A/N: Here is the 1st person version of Miyu's substory 1.

To be perfectly honest, this chapter was toned down from how I originally envisioned it (I'm saving the real meat for later chapters), but overall, I both had fun writing this version and was dissatisfied with myself for being unable to entirely write the story as if Miyu was writing this chapter. I might tweak this chapter in the future. I also added several new dialogues to enrich the story and new sections that I didn't include in the 3rd person version because I feared I would have to spoil too much of the future plot for them to make sense.

Anyway, I would like your feedback. As for myself, I'm thinking that I might use this version of Miyu's substory and continue writing Miyu's substory in 1st person.

o-0-o

- Kasumizawa Miyu Substory 1 (1st person version) -

o-0-o

I shivered in the bitter cold, the chill seeming to seep into my very bones, echoing the bleakness that consumed me.

"W-where am I?" I stammered into the darkness, my voice barely above a whisper, swallowed by the void around me.

"D-dark a-and cold," I muttered to myself, the words feeble and weak.

The heavy blanket of darkness smothered any flicker of hope, leaving me adrift in despair.

Lost in this void, I couldn't shake the haunting question of my existence.

"It's p-painful," I whimpered, feeling the ache both inside and out.

Every pang of pain served as a cruel reminder of my inadequacy, dragging me deeper into despair.

"S-someone, p-please, help me," I pleaded, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.

Deep down, I knew no one would come. I was unworthy, a mere burden to others.

"I'm n-nothing but a t-trash, after all," I mumbled, the words bitter on my tongue.

Sensei's faith in me had been misplaced. I had failed him, I had failed them all.

"I-I'm such an i-idiot," I berated myself, tears welling up in my eyes.

Why had I dared to hope? Why had I let myself believe I could make a difference?

Regret clawed at me, filling my mouth with the taste of failure. I should have disappeared that fateful day, sparing everyone the burden of my existence.

"U-uuuuuuuuwwweeeeeee!" I cried out, the sound echoing in the emptiness around me.

Tears mingled with the darkness, silent witnesses to my overwhelming anguish.

The faces of those who once believed in me haunted my thoughts, their silent accusations piercing through the darkness.

Sensei, Miyako-chan, Saki-chan, Moe-chan... everyone.

"I'm so sorry, everyone," I whispered into the darkness, my voice barely audible, swallowed by the emptiness that surrounded me.

o-0-o

Ever since I was aware of myself, it felt like I was fighting against an invisible force, always struggling to achieve anything without causing trouble or holding back those around me. It's like the world was just waiting to forget and ignore me, as if I were some background noise that everyone tuned out. Even living beings and machines seemed to have trouble acknowledging my existence unless I practically waved my arms in their faces.

"D-does anyone even notice me?" I would often ask myself, my voice barely above a whisper, stuttering with every word.

During school trips, I'd find myself consistently left behind, lost in the shuffle, having to fend for myself. And even when I dutifully handed in my homework, it seemed to vanish into thin air unless I practically shoved it into the teacher's hands.

"E-excuse me, did you g-get my assignment?" I'd stammer, trying to make myself heard, but often met with blank stares or dismissive nods.

Embracing a life of zero presence became my accepted fate. I felt incapable of navigating life independently, always fearing I'd be a hindrance to those unlucky enough to be my teammates.

"T-they're better off without me," I'd mutter to myself, my words barely audible, a self-fulfilling prophecy ringing in my ears.

This severe self-assessment became ingrained in every fiber of my being. I viewed myself as bothersome and worthless, expecting to be overlooked and disregarded for the rest of my life.

"I'm j-just a p-pebble by the roadside," I'd think, my heart heavy with resignation. "Insignificant, unworthy of anyone's attention or effort."

But it's not like I didn't try to change. I idolized the special force heroes who worked tirelessly in the shadows to ensure peace and deliver justice in Kivotos, even if they weren't widely known individually.

"I-I want to be like them," I'd whisper to myself, a glimmer of hope flickering in the darkness of my self-doubt.

So, with hopes high and a heart full of determination, I enrolled in the Special Response Team (SRT) Academy, dreaming of walking the same path as my idols. But reality had a cruel way of dashing even the loftiest dreams.

