Yuna:
The last shot echoed across the empty ground, and this time—when the sound faded—I didn't feel shaken.
I felt… ready.
Not completely.
Not perfectly.
But enough to take the next step.
I lowered the gun slowly, exhaling as the tension left my shoulders. My fingers relaxed around the grip, and I turned toward Elena, a small but determined smile forming on my lips.
"Elena," I said, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face, "I think we're ready."
She didn't answer.
Not immediately.
Instead, her eyes narrowed slightly—like she was measuring something I couldn't see.
"Not yet."
My smile faded a little.
"…Why?"
She didn't look at me.
Instead, her gaze shifted past my shoulder.
Behind me.
"Because," she said calmly, "you're still thinking like someone who's walking into this alone."
I frowned.
"What does that—"
"Turn around."
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
---
I turned.
Slowly.
---
And my breath caught.
---
There were men standing there.
Not one.
Not two.
But several.
Dressed in black.
Silent.
Still.
Watching.
---
I hadn't even noticed them before.
Not a single sound.
Not a single movement.
Just—
There.
---
"…When did they—?" I whispered.
"They were always here," Elena replied.
I turned back to her, still slightly shocked.
"You didn't see them because you weren't looking."
---
I looked at them again.
Their posture.
Their stillness.
The way their presence alone felt… heavy.
Dangerous.
Protective.
---
Elena crossed her arms.
"I'm not risking your life," she said. "If we're going there, we're not going unprotected."
---
A soft laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it.
She raised an eyebrow.
"…What?"
I shook my head slightly, still smiling.
"You're smarter than I thought."
---
Her expression immediately shifted into mock offense.
"Excuse me?"
I laughed lightly.
"I didn't mean it like that—"
"No, no," she interrupted, stepping closer. "Say it again. Slowly."
I raised both hands slightly in surrender.
"I just meant—you planned everything. Even this."
She stared at me for a second longer.
Then scoffed.
"Obviously."
---
I smiled.
And for a moment—
Everything felt normal.
Like we weren't about to walk into danger.
Like we weren't preparing for something that could change everything.
---
"…You're not as annoying as I thought," I added teasingly.
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're pushing your luck."
" I'm smart because of my dad, he is smart I'm smart too. And Ethan is dumbass like he came from garbage."
---
I laughed again.
And she rolled her eyes—but there was a faint smile on her lips this time.
---
For a few seconds, we just stood there.
Talking.
Smiling.
Like real friends.
---
And then—
A thought hit me.
Soft.
Sudden.
---
"…I miss her," I said quietly.
Elena tilted her head slightly.
"…Who?"
---
I looked down at the ground for a moment.
"…Aria."
The name felt warm.
Familiar.
Painful.
---
"My best friend," I added softly.
---
Elena's expression softened slightly.
"You haven't seen her in a while?"
I shook my head.
"No… not for a long time."
---
Memories flickered in my mind.
Laughter.
Late-night talks.
Carefree days.
Before everything became complicated.
---
"I don't even know when I'll meet her again," I whispered.
---
Elena didn't say anything at first.
She just stood beside me.
Present.
---
"…You will," she said finally.
Simple.
But comforting.
---
I gave a small nod.
"…I hope so."
She said," until that time I'm here with you and I personally like you to be my future—"
She paused.
---
The moment lingered.
Quiet.
Gentle.
---
Until—
Footsteps.
---
Heavy.
Slow.
Deliberate.
---
Both of us turned at the same time.
---
A man was approaching.
---
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
His presence alone—
Commanded attention.
---
He wasn't just intimidating—
He was… dangerous.
In a way that didn't need to be shown.
Didn't need to be proven.
It was simply there.
In his eyes.
In his posture.
In the silence that followed him.
---
My breath slowed.
My body instinctively straightening.
---
And then—
Elena spoke.
"…Dad."
---
The word landed differently.
---
I looked at her.
Then back at him.
---
Her father.
---
Of course.
---
Now it made sense.
The guards.
The base.
The weapons.
---
Everything.
---
He stopped a few steps away from us.
His gaze shifted from Elena—
To me.
---
Cold.
Sharp.
Observing.
---
It felt like he was reading everything about me in seconds.
Who I was.
Why I was here.
What I wanted.
---
I straightened slightly.
Then lowered my head politely.
"…Good afternoon, sir."
---
Silence.
---
For a moment—
He didn't respond.
---
Then—
"…You're Ethan's girl."
His voice was deep.
Controlled.
Not a question.
A statement.
---
I hesitated.
Just slightly.
Then nodded.
"How did you know."
---
His eyes lingered on me.
Longer this time.
---
"…You're not afraid of us," he said.
---
I met his gaze.
My heart beating faster.
But my voice steady.
"I am."
---
A pause.
---
"Then why are you here?"
---
The question wasn't harsh.
But it carried weight.
---
I didn't look away.
"Because he is."
---
Silence again.
But this time—
Different.
---
Elena glanced between us.
Watching carefully.
---
"He's walking into danger," I continued softly. "And I don't want to stay behind pretending I don't understand it."
---
Her father's gaze didn't soften.
But it didn't harden either.
---
"…And what do you think you can do there?" he asked.
---
I didn't hesitate.
"Stand beside him."
---
Elena shifted slightly.
Like she wasn't sure how he would react.
---
But he didn't laugh.
Didn't dismiss me.
---
He simply looked at me.
Long.
Carefully.
---
Then—
"…You'll slow him down."
---
The words hit.
But I didn't flinch.
---
"Not if I'm prepared," I replied.
---
Another pause.
---
Elena crossed her arms slightly, watching her father now.
---
"…She's stubborn," she muttered.
---
He ignored her.
His eyes still on me.
---
"…And if you fail?" he asked.
---
My fingers tightened slightly at my sides.
"…Then I learn."
---
A long silence followed.
---
Then—
Unexpectedly—
A faint shift in his expression.
Not a smile.
Not approval.
But—
Recognition.
---
"…You have spirit," he said.
---
Elena blinked.
Slightly surprised.
---
"But spirit alone isn't enough."
---
He turned slightly.
Gesturing toward the guards.
---
"They go with you."
---
My eyes widened slightly.
"…You're allowing this?"
---
He looked at Elena.
Then back at me.
---
"I'm allowing her mistake," he said calmly. "But I won't allow her to die for it."
---
Elena sighed.
"I told you."
---
I let out a small breath.
"…Thank you."
---
He didn't respond to that.
---
Instead—
He turned away slightly.
---
"…Be ready," he said.
---
Because whatever was coming next—
Wouldn't be practice anymore.
The air changed the moment he spoke again.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't dramatic.
But something in his tone carried a weight that made my chest tighten without warning.
"…Stay out of Ethan's father's gaze."
I blinked.
The words didn't fully register at first.
"…What?"
I looked at him, confused.
"…Why?"
It wasn't just curiosity.
It was instinct.
Because the way he said it—
It didn't sound like advice.
It sounded like a warning.
He didn't answer immediately.
His eyes shifted slightly, as if he was considering how much to say.
Then—