Mrs. Sakura and her daughter were carefully lifted onto a stretcher and loaded into one of the medic vans, which quickly sped off towards the hospital. Meanwhile, the other officers, fueled by Mrs. Sakura's words, rushed towards the collapsed building determined to rescue their captain. Who, according to her words, was still trapped inside, when the building came crashing down.
As the officers approached the wreckage of the building, a coughing sound echoed through the air and a mysterious figure began to emerge from the dusty haze. The air was thick with dust and the acrid smell of debris. This caused the officers to cough and squint, struggling to make out the person's identity.
The figure drew closer, and the dust slowly settled, revealing the mysterious person's identity. The officers' faces lit up with a mix of relief and surprise when they recognized their captain, Aiku, emerging from the dusty haze. His eyes narrowed slightly while he coughed again.
The officers' voices rang out in perfect unison as they shouted "Captain! Captain!" to get his attention. The moment Aiku's eyes locked onto his team; they rushed towards him.
"We're glad you made it, Captain!" they exclaimed, their voices filled with gratitude and admiration.
Upon drawing closer, the officers were met with a grim sight. Aiku's face and body were a canvas of bruises, and his shirtless torso revealed open wounds that made their hearts sink.
With gentle care, they escorted Aiku towards the waiting paramedics, equipped with stretchers and emergency equipment. The officers' faces reflected their concern, but they were grateful to have their captain back, alive and fighting against the odds.
The medics quickly and carefully stabilized Aiku's condition, carefully applying bandages and dressings to his wounds while preparing to load him into the medical van. "Sir, we need to get you to the hospital, immediately," one of the paramedics urged, their voice firm yet gentle. "Your injuries are severe, and you require immediate treatment to ensure your safety."
Despite the pain and exhaustion on his face, Aiku's voice was firm. "No... I won't go," he said, his eyes locked intensely on the paramedics.
Aiku shook his head, ignoring the paramedics urgent plea. His primary concern, however, was his family. "My family..." he whispered, his voice weak but unwavering. "I need to know they're safe"
"How's my family?" he repeatedly kept asking. The medics and officers reassured him that they were fine and that there was no need to worry.
But Aiku was insistent. "Where are they? I can't see them!" he exclaimed, his desperation growing. The medics explained that they had already been taken to the hospital for treatment. "Now it's your turn.We need to get you to the hospital to treat your wounds." the paramedic urged.
However, Aiku refused to budge, and in a surprising move, he stopped the medics from continuing to treat his wounds. "I have somewhere I need to be right now," he said firmly.
The medic team strongly advised against his decision, warning that moving around would worsen his injuries, leading to bleeding and potential blood loss. But Aiku would not be swayed.
"Back off," he told the paramedics, his tone brooking no argument. "I'm fine. I don't require further attention." Captain Aiku asserted his authority, leveraging his position to silence the medic team's objections.
"I'm in command here," he said, silencing the medic team's objections with a single, decisive statement.
"You will not question my orders," his eyes stern.
He sat at the back of the medic van; the doors open wide. His body was a mess - bandages covered his wounds, and bruises marked his skin.
Despite the pain he felt, Aiku knew he had to push through it. He couldn't succumb to his injuries now, no matter how much they hurt.
"This isn't the time," he said, his voice low and firm like a whisper. He gritted his teeth, pushing through the pain to get the words out.
"I'm your captain," he continued, "and it's essential that you obey my orders." His tone left no room for debate. The medic team and officers nodded respectfully, acknowledging his leadership and saluting him in unison to show respect.
Since rushing their captain to the hospital wasn't an option, the medic team offered him some painkillers to ease his suffering. He accepted the medication, washing it down with a bottle of water provided by the paramedics. After taking the painkillers, Captain Aiku instructed the medic team to return to their van and prepare to depart on his signal.
With a small team of four officers and three paramedics, Aiku took the wheel of the only available police vehicle. The medic team was already in their van, ready to move out at a moment's notice, according to Captain Aiku's instruction.
Aiku instructed the officers to join him in the police car, intending to head to the location of the unknown caller. However, the officers hesitated, unsure about following their captain's lead due to his condition.
Their concern was evident. They didn't think Aiku should be driving, not with the severity of his injuries. But Aiku was undeterred, confident in his exceptional driving skills, believing that none of the other officers could match his expertise. In his mind, letting anyone else drive would only slow them down.
"Are you getting in or not?" he asked gruffly, looking at the officers through the rearview mirror.
Fearing for his safety and not wanting to leave him alone in his current state, the officers quickly entered the vehicle. Before they could even buckle up their seatbelts, Aiku floored it, pushing the car to its limits.
He was keenly aware that 30-40 precious minutes had already elapsed since the mysterious caller had made contact. Running late, Aiku was desperate to make up for lost time. Every minute was crucial, and he clung to the hope that by hurrying, they might still be able to save lives, even if it was just one.
The instant Aiku activated the siren, its ear-piercing wail echoed through the air, clearing a path through the chaotic traffic. Despite the destruction caused by the shockwaves, cars managed to move aside, allowing the police car and the medic van to speed through.
The officers accompanying their captain were paralyzed with fear, as their captain pushed the vehicle to its limits. The speedometer's gauge climbed higher and higher, the needle trembling at the extreme end of the dial, responding to Captain Aiku's intense acceleration. He executed sharp turns and drifted around cracks on the road and other vehicles with precision. The officers urged him to slow down, but Aiku disregarded their pleas.
"Slowing down isn't an option for me," he growled, his eyes fixed intently on the road. "I have to get there as fast as I can."
Just then, Aiku slammed on the brakes, and the tires let out a screech, bringing the car to a sudden stop. The officers' hearts sank as they took in the scene before them: a tangled mess of cars blocked the road, an impassible barrier to their progress.
The siren's wail was rendered useless, because the devastated roads offered no clear path for other vehicles to give way.
Aiku quickly donned a spare uniform in the vehicle, concealing his bandaged body, which was still bearing the marks of his painful experience. His fellow officers exchanged worried glances, their concern for his well-being evident on their faces.
"What's your plan, sir?" one of officers asked, but Aiku's response was to turn to Tobi, seated beside him in the front seat.
"Tobi, come with me," he ordered.
Tobi's eyes widened in surprise, and he stuttered, "Huh? Me? What are we going to do, captain?"
Aiku's voice took on a commanding tone. "Step out of the vehicle. We're proceeding on foot."
Tobi opened his mouth to protest, but Aiku cut him off. "I don't want to hear another word from you."
Tobi hesitated momentarily before stepping out of the vehicle. The other officers protested, disagreeing with the choice Aiku had made. "This is madness, it's not safe!" one of them exclaimed. "And look at your condition, sir, you're in no condition to be going out there. You need medical attention, not to be putting yourself in harm's way."
However, Aiku promptly shut down their objections, his expression unyielding.
"I don't recall any of you holding the rank of captain," he said, his tone firm and authoritative. "As your captain I have made my decision. So, shut up and do as I say."
With that, he barked out his orders. "Find a way to bring the vehicle and the medical van to our destination. Tobi and I will proceed on foot."
Aiku stepped out of the vehicle, fastening the final buttons of the spare uniform. With his eyes fixed on the horizon, he gazed out at the distance he needed to cover to reach the location. He turned to Tobi, his eyes ablaze with determination.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Tobi nodded, his voice firm and assured. "Yes, captain."
With that, the two of them took their first steps, quickly transitioning into a sprint towards the unknown caller's location.