As usual, Shiba is drinking her tea in her office during the evening. There was nothing else to do for the current time with all the shipping paperwork, maintenance, and quality testing out of the way. Next to her cup of tea is her supplement of wheat cookies, a particular brand that her mother adored called Craesar. Almost an epitome to Julius Caesar. The violet gun dealer dips a cookie into her tea and eats half of it. Dipping it once more, she then devours the rest of the cookie.

With her phone on the table face down, she peacefully enjoys the tranquility and the serene noiseless room. Sometimes leaving her mind wandering somewhere as she flips the pages of the newspaper with such elegance. Although the silence is welcoming, she could've just played a classical song for only this room. The problem was that, like the millions of people worldwide, remember what the classic songs sound like but can hardly remember the name of those titles. And the closest composer she could remember is only Beethoven and Edvard Grieg, and she's not in the mood to listen to songs belonging to those composers.

The tranquility she enjoyed didn't last long, though—a couple of knocks emitted from the door before her. More annoyingly is that the knocks happened in the middle of her sipping. Something about patiently sipping the tea is nothing short of conformity, a delicate way to enjoy one's drink. She almost made her tea jump and put her cup on a plate with an exasperated sigh. And most of all, she is not expecting another paperwork to work on.

"Who goes there?"

"It's me, ma'am. Sakurako is already here with me."

Shiba immediately raises her eyebrows, realizing that something had slipped her mind. Of course, she had contacted her for a job.

"Come on in," Shiba asked, folding the newspaper and setting it aside.

The door is open, and George is the first to enter the room, still wearing his usual black business suit with a white shirt under it and his sunglasses still concealed his eyes. Behind him is the all-familiar blonde indifferent girl, Sakurako. However, Shiba can't say if Sakurako is being indifferent to today. Her face doesn't show much, but her eyebrows are a bit furrowed, and the gaze she produced gave the sense of melancholy into the room.

"Hello, Sakurako."

The blonde Oomuro only looked up but didn't greet back. With her absent response, Shiba tilts her head back, taking a deep sigh and gently forming a fist on the table.

"Sumida told me about Rise," Shiba pushed her tea aside. "I am sincerely sorry about what happened to your friend."

Sakurako bows her head. "I thought you both are enemies to each other."

George never said a word, still standing firm as he was a ranger. On the other hand, Shiba leans forward against the table, resting her elbows on it and placing her chin on top of her clasped hands.

"We are," Shiba's tone came off heavy. Bitter wasn't enough to describe that feeling. "But we have the same friend. Why do we worry about killing each other when our very same friend is in trouble?"

Sakurako only shrug. "You use different ways."

"Yes," Shiba scratched her forehead. "Sumida-san isn't keen with a scum like me helping on her case. I can't really blame her distrust."

"We've started investigating on our own when we got the word about Ms. Rise," George added. "It is unfortunate such thing has happened to someone we know."

The blonde girl only nods, though she begins to look around and notices someone is absent for the time being. "Where is Maru-san?"

"About that…," Shiba dropped her forearms on the table. "He's out of the country. He'll come back in a couple of days."

"Out of country?" Sakurako raised an eyebrow. "To where?"

"Papua New Guinea," Shiba flatly replied, then shrugged. "Export illegal weapons and stuff."

"Will he get shot?"

Shiba almost tilts her head. Her question just felt out of place. "Well… our current clients are pretty sketchy, so yeah. Maybe."

"I see," Sakurako then sits in front of her. "I hope he has a safe trip."

"Heheheh," it's kind of heartwarming for Sakurako to hear him laugh. "I won't be so optimistic about him if I were you."

"He's reckless, but he can get the job done, so I don't have much to complain about him," Shiba then pulled a document from her drawer. "Now, for your job, Sakurako."

Sakurako leans against the chair with George is now standing next to her, waiting intently for the briefing. Pushing the files towards Sakurako, Shiba begins.

"You'll be one of my bodyguards to escort my weapons to a... client I have contacted."

"So a criminal job?"

Shiba sighs out. "Yeah, pretty much. I'm the one who will be paying you personally. No contracts from anyone else."

A sigh escapes Sakurako's mouth, disappointment. "I thought you understood that I don't want to help you with your illegal business."

"I know, but I couldn't find any contracts worthwhile for you on the net," Shiba paused. "And I also need your involvement in this delivery because of my client."

Sakurako gives a confused gaze as she takes the document. "What do you mean of your client?"

"The client I've been contacted has the money for the weapons," Shiba replied. "However, some of my associates told me to be cautious around him since… he can't be guaranteed to seal his part of the deal."

"This man is not from the mafia, right?" Sakurako asked.

"No, but he's a ruthless son of a bitch," Shiba replied. "He has an organized group to do loan sharking, blackmailing, extortion, and… human trafficking."

Since she had ever heard about human trafficking, Sakurako, understandably, was stunned and repulsed by that type of crime. "And why can't he guarantee his part of the deal?"

"Due to his reputation to crush over small-timer criminals, especially in the middle of a deal," Shiba replied. "He straight up slaughtered a whole lot of those people after he got what he wanted, and he doesn't have to pay them. Win-win for him. He doesn't pull that same stunt on big fish, though. But it's better to be wary around him."

"Big fish?"

"Big business like me," Shiba explained. "I have great security, but I want you to tag along, just in case."

Sakurako did not say much. Sakurako looked down at the file in her hands, yet she didn't want to open it yet. Her finger is running around the edges of the file; she felt tempted but held her curiosity a little. Once again, she eyes Shiba up.

"There is something else you haven't told me, have you?"

Shiba widens her eyes a little, straightening her back, and slightly retracts her forearms. "Was I that obvious?"

"I just had a feeling."

Shiba stares in silence before leaning forward and clasping her hands together. "While we are looking over on the killers you described to us, I happened to find someone who looks… similar to your description. But I can't be sure about it. I left the attached photo in that document."

Now that she's satisfied with the reason, she opens up the document, although has a low expectation that it was one of the men she's willing to hunt down. At first, her sight was a little blurred from overthinking about Rise. The first thing she noticed was the photo of a moment, supposedly taken hastily by some sort of undercover police officer. A tanned man in tank-top is standing between his two men, seemingly ordering them. The next thing she looked at was his afro hair and then onto his face. Staring at his anguish face while his white necklace jumping aro-.