Despite my proficiency with a sniper rifle, I remained the same ignored pebble on the side of the road. It didn't matter how skilled I was or how accurate my shots were—I was still invisible, overlooked, forgotten.

"M-maybe this is just how it's meant to be," I'd sigh to myself, the weight of resignation heavy on my shoulders.

I reluctantly accepted my fate, resigned to being a negligible presence in the grand scheme of things—a forgettable existence in a world that barely knew I existed.

But just when I thought my situation was set in stone, a twist of fate unfolded before me.

o-0-o

How did it happen?

I-I don't know.

Remember, now.

I-I don't want to!

How did it happen?

Please, someone, help me!

And then, like a dam breaking, the memory flooded back, overwhelming me with its intensity and pain. I had tried so hard to bury the memory deep within me, but with its vice-like grip, it forcefully dragged the memory out of me once more.

o-0-o

"I-it was right a-after the clo-closure announcement," I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue as the memory flooded back with startling clarity.

"T-that was the first time I-I had personally en-encountered Sparda-Sensei," I continued, my voice trembling as I relived the moment. "Miyako-chan had apparently had a run-in with Sensei before, but as for the rest of us, that was our first time meeting him."

Why was I reliving this?

"I re-remember being intimidated j-just by seeing him on television," I admitted, the memory still vivid in my mind. "He acted somewhat cordially in his interview with Kronos, but I noticed that not once his gaze had become less sharp and intense."

A shiver of trepidation cascaded down my spine as I recalled the piercing intensity of Sparda-Sensei's gaze.

"A-a-and what of it?" I stuttered, the words escaping my lips with a hesitant quiver, each syllable a struggle against the weight of my own apprehension.

"If I h-have to stare directly at those eyes," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper, "I d-don't know if I could simply stand still."

The admission hung heavy in the air, a testament to the overwhelming fear that gripped me whenever I contemplated facing Sparda-Sensei's penetrating gaze.

The words spilled out of my mouth with a sensation that felt foreign, as if someone else were speaking through me, while I remained a mere spectator to my own thoughts, a passive observer of my own life.

I still remember how everyone was left baffled and confused by what happened next, the swift and unexpected turn of events that would alter the course of our lives irrevocably.

The entire student body of the SRT Academy found themselves swiftly transferred under SCHALE's jurisdiction, now proudly rebranded as the SRRT - Special Response And Rescue Team - a school and club directly under SCHALE's wing.

I, Kasumizawa Miyu, strangely didn't get overlooked that time, a rare moment of acknowledgment in a sea of indifference.

Irrelevant. Nothing but a worthless existence.

Yes. Even now, that's what I believe myself to be.

I couldn't comprehend how the bureaucratic process worked or what the administration of the new SRRT Academy would entail, considering its dual role as both a school and a club. However, this unexpected twist meant that I, along with my friends from the RABBIT Platoon and the rest of the SRT students, were now under the direct command of Sparda-Sensei.

Our new mission? None other than to assist Sensei in his peacekeeping efforts, a daunting prospect for someone as insignificant as myself.

The pressing issue at hand revolved around the incident that unfolded in Millennium not long after Sensei arrived in Kivotos, an event that left the school crippled and the city in a state of shock.

News of the incident spread like wildfire, the devastation captured in haunting images that flickered across screens. I vividly remembered the horror etched on my schoolmates' faces as they watched footage of Millennium engulfed in flames, the once proud school reduced to smoldering ruins.

I remembered the moment Sensei stood before us, bearing the weight of guilt and regret in his eyes. He confessed to being present at the scene, shouldering the blame for failing to halt the army of rampaging robots that had emerged from beneath Millennium, wreaking havoc upon the school.

Now, he sought our help, his voice tinged with urgency as he implored us to join him in tracking down these rogue robots before they could unleash further chaos upon Kivotos. The stakes escalated when he disclosed the existence of a 'Princess' among the robots, a formidable adversary that needed to be stopped at all costs.

Despite his initial reluctance to burden others, especially his students, with rectifying his mistakes, Sensei acknowledged that he couldn't tackle this task alone. Dividing his attention between hunting down the rogue robots and aiding in Millennium's recovery effort proved to be an overwhelming challenge that necessitated the support of this newly formed SRRT.

