Send.

With that, Hans had finally cut through the old files and slicing his work quota by 56%. It's time to move on to the new documents and commissions that's had been… piling up.

It has been a week since Hans had explored the surface level of Gehenna and another week since he came to Kivotos. Choosing to remain in the office to dash through the documents with punctuality. He still held the tinge that everything is just a faint, fleeting dream... but he had accepted this as his reality.

There's nothing else he can do but to just... accept it.

Other than menial work and indulging in his own thoughts, he had met Rin the other day to speak of some errors he had made. She had been quite harsh on it and yet he deserved the strictness. In fact, he welcomes it. To improve, one must remember their limits and shortcomings, accept the harsh reality and do better.

And his shortcomings? It was misunderstood documents and/or commissions, and a few hiccups of verifying of students' reports and important documents the GSC had sent his way.

By commissions, is what exactly it is. Jobs to filter out some niche documents, review and grade some test papers, find a lost object or a pet, help mandate a gang war, rehab some delinquents' grades, and so on and so forth. Just standard menial work he and Arona could do by themselves, if not, they can send it back directly to the GSC for further continuation.

As much as menial as the work is, Hans couldn't accept them all. Considering for the moment, SCHALE is just Hans and Arona. Of course, there had been small discussions between SCHALE and the GSC to start opening up application papers for the independent club, but Hans felt like it's still a little too early.

He needs to adapt just a little more, and get some more experience in administration and office work, even with Arona helping him. And thus, almost all field related commissions are sent back to the GSC.

That is, unless he had the time to come down himself, but that is quite uncommon for now. The urgent paperwork is still here to stay, and thus here he will remain as well. Furiously sorting, typing, reviewing, and then accepting or declining each paper diligently without complaint.

But truthfully, he could use… a boon in the shape of a large portion of meat. Ever since he had bought those meals from Angel 24, his usual diet of ration bars had been in decline. And a good thing too, as Arona said. Now... as time pass, Hans couldn't help but to yearn for more hearty meals here and there, considering before he came to Kivotos, it's been a good while since he had eaten something else than ration bars since The Major had hogged the meat for himself and leaving barely enough for his dog. Given the fact that the rest of the battalion and Werwolves simply enjoyed the delicacy that is the human race.

And thus, as a substitute, he had taken to chomping ration bars here and there. Thinking of it now, once, as cruel joke, The Major had bought him premium dog treats.

He never felt so insulted, yet so… impassive at that. He knows he had accepted his role as his loyal undying dog till… the moment came. But that is unimportant. The important bit is how it disturbed him greatly at how he enjoyed a bite of it.

…

That is enough remembering the past for now.

Maybe after he had finished the stack for the week, he could go out and explore once more. It's Sunday after all, and he found a good barbeque restaurant the other day. Let's just say he had developed a certain craving for their food.

Either way, that is a plan he could save, maybe later at night. It's time to refocus back on his work.

PING!

Hans went to check his inbox. Maybe the GSC had sent him some more documents to review.

"Nope, it's not from the emails, Hans-sensei. It's a DM! Check your MomoTalk!"

Hans reached for his phone, opened the app, and looked at the message.

HayaseYuuka 3Math

"Hello sensei, it's Yuuka. Do you remember me?"

"I never forget anyone."

"That's a relief. I'm glad you opened up your contact information early sensei because I have something important to discuss. Schale still hasn't been reimbursed for the mission to reclaim the club room. When will the invoice be sent out?"

"Invoice?"

"Of course. Bullets aren't free."

"In my shame, it may have slipped my mind. I'll look into it immediately."

"Oh. Okay. Just create an invoice and send it to the GSC. They'll handle the rest."

"To be transparent, Yuuka I have barebones amount of knowledge and experience in this topic, so it may take a while. Just to give you a heads up, so to say."

"You never went to this kind of work before, sensei?"

"No. My apologies."

"Don't apologize!"

"Anyway. We use a standardized form at Millennium, and truth be told, I was planning on visiting Schale later today. I'll bring you one. It'll be easier for me to explain as well."

"Thank you. I owe you a favor, Yuuka."

"Don't mention it, sensei. You owe me nothing. See you soon."

Looks like he is going to have some company.

It would be just a few good hours later when Yuuka arrived at SCHALE.

"Hello sensei. I brought in the invo- Yuuka called out to the office in which she was replied by the small beeping and clicking of the electronics inside.

And Hans is nowhere to be found.

"Sensei is out for the moment! He'll be back soon!" A voice rang out from one of the screens in which made the girl yelp in surprise.

"What the-?!"

"Did I scare you? Hehe… nice to meet you, I'm Arona! Sensei's most trusted secretary!" The screen came to life and a familiar AI was there with a wide grin on her face.

"Serce- wait… are you an AI?" Yuuka's eyes glinted with wonder and curiosity.

"Yep! The GSC president left me to sensei when she had disappeared." She giggled. "Anyway! Just wait for a moment, sensei is going to arrive…"

Beep.

