CODE:comeback

Reo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “There has to be some way to help her out. She’s been a mess. She barely leaves her dorm.”

I glanced at him, my usual smirk playing on my lips. “She’s been more tired than a cat on a summer day, and her eyes? They’re puffier than a puffer fish.”

Akari, who had been trying to get a word in, finally spoke up. “I was trying to tell Ichika something before you two decided to talk over me.”

Reo shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, at least I’m not appearing out of thin air, you warlock.”

Akari rolled his eyes. “My job is as a craftsman. I make the weapons, the gear, all the things this facility needs to survive.”

Before any of us could reply, the masked man appeared behind Reo, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin. “You three, come with me,” the masked man said in his usual calm tone.

Reo, still rattled, let out a yelp of terror. “CAN YOU FOUR STOP THAT?!”

The masked man didn’t miss a beat. “It’s just a technique we use to approach without being noticed. The element of surprise.”

I chuckled. “You really are a chicken, Reo.”

As we walked through the hall and entered a familiar room, Reo asked, “Isn’t this the same room we entered a week ago when China threatened us with missiles?”

The masked man nodded, his voice still as calm as ever. “Yes, it is. We have an estimated location for where Rinku might be. When you all entered the facility, you were given watches that we can track. Rinku still has his on, and we’ve tracked him 75 percent of the way.”

Akari, finally having his moment, chimed in. “Yes, that’s what I was trying to say.”

I frowned, crossing my arms. “How will we find the place he’s being held? It would take months of research.”

The masked man glanced at me. “We will need one or two of us to go to China and save Rinku.”

Before I could say anything, Reo immediately volunteered. “Me and Akari can go and save him!”

The masked man’s response was swift and cold. “No, that would be absurd. Why would I let an idiot like you go and save our strongest soldier? You’re expendable, Reo.”

I couldn’t help but agree with the masked man. “Yeah, it would be stupid to let you go. And Akari is too valuable. He’s the craftsman. He has an important job here.”

Akari, ever the professional, sighed and nodded. “I understand what you’re saying, Mei. But even though Rinku and I aren’t friends, I still have a lot of respect for him.”

The masked man, uninterested in the debate, ended it quickly. “We’ll decide this later.”

Reo, clearly frustrated, muttered under his breath, “Shut it, you’re just a man in a Halloween mask.”

I chuckled. Classic Reo.

As we all began to leave the room, Reo paused at the door. “Mei, are you coming?”

I waved him off, my smirk returning. “Nah, I’ll stay here for a bit.”

“Alright then...weirdo,” Reo muttered as the door closed behind him.

I stood there for a moment, glancing around the room. A soft chuckle escaped my lips. “It’s surprising how you snuck in here without any of them noticing... Ichika.”

From the shadows, Ichika stepped out. But something was different in her eyes this time—a glitter of hope. A fire that had been dim for too long.

“So,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “I’m assuming you’re going to save Rinku.”

Ichika nodded, her voice filled with determination. “Of course. I’m not going to abandon him this time. Maybe... just maybe... I can finally tell him how I feel. And bring him home. But it seems that you, Mei, are the only one who can help me do that.”

A smirk spread across my face. I had been waiting for this. “This will be fun.”

And just like that, we were ready. This mission? It was going to be one hell of a ride.

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