Chapter 16: The only way to escape,,

They had managed to escape from the city without being followed by drones or dominions. What happened at the crosswalk lingered in Ai’s mind, a sharp reminder to never lose focus in cruel situations. She bit her lip, feeling guilty for her lack of action. “I’m sorry. I didn’t prepare myself to handle that situation,” she said, her tone heavy with regret and her expression filled with disappointment.

Haruka could feel the heaviness in the atmosphere surrounding Ai. She smiled gently. “We can’t really do anything to change what happened earlier. There were too many dominions gathered at the crosswalk. Even I was overwhelmed by the pressure,” she said, her tone soft and reassuring. “I’m just glad that both of us are okay in the end.”

Ai nodded in agreement, finally looking Haruka in the eyes. A small smile of relief appeared on her face.

“By the way, that person wearing the cloak… Did he give you something?” Ai asked, her curiosity evident.

“Yes,” Haruka replied, pausing as she pulled the letter from her pocket. “He handed me a letter and told me to give it to Kaede.”

Her expression grew stiff, a sense of unease washing over her. She didn’t want to give the letter to Kaede, especially since it might bring harm to them. Ai, on the other hand, was tempted to peek at its contents.

“Can we open it to see what’s inside?” Ai asked cautiously.

Haruka shook her head firmly. “He said not to open it before Kaede, so I won’t. Sorry, Ai,” she said with a small, reassuring smile.

As they walked the forest path was alive with the soft sounds of nature. The gentle whistle of birds filled the air, and the sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Though the sunlight barely reached the forest floor, the warm glow it provided gave the area a sense of comfort and life. Every creature in the forest seemed at peace, a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind in the city.

They continued forward until they spotted Sean and Saul surveying the area, ensuring it was safe. Upon seeing Haruka and Ai, Saul’s face lit up with relief.

“You’re finally back! Thank goodness both of you are safe,” he said, his voice filled with genuine concern. His worried expression faded as he took in their unharmed appearances.

“We brought canned food that should last for several months,” Haruka said with a smile.

Ai reached into her sock and pulled out a pen. “Pelly-chan, you can drop the supplies now. Thank you for carrying them for us,” she said gently.

“Of course, Ai,” the pen replied cheerfully.

In an instant, four massive bags and three ten-liter containers of mineral water materialized on the ground.

Saul’s eyes widened in shock at the sheer amount of supplies. “D-Did you steal all this?” he stammered, uneasiness creeping into his voice.

“OF COURSE WE DIDN’T!” Ai shouted defensively. “Kaede would get mad if we did something like that!”

Haruka laughed lightly. “Relax, Saul. I paid for all of it with my own money,” she explained. Then, with a teasing grin, she added, “Although, I did think about stealing at first. But Ai reminded me how terrifying Kaede can be when she’s mad.”

Ai glared at Haruka, her face flushing slightly. “Don’t even joke about that!”

Sean let out a long sigh. “Thank goodness. We don’t even want to imagine what would happen if Kaede got mad.”

Everyone froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Despite their precarious situation, they managed to find a moment of lightness and joy. They cherished this brief reprieve, holding onto it as a reminder of what they were fighting to protect.

Saul and Sean carried the supply of food and the ten liters of mineral water back to their hideout, their footsteps crunching softly against the dirt path. The weight of the load was immense, but they bore it with determination, knowing it was essential for their survival.

As they approached, they saw Kaede sitting on top of the Humvee, her figure relaxed yet commanding. Her eyes were closed as if she were meditating, but her awareness was sharp. The sound of their footsteps caught her attention, and she opened her eyes with a relieved smile spreading across her face.

“You’re back,” she said warmly, her voice carrying a sense of calm reassurance.

Her gaze shifted to the massive sacks and the gallons of water Saul and Sean were hauling. She raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye. “Did you buy the whole city’s supply of food?” she teased with a light chuckle.

Ai frowned, crossing her arms with a pout, clearly unamused by the joke. However, her reaction only caused everyone else to burst into laughter, the tension from their earlier mission dissolving in an instant.