As I grappled with the weight of my newfound role, I found myself thrust into uncharted territory, far beyond the realms of my wildest imagination. Navigating this new responsibility wasn't a walk in the park for someone like me, especially with the unexpected hurdles that relentlessly came my way.

o-0-o

Wrong.

It did not happen this way.

S-stop looking.

Irrelevant.

Worthless.

Moldable.

N-no, stop!

D-don't taint it any further!

o-0-o

Working alongside my team presented its own unique challenges. Miyako-chan and Saki-chan, consistently headstrong and stubborn, and Moe-chan, with her worrying addiction to explosives—quite the recipe for dysfunction, to put it mildly.

I couldn't fathom what Sensei saw in our team, but tensions reached a breaking point when Miyako-chan and Saki-chan butted heads over the best approach to a particularly complex situation. Sensing the escalating discord, Sparda-Sensei intervened and temporarily disbanded the RABBIT Platoon to diffuse the tension.

"Enough!" Sparda-Sensei's voice boomed, cutting through the tension like a knife. "This is not how a team should operate. RABBIT Platoon, you're disbanded—for now."

Murmurs of confusion and frustration rippled through the group as we dispersed, leaving me feeling lost and uncertain.

"Y-you know, maybe it's better this way," I timidly murmured during the aftermath.

But, contrary to expectations, things escalated from there on.

I found myself navigating uncharted waters, collaborating with the FOX Platoon on various missions—an opportunity I had never envisioned for myself. Additionally, I was loaned out to clubs from neighboring schools, expanding my horizons in ways I never could have imagined. But the first school to request my assistance? Gehenna Academy.

To be precise, I temporarily became a member of the Prefect Team. And who else picked me up other than Sorasaki Hina, the esteemed Head Prefect herself?

I remembered feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me when Sensei first introduced me to her. Why did someone as accomplished as Hina-san choose to personally pick me up?

"Sensei, is she alright?" I recalled Hina-san calmly asking Sensei.

"Well, she has her quirks, but she's capable," Sensei replied, his confidence in me offering a glimmer of reassurance.

The details of what happened next were a blur, but I vividly recalled waking up in the Prefect Team's office, surrounded by the imposing aura of Hina-san and her fellow prefects.

As we embarked on our mission, a knot of nervousness twisted in my stomach. Hina-san's reputation as the Head Prefect of Gehenna preceded her, and I wasn't sure how I would fare under her leadership.

"U-um, sorry, I-I'm not sure if I can help much, but I'll do my best," I stuttered nervously, my voice barely audible above the hum of the engine.

Hina-san glanced over at me, her expression unreadable. "Don't worry, we'll manage," she replied calmly, her tone reassuring. "Just stick close and follow my lead."

Her words eased some of the tension coiling within me, but I couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that lingered like a shadow.

"I-I'll try not to get in your way," I added, my voice barely above a whisper.

Hina-san nodded in acknowledgment before turning her attention back to the task at hand, her focus unwavering despite the gravity of our mission.

"Stay close, Kasumizawa," she said, her voice firm yet gentle.

Despite my initial fear of Hina-san, given her formidable reputation, I found it peculiar how she never seemed to lose sight of me during our time together. Though I was only there to assist in shooting down flying robots plaguing Gehenna, Hina-san never once overlooked my presence.

This unexpected acknowledgment brought me a sense of happiness I hadn't experienced before. For the first time, someone outside of Sensei, my RABBIT Platoon teammates, and my seniors in the FOX Platoon recognized my existence.

And then came the time we had to part ways.

"Th-thank you, Hina-san," I mumbled shyly when the time to part ways arrived.

She smiled, a small but genuine curve of her lips. "You did well, Kasumizawa. Don't doubt yourself too much."

I noticed a slight flush on her cheeks as she then requested, "Please give Sensei my regard."

"I-I will!" I stuttered, feeling a warmth spreading within me at her unexpected kindness.

o-0-o

Useful.

W-what is?

Sorasaki Hina.

H-Hina-san?

D-don't!

Don't touch Hina-san!

S-Sensei, please, protect Hina-san!

o-0-o

It occurred not long after Sensei's return from Abydos.

The RABBIT Platoon had been reassembled once again, and I couldn't help but discern the urgency in our recall—a clear indicator that whatever transpired in Abydos was grave.

