Chapter: Cracks After Victory
Many days later.
The headquarters felt different.
Not silent.
Not peaceful.
Heavy.
The Death Blower mission was over.
But something else remained.
Unsaid.
Unresolved.
Ayu stood in the training hall, watching the recordings of the fight on a large screen.
Every mistake.
Every misstep.
Every moment they lost control.
Behind him, the team slowly gathered.
No one spoke.
The footage played.
Kaito rushing in too early.
Miko hesitating.
Milosevic trying to give instructions no one followed.
Shadow moving alone.
Yoi arriving late.
And Ayu… falling.
The screen froze on that moment.
Ayu getting hit.
Hard.
Ayu turned.
"This is why we almost lost."
Silence.
Kaito looked away.
Miko lowered her head.
Milosevic stayed still.
Shadow watched calmly.
Yoi leaned against the wall.
Unbothered.
Ayu continued.
"No coordination. No discipline. No trust."
Yoi scoffed.
"Oh, here we go."
Ayu's eyes shifted to him.
"Say what you want to say."
Yoi pushed himself off the wall.
"Fine."
He walked forward.
"You're acting like everything went wrong."
Ayu didn't respond.
Yoi pointed at the screen.
"We won."
Shadow's eyes flickered slightly.
Ayu replied calmly.
"We survived."
Yoi shook his head.
"No. We won."
His voice got sharper.
"You're making it sound like we failed."
Ayu took a step forward.
"You think that was a clean victory?"
Yoi didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Silence.
Kaito looked nervous.
Miko glanced between them.
Milosevic watched carefully.
Shadow didn't move.
Ayu spoke slowly.
"I was unconscious."
Yoi replied instantly.
"And we still finished it."
That line landed hard.
Ayu's expression didn't change.
But the room felt colder.
"So that's what you think this team is?"
Yoi stepped closer.
"It's what it needs to be."
Ayu's voice lowered.
"A team doesn't win because one person finishes the fight."
Yoi's voice rose.
"A team wins because the enemy is down."
They were face to face now.
Miko stepped forward.
"Please—"
"Stay out of it," Yoi said.
Ayu didn't look away.
"If you think like that… you'll break this team."
Yoi laughed slightly.
"No. Your way will."
That hit.
For the first time…
Ayu paused.
Just for a second.
Yoi saw it.
And pressed further.
"You want perfect coordination. Perfect plans."
He pointed at the screen again.
"That doesn't exist out there."
Ayu answered quietly.
"But control does."
Yoi shook his head.
"Control didn't save you."
Silence.
Kaito's breath hitched.
Miko froze.
Milosevic narrowed his eyes.
Shadow's gaze sharpened.
Ayu's eyes met Yoi's.
Calm.
But deeper now.
"Neither did you."
The room went completely still.
Yoi's hand tightened.
For a moment…
It looked like he might attack.
Shadow stepped forward slightly.
Not stopping him.
Just ready.
But Yoi stopped himself.
He exhaled.
Then stepped back.
"…tch."
He turned away.
"This is pointless."
He walked toward the exit.
Stopping for a second.
Without looking back.
"We won."
And then he left.
The door shut.
Silence remained.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Kaito finally spoke.
"…that was bad."
Miko looked worried.
"Are we… okay?"
Milosevic replied quietly.
"We're not."
Shadow looked at the closed door.
Then at Ayu.
"Your way… or his?"
Ayu didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the frozen screen.
At himself falling.
Then spoke calmly.
"…we'll find out."
But even he knew—
This wasn't over.