Inside the briefing room, Shidou Shiranui sat lazily in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, a mug of steaming coffee resting beside him. His sharp eyes scanned the newly-formed team standing before him.
"So, Jasmine's team," he began, his tone nonchalant yet precise. "Your first mission's simple. You just patrol the area—observe, stay alert, and see if there's any crime or suspicious activity. That's it."
"Just walk?" Tasuya Jin raised a brow, unimpressed.
"Yeah," Shidou replied casually, sipping his coffee. "Sometimes, being a hero is about presence. Criminals run the moment they sense it."
With a silent nod, the team exited the guild building and stepped into the city streets, the sun casting long morning shadows.
Jasmine Katsuragi took charge quickly, her expression cool and commanding. "Reiji Tachibana, take the front."
"Roger that," Reiji replied, cracking his knuckles with a grin before moving forward.
"Aisa, cover the left."
"Yes, ma'am," Aisa said, sliding her gloves on with practiced ease.
"Ryker Tensai," Jasmine turned to him, her voice slightly softer. "You'll watch our rear."
Ryker didn't reply. He simply turned and walked silently to his position at the back, eyes calm but sharp—like a blade yet to be drawn.
"Tasuya Jin, right side."
"Yes, ma'am." Tasuya gave a mock salute and jogged into position, scanning the street corners with a grin.
With all members in place, the team advanced in formation, the cool breeze brushing against their uniforms. It was a simple patrol… but with Ryker in the back and Jasmine leading the way, even something as routine as walking the streets felt like the calm before a storm.
Aisa walked along the quiet street, her boots tapping lightly against the pavement. The morning air was crisp, the sun filtering gently through the clouds above. She kept her eyes sharp, scanning corners, alleys, and rooftops with practiced caution.
As she turned a corner, her gaze softened.
A small group of children played in a narrow alleyway—laughing, chasing one another with sticks like makeshift swords. Their faces were bright, innocent, untouched by the weight of the world around them.
One little girl fell, and the others helped her up, giggling. The sight brought a faint, almost wistful smile to Aisa's face.
"I want everyone to live like this... happy, free..." she thought, her hand lightly resting on the hilt of her weapon. "No more war. No more pain."
Her heart tightened.
She had seen too much—too many broken homes, too many tears. That's why she stood where she did now. Not just to fight... but to protect scenes like this.
A world where children could laugh without fear.
Aisa took a slow breath and continued her patrol, eyes still calm—but a little warmer than before.
Ryker walked behind the group, his hands buried deep in his coat pockets. The wind tugged at his collar, but he didn't flinch. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, scanned every corner, every shadow, like a predator that never let its guard down.
He didn't say a word.
His footsteps were slow but deliberate—each one echoing with the weight of his past.
Around him, the world seemed still. Birds chirped from distant rooftops, and the occasional hum of an engine passed by. But Ryker's mind wasn't in the present. Not entirely.
"First mission, huh?" he thought. "Just a patrol. Just walking. Nothing special."
He glanced up at the sky, cloudy and grey, as if mirroring the thoughts running through his head.
"But the world doesn't warn you before it breaks."
His grip tightened slightly.
He remembered his mother's voice. His sister's cries. Blood. Screams. Memories he could never erase.
And yet—he walked.
Not because he wanted to.
But because he had to.
He turned a narrow alley, pausing for a moment as he spotted a cat perched on a trash bin, licking its paw. Harmless. Normal. Peaceful.
Ryker stared for a moment longer than he needed to.
"Peace never lasts... But maybe I can delay the chaos. Just a little longer."
He turned and kept walking—silent, vigilant, alone.
Flashback – Midnight Sun Guild Leader's Room
The soft ticking of an old clock filled the silence of the dimly lit office.
Shidou Shiranui sat calmly behind his desk, fingers laced, eyes closed in thought. Jasmine Katsuragi stood across from him, arms crossed, her face firm but curious.
"Jasmine," Shidou said without opening his eyes, "I want you to keep an eye on Ryker Tensai."
Jasmine's brows furrowed. "Watch him? Why?"
Shidou's eyes slowly opened, sharp and unreadable.
"He is... a masterpiece," he said, voice low and serious.
Jasmine blinked, confused. "Masterpiece of what?"
A long pause followed.
Shidou leaned forward slightly. "That's not your concern. Just do it."
She opened her mouth to object, but something in his tone silenced her. She nodded reluctantly.
Present Time – On Patrol
Jasmine walked in silence, her gaze flicking over to Ryker in the distance. He moved like a shadow—quiet, alert, unreadable.
She exhaled through her nose.
"He's never angry with me," she thought, her jaw tightening slightly. "But that day... was the first time."
Her grip on her weapon tightened, but not from fear.
It was curiosity.
And doubt.
"Just what are you hiding, Ryker Tensai?"
Evening – City Streets
The sky was painted in shades of gold and amber as the sun began its descent. The streets buzzed softly with the gentle hum of life winding down.
Ryker walked along the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, eyes distant.
"That should be enough for today," he thought, exhaling a quiet breath.
As he turned the corner, his eyes caught a familiar figure.
Aisa was sitting on a bench beside a small boy who clutched his knees, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Don't cry," Aisa said gently, brushing the boy's hair with her hand.
Ryker approached slowly. "What's going on?"
Aisa looked up at him, her expression soft. "He fell down. I think... he got separated from his parents."
"I... I'm hungry..." the boy whimpered, rubbing his eyes.
Aisa smiled warmly. "It's okay, don't cry."
She stood and walked to a nearby ice cream cart. A moment later, she returned and knelt before the boy, handing him a small cone.
"Here, this will make you feel better," she said with a kind smile.
The boy sniffled, then took the ice cream with both hands. "Thank you, sis..."
Moments later, a couple rushed over, faces anxious—his parents.
"Oh my god! Thank you so much!" the mother said, tears welling in her eyes.
The boy turned and smiled. "Thank you, sis!" he shouted again, waving as he walked away with his parents.
Aisa stood there, smiling faintly.
Ryker watched her in silence.
The sunset caught her hair just right, and for a moment, she looked like a vision out of a dream—gentle, warm, and full of light.
The sky deepened into twilight as the soft breeze brushed against their shoulders.
"Ryker, are you heading back to the guild?" Aisa asked, her voice quiet.
"Yeah," Ryker replied.
They walked side by side, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across the pavement.
Aisa looked up at the sky, then smiled faintly. "That boy… he looked so happy when he saw his mom and dad."
Ryker glanced at her, his eyes unreadable. "Why are you so kind?"
Aisa turned to him, blinking in surprise. "Huh? Kind? No, I'm not."
She looked ahead again, her smile becoming gentle. "I just... want everyone to be happy. I want people to live a peaceful life."
Ryker's steps slowed for a moment as he repeated the word. "Peaceful…"
The silence between them lingered, but it wasn't awkward. It was a soft kind of silence—like the calm before dawn, or the warmth of a memory you didn't want to let go.
And in that stillness, Ryker looked at Aisa—not as a comrade, not as a teammate, but as someone who carried a light he thought he had long lost.