"Just a simple mission." He relayed. "Just go in and kill everyone who doesn't belong to Aogiri."
But how can she execute that order when all she hears are the joyful laughter of children, innocent and unknown of the evils of horrible world they live in. "I-I can't."
Ayato stares at her trembling frame with hardened eyes; he knows how much this mission will break her, and he knows Eto definitely knows about it too. After all, that psychotic bitch was the one who recruited Hinami with a bandaged smile.
Her mask refuses anyone to see her eyes but everything else betrays what she is trying so hard to contain. He doesn't have to lift her cape to see her hands are clenching tightly onto her skirt. He doesn't have to lift her visor to see her eyes are watering dangerously. Most importantly, he doesn't have to turn his head to know the dogs behind him are judging every move of the baby lamb that just joined.
"You can and you will. The others are watching you so unless you want to prove you're someone who is worthy of being on their dinner menu, I suggest you start getting used to getting your hands dirty. Would you rather kill, or be killed?"
"I-," want to die, but the tearful memory of her mum telling her to live claws and dig their way to the front.
Will she be a bad daughter if she were to not fulfill her mum's last wish?
"Congratulations, Lil Hina! Now nobody will doubt your credibility in Aogiri! Isn't that great news?"
Hinami wishes she could tell Eto to shut up but all she manages is a nod and retreats to Ayato's house without a word, heart heavy with guilt and self-loathe. She still can see the red flowing down her body after spending enough time in the shower to use up the base's entire hot water supply, the sickly colour mocking her as it swirls before disappearing into the drain.
"It gets easier after the first kill." He shares after she exits the bathroom.
She bids him good night and enters her room, closing the door gently like usual and locks it.
Ayato can hear her crying together with the parents of the kids they murdered in cold blood.
