When Rentaro and Enju rushed to the Ministry of Defense's assembly ground, the place was already packed with people, including Kisara, who was standing huddled in a corner.
Her face was utterly panicked, and when she saw Rentaro, she looked as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw.
It turned out that top-secret news had been leaked by Seitenshi.
The secret weapon hidden inside that metallic briefcase—the Seven Stars Legacy—was, in fact, a tool to summon a Rank Five Gastrea.
Upon hearing this, even Rentaro was stunned.
Far stronger than Rank Four Gastrea, existences that evolved beyond the very concept of Gastrea, monsters that could destroy the world, or perhaps already had destroyed the world.
They were also called Zodiac Gastrea.
And Kisara just said that he had previously held an object capable of summoning such a thing?
Rentaro's pupils contracted, and his entire body couldn't help but tremble.
Rentaro thought he was rarely this afraid, but at this moment, he felt he had overestimated himself.
Rank Five Gastrea, the Sword of Damocles hanging over all humanity.
"This is truly... absurd..."
"It is. When I received this news from Seitenshi, I was also extremely shocked. If that Seven Stars Legacy falls into the hands of those with ill intentions, I don't think any place in this world will be safe anymore."
Kisara was not much better off than him. Rentaro could only suppress his fear, comforting her with his eyes.
And more seriously, if this information leaked out, all of Tokyo would descend into chaos. Even if they succeeded in stopping Kagetane, it wouldn't change the fact that Gastrea could be exploited in this way.
So, even though she didn't say it, Rentaro could understand why Seitenshi, when pushed to this point, only revealed the use of the object inside the metallic briefcase. Because she couldn't trust anyone right now. What if a Civil Security agent obtained it, turned against the government, and used it to threaten the authorities?
Seitenshi couldn't let that happen, and Rentaro didn't want to see that situation either.
Kisara saw her childhood friend's expression turn dark and extremely serious, yet he maintained a calm composure as if deep in thought, and she couldn't help but look surprised.
"To be honest, I thought you'd be yelling and freaking out."
"I want to, but what's the point?"
Rentaro sighed. Kisara stared at him, stunned, as if he had matured overnight. Suddenly, her familiar phone ringtone, "Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant," sounded, breaking the atmosphere between them.
"It's Seitenshi, and she wants to talk to Rentaro?"
She handed the phone to Rentaro. He nodded, accepting the call.
"Mr. Satomi, although you have just recovered from a serious injury, I hope you can participate in this operation."
"What, so I can be killed by that madman again?"
"Mr. Satomi, Kisara must have told you about Kagetane's situation, but I am also fully aware of yours. If all the previous plans fail, you will be the only one who can stop him, because you are..."
"Alright, I'll do it!"
Rentaro frowned, cutting her off and hanging up the phone before returning it to Kisara. She looked at Rentaro, her face even more troubled.
"Is this okay?"
"Huh? Well, the Gastrea virus has recovered quite perfectly. I think I'm still in peak condition..."
"That's not what I meant! Satomi, if you fail, all of us will die, do you understand?"
Rentaro fell silent upon hearing this.
That's right, all hope rested on him. Although Seitenshi said there would be other plans first, Rentaro had a premonition that they wouldn't be enough. Kagetane had been hiding for so long without being caught; he must have gathered quite a bit of insider information from the Civil Security members involved in the pursuit. Therefore, he most likely had countermeasures prepared.
The only variable Kagetane couldn't predict was Rentaro—the person he had personally killed and considered dead.
Kisara didn't want this. She didn't want the person in front of her to collapse one more time. Because if he failed, even if he survived, he would surely regret it for the rest of his life. Kisara didn't even dare to imagine how ruined Rentaro would become without her and Enju by his side.
"Kisara."
A strong arm pulled her into an embrace, surprising Kisara. Feeling the warmth from the young man's chest, she suddenly became unusually calm.
"I can't promise anything for sure; after all, I was soundly defeated by him once before. But I won't back down, because I still have you, and I still have so many others behind me."
"You big idiot..."
"Kisara, I once asked you why you chose me as your bodyguard. Now, I don't think I need you to answer, because I will find the answer myself."
"Satomi, I..."
Stomp!
Enju stomped her foot in annoyance behind them. At the same time, dozens of glaring eyes were thrown their way, finally reminding Rentaro and Kisara where they were standing. They quickly pulled apart, the blush still lingering on their faces.
"That's unfair!"
Enju screamed, and the surrounding people couldn't help but agree.
Do you guys see us as invisible?!
"Alright, I'm going now."
"Take care."
Rentaro waved, saying goodbye to Kisara, then pulled Enju away. Enju's eyes, like bullets, were fixed on Kisara's blooming chest, looking as if to say, "Don't you dare try to seduce Rentaro with that thing."
She smiled faintly, placing a hand over her heart, feeling its high rate of pounding.
"This idiot... since when did he become so bold?"
But after the lingering sensation subsided, she turned around, looking at the sun slowly setting, with darkness about to descend, and worried.
She truly didn't know how many people would make it back alive tonight.
...
At the final gathering point before the mission, Rentaro met Sumire again.
Due to the critical nature of this operation, which directly concerned the survival of the Tokyo Area, the upper echelon was extremely generous, providing unlimited supplies of weapons, ammunition, and equipment.
Even more notably, Rentaro received a "special offer" from Sumire.
"What is this?"
Rentaro asked suspiciously, looking at the five metal syringes containing blue fluid. Sumire sat casually on a chair, saying flatly:
"The Artificial Gastrea Virus. You understand, don't you?"
"What is the success rate?"
"Twenty percent."
If Rentaro hadn't miraculously returned last time, Sumire wasn't sure she would have given him this kind of drug. Because this was purely a gamble with fate, like a game of Russian Roulette, just the inverted version.
"Then I thank you."
"If you don't need it, it's best not to use it."
A momentary silence fell between the two. Sumire's complexion was very pale, and she was, uncharacteristically, not cracking jokes.
"Satomi, do you hate me?"
"H-huh?"
"From ten years ago, my world, our world, collapsed into a literal, indescribable hell. I was lost, disoriented. I did horrible things to you."
Sumire trembled, gripping the pendant hanging around her neck. Rentaro knew it represented the family she had lost.
That's right, Sumire destroyed his childhood, destroyed all his ability to make friends with the mechanical parts grafted onto his body. Even in the first few years, he constantly dreamt of her in his nightmares, illuminated by her cold face, as she disassembled every part of his body.
Later, Sumire, aware of what she had done, made an effort to tease him to help him relax, although it had now become a permanent trait of hers.
But he was also truly grateful, because Sumire had given him a new life.
"I have never hated you."
He spoke the answer from the bottom of his heart.
Sumire smiled, smiling until tears flowed. She quickly covered her face, waving her hand to chase Rentaro away.
"Alright, get out of here. If you die, I'll bring your corpse back, embalm it, and put Kisara's panties on your head."
"That's desecrating a deceased person's remains!"
Rentaro ran off. Watching his back disappear behind the door, Sumire stopped smiling. She gazed into the void and whispered.
"I wonder if you can be like that person said, and save all of us..."