Loud, quick-stepping sounds overwhelmed the quiet hallways of the mall. Civilians that are still cowering in fear are startled at the appearance of the blonde girl carrying a rifle moving past them. Yet, they didn't make a move, for they also feared she was a threat. They watch her as she disappears into a corner of one such hallway that would lead her into the indoor parking lot, with her rifle aimed forward. Very few people already had their phones out to record such a girl.
After taking a corner turn, she keeps pace until she reaches the double doors, at which she slows to a halt. Sakurako pushes one of the doors open and carefully checks her corners. Out of the corner of her eye, she would saw a glimpse of a silhouette running off to her left. She aims that way and follows the silhouette, moving carefully through parked cars and pillars rather than the concrete pathway. She had lost sight of the silhouette but was still determined; she would search at least a couple of blocks of the parking lot.
She would crouch behind one of the cars, feeling her legs begin to feel weary that she had sprinted non-stop from one side of the mall to the other. The blonde junior girl gasps for air and, after a moment, slows down to a rhythmical pace, breaths in through her nasal, breaths out through her lips. She soon stands up and continues her-
Duck.
Two more persons pop out from her left, and she hides. Sakurako carefully peeks out to watch those armed individuals are carrying a couple of bags of valuables running off to her right. She immediately follows them in a jog, keeping her head low and fast enough to catch up with them. She would occasionally watch her back just to be aware of unexpected guests. She still has them in sight, though she would notice she was getting a little slow to catch up.
However, her search would pay off as two particular box trucks would come into view. Hiding behind a pillar, she spots seven more heavily-armed bad guys loading valuables into the cars, and she can tell they are displeased with how many people they lost. However, there's one such man among them who just stands out to her. Even from afar, she could recognize that tiny scar on his cheek and that lone silver earring on his right ear.
"This is all the guys we have left?!" she heard that man shout.
"I'm afraid this is it," one of the goons responded. "That Sakurako girl and the group already massacred our guys. The cops are already here, too, and they're about to catch us."
"Dipshit!" the man with the earring turned at the open boxcar. "Well, at least we got the rest of the scores to ourselves. We'll deal with that little bitch once we're outta here."
Sakurako almost realized that she had breathed heavily, gritting her teeth like a grindstone. Her hands tremble to see that bastard once again finally. Seeing their current numbers, they would outnumber her. However, all she can see is red in her own eyes. He saw her, he knew her, he knew her family, her relatives, her friends. This was the only chance to take him out of the picture, but it was too risky with those men armed to the teeth.
"Alright, start those engines. We ain't standing around," Sashiga ordered.
"Right away, bos-"
*BAR-CHAK* *DAG-DUG*
She took that chance. And one of his men dropped to the ground.
"What the hell?!" Sashiga ducked alongside his men, who were now shouting in panic.
"Where'd that come from?!"
"Who shot him?!"
"Keep your heads down!"
"Where'd it come from?!"
"Look around! Find that bastard!"
As those criminals dispersed, she quickly shot the tires of those two trucks. She then rapid fires at a car where other suspects are taking cover at. It was just enough to keep their heads down until her gun clicked, at which she must reload her rifle and take cover. However, her suppression had told them where she was hiding.
"Kuso! Where is-" one of the goons poked his head out. "Hey, there! It's the brat!"
"It's Sakurako!" another goon responded. "Shoot that kid!"
Not long after, she would soon be the one to be suppressed, forcing her to crouch. She would occasionally shoot out at two different covers. Changing sides, she shoots into a car and a corner pillar where the suspects are hiding on her left flank. It takes her a few seconds to realize that Sashiga is behind that car, so she prioritizes him first. She soon straight-up shoots through the car doors in bursts, though still failing to neutralize him. Feeling the pressure rising on her right flank, she changes to that side and can only fire two-three rounds before she is pinned down.
"Eat lead, kid!" one of the goons taunted.
"You ain't no hero when you're dead, brat!"