As we assembled, my curiosity piqued, wondering about the others' experiences during their time apart. I caught snippets of Miyako-chan's ventures to Trinity General School and Shanhaijing Senior Secondary School. Her expertise was lent to the Justice Task Force and Plum Blossom Garden, respectively. Yet, whatever she encountered seemed to linger heavily on her mind. Now and then, she'd mutter about things being 'soft' and 'big,' leaving me puzzled and scratching my head.

On the flip side, Moe-chan returned appearing as if she'd enjoyed an extended beach vacation. Working with Gehenna's Hot Spring Department seemingly meant basking in the sun day in and day out. However, there was a subtle shift in Moe-chan's demeanor—a newfound edge that eluded my understanding.

Perhaps it was just my imagination playing tricks on me, or maybe Ako-san's extreme paranoia was rubbing off on me.

Then, there was Saki-chan, ready to unleash her frustrations on Sensei. She vented about her struggles with the Tyrant of Red Winter, expressing frustration that instead of bolstering defenses, she had to navigate political minefields to maintain the Tyrant's regime amid constant coup attempts.

"I'd take dealing with a tyrant over wrangling a bunch of troublemaking anarchists any day," Moe-chan quipped, earning a sharp glare from Saki-chan. "At least you weren't at risk of getting thrown in jail like me. The Prefect Team lived up to their reputation, though. Besides the Head Prefect, they had one heck of a sharpshooter—the best I've seen so far."

"And thanks to those folks from the Hot Spring Development, I've picked up some new tricks with my explosives," Moe-chan added with a mischievous grin.

"But you didn't have to deal with riots every single day!" Saki-chan shot back; frustration was evident in her voice.

"Sending law enforcement to team up with troublemakers... what was Sensei thinking?" Miyako-chan mused, voicing a sentiment shared by many.

It was clear they had faced intense situations, and I was eager to hear more about their adventures, especially how Moe-chan ended up working with Gehenna's Hot Spring Department.

"I-I definitely c-can't tell Moe-chan that I-I w-was that s-sniper!" I silently cried, deciding to keep my own role as the sharpshooter Moe-chan mentioned under wraps.

Before we could delve further into their conversation, Sensei arrived, flanked by the FOX Platoon. Gone was his usual playful demeanor; Sensei's expression was now grave.

"What I'm about to tell and show you is a matter of utmost importance," Sensei began, his tone resonating with gravity.

o-0-o

Sensei…

I-it hurts!

S-stop it! Please!

Sparda—!

o-0-o

Exactly one week after the chilling revelation that demons from the depths of Abydos were swarming into our world, the fateful day unfolded. I found myself perched atop a building in Shanhaijing, stationed there in response to an emergency plea for aid from Genryumon. They were under attack, besieged by a massive horde of monstrous creatures.

Unfortunately, Sensei, at the time, was engaged in discussions with the Sisterhood in Trinity, leaving the RABBIT Platoon to handle the situation until his arrival. Facing adversaries beyond our wildest imagination, we confronted demons— not the kind associated with Hina-san and Aru-san, but monstrous entities, vicious and hailing straight from the depths of Hell itself.

Most students were naturally skeptical of Sensei's claim until he called upon the FOX Platoon to unveil a mysterious container. When opened, it revealed a nightmarish creature—a peculiar monkey-like monster, humanoid in appearance but sporting four limbs ending in hands, and an additional, larger hand protruding from its back.

With lightning speed, the creature lunged at Sensei, aiming to attack. Swiftly, Sensei unleashed a barrage of gunfire with his handguns, Luce and Ombra, reducing the beast to an unrecognizable heap of gore. Sensei's solemn instructions lingered in my mind, uttered as if only seconds had passed: "If you encounter these demons—no, these monsters… shoot at them. Shoot until they are reduced to a pile of flesh, unable to even twitch. Don't hesitate to kill them, for none of them would hesitate to kill you."

In hindsight, had I known the events that would unfold that day, I might have mustered the courage to ask Sensei the question that would later haunt me—'What are you?' It could have spared me the confusion and suspicion surrounding Sensei's true identity.

"RABBIT 1 to RABBIT 4, any signs of enemies?" Miyako-chan's voice broke the tension.

