The Akarius sky that day was almost too perfect. A spotless, brilliant blue made the towering concrete buildings seem to float above their own shadows. Sunlight gently slapped against the pavement, glinting off the windows of small shops and the faces of students rushing about their busy routines.
Amid it all, three figures stood near the Kovonsis school bus stop. Mila, wearing an orange-and-white cap tilted by the wind, was busy adjusting it back into place.
She squinted at Kaito, who appeared lost in thought, eyes fixed on the digital bus schedule board.
"Something on your mind, teacher?" she asked, deliberately nudging his arm.
Kaito let out a short sigh. "Nothing… just thinking about the possibilities ahead."
His gaze flicked toward Miraka, who stood by a lamppost, clutching the hem of her coat as if trying to hide a small flicker of unease.
After a moment of silence, Mila tilted her head toward Miraka and whispered, "Teacher … do you think we could raise her?"
Kaito paused, glancing first at Miraka—gazing up at the sky—and then back at Mila.
"If we do it together… yeah, we can. Though sometimes it might be harder than blowing up a bunker back when I was young."
Mila gave a faint smile and sighed. "You've always had the weirdest metaphors."
Moments later, an old orange bus screeched to a halt. The sliding doors opened slowly, releasing a warm gust of air toward them.
Without much conversation, the three boarded. Mila paid for the tickets, Kaito guided Miraka to the second-to-last row, and they sat together—Miraka in the middle, gripping the hem of Kaito's coat.
The bus pulled away, swaying gently like a boat crossing the sea of the city.
---
Inside, Mila leaned her head against the window, her eyes tracing the scenery outside. Without turning toward them, she asked in a calm yet curious tone:
"Miraka… who do you want to live with? Your mother, or your father?"
Miraka looked at Mila, then shifted her gaze to Kaito, who was idly scrolling on his phone.
"I want to go with… Father!" she declared without the slightest hesitation.
"Ohh?" Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Why choose your father?"
"Because he's… like a hero in the movies. Serious, cold, but when he gets angry, all the enemies run away."
Kaito scratched his head with a chuckle. "Is that… a compliment or a jab?"
Mila also let out a soft laugh. "You're funny, Miraka. But you do know that if you go with him, you'll be eating military rations, right?"
Kaito immediately cut in with theatrical seriousness, "Military rations are efficient. Just rip, add water, stir—done. In three minutes you can eat. And they can double as a projectile weapon if necessary."
"Huh? I don't want to eat military rations every day!" Miraka protested, cheeks puffing like mochi.
Kaito patted her shoulder with a stiff smile. "Eh? But you know about rations?"
Miraka nodded. "My dad used to always give me rations. Said it was to make me strong like him…"
Kaito (thoughts):
"So that's it… She really is a soldier's child. Maybe… more of her reflects my own childhood than I realized."
Mila leaned toward Kaito, whispering mischievously, "If you don't want to get kicked out of the 'dad' role, you'd better take her to eat something decent every day."
Kaito nodded in reluctant surrender. "Alright, today… I'll buy chocolate-filled bread. But you have to promise not to throw it at anyone—enemies included."
Miraka grinned. "Promise!"
The bus began to slow. The digital sign showed they were nearing the Glaxina school district. Outside, buildings with tall white columns and a triangular flower garden stood out among the rows of other structures.
Kaito stood up slowly, inviting the two of them to get down.
The hallway leading to the main gate of Glaxina School is always bustling during school hours. But this time, the atmosphere felt a little... unusual.
The sky began to change color—from bright blue to a soft orange, enveloping the tall buildings and the small, neatly manicured gardens. Kaito walked slowly down the gray stone alley, flanked by Mila and Miraka. The rumble of the bus they had been riding in was no longer audible. Only the sound of students' shoes and the rustle of fallen leaves could be heard.
Miraka glanced left and right with a slowly growing curiosity. The afternoon sun touched her hair, making her innocent face almost glow.
Suddenly, from the opposite direction, two striking figures appeared among the crowd.
Mag strolled casually through the crowd, waving. Beside him was a calm-looking girl in a full black uniform and matching hijab. Slung over her shoulder was a compact AR-15. Her face was cool, but not without warmth.
