Sato pushed through the chaos, his heart pounding in his chest as the dust settled around him. People were running, their faces pale with fear, and the air was thick with smoke and confusion. He desperately searched for Yamamoto, hoping his partner had managed to escape the blast.

“Yamamoto!” Sato shouted, his voice straining against the cacophony of panicked screams. “Where are you?” He scanned the area, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he fought against the surge of dread rising in him.

A sudden commotion caught his attention, and he rushed toward it, his instincts driving him forward. As he pushed through the throngs of people, his stomach twisted with anxiety. What if something had happened? What if—

Then he saw it.

Yamamoto’s body lay motionless on the ground, partially obscured by debris. Sato’s heart dropped, and he felt as if the ground had been ripped from beneath him. He stumbled forward, shock paralyzing him as he knelt beside his partner.

“Yamamoto!” Sato shouted, shaking him gently, but there was no response. The world around him faded into a blur as he focused solely on the lifeless figure before him. Blood pooled around Yamamoto, darkening his shirt as the realization hit Sato like a punch to the gut.

“No, no, no…” Sato muttered, his voice cracking. “This can’t be happening.” He felt a wave of helplessness wash over him, threatening to drown him in despair.

“Get help! Someone, call an ambulance!” he shouted, his voice rising above the chaos, but his pleas were swallowed by the panic surrounding him.

He brushed his fingers against Yamamoto’s face, the warmth slowly dissipating. “We were supposed to catch her together. We had a plan…” His throat tightened, and he fought back tears, unable to comprehend the reality unfolding before him.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Just then, a couple of officers rushed over, their expressions grim. “What happened?” one of them asked, kneeling beside Sato.

“It was Hana,” Sato choked out, his voice barely above a whisper. “She set off the explosion. She… she’s the one behind all of this.”

The officers exchanged worried glances, their urgency palpable as they radioed for backup. “We need to secure the area and look for any signs of her. This isn’t over,” one of them said, his tone steely.

“I don’t care about securing the area!” Sato snapped, anger bubbling to the surface. “We have to find her! She’s responsible for this!”

“Calm down, Sato,” the officer urged, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We will find her. But right now, we need to get medical assistance for Yamamoto.”

Sato shook his head, feeling rage and sorrow intertwine. “It’s too late for him,” he said bitterly, his voice thick with emotion. “She killed him.”

As the paramedics arrived, Sato felt a knot form in his stomach. The chaos continued to swirl around him, but all he could focus on was the lifeless body of his partner, a constant reminder of the price of their pursuit.

“Yamamoto… I’m so sorry,” Sato murmured, his heart breaking. “I should have done better. I should have protected you.”

He felt a hand on his shoulder again, firm but reassuring. “We’ll find her, Sato. We’ll make her pay for this.”

“I don’t want her to just pay,” Sato said, his voice low and fierce. “I want to make her suffer like she made us suffer. We can’t let her get away with this.”

The officers nodded, determination settling in their expressions. They gathered around Sato, a collective resolve forming in the wake of tragedy.

“Let’s regroup and strategize,” one of them suggested. “We need to gather intelligence on her next move. She won’t stop here.”

As Sato stood, he felt a flicker of purpose ignite within him. They had lost Yamamoto, but they couldn’t lose sight of their mission. Hana had to be stopped, and he would make sure of it.

“I’m in,” Sato declared, his voice steady as he wiped away his tears, steeling himself for what was to come. “We will find her, and we will end this.”

With that, they formed a plan, determination solidifying in their hearts. Sato knew that this was just the beginning of the fight. He would not rest until he brought Hana to justice, no matter the cost.