"You got nothing!"
"Still missed, just like the girl you are!"
Sakurako keeps hugging the pillar as rifle and pistol rounds are flying at her only cover. It was almost intensely deafening. Forcing herself to stand up, she would shoot in the general direction but has to look away and covers her face as bullets fly past her, followed by the pillar's debris.
"C'mon, little shit!" she heard the voice belonging to Sashiga. "I wanna hear you squeal!"
She shoots again, with a click heard a split second after. She has to reload during this time. Unbeknownst to her, one of those suspects has made his move. On her left flank, one such suspect advanced to a run, all the while shooting at her pillar. That suspect reaches her-.
*BAR-BAR*
Sakurako immediately turns to her left flank, only to find the suspect dead on the ground face-first. Gun wounds were apparent around the back, where the diaphragm would be located. She looks behind her to see a tomboyish girl with short black hair aiming at the dead suspect from behind a car. Sakurako widens her eyes at her sudden appearance.
"Yui?"
"We got your back," Yui responded. "Keep it up!"
Soon Sumida would pop out behind another car, across them, and further behind Yui. The detective soon suppressed the suspects down until she ran out of ammo. Sumida nods at the blonde, and in return, she gives a slight nod back before returning fire at the suspects. Yui suppressed at Sakurako's left flank for a moment before displacing to the other side of the car and soon joined the blonde to fire into the other suspects around the trucks.
"Goddamn shit, they got us ducked in!" she heard Sashiga shout. "We getting' the hell outta here!"
"No good, boss!" a henchman responded. "Our trucks got flatted! We need to find another car!"
"Gah, this insolent bitch!" he swore, directed at Sakurako. "Go that way! We'll hold 'em 'ere!"
"Yes, boss!"
Three of the accomplices would be seen running out of sight to the right. The blonde quickly turns to Sumida.
"Detective!"
"I'll handle 'em!" Sumida responded. "You keep the pressure up!"
Sumida soon makes a run to the right on their end. Sakurako bursts out her rounds, and soon Yui does the same as well in her turn. As they both received gunfire, Sakurako checked her current magazine and others on her vest. She only has two and a half magazines left. Her pistol has about four magazines plus one in her pistol. Not wanting to lose her guard, she soon returns fire, and at this moment, Yui took this opportunity to change the cover to a car across them, a little ahead of her.
As the suspects returned fire, Yui responded the same and, to her luck, managed to take another one out.
"Oh, shit! They got him!" they heard the last henchman with Sashiga scream. "We nee'ta run!"
"Shut it, sucker! Just hold a little longer!"
After a reload, she returns fire and turns at Sakurako. "I'm moving in!"
"YUI, WAIT!" Sakurako screamed.
However, her plea was ignored. Yui marches forward toward the next car while firing. Before Sakurako could fire, she saw Sashiga aims his MP5K at Yui and fire. Sakurako manages to suppress him. Unfortunately, it wasn't in time. Most of the spray missed, but Yui took a shot into her stomach and another, to Sakurako's incredible dread, took another into the left side of her forehead. Yui drops to the ground, covered by the shelter of a car.
"YUI!"
"Got that bitch!" Sashiga taunted. "Your turn!"
As Sashiga and his henchman fire, Sakurako crouches and sprays whatever ammo is left in her current magazines before she hears a click. Putting away her rifle for a moment, she takes out another flashbang, pulls the pin, and lobs it straight at the suspects, high enough to land behind them.
"Oh, shit, that's a grenade!" Sashiga shouted in horror.
"Kuso! Run, run-!"
*BANG*
"AAAAAAAGGH!"
"GRAAAAKH! I CAN'T SEE!"
She grabs her rifle back and pulls out her sidearm. In a sprint, she would shoot a few rounds at the suspects before reaching Yui. Sakurako threw her rifle away again and pulled Yui deeper into their cover since her legs were poking out. Sakurako soon shoots her pistol at the suspects again before assessing Yui's condition. She can't express how much surprise she has to see Yui is still well, alive, and breathing. That shot she took on her forehead? Apparently, that was just a scratch, not for her stomach, though.
