Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Another Story

The rain and wind lashed against the window of the old, decrepit facility. The sky, a solemn shade of grey, cast an oppressive gloom over the scene. Inside, the air was heavy and somber, a far cry from the warmth and laughter these walls once knew. The memory of Kousagi Park's sunlit days felt distant, almost unreal. Could a graduation ceremony truly be so miserable? It seemed as though a single glance at the eight figures gathered there might cause one’s heart to crumble into dust.

On one end, stood a proud and imposing figure; her back was as tall and upright as a tree in a rainstorm, yet her outstretched hands were just as cold as the same wind of which she once tried to keep at bay.

"There is no longer a need to bear the responsibility of reviving SRT Academy. That responsibility was always ours. Yours has always been to be a weapon in our toolbox." said Shichido Yukino, her hand still outstretched towards the white-haired girl who stood opposite of her; unlike herself, the girl's eyes wavered and she blinked rapidly, her lips parted and pursed again, biting it in clear anxiousness of what the former had asked of her.

To Yukino, the cowering Miyako whose indecisiveness must either be naive—or nostalgic.

"That's not what we.. we.. The RABBIT Squad-" said Miyako, her brows furrowing and she lifted her gaze; her irises were widened in shock and surprise as if in disbelief.

"Squad Leader Tsukiyuki. You have the right to decide." said Yukino, her hand lowered in the face of Miyako's protests as she took on a more understanding tone; yet it wasn't any warmer, rather it was as if she was bargaining, negotiating, "Will you step up and fulfill your duty as a sharpened blade? Or will you waver and fight for justice with your rusted edge?"

Yukino's question was anything but considerate, one could even say that she was mocking her underclassmen's fight, though it wasn't as if it didn't hold any truth; after all. The RABBIT Platoon's living conditions were anything but desirable in the eyes of a common student.

Yet such struggle is strangely not uncommon in this seemingly perfect world of which is granted brief respite in between the darkness that roams its borders.

"Is that what you believe to be your justice, Yukino?" said a masculine voice, revealing itself from the shadows, earning the full attention of the eight SRT students.

"Sensei?" Niko's gaze immediately flicked towards the man who stood alone, his form only now being revealed by the faint natural light in the corridor.

"Did you follow us from the park?" asked Saki, her eyes widening in surprise; yet there was a strange hint of relief in them and Sensei gave her a faint smile in return; just like he always did, to anyone and everyone. No one could ever figure out the secret behind that expression of his, it was always strangely comforting, yet seemingly always present no matter the situation.

"You guys looked scary, so I had to find out." Sensei answered, a slight apologetic tone laced in his voice as his gaze turned towards Niko, "Thanks for the Inarizushi, Niko."

"Why are you here, Sensei?" Yukino's cold voice cuts through the friendly atmosphere brought about by Sensei's smile, dragging everyone back into the somber mood as her eyes narrowed at the brown-haired adult, his clothes and form seemingly unperturbed by the rain; it could only mean that he has been here since the very start.

"It sounded like something serious was going on." Sensei said, his gaze turning towards Yukino; unintimidated by her narrowed eyes; it felt as if she was scouring every part of his soul for answers.

"Sensei, this is internal matters of SRT Academy, so I hope you would leave us alone." said Yukino, her hand placed on her hip as she shifted her weight to one side, a soft sigh escaping her lips as if scorning the man's presence, or dismissing it.

"Could you give her a little bit more time?" asked Sensei, crossing his arms with a pleading tone as he smiled slightly at Yukino, a request she would likely find hard to refuse for some inexplicable reason.

"..I'm well aware of your charms at this point, Sensei. Your very presence undermines Squad Leader Tsukiyuki's ability to make her decision."

"Are you afraid that she would make the wrong choice?"

"..There is no wrong choice, I will respect her wishes."

"I'm glad to hear you say that."

