Chapter 15: Scars of the First Encounter

Luminelle and Valjfreya were teleported to the Arkadia, Kai’s ship orbiting in space.

There, still on the floor, Luminelle continued crying until Freya nudged her lightly with her elbow.

"Stop crying already, we’re safe now."

Little by little, and with some embarrassment, the small magical girl pushed herself up.

"Saved by the skin of our teeth," Kai said with a tired smile. "You shouldn’t have faced that Dual alone… but even so, I’m proud of you both for saving those kids."

Hayato ran toward them and hugged them tightly.

"Girls! Are you okay? Sorry I couldn’t help you…" he murmured sadly.

"You wouldn’t have been useful anyway," Valjfreya replied with her usual bluntness as she stood up.

She looked at Kai seriously.

"What was that thing…?"

Hestia, who was tending to Luminelle’s wounds, began wrapping bandages around her carefully.

"Yeah… it was a Dual with too many abilities. I’ve never seen anything like it," the magical girl said, still trembling a little.

Minerva jumped from her seat and approached the group with a grim expression. Her coat was so long it dragged across the floor, just like some strands of her green hair.

"I’ve been hacking Liberty Japan’s research offices… and I found some pretty interesting things."

A floating holographic screen displayed footage of Juno taking down Liberty’s mecha-soldiers as if they were plastic toys.

"Looks like they were working on a top-secret project called ‘Project Nexus,’" the girl continued.

Everyone watched her with absolute focus.

"Apparently, Liberty found a way to extract the souls of Duals," she said, locking her eyes on Kai.

He frowned. He knew that was exactly what they had been looking for during their hunting years.

"They’re trying to implant artificial souls into test subjects," Minerva added. "Though I doubt the Japanese government would allow them to experiment on humans…"

Valjfreya lowered her gaze, remembering the sensation of Juno’s hand stopping her sword.

"Now I get it… that thing isn’t a normal vessel. It’s… something else."

She looked up at the screen just as Juno defeated Shepard without even trying.

"Whatever it is… it carries many souls and many different powers."

Kai approached the large screen and stroked his chin.

"Honestly, I don’t know if Shepard got weaker… or if she’s just really strong."

"But whatever the answer is, avoid contact with her for now. We’ll train harder."

"I don’t think she’s hostile… but her presence could give the extermination team a reason to enter Japan."

"Those aren’t good signs…"

Then he clapped his hands loudly.

"Alright, that’s all for today. We should head home," Kai said, returning to his commander’s chair.

Valjfreya looked at Hayato one last time and spoke seriously:

"Your training better amount to something, and you’d better sync with that idiot spirit you have."

"I refuse to team up with someone so unstable and weak."

The words weighed heavily on Hayato’s chest as he watched Asley return to normal.

Luminelle didn’t say anything… but her eyes said it all. Even if she didn’t admit it, she agreed with the valkyrie before returning to normal.

The two young women left with Minerva toward the infirmary for a general check-up.

Hayato stayed alone, staring at the monitor where the combat data of the mysterious Dual and his companions replayed.

"What do they expect me to do…?”
“I’m not made for fighting…”
“I didn’t ask for this life…”
“I just wanted to be a painter… and live a quiet life," Hayato said, gripping his head.

At that moment, Minerva approached him and gently tugged on his sleeve.
When he looked down, the little girl was offering him a melon-flavored popsicle.

He stared at her in confusion.

"Don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet," the small girl said with a tender but warm voice.

Her words caught him off guard… but hit right on target.

"Just think of all this as an opportunity," Minerva added before returning to her station.

Hayato remained there, in the middle of the room, thinking about Minerva’s words.
Around him, every member of the crew continued busy with their tasks, the sound of keyboards echoed softly across the command bridge while his mind sank deeper and deeper into doubt.

****************************************************************

That same night, Asley walked through the hallway like a lost animal.

"What should I do?"
"Should I apologize? But those were Valjfreya’s words, not mine…"
"We’re not the same person… right?"

At that moment, Hayato’s room door burst open.

"Eek! Hayato, it’s not what—"

Before she could explain, the young man stepped out with a serious expression and a backpack over his shoulder.

"Hayato, I… wait. Where are you going?" Asley asked, now with a firmer tone.

"I’m going home," he replied without looking at her, walking quickly down the hallway.

"Is it because of what the valkyrie said…?"

"…"

"Can I go with you, at least…?"

"…"

No answer. None.

Almost at the elevator, Sakura was waiting, leaning against the wall.

"I’m not going to stop you… but are you coming back, sempai?"

He stood still for a moment, staring at the elevator panel lights.

"I don’t know. I need to think about some things."

"Alright. You know that if you need me, I’ll be there…"

He gave her a small smile.

"Thanks," he said before stepping into the elevator, disappearing behind the metallic doors.

Sakura turned around to head back to her room, but stopped in front of Asley.

"Look… I don’t have anything against you. And I know I should work with you for sempai’s sake."

"But if you really want to help him, you’d better start getting to know him for real."

Asley lowered her gaze.

"I don’t know his story," Sakura continued, "but pushing him or approaching him like that won’t help you."

The girl stretched, ready to leave.

"I’m going to sleep. Good night…"

Sakura’s words hit Asley like a blow.
She knew it was true.
She didn’t know Hayato as much as she’d like to admit.

**************************************************************

Once outside the building, Hayato stopped a taxi.
He looked one last time at the massive Lighthouse complex.
He didn’t know if he was making the right decision… but he needed a break.