"Now! Welcome back, sensei!" Arona smiled as the door opens. Revealing Hans with a plastic bag entering the room.

He replied with a small nod, then his eyes went to Yuuka.

"O-Oh. Lunch time, sensei? Sorry to bother you."

Hans nodded again as he sat down on his usual chair. Pulling a bento set for himself and another to offer for the girl.

"Thanks, sensei, but I already ate." He tilted his head and shook it before putting his meal aside.

"I don't mind, sensei, you can go ahead and eat. Here, let me tidy your desk for you." Yuuka offers. Hans was going to protest, but in the end, he opened his meal and started to eat since Yuuka had started either way.

"Hm? Sensei, do you exclusively eat meat? I mean, that bento is just filled with the stuff, with barely any greens at all." Yuuka commented.

Hans shrugged and continued on.

"Haah…. You know that a balanced diet is good for your health, sensei." She gave a frown before reaching for the receipt. "How much does it-" Then upon the numbers, Yuuka paused. Her eyes widen and hands tremble.

"…WHAT?! H-HOW COULD IT COST THIS MUCH?! Wait…" Yuuka shouted, then she glanced back at the bento boxes. "I- You know that the premium meals are unreasonably pricey even from a convenience store!"

Hans stopped eating and looked down at the meal before at her.

"Sensei, give me your checkbook."

He blinked at her.

"…Um, sensei? Do you not have one?"

He shook his head.

"…"

Yuuka gave a glare that could freeze hell itself.

"Sensei. Gather your receipts. From now on, I'll be your bookkeeper and the one monitoring your expenses."

…Hans gave a small nod and immediately do so. Swallowing his last bite of meat before he stood up.

"I'll help!" Arona spoke up and thus, the hunt for receipts started.

A few minutes later, Yuuka is grumbling while writing down the wolf's expenses. Her pen moved gracefully on the book. Writing each expenses Hans had done.

"Seriously sensei. You spend a lot on… food? Ugh and it's all meat… Geez!" She commented as she moved from receipt to receipt.

"How are you even- if what your eating habits are…" she mumbled, earning a raised eyebrow from Hans.

"Nevermind! Hmph! I-I'm the only one who helps you sort your receipts like this. If you keep this up, I'm not going to do it anymore!" She nagged again with a small tinge of red on her cheeks.

Then she pointed her pen at the man. "From now on, anytime you want to buy something over 5,000 yen, you must consult to me first!"

Hans looked at her with a strange expression. Yet, reluctantly, the teacher nodded in defeat, and Yuuka gave a small huff of victory.

Thus, the hours passed with Yuuka doing the checkbook and at the same time teaching Hans a little more about accounting and finances in any way she can.

As the day continued on... Yuuka had to say goodbye in the evening.

When she was just about to leave, Hans patted her shoulder, showing her the barbeque restaurant he had been thinking of visiting.

"Two person 10% discount… " Yuuka read the text before she felt a rush of embarrassment. "W-WHAT?! A-Are you inviting me f-for- a-a?!"

Hans nodded. 'Yes, for a meal later.' He thought to himself, hoping she would say yes because of the discount.

"…S-Sensei!" Yuuka hid her face. "Y-You can't ask me for a date o-out of the blue!" she spoke up. Still red and embarrassed from the proposal.

Meanwhile, Hans tilted his head and gave a questioning look.

'A date?'

Eventually, as time came and go, Hans waved goodbye after dinner with a certain math loving girl from Millennium.

To say that it was eventful is doing a disservice to the event. It was unique and strangely fun rather than eating alone (or with Arona). All the time Yuuka is telling Hans of anything and everything. Like her school, her daily activities, and so on and so forth. Most of all are complaints from her friend... this, Ushio Noa teasing her too much, a known troublemaker named Koyuki who had been hacking to the president's secure files, and some even about her workload and a club whose identity is playing games all day. It's a good thing she gave context to the students she mentioned, or Hans would be strangely lost.

Hans would listen of course, giving responses by nods and small smiles here and there, but strangely enough, he also had been speaking much more than before. Giving small jabs and comments here and there even if it's as blunt as it is quiet. A whisper of a sentence... Yet, it was enough for the girl to give a bright smile.

"Sensei! Hey, try some mushrooms and peppers!"

Yuuka pointed to the grilling food with a frown, as the kept sizzling upon the hot iron grill. Ignored by the teacher as he picked the meat most. Tempting Yuuka to groan and pick one of them up with her chopsticks, ignoring at how flushed her cheeks are.

"H-Here! Open your mouth! I-If you don't try some, I'll never forgive you!"

Hans looked at it then back her. Hesitant, but in the end he does so. Opening his mouth, Hans chomped on the food Yuuka offered.

"Mm."

Like he thought, he preferred meat. That doesn't mean he disliked them just… unfit for his taste as he continued to chew before swallowing. And Yuuka gave a bright victorious huff along with a grin.

"See? It's not that bad, right? Seriously, sensei. You're an adult."

