The First Squad marched away, obeying promptly. All that was left was Raven and a few other members of the Fifth Squad. Kay stared at them for a moment before asking,

"And you guys? What are you doing here?" Her voice was firm, but not hostile, just curious.

"They took Ethan's body to his family. The captain and the other leaders, along with the soldiers, went to pay their respects," Raven replied, her tone controlled, but her grief evident.

Kay nodded, crossing her arms.

"I see. But why did you stay?"

"We stayed in case something came up. Besides, we were going to try to do the training while you didn't come back, but..." Raven looked at the others, hesitant. "We don't know how to do it without you, so we decided to wait."

Kay shook her head with a tired half-smile.

"Mira, Alex, and Brenda went too?"

— Yes. The two of them were closest to Ethan, and Mira, as our vice-captain, needed to be there to offer her condolences to the family. — Raven explained, her seriousness shining through.

— I won't even ask why you didn't wait for me. — Kay shrugged. — Anyway, you can join Joana's group. I'll be right there.

— Okay. — Raven said, leading the others away.

Kay watched the group walk away, their footsteps echoing in the hallways. In the distance, a few low voices exchanged words.

— Sometimes it's hard to know what Kay is thinking... — San commented, almost as if he was venting.

Raven stopped, turning her head slightly to San.

— Seriously? He seemed burdened with guilt for what happened... As if he felt responsible for not going to the funeral. — she said, with a thoughtful tone.

Slayer, who was walking beside them, interrupted.

— The life of a soldier was a choice made by each of us here. Who we left behind and why... only we know. — His voice was grave, as if it carried the weight of bitter experiences.

Kratos, with a hard expression, added:

— But as a leader, the failure or success of a mission, as well as the wounded or dead, falls on the superiors. Even though each of us came of our own free will, those who answer for our deaths are the living. Especially the one in charge of the mission.

Raven nodded, but before she could answer, Thais stopped walking and turned to the side.

— I'm sorry, but you can go ahead. I forgot something. — Thais said, already preparing to return.

Raven crossed her arms, her gaze stern.

— That's an order: stay still! — she ordered, seriously.

— What's wrong? I said I forgot something! — Thais replied, irritated.

— Don't do anything unnecessary. Leave him alone! — Raven insisted, firmly.

Thais huffed, but tried to justify herself.

— What are you talking about? I was just going to my room and...

— Let's continue. — Raven interrupted, the authority in her voice leaving no room for objections.

Before Thais could say anything else, Viviane held her hand gently.

— He understands. Kay will be fine. — Viviane said, with a comforting smile.

But Thais couldn't hold back the pain she was carrying. Tears began to well up as she tried to answer.

— I know... but it's not his fault! There's no reason for him to feel guilty! It was at the end of the mission, it was already over! Damn it...! — Her voice broke as she fell to her knees, tears flowing freely.

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Viviane and Dan knelt beside her, offering silent support as they both cried as well. The others turned around, their fists clenched, but remained firm, looking straight ahead.

"Don't show weakness, idiots! Let's go first. Come after!" Raven ordered, her voice sharp as a blade.

"You're being too cruel," Kratos grumbled, frowning.

"We were ordered to join the others. Are we going to stay behind to take care of crying people? If you want, feel free. I'm going." Raven shrugged and started to leave, without looking back.

Slayer sighed, scratching his head.

"I don't know how to deal with crying people, especially girls. This isn't for me." And he followed Raven.

Kay arrived soon after, watching the scene with a confused and, at the same time, amused look. He patted Thais' head, trying to calm her down.

"What a complicated group we have, huh?" — he muttered, mostly to himself.

Raven, who was already a little far away, turned when she heard him.

“Weren’t you going to eat?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.

Kay held up two sandwiches and a pot of coffee, as if she already had the answer ready.

“Mira had put everything away.” He took a bite of the sandwich before asking: “So what? Are you guys okay? Why are you crying?”

Raven snorted impatiently.

“Herd effect?” she said, dismissively. “Anyway, we’re going first.”

Without waiting for an answer, Raven and the others walked away again.