"Crap! I thought I lost you," Sakurako whispered. "Are you okay?"
"O-oh, S-Sakurako…," thankfully, Yui is still awake. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Ugh."
Yui covers the wound on her stomach. "Iiigh, it hurts so much…! I don't think I can move a lot."
"Can you sit?"
"Y-yeah, I think I can," with a pained groan, she sat against the car with her help. "How bad is it?"
"…. I think you'll make it," Sakurako then checked her forehead. "As for your head, I think you just caught a scratch."
"R-really?" Yui chuckled alongside her pained groans. "I thought he actually got me. I think I was too reckless back there."
"Don't worry. You aren't the only one."
"Yeah, right," Yui glanced at Sakurako's vest. "Maybe I should've grabbed one of those bad guys' armor."
"I can give you mine."
"No, no, I think you'll need it more than me."
They both perk up to listen to the suspects, already recovered from their stunned state. Sakurako spots them about to move and shoots a few rounds at them with the pistol. They returned fire before escaping the scene. Sakurako grunts at her luck before she checks her pistol to find the slide is open. She reloads, holsters her pistol, and checks back at Yui.
"Did you get them?" Yui asked.
"No, they ran away."
Yui nodded carefully. "You're still going to chase them, aren't you?"
"That's the man who wants me dead," Sakurako replied, all the while reloading her rifle. "He's the one who caused Misaka to die. I'm not letting him get away."
"…. Okay, you go on ahead," Yui retrieved her rifle. "I'll stay here."
"Are you sure?" the blonde asked in concern. "You're wounded. I shoul-"
"I'll be fine," Yui nodded. "Backup is on the way. Make sure those bastards don't escape."
"…. Alright, Yui. Just keep pressure on the wound until we get back."
"Alright. Be safe."
"I will."
Sakurako immediately departs, following the suspects' trail and leaving the armed and wounded Yui behind. Reaching the trucks that the enemies weren't able to use, she has to check the man Yui shot first. Confident that he is expired, she quickly runs in the direction where the suspects ran. She could hear ensuing gunshots in the distance from where she was now. She could swear it was almost a minute's run to reach where the bad guys were.
Moreover, they aimed to get to the next floor below using the curved lane. Still, it seems their progress has been successfully impeded by Detective Sumida, who is doing her best to suppress the suspects from different positions. Though the rounds she spent at the bad guys were pretty concerning.
The blonde immediately lends a hand by giving their asses a surprise with a hail of gunfire. She would feel a heartbeat immediately as she shot one in the head and another on his back.
"Oh, kuso! Behind us!" another goon alerted; he and another goon would displace positions to deal with her, leaving Sashiga to deal with the detective.
"Aaagh!" the suspect she shot on the back crawled slowly in pain. "Goddammit! She clapped me! Clapped me!"
"Shut it there! We'll get to you!" one of the still-standing henchmen retorted. "Shoot that brat!"
"Don't tell me twice!"
Sakurako quickly covers behind a car's block engine, peeking out occasionally while bullets fly overhead. She was about to shoot again, though she had to cover her head again as the bullets nearly hit her. Instead of aiming over the hood, she would lie on her back, peek out to the right, and fire at the suspects, and she felt a heartbeat. Evidently, she realized she didn't hit the suspects behind the cover but shot the guy, who was wounded on the ground, through his butt.
Ouch.
"Shit! She killed him!"
"That bitch! I'm gonna murder you!"
Sakurako shoots him before he can fire back before cover. To tell the truth, she kinda feels bad killing the wounded guy, no matter how terrible he was. She got no advantage here, so she displaced herself to the left, keeping her head down with the concealment of other cars and pillars close by. Sakurako soon pops up far left from where she initially positioned and is glad that they still think they're shooting at her previous position. One of them is exposed, and she shoots him a hard seven rounds until she hears a heartbeat.