She then started to eat as well with a different chopstick. Then, Hans picked some beef and offered it with a neutral expression, with chopsticks waiting for her.

"W-wah?! S-sensei?! U-Um..!"

Yuuka opened her mouth and chomped it as well with some reluctance. Blushing all the way as she chewed on the meat.

Then, he reached for another piece as well and ate with the same chopstick .

He couldn't understand why she was so embarrassed about it.

In the aftermath, Hans learned a lot about Kivotos and Millennium, and he had repaid his personal debt to the girl even if she wouldn't acknowledge such a debt.

But most of all, Yuuka had fun. Or at least that what he thought. Hans couldn't comment much on it, anyway.. but he had hope she felt it.

That's the least he could do for his student.

With that in mind, he walked towards SCHALE, and before that; he entered the familiar convenience store that is Angel 24. Then a few minutes later, he was walking along the streets after coming back from Angel 24 with a can of coffee on his hands, sipping on it with nothing in his mind except to just wander around before he reach his office once more.

That is until a familiar the white and black-haired girl caught his eye. Strange that their paths would often cross. Maybe it's because they enjoy purchasing goods from the same store. But this time, instead of them crossing paths from Angel 24, she was being harassed by an adult.

Or rather by a cop in front of a dark alleyway.

"I told you already, I didn't do anything!" She spoke in annoyance, hiding her anger away.

"Don't lie to me! How do you explain such a suspicious outfit?! And who would wander around a high crime rate area this late for no reason?!"

"It's because…."

"Because…?"

"Nevermind I have nothing to say to you."

The back and forth continued on for a good few minutes until the cop asked for her identification and Hans saw her expression fell. It was like she had a knot in her stomach knowing she was in deep, hot water.

Well, whatever it is. He would intervene for now.

The teacher walked to the both of them with a neutral expression. Eyes staring at the cop, then back at the girl.

"…Is there… trouble?"

"U-uh… umm… who are you?" The cop asked, in which Hans reached for his pocket and gave him his ID.

"Hmm?! You're the advisor for SCHALE?" The cop yelped in surprise, in which Hans gave a nod. "She is… a student of mine. I'll… take it from here."

"O-Oh… I see, I see. Hm… well, everything seems to check themselves out then. I-I'll let you handle the situation." The cop rubbed his robotic oval shaped head before bowing and walking away.

The girl looked relieved before she gazed at the man with confusion and a little suspicion.

"Why did you help me?" She asked, and Hans simply replied with a shrug.

"…Either way, thank you. I'm used to people calling me suspicious, though. It's nothing to get worked up about."

He frowned and pointed at the cop who had walked a fair distance away.

"Being interrogated by the police is Tuesday for me. I guess I didn't give off a great first impression. I look pretty intimating so that lands me in hot water." She gave a small sigh.

Hans then pointed at her and the alley. "What, you wanted to know what am I doing in the alley?" She raised her eyebrow and Hans replied with a nod.

"Well, it's none of your business!" Hans could feel his lips frowning at the answer, but in the end, she was right. It's none of his business, but he hoped it's nothing too... dangerous. So, he lowered his hand and then wal-

"Ugh, fine. I was feeding a stray cat. Though it ran away as soon as the cops showed up." She answered in which stopping Hans from walking away, and he raised his eyebrow.

"Well, obviously I didn't tell them that because they would've thought I was lying. In which I know hard to believe by you as well, I bet." She sighed.

Indeed, Hans was a little skeptical, but he felt like she was quite genuine in her words. Plus, he had nothing to lose if he believed in her.

After all, what kind of teacher he would be if he didn't believe in his own students?

"Never judge a book… by its cover." Hans simply replied with a small sigh.

She blinked. Before a small smile formed on her lips. "Thank you, sensei." She replied gently before walking away.

"I promise I'll pay you back somehow." And thus, she continued on walking as her figure disappears in the distance, and Hans moved the other way with a neutral expression.

Somehow, he felt that heir paths would cross soon and maybe he could learn her name by then.

On the other side of Kivotos, a girl adjusted her glasses.

Swallowing a bile as she wrote on an old piece of paper.

Yellowed, tainted, and yet it looked a little cleaner than most.

On the paper, it was a plea.

A desperate wish for a dying school.

A desperate hope for relief.

For someone to come bringing salvation.

With gentle movements, she continues on writing.

Then with that dying spark, she sent the paper away towards its destination.

Three days later, a strange request came to the GSC from a school that had been buried in time and lost in the sands.

Immediately, the letter was pushed towards SCHALE.

If there is someone who could at least made the situation a little better, it was him.

And the next day, when Hans was sorting away some documents,

a worn letter had made its appearance in his desk.

"What's inside, sensei?" Arona peeked her head to see. In which Hans obliged and let the curious AI to read the letter as well.

Hans held the worn letter in his hand. Ripping open the envelope to read the yellowed paper inside.

And a sour look came to him.

To the advisor of the Federal Investigation Club, SCHALE.

Hello, my name is Okusora Ayane, and I'm a student at Abydos High School.