"R-RABBIT 4 to RABBIT 1... e-everything is eerily quiet. It's li-like there were n-no signs of life," I replied, my voice betraying a hint of unease.

"RABBIT 2 to RABBIT 1. This is bad. Whatever happened here, the students fought to the end. Blood and bullet shells everywhere," Saki-chan, RABBIT 2, reported.

"RABBIT 3 to all RABBITS. Sensei contacted me. He is on his way here, and we need to vacate this area immediately," Moe-chan, RABBIT 3, informed.

"Did Sensei give a reason?" RABBIT 1 inquired.

"No, but I thi—wait, what's this?" RABBIT 3's baffled tone caught everyone's attention.

It came without warning.

A faint purple light and a humming noise echoed across the area. The moment was forever etched in my memory when an angelic-looking creature with scaly skin and a blend of mermaid-like and humanoid features emerged. Six wing-like limbs adorned with glowing purple eyes extended from its body.

Staring at me with its penetrating purple eyes, the creature immediately unleashed a blinding burst of light. Instinctively, I raised my sniper rifle, aiming to defend myself.

"High energy reading! RABBIT 4! Miyu, get out of there!"

But it was too late. The sky erupted with countless lights, and before I could comprehend what had occurred, I found myself lying in a pool of red with multiple holes in my body.

The details of the aftermath were hazy for me. I could hear Sensei and my teammates' voices, indicating that Sensei had intervened in time. With my lifeblood draining away, I teetered on the brink of death. My sight blurred, but I could recall the sounds of my teammates crying and Sensei's words that would alter my fate forever.

Sensei's somber voice pierced through my haze, offering a pivotal question: "Miyu, would you entrust yourself to me?"

With what little strength remained, I managed a feeble nod, my fate forever altered in that fateful moment.

o-0-o

How did he do it?

I-I don't—.

How did he do it?

I-I don't know!

….

…yes–we know.

o-0-o

"Are you awake, Miyu?" The voice sliced through the fog of unconsciousness, yanking me from the depths of my mind.

Blinking open my eyes, I found myself lying on what seemed to be a bed made of... shadow? How had I ended up in this peculiar situation again?

Oh, right. I had been fleeing from an unknown pursuer. But why was I being chased in the first place? Frankly, I had no clue.

I had been minding my own business, nervously fidgeting inside a trash bin as usual. Well, I tried to mind my business, my mind already on overdrive fretting about which Platoon I'd be assigned to. The mere thought of potentially being a nuisance to my teammates had me shaking even more in my trash bin, imagining myself as the odd one out.

Amidst my nervous tremors, something violently jolted me out of my hiding spot. I couldn't quite make out what it was, but it appeared to be tendrils composed of shadow. Naturally, I wasted no time in making a desperate dash, tears streaming down my face as I questioned whether I had stumbled into a real-life horror movie scene.

To my dismay, the shadowy tendrils pursued me relentlessly. And though it might have been my imagination, I could swear I heard someone giggling from within the shadows.

"H-hiiiiiii!" I stammered, my voice quivering with fear. The shadow seemed to lunge for me, but I managed to slip away in time every time.

"P-please stay away!" I pleaded, my words barely coherent in my panic.

The chase continued until I found myself cornered at a construction site. With no escape route in sight, I made a split-second decision to leap from the highest floor, bracing myself for the painful impact against the concrete below. Anything was preferable to being caught by those eerie shadows, even if it meant spending time recovering in the SRT Academy's infirmary.

As I prepared for the bone-jarring landing, my consciousness slipped away. I saw a dream—a dream of a time I couldn't recall, of companions whose faces eluded me, of creatures I'd rather avoid. Yet, in that dream, I was smiling despite all the pain and horror I encountered.

No, it wasn't a dream. It was a memory, a forgotten chapter of my existence that had resurfaced.

My head throbbed in pain as I recalled the vivid images of assisting Sensei in a battle to retrieve Aris-san. Lightning from those three crimson orbs in the sky struck me, leaving the rest of my recollections shrouded in haze. My head continued to pulse as if my past self attempted to merge with my current self.

"W-what... happened?" I stammered, my voice trembling with confusion.

"Judging from your expression, I take it you've finally remembered?" the voice replied, a hint of amusement underlying the words.

