Chapter 39 : The silence after Goodbye

The sound of the door creaking open broke the silence of the hideout. Sora stood near the edge of the room, eyes snapping toward the entrance as the dim orange glow of streetlights followed two shadowed figures into the space.

Mikuya stepped in first, steady but clearly exhausted. Behind her trailed a familiar figure—timid, hesitant, and clearly overwhelmed. Yuka.

“Mikuya…?” Sora whispered, surprised, but more so confused by the presence of the girl hiding behind her.

Mikuya ignored his question for a moment and led Yuka further in. She pointed at a small couch by the far wall. “Sit here. Don’t worry,” she said softly, her voice distant but calm.

Yuka, trembling from everything she had witnessed—especially the blood still dripping faintly from Mikuya’s arm—nodded and sank onto the couch in silence, her hands clutched tightly on her lap.

Mikuya turned to Sora next, brushing back a few strands of wind-swept hair as she glanced at him with tired but resolute eyes.

“She needs to stay here for a while. Is that okay?”

Sora blinked, still trying to piece together what had just happened. “Y-Yeah… of course,” he replied quietly, his gaze flicking between the girls. “What happened out there…?”

Mikuya didn’t answer. Instead, she reached into her coat and pulled out a small pack—medical supplies, bandages, ointment, and painkillers she had picked up on her way back. Kneeling before Yuka, she carefully reached for the girl’s leg, which had a small gash from earlier.

“This might sting,” Mikuya said.

Yuka flinched, not from the pain, but from the feeling of guilt gnawing at her chest. As Mikuya applied the antiseptic, a sudden gasp broke from Yuka’s lips, and tears welled up in her eyes. She looked up, noticing the deep red stain across Mikuya’s sleeve.

“M-Mikuya… You’re bleeding. I-I…” Her voice cracked. “You got hurt because of me… didn’t you?”

Mikuya paused.

Sora watched quietly, unsure if he should intervene.

The silence between the girls felt heavy, but then, slowly, Mikuya set the bandages aside and looked into Yuka’s tearful eyes.

She raised a hand and gently placed it on Yuka’s head—her touch surprisingly warm despite the coldness in her expression.

“It’s okay,” Mikuya said in a low, gentle voice. “It’s not your fault.”

Yuka’s breath hitched, the tears falling freely now. Her hands tightened on her knees as she tried to control her sobs, but the more she looked at Mikuya—the blood, the weariness in her eyes, the distant calm—the harder it was to hold herself together.

Mikuya didn’t say anything more. She simply sat beside Yuka, close enough to reassure her, but distant enough to show the weight she carried.

Sora turned his eyes away. For the first time, he realized just how alone Mikuya had become—even when surrounded by others.

And in that silence, broken only by quiet sobs and the faint hum of the night outside, the shadows of truth and guilt began to settle between them all.

The room had fallen into a quiet stillness. Only the sound of shallow breathing remained between the three of them.

Sora, arms crossed, stepped forward and eyed the wound on Mikuya's arm. Blood had dried around the sleeve, and her face was paler than usual.

“You should bandage your wound too,” he said softly. “You’ve already lost a little too much blood.”

Mikuya glanced down at the cut as if just now remembering it was there.

Before she could move, Yuka stood up abruptly. “I… I’ll do it,” she said.

Mikuya raised a brow, but didn’t object. She sat down without a word, letting Yuka kneel beside her with hesitant fingers unwrapping the bandages.

The silence deepened as Yuka slowly rolled up Mikuya’s sleeve.

That’s when she saw them.

Long, thin lines etched into pale skin—some faded, some recent. Scars. Dozens of them. A map of pain drawn across years.

Yuka’s hands trembled slightly.

“These…” she whispered, voice barely audible. “Did you get these from… fighting?”

Mikuya didn’t respond.

“Why are you doing this, Mikuya?” Yuka asked again, more firmly this time. Her voice cracked, but her eyes didn’t leave Mikuya’s arm. “You don’t have to go through this alone. You can rely on your friends… on me, on Nene, Hana, Emiko.…”

Still, silence.

