Chapter 22: Uprising

Suddenly, Kuhera’s phone rang loudly. He quickly answered it, his face filled with confusion.

“Iori, Iori, are you there?!” Commander Narada’s panicked voice came through the phone.

“Commander, what’s wrong?!” Kuhera asked.

“Damn it! ARAAF struck Japan first after Seoul and Jakarta! The attacks were a warning! Is Arata there with you?!”

Kuhera nodded, then handed his phone to Arata. “Commander Narada,” he said.

Arata took the phone, his expression tense.

“Arata! Your intelligence was solid! They’re a real threat! Three countries have been attacked at once: Indonesia, South Korea, and now, as you can hear, Japan! It’s happening in Shibuya!” Narada exclaimed.

“Damn it!” Arata growled, his hands clenching tightly.

“I need you to secure your students first!” Narada ordered. “S.W.A.T. is handling the terrorists now.”

At the same time, in the crowded Shibuya District, an intense gunfight between ARAAF terrorists and a S.W.A.T. team was underway. The highly-trained S.W.A.T. team quickly neutralized the six terrorists. They were found to be speaking a foreign language, bringing the short but shocking terror act to an end.

The scene shifted back to the Academy. Arata, having just returned to the faculty room, was consumed by uncontrollable rage. He repeatedly punched a metal locker, creating a loud clang that echoed through the corridor. His hand was bleeding, but he didn’t care.

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why do they have to come back again!” Arata yelled, his voice cracking with frustration and trauma.

Chisa, seeing this, immediately ran to him and hugged him tightly from behind, trying to stop his rampage. “Arata, stop it! Arata, please! Please, calm yourself!” Chisa said, tears starting to stream down her face.

Just then, his four students, Akari, Shion, Mei, and Daigo, who had heard the news on TV, arrived. They were shocked to see the teacher they knew to be cold and unemotional at the brink of collapse.

“Sensei, stop!” Akari said, her voice filled with worry. “Will getting angry like this bring them back?!”

Arata froze in Chisa’s embrace, tears starting to fall. The heavy trauma had hit him again. He could only sob silently, letting his emotions out. His four students now saw a teacher who was deeply traumatized, not just a cruel former soldier.

After a moment, Chisa looked at the students. “Please, just let him be,” she pleaded, her voice hoarse. “He needs time.”

Daigo, who understood the most, nodded. “It’s best for Sensei to go home, Ms. Chisa. We’ll take care of the rest.”

Arata simply nodded slowly. He left with Chisa, who was escorting him home. When they arrived at Arata’s apartment, Masamune Koyomi, Arata’s sister, was already waiting at the door after Chisa had informed her. Without a word, she immediately hugged her brother.

“I’m here, Brother,” Koyomi whispered, her voice soft. “I’m here.”