Wait – that man…. Sakurako focuses her eyes once more onto the picture and finds herself paralyzed even to speak a word. That black-purplish afro hair, that necklace, that venomous look on his face. The name next to the photo reveals to be Jin Mikey. Goodness….

"It's him."

The two adults snap in her direction. "What?"

"That's him. That's the one at the store."

Shiba winces her eyes in disbelief and leans against the chair. "Oh, great. That makes things a little complicated."

"Should we abort this transaction?" George asked in concern.

Shiba taps her finger for a moment. "No, but we'll make some changes."

"Changes?" the blonde asked.

"You said you wanted revenge, yes?" Shiba asked.

Sakurako only looks at the table but manages to gather enough confidence to give the nod.

"Great," Shiba took the document back. "Look, kid. Revenge is a stupid thing. But I'm willing to help you along with it."

"You're just coming along for that money, aren't you?"

Shiba smirks. "Partly. We want to make sure you make it out alive. At the very least, I can find out how it does feel taking out a much sicker bastard ever exist on earth."

"You're being ironic."

"You're starting to sound like Sumida," Shiba sighed. "I don't want your friends from Nanamori to the grief of what will happen to you just like Rise. They don't need to lose anyone else."

Sakurako bows her head and crosses her arms. Reasonable. Her statement will stick in her head for the time being. "I understand."

Shiba then turns to George. "Call the crew, George. We still have time for planning."

"Will do, ma'am."


The van rumbles on the road; the passengers inside remain unshaken and soundless as they boringly await for their business. The sun almost motionlessly set to meet the upcoming night, while the bright glaring tangerine slowly sank into the horizon. Amidst the boredom, George and Sakurako sat next to each other, leaning against the interior, seemingly almost falling asleep. Shiba is sitting next to the driver, still awake and watchful of her surroundings. Another couple of Shiba's guards are sitting across the blonde and the American, looking a bit weary.

George has not changed in appearance, including his sunglasses, of course, noted to Sakurako that he's wearing a pistol-stopping bulletproof vest underneath. Sakurako, once again, is dangerously overdressed as usual. She's wearing the black plate carrier, protections for elbows and knees, and a dark blue bandana; Her outfit is a dark purple jacket and blue jeans. Oddly enough, she opted to use her cap instead of a helmet due to paranoia of identity and their desired destination. Shiba had protested her decision, though the reason of identity was enough to calm her down, given the circumstances and that she ties her hair into a ponytail.

Their desired destination was, unsurprisingly, the port north of the city. Being public was one good reason why Sakurako feared her identity. Sakurako shows the same concern about Shiba, but it seems she doesn't really worry about her own identity. Sakurako turns toward the windshield to see they are still on a busy road. There's another vehicle aside from the one Sakurako is in; a small white truck is following behind them, containing the goods of weapons for the oncoming transaction, that is, if that ever happened.

Thanks to a bit of jam, the journey was a staggering half an hour time, enough for Sakurako to rest her head, but unable to sleep despite her heavy eyes. Between her legs are the AK-103 and her pistol strapped in the holster on her right waist. The metallic scent of the van was both hypnotizing and a little less pleasant to bear. By this point, she hoped that she had brought a couple of comics with her.

As she is about to sleep again, George asks. "Are you tired, Ms. Oomuro?"

Sakurako wearily rubs her eyes. "I didn't get a good sleep."

"Staying up late again?" Shiba asked, turning her head a little.

"You could say that," Sakurako replied. "I should've drunk some coffee."

"We could get one after this if you want," George offered.

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass," Sakurako declined politely.

"Damn, George," one of the guards stated. "You wanna give her a heart attack?"

"Hey, she's not that addicted," George responded back.

"Now I'm kinda curious," Shiba interjected. "Did the alcohol I give you do anything good?"

The guards and the driver were caught off-guard, but George had frowned upon the query. "It helped me sleep."

Shiba chuckles as she looks forward. "Not drunk?"

"No," Sakurako replied. "But Sumida-san and my family found out about it."

In turn, Shiba looks back with her eyelids raised. "That's unfortunate. Did they confiscate it?"

"No, after I told them of my condition," Sakurako replied.

"I'm even surprised they're fine with allowing an illegality to you," the driver asked, looking through the mid-view mirror. "Say, how many glasses you could drink?"

"How many…?" Sakurako bowed her head a moment. "Just one small glass. After that, I went to sleep."

"Small glass?" the driver asked. "As in a shot, a tiny glass specifically for that?"

"Hmm," the girl simply nodded.

"Well! Off to a good start!" one of the guards complimented. "Ya' keep drinking it with diligence, you'll be able to hold your drink in no time."

"Hey, hey, don't even think about doing inappropriate things to her," Shiba warned with an upsetting tone.

"No worries, boss," the other guard responded. "We won't lay a finger on her."

"Good," Shiba sighed. "I'll have no choice but go mental if that's the last thing I ever do."

They resume their endless reverie as the van draws closer to the port, at which the woman turns at Sakurako, unbothered with how her violet hair slipping into the gap of her seat.

"We're almost there," Shiba said. "Get your weapon ready."

Sakurako lazily lifts the heavy rifle to her seat and pulls the bolt to chamber a round from the mag, then she lifts the bandana over her face, up to her nose. Sakurako, the guards, and George turn in the direction of the windshield, watching the port get bigger the closer they approach. A minute later, they pass the gateway into the port with no port-security within their sight. It was by this point that they noticed the day had already darkened.

It was notable that large crate containers and cranes were scattered throughout the port and figured that lifting any of the crates into ships was a matter of longevity of time and rugged physical prowess. They had taken a turn, but the van stopped short upon that turn next to the crates. This is the spot where George will drop off, along with a trustworthy member of Shiba's men. George takes a long grey briefcase in his right hand.

"This is my stop," George stepped out of the van. "Radio check."

Sakurako answers her radio. "Test."

George presses his earpiece and gives the nod to the blonde. "Loud and clear."

"Be careful on your way up," Shiba said.

"I will, ma'am," George shut the van door. Sakurako knowingly well that he and that member slip into the alleys of containers.

The van then rumbles again, the truck behind it follows suit. Sakurako had concerns for the American and that man, though there's another thing that was bugging her; the short number of men Shiba brought. What was stupid on her part was that she didn't think about asking it until now. And so, she questions her.

"Shiba-sensei," Sakurako called. "Why didn't we bring more men into this meeting?"

"I thought you never asked," Shiba stated. "This Jin is also known to send a spy to unsuspecting organizations, so I brought some of my trustworthy men with me."