Mikuya’s eyes were fixed on the wall. Her expression didn’t change. Her voice didn’t rise.

She simply remained still.

Sora stood behind them, shifting uncomfortably. He didn’t know what to say either.

After a long pause, Mikuya finally broke the silence, her voice cold but composed. “It’s really late. You should go home, Yuka.”

Yuka looked up sharply. “You’re not answering me—”

“I’ll take you,” Mikuya said, rising to her feet.

Yuka bit her lip, clearly hurt. But she didn’t argue. She stood, brushing her skirt down and walking toward the door. Mikuya grabbed her coat, and together, the two girls stepped into the night.

“Be careful,” Sora called after them.

The door closed.

The walk to Yuka’s house was quiet.

The streets were nearly deserted, washed in dim silver light from flickering streetlamps. Wind rustled the trees above as the two girls walked side by side, neither saying a word until they reached the old iron gate in front of Yuka’s home.

Mikuya turned, ready to leave.

But Yuka reached out and grabbed her sleeve. “Mikuya—please…”

Mikuya stopped.

Yuka's voice was desperate now, wavering with emotion. “Come back to us. Just… stop this. You don’t have to keep going down this path.”

Mikuya’s eyes softened, just a little, but her voice stayed resolute.

“The path I’ve taken… isn’t a place I can return from.”

Yuka’s breath caught.

“I won’t stop,” Mikuya continued. “Not until the Syndicate falls. But—” she paused and looked Yuka in the eyes, “—if you ever truly need me… I’ll come. I promise.”

She turned and walked away, her figure swallowed by the darkness.

Yuka stood at the gate, watching until she could see her no more. Then, quietly, she opened the door and stepped inside.

Her mother was waiting in the hallway.

“Where have you been? Do you know how late it is—?!”

But Yuka didn’t answer. She walked right past her mother, silent and numb, and entered her room.

She lay on her bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The dim moonlight poured through the window as her thoughts spiraled deeper and deeper into the silence.

Meanwhile, the cold wind greeted Mikuya as she stepped back into the hideout.

Sora was still awake, sitting by the broken wall with a blanket around his shoulders. He looked up as she entered.

“Was she… your friend?”

Mikuya nodded.

“Her name is Yuka,” she said quietly. “She was… my best friend.”

Sora didn’t say anything more. He simply looked down.

Mikuya moved beside the broken wall and sat, staring at the distant skyline—the lights of the city glowing faintly like ghosts.

The cold wind pressed against her skin. She didn’t flinch.

Then finally, after what felt like hours, Sora spoke again.

“There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.”

Mikuya turned her head. “What is it?”

Sora hesitated, eyes meeting hers—and for the first time, they weren’t filled with fear or confusion, but with quiet resolve.

“I want to go… on a long training journey. To control this cursed energy inside me properly. It might take a year… or two.”

Mikuya said nothing.

“But…” he added quickly, “if you don’t want me to go… I won’t.”

A beat of silence.

Then, softly, Mikuya said, “Okay.”

Sora blinked. “Wait—what?”

Mikuya turned back to the city. “It’s your life. Do what you see fit. I don’t have a problem.”

Sora sat in stunned silence.

“I just…” he began, voice trembling, “I need to get strong. I couldn’t protect you—so many times, I was too weak. I want to fight by your side.”

Mikuya didn’t turn to him. Her voice, though quiet, was firm. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

Sora’s breath caught. “…What?”

“I chose this path,” she continued. “Knowing I’d have to finish it alone. I never wanted anyone by my side.”

She finally turned to him, her eyes clear, unwavering. “You and Kaito were the ones who decided to join me. Not the other way around.”

Sora looked away, confused and hurt. But he didn’t argue.

“…Thank you,” he whispered. “For understanding.”

Mikuya rose from where she sat. “It’s late. You should get some sleep.”

Sora slowly stood. “Yeah… okay.”

As he disappeared into the back room, Mikuya remained at the broken wall, watching the stars fade behind dark clouds.

The night was cold. Colder then usual.

And so was she.