I'm writing this letter because I want to ask for your help.

Our academy is being harassed.

One of the local gangs has been tormenting us.

It's a long story, but we think this gang is after the school building itself.

The students are doing their best to stop them.

It's only a matter of time before we run out of ammunition and supplies, though.

At this rate, the school will fall to them for sure.

That's why I'm writing to ask for your help.

Can you please help us, Sensei?

"Hm… Abydos Highschool, huh?"

Hans raised his eyebrow. "…Can you... tell me about it?"

"Mm…It used to be a large, thriving district, but fell on hard time last due to climate change." Arona tapped on her chin.

"As a matter of fact, it used to be the biggest and most powerful district in the city. The district was so large that people would even get lost in the middle of town!" She explained with excitement and cheer.

Then she gave a small giggle. "Hehe… that must sound ridiculous. How does someone get lost in modern civilization? I'm sure that's just an urban legend."

Hans gave a nod as he rereads the letter again.

"…What happened?"

Then her smile fell. Replaced as her expression grew serious and sorrowful. "A few years back, Abydos was hit with a massive sandstorm that had covered a large part of the district. Making a lot of it lost and beyond repair. And now, Abydos Highschool is the only one that is still standing within the district. Or at least, what's left of it."

Hans gave a small nod of understanding. He walked to his closet and reached for his old relic. The M43 Greatcoat and his belt. Now repaired and patched since the last time he had worn it.

His hand moved closer and closer to the tunic until it halted midway.

Clenching his fist, he reached for it again and wore back the old mantle. If there is something he excels back before the order, it was his prowess in desert combat. Years upon years of serving in Afrika Korps since 1941 had been a time he could remember and look back upon before he had gone full time for Millennium.

As well as his long-lost experience fighting in the forlorn war of yore by the long extinct Fera.

A long sigh left his lips as he reached for his old cap again.

For the moment, he is a soldier instead of a teacher on a mission.

Exiting his office, Hans reached for his twin long barreled weaponry of choice. Then, he made a made a call to the GSC.

As well as an email for Rin for an explanation and a way to inform her about it.

"Are we going to Abydos sensei?" Arona asked, and he gave a nod. "Yes. Send me… the geographical information… and of the students."

"You got it!"

And lastly, Hans walked down to the basement. Opening up the fabricator... or the crafting chamber as Arona had said, he used the relic to craft a bunch of supplies, mixed with some that had been lying around in the garage as he packed an entire iron crate of ammunition and other supplies as he raised it on his shoulders.

"Isn't that's heavy?"

Hans shakes his head. "…Set the security system, and… open the building just in case."

"Done! And I'll call the helicopter. Good luck sensei!"

As the helicopter from the GSC came down on the helipad, Hans has one more thing to do.

To make an announcement on his social media.

It took a few fleeting moments of the day to reach the Abydos district. For all Hans could say, the helicopter ride was uneventful, just the pilot making small talk with the silent man, but it was a conversation, nevertheless.

And what Arona had said of it being covered was a simple sugarcoat it wasn't just... covered, No, it was BURIED by the grains. He saw houses, roads, train tracks, and a lot more being meters deep within the sands of barely any greens or anything.

And apparently, when they're slowly getting close towards the school district, his GSC-Assigned pilot had a small hint of sorrow coming to her speech.

If he had to guess, the girl used to be part of this lost district.

He didn't ask either way.

To make things a little inconvenient, due to the mix of climate and the potential of the landing zone within the academy itself could be a hostile area by its own due to the urgency of the letter this Okusora Ayane had sent, Hans were set down around a few kilometers away with his cargo.

The pilot offered to take a lot of it from his hands and to dropship it later or maybe by the week, but Hans declined. Picking up the supplies with little effort as he exited out of the transport, determined to give the supplies as quick as possible.

And thus, the captain is now walking along the sands. Military boots crunching on the familiar grounds as he made his way to a swallowed neighborhood. Entombed by the golden grains of sand.

A small bit of sorrow came over his heart. If this is the fate of this district now? No wonder the Abydos' students are getting harassed. This place is long abandoned by the civilians and the world.

Only the sands remain here as the rest moved on.

So, Hans continued on marching until the screeching of a bike on sand came to his ears. Hans was just about to look until something… something awful came to his heart. His fingers twitched, and his eyes widen. His mind filled with dread, and his soul tingled with and was filled with a feeling he thought to be lost.

Pure.

Unchallenged.

And true.

The stench of a long defeated spirit of the triat.

Death, slaughter, chaos, carnage, darkness, corruption,

TERROR.

WYRM.

Immediately, Hans let white mist to form around him, dropping his supplies as he reached for the twin Mausers on his belt, before spinning back so fast his cap was blown off sideways into the hot burning sand.

His eyes narrowed with horror and pure concentration as he pointed his gun. Hands gripping tight at it with fingers ready to shoot.

Until he blinked again at the sight before him.