"Hey, teacher!" Mag called cheerfully, his voice cutting through the noise of students. "Heading home?"
Kaito nodded, pausing for a moment before lifting an eyebrow.
"And… who's she?" he asked quietly, pointing at the girl next to Mag.
Mag gave the girl's shoulder a friendly pat, as though introducing a product he was proud of.
"Oh, this is Sofia. First-year in high school, but don't underestimate her. Vice president of the religious club, and a crack shot. If you're looking for a sniper for a spiritual war… she's your first pick."
Sofia smiled politely, but kept a careful distance. Her eyes glowed faint red—perhaps just contact lenses, or… something deeper. She spoke slowly.
"I'm just an ordinary student, teacher. But I know how to protect those who need protecting."
Mila tilted her head slightly, curiosity piqued.
"And where are you two off to?"
Mag pointed toward a west-side building lined with layered glass windows.
"Student council meeting room. We're supposed to have an evaluation of last week's activities. But honestly, it usually turns into a discussion about conspiracy documentaries."
"Mag…" Sofia interrupted with a small sigh. "Could you… not share the meeting contents with everyone?"
"Hehe, sorry. Reflex," Mag replied casually.
Sofia's gaze shifted toward Miraka. The smile faded, replaced by a look of quiet intrigue.
"May I know… the little sister's name, teacher?" she asked softly. Her tone was gentle, but the question struck somewhere Kaito wasn't prepared for.
Kaito froze. His right hand—previously relaxed—curled slightly into a fist at his side. His eyes darted quickly from Sofia's face to Miraka.
Kaito (thoughts):
"Why does such a simple question suddenly feel so heavy?"
"I…"
But before the next word came, Mag waved at Kaito as he started walking away.
"We're heading out now, teacher! If we're late, the White Wolf members might blow up—and you don't want to see that."
Sofia looked briefly startled, then hurried after Mag.
"O-Okay… see you later, teacher."
Their footsteps faded, leaving behind a light breeze carrying the scent of flowers from the school garden. Sofia's measured heels contrasted with Mag's lazy, slouched gait.
Mila gave Kaito a sly look.
"teacher… you panicked just now, didn't you?"
Kaito turned quickly, feigning ignorance. "Huh? Panicked? No, I was just… respecting their time."
"Uh-huh," Mila nodded knowingly. "But honestly—you're not ready to introduce Miraka to anyone yet, are you?"
Kaito exhaled. "I'm not even ready to introduce her… to myself."
Mila's small smile softened. She took Miraka's hand and whispered,
"But one thing's certain… we're not going to let you be alone, alright?"
Miraka looked at them both, paused… then gave a quiet nod.
They continued walking—past a small garden, through a corridor of gleaming tiles, and finally out into the shadowed embrace of the late afternoon toward the school's outer gates.
---
PUC Conference Room, Primanoel
In the middle of the PUC meeting room, the faint hum of a monitor filled the air. A news feed played footage of a riot—an all-out brawl in a park—between armed students from Haxogun and members of the Satria martial arts group. The reporter's microphone rattled as a Molotov cocktail exploded somewhere behind him.
Kael—dressed in his grey-white jacket with the blue accents that marked him as a club leader—stood perfectly still. One hand rested on the table's edge, his sharp eyes tracking every detail on the screen.
Kael (thoughts):
"As always… the school administration blames 'the kids,' yet none of them ever touch the root of the problem. The system's been broken for a long time."
The steel door slid open with the magnetic hiss-click of a lock: tzkkk—klak.
Aru stepped inside. Her combat helmet was still on, shoulder guards gleamed under the room's light, and the massive shield bearing a golden bird emblem hung steady across her back. Her short hair was damp, her breathing uneven.
Aru: "Have you told him… about the flying teacher?"
Kael nodded faintly without turning.
Kael: "I have."
Aru stopped three steps from the table, posture rigid like a soldier before a superior.
Aru: "And… his answer?"
Kael's eyes shifted slowly to the monitor, switching the display to a tactical map. In one corner of the Oxoford school grounds, a red dot pulsed—labeled Oxiom.