Once he drops, the last henchman swears profanities and immediately looks at her new position and shoots in that direction. Sakurako ducks immediately and displaces herself to a new position to the left, making an arc towards a pillar, exposing herself temporarily while sprinting. The armored henchman soon suppressed her, yet that didn't stop her from firing back until the click. She reloads her rifle, noticing once again it's the last magazine for this gun. Better make it count.
She peeks out again to find out Sashiga has switched positions with the henchman, and now he's shooting at her. Sakurako dodges and ducks from his incoming gunfire, nervously responding with bursts of her rifle. She hadn't realized how terrifying the fire rate of his submachinegun was, but she didn't once falter. Hesitantly returning fire once again, Sashiga did as well.
*THAK-TAK-THWAK* "GAH!"
A spray of his primary weapon hits her, three rounds into her armor. She was knocked off her feet and groaned in pain, though her finger still pressed onto the trigger in a bout of panic. That took Sashiga by surprise, and he kept his head down. Unable to handle the bloody recoil, she gets up a little, places her other hand on the fore barrel, and continuously fires.
*CLICK*
She tilts the rifle to see the open empty chamber with gritted teeth and, with slight annoyance at her luck, throws the rifle away and rolls into the shadow of the pillar. The scarred-cheek man soon returns fire as Sakurako rests herself against the pillar. Patting and taking a look over her armor, she realizes that none of his bullets got through. In the midst of her gasping, she immediately realizes those were 9mm ammunition. Guess it was an excellent choice to steal the police's armor.
"Crap. That gun's fire rate wasn't a joke after all."
Sakurako looks over to the side, pulling out her only sidearm, and readies it next to her face. Breathing out raggedly, she peeks out to her right and fires at Sashiga's cover with just one hand. At that moment, she hears that Sashiga is reloading, so she takes this opportunity to stand up and observe the enemy for a quick second. She was a bit shocked to see Sumida had gotten shot once again by the henchman in the same left shoulder. Of course, now she has a gun wound. She carefully aims at the henchman further past Sashiga and fires one into his back.
*DAR*
And then she empties the magazine.
*DAR-DAR-DAR-DAR*
While stunned by the first shot to the armor, he incidentally shifted his torso. Two of her rounds struck into his armpit, one bounced off the front armor, and the last struck the side of his stomach. He soon finds himself lying on the ground, suffering in the agony of his critical wounds. She quickly takes cover as Sashiga sprays at her with raging vigor.
"You goddamn bitch! I'm gonna make you pay for that!"
"Then let's find out," Sakurako whispered with gritted teeth, checking to see the last three rounds in the magazine.
Holding her pistol with her two hands, she would fire her last three rounds despite being suppressed. Her accurate fire managed to keep his head down, taking this opportunity to run back to her previous cover. Crouching and moving throughout the cover, she had the time to add a fresh mag into the pistol. That makes it 1+1 magazines left. The silver-earring bastard is pretty liberal with his submachinegun to the extent that Sakurako has to move, as the car doors she constantly passed by were soon riddled with holes.
Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough.
The bullets come out from the car she's still at, and one hits the side of her stomach, thankfully protected by the vest. However, this made her stumble, and yelp, and soon a bullet struck her left upper arm, throwing her off to the ground, which saved her from getting hit by more rounds. With such pain, she crawls herself toward the hood of the car, assessing the damage on her upper arm. In rasping breaths, she sees a clean gunshot wound on that arm that was bleeding, slowly blending with Misaka's dry blood.
"Crap…. Crap!"
Despite the new pain, she takes a knee and grips her pistol tight in her right hand. She carefully peeks out to see Sashiga already trained his primary weapon in her general direction. She soon spots Sumida popping out from behind another car, much closer to him.
*DOR-DOR-DOR-DOR-DOR* "Aaagh! UAAAAKH!"
