0510 hours, 2 July 0145…

I dragged my suitcases as fast as I could through the corridor, feeling the sweat on my forehead after being 10 minutes late due to oversleeping at night.

When I got to the hangar, I saw my friends boarding the private jet, and the distinct smell of jet fuel permeated the air as Commander Katoki stood in the doorway.

Commander Katoki motioned for me to enter the private jet as it hummed with the sound of its imminent departure.

"There you are, sleepyhead! We're about to depart!"

I arrived at the airport punctually and felt a wave of relief as I stepped onto the aircraft. Katoki shut the plane door with a thud, reverberating as it closed.

From my front-row seat, I observed the pilot's cockpit lights shining in the darkness, signaling his imminent departure.

I was in this seat with exhaustion seeping through my bones. Suddenly, Nolan approached from behind, tapping my left shoulder twice before speaking inquisitively.

"You made it in the nick of time, matey! What were you up to last night?"

I quickly glanced behind my seat and responded.

"Even with enough sleep, my head felt weighed down when I woke up."

Kyoko muttered a gentle response.

"It's alright. You can sleep in here if you want to."

The engine was rumbling underneath the cabin when the pilot finally maneuvered the aircraft onto the runway after a few seconds. The microphone magnified the cabin's quiet as Katoki stood in front of us.

"Buon giorno cacciatore ardente, which refers to a good morning scorching hunter. But first of all, I want all of you to pay attention."

Everyone stared at Katoki's explanation, while I looked out the left window to see the view from the aircraft.

"We are going from St. Minerva Island to the sacred city of San Martino, Grande Maria."

"The usual flight duration is 7 hours. But we were lucky to have a faster plane that will shrink the duration to 5.5 hours."

"Three fighter jets will accompany us to ensure our flight is safe. In case of any danger to our flight, remain calm and allow the fighter pilots to handle the situation."

"Upon arriving at the Grande Maria international airport, the Cleanser Squadron's tour host will welcome us and offer us a brief excursion and exquisite dining at their basecamp."

"Subsequently, we will converse with the Cleanser Squadron regarding Crescent's next step toward ravaging the city and Pope Enzio's election."

"If Crescent launches a sudden attack, you have the license to retaliate. But the safety of civilians should be the primary concern."

As thoughts raced through my mind as I fixed my eyes on the outside view from this aircraft, Commander Katoki's comment startled me out of my reverie.

"Especially for you, Tsuyuki! Do not act impulsively if you want to remain unscathed."

I couldn't help but nod briefly to him while feeling a growing sense of annoyance towards Commander Katoki.

"Yes, Commander."

"Good. Let's end this session by praying."

Everyone bowed their heads in solemn prayer for a safe journey. After a few moments of contemplation, Commander Katoki raised his chin and spoke.

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"Praying is over."

The warmth of the breakfast filled the cabin as the staff distributed it to each table after the prayer. I pulled out the seat table, and she tucked the dish of curry rice within as the fragrances and colors flooded the room. Later, once the cabin staff had completed laying out the food, she inquired with a gentle smile.

"Any request for your drink, sir?"

I glanced at her and responded.

"Iced tea."

She carefully placed the ice cubes into the crystal-clear glass, pouring the steaming hot tea into it and passing it to me with a gentle smile.

"Enjoy your breakfast, sir."

I nodded in agreement and gently placed the glass of iced tea beside the plate of fragrant curry rice.

EarPod Music: Ling Tosite Sigure - Make Up Syndrome

I took up my phone and listened to some tunes via my earpods while enjoying the morning curry with the view outside the window.

After my brief breakfast, I then cuddled up in my seat and fell asleep, letting the music from my earpods lull me to sleep as weariness finally caught up with me.

***

The cold air rushed through me, bringing a chill to my nape with every gust. But I was suddenly overwhelmed with memories from my past that I had never shaken. I expected to hear the same gentle woman's voice again—the one who keeps mentioning me about the moonlight to remind me of her.

But this time is different. It was Elliott's stubborn words that stuck in my head before his eventual demise, as the scene abruptly transported me back to the gory battlefield of the Vortikan Crisis.