Kay watched the group disappear down the hallway, feeling the weight of the three girls around her.

"Don't leave me alone here... They won't stop crying, and I don't even know why!" — thought Kay, worry starting to tighten in her chest.

When Raven and Slayer were almost reaching the rest of the squad, Slayer looked back and stopped, his eyes widening.

"What is he doing?!" — exclaimed Slayer, pointing at Kay.

Kay was using his tentacles, which moved precisely and gently, to carry the three girls. He approached the group with calm steps, but his expression was like he wanted to be anywhere else.

San's eyes widened when he saw the scene.

"What are you doing with my sister?!" — he shouted, moving forward instinctively.

Kay raised one of her hands in a calm gesture.

"Calm down. Just look." — he replied, pointing at the girls.

The three of them seemed confused, but a little calmer. Thais, who seemed the most comfortable, sighed and tried to explain.

— How can I put it... I feel like I'm hanging from a tree branch, afraid to get off. It's weird, but comforting.

Kay let out a short laugh.

— It was kind of cruel of you to leave me with three crying girls, without me understanding absolutely anything of what was happening. — he said, adjusting the tentacles that held the girls as if they were floating seats.

Raven stopped, turning on her heels, with her hands on her hips.

— And whose fault is it? Then solve it! — she said, irritated, with her eyes fixed on Kay.

Kay blinked, confused by her tone.

— Why are you mad? — he asked, tilting his head to the side.

Raven snorted, turning her face away, clearly irritated, but not wanting to admit the reason.

— Me, huh? What's gotten into her? — Kay thought, scratching her head as her tentacles brought the girls closer.

— Me, huh? What's gotten into her? — thought Kay, scratching his head as his tentacles carefully adjusted the girls on the floor.

He sighed, observing their faces.

— So, why are you crying? — he asked, tilting his head to the side, his voice full of concern.

Viviane and Dan exchanged glances before looking at Thais.

Kay noticed the gesture and turned his attention to her.

"Thais?" he asked, worried.

Thais looked at him for a few seconds, hesitating, until she finally found the courage to speak.

"I was sad... because of Ethan," she said, her voice trembling.

Kay took a deep breath, absorbing the words.

"So that was it." He released the girls carefully, leaving them standing. "From the way Raven spoke, I thought I had done something."

Raven, from a distance, gave a puzzled look, crossing her arms. "Why did he think that? And why did I lie...?"

Kay looked at the three with a more serious expression.

"If they were that sad, they should have insisted on going to the funeral too," he said, his voice filled with slight disapproval.

Thais laughed nervously, scratching her head.

"Yeah, right..."

Kay frowned, crossing her arms.

— Say whatever you want, but never let the opportunity to say what you feel pass you by. There's no way of knowing if you'll get another chance.

Thais looked up, surprised by his unexpected seriousness. In an instant, her expression changed, frowning.

— Then stop blaming yourself for what happened! — she said, staring at him.

Kay blinked, confused.

— I understand. Don't worry, I'm not blaming myself anymore. It's the ghouls' fault.

Thais widened her eyes, shocked by his answer.

— Is that how you see things? — she exclaimed, indignant.

— Am I wrong? — Kay replied, visibly confused.

Thais let out an incredulous laugh, shaking her head as she moved closer to him.

— How funny... — she murmured.

Kay took a step back, suspicious.

— Why are you laughing?

Before he could react, Thais punched him hard in the shoulder.

“Don’t worry me for nothing, idiot!” she grumbled, turning on her heel and walking away.

Kay stepped back, holding her sore shoulder.

“Sorry!” he replied, looking pained.

Dan approached, worried.

“Are you okay?” she asked, trying to hold back her laughter.

— Yes, yes, everything is fine. — Kay replied, still massaging her shoulder.

Viviane gave a small smile, looking at Thais who was a little further ahead.

— I'm sorry, Kay. She's always been like this... Terrible at showing emotions.

Kay sighed, but ended up laughing.

— I kind of understand. And you two, are you okay now?

Viviane and Dan exchanged glances before answering together:

— Yes!

Kay smiled.

— Well, then let's train.