The Calm.

Ken sat on the cot, his torso bandaged and his face still swollen. Natasha Kuroki stood beside him, applying a cold ointment to his bruises with surprising delicacy.

"Hold still," she murmured, breaking the silence. Her voice no longer had the murderous edge from a few hours ago. "I'm sorry about the beating, Ken. Truly."

Ken winced as the ointment touched an open wound. "It was... brutal."

"It was necessary," Natasha cut in, wiping her hands on a towel. "They had to see a rebel being broken. If I had shown a gram of mercy, they would have executed you on the spot out of fear of what's inside you. That beating was a necessity, believe it or not."

From the corner of the room, Kyosuke pushed off the wall where he had been keeping watch. His red glasses glinted under the light. "I also apologize for the chains, kid," he said, with an unusually serious tone. "Tightening them until you almost choked wasn't personal. If those chains hadn't seemed at their breaking point, the judges would have thought we were faking. We had to sell a convincing show."

Ken nodded slowly, looking down at his bandaged hands. "I understand," he said, his voice raspy. "Thank you. Both of you. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead."

Despite the relief of still breathing, Ken felt a deep unease in his chest. The adrenaline from the trial had faded, and now, in the calm, the memories threatened to return. The feeling of the knife entering Naomi's chest. The Regent's laughter. The weight of the guilt. I live another day... but for what?

Suddenly, the room's door slammed open with a bang. "Ow! Get off me, four-eyes!"

Two figures tumbled to the floor, rolling clumsily into the room. It was Shinji and Yamato. They had clearly been pressed against the door trying to eavesdrop and lost their balance when someone opened it from outside.

Before they could get up, a third figure stepped in gracefully, walking over them as if they were rugs.

It was Tanimoto.

The noble from Squad A walked until he stood before Ken's cot. His uniform was immaculate, but his expression was a mix of contained fury and relief. A tense silence fell. Ken expected a scolding for his behavior in the tribunal, or perhaps thanks for defending his family.

Tanimoto looked him straight in the eyes. "Don't be so stupid next time," Tanimoto said coldly. "If you want to die, do it. But don't drag Old Man Saito into trouble. He'd be sad if something happened to his favorite grandson."

The words hit Ken. He remembered the old man who had raised him. Ken lowered his gaze, ashamed. "You're right. I'm sorry."

Tanimoto nodded once, satisfied with the answer, and turned to leave without another word. His message had been delivered: Survive for those waiting for you back home.

But the solemn moment was shattered by the duo on the floor. "Ken!" Shinji shouted, jumping up and grabbing the bed's railings. "You're alive! That speech in the tribunal was incredible! I almost peed myself when you yelled at the judge!" "Idiot, they almost killed him for that!" Yamato scolded, adjusting his glasses. "Ken, is it true you're leaving? What happened with the Regent? What did Natasha tell you?"

They began bombarding him with questions, one after another, filling the room with noise and life. For a moment, Ken felt normal. He felt human.

"Enough!" Natasha yelled, grabbing Shinji and Yamato by the ears. "This is an infirmary. The patient needs rest, and you two are insufferable. Out!"

"Understood, Instructor!" Natasha dragged them towards the exit and tossed them into the hallway before slamming the door shut.

Ken stared at the closed door. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his swollen lips. I still have them, he thought. The only two friends I have left.

The next morning.

The sun was just beginning to tinge the sky orange over Hachioji's walls. At the main gate of the facility, Ken was ready. He wore a heavy military backpack and gray training clothes. His bandages were clean and hidden under the fabric. Beside him, Natasha reviewed a map, dressed in tactical gear.

"No vehicles this time," Natasha said without looking at him. "We'll walk to Training Zone 4. If you can't keep pace with that backpack, I'll leave you behind for the creatures to eat. Understood?"

"Understood," Ken replied, adjusting the straps.

There was no band to see them off, but three people stood at the gate. Shinji and Yamato stood at attention, giving the Kijin military salute with a respect they rarely showed. "Take care, leader!" Shinji shouted. "Come back soon!" "We'll be waiting," Yamato added.

Ken nodded, grateful. Then, he looked a little further, leaning in the shadow of a watchtower. Tanimoto was there, arms crossed. He didn't salute. He didn't smile. He simply held Ken's gaze for several endless seconds. That look held no words, but the message was clear: Don't you dare fail.

Ken smiled, a smile full of determination, and turned around. "Let's go, Instructor."

Natasha put away the map and started walking into the forest, with Ken following close behind. He was leaving behind the safety of the walls to enter a new kind of hell. He was going to save his life, but to do so, he first had to break and rebuild himself stronger. The new world of Japan would have no mercy, and neither would he.