"No way!"
Pixie shook her head, then ran toward Zane. He turned and gently caught the little girl as she threw herself into his arms.
Zane could feel her longing. After all, it had been quite some time since he last visited the orphanage during his downtime. Strictly speaking, he hadn't spent that much time with her—but perhaps because of his image as a "kind big brother," or the bond they had formed before, Pixie had come to hold him in high regard.
Zane softly stroked her head. In their earlier interactions, he had guided her subtly, sometimes without her realizing it. Now, it seemed his efforts had paid off—Pixie was indeed starting to see him as a special kind of "family."
Noticing Nicole's gaze, Zane gave her a quick wink before softly repeating his earlier words.
"Fireworks like these are truly not to be missed."
Billy and Anby had already headed downstairs with Siena, going to where the children were. For them, Victoria Housekeeping was more about protection than companionship—anything more wouldn't have been appropriate.
Nicole glanced at the two of them, then turned back to Zane, who tilted his head slightly, looking a bit helpless.
"Why are you looking at me? Go on."
"Right now, the person they most want to see is you."
Nicole nodded and quickly went after Anby. Meanwhile, Zane began introducing Qingyi to Pixie.
Naturally, Pixie liked anyone close to Zane. Bathed in the glow of the fireworks, she chatted happily with him and Qingyi, sharing bits and pieces about life at the orphanage.
...
Elsewhere, Soldier 11 and Trigger, having finished their mission and heading back toward Hollow Zero, were also admiring the fireworks as they traveled.
Inside the vehicle, members of the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe chatted softly among themselves.
Reflected in Soldier 11's orange goggles was the colorful bloom of fireworks in the night sky. Her eyes shone brightly, slightly widening.
"That's…"
"Hey! Doesn't that one over there look just like the two of you?"
"What do you mean look like? It's exactly the same!"
Hearing her comrade's voice, Soldier 11 snapped back to attention and turned her head. Trigger followed her gaze, a faint smile tugging at her lips as if something had come to mind.
"Do you remember what that guy said?"
The moment Trigger spoke, Soldier 11 knew exactly who she meant. Understanding flickered across her face.
"You mean…"
After the official meeting had ended, Zane hadn't left right away. He'd stayed for another private discussion—and on his way out, he happened to run into the two of them as they were packing up. They'd exchanged only a few casual words before parting.
"He said he had plans tonight, that he'd be watching the fireworks finale. He even invited us to join him—but we couldn't get away."
Trigger sighed and shrugged, then switched off her handheld console. Leaning against the roofless vehicle, she looked up at the glowing night sky over the river.
"Maybe it's not him."
"You idiot, who else would it be? Or did you miss the fireworks that Proxy and the others set off earlier?"
Trigger shot Soldier 11 an amused glance. She couldn't quite remember when it started, but her partner had definitely been acting more spaced out lately. Maybe ever since that training ordeal?
So... had she actually been knocked a little senseless?
"What are you thinking about?"
Ignoring the curious looks from their teammates, Soldier 11 frowned at Trigger. She had a feeling that whatever her partner was thinking, it wasn't anything good.
"Nothing, really. Just feeling nostalgic. Didn't expect that guy to remember us—the fireworks even have our likenesses."
"Good thing we're heading back this way. Otherwise, we might've missed it."
Hearing Trigger's words, Soldier 11 nodded quietly. Strands of her white hair swayed in the cool night breeze, and the fireworks reflected in her goggles brought a faint sense of peace.
I wonder what Zane's doing right now.
That guy from the Hare's House should be with him. Funny how things work out sometimes…
Soldier 11 had always felt that Zane knew too much—perhaps even some of her own secrets. She didn't know how he came by that knowledge, but it was the truth. He had even hinted that he was aware of more than he'd said.
As those memories resurfaced, Soldier 11 fell silent, gazing up at the glittering sky.
Perhaps someday... that matter would have to be settled.
Carrying the pensive girl and her companions, the convoy rolled steadily toward Hollow Zero.
The fireworks display wasn't over yet.
...
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a high-rise, Section 6 was quietly watching the night sky. Unlike the carefree crowds below, their expressions were tense and focused.
"Section, is something off about this fireworks show? Why would HQ send us here…?"
Harumasa frowned, suspicion and alertness in his tone. Normally, even if something did happen, shouldn't this fall under the jurisdiction of the New Eridu Public Security Bureau? What did Section 6 have to do with it?
"Who knows? Maybe something special's going on."
Compared to Harumasa, Tsukishiro Yanagi was far more relaxed. She figured their orders were just a precaution—better safe than sorry.
"Wow! That firework is so pretty!"
"Ooh! That one looks just like me!"
Soukaku sat at the edge of the rooftop, legs dangling freely as her eyes sparkled with joy. She didn't know why there was a firework shaped like her—but since there was, that was reason enough to be happy.
Everyone else had one too, and of course, Zane hadn't forgotten Section 6.
To him, whether they saw it or not didn't matter—he simply didn't want