"DON'T GET IN MY FUCKING WAY, DUMBASS!!! LET ME KILL THAT UMBRARIELLE BASTARD INSTEAD!!!"

Umbrarielle let out a loud howl from its freaky bearded face when Elliott smacked my hand in fury. Panic filled the air as the monster spread its wing-like chain of blades, causing the Authonoids to scurry away from it.

I gave him such a hard grip on his left shoulder right away because I couldn't stand his stubbornness.

"ARE YOU A FUCKING IDIOT WHO HAS NO PURPOSE IN LIFE?! YOU'D JUST MAKE YOUR SISTER-"

But he cut me off with a rearward-swinging scythe, and his eyes shot straight ahead as he gripped the scythe hard and angrily retorted.

"I'D RATHER DIE THAN WORK WITH AN INCOMPETENT PIECE OF FUCK LIKE YOU!!!"

"AND SHE'S NOTHING BUT A WORTHLESS BITCH ASS WHORE!!!"

He then pushed ahead, revving the engine of his scythe with its roaring Inline-4. He sprang over Umbrarielle, pulled out his pulse grenade, and stabbed the blinded monster's spine with it while constantly revving it into overheating the engine.

The motor of his scythe was clearly overheating from excessive revving, and he gave me a downward middle finger with a mouth motion as he peered in my direction.

"GO!!!"

"FUCK!!!"

"YOURSELF!!!"

And all of a sudden...

KABAM

A massive explosion immediately shook the air so much that it almost knocked my feet off. And when I looked at the aftermath, there was nothing left of Elliott's body at all, only Umbrarielle's jumbled corpse and a charred scythe splayed across the ground.

As tears threatened to fall over the tragic death of Elliott, my surroundings shifted abruptly to a large warehouse, the sensation of rust clinging to my fingertips.

But as I tried to make sense of the surroundings, my childhood friend Minami rushed up to me, her arms flung wide to cover me from the sniper, leaving me dumbfounded.

"TSUYUKI, WATCH OUT!!!"

But as I tried to pull her back from the sniper's sight, all of a sudden...

JSHICK

It's all too late...

The 7.62x54r pierced through her neck as I felt the blood splay over my cheek and her body abruptly sink onto my cradle. But her pulse rate was so faint that I could hardly feel it through her wounded neck to check it. And I could feel my heart plunge into the depths of all seven circles.

Yet she brushed my face with her bloodied left hand as she took her last breath.

"Tsuyuki…"

"Run…"

Something is wrong in my head. Why does it always bring up memories of my old friends' tragic deaths? I don't want to live with the burdening weight of my friend's passing thoughts on my mind at all times!

But... I struggle immensely to overcome their passing. It haunts my memory like a relentless plague, refusing to fade no matter how hard I attempt to push it away.

***

The air was still chilly, much like hours before. Thankfully, the haunting dream of my old friends' deaths has dissipated, granting me a peaceful temporary death and a chance to replenish my energy.

But all of a sudden, someone was shaking my body, and I could hear voices vibrating in my ears as they called my name.

I noticed the silhouettes of Axel, Christine, Lisabelle, Kyoko, and Nolan approaching my face as I opened my heavy eyes, wondering if I had really woken up.

Nolan shook my left shoulder abruptly and spoke in a quiet, excited tone that startled me.

"Tsuyuki, we've just landed!"

Once my confusion subsided, I sat up straight in my seat and queried with a jolted surprise.

"Landed?! Aren't we just taken off?"

But Axel then spoke earnestly as he pointed at the window on my left.

"What do you mean? Just look at the window."

I saw the light beaming on the planes parked in the yard of Grande Maria's International Airport as I peered through the glass.

Perhaps from my deep slumber, I was not aware of the plane's vibrations. All I could do was sit and stare out the window in silence.

Finally, I arrived in Grande Maria, San Martino's holy city.

I could feel the tension as I was getting ready to meet her again. Yes, I'm talking about Onigashi, who stabbed me and killed Luke and Clarissa a month ago!

I predicted there would be immense bloodshed if we met each other.

I vow to make her reconsider her actions after crossing paths with me—I will not back down!