Silence settles in between the two, talks with Sensei always ended rather abruptly; the person in question seemed to possess an uncanny ability to sow internal discord within oneself.

"Do you believe yourself a weapon, Yukino?"

"SRT is and has always been a weapon, we must neglect our personal feelings for the greater truth."

"What is that truth? is it called 'good?"

"Please stop, Sensei. I feel as if I am getting nowhere with you." said Yukino, her voice strained with irritation as she tried her hardest to refute the man.

In return, Sensei gave a lighthearted snicker, his lips curved up in a foolish grin, "My apologies, I always end up somehow sounding philosophical." Yet in the following second, his light expression suddenly dropped into a more somber smile, "It's just, you remind me of a certain student, who scaled up ten floors with her bare hands because she couldn't sit with her team suffering under her."

"I'm not sure what you're getting at."

"Just that you're admirable, Yukino." Sensei smiled widely, his head hanging low as he scratched his hair before his gaze returned and bore deep into Shichido Yukino, it was a quiet yet 'knowing look' that of which one couldn't have lest they walked to hell and back a dozen times before. It was full of strength, yet at the same time, understanding and acceptance, "But, there's also a wrong in trying to do too much by yourself."

"..Are you telling me that you want to help me?" asked Yukino, her brow raised in suspicion.

"No. But may I teach you one thing, even if it will be only thing I could teach you?"

"Why should I hear you out?"

"Because, everyone deserves at least one mentor, even just once."

Yukino grew silent, her focus no longer towards her junior; Miyako Tsukiyuki, rather, all of their eyes were now locked onto Sensei. His cryptic words were one thing to decipher, but there was an inexplicable, mysterious truth to his words.

"Let's hear it." Yukino sighed, perhaps Sensei's words had finally reached her, or she just wanted to get it over with and finally have the man out of here.

"Dehumanization is the first slope of evil, slide down it and you'll never go back."

"So you're trying to change my mind after all." Yukino said accusingly.

"Yukino. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, I just want you to know. That when all of this is over, I will always forgive you, there will always be a place for you in Kivotos. So do not do anything dumb. Or I scold you, really badly."

"..I will keep your words in mind."

Sensei then beamed happily before walking closer towards Miyako and Yukino, stopping by Niko briefly to give her a weird, tiny slip of paper.

"Please don't mind me and make your own choice, I will always be your ally no matter what." said Sensei, leaning down slightly to look at Miyako in her eyes before he then left in silence.

The sun was setting over the horizon, marking the end of the second day after 

With a huff, Sensei stacked the last of the empty munition case inside Miyako's tent and wiped his forehead of the beads of sweat that was pouring down. Nearby, on  the sleeping bag was an opened letter of which explained to him that the RABBIT Platoon had eventually decided to join with the FOX Platoon.

It didn't surprise him too much, even he himself, in their shoes would've joined the FOX Platoon. Camping out in the wild meaninglessly just wasn't it for him either.

On the other end, the situation of the GSC and the D.U continues to be a mess, notably with Kaya's GSC messing up just about anything and everything they touch. He had briefly considered helping the girl, though he reconsidered it; It would be a better lesson for her. Sometimes one just has to fail.

There wasn't much on his to-do list as of recent, due to most of his efforts having been poured towards the RABBIT Platoon half the time and the other half being helping out around Kivotos; as Schale usually does.

Reaching inside his pocket, Sensei withdrew his phone and opened up Momotalk, of course; there were about thirty unread messages. Strange, just an hour ago; he had answered all of them.

"Sensei"

"Sensei"

"Are you busy?"

"You must be busy."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you, Mika."

"Sensei, I heard about the things happening over at the GSC. If you're ever in danger, please don't hesitate to call on me."

"I'll be fine, Hina. Please get some rest, It's late."

"Did the Rabbits finally get off of you, my darling?"

Uh oh.

"Wakamo, please don't do anything to them."