Five rounds continuously struck his back, one of which struck his unprotected back and the other hitting his upper right arm closer to the shoulder. He got bent and turned around, carelessly spraying his MP5K at the covering detective in slight desperation. Now that his attention was elsewhere, Sakurako made her move. Though she's starting to get exhausted, she forces herself to jump over the cars, advance, and shoot straight at the vulnerable mastermind with her only hand.
*DAR-DAR-DAR*
Two of three bullets struck his back, and he had to turn around.
*DAR-DAR-DAR-DAR-DAR*
Before he could aim his gun, Sakurako fired another last five rounds, all hitting the bastards from the legs up to his chest. Twas then she finally watched him fell and she immediately felt a heartbeat. Her eyes widen a bit at her moment of victory. She stops in her tracks to get a moment's breathing and lowers her empty pistol before she walks over to where she saw him fall. Finally, she can see the face of the man who wanted her dead.
She has to admit her surprise to see him still alive and kicking but bleeding all about on the ground, impairing his mobility, except to crawl. The moment the man sees her, he raises his weapon, though he quickly reacts by kicking and stomping his hand a few times before she can kick the gun away. Now she finds herself wondering what that heartbeat she felt was about. She looks around at the dead suspects around her. It took a moment to realize that the heartbeat she felt was due to the last henchman she shot, the one trying to kill Sumida, who had succumbed to his wounds.
"Oh… that was him…." Sakurako lazily turned at Sashiga with a sharp glare. "Now… you…."
"Y-you piece of shit!" he spat at her. "How the hell a brat like you can kill my boys like that?!"
Sakurako didn't oblige him with an answer, but she reloaded her pistol with her last magazine. A dark shade loomed about within her eyes.
"W-Whatcha you gonna do?" Sashiga asked, crawling back a little.
She cocks the slide and immediately aims straight at Sashiga's head-
"SAKURAKO, WAIT!"
Sakurako almost presses the trigger. She didn't turn her head. Yet she averts her eyes in the direction of the oncoming Sumida. The detective already holsters her pistol away, so she's now holding onto her wounded shoulder. Sumida's eyes wander about Sakurako's wound, and she winces her eyes at it.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"…. To finish it…."
"Sakurako…, stand down. You don't have to do this."
Sakurako barely turns her head. "Why?"
"He's already disarmed. He's lost. We got him, Sakurako."
Sakurako's finger itches to press but still listens.
"Look, Sakurako. We don't have to kill him. I got a lot of evidence of him back in station, and this robbery is already the top of the cherry. He'll be locked up for a long, long time."
"You're saying?"
"He'll be having a very, very rough time in jail. I can guarantee that."
"He killed people. He wanted me dead," she just couldn't bring herself to mention her friend, who had departed… too early. "Jail time won't be enough."
"Oh, wait till you see the jail guards. They have a specific 'fit' against murderers," Sumida shook her head. "Let him have his suffering."
The mastermind of the robbery returns a hateful glare, coughing all about from pain. Her grip on the pistol remains tense as ever. But he could never beat the daggers of Sakurako's own pupils. That was all Sumida could say to her; what she and the department had to offer was worth a delicious lick. At first, Sakurako wanted to ignore her suggestion, but her words were enough to contemplate her actions. In that moment of silence, unbothered by her bleeding wound, she finds herself reflecting on the things she had done until now. Her mind eventually went back to Misaka again, then to herself, a little horrified that she felt that little spark of… joy she got out of him. Beyond all that, though, the very main reason she was doing this….
Shiba was right to disagree with the idea. It's a fool's game, Sakurako will admit that. But to see that her vengeance had cost her a life she holds dear the most…. No….
She yields.
Sakurako would soon lower her pistol, bowing her head and looking away from this insufferable robber. Sumida opens her mouth a little, approaching Sakurako and finally taking the gun away from her hand. Sumida gives a slight smile at Sakurako's decision.
"Thank you, Sakurako."
