[The room was dark, the only light coming from a flickering chandelier that barely illuminated the four figures seated around the large, imposing desk. The air was thick with tension, the kind of silence that made even the smallest noise feel like a thunderclap. At the head of the room, a tall, cloaked figure sat, his face hidden in the shadows of his hood. His presence alone made the others in the room uneasy. To his left, Yggdrasil stood at attention, her expression unreadable. To his right, three other figures observed silently.]
[Leviathan, Behemoth, and Ifrit-each a terrifying force in their own right-remained still. They were here not as a show of strength, but as quiet observers, watching the interaction unfold.]
???: voice smooth, like silk, yet laced with authority You've been dragging your feet, Yggdrasil.
[Yggdrasil didn't flinch. Her posture remained rigid as she stood before him. The weight of his words hung in the air like a blade waiting to fall.]
Yggdrasil:
steady, voice unwavering I understand, my lord. I will not disappoint you.
???: grim You won't go in alone this time. I'm assigning three of our field units to you-neutral agents, clean records, experienced in urban capture. They'll follow your lead. Names will be sent to your terminal before midnight.
[He slid a black USB drive across the table. Yggdrasil caught it without looking down.]
???: curt All logistics are in the drive. Use them wisely. You'll have surveillance coverage from remote handlers, and Leviathan will provide fallback comms if needed.
[Yggdrasil gave a slight nod. No questions. No wasted words.]
[Leviathan's eyes softened, though her expression remained as calm as ever. She turned her gaze toward the cloaked figure, her voice a gentle counterpoint to the tension that filled the room.]
Leviathan:
soft, almost reassuring She knows the gravity of the situation. You've trained her well.
[Yggdrasil's gaze flickered briefly toward Leviathan, a small, almost imperceptible shift in her otherwise stoic demeanor. Leviathan's words felt like a quiet reassurance, even in the face of such high stakes. She could always count on Leviathan to understand her better than anyone else in the room.]
[The brief glance Yggdrasil gave her said more than words-trust, respect, a bond forged in the field.]
[Across from Leviathan, Behemoth-massive, silent, stoic-remained stone-faced. The metal of his watch tapped lightly on the table, the only indication he was even listening. Next to him, Ifrit leaned back slightly, the restless energy in his foot tapping softly under the table.]
???: voice low, but loaded This isn't just about delays. The timeline's accelerated. We need clear results.
[He pauses, then shifts his attention squarely on Yggdrasil]
Director:
Shizuka is to be captured-alive. As for Shirou... voice sharpening Terminate, if necessary.
[The room grew heavier. No one reacted outwardly, but the weight of the directive settled in the air like dust.]
Yggdrasil:
quietly Understood.
[He leaned back, his fingers steepled.]
???: This mission is critical. We're nearing the final stage of the SoveCle operation. There's no room for compromise.
Leviathan: softly, directed to Yggdrasil Just be careful. The mission matters-but not more than your life.
[Their eyes met briefly, a flash of something unspoken between them.]
Ifrit:
smirking You two always get sentimental before an op. Cute.
[There was a twitch of amusement behind his sarcasm. Yggdrasil didn't respond. Behemoth finally stirred-just a quiet grunt, his attention still locked on Yggdrasil.]
Director: sharply
That's enough. We start now. Yggdrasil, you move at midnight. Full surveillance support will be remote. Don't lose contact.
[Yggdrasil gave a single nod and turned on her heel, her boots echoing softly on the concrete floor. As the door shut behind her, the room was left in silence once more.]
Director: low, more to himself She won't fail. She knows what's at stake.
Leviathan: quietly, after a pause She always does. But sometimes, that's what worries me.
[Ifrit stretched lazily, but even he didn't offer a comeback this time. Behemoth remained as he was, unreadable.]
[The meeting was over. The hunt had begun.]
[Shirou's house was quiet that morning, the usual hustle of the city muted behind the windows. Inside, the familiar faces of his close friends sat around the small kitchen table, enjoying a peaceful breakfast together. The smell of fresh coffee and toast lingered in the air, a comforting start to the day.]
[Mio, sitting at the edge of the table, looked up from her phone and glanced around the room. She smiled, her eyes lighting up as she came to a decision.]
Mio: excitedly Hey, how about we go to the supermarket today? We're running low on a few things, and it'll be good for us to get out for a bit. What do you guys think?
[Shirou, who had been lounging back in his chair, looked over at Shizuka, who was sitting next to him. She raised an eyebrow, her expression neutral, but Shirou could tell she was open to the idea.]
Shirou: grinning, stretching Sounds good to me. A little outing wouldn't hurt.
Shizuka:
nods slightly, calm as always I don't mind. We can grab some snacks while we're at it.
[Kei, who had been quietly sipping his coffee, shot a glance at Ryokou, who was lounging on the couch with her usual detached demeanor. He sighed and looked back at the group, not too eager about the idea of grocery shopping.]
Kei: muttering, with a hint of sarcasm You all go ahead. I'll pass on the trip. Not really in the mood for carrying bags.
Ryokou: dryly, without looking up from her phone
Same here. You guys go enjoy your little shopping adventure.
[Shirou laughed lightly, shaking his head at the two who preferred staying behind. He knew Kei and Ryokou weren't exactly fond of errands like these, but it wasn't a big deal. It would just be the three of them.]
Shirou: teasing Guess it's just the three of us then. Don't blame us when you're stuck with the house chores, though!
[Mio chuckled, clearly not minding the teasing. She stood up and walked toward the hallway, already grabbing her bag.]
Mio: grinning Don't worry, we'll be quick. You two can enjoy the peace and quiet... for now.
[Shizuka stood up as well, following Shirou as he grabbed his jacket and headed toward the door. The cool morning air was refreshing as they left the house, stepping out into the streets with the promise of a simple outing ahead.]
[The walk to the supermarket wasn't far, and as they strolled together, Shirou couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy. Despite everything that had been happening recently, moments like this reminded him of simpler times. It felt good to be with his friends, even if just for a quick trip to grab groceries.]
[Shirou glanced over at Shizuka, who walked beside him in her usual quiet way. She seemed calm, perhaps even serene, as they approached the entrance to the supermarket.]
Shirou: smiling
So, what's first on the list? Snacks, right?
[Shizuka gave a slight nod, her lips curling just slightly in response. It wasn't much, but Shirou could always tell when she was amused, even in the smallest way.]
Shizuka: softly Some snacks would be nice. Maybe something sweet.
[They entered the store, the aisles full of bustling people. It was a far cry from the tension of their usual days, a welcome change. Mio immediately darted off toward the produce section, while Shirou and Shizuka followed behind at a more relaxed pace. The familiar sound of carts rolling over the floors and the hum of overhead lights made it feel almost like a different world compared to the chaotic moments they usually found themselves in.]
[As they walked together, Shirou caught Shizuka glancing at the shelves, seemingly lost in thought. He felt a strange sense of peace in that moment-nothing urgent, nothing dangerous hanging over them. Just... a normal day.]
[But as they moved deeper into the aisles, the sense of normalcy wouldn't last long.]