Immediately a second after texting, Sensei received a reply from the same student.

"Heehee, there's no need to worry. Sensei. I know what you expect of me."

Letting out a soft sigh of relief, Sensei smiled.

"Thank you Wakamo, you're always very helpful to me."

After a few back and forth with more of his students, Sensei could finally appreciate no unread messages, the red bubble that of which gnaws at the very core of his soul finally went away.

*BING*

At that moment, another message came in; from a new name. One that he had been waiting for.

Niko

"Sensei, may we have a talk?"

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Wavering Beliefs

Niko

"Sensei, may we have a talk?"

Sensei's fingers froze for a moment and his eyes widened slightly, a sigh of relief soon followed and he typed a reply.

Sensei

"Can we meet?"

Niko

"..Would that be necessary, Sensei? It's a bit sudden."

Sensei

"I just miss you guys, also, I haven't eaten anything all day."

Niko

"..Well, that's a problem then.."

Niko

"..."

Sensei

"Niko, please."

Niko

"Okay, why don't you meet me at the stall the other day? I'll make some Inarizushis for you."

Sensei

"My biggest thanks. I'll be right on over."

Niko

"I'll see you then, Sensei."

Pocketing his phone, Sensei dusted off his clothes and gathered his will before exiting the tent. He then turned towards the direction of the nearby town, the place where he met the first of the FOX Platoon.

He would be lying to say that he wasn't anxious about meeting Niko, after all; he doesn't toil the same fields that SRT does, nor does he pull the same cart. He can only make inferences based on what he knows, drawing up the dots from his own experiences and what he learned from others, the only thing he could offer them was not any overbearing advice, but his honest self.

By the time Sensei had reached the town, the sun had already set over the horizon and the moon was up in the sky. Perhaps he should be thankful that Niko was willing to make such a trip at this time just to talk to him, maybe talking over Momotalk would've been just fine?

Sensei stopped by a seat and sat down on a wooden bench on the sidewalk, placed against the wall of the stall and looked up towards the starry night sky; they sparkled with a sort of omniscient that he couldn't quite put into words. It's at times like these that reminds him of how little he understands.

"Sensei?" Niko's familiar voice softly called out from the darkness of the night, walking out of the shadows down the street with a small box in her right hand; a curious spark in her irises.

Seeing Niko's figure approach from the distance, Sensei stood up attentively and turned to face her; his rigidness soon replaced with a welcoming smile.

*CLACK*

A sudden sound shatters the silent reunion, it was the unmistakable racking of a gun's slide and at that very moment, he felt its barrel nudge him right in the middle of his spine.

"Uh?" Sensei's hand held up in surrender, trying to glance over his shoulder to see his assailant, yet before he could do so, Niko's words forces his attention to her instead, "You shouldn't look, Sensei. It'll ruin it."

Sensei was met with Niko's faint smile as he held his hands firm in the air, the corner of his lips twitching slightly, "Can we talk?"

"No, we're here to take you away." said Niko, her eyes closed and she tilted her head in a mischievous manner.

Sensei's breaths hitched and the man seemingly tensed up for a moment but then, he let out a deep, long sigh of relief in the very next second.

"Um, are you not scared?" Niko looked over the man with a slight frown, it seemed as if she was baffled by Sensei's reactions. After all, they just told him that they'll be essentially kidnapping him in the middle of the night.

"Of course I am, but I'd be more scared of getting shot." Sensei said, his fingers scratching his cheek as he smiled awkwardly.

"So you would just walk into enemy territories without anything but your words?" The voice behind him asked interrogatively, yet at the same time, it was dripping with disbelief to the point where it felt like he was being scolded.

"I have no enemies, Kurumi." Sensei smiled, his body noticeably easing; though he still kept his hands in the air.

"That's stupid, Sensei, like really stupid. You're even more stupid than my juniors."

"Is that so?" 

"Yes! You're going to get seriously hurt acting like this all the time!"

