RUMBLE!!!
The ground roared like an ancient beast awakening from the depths of the earth.
The very walls of the headquarters shuddered violently, windows rattling with sharp, piercing echoes.
Cracks snaked across the ceiling, dust and fragments raining down, mixing with the sharp scent of panic in the air.
Everyone dropped to their knees, struggling to keep their balance as the tremors grew fiercer.
The floor beneath them felt like a living thing, convulsing with unstoppable rage.
"W-What?! Has it already begun?!"
Shigeru's voice cut through the chaos, laced with disbelief and urgency.
His calm, composed demeanor shattered like the glass panes falling around them.
His sharp eyes darted toward the horizon beyond the trembling walls.
Outside, the once peaceful town descended into utter chaos.
Buildings swayed as if drunk from the seismic assault. Streetlights flickered before exploding in showers of sparks.
Terrified screams pierced the air, mingling with the groans of collapsing structures.
"A-An earthquake!! Run for your lives!"
Someone cried, their voice barely audible over the deafening rumble.
Panic spread like wildfire. People stumbled out of their homes, clutching their loved ones, their faces etched with fear and confusion.
Crowds surged toward the open playground—the only place that felt remotely safe amidst the destruction.
Parents held their children tightly, friends supported the injured.
At the headquarters, Ryuu, Seichii, Masumi, and the others bolted outside, their senses on high alert.
Dust hung thick in the air, the sky dimming as if reflecting the dread that gripped the city.
Shigeru stood still amidst the chaos, his gaze locked towards the direction where the Mont Blanc was situated.
His sharp eyes reflected the flickering fires and crumbling skyline.
"It's just the beginning,"
He whispered, his voice heavy with foreboding.
"And it's already caused such devastation… What will happen when it shatters?"
His words hung in the air, more chilling than the tremors themselves.
The city groaned around them, not just from the quake, but from the weight of an unseen doom inching closer with every passing second.
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Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Geneva, Switzerland…
Even the protective arrays that shielded a small town trembled under the relentless force of the seismic waves.
The barriers flickered, struggling to contain the destructive energy.
Despite the enchantments, many buildings lay in ruins, their foundations unable to withstand the pressure.
Amidst the wreckage, the townsfolk gathered under a tree at the center of the square—a symbol of hope standing defiant against the chaos.
Fear etched every face as they huddled together within a mysterious barrier, shimmering faintly like a fragile bubble.
A man among the crowd trembled, his eyes wide as he gazed up at the figure standing atop the towering tree.
(J-Just how strong is that boy… to deploy such an enormous barrier?)
Atop the tree stood a boy in his late teens, his silky blue hair cascading like calm ocean waves, starkly contrasting the raging storm beneath.
But his aura—fierce, volatile—radiated like an erupting volcano, crackling with untamed power.
He didn't flinch, didn't waver. His piercing gaze locked far beyond the town, beyond the horizon—toward Mont Blanc.
"Tch!"
A frustrated grunt escaped his lips, his eyes gleaming with barely contained fury. His clenched fists trembled, not from fear, but from the rage boiling within.
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Back at the headquarters…
As the tremors gradually subsided, an uneasy silence settled over the battered city.
Dust still hung in the air, mingling with the faint cries of the injured and the distant wails of sirens.
Everyone exhaled a breath they didn't realize they'd been holding. But the relief was short-lived.
Shigeru's eyes remained fixed on the distant Mont Blanc, his mind racing.
"I guess my assumption was wrong,"
He muttered, his voice grave.
"We need to act immediately."
Turning sharply, he faced the others, his authoritative presence commanding their attention.
He raised his hand, his voice ringing out clear and firm:
"Call back all the squads! Issue orders for everyone above B-rank around the city to gather at the outskirts immediately!"
The reception officer bowed quickly before sprinting back into the headquarters, urgency driving her steps.
Étienne, his face pale but composed, adjusted his glasses.
"I'll contact the headquarters in other countries to coordinate.
If Mont Blanc and the Alps shatter, all of Central Europe will be at risk."
Without waiting for a response, he rushed back inside.
Ryuu, his fists clenched at his sides, stepped forward.
His usual calm replaced by determination.
"Master, what should we do? We'll do everything we can to protect the people!"
Shigeru turned to them, his hardened gaze softening slightly as Akiko approached, her hand gently resting on his arm—a silent gesture of reassurance.
His shoulders eased slightly, but the weight of leadership remained heavy.
"There's something important you all need to know,"
Shigeru began, his voice low but steady.