It was a young womangirl looking at Hans with cold regretconcern mixed with a tinge of suspicion and confusion. Her long, flowingshort, simple silver hair, kept out of her dichromatic black and white pupils on a deep dark taintedbright blue eyes with an inverted azure cross-shaped hair pin. Framing her pale, deathlyconfused lively face as the endless rain pouredsun shone from above.

The black taintedsilver ears of his kind stood tall and motionlesslowering slightly atop her head at the gun pointed at her. Above that, a shattered, broken, and emptysimple blue halo in the form of a crosshair floats gently above her head.

As she stood in front of the captain, her elegant, void black funeral gownblack uniform and blue scarf made her the very picture of a true harbinger of the apocalypsenormal student.

She raised a cold pistol with silverhand to make a simple gesture of deathpeace.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She spoke gently.

Hans blinked again as he lowered his gun and letting the white mist to dissipate. Had he been hallucinating?

Hans shook his head and looked away. Returning his guns to his belt as he walked to pick his cap with the wolf girl staring at him curiously.

"Where are you headed?"

The captain stopped for a moment as he picked back his supplies. Eyes narrowing at the girl. Then he reached for his ID.

"…Abydos. Okusora Ayane had… contacted me." Hans spoke plainly in which the girl's eyes widen as her ears twitched for a moment.

"Wait, you're Hans-sensei from SCHALE?" In which he gave a small nod. "I can't believe you actually came…"

She spoke gently, like it was a dream come true. Begging for it all to be the honest truth rather than a sweet illusion.

And it wasn't gone unnoticed by Hans.

How… bad is their situation, really?

"Nn. I'll lead you there, Sensei." The girl hopped down from her bike as she walked near the captain and pointing out the iron crate he had been carrying. "Isn't that box heavy?"

Hans shook his head as he kept his gaze steady, staring at the sandy, empty neighborhood. Ignoring the glint of interest from the girl.

Silence washed over them.

"...If you're wondering, sensei... they all had left. Years ago." Shiroko spoke with sorrow and pain. Trying to make conversation. "…Our high school is what's left of this district."

Upon hearing it, Hans replied with another nod... before offering his hand.

"...Hans."

The girl stopped for a moment."Shiroko. Nice to meet you, sensei."

Their walk was accompanied by the surrounding silence. Only the crunching of sand, as well as the small gust of wind, filled the silence between them. The awkwardness of their first meeting loomed above them like a dark cloud and either of them are willing to speak up to jumpstart something other than Shiroko stealing glances here and there at the neutral and hardened expression Hans held all this time.

She wonders what is he thinking about? And by the look of it… it was out of character for him to get startled like that from her.

Other than that, there is something else.

Shiroko felt something from Hans. Just by getting near the silent man, she almost swore they're both the same. Kindred souls upon the desert. Filled with a silent warmth and kindness he won't admit.

But that is maybe just some wishful thought or something that is only in her quite imaginative mind coming to comfort her. But unknown to the younger white wolf, Hans also thought the same.

He felt like their fates were connected somehow. The same kindred soul walking on a path in the sands. Maybe it's because of the ears on top of her head? No, there is something else. Maybe… it's about the strange hallucination or… vision the old wolf felt with the girl.

But that is beside the point. It won't matter if she indeed had the blood blessed by Gaia or not.

She is still his student. And he would do his best for them.

Yet the small vision crept into his heart. What if she was tainted by the Wrym? does he still have such strength to combat the ancient long defeated foe?

And will he have the heart to fight and…

No. that is a bridge too far now. He'll do whatever to made the whatever it is avoidable.

Somehow.

"Sensei, are you alright? You're making a scary expression now." Shiroko asked. In which Hans finally returned to reality.

Hans looked at her and gave a small nod, and Shiroko replied with her own.

Then another long silence before he stopped. "I need... to know something." He spoke out. Placing the crate gently next to him as he kneeled down.

"Hm?"

Hans spoke of nothing and offered his hand. In which the wolf girl watched with a mix of intrigue and suspicion. Before she gradually reached for his gloved hand and felt the warmth underneath it.

White mist engulfed the ground as Hans continue on staring directly into her eyes.

Feeling her heart and the strength hidden within her.

There is no taint.

Maybe it's just a hallucination after all.

She is pure and clear as crystal. With her light glowing brightly in the eyes of Luna. Yet… there is no clear evidence of Gaia. She is an entire being of her own.

But something still nagged Hans. Even if she is not garou, she still held the same footing as his. Lost souls who had been looking for home and found it in this world... yet with a lingering sense of loneliness. For her, it's faint and invisible enough, and for him? It's still... quite questionable.

Looking at her again, Hans made a verdict.

Kin.

"Sensei?"

Hans continue on watching before he gave a small nod, raising a gentle hand to her head.

"…You are... kin." He spoke gently as the girl blinked for a few good minutes, thinking what that was. Hans stood back up and picking up the crate back.

"…Lead the way."

Shiroko had a lot of questions, but in the end, she decided it's a question for later.

"…Nn. Let's go."

