For a long, breathless moment, no one moved. Souta's forehead stayed pressed against the cold metal of the warehouse wall as his eyes remained locked on the sight through the narrow window—Luna, tied to a chair, head slumped forward, hair falling like a curtain around her unconscious face. Her legs were bound with thick rope, wrists tied behind her back, a cloth gag covering her mouth. She looked so small, so fragile, swallowed in the dim light of the room.
Souta's breath trembled.
"She's there… she's right there…" His voice cracked, barely a whisper.
Haruto placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. "We found her. That's what matters. Now we save her."
Beru swallowed hard, eyes shimmering with fear. "We… we have to be careful. There are too many guards. If they notice us—"
"We're not going to barge in blindly," Tadao said firmly. "We need a plan… and backup."
Ren, already pulling out his phone, added, "Let's call Mr. Ayame. He'll send his security team."
Souta nodded shakily, though his hands couldn't stop trembling. He kept looking through the window, afraid that if he blinked, she might disappear again. Aira gently tugged his sleeve.
"Souta… we'll get her out. You're not alone."
He nodded again, unable to pull his gaze away.
Ren made the call, voice low and urgent. "Mr. Ayame, we found her… Yes. She's in a warehouse owned by the rival company. Heavy guards. We need your men."
There was silence on the other end, then Mr. Ayame's tense voice answered, sharp like steel.
"I'm sending them now. Don't attempt anything alone. Wait for my men to arrive."
The call ended.
For a few minutes, no one spoke. The atmosphere was thick with tension—fear, hope, desperation all tangled into something that made breathing feel like lifting weights. They hid behind the wall, waiting, eyes darting toward the warehouse gate.
Souta leaned back against the metal wall and let out an unsteady breath. "She looked pale… What if something happened to her? What if—"
"Don't," Haruto interrupted gently. "She's alive. That's what matters."
Beru nodded. "And she's strong. Luna will hang on until we reach her."
Souta lowered his head. "…This is my fault. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me."
"No," Tadao said instantly, with a rare firmness that made everyone look at him. "This isn't on you. This is the fault of the people who kidnapped her. Not you."
Aira added softly, "Luna cares about you. She wouldn't want you to say that."
Souta bit down on his lip, throat tightening.
Minutes later, the sound of several vehicles approaching broke the silence. Black SUVs pulled up near the storage yard. Men in clean black uniforms stepped out briskly—the Ayame family's private security.
A tall man approached the group. "We are Mr. Ayame's task unit. You found the location?"
Ren pointed at the warehouse. "She's inside. There are guards everywhere."
The leader nodded sharply. "We'll handle the front line. But Mr. Ayame also said that you six insisted on helping. If you want to take part, stay behind us, follow instructions, and don't do anything reckless."
Souta clenched his fists. "I'll do anything. Just… please. Let me see her."
The man studied his face for a moment, then gave a short nod.
"Stay close. Do not separate."
They moved.
The team spread around the building with silent precision. The students followed closely behind, hearts pounding as they crouched and moved along the outer wall. Moonlight pooled on the concrete, making everything feel sharper, colder.
"On my count," the leader whispered. "Three… two… one."
The door burst open.
Instant gun barrel clicks, shouts, and chaos flooded the silence. But the guards weren't carrying firearms—only metal rods and stun weapons. They lunged toward the intruders.
"Move!" Haruto pulled Beru behind him as a guard swung wildly.
Tadao grabbed a fallen crate and blocked a strike, gritting his teeth. Aira ducked, gasping, while Ren shielded her with surprising swiftness.
Souta sprinted forward with the others, staying behind the security men exactly as instructed—but his eyes never left Luna.
A guard tried to retreat toward her. Souta's blood iced instantly.
"No you don't!"
He shot forward, grabbing the guard's wrist and twisting it with surprising reflex. The man stumbled back, and a security officer tackled him to the floor.
"Don't separate!" Haruto shouted.
"I'm not!" Souta snapped, but his feet were already moving toward Luna, almost on instinct.
The warehouse felt like a maze of shadows, but the only thing Souta saw—the only thing he could see—was her.
The last guard hit the ground, subdued, and silence crashed down again.
Souta dashed the final few steps and fell to his knees in front of her.
"Luna… Luna…"
Her head lifted weakly, eyelids trembling. She was conscious now—barely—but enough to recognize the voice she'd always responded to.
Souta's voice broke. "I'm here… I'm right here."
The others rushed in behind him—Haruto, Beru, Aira, Ren, Tadao—all breathless, shaken, and overwhelmed.
Beru gasped, tears gathering instantly. "Luna…"
Haruto knelt beside the ropes and began working on the knots. The security team stood guard around them, keeping the area secure.
Luna's eyes fluttered open a little more, focus slowly forming.
"…Sou…ta…?"
His heart clenched.
"Yes. Yes, it's me." His voice cracked again. "I—I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything…"
Tadao cut the gag free, while Aira held Luna's shoulders gently.
When the rope finally loosened and fell away, Luna slumped forward—and Souta caught her before she could fall.
Her cheek rested against his shoulder, her breath soft and shaky.
For a moment, the entire world stopped.
Then Luna whispered—so faintly it almost disappeared into the air.
"I forgive you… Souta."
Those four words broke him completely.
Souta buried his face into her hair, shoulders trembling violently as tears streamed down his face.
"I… I thought you hated me… I thought you were gone… I…"
She weakly lifted her arm—barely able to move—and placed her hand on his back.
"I never hated you," she murmured, voice fragile. "I was hurt. But I was going to forgive you."
Souta sobbed harder.
Beru pressed her face into Haruto's arm, crying quietly. Aira's hands shook as she brushed Luna's hair away from her face. Ren exhaled shakily, relief overwhelming him. Even Tadao bowed his head, shoulders finally relaxing as the tension drained away.
Haruto smiled gently. "Welcome back, Luna."
Luna gave a tiny smile, exhausted but genuine.
"I'm home…"
Souta held her just a little tighter—not possessively, but protectively, as if afraid she might vanish if he let go. Luna didn't pull away. She let herself lean into him, feeling the warmth, the safety, the emotion she had never seen him express so openly.
Something shifted between them then.
Something soft. Something real.
A thread from childhood that had frayed… now quietly tied back together.
For now, for this moment, they were simply two hearts echoing relief, fear, and unspoken affection.
The security team announced, "We need to take her to the car. She needs medical attention."
Souta nodded and gently lifted Luna in his arms. She was light—so light it scared him again. But she smiled faintly, eyes soft.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
"Always," he whispered back.
As they walked out of the warehouse, the morning sun began to break across the port. Warm golden light touched the group, melting the cold night that had nearly swallowed them whole.
Tadao placed a hand on Souta's back. "Let's take her home."
Beru sniffed and nodded. "She's safe now. That's what matters."
Haruto smiled. "And Souta… she trusted you the most."
Souta looked down at the girl resting in his arms, sleeping peacefully now that she was safe.
"…She always has," he murmured.
They stepped into the sunlight together.
And somewhere deep inside them, a new bond began to bloom—quiet, powerful, and meaningful.
For now, they called it friendship.
But the echo of something more lingered between them.
Just waiting to grow.
---
To be continued...