"And this is all the people you trust?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Shiba nodded with an un-delightful frown. "I had to do some backgrounds checks before I let them work for me. And even if they're clear, I don't trust some of my men enough yet to trust that they don't stab us in the back, especially regarding Jin."

"I see," Sakurako nodded. "How many men do you think Jin will bring?"

"While we don't know the exact numbers," the driver replied. "Our best guess would be more than 15 men."

"Do you think we can handle them if this goes wrong?" Sakurako asked.

"Sakurako, our plan is supposed to go wrong," Shiba responded. "You wanted to kill him, didn't you?"

"Hmm," Sakurako nodded. "Then let's work hard for today."

"K, kiddo," the guard cocked his pistol. "Let's not mess this up."

"We're almost there," the driver made the van turn a corner.

Another couple of minutes wet by, Sakurako had noticed that they were now about near the edges of the port. Watching the vast and almost invisible dark ocean splashing its waves was nothing short of beauty from afar. It seems that they were almost at the end corner of the port when she finally saw a number of people waiting by their cars and a truck near a red container. The driver steers the van to the left and stops just beside the wide empty road. Sakurako had rechecked herself and regretted forgetting to bring some flashbangs on her person.

"We're here," Shiba unbuckled herself. "Get out the van."

Sakurako nods, and the guard opens the van's left door. He, the driver, and Shiba are the first to exit the van in a careful manner before Sakurako follows suit behind the gunman. The concealed blonde turns her head to the white truck that's been behind them; both its driver and passenger exit the vehicle, the driver being carelessly holding a short shotgun without its stock. The opposite group before them counted around more than ten people, probably more hiding behind those three cars and a grey truck. Jin's men had their pistols out, and adding significance to their seriousness, three of them had submachine guns in their hands.

Now that they are walking over onto an open area, Sakurako is understandably worried about getting mowed down and decides to stand a little far away from Shiba's group, just behind Shiba. A tacit cautious move on her part that Shiba smiled of her wiseness. Despite her caution, she finds herself being under a lot of glares from the men of the opposite party, maybe severe curiosity why there is a little kid like her working for Shiba's bidding. Three of the guards stood between Shiba and Sakurako in an arc, ready for unforeseen events. Shiba was on the very front, simultaneously confident and elegant, with her arms crossed just beneath her chest.

"That's a lot of men you brought, Jin," Shiba commented despite the sight of armed men before her.

"And you woman came over with less?" a voice spoke out.

A man immediately emerges from behind the truck. Their boss finally shows himself. The afro man is wearing blue jeans, and a black tank top doesn't seem to care about the cold dark evening. Sakurako immediately feels an urge as her index finger begins to tickle, reaching toward the trigger. But she restrains herself; it was as hard as pulling back a boulder since she knows most of Jin's men are staring at her. The concealed blonde merely looks at her surroundings to pretend like a bodyguard until those men look back at Shiba's posture.

"Eey, we got finally ta' meet the daughter of Matsubara Family," Jin widened his arms. "Ya' didn't get disowned, so you can get stuck here, eh?"

"Very amusing, Mikey," to hear Shiba calling that probably American name in a Japanese accent was a bit weird. "I merely relieved to finally step on earth after a long time on the deep blue."

"Hah, your family are those uptight fancy nobles, eh?" Jin recklessly queried at her manners. "You and your honeyed words."

"Why, thank you for the compliment, my client," Shiba dropped her arms. "Now, let's get down to business. Do you have the money?"

"Oh, sure, sure, we got them money," Jin callously nodded as he was impatient. "Show me the goods."

Shiba turns toward her man with the shotgun, at which he and his other buddy go back to their truck and open its doors. All the while, Sakurako carefully scanned each man this afro punk brought, even so far as to calculate how to take them out but to no avail in her mind. But when she looked at him, she met his eyes. And for a quick second, she could feel a cold spike in her spine that she almost flinched.

Jin turns at Shiba. "Who's that stupid kid with the rifle?"

Shiba narrows her eyes, irritated and upset as Sakurako does. "This 'kid' is my bodyguard. This child has done well for me."

The phrasing Shiba used is interesting, but Jin didn't care. "Hiring some kid to do your bidding now? You must be gettin' desperate."

Shiba sighs out, but her glance assures her that she isn't using her pronoun yet. "Didn't want to be rejected from working for me, so I had no choice."

"Heh, figures," Jin turned around. "Bring out the money."

As Jin's men grab the money, Sakurako hears her radio crackles. "This is George. Come in."

The ponytailed blonde raises her AK's barrel to conceal her radio on her shoulder. "I hear you, George."

Looking toward Shiba, she has returned a glance of confirmation on her end of the radio.

"We have reached the top of the crane. We got perfect visibility from up here," George radioed in. "But we may have a problem."

Sakurako narrows her eyes, turning toward Shiba's men carrying a crate. "What kind of problem?"

"We spotted a sniper hiding in the tower beside us," George radioed back. "It doesn't look like Jin's man."

While they know well that none of Jin's men ever had their hands on a scoped rifle, it is still a grave concern. "Police?" Sakurako conjectured in the radio.

"Possibly," George radioed back. "We also spotted a few unknown vehicles just behind the containers near the tower- hang on."

Sakurako turns her head at the driver and the thug that were with her, and suffice to say, their eyes show concerning alarm since they also have earpiece radio. This is something Sakurako feared.

"Everyone, this is George. Confirmed, we have police sitting idly in their cars just by the end of the road. I say again, we have police units waiting by the end of the road. Looks like they are a raid group."

The blonde widens her eyes. How did the word about this meeting leak, she didn't know. But the idea of shedding the blood of those who protect the people is horrifying and vile, at the very least.

"I hope we don't have to end up killing the police," Sakurako radioed quietly.

"I share your sentiment, Ms. Oomuro," George radioed back. "But it'll be hard once things go south."

"We'll try our best then," Sakurako radioed before finally shutting her radio mic.

Jin's men finally came back upfront with three separate briefcases, and everyone would assume that they were full of money by this point. Shiba finally places her hands on her hips when Jin's man opens up one of the briefcases and shows her full hard paper money. Shiba's men place the crate on the ground and open up the crate. Arrogant and impatient the man is, Jin walks over to it and gazes upon the crate full of two long firearms with more concealed beneath. And that grin, oh, that grin, Sakurako really wants to wipe that smirk off his face. The idea of giving these guns out to these kinds of people is sickening, but at least it would be close enough to kill him if the police hadn't decided to intervene.