Sensei must reach Abydos first.

This place had seen better days. Bullet holes and explosion pits marked the roads and walls, sands piled up and scattered all around the academy without any sense of direction.

All worn and torn not only from the constant assault from burning weather and climate but also assault from the local gangs as the letter had said. Considering the fact that many structures and buildings gone abandoned and unmaintained. Windows shattered, walls torn down, and doors fell from their hinges. And what looks like being remains of an old pool was turned to a sand dune. Yet, the main building still had lights on, looking well kept and maintained, even if a large margin of the other structures went beyond repair.

It's like they're clinging to a thread, waiting to snap.

"We're here sensei. Sorry for all the sand."

Hans shook his head. "It's not… your fault."

Shiroko gave a small, embarrassed nod as she parked her bike in a secure spot before continuing on.

Ignoring the sands that had slithered through the creaks and crevices, the interior was much better than the outside. Well kept and lit classroom remnants were still on full display, sheltered from the sandstorms outside and maintained by an obvious effort by those who remained to keep them clean.

Although on the other side, there are many other rooms closed and bordered, leaving them to waste and decay. For there is not enough workforce to clean and fix every single room within the building.

Shiroko continued on, leading Hans deeper and to the next floor of the forgotten academy. Footsteps echoing on empty and sand filled halls without life or conversation.

Just them. Marching on sand filled footwear upon the creaking floorboards, stifled by the grains.

Thinking again, as his mind wandered once more to what Arona had said, and what he had seen. This is the product of a massive sandstorm that hit the district and the school itself, but Hans felt something off.

It just doesn't feel right.

No sandstorm or desertification can ruin the largest and busiest district in a single storm. Shattering every building, ruining every single facility and burying it in a great tomb of yellowed grains.

In the helicopter flight, Hans had reviewed the current and the past map of the district. How utterly baffled he was to see almost 90 percent of the city and the school itself buried and destroyed by the raging storm.

There must be something else going on here

Other than that, the fact that thugs had been harassing the school to claim it for themselves was also suspicious to him.

There's must be a reason.

Why would a random gang wanted to harass by the matter of truth... a dying school?

If they would want to claim it... why would anyone want to claim this as their own? Aren't there are other better options rather than this sorry state of a building? Or better yet, still breathing districts out there than... this?

...It doesn't add up.

"Nn. We're here sensei." Shiroko called out. Stopping in front of a door. Hans gave a nod, breaking out from his thoughts as the little wolf knocked and pulled the door open.

"I'm back."

"Welcome back, Shiro…ko?" A black-haired girl tied into long twin tails with… cat ears? Called out before her eyes went to the stony expression of a large, greatcoat wearing man holding a massive iron crate with a single hand on his shoulders.

She wore the same identical black uniform and cyan tie, albeit a little tidier than Shiroko's. A pleated plaid black skirt with black shorts and black gloves with the red she wore on her hands. As for her halo, it's red and had the same crosshair look with the young wolf's.

Her eyes narrowed as she watched him stepping from the shadows and into the classroom. And then her expression changed with suspicion, intrigue, and fear.

"W-W-Who?!"

"Woah! Shiroko brought someone intimidating!" a second girl called out with an aloof cheer in her voice as she came into view.

The girl in question had long, pale blonde hair tied in a bun on the left of her head. Instead of the black Abydos uniform, she wore a white shirt and a beige cardigan with black piping loosely off her shoulders, with black fingerless gloves on bot of her hands. And instead of a tie, she wore an Abydos access badge hangs around her neck on a lanyard.

Her halo is a simple glowing neon green with another smaller circle inside and three teardrop shapes on the outer circle, with a small circle on a single teardrop.

"Wait… please don't tell me Shiroko brought someone from Kais- "A third girl spoke out. Although it was cut off in the end after her amber eyes met his red. She has black bob cut hair with bangs and a white butterfly hairpin to decorate it. Sharp, pointed elven ears poked out from her hair and red thick-framed glasses covered her eyes.

She wore the same uniform as the others, except for a beige vest underneath the blazer. And a cyan armband with… something written on it.

The elf immediately walked back. "Uh… um…"

Then, Hans lowered the crate with a loud crash before showing them his ID.

"W-WAIT, N-NO WAY! A-are you, H-HANS SENSEI?!" Ayane immediately focused on his ID with a gasp of bewilderment.

"Hold on, THE Hans-sensei who fought a tank with his bare hands while being half naked?!" the cat girl continued next. "H-he looks way too suspicious! What's in the crate, anyway?!"

"Wow! That means you got the letter Ayane wrote!" The blonde commented with cheer.

"T-This is great! That means we can get more ammo and supplies! I-Is that what's inside the crate?" The elf continued next, and Hans replied with a gentle nod. Opening the crate to reveal a boatload of bullets from 9mm all the way to armor-piercing rounds.

And that's barely scratching on what's inside of it.

"Whoa! Look here, Shiroko-chan! Sensei brought us some rockets as well! and-" The cheerful blonde pulled out a panzerschreck. Factory new from the crafting chamber back in SCHALE.