Sakurako doesn't lift her head, but she nods.
"Hah! So much for a vigilante," Sashiga bragged, barely able to lift his back. "Ya' got me crippled 'ere, and ya' too scared to kill me now?"
"Ignore him, Sakurako," Sumida responded. "He's just being desperate."
"I know."
"Where's Yui?"
"He shot her. She's still alive. Don't worry."
"That bitch still lives?" Sashiga pathetically mocked. "Maybe I need to fix my aim a little next time."
Sakurako sighs at his attempts. "I'll go pick up Yui."
"You do that."
Sakurako then turns around and makes her way back to where she came from, leaving the detective alone to deal with the bleedin' robber. The exhaustion finally got to her, with her arm impairing her movement, but she was still able to move. Sumida only stood there to watch Sakurako leave.
Sashiga has another idea in his head, however. Silently, he pulls out a concealed pistol from the back of his waist. Seeing that her guard is down, he immediately aims at Sakurako with his only un-injured hand.
*DAR*
Sakurako froze, registering whatever round came at her. But all she could feel was the fright she just had. She didn't feel anything else aside from her wounded arm. She turns around and sees the scene has changed completely.
Sashiga has a gun in his left hand, now resting on the ground, and there's a bullet hole in his head. Sakurako turns at Sumida to find that she's aiming at the dead suspect, a fizzle of smoke breathed out from the barrel. Sumida drops her arm, sighing out with severe dissatisfaction. For once, Sakurako feels glad that she didn't send the last shot, and she can't tell why.
"Huh," Sakurako lifted his head a little. "He ends up dead anyways."
Sumida sighs out through her teeth. "He tried to kill you, y'know?"
Sakurako expresses her sympathy. "Then, thank you for saving me, Sumida-san."
They would soon hear running footsteps in their direction. They turn to see an armed squad of special police units running over with arms ready. Among them is the same leader they met back at the western gateway. They soon lowered their guns once they recognized the females and looked over the dead suspects. The leader approaches them, looking over the dead suspects and concerningly darting his eyes on the wounds they have sustained.
"Are you alright?" the leader asked. "You both looked banged up."
"We still can walk," Sumida answered.
"Is this all of them?" the leader asked.
"I think so," Sakurako flatly responded. "Ah, right, Yui. She needs some help. She got shot in the stomach."
"Where is she?"
"She's still back there. Can you spare some help?"
The leader soon orders one of his men to follow Sakurako back to Yui while Sumida herself stays there, for the time being, saying that she'll handle things there a little. At this moment, Sakurako would a very last look at the dead Sashiga, seeing his eyes were still open from the resulting shot. This will be last time she sees him again. Now that he's out of the picture, the weight of this revenge is finally obliterated for good. Though, she couldn't tell if that was a good thing.
They both would find Yui still behind the same car, still keeping the pressure on her wound and wide awake. Yui is glad that Sakurako brought some help to patch her up.
"Ah, you're back! Wow," Yui dropped her mouth open. "You okay? Your arm…."
"Not the first time I got shot."
Yui shakes her head. "You keep saying that…."
"Yeah, looks like you'll make it," the officer confirmed, then looked at Yui's face. "Damn, I'm surprised you survived that. If it were a little inch deeper, you wouldn't be awake by now. You're very lucky, kid."
"A-ah, thanks. Iigh," Yui turned at Sakurako. "Did you get them?"
"…. They're all dead now," Sakurako replied.
"I see," Yui paused. "So they won't hunt you for longer?"
"Yes…," Sakurako responded, though noticing the officer's confused reaction. "It should be safe now. Let's get out of here."
"Hah… that's a good idea," Yui nodded.
"I'll help you up," the officer offered, which Yui thanked him for it.