The shadow before me wriggled and parted, revealing my two assailants. As I laid eyes on a pair of distinctive handguns—one white, one black—carried by one of them, fragmented memories surged back, incomplete yet undeniable.

The engraving on the guns read 'Luce' and 'Ombra' respectively. I knew these people—or rather, I shouldn't have known them yet. If my memories were accurate, our encounter should have occurred sometime in the future.

"Nyahaha~, well, Miyu-chan, shall we reintroduce ourselves?" The first figure to emerge from the shadows sported a mischievous smirk, with bob-style black hair and distinctive red horns, wearing a custom-made attire blending elements of Hyakkiyako uniform with shrine maiden-like garments.

The second figure, carrying Luce and Ombra on her hips, donned a white dress with translucent sleeves and a hooded jacket. Her lavender hair was tied into loose side braids with orange ribbons, and her face was concealed behind a black mask.

"T-there's n-no need..." I stammered, feeling an awkward smile spread across my face. "I-it's been a w-while, Niya-san... Atsuko-san..."

Atsuko-san removed her mask, revealing dark red eyes that regarded me warmly. "Indeed, it has, Miyu."

O-0-o

I'm happy.

Am I?

What was I happy about?

I met my friends again.

Friends?

Who?

I don't have friends—I never had any.

B-but, they were–are my friends!

So then—why?

Why didn't they save me?

O-0-o

My gaze lingered on the whiteboard, the instructor's words becoming distant echoes in the background. I struggled to focus on the material, not because I didn't understand it, but because my mind was consumed by the message I had received earlier.

[ Sensei has arrived. ]

Those three words sent a jolt through my heart. Just a week prior, we had gathered to devise plans to prevent a recurrence of past events—events that technically hadn't happened yet. That was precisely why we wanted to change them. The key to our success hinged on keeping Sensei away from Aris. Until we could figure out how to quell Aris's violent outbursts triggered by Sensei, we needed to ensure the two never crossed paths. This strategy would, ideally, avert the looming war with Aris, allowing us to focus on the true enemies.

Lost in my thoughts about potential courses of action, my phone chimed, signaling an incoming message. Staring at the screen, the message turned out to be from Niya-san.

[ Harebin, I need you to go to Millennium and monitor a truck soaring through the sky. That truck will be driven by Sensei. You must shoot it down. ]

A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to ask Niya-san for more details, but I knew that when Niya-san issued directives with such gravity, there were solid reasons behind them.

[ I-I understand... I-I'll he-head there ri-right away. ]

I typed out quickly, my fingers trembling slightly.

I glanced up, hoping to catch the instructor's eye to explain my urgent departure. But, as usual, I remained invisible, unnoticed, and overlooked.

With a gulp, I resolved to write a swift note to the instructor, intending to leave it on the desk. Yet, upon reflection, I questioned the wisdom of my decision. In my haste to reach Millennium, leaving the note on a desk might not have been the most prudent move, considering the instructor seemed blissfully unaware of my presence in the class to begin with.

O-0-o

W-we did it.

I-it was a success.

S-Sensei left Millennium without meeting Aris-san.

I-I don't know what Niya-san did, but it s-seemed she gained access to Millennium's security?

But I know, our real works start now.

Yes.

Our real works start now.

Even if I failed back then—-

—there are still a ton of opportunities for me in the future.

O-0-o

Alone amidst the towering shelves of the SRT library, tears cascaded down my cheeks, blurring the titles of the books and papers scattered before me. Fresh from my return from Millennium, I faced a daunting task—a punishment for my absence. Despite my attempts to explain, my words fell on deaf ears, leaving me to confront an overwhelming mountain of work.

"W-why does anyone only notice me at times like this?" I whispered to myself, the words catching in my throat as I fought to control the tremble in my voice.

The promised helper from Niya had yet to arrive, leaving me to tackle the workload alone. As I stared at the daunting pile of papers, I felt an overwhelming urge to hide, to escape from the pressure bearing down on me.

"Uuuuuuuu…."

In my desperation, I considered retreating to a nearby trash bin, a ridiculous but tempting escape from my responsibilities. But before I could succumb to the impulse, a voice broke through the silence, filled with concern.

"Are you... alright?"

Startled, I turned to see a girl standing before me, her expression filled with empathy. It was Tsukiyuki Miyako, a fellow member of the RABBIT Platoon.