Kael: "'I don't care. That man won't be able to disrupt our cooperation. Just proceed with the assault strategy on Oxiom.'"
Aru went silent. The shield on her back shifted slightly as her shoulders tensed.
Aru: "He didn't even consider the potential threat from that teacher?"
Kael: "That's exactly why. He knows who that teacher is. And he knows… we're not an equal match."
Aru drew a deep breath.
Aru: "Kael… what if we—"
Kael's gaze snapped to her—firm, not angry—more the look of someone who's grown weary of having to justify impossible choices.
Kael: "We move forward."
Aru: "Even if it costs student lives?"
Kael: "For the sake of justice in Akarius."
The words landed like a stone dropped into still water. The ripples of silence spread.
Then—
Light but confident footsteps echoed from behind. The door opened again.
Guy entered.
He was dressed in a pristine grey suit, a gleaming purple tie, and a round-brimmed hat. His stride had the ease of someone arriving from a diplomatic hall, not a student guerrilla base.
A white mask hid his face—only his eyes spoke, and they told you this man never came without purpose.
He lifted the silver revolver in his hand—not as a threat, simply spinning its cylinder once before slipping it into his jacket.
Guy: "Is that what you call… justice, Kael?"
Kael didn't move.
Kael: "That's not a question. That's an accusation."
Guy stepped forward into the center of the room, his voice cold, steady… sharp as a dismissal letter.
Guy: "Justice should give everyone the space to grow. But you… you've turned it into a reason to throw people into a fight they don't even understand."
Kael's eyes hardened, a faint tremor beneath their focus.
Kael: "You're bold to say that."
Guy: "It's not about boldness, Kael. It's about who still dares to speak the truth… when everyone else hides behind 'strategy.'"
Kael's fist tightened beneath the table.
Kael (thoughts):
"You always arrive like a shadow. Condemning without offering a solution. Speaking as if you're clean—when your hands are just as dusty as mine."
Guy turned toward the door.
Guy: "I'm only stating a fact. So what exactly is it that you want to deny?"
Kael didn't answer.
Guy reached the door, but paused, looking back at Aru.
Guy: "Your shield is too big to only block words. Don't let it block your heart as well."
And then he was gone—leaving behind a silence far heavier than before.
Aru gripped her shield strap.
Aru (thoughts):
"Guy's right. But… Kael isn't entirely wrong either. So where… does that leave me?"
Kael's eyes returned to the map. The red dot over Oxiom still pulsed.
Kael: "Prepare the recon team. I want every underground access to Oxiom mapped before Tuesday."
Aru looked at him for a long moment. But at last, she nodded.
Aru: "Understood. I'll head out tonight."
---
The sky over Akarius was shifting again—orange and violet sweeping across the high-rises, the last rays of the afternoon catching on the faces of pedestrians along Glaxina District's sidewalks.
Kaito, Miraka, and Mila walked side by side on a path of blue brick leading to a fork in the road: to the right lay the Oxiom district; to the left, a towering 40-floor spire—the Amiratul Hukm, headquarters of the Governor's administration.
Mila slowed her pace. She adjusted the brim of her orange-and-white cap, wind tugging at its edge, and glanced over.
"I've gotta head home," she said lightly—but there was a small weight at the tail end of her tone. "If anything happens, message me right away. I can be at your place in twenty minutes."
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "You sure? Walking alone at this hour?"
"Relax, teacher," Mila replied with a sly grin. "I'm the leader of the Justice Team. And I'm not a victim—just in case you forgot. I can handle myself. Besides… Akarius isn't a red zone yet—just dark orange."
Kaito (thoughts):
"She always knows how to make me believe her. But still… it feels wrong to let someone walk alone in a city like this."
Mila turned to Miraka, her voice softening into something almost sisterly.
"And you… don't give Kaito too much trouble, okay? He gets headaches easily. If his head explodes, you'll have to help sweep up the pieces."
Miraka studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. A faint smile appeared—whether at the joke, or at the feeling of being looked after, Kaito couldn't tell.
"Thank you… Ma," Miraka whispered.