"Nice!" Jin complimented. "Goddamn nice!"

Sakurako merely shakes her head, although letting Shiba reply. "I like to keep our products in such high quality."

"Heh, you Matsubaras maybe ain't half bad-"

*DANG* *DANG*

A loud banging of metal startles even those who are behind Shiba. JIn turns straight at the source, the blue car parking between the truck and the other cars. Remembering that Jin meddles in human trafficking, Sakurako decidedly sidesteps to the right until she can get a view on the back of the car. Shiba and her guards stood by and watched with concern and curiosity as a couple of Jin's men made their way to a blue car. Jin himself merely turned his head with irritation.

"Angered someone, have you?" Shiba asked, quietly gesturing to her men to be prepared.

"Nah, just a troublesome bitch," Jin scoffed. "Good thing she's mute. Bring that girl over here!"

Sakurako's ears perked up. Mute? Sounds familiar, but she doesn't want to conclude yet. It seems Shiba also caught his mention, seeing from how she narrows her eyes.

Once that trunk had opened, a petite person leaped out from it and fell onto the ground. It looks like a girl with long black hair, whose arms are tied, but her legs remain wearied. Before the kidnapped girl could stand, two of Jin's thugs pulled her up on her feet and dragged her towards Jin. Once they could see her face, horror filled both Shiba's and Sakurako's hearts. Both their eyes turned pale, and their eyebrows pulled down.

They cannot deny those red eyes, her pale skin, and her childlike face. Now slightly discolored by markings of struggle. Her once adorable pink pajamas are now torn and tattered, not yet to the point of severity that it needs to be discarded. A line of her bra protruded on her left shoulder, not covered by her torn pajama shirt—such a shameless and mistreated display of a student council president.

By this point, Sakurako begins quickly to fill herself with nothing more but wild contempt against him.

The moment the men give Rise over to Jin, he speaks. "Can you just shut the hell up for a second, you little shit!?"

*PLAK*

After that slap, Shiba had lost her cool, but Sakurako screamed. "No!"

Jin and all his men immediately turn in her direction. "Huh? No?"

The Shiba herself and her men prepare for the worst to come. And now, they are more disgusted that Jin grinned at them.

"Oh, oh! So you know this girl?" Jin asked in such a mocking manner.

Shiba turns her eyes at Sakurako for a moment, a little late for a lecture. "Why do you have her?"

Jin merely laughs. It seems he confirmed Shiba's answer. "Why? We paid a visit to her house, and I thought to bring her along with us. Makes us some easy extra money. This dipshit is a killjoy but kinda feels nice to play with. Don'tcha agree?"

None could see the raw rage of Sakurako's eyes, but Shiba has gritted her teeth, unable to restrain herself from making fists. Rise tears up soundlessly, but she is more shocked to see Shiba, a known associate of Sakurako, is here, of all places.

"Is that Rise?" Sakurako heard George in her radio, distracting herself from Shiba's remark.

Sakurako, still concealed her radio with her AK, replied. "Yes, it's her."

"This is not good," George radioed back. "Be prepared."

Sakurako focuses her attention back at Shiba, glaring at the smirking bastard. "I like to re-negotiate."

"Ha. For what?" Jin asked, motioning his men to bring the box of rifles closer to one of their cars.

"For the girl," Shiba answered.

"Awh, since when a fugitive like you being sentimental for a girl's life?" Jin still kept his hand tight on Rise's bruised arm. "A'right, I'll get along. What's your offer?"

"That's not the only weapons we brought," Shiba replied. "You can take our entire truck in exchange for the girl."

Sakurako glares at the woman protest. "Shiba-"

"It's alright," Shiba calmed her. "Our entire truck, for the money and the girl."

"Hmph, interesting," While Jin is brushing his chin, Sakurako really wanted to rip his stupid afro hair off so much. "Is there more?"

"That's my final offer," Shiba responded.

"That's it. Hmm…," Jin contemplated for a moment. "You know what? Boys!"

A chorus of cocking guns tremble the air, and all of Jin's men aim their weapons at them. Jin himself enjoys this twist as he casually pulls out his handgun at Shiba while his right hand holds Rise. Sakurako was already aiming at them, but Shiba and her guards didn't. No one pulled the trigger yet, but a single spark would be enough to start a shootout.

"I'm so sorry, honey pot," Jin 'apologized,' turning the safety off. "I rather take it off your hands, and we'll keep our money and the girl."

Shiba still glares, unfazed by the gun in front of her, and she merely sighs. "I guess I should've expected this, should I?"

"Oh, don't be so sad. It'll be as simple as a bullet to your head," Jin mocked, his finger slowly pressed upon the trigger. "Any last words?"

As Shiba thinks of what to say, George happens to radio in. "This is George. The police have made their move. We've got cars coming onto you now."

Shiba merely raises her right eyelid. "How about a last word for the police?"

"Huh?"

Sirens wail in the air as red flashings announce themselves like a spotlight. Jin and his men happened to turn to their right, and about a convoy of four civilian cars with portable sirens enter the fray. The convoy then drifts sideways into a row of the blockade, and several officers, both uniformed and undercover, finally present arms at both opposing parties. And soon, Jin's men found themselves confused to prioritize either Shiba or the police, while Shiba and the men were more concerned about Jin than the police.

The officers soon announced a plethora of orders, one of them being: "Drop your weapons!"

Jin soon gets hysterical and eventually uses Rise as a human shield. "You pieces of shit! Come try hit me, assholes!"

"Get your hands in the air! You're surrounded!" screamed another officer. "There's no way out!"

Jin is now more focused on the cops and Rise as the human shield kept getting her head gun-pointed. "No, you drop those guns! Wanna shoot the kid 'ere?!"

"Shiba," Sakurako reminded.

Shiba turns to her henchman on her right. "Hito, NOW!"

A second later, a magnificent display would unfold.

*BUUAARM*

The weapons box on Jin's possession exploded, creating chaos within and enveloping four of Jin's henchmen in the blast. Along with Jin and Rise, the surviving men tumble down from the shockwave. On the officers' side, they duck behind their blockade, caught off-guard by the blast. Shiba and her henchmen weren't affected by the blast while Sakurako flinched. In a quick motion, Sakurako didn't waste time and aimed her rifle at the person on her list. Didn't dare to doubt her aim when Rise's head is just below Jin's.