"I-I'm... I'm fine," I managed to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Miyako's eyes softened as she approached. "You are... Kasumizawa Miyu, right?" she asked gently.

I nodded weakly, unable to meet her gaze.

"Nice to meet you, Miyu-san, I am Tsukiyuki Miyako," Miyako-chan introduced herself.

I know.

"Nice to meet you too, Mi…Miyako-san," I murmured, resisting the urge to call her 'Miyako-chan.'

For a moment, we sat in silence.

What was Miyako-chan doing here in SRT? This didn't happen before, so what had changed? Wasn't she supposed to be headed to—oh.

Millennium wasn't on fire.

Of course she had no reason to be dispatched to Millennium.

"Well…" Miyako-chan finally broke the silence.

"Y-yes?" I responded, my curiosity piqued.

"Do you need help with reviewing those?" Miyako-chan gestured towards the stack of books.

Although appreciative, I shook my head. "I-it's fine. I-it's something I have to do by myself…"

"You are more responsible than I thought," Miyako-chan remarked, surprising me with her observation.

"I-is th-that so?" I responded, unsure of how to react to the unexpected praise.

"Yes. I thought you would have hidden yourself in a dark corner somewhere," Miyako-chan continued, her words candid.

I found myself unable to deny her observation entirely. "..."

"Ah. Sorry, that came out wrong," Miyako-chan quickly apologized, sensing my discomfort.

"N-no, no, you got it correct the first time," I responded with a wry smile, acknowledging the truth in Miyako-chan's words.

Inhaling deeply, I attempted to recenter my focus on the task at hand. As I delved into the sea of pages, consumed by the overwhelming information, Miyako-chan quietly settled into the seat next to me.

"What are you...doing?" I asked quietly, unable to suppress my curiosity.

Miyako-chan looked up from her book, smiling gently. "Helping my fellow platoon member," she responded simply.

"Eeh? N-no, y-you shouldn't-"

"I insist," Miyako-chan interjected firmly, determined to provide her support.

This wasn't good. Miyako-chan could be as obstinate as Saki-chan when she had decided on a course of action.

What should I do in this situation?! Please, someone—anyone, tell me…what should I do?

"Uuuu...I-I'll be in your care," I said, conceding to her.

Miyako-chan smiled.

"Let's do our best, Miyu-san," Miyako-chan said with determination, her words infused with encouragement.

"Ah. Ehehe...yes, Miyako-san," I responded with a shy smile, grateful for Miyako-chan's presence and support.

—even though she didn't save you back then.

O-0-o

End of Chapter…not really.

Below are some snippets of Volume 2 Chapter 1 as an extra.

o-0-o

"You know…I've been involved in many kidnapping schemes in the past, but this is the first time I'm the one being kidnapped."

"Keheheheheheheh! Sensei of Schale, join me, this Makoto-sama, and we shall conquer the whole of Kivotos!"

"Before we jump into this talk about world domination or whatever, first of all, mind explaining why you had to kidnap me for this…bullshit?"

"B-bullshit…you say?!"

O-0-o

"Sensei…it has only been four days since Millennium, and now you are involving yourself with the Pandemonium Society?"

"Kayoko…your gaze hurts."

"Ka-Kayoko? When did you get to know Sparda-Sensei?"

"A lot of things happened, but let's just say…he's one of your kind, Boss."

"What does that mean?"

"He breeds trouble."

"Hey." x2

O-0-o

"Sensei, we are heading to Abydos."

"What a surprise. I was also planning to go there before…before this."

"Mutsuki-chan here has a suggestion! Why don't we bring Sensei with us? I mean, Aru-chan's hijinks combined with Sensei's should be interesting to see, right?"

"Mutsuki!"

"Besides…I want to see Sensei's gun-fu in action. Kufufu~. Can't wait to see it again."

O-0-o

"Sensei, welcome to the Foreclosure Task Force."

"It's good to be here. Hmm?"

"What's wrong, Sensei? If you're staring at us that intensely, Serika's gonna blow up from embarrassment, y'know~?"

"I won't!"

"She totally is~."

"Sensei? You seem bothered by something?"

"No, nothing significant. Just… aren't there supposed to be six members?"

o-0-o