Miraka (thoughts):
"She's warm… even though I've barely known her. But… it feels like… family."
Mila just waved and took the right-hand path.
Once her silhouette disappeared, Kaito glanced at Miraka.
"Alright… now it's just us."
---
AMIRATUL HUKM — Governor's Headquarters
The spire loomed ahead like a monument from the future. Panels of glass wrapped it completely, reflecting the sunset like a giant crystal.
The moment they stepped into the lobby, the outside world's sound seemed to switch off. Cold air greeted them like the sterile hush of an operating theater.
Inside, Abseris personnel moved briskly—young men and women in tactical uniforms, carrying digital clipboards, sidearms hanging at their hips.
No chatter. Only the rhythmic sound of boots and the clipped tones of intercom orders.
Kaito slowed, eyes sweeping the room.
"Busy tonight," he muttered.
Kaito (thoughts):
"Last time I came, it was at night—quiet. Now… it feels like a military base. Clean. Orderly. Intimidating. Too perfect."
Miraka's gaze followed the passing Abseris members. Her eyes widened. She edged closer to Kaito.
"They… look like soldiers."
Kaito nodded, ruffling her hair gently.
"Not 'like.' They are soldiers. But not part of the national military. Think of them as… guardians of the system. This city's police."
---
Room 12, 6th Floor
The door slid open automatically. Kaito entered first, Miraka trailing behind with light steps.
The room was neat—bed perfectly made, a work desk with its holographic monitor dark, a wide window overlooking northern Akarius.
"Have a seat," Kaito said, shrugging off his jacket. "I'll head down to the control room. Maybe grab a coffee and… yeah, some chocolate-filled bread."
Miraka sat on the bed's edge, fingertips brushing the soft sheets.
"Alright… but don't take too long."
Miraka (thoughts):
"I don't know why, but… when he's away… I feel alone again."
Kaito was a step from the door when—
Knock. Knock.
The door slid open.
Zaid stood there in a charcoal-grey suit, black tie, and a smile that wasn't quite friendly. Behind him, Natasya—tall, rigid, her face carved in stone—waited like a bodyguard statue.
"Someone in here?" Zaid asked, eyes fixed on Kaito.
Kaito reflexively answered, "N-No one…"
But the uncertainty in his voice betrayed him. His gaze wouldn't meet Zaid's.
Zaid stepped forward once.
"Strange. I could've sworn I saw you bring Miraka here."
Kaito's breath caught. "How… do you know her name? I haven't mentioned it."
Zaid's smile thinned.
"Kaito… the world's small. Especially in this tower. Nothing stays hidden."
Kaito (thoughts):
"That tone. That look. Why does it feel like… déjà vu?"
"May we come in?" Zaid asked—but his tone made it more command than request.
Kaito hesitated, then stepped back, allowing them in.
The moment Miraka saw Zaid, her body stiffened. She rose from the bed, stepping back.
"…Uncle…?" Her voice was small, almost choked.
Zaid's gaze softened—or at least tried to.
"Miraka. Uncle just wants to talk. Do you remember this?"
From his jacket pocket, he produced a pink lollipop. "Strawberry candy. You and Nael used to fight over this until you nearly knocked the table over."
Miraka stayed silent, then slowly took the candy from his hand.
From behind, Natasya approached. A light touch to Miraka's shoulder.
Click.
A micro-injection. No blood—just a cold sensation.
"Eh…?" Miraka murmured.
"Immune serum," Natasya said flatly. "For protection. This city… is harsh."
Kaito stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
"Why did you inject her without telling me first?"
Zaid's gaze locked on his, voice steady.
"Kaito. I'm entrusting this child to you. She's… not an ordinary girl. One day, she'll be the key to something far greater."
Zaid walked toward the door.
"And her schooling… her identity… I'll handle it. For now, think of her as part of your family."
He turned to Miraka, smiling faintly.
"Uncle's leaving now. If you need anything… just call."
They left.
The door sealed shut.
Kaito stood in the doorway, breathing heavy, fists clenched.
He looked at Miraka—still sitting on the bed, staring at the lollipop as if it were the answer to every question.
Silence.
And in that silence—something had begun to change.