RUN!

In the dimly lit, abandoned candy shop, Aiko, Kaito, Tekuno, and Hashi were met with a menacing presence. Four men and an AI Dobermann dog stood before them.

"Give us all your money or your life!" the leader of the outcasts demanded, his voice dripping with menace.

Kaito, Tekuno, and Hashi seemed worried. Aiko, on the other hand, cracked her knuckles with a confident grin. "Ahhh, I missed fighting in the ring!"

"Ehm, Tekuno, is there something I don't know about Aiko, I mean... regarding her temper or something?" Kaito asked, puzzled.

"There are a bunch of things you don't know yet, my boy!" Tekuno replied, patting Kaito's shoulder.

"Enough! Give me your money!" the leader screamed, stepping closer.

Kaito and Tekuno said in unison, "Don't worry, Aiko, we'll protect you!" Hashi barked aggressively in agreement.

In that same moment, Aiko jumped over Kaito, Tekuno, and Hashi, who had formed a protective wall in front of her, and launched herself at the outcast leader. "Take this, you punk!" she shouted, delivering a powerful punch to his face.

The leader flew backward, crashing into the other outcasts and the AI Dobermann, smashing through the shop wall and creating a massive hole. "She's... she's... a killer! Let's run away!" the leader yelled, his team following him in a panicked retreat.

"I won!! Finally, I won!!" Aiko screamed triumphantly.

Kaito stood paralyzed in disbelief. "You can close your mouth now, Banana Boy, that's the Aiko I know," Tekuno said with a smirk. Hashi barked and jumped on Aiko, licking her face.

"Aww, I guess Hashi is my fan now!" Aiko said, laughing.

"Aiko... you were... so sexy!!" Kaito blurted out.

"Huh?" Tekuno interjected, raising an eyebrow.

"I actually wanted to protect you, but you protected me—us—instead. You're amazing, and I understand that I still have a lot to learn about you... and I can't wait to do so," Kaito confessed.

Aiko blushed and gave Kaito a kiss on the cheek. "We will have time, but first, let's change history!"

Meanwhile, Agent 001 Hebi and her military group had lost track of Kaito, Aiko, Tekuno, and Hashi. "General Tanaka, do we have news on the AI's location?" Hebi asked through a digital conversation with the human district.

Hiroshi, Kaito's best friend, sat in Tanaka's office, handcuffed. "Hiroshi, you're Kaito's best friend. Tell me where they're going," Tanaka demanded.

Hiroshi, feeling a newfound sense of resolve, replied, "General Tanaka, Mr. Daichi, Kaito is like a brother to me. He didn't tell me where he was going, and I didn't ask because I know he will do the right thing. And you, as his father, should know best. You should believe in him."

Daichi, getting teary-eyed, responded, "Hiroshi... I wish it were that easy. I wish I could blindly believe that what Kaito is doing is the right thing... but we are risking World War 4."

"Still, Mr. Daichi, you should believe in him because he knows the situation and wouldn't risk a possible war if he didn't have a reason!" Hiroshi insisted.

"You know, Hiroshi, I think I wasn't a good father. I pushed him too hard... that's how I grew up with my family. I never wanted to be the same, but finally... I became like that. Kaito doesn't trust me, and it's my fault," Daichi lamented.

"Soldiers!" Tanaka shouted. "Take off his handcuffs and let him go home to his wife. Hiroshi Yamamoto is not guilty of any charge."

"But General..." a soldier protested.

"Do it and do it now!" Tanaka commanded.

"Thank you, General," Hiroshi said, standing up. "Oh Hiroshi, when will you finally call me by my first name?" Daichi asked.

Hiroshi smiled and, before leaving, turned back to Tanaka. "Daichi... Kaito loves you. You're not the worst father, believe me." He left, leaving Daichi in tears.

As Tanaka wiped his tears, he responded to Agent Hebi's call. "Agent, we have no further information. Look in the neutral zone, check every corner, and bring back my son!"

"With all respect, General Tanaka, you mean bringing back the AI, right?" Hebi clarified.

"Ehmm... yes, yes. And agent?"

"Yes, General?"

"This AI has a name. Her name is Aiko Hoshino."

"Copy that, General!" Hebi acknowledged, sensing a change in Tanaka's tone. Deep inside, Tanaka finally understood what his son always meant regarding AIs. Kaito's love for Aiko was silently changing Daichi Tanaka's heart as well.

Back in the neutral zone, our four heroes continued walking towards the Gate of Horizon to get a boat for Fujisawa. Aiko walked beside Hashi, with Kaito and Tekuno slightly behind them.

Tekuno, looking at Kaito's face while he was unaware, thought to himself, "Wow, I still don't like this guy, but giving up everything, risking so much, after knowing someone for only five days is very impressive. And she's not even human. And he seemed sad because of his friend too."

"Ehmmmm, Kaito?" Tekuno said hesitantly.

"Huh? You called me by my name, not 'punk' or 'idiot'?" Kaito replied, smiling.

"Listen... before I change my mind, I just wanted to say that I appreciate how you made Aiko feel in these last days and how much effort you put into helping her... and me."

"Is this a compliment? Did you really say something nice to me now?" Kaito asked jokingly.

"Shut up, human brat. I haven't finished. Aiko means the world to me, and seeing how she looks at you makes me feel... sad but also happy at the same time."

Kaito stopped and put his hand on Tekuno's shoulder. "Tekuno, I will always protect Aiko and everyone she loves... including even you, you stupid AI butthead!" Kaito said with a mix of teary eyes and a joking expression.

Tekuno wiped his tears, surprised by Kaito's heartfelt words, and responded with a soft punch to Kaito's head. "Who are you calling butthead, you punk?" Both laughed.

Aiko looked back and said to Hashi, "I guess they're finally becoming friends." Hashi barked joyfully in agreement.

At that very moment, they heard a helicopter coming closer and a voice speaking through a megaphone in the distance. "Aiko Hoshino, give up already and come into our custody."

Aiko looked back at Kaito and Tekuno and said, "RUN!!!"

Aiko, Hashi, Tekuno, and Kaito sprinted towards the Gate of Horizon. "We still have around six kilometers until we arrive at the port!" Tekuno shouted.

"We need to get there before they catch us!" Aiko screamed back.

Our friends ran with all their might, time running out on them. Only four hours remained until President Hoshino's deadline. Tick-tock.