"Keron told me something… something I couldn't share with the others at headquarters. It's a mission only you can undertake."
The group exchanged tense glances, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
"I'll explain everything on our way to Mont Blanc. For now, pack your belongings.
This mission will be dangerous. Even the smallest mistake could cost us our lives."
His eyes, usually filled with wisdom, now held something more—fear. Not for himself, but for his students.
"Everyone… stay safe."
Despite the heaviness of his words, the group managed small, determined smiles.
They nodded, each silently vowing to return alive.
As they dispersed, the echoes of their footsteps faded down the hall, leaving only Shigeru and Akiko in the dim corridor.
He sighed, the weight of unspoken fears lingering in the air.
"They're stronger than you think,"
Akiko whispered, her hand still resting gently on his arm.
Shigeru nodded, though his heart remained restless.
The real battle was only just beginning.
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In a room along a silent corridor, Hibino lay on a hospital bed.
His entire body was wrapped in bandages, the faint beeping of the heart monitor the only sound accompanying him.
The sterile white walls reflected the dim morning light seeping through the blinds, casting faint shadows across his face.
Beside him, Meiko sat hunched over in a chair, asleep on Hibino's chest.
She hadn't moved an inch since they'd returned.
Her eyes, swollen from exhaustion and silent tears, remained closed as sleep finally claimed her—yet her hand still clutched his as if afraid he'd disappear if she let go.
She'd been tending to him the whole time, refusing to leave his side even when others urged her to rest.
Though Masumi had managed to heal most of Hibino's external injuries, he had yet to regain consciousness.
His body was whole, but his spirit remained distant—locked somewhere beyond reach.
But suddenly…
Tap.
A faint movement—a twitch of his finger.
Moments later, his eyelids fluttered open, the sterile ceiling lights blurring into focus.
(W-where am I…? What's this heavy sensation…?)
Confusion clouded his thoughts. His body felt unfamiliar, as though it wasn't his own.
Slowly, he rolled his eyes to the side, and there she was—Meiko—peacefully asleep on his chest, her face streaked with dried tears.
Weakly, he lifted his hand, trembling from the effort, and gently placed it on her head.
"M-Meiko…"
His voice was raspy, barely a whisper, but it was enough.
The warmth of his touch jolted Meiko awake. She blinked, disoriented at first, then her eyes widened in disbelief as she met Hibino's gaze—soft, tired, but filled with life.
"Hibi… HIBINO!!! YOU'RE AWAKE?!"
She shot upright, her heart racing. Her hands trembled as she clutched his, frantically checking if he was truly there, alive and breathing.
Without thinking, she stumbled out of the chair, rushing toward the door.
"WAIT! I'LL CALL THE DOCTOR—"
Grab!!!
She froze mid-step. A firm yet gentle grip wrapped around her wrist.
Turning back, she saw Hibino smiling softly, his fingers weakly holding onto her hand.
"I'm fine, Meiko… totally fine."
Those simple words, spoken with such quiet reassurance, shattered the walls of fear she'd built around her heart.
A wave of relief surged through her, overwhelming and raw.
She stared at him, her lips quivering, and then
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"H-Hibino…"
She collapsed into his arms, her sobs muffled against his chest.
Her fingers clenched the fabric of his hospital gown as if anchoring herself to reality.
"W-Why…? Why did you have to get hurt instead of me? Why did you protect me?"
Her voice cracked with each word.
"Why is it always you who protects me, and I… I can't do anything?
Ever since we were kids, you've been the one getting hurt—taking the blame, facing the scoldings… and for what? Just to keep me safe?!"
She gritted her teeth, her tears staining the thin hospital fabric.
"Even if it meant risking your life… just why?! What would I have done if anything happened to you? How would I face Master…? How would I face myself?!"
Her sobs grew louder, raw and unfiltered.
"Your life is worth so much more than mine. You're strong, calm, intelligent.
You've always known how to handle situations, yet you always put me first—chasing after my stupid wishes.
Just… why don't you value yourself more?!"
Hibino listened silently, his hand gently stroking her back in slow, comforting circles.
A faint smile lingered on his face—not one of amusement, but of quiet warmth.
"Yeah… I'm sorry,"
He whispered softly.
"I'll care about myself more from now on. So… stop crying, okay?"
Before Meiko could respond, the door burst open with a loud
BAM!!!
Akiko and a nurse rushed in, their faces pale with worry.
"W-What happened, Meiko-san? Why were you shouting—"
Akiko froze mid-sentence, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw Hibino sitting up, awake.
