Chapter 3: Farewell, and thank you,,

Haruka turned her head, and there she saw Sakura, waving energetically with a wide smile on her face.

Haruka froze, panic rising in her chest. What should I do? she thought, unsure of how to handle this. Before she could react, the young girl gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“This is perfect timing,” she said, her tone surprisingly calm. “We can use her to distract the pursuers.”

Haruka quickly shook her head, her expression serious. “I don’t want her to get involved in this,” she said firmly, her eyes showing how much she meant it.

“She won’t get involved,” the girl reassured her. “Just talk to her casually. And if possible, ask her to walk with you all the way to the train station.”

Haruka hesitated, but knowing she had little choice, she took a deep breath and approached Sakura, forcing a smile onto her face. “Sakura, what are you doing here? I thought you already went home,” she asked, trying to sound as casual as possible, though her heart was racing in her chest. This is a mistake. Sakura will get caught up in this.

Sakura grinned and shrugged, clearly unaware of the danger. “This is the way to my house. What about you, Haruka? What are you doing here? And who’s this young cutie on your back?” She beamed, her eyes full of curiosity and excitement.

The young girl smiled back at her, playing along with the act. “Hello, I’m Ai. Haruka’s younger sister. Nice to meet you!” she said sweetly, striking a pose and trying to look as cute as possible.

Sakura’s eyes lit up, her face melting into a joyful expression. “YOU’RE SO CUTE, AI!!” she practically squealed with enthusiasm.

Ai’s smile widened. “I-If you don’t mind,” she said, her voice soft and pleading, “could you help us walk to the train station? My sister somehow got lost and forgot the way.” She tried to make her eyes even bigger, hoping to appeal to Sakura’s fondness for cute things.

Sakura didn’t hesitate for a second, still grinning. “Of course, I’d be happy to help! I will lead the way, Ai!” She gave them both a playful wink, completely unaware of the danger lurking nearby.

Haruka felt a brief moment of relief when Sakura agreed to walk with them to the train station. She unconsciously blinked twice, her body relaxing for a fraction of a second. But before she could even process the calm, everything shattered.

In an instant, Sakura’s head exploded in a violent burst, the force of the explosion knocking her body to the ground. Lifeless. The scene was so sudden, so brutal, that neither Ai nor Haruka could react in time.

Ai's survival instincts kicked in immediately, her voice sharp and panicked. "RUN, HARUKA, RUN!!"

Desperation flooded Haruka’s body. Her legs moved before her mind could catch up, and she bolted, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She didn’t look back, leaving behind the lifeless metal frame named Sakura, the robot who had once seemed so real.

They sprinted through the streets, desperately trying to shake off their pursuers. With no idea who was behind the hunt, they could only run. The drones, however, were relentless. Maintained to perfection, they were fast enough to track their every move.

Haruka managed to reach the bridge that led to the station, her heart pounding in her chest. But just as they approached, a looming presence blocked their path.

A massive, heavily armed steel robot stood in their way, towering over them like an unstoppable force. Its design resembled a giant crab, with thick, sturdy legs that spread wide for balance and a large, armored body at the center. The surface was covered in sharp, angled metal plates, giving it an almost invincible look as they gleamed in the dim light from the streetlamps. On either side of its body were two massive pincers, each large enough to crush anything in their grip. But the most menacing feature was the sleek, missile launcher on its back, aimed straight ahead, ready to fire at any moment it was called, Ironclaw Titan.

The robot’s eyes glowed a bright red, scanning the area before locking onto Ai with frightening precision. The air around it felt heavy, as if the ground itself was trembling beneath the weight of its presence.

A cold, mechanical voice boomed from the robot’s speakers.

“Warning. I have found No. 000012, the escapee from the human prison colony. I have been ordered to capture you—dead or alive.”

As the robot appeared in front of them, its chilling, mechanical voice filled the air. Haruka and Ai’s faces went pale, drained of color, as if they had already given up—given up on running, on surviving. The terror was suffocating, and in that moment, they felt trapped in a nightmare.

Ai could feel Haruka’s fear in every tremble of her body. Her hands shook uncontrollably, the vibrations moving through her arms, her legs—every part of her—until they bumped lightly against Ai’s. It was clear that the terror was taking over her, and Ai knew the weight of the danger they faced.

“I repeat, Warning. I have found No. 000012, the escapee from the human prison colony. I have been ordered to capture you—dead or alive.”

As the robot prepared to fire a missile from its back, Haruka suddenly snapped back to her senses. But even though she was now aware of her surroundings, the danger they faced was still overwhelming, and their chances of survival seemed slim. The missiles launched toward them with terrifying sound and speed. Overcome by fear, Haruka closed her eyes, bracing for the worst.

The explosion erupted with a deafening roar, shaking the bridge beneath them. The structure started to collapse, chunks of debris falling into the water below. Slowly, Haruka opened her eyes and what she saw left her stunned. Ai stood in front of her, holding a glowing shield that shimmered with energy. As Haruka looked at it, something unexpected happened—a system in her mind automatically scanned the shield. A text box appeared in her vision, readable only by her:

“Anti-Missile Defense Shield (AMDS): A specialized defensive mechanism designed to detect, track, and neutralize incoming missiles before they can reach the target. It typically involves high-speed interceptors, energy-based weapons, or shield systems that either destroy or deflect missiles mid-air, ensuring the protection of its wielder.”

Haruka was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the text box. She had never experienced anything like this before, nor had she expected something so strange to occur. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Ai was still holding the shield, and despite her efforts to stop the missiles, the force of the explosion had taken a toll on her. Haruka could see Ai's side bleeding as the impact caused serious wounds. Ai winced in pain, her body faltering, before she slowly sank to the ground, losing consciousness.

Haruka, in a panic, looked around. The bridge was slowly breaking apart, and they would soon fall into the water below. She had no idea what to do. The seconds felt like an eternity. She needed to act fast—before it was too late.