"..Thank you for your worries, Kurumi, I'm fine."

"I'm not worrying about you! I'm just.. baffled!" 

Kurumi lowers her submachine gun, the barrel withdrawing from Sensei's back gave him further relief as the girl's scolding continued, "There are some truly bad people in this world; unforgivable. They won't stop to think twice about hurting you."

"I'm guessing the two of you aren't these said people?"

"You don't know that."

"I believe it."

"..."

"Kurumi has a point, Sensei. You're incredibly trusting to a fault. Or should I say reckless?" Niko taps the corner of her lips, her eyes peering into Sensei's; scouring the depths of his soul for answers.

"Ah Niko—may I have an Inarizushi? I'm famished." asked Sensei, his hands lowering before stretching out towards Niko.

Niko's gaze turns to the side, towards Kurumi who stood behind him; she saw her grip tighten around the handle of her gun before it eased up again. Absentmindedly, Niko handed Sensei the box of Inarizushi, it was a small, plastic container.

"Uwah, looks delicious." Sensei comments before opening the lid, he then took one of the delectable Inarizushis and brought it to his mouth, taking a bite out and enjoying the fried tofu in his mouth.

Kurumi's jaws dropped, her face of utter disbelief, "Just like that..? Sensei, I tampered with those."

"Eh? did you?" Sensei turns around casually, his gaze meeting that of Kurumi; who stood only to about his shoulders.

The blonde-haired girl said nothing else and exhaled, her hand going up to her face and covering it and Sensei could see her brows furrowing between the gaps in her fingers.

"No, she didn't, Sensei." Niko answers, stepping closer towards him. Her gaze a silent scrutiny, watching his eyes attentively.

"So, where are we going?" Sensei asked, looking around his surrounding as he wiped his dirty hands on his pants.

Niko watched the man's fingers wipe their oil onto his grey leggings, of which was also full of dirt and grimes likely from his labor. Looking over him again, Niko could see that he had likely been doing some sort of physical activity prior to their meeting.

Just very faintly, at that moment, Niko's expression shifted into distaste and she reached out and took his hand, "Please don't wipe your hands on your clothes, that's no manners for an adult like yourself." The girl said, taking out a pink handkerchief and wiped the man's fingers, "That and, we're not going anywhere."

"Aren't you taking me away?" Sensei asked, retracting his hands after Niko had finished with them.

Kurumi crosses her hands, still looking irritated she spoke, "No, I wanted to teach you a lesson, that's all. Consider it a failure."

Sensei nods, turning his focus back towards Niko, "..So, what did you want to talk about?"

Niko stared silently at Sensei, her expression was unreadable but it seemed as if she was contemplating something before she looked away, "I just wanted to talk, that's all."

"About the weather?" Sensei grins, covering his mouth with a fist to his lips, "My bad. I'm trying to lighten the mood."

His terrible joke left all three of them in silence, it seemed like the two was having a difficult time conveying their thoughts, "I really want to talk to Yukino."

"Yukino? Why?" Kurumi asks, her previous irritation having washed away and she was left with an blank, yet intrigued gaze, although her hands were still crossed as they usually were.

"I like to hear the troubles of my student." Sensei answered, "So I hope you could tell me what's going on."

"What is your hobby; meddling with other's life?" Kurumi raises a brow, frowning.

"Giving them guidance." Sensei smiled lightly in return.

"Sounds egoistical."

"Maybe, I just want those who feel like they're alone; to have someone."

"What if they don't want you to?"

"Then I'll keep pushing until they cave in."

"..Doesn't that kind of make you, annoying?"

"Yes."

Kurumi grew silent once again, "There's seriously no understanding you.."

"..Sensei, what do you think of the FOX Platoon?" Niko interjects with a quiet and solemn voice, her eyes firmly fixated on Sensei as he turned his eyes back around to meet hers, "Do you think we're wrong?"