"Nn. I want to try it."

"Wait sensei, have you been carrying this crate all the way to Abydos?!" the catgirl asked, and Hans nodded again.

"I have to tell Hoshino! Wait… where is she, anyway?" The elf asks.

"She's taking a nap in the next room. I'll go wake her up." The catgirl sighed as she zoomed to the next room.

Hans was just about to ask something until-

RAT TAT TAT TAT! BANG BANG BANG!

"Was that gunfire?" The blonde shouted and Shiroko ran to the window watching the sight outside as slowly but surely, her once neutral expression turned to a frown.

"There's a group approaching the school! It's must be the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang!" the elf confirmed with urgency.

Kata Kata helmet gang. What a silly name.

"Those punks… they have some nerve coming back for more…" Shiroko trembled with anger.

"I got Hoshino! Now if she'd just… woke up already!" The catgirl rushed back with a short, barely awake, pink-haired girl tucked neatly under her arm.

"Hweeh… just five more minutes…" The pink-haired girl, who had been referred as Hoshino, complained. Her long pink hair was a mess as it gently came down on her face. She wore a plain white shirt, held by a tactical harness that ran down on her shoulders, complete with the same teal tie almost everyone had.

And above her, a lazy neon pink halo floated gently. Formed like an eye with three circles with the outer one cut off and curved around a strip line.

"Hoshino, wake up! The helmet gang is attacking again!" The elf girl shouted next as the black haired catgirl shook the girl up and down.

"Uwehehe… I'm going to get sick Serikaaa! That's no way to treat an old man like me…" Hoshino mumbled, which earned a harder frown from the cat girl, and a harder shake.

"Uwawawawa! Hweeh… okay! I'm up… ugh, interrupting nap time like this. I hate the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang…" She blinked and rubbed her eyes, yanking free from her junior's arms.

"By the way, this is Hans-sensei from SCHALE." The elf commented next, running to the desk for her headpiece.

"Oooh… I see. Nice to meet you, sensei. I'm Hoshino. An old uncle by now… hwehehe.." Hoshino spoke lazily.

"Wake up and get your BUTT in gear! Here!" The cat girl pushed a white shotgun to her as well as a collapsing black ballistic shield, with the name IRON HORUS written on it.

"Let's get going. Sensei brought us some ammo and weapons to use." Shiroko spoke next, picking up her rifle, some spare magazine, grenades, and the Panzerschreck as a determined fire burned in her eyes.

"Okay! Let's sortie everyone! Don't forget your earpiece!" The blonde cheered, grabbing hold of a massive gun that was more fit on a helicopter or a zeppelin as well as tucking some ammo in her pockets.

And thus, the girls immediately ran out to meet with their antagonizers. With burning determination to end their confrontation in total victory.

"I'll navigate us from here, sensei. Stay on the back lines and-" The elf was about to say something until her eyes saw Hans had cocked his twin weapons of choice, holding both of them with a grip.

"O-Oh. I see, well then. Be careful, sensei." She spoke with confidence, and Hans replied with a gentle nod. Exiting the door to meet with the others.

Hoshino continue on watching as "sensei" fought alongside them in the front lines against the helmet gang. Her twin colored eyes watched every single move and order he gave. Hands pressing on the triggers of his guns, fingers pointing in a direction, head nodding and shaking as he dashed and shoot and dashed again without fear or emotion in his eyes and lips.

Indeed, she had watched the video of him fighting for the GSC a good while back. His marksmanship and leadership are a sight to behold. Even if he had NEVER uttered a word before.

Hell, she only heard his voice from the speech he had made! And here… his mouth didn't even move. Only head and his fingers did the work for him, yet it works.

It damn works.

Somehow the damn adult had done it all flawlessly from shooting and ordering her juniors to do what he needs. Nonomi to suppress the enemy with her Gatling gun, Shiroko to fire her drone and the rocket launcher sensei had brought, and Serika to fire her bullets away. Hell, even Ayane's medical drops, to precisely gave the coordinates for her to drop it down, and catching everyone in the rejuvenation stims Ayane had cooked. Yet every time he did, he had no expression, and that is what driving Hoshino mad.

Because she can't read him.

Every time she had thought the adult had done something significant, like pushing Serika to cover, protecting Shiroko from a rocket, and even blasting some thugs, Hoshino would steal glances at his face, hidden by his cap and neck guard and yet,

The indifference is still there. Cold, calculating, and void. It's like he had been forced to be here. Like it's just a simple boring job for him sent by the GSC before he ran off to do something else, tossing back Abydos to the winds after giving her juniors a faint glimmer of hope after yanking it back while spitting on it.

And with that in thought, her expression darkens.

"Nonomi's gonna go for iiiit!" The rattling sounds of her friend's mini gun filled the air. Cutting through defenses and gangers alike and the adult is next to her, pointing a finger while reloading his gun. Then he reached into his phone and immediately Ayane answered.