Kaede’s smile softened as she added, “Well, I’m just glad both of you made it back safe and sound.”

But her sharp eyes soon caught something off. Haruka’s expression was unusually troubled, her shoulders tense and her eyes distant. Kaede tilted her head slightly, her tone growing more serious. “What’s wrong, dear?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Haruka met Kaede’s gaze, and her seriousness was evident. Everyone noticed the sudden shift in the atmosphere, their lightheartedness giving way to unease.

“Actually,” Haruka began, her voice steady but low, “I have something to say to you, Kaede.”

The group fell silent, their curiosity piqued.

Several minutes passed as Haruka recounted the events that had unfolded in the city. She described the cloaked man they had encountered at the crosswalk, his unsettling demeanor, and the cryptic conversation they’d had. Her voice wavered slightly as she mentioned how he knew Kaede’s name but seemed to have no knowledge of Ai. As she detailed the encounter, her expression gradually tightened, betraying the unease she felt.

“I think that’s everything, Kaede,” Haruka concluded, her voice barely above a whisper as she reached into her pocket and handed over the letter.

Kaede took it gently, her fingers brushing the edges of the envelope. Her eyes lingered on it for a moment before she spoke. “Thank you. So, to summarize: you met a suspicious man on your way back, he knew my name, and he claimed that our lives depend on this letter,” she said, holding it up for everyone to see.

Haruka nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Kaede hummed thoughtfully, closing her eyes briefly as if weighing the gravity of the situation. Then, without hesitation, she opened the letter. The air around them seemed to thicken, and the group instinctively held their breath.

Kaede’s expression remained unreadable as her eyes scanned the contents of the letter. The seconds stretched painfully, each one feeling heavier than the last. Finally, she let out a soft sigh and looked up, a smile tugging at her lips.

Everyone exchanged confused glances. The letter was supposed to be their salvation, a lifeline that would guide them out of the oppressive country. Yet Kaede’s reaction was far from what they had expected.

Then, to their shock, Kaede began tearing the letter into pieces. Her movements were deliberate, her expression serious. The paper fell to the ground in shredded fragments, and the sound of ripping echoed in the stillness.

“W-W-Why did you tear the letter into p-pieces, Kaede?!” Lux stammered, his face draining of color. He looked as though he’d just witnessed their last hope crumble to dust.

Kaede met his gaze, her eyes sharp with determination. “The letter did contain instructions for leaving the country,” she admitted, her voice calm but firm. “It even had a map to an uninhabited island where we could find shelter.”

Her words hung in the air, but the weight of what she said next was even heavier. “But the price for that information is far too high.”

The group was stunned. Kaede, who had always been the most driven to leave the country, had just destroyed the very means to achieve that goal. It was incomprehensible.

Kaede sighed, her gaze softening as it landed on Ai and Haruka. “The people behind this letter know about Haruka’s power and Ai’s unrealized potential. They want to use them—to trade their lives for our escape.”

The group lowered their heads, the realization sinking in like a stone.

Kaede’s voice broke the silence, resolute yet tender. “How could I sacrifice the lives of children who have only just begun to live? I do not possess that kind of authority over them. Even if I had the authority to make such a decision, why would I ever choose to trade their lives for my own survival?”

Her expression softened into a gentle smile, and the warmth in her eyes was enough to dispel some of the tension. “I won’t abandon any of you. Not now, not ever.”

The heaviness of the moment was broken by unexpected laughter. It started small, but soon everyone was laughing. It wasn’t out of disbelief or mockery—it was relief. They all knew Kaede too well to think she would ever betray them.

“That sounds like you, Kaede,” Clint said with a grin, his voice filled with admiration.

Sean nodded, his tone brimming with pride. “If Kaede’s already made her decision, then we don’t have a choice but to follow her, right?”

The group echoed his sentiment with smiles and nods, their spirits lifted. They knew they were following a true leader—one who valued their lives above all else.