Sensei crossed his arms, his smile widened, yet at the same time, his eyes grew more distant, "What you're fighting for, isn't wrong. But the way you're fighting, is."

Niko returns Sensei's smile with a matching one, as if they were in the same train of thoughts, "That's right, isn't it? We're misguided to you?"

"No, I don't care about good and evil; It's never that simple." Sensei said, his gaze turning to the sky, past Niko and into the stars, "People who are at peace with themselves, inevitably all end up at the same place."

"Do you have to be so vague about everything? I can't keep up with your philosophy here."

"My bad, let's say it in a way anyone can understand then." Sensei smiles, turning his body around to face Kurumi, "People who are happy, will all be at the same place; no matter who, or what they were once before."

"Sensei, do you mean that we're unhappy with our choices?"

"Does a weapon get to have an opinion?" Sensei asks, his gaze flicking back to Niko.

"..No?" Niko frowns.

"That's no good then. You can't give up on your freedom to be happy." Sensei sighs.

"..We don't have any other choice, Sensei, we're fighting the only way we know how."

"There's never 'the only way'."

"Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the greater good, that's just how the world works." Kurumi said coldly, walking around Sensei and over towards Niko before turning back to face him, "There's nothing you can do for us."

"I'll still try."

"Even if it's meaningless?"

"Yes."

"Why? why do you hold onto some futile hopes?"

"Because that's my justice."

"..."

"I'll find a better future for you, one where you don't have to mope around about 'the greater good.'".

The two girls grew more quiet, it was hard to guess what they were thinking as the words left Sensei's mouth. It took a long while before anyone else spoke.

"Yukino has absentminded as of late." Niko admitted, her tone quiet with an underlying hint of anxiousness as she rubbed her fingers, "Her calls are always one second later than usual."

"..I haven't always been on board with Yukino's calls." Kurumi stated, her hands falling loosely at her sides, "Sometimes, I still think of the old days; and how we could return to it."

"But at the end of the day, I still trust my friend; she takes the most after the President out of all of us and her will is unbreakable." Kurumi paused, biting her lips as her shoulders curled and her grip tightened around her gear, "But after SRT was closed, she seemed to change. More frustratingly, is that I can't seem to do anything about it."

Sensei stared silently at Kurumi, he then smiled lightly; the same comforting, reassuring expression, "It sounds to me that you already know what you want to do." He then walked closer towards the pair before turning his eyes to Niko, stopping about a feet before her, "Niko, there's nothing wrong with trusting your friends. I would do the same for any of my students, even you all."

Niko looked to Sensei with alertness, her gaze widening as she listened attentively.

"The only thing we can do, is to ensure that they don't walk the path they would regret, right?" Sensei then reached for her hands and held it up comfortingly, "Be there for her when she needs you, that's all you need to do as her friend; I too, will come running when she asks for her teacher."

With that, Sensei let go of Niko's hand and handed her back the Inarizushi, "Here, thanks for the treat, you can share the rest with the others."

Sensei then walked away, leaving the two girls looking after his figure disappearing down the street in silence.

Roughly fourty-eight hours since Nanagami Rin had stepped down as Acting President of the General Student Council. Amidst the chaos that is Shiranui Kaya's reign over Kivotos, there was a brief, rare peaceful night embracing the two students who were now given the power to make their own decisions.

At a certain concealed facility located in the middle of nowhere, the training facility for SRT students.

The control center, a room surrounded by monitors and control panels; acted as Shichido Yukino's office, for she was most found there when she was not deployed on a mission.

The black-haired student stood stiff like a rock in the center of the room, fully geared in her equipment as if waiting for a mission and at the same time, seemingly just 'existing'. Her eyes were distant and unfocused, directed towards the monitors yet at the same time, seemingly far beyond it, into the void.

The same words echoed in her mind endlessly.