"Got it! Medical support drop incoming!" Ayane's drone came down and dropped down her stimulants other chemicals that are too long to list down instantly. Catching Serika and Shiroko on the AoE. And the adult gave a small, empty nod and then continuing on firing with them.

"I feel even more fired up!" Serika shouted.

"Fuu… Thank you." Shiroko commented next, reloading her rifle as Hans throws a spare rocket, pointing to a sniper behind the brick walls.

"Nn. Got it." Then, she fired the damn rocket launcher or the Panzerschreck, as it was properly named. Then, as it was done, she reached into her bag and took out her freshly reloaded drone.

"Barrage incoming." Shiroko exclaimed as he came next to her, gave a small nod and she returned the nod back. Moving back and forth to Nonomi and Shiroko to give them the firing orders.

A volley of rockets came down, and thus it's time for her cute junior and herself to do their part.

"Serika, let's go!" She exclaimed, reloading her shotgun and opening her riot shield, pushing her thoughts aside for now.

"Let's finish off these bastards!"

The two rushed out of cover, with Hoshino in the front and Serika on the back. Slamming down a fresh new magazine as she felt the burning blue flames in soul, engulfing, and giving her a boost in strength.

"You're going to regret messing with our school!" Serika exclaimed, bullets firing out from her rifle, burning with her determination and anger as it cuts through some helmet gang members. Shattering their helmets and punching holes into their black uniforms

Hoshino just gently smiled, and she unloads her shotgun at the last remaining helmet gangers.

"I-I thought they're out of ammo!"

"Same here! R-Retreat! RETREAT- OW!"

One by one, the remaining conscious ones dragged their fallen friends to retreat and yet, "sensei" thought of something else. He pointed at them next to Shiroko and she nodded, jumping out of the cover along with him, shooting every last one of them down.

"HIII!"

"WAIT… OH MY GOD! WHO IS THAT ADULT WITH THEM?! RUN!"

And yet, there are still some stragglers running away.

"Kata Kata Helmet Gang is retreating from the district! We won!" Ayane exclaimed with joy from the earpiece.

"Wow! We won!" Nonomi exclaimed next, with her usual cheerfulness.

"Haha! How do you like that?! Wait- Shiroko, what are you..?" Serika narrows her eyes... as she watched with disbelief at what her friend is doing.

"Sensei said not to leave the opportunity." Spoke the girl in question as she is still busy rummaging through the pockets of some gangers that got left behind and picking up some left over ammo.

"B-But! It's stealing! I thought we're just going to pick up some left behind- H-HEY!" Serika shouts fell to deaf ears as the white-haired wolf picked up a wallet from the gangers. Pocketing the cash as the adult returned with a rope, tying them up and putting them aside.

"Hehe. Serika you're such a kind girl…" Nonomi hugged her from behind.

"W-WAH?! G-GET OFF ME!" She struggled with a blush on her cheeks.

And from the earpiece, Hoshino could hear Ayane letting out a tired sigh... as she kept on watching the scene unfold, her different colored eyes never left the indifferent adult standing next to Shiroko. Eyes thinking of something she couldn't read... expression that never leaked anything.

Then he nods at Shiroko, and she nodded back, pointing to a distance away.

"Nn. I see."

What is he planning now?

"Oh? Something on your mind Shiroko? Care to tell this old man your thoughts?" She tried to punch through.

Shiroko nodded. "I think it's time for us to go for the offensive. We have the ammo, supplies, and most importantly, we have sensei on our side. Sensei gave us the chance and edge to turn the tide, and I think it's time for us to ride the it." She gave a determined expression.

"Y-You mean right now?" Ayane commented.

"Yes."

"Sheesh, Shiroko, you sound like you have a highschool crush." She commented and Shiroko immediately looked away with a blush as her animal ears slowly went down.

"Jeez! You shouldn't tease Shiroko like that, Hoshino!" Serika shouted.

"Someone got yelled at!" Nonomi jumped in.

"Uhehe…" She rubbed the back of her head before coming back to all business. "But you do have a point there, Shiroko. If history repeats itself, the helmet gang will return in a few days with more guns and numbers. So, why not strike while the iron is still hot? Besides…"

She let out a yawn. "They're probably sulking and vulnerable right now. And… I want to go back to sleep again."

"Ugh, just when I thought you made a good point…" Serika grumbled. "But I agree. Might as well hurry." She gave a nod.

"I'm all for it! Let's go and kick their butts!" Nonomi cheered. Raising a fist high in the sky.

"Haha. Okay then… I'll lead the way from here. Good luck everyone!" Ayane spoke next from the comms, and Hoshino nodded, before her eyes went back to the silent adult standing next to Shiroko.

Shiroko had been leaning to his side for a while now. What did he do? Did he promise her something? Did he say something before when she leads him back to the club room?

Whatever it is, she can only hide her frown and bid her time. Counting on each piece as they fell to the board.

And maybe she can finally read on what Hans really is hiding.

Underneath the mask of indifference.

Edited 13/4/2024