"K-Kawamura-kun! Y-You're awake?!"
Without waiting, she hurried to his bedside.
"Nurse, call the doctor!"
The nurse quickly left the room while Akiko began checking Hibino's vitals.
"Akiko-san, I'm completely fine now—not even a single muscle hurts,"
Hibino said calmly.
Akiko's worried expression slowly softened into a smile.
"It's good to see you awake and well, Hibino-kun."
Her gaze shifted slightly, landing on Meiko, who was still holding onto Hibino.
The smile on her face grew wider, filled with silent understanding.
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The doctor soon arrived to examine Hibino. His condition had improved miraculously, his body responding as if he'd never been critically injured.
Everyone gathered in the room, relief washing over them like a tide.
Masumi's eyes glistened with tears as she gently held Hibino's hand.
"H-Hibino-san… you're alright."
Hibino reached out, patting her head softly.
"It's all thanks to you that I'm fine, Masumi-san. Thank you."
Masumi's tears flowed freely, her heart lightened by his words.
"It's good to see you healthy, Kawamura-san!"
Ryuu and Seichii's voices rang out in unison, their faces bright with joy.
Shigeru stood silently at the back, his usual calm demeanor intact.
"It's very good to see you well, Kawamura-kun,"
He said with a faint smile.
"But this isn't the time to relax. We're facing a much bigger problem now."
The room grew tense, the joyful atmosphere dissipating like mist. Hibino furrowed his brows, confused.
"What do you mean, Morishita-san?"
Shigeru's expression darkened slightly.
"I'll explain everything that happened after you lost consciousness."
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Shigeru recounted every detail—the attack in the forest, the chaos, and the looming threat at Mont Blanc.
As the story unfolded, Hibino's face hardened, tension replacing his earlier relief.
When Shigeru finished, he looked directly at Hibino.
"I'm sorry to bring this up just after you've recovered, but for this mission, I expect you to fight alongside Nagamine-san."
The words hung in the air like a blade.
Meiko shot up, her voice sharp with anger.
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?! HOW CAN YOU ASK HIBINO TO FIGHT RIGHT AFTER HE'S RECOVERED?!"
But before Shigeru could respond—
"I will fight."
Hibino's calm voice cut through the tension like a knife.
Everyone turned to him, stunned.
"I will fight alongside Meiko, Morishita-san."
His voice carried no hesitation, only quiet determination.
"B-But Hibino—" Meiko began, her voice trembling with worry.
Hibino gently patted her head, his smile soft.
"It's alright, Meiko. I'm fine now."
Her heart clenched with both fear and pride.
After a brief silence, Hibino spoke again.
"Can you all please leave us alone for a bit? There's something I want to talk to Meiko about."
Everyone exchanged glances but respected his request, quietly leaving the room.
Meiko was stunned by his sudden request.
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Meiko sat on the chair, fidgeting nervously. Her face was flushed, her fingers tangled together.
"W-What do you want to talk about, H-Hibino…?"
Hibino chuckled softly.
"Why are you so nervous? Calm down."
"B-But…"
She trailed off, her face turning redder.
After a brief pause, Hibino's gaze softened as he stared at the ceiling.
"You know… I was happy when you confessed to me."
Meiko's face burned with embarrassment as she instinctively covered her face with her hands.
Hibino continued, his voice gentle.
"I was happy because… the girl I always admired, the one I wanted to protect no matter what, felt that way toward me."
He took a deep breath, his thoughts flowing freely.
"I always admired how you followed your heart, Meiko.
No matter what others said, you never let it change who you were.
When I was with you, I felt free… like I didn't have to be perfect.
You asked me why I keep throwing my life to protect you or that your life is not worth enough for me to sacrifice my life on it....
Well, it's quite opposite for me, your life is the one thing that I want to protect the most and if I can't even do that, I might as well due."
His voice grew softer.
"But… I can't give you my answer yet."
Meiko's heart sank, her chest tightening with fear.
"Because right now, we have something more important to focus on.
Mont Blanc… we don't know if we'll even make it back alive. I know how much courage it took for you to confess, but—"
Hibino slowly got out of bed, kneeling before her despite his weakened state.
"Will you wait for my answer a little longer? I'll tell you everything—when we come back alive.
So, will you wait for me, a little more, Meiko?"
Tears welled up in Meiko's eyes, but this time, they weren't from sadness.
"OF COURSE, DUMMY!"
She flung herself into his arms, sobbing with relief.
Hibino held her close, a soft smile on his lips.
"Let's make it out alive… together.".....