"Yukino. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, I just want you to know. That when all of this is over, I will always forgive you, there will always be a place for you in Kivotos."

*CLICK*

The sliding of the metallic door brought Yukino's senses back and her gaze turned cold again, like a blade in the darkness. She then turned her eyes towards the entrance and her dark red irises met the visage of a white-haired girl whose lilac's eyes still shimmered even against the shadowed depths of the corridor.

"Squad Leader Tsukiyuki, Report."

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Past and Present

Tsukiyuki Miyako

"Squad Leader Tsukiyuki, Report." Yukino said; Her piercing stare boring into Miyako’s soul. She shifted her weight slightly and crossed her arms.

Yukino was the crystallization of SRT's ideals; all of FOX were, their rigid discipline never faltered no matter the circumstances. Even now, she regarded Miyako with the same unbreakable composure.

Miyako straightened her back and held Yukino’s gaze, trying to mirror her senior’s calm poise. Her hands trembled, despite her best efforts to hide them. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I’ve swapped post with RABBIT 2.”

“How is the rest of your squad?” she asked plainly.

“RABBIT 2 has taken up my post. RABBIT 3 and RABBIT 4 are on reserve,” Miyako replied, keeping her tone crisp.

Yukino nodded and briefly closed her eyes, exhaling softly. “That’s good.” When she opened them again, her gaze had noticeably softened. “You can refer to them by their names—we’re not on deployment.”

Miyako blinked, and her eyes widened. It was a kind gesture from the usually stern senior. "Thank you, Yukino-senpai, uhm—Saki took over my post; Miyu and Moe are currently resting." 

"Do the amenities meet your expectations?"

Miyako nodded. "There's nothing to complain about; the facilities here are far superior to what we could have achieved with our ragged camp," Miyako said, her word sparkling with subordination towards the black-haired girl. It felt natural, even though she had a few reservations about her obedience.

In truth, she missed the freedom of being able to uphold SRT's justice with her own strength. Although her actions likely never meant much towards SRT's revival, simply representing SRT alongside her friends was enough. 

But that selfishness no longer had a place here—it wasn’t reason enough to torment her friends with unending days of expired bentos, barrel baths, and the chilly nights of outdoor camping. 

Maturity was the strength to cast aside personal feelings to pursue the greater good, and the person in front of her right now was the shining example of that. They are the weapons of justice, that is all.

An unexpected silence followed, lasting only a second. Yukino’s eyes briefly shifted away, and her shoulders slumped. 

“What are your plans afterward?” she asked suddenly, turning her back to Miyako and facing the monitors.

Miyako raised a brow, frowning at the unexpectedly vague question. “What do you mean?”

Yukino let out a faint huff, as if tired of having to clarify. “After SRT is restored. Do you have any plans?”

“Plans…?” Miyako repeated, her brows furrowing as she stared at Yukino’s back. Her gaze drifted to the ceiling, searching for an answer. 

It wasn’t something she had ever thought about—her greatest priority had always been how to restore SRT. But after that? It was an interesting question, one she thought she might bring up with the rest of RABBIT.

“Afterward… I think it’d be nice if everything went back to normal,” Miyako said softly, her expression easing into a nostalgic smile—a genuine one she’d had to relearn after meeting Sensei. “And… I think I’d like to have a meal with the FOX Platoon. With Sensei, too. That’d be nice.”

Yukino remained silent. Did Miyako say something strange? It was a naive hope, maybe, but her answer had come from the heart. She wondered what Yukino’s answer might be. It would probably make hers seem childish in comparison.

“…I wouldn’t mind that,” 

"Um, is something the matter?" Miyako asked, tilting her head slightly. She couldn't see Yukino's expression from the back, but she appeared to be staring pensively at the screen.

"Nothing of importance," Yukino said, her voice firm and monotone. "Just a bit curious about Sensei. I've heard many things about him; How should I put it? He is.. a strange individual."