Yui has to admit her embarrassment that she's being carried by an officer like a princess, whereas Sakurako is pretty okay following behind the officer. When they exit the parking lot, they see more officers are flooding the floor in every direction, so committed to their work. They would move downstairs and exit through the east entrance before they were directed and escorted to move north, where the current medical help is available at this time. Yui was soon placed onto a stretcher; she bid Yui goodbye and promised to see her in the hospital. Sakurako had stayed back for a moment despite the urging of concerned officers. It won't be long until she spots the Furutani Family, Akari, and Chitose standing by near the ambulances.
"Sakurako!" Kaede called.
"Kaede! Himawari!" Sakurako quickly ran over to them. "Thank God. You're still okay."
"Goodness sake! What happened to you?!" Himawari winced at her bloody arm. "Did you get shot?"
"I did," Sakurako nodded. "I'm still alright, though."
"No, you're not!" Akari responded with a livid shock. "You should get that treated before it gets worse!"
"Calm down, Akari," Sakurako assured. "I'm glad that you're all still fine. Say, where's Chizuru?"
"She had to go to the hospital for her injury," Chitose answered.
"Oh, Yui had to go there too. She left just now."
"Yui's still alive? Thank goodness," Akari smiled. "I'm so glad to hear that."
"It was scary enough to get out from there," the Furutani mother replied. "But I'm happy we made it out alright. But… have you seen Misaka anywhere? I'm pretty sure she was right behind us."
Sakurako immediately curls into a dreadful frown. Her eyes seemingly shrink, and her head bows. She felt that she had just lost her voice for a moment. She takes a silent deep breath.
"Misaka…. She…."
"She…?" Himawari dared to ask.
"She…. She's…."
Sakurako turned her head upon the noise of a moving stretcher, and there they saw a team of paramedics moving a deceased girl into the ambulance.
That deceased girl is Misaka herself.
Never in their life have they felt such a loss akin to getting gut-punched into their hearts as they saw the unmoving face of the departed dark-purplette. Himawari almost covered her mouth, while the others couldn't take their eyes off the dark-purplette until she was whisked away into an ambulance and sent off towards the hospital. The officers running about couldn't care less what was going on as they continuously jogged past them as if they had something else to do.
As soon as that ambulance departed, Sakurako finally fell to her knees, resting her open palms on the concrete and bowing her head. Himawari and Akari immediately come to her aid but soon realize that she is having a wreck of her life. It was at that moment that Sakurako, for the longest of times, finally cries. It was the most hardest tears she had ever let out in her entire life.
She saved Misaka before. But… now….
"Misaka-chan…. I'm sorry…."
Himawari could do nothing but to hug her.
23:00 PM. Shiba's office.
All of the employees had returned home; it was already late in the night, so there was no reason for anyone else to stay for long. The violet woman has been alone in her office for some time following the mall incident, with a desk lamp left on. There is some respite in this silent night, something she occasionally appreciates. She is on the phone now, discussing the aftermath of the events with the detective. And she didn't like how it did go in the end.
"So that's what happened…."
Shiba fell silent as she listened to her words for a moment. She soon sits down at her desk.
"I failed her…."
Shiba pauses again as she listens, frowning all the while tapping the desk with her index and middle finger.
"I know…. How is Sakurako doing?"
She glances over to the cup of tea, still lukewarm.
"I see…."
She leans against her chair.
"Don't worry about me. I can make it. I'll be there for her. Just tell me when you got the date."
She pauses, then subconsciously nods at the caller.
"Okay, I'll see you later, detective."
The caller soon cuts the call off, and Shiba puts it away on the left side of her desk. Resting her cheek on her fist, she glances at the teacup again. She picks the cup up and brings it towards her lips, though she stops about a few millimeters away. Instead, she glances into the cup, imagining it as a mirror to see her own face, although she's unable to see anything but the dark.
"Had I refused you the moment we met, Sakurako, this wouldn't happen. But… I guess it's too late to think about that now."
She soon places the cup back in its place and finds herself gazing into an empty space in front of her. Solemnly finding herself lost in her own piece of mind, contemplating what would happen next from this day onward.