200 pepperoni pizzas?"
Lester's glare silenced her—but only briefly. "Their humor masks strategy," he muttered. "They've turned grief into fuel. That's dangerous." He pulled up a map, markers flashing red. "We infiltrate. Supply lines, comms—cripple them piece by piece. While they laugh, we strike."
Evena nodded. "Cut their resources, their morale follows."
Lester's lips thinned. "Exactly. Esami, double our counterintelligence. Lillie—disruption tactics. No more jokes. Precision."
Lillie stretched, grinning. "Still think we should send a pizza back. With a note: 'See you soon.'"
Evena chuckled. "Tempting."
Lester sighed. "Focus. We end them. Efficiently. No theatrics." He paused, then muttered, "Though... a poisoned pizza wouldn't be the worst idea."
The room fell silent—then laughter broke through.
"Maybe after we win," Evena said, smirking. "Until then—war."
Lester's gaze swept the room. "Prepare. They want to laugh? Let's make them choke on it."