"Is he? I guess so.. he's very eccentric, but it's not to the realm of absurdity," Miyako said, her words dragging, and she tried to think of a way to best describe Sensei. "He's a good person though, that much I can testify."

Yukino looked over her shoulder, her eyes searching Miyako's for any hint of deceit. Did she hold that much distrust towards Sensei? Why?

"No need to look so scary. I won't do anything to him, If that's what worries you." 

Miyako's eyes widened. Was she frowning? She blinked and shifted in place, hoping that Yukino wouldn't take it as a sign of offence.

"It's just, his words make me a little uneasy,"

"Ah, that I can understand somewhat. Sensei has an uncanny ability to see right through people." Miyako covered her mouth with a fist, smiling as she recalled when they first butted heads because of the unavoidable circumstances. 

Back then, she didn't quite understand what his plans were when he helped the Valkyrie Police in stopping their protest. 

To her, and largely most of RABBIT, he was the unforgivable villain who was flaunting his authority over them. Using his tactical acumen to encircle and force the rebellious SRT students into arrest, because of that event. She also said something rash, and now it is a part of her 'dark past'; one she wished to bury six feet into the ground and put a grave over.

"A lot of praises. Do you like him?"

Miyako's eyes shot wide open, her head whipped up to Yukino's back and her jaws dropped open. It felt as if an electric current shot up through her spine, and suddenly her heart was ramming against her chest. 

Flustered and with reddened cheeks, her gaze dropped to the ground, and she stammered through her faltering composure, "W-what? H-how did you come to that conclusion?" 

Yukino stayed silent, her lips twitching as if holding back a smirk. Miyako, meanwhile, felt like digging her own grave. She didn't want to look naive before her idol, but now she must look like a middle schooler with a school crush. "A-ah.. n-no?"

Yukino huffed with amusement. "I’m not judging. Just curious. You seemed pretty fond of your Sensei, though."

"D-did I?"

"Yes, your voice raises by a few decibels, like holiday came early or something."

Miyako coughed loudly, her brows twitched, recovering from her embarrassment. "A-anyways, why are you curious about Sensei?"

"..He's a good person, I don't doubt your words," Yukino said slowly, as if her words were carefully selected. "But if he is against what I'm doing, then does that mean I am in the wrong?"

"Um.. is he against what you're doing?" Miyako asked curiously. She didn't recall Sensei ever saying such a thing back when he first met Yukino. He wasn't the type of person to do that, ever.

"He is."

Miyako took in Yukino's curt reply for a few more seconds. She felt the need to say something on her Sensei's behalf. "Yukino-senpai, Sensei is on his student's side. Including yourself," she said, pausing for a moment to find her words, "We trust you too, so please, follow the SRT that we all believe in."

Miyako wondered if she was failing her part of being the 'weapon' for being so sentimental; she didn't know what it was like in Yukino's shoes, in charge of restoring their beloved academy. 

Unlike her hero, Miyako had been playing house, but even then. She felt it right to support her senior, who had taken over her burden for her.

"Sorry for troubling you. You shouldn't have to worry about things like this anymore," Yukino said. "Thank you for your words. You may get some rest now. You're dismissed, Squad Leader Tsukiyuki."

Miyako looked at the back of her senior one more time before turning around in silence. She headed back towards the corridor. 

Yukino was the best leader that they could've asked for; she was mature and unwavering in the face of any and all trials set before her.

In contrast, Miyako's days at the Nousagi Park were a mixed bag of naivety and maturity—sure, they worked to restore SRT, but most of the time, she could feel herself slipping into a childish world. Trading bentos was strangely fun. Bargaining back and forth for pieces of nearly expired food was a novel experience.

She had taken a step out of that world. But had maturity always been such a difficult burden to bear?

The doors closed with a quiet hiss. Miyako’s footsteps echoed down the cold, empty corridors, growing fainter until they disappeared entirely, leaving only silence.