*BAR*

A 7.62x39mm round pierces Jin's skull; his body immediately fell off Rise's side. Blood splattered, some of which landed on Rise's face. Sakurako and unknowingly, Rise had skipped a heartbeat at that intense moment. Sensibility on Rise's part, she kept her ducked pose as it is, and Sakurako immediately went for the other targets. Soon, her team opened fire at Jin's men.

*BUAR*

Assuming that was George, he also helped to kill one more with his sniping skill. A few of Jin's men managed to return fire, but their aim was soon ruined as they got mowed down. Unfortunately, those thugs who were able to hide behind the vehicles got bullets to their heads by George's and (probably) police's sniper support. Soon after, Sakurako runs straight for Rise, Shiba, and the henchmen, on the other hand, make a run for the briefcases full of money.

However, the officers are already way past being stunned and immediately peeked out of cover. The blue brothers opened fire but a little late to do so as Shiba's crew had made it back to their vehicles with the cash in their hands. What was pretty miraculous is that none of Shiba's men were dead, or at least, injured. Sakurako screams, ordering Rise to keep her head down until they reach the van. Luckily, someone had forgotten to shut the van door, so Sakurako simply pushed Rise in. The white truck's driver and passenger enter it through the same door as police members emerged from their left. Shiba, her driver, and that same henchman came home running towards the van by entering that open door.

Sakurako was about to suppress the police blockade when Shiba screamed. "Just get in, Sakurako!"

"But they will-"

"The van's bulletproof! Just get in!"

Without further ado, Sakurako jumps into the van and shuts the door. "What about George?"

Shiba reaches for her earpiece. "George, we have to split up. Are you fine with this?"

"Not a problem," George radioed in. "We'll meet back at base. You try to get the heat out of your tail."

"Got it, be safe!" Shiba sat in her seat, and her driver buckled his belt. "Gas it!"

"Hold on!"

A loud screeching produced from its wheels, and forward they went; while being shot upon, they crashed through the blockade, sustaining minimal damage on the front and clearing the way for their white truck. The police keep firing upon the two running vehicles, but their bullets merely dent them. Some have tried to shoot the wheel but missed every time. Soon, those vehicles only left dust to the police. Sakurako holds Rise tight onto the seat of the van as the driver turns a sharp left corner for the gateway. Seeing Rise has her arms tied with a rope, Sakurako calls the henchman to cut her loose. In such a quick moment too, because soon the driver makes a sharp right turn and runs through the wooden barrier, the port guard at his post had shouted to stop to no avail.

Once on the road, the van and the truck swerved, passing by many cars as fast as possible, fearing the police to be on their tail. After running about three different red lights, they finally slowed down, and Sakurako could breathe a sigh of relief. It is either a miracle or delay of the police that no police cars show up behind them.

"Hito, you hear me?" Shiba asked in the earpiece.

"Go ahead."

"We better split up from here, minimizing the risk for the police to catch any of us," Shiba radioed back. "We'll meet back at our hideout. And get rid of that truck."

"Got it, boss."

With Sakurako still longing at Rise's tensed face, the radio chatter ends. Rise was about to retract her hands to her chest when Sakurako grabbed hold of them, finally realized that the president's hands were shaking. From her hands alone, Sakurako could feel her veins pumping back and forth, unnatural from the usual rhythm. Rise has looked away; tears were still coming out of her eyes, still frightened by the experience she had gone through. And perhaps, too terrified with the company that brought her in.

"Shi… Shiba…? Why…?"

Only Sakurako could hear her, and she replied. "Calm down, Rise-senpai. You are okay now."

The little president had choked a breath, startled by her remark of conformity. "H-how did you…? Wait…."

Even though her bandana and her cap conceal her face, her eyes didn't. Sakurako's brown eyes stare into Rise's large red eyes like how they stare into a bottomless abyss.

Rise finally widens her eyes, droplets of tears pour onto her cheeks. "Sakurako…?"

The concealed blonde never makes an attempt to hide it and instead pulls down the mask. What greeted the student council president was the warm smile of a certain Oomuro blonde.

Rise opens her mouth further. "Y-you…."

The Oomuro blonde guides Rise's hands to her lap. "You are safe now, seito-kaichou."

Rise's gasps cannot be heard, but Sakurako could. And with that, relief washes over her, and Rise's eyes become an output of a waterfall. Rise's hands slowly tighten into fists. After that, Rise immediately embraces Sakurako, catching her off-guard.

"Ri-Rise-senpai?"

"Sakurako…. Hiks…," Rise finally broke down, clutching onto Sakurako as tight as she could. "Thank you… thank you, Sakurako!"

Sakurako is clueless as to how to respond to her reaction. Doubtfully and gently, she returns the hug. One of her hands is rubbing over her long straight hair. Rise has buried her face onto Sakurako's chest, covered by her armor. The relief she felt, Sakurako could feel it too, and her eyes left no choice but to tear up.

"Everything is fine," Sakurako quietly assured her. "Everything is fine now."

"Sakurako…," in between the silent sniffs and choked tone, Rise spoke. "They… they did it to me. What they did… I… I…."

"Please, *sniff* don't say anything," Sakurako comforted her. She quietly cried as well, in truth. "You don't have to say it."

"Thank you, Sakurako…."

It is so overwhelming with how Rise had broken down that Sakurako has been stuck in a trance with her. The henchman who's sitting across them clearly didn't expect their assassination plot to turn into a rescue plot in a second but had formed a smile, stating to himself that Rise's lucky that Shiba and Sakurako were around. The driver genuinely smiles, knowing that they saved his boss's friend and an innocent from mortal danger. As for Shiba, she turns her head, still showing concern for the crying president.

"How is she doing?" Shiba calmly asked, her face frowned at such misfortune.

Sakurako was a bit distracted but caught her query. "She needs rest, Shiba-sensei."

Shiba only nods before looking forward. "Let's get her back home, shall we?"

"Did you hear that, Rise-senpai?" Sakurako asked, at which Rise nodded on her chest. "We'll get you back home. Where do you live, Rise-senpai?"

Rise looks up, the sparkles in her eyes finally returned, that light of joy. The kind of light that she will cherish forever in her mind.


Accompanying a parent whose child has been lost was hard. Nishigaki has spent the evening over their house to ease the burden upon them, burden that Rise has usually done for them. For the current evening, Nishigaki is looking over the house with the wife of the house. It is unfortunate to say that the husband is still stuck in the hospital for further treatment with a costly sum. That didn't matter. As a caring teacher of a favorite student, she has to look out the house and watch over the wife as her husband is still in treatment. During this time, she accompanies the wife in the living room for tea.

