One night, as the team prepared for their next mission, things took a darker turn. Takumi and Mika had been working closely together, and in the quiet hours before dawn, Takumi found himself once again confiding in her about his fears, his rage, and his desire for vengeance.
"You don't have to do this alone," Mika whispered, her fingers brushing against his hand.
Takumi turned to her, a spark of emotion lighting in his chest. But before he could respond, a shout rang out from the other side of the camp.
"Takumi!" Haruka's voice, frantic and trembling, pierced the air. Takumi's heart sank. He stood up quickly and ran to her, only to find her kneeling beside Taro, who was gasping for breath.
"What happened?" Takumi demanded.
"Mika…" Haruka's voice trembled with disbelief. "Mika's… she's not who she says she is."
The shock hit Takumi like a physical blow. "What do you mean?"
Haruka's voice cracked. "She's been feeding us false information, Takumi. She's been manipulating us all along. She's the one who led Ryo to his death—because she wanted to take him down with the Maze herself."
Mika stood at the edge of the camp, her expression cold and distant, as if none of this was even affecting her.
"You thought I was on your side?" Mika's voice was almost a laugh. "I was never on your side. The Maze created me, and I'm not going to destroy it. I'm going to control it."