In the previous chapter of In the Middle of Two Sides…
Kouta looked down at his own bandaged hands. And for the first time in a long time, he doubted whether those hands… were forging something wrong… something that would cause the fall of their harmony… His resolve grew even stronger. If someone plans to betray them, they must become even stronger, smarter, more prepared. So he headed toward…
(Begin)
His resolve grew even stronger. If someone plans to betray them, they must become even stronger, smarter, more prepared. So he headed toward the camp: tomorrow, with all his equipment rested, he would have the opportunity to unleash his power without worrying about damage, for not only would his soldiers and friends be there, but also the angels would be there to stop him if necessary!
Meanwhile, at the camp…
The fire was still lit, but no one spoke. The silence was thicker than the night itself. The soldiers no longer shared jokes or stories; each seemed encapsulated in their own world. Separated by meters… and doubts.
Masaki Dōjima was sharpening the blade of his dagger, his gaze lost in the burning coals. Souta Amagai was mentally reviewing a defensive routine, his robotic movements. Naoya Kirishima was staring at the trees, as if expecting an invisible attack. And Yuzuki Sera… just staring at her own hands, silent.
Masaki (quietly, almost to herself):
"He can't go on like this. That power he has... it's not human. He shouldn't be our leader."
Souta (still moving his arms):
"But he is. Whether Adeus, Kaede, or we like it or not... he still is. He wasn't chosen out of trust. He was chosen out of utility."
Naoya (frowning):
"Exactly. A tool. And what happens when a tool loses control?"
Yuzuki (softly, not looking at anyone):
"He cuts us."
Silence fell. Only the crackling of the fire filled the air for several seconds.
Masaki (staring at the edge of his dagger):
"I've seen that kind of look before. Before he died, I was in a private security squad. One of my superiors started acting the same way: silent, reserved... full of good intentions, but with a buried rage."
"One day, he exploded. We lost two men. And everyone was wondering: when did he start to change?"
Yuzuki (almost whispering):
"And you? Did you change?"
Masaki didn't respond. He just put his weapon away and stared into the fire. Souta stopped as well.
Naoya (breaking the silence):
"Honestly... I don't care if Kouta was chosen by Adeus or by fate. I'm worried that one day, when everything goes haywire, no one will be willing to stop him."
Souta:
"And who would be? Kaede? Haruto? You?" Naoya:
Maybe. Or maybe no one. But I don't want to die from blind trust.
Yuzuki (looking at the fire):
What if it's already too late? What if one of us is already... broken?
Everyone fell silent. For a moment, it seemed no one understood exactly what he meant. But they all felt it.
What if the traitor was already among them... and not even he knew it?
Later that night, as they each returned to their tents, Masaki noticed something. On the back of the cloth, at ground level, a mark: faint, barely visible to the naked eye. A circular, incomplete symbol that seemed to have been formed by aura burns.
Masaki (muttering):
What... is this?
He touched the cloth. It was still warm. He looked around. No one.
The forest was silent. The kind of silence that isn't natural, but manufactured. As if something were hiding... or waiting.
Masaki took a deep breath.
And without telling anyone, he tucked the dagger under his pillow.
Just in case…
To be continued…
Current Powers:
Kouta: 1400
Haruto: 750
Yui: 540
Tetsuya: 670
Sanae Hoshizuki: 370
Soldiers:
Attack team:
(Attack Leader) Kaede Minazuki: 560
Reiji Tsukino 2: 435
Souta Amagai: 480
Defense equipment:
(Defense Leader) Naoya Kirishima: 380
Tama Kudō: 300
Yuzuki Sera: 350
Support team:
(Support Leader) Riko Hanekawa: 255
Hajime Igarashi: 210
Variable Tactics Unit:
Masaki Dojima: 315
Asuka Renji: 240