The wife smiles as she takes her cup. "Thank you for lending your hand during this evening, Nishigaki-san."

"Don't mention it, Matsumoto-sama," Nishigaki sipped her tea. "I'll try to help out in any way I can."

"You don't have to go as far as to help a lonely wife," the wife replied. "I can manage on my own."

Nishigaki shuts her eyes, drinking her tea. "You keep saying that."

The wife then looks around the house. "You feel that?"

"What?" Nishigaki asked.

"That feeling," the wife answered. "There should be more people in this house. Now, it's just us."

"Hmm," Nishigaki put down her cup. "It's too quiet for my liking."

"What do you do during these quiet moments?"

"Inventing as always. A little explosion would spice things up."

"Our famed scientist as always. I always keep wondering why you are still stuck as a teacher."

"No one clearly likes my way of innovation. That's for sure. No invention would happen without a little blast."

"They may have a right dislike your idea, then," the wife paused. "Nishigaki-san. Do you think Rise is still… alive?"

Nishigaki may have answered impossible questions, but this was not one of them. "Let's not assume the worst, Matsumoto-sama."

"Ah, you're right. I'm sorry," the wife bowed her head. "We never had this happen to us. But now… I feel so helpless…."

Nishigaki frowns and places a hand on her shoulder. "It's up to Sumida-san now. I'm sure she'll save her."

The wife looks down at the floor, sighing to herself. "We have no choice but to wait, don't we?"

Nishigaki didn't answer, only retracting her hand back to herself. Nishigaki also looks down with a solemn face. Never had she felt a part of her had been torn out by such a worse event. But there's nothing she could do for now. She could only hope for something that might not even be possible in the slightest.

*TOK-TOK-TOK*

Nishigaki turns in the direction of the knocking, prompting her to stand up. "I'll get the door."

The science teacher immediately makes her way towards the front door, not far from the living room as well. Reaching the door, the knocking still continues in the same rhythm. Nishigaki at first thought nothing of it and went ahead to open the door, thinking it was just a postman late at night. However, the person behind the door was revealed to be a man with a gaudy grey jacket. However, the suspicious look on the man's face already gives it away.

Before Nishigaki could ask, the man asks. "Is this Rise's house?"

Nishigaki instinctively shuts the door, but the man also reacted in time to hold it ajar. "Hey, hey, just hold your horses! We're not here to threaten you or anything!"

"You get your hands off the door!" Nishigaki demanded. "I'm going to call the police!"

"Woah, easy, easy!" the suspicious man replied. "I just want to say we have Rise with us!"

Nishigaki stopped in her tracks, deadpanned to herself. Did she hear it right? No, it must be a joke.

"You're pulling the strings, mister," Nishigaki denied.

"We ain't pulling any strings!"

"Do you?!" she asked.

"Yeah, we mean it," he replied. "Hey, guys. Bring her out here!"

The man then gets off the door, at which Nishigaki, still reluctant, opens the door to see the man is standing well enough away from the door. Entering from the house's gate was Rise. There was a great deal of shock upon looking at her tattered clothes and the bruises she had sustained during her prolonged disappearance. Nishigaki could drop to her knees now if she weren't distracted by other people with her. A person a little taller than Rise, with a plate carrier above the purple jacket, and Nishigaki recoiled to see an AK hanging off the plate carrier's shoulder. She then looks over to the woman next to her.

"She is right here, Miss Matsumoto. Safe and sou-."

The abrupt pause has caught the man at the door off-guard. Meanwhile, Nishigaki has her eyes jolt out at the woman in her red dress, someone she had never expected to see. The woman's eyes stare back at Nishigaki's in such a stunning and intense manner.

"Shiba?!"

"You?!" in fright, Shiba took a step back. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Wha-" Nishigaki shook her head. "How come Rise is with you?"

Rise immediately answers before Shiba could reply. Everyone did look in her direction. However, the henchman and Shiba couldn't hear what she said.

"Uuh… what?" the henchman asked.

Nishigaki listened, then eyed upon each individual with her at the porch. "You… you guys saved her?"

"Ah, y-yes," Shiba reluctantly stuttered. "It-it must be fate that brought us to Rise."

"Uh-huh," Nishigaki warily scanned the henchmen with her. "Why are your friends bringing guns around in public?"

"Ah," Shiba cleared her throat. "We're actually the Sentinels."

Nishigaki dismisses it, even though she has heard of them. "You don't look like it. Apart from that guy with the rifle."

Rise speaks, again, unheard, but the person with AK looks a bit panicked when she speaks it.

Nishigaki widens her eyes in disbelief. "That's Sakurako? What are you talking about?"

The person with the rifle immediately interjects at Rise. "Rise, please don't talk too much."

"Eh?"

Sakurako should've realized she shouldn't speak. Nishigaki takes a step forward and deadpans at the said blonde.

"That voice. Is that really you, Sakurako?"

The assuming person looked back at Shiba, who could only sigh for her, before looking back at the science teacher. She pulled down her mask, and Nishigaki could feel her arms finally fall limp.

"You…," Nishigaki looked back at Shiba for a moment. "Is this some kind of joke, Sakurako?"

"It's not a joke," Shiba answered. "You could say she is one of the rumored Sentinels people are talking about."

"What..?" Nishigaki approached Rise, finally noticing about the blood on her face. "Wait, is that blood?"

"Someone else's blood," the henchman replied.

Nishigaki stares at Shiba. For once, the grimace of the science teacher's face is startlingly sharp. "What happened, Shiba?"

Taken aback by her seriousness, she composed herself before replying. "Rise… she was almost sold out."

"Sold out?!" Nishigaki retorted. "What are you talking about?!"

"Human trafficking," Sakurako dropped the bomb. "I think she was…. She was raped."

Sakurako had gulped, finding so hard and unwilling to say that last word. The teacher's skin immediately pales, and her blood runs cold for such a thing to happen upon an innocent life. From where Shiba stands, she could see anger boiling beneath the teacher's eyes, and beyond that anger, possibly the many ways to experiment whoever done this to Rise. Knowing how often she blows up her experiments, she couldn't dare to imagine what she could've done. Nishigaki begins to bite her own lip out of anguish.

A hand immediately holds the teacher's hand and forces her to look at Rise's adorable face. A few tears pour out of her eyes, but forms a warm smile, telling her quietly to let it go. But Nishigaki shakes her head.

"Whoever done this to you will have to pay, Rise."

"I already did that."

Nishigaki quickly looked at Sakurako. At first, she didn't say anything, but then she asked. "What did you do?"

Sakurako bowed her head; it was clear she felt dirty of what she had done. "I shot his head."

She could feel the thousand-yard stare Nishigaki had shown upon her. And with that, the teacher let out a sigh, bowing her head as well.

"You kill people too, Sakurako?" the teacher gloomily asked. "Is that why you want me to teach you how to make a flashbang?"

Sakurako was about to open her mouth to give a thoughtless answer, but Nishigaki raised an open palm. "You don't have to answer right now, Sakurako."

Sakurako closes her mouth, remaining silent as no one is willing to break the silence.

"Nishigaki-san, what is going on-" they turned at the woman, the wife of the house, had a shocked look upon her face. "Rise?!"

The said daughter then runs toward her embrace, giving the wife the warmest hug she wished to relive from her daughter. Rise's mother joyfully cheered for her return but slowly turned into a solemn quiet cry. The mother then places her forehead to hers, staring directly into her teary eyes – smiling as hard as they can, not wishing to see any of them frowning at their own past predicament. Still, that doesn't stop them from breaking down.

"Oh, Rise! You made it back! You made it back!" the mother cried, finally able to look her eyes no more. "I'm so glad…."

Watching them reunited once again was so touching, especially for Shiba and Sakurako. Now, Sakurako forms a smile once again, for another successful job and successful rescue of her senior student from being tormented ever again. She manages to snap herself from the sight and looks upon the dark sky. It's time for them to leave.

"Shiba-san, we should go."

"Ah, right," Shiba turned at Nishigaki. "Nishigaki, we're going to take our leave. I ask you, please, don't tell anyone about us, especially to Sumida and Sakurako's Family."

Nishigaki frowns at her request. "I'm not sure why I should not tell them about you and what Sakurako is doing."

"Please, Nishigaki. Consider that I'm asking you a favor in return for saving Rise," Shiba convinced her. "If you're worried about Sakurako, then let me worry about her. I always make sure that nothing will ever happen to her as a teacher would. What do you say, friend?"

Nishigaki contemplates, wrapping her arms on her chest. After some thought, she exasperates a sigh with her eyes closed. "Fine. I'm not going to tell them."

"I knew I could count on you, Nishigaki-san," Shiba genuinely smiled, at least for now.

But Nishigaki raises an index finger. "But I demand an explanation from you later."

"A-alright, I'll explain later," Shiba hastily replied. "Just don't bring the detective into the mix."

"Okay."

"Ah, before I forget," Shiba handed over a briefcase. "Rise's parents may need this."

"And what's this?" Nishigaki suspiciously asked, receiving the briefcase.

"The money we stole from the trafficker," Shiba admitted. "This should cover the cost for her father's treatment."

Nishigaki chuckles and shakes her head. "You're not trying to bribe me, are you?"

"N-no! Why would I?" Shiba panicked a little. "I just heard about her father from Sakurako."

"Alright, alright," Nishigaki then turned at Sakurako with a smile. "Have a safe trip, Sakurako. And once again, thank you for saving Rise-san."

"You're welcome, Nishigaki-sensei," Sakurako bowed. "Good night, sensei."

"Good night," Nishigaki responded.

Shiba and the henchman said their farewell before they finally returned into the shot-up van and took their leave, Nishigaki waving her hand in the air from the fence. After taking a turn at an intersection, the passengers finally relaxed. Sakurako undresses her combat gears, starting from the headgear, then her elbow-knees protection, the plate carrier, and finally her holster. Putting them aside, she checks on her AK-103, pulling the bolt halfway to see a bullet is still in there and checking the magazine to see how many rounds are available. She inserts the magazine back and puts the gun in safety mode.

"So, Sakurako," Shiba asked. "How do you feel after killing that asshole?"

"Who? Jin?" Sakurako stared off into empty space. "I… I don't know. It felt… unbelievable."

Shiba chuckles. "Do you regret killing him?"

The blonde looks at Shiba before looking down. "Um, no… I don't think so, I guess?"

Shiba looked back, understanding the doubtness she had created. "Hm, forget I asked that."

"Hmm," Sakurako immediately nodded.

"So, only two left, right?" Shiba asked.

"Yes, two more people left," Sakurako confirmed.

"Well, we might be off with a good start then," the henchman commented. "Maybe we can start looking over Jin's friends after this."

"Yeah, but after what happened today, his friends might bound to get underground," the driver added. "It may take a while to track the others that match your description, kid."

"I can wait," Sakurako assured them. "Just let me know if you find them."

"We can work with that," Shiba agreed, sighing and leaning her head against the seat. "Aahh~, a warm bath would be nice for tonight."

"Hmm," Sakurako hummed in approval before she continued to tidy up her equipment in a bag.

Then she realizes something. "Wait, you're escorting me home?"

"Well yeah," Shiba responded, a little annoyed. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh," Sakurako paused for a moment. "Um…."

Shiba furrows her eyebrows. "You're not comfortable with me coming over to your house, are you?"

"Well, you're a famous criminal," Sakurako awkwardly replied. "I'm scared if someone is tailing us right now."

"We're not in the movies, you know?" Shiba sighed. "I'll escort you up to your porch if that's okay with you."

"Mmm… I think I'm fine with that."


"Oh, Sakurako, where the heck are you?!"

Nadeshiko is now standing near the front door and understandably frustrated that her second sister hasn't come home yet. She has kept tapping her right foot throughout the hour by that door. The problem wasn't only that Sakurako hadn't returned after seven; she didn't even pick up her calls. For today, Sakurako broke her promise to not return home later than seven. Even the mother had come over to Nadeshiko, having the same frustration and concern as Nadeshiko.

"She hasn't picked up yet?" the mother asked.

"Not yet, aagh," Nadeshiko shook her head. "She better has some explanation for getting home late."

"Oh, that girl," the mother wrapped her arms around her chest. "I think she's being tardy again."

The mother leans against the wall next to her. "It finally took her this far to mess up, huh?"

"Now that you mentioned it, yeah," Nadeshiko then sighed, contemplating for a while at her phone. "I guess it had something to do about her friend being kidnapped."

"Did you talk to her about it?" the mother asked curiously.

"Yeah," Nadeshiko nodded. "I calmed her down last night. For a while, at least."

The mother then places her hands behind her head. "She's probably being preoccupied about it. How about we don't be hard on her for today?"

"Well, but it's already dark out there, and she's all alone," Nadeshiko argued. "What if she's lost or something?"

"I guess that news did get us all hype up," the blonde mother commented. "But I'm sure she'll be fine."

"I don't want to keep waiting while our food is getting cold, you know?"

"You could go ahead if you want. I'll wait for-"

"Tadaima!"

They both turn at the door being opened by the supposed second Oomuro sister. While they are finally glad she came back, they are a little startled by the stranger next to her—a beautiful violet-haired woman in a red dress. Nadeshiko and the mother were freaked out a little by the woman.

Sakurako greets her family. "Konnichiwa."

"Welcome back, Sakurako," the mother then pointed at the stranger. "Who is that with you?"

"Oh, this is Shiba Matsubara-san," Sakurako introduced. "She is George's friend."

Shiba bows with a smile. "I apologize for disturbing your fine evening."

"T-that's alright, Matsubara-sama," Nadeshiko bowed. "Were you escorting Sakurako home?"

"Why yes," Shiba nodded. "She came over to my house to play with me back then."

"Oh? Not taking a walk with the usual route?" the mother wondered.

"I forgot to tell you of my plans," Sakurako admitted.

"Huh," Nadeshiko shed a sweat. "Why didn't you pick up the phone? I tried to call you a few times."

"My phone ran out of battery."

*PLAK*

The eldest sister and the mother together slap their forehead. Shiba, admittedly, laughed a little at the display.

"So you did being tardy," the mother dropped her hand off her forehead. "You didn't even charge it at Matsubara-sama's place?"

"I did charge it," Sakurako replied. "But I forgot to turn it on until we reached the house."

"Do you?" Nadeshiko asked. "We were worried sick that you are late."

"I know," Sakurako nodded. "I got carried away playing checkers with Shiba."

"Right," the mother then looked at Shiba. "Thank you for bringing her back home. I hope she didn't cause you any trouble."

"Oh, that's nonsense, Oomuro-sama," Shiba humbly waved upfront. "Taking care of her is a walk in the park."

Shiba then checks onto her wristwatch. "Ah, I should get going now. It's getting late."

"Of course," the mother nodded. "Have a safe trip back home, Matsubara-sama."

"Thank you," Shiba replied. "Oh, and Sakurako."

"Yes?" Sakurako looked up.

"Let's finish up that movie by tomorrow."

Sakurako seems to have amnesia. "Ah, yes. We only have to finish the last portion of it."

"Yeah," Shiba bowed again. "I'll see you later."

"See you too," the mother replied before Shiba took her to leave.

After Shiba is out of sight, Sakurako shuts the front door and faces her family. The mother still wraps her arms around her chest, and Nadeshiko places a hand on her hip. And Sakurako could only bow her head with guilt.

"I'm sorry for coming home late, okaa-chan," Sakurako apologized.

"Now, now," the mother smiled, much to Sakurako's surprise. "I'm sure your mind is still preoccupied for a while there. That's why you intend to come home late. Are you feeling alright now?"

Sakurako straightens her back. "I feel better now."

"Alright," the mother tilted her head to her right. "Hanako's been waiting for you in the kitchen room."

"Okay," Sakurako nodded. "I need to place my stuff in my room first."

"Alright," Nadeshiko replied. "Don't take your time too long."

"Yes, onee-chan," Sakurako replied before going upstairs to the room.

Satisfied with Sakurako, they then return to the kitchen. Hanako is still sitting in her chair, already impatient to not eating the dish before her. Today's dinner dish is spaghetti, of course, in the authentic Italian way. Hanako bats a curious look at her mother and eldest sister, watching them sitting at their respective seat.

"Is Sakurako home?" the little sister asked.

"She is," Nadeshiko replied. "She's putting her stuff away in her room."

Hanako tilts her head a little. "Is she going to get a lecture for being late?"

"Nah, we let this slide for today," the mother replied. "She came back from playing at a friend's house. George's friend that is."

Hanako raises an eyebrow. "Another adult friend?"

"Yep," Nadeshiko replied. "She didn't mind Sakurako's company."

"I see," Hanako turned at the doorway to see Sakurako coming in. "Saku onee-chan."

"Hanako," Sakurako sat down and was a little surprised at the kind of dinner they had. "Spaghetti?"

"Yeah," the mother replied. "It would still be hot if you hadn't come home late."

"I'll make sure to not come home late again," Sakurako assured them. "Itadakimasu!"

The family follows along. "Itadakimasu!"

The whole family begins to enjoy the dinner, a slightly cold one that is. Despite the food not being warm, Sakurako enjoys the taste of spaghetti. Hanako seems a little irritated, though, for the food being cold. The mother and Nadeshiko only watch over Sakurako, scanning for any behavior she creates.

And an interest perks up in Nadeshiko's mind. "So Sakurako. What's the movie is all about?"

"Hmm?" Sakurako looked up. "The one I'm making?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, I can't tell you."

Nadeshiko raises an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I don't want to give any spoiler."

Nadeshiko smirks. "Well, what CAN you tell us about the movie?"

The fork is already in Sakurako's mouth, contemplating for a moment. "The theme of the movie is action. And a little horror."

The mother hums with a slight delight, Hanako however, had a scared look upon her face.

"Interesting," the mother commented. "When can we watch it?"

"After the competition," Sakurako replied.

"Cool," the mother sipped her water. "I wonder if the movie's great."

"I'm sure you'll find out soon enough."

The dinner went on uneventfully, with each family member enjoying themselves with their respective pleasant conversations. However, Sakurako once again is the only one who doesn't talk much about anything. She only discussed what she was doing at Shiba's house and how she knew about Shiba through George. After a while, they finished up their spaghetti and went about their way to their rooms. On the other hand, Sakurako headed for the bathroom to take a nice warm bath.

After a few minutes of bathing, she dresses back in her room in her pajamas. She is about to check on her weapon and refill the magazines but finds that she feels sleepy all of a sudden. She locked the closet instead and went straight for her bed. Once she is comfy in her bed, she closes her eyes to greet the darkness. A few seconds later, that darkness slowly turns into an imaginative land. And lo, she walks upon the land of dreams, one being similar to the one she reads, the story of The Wizard of Oz. From there, she finds herself in inner peace in the middle of that beautiful land.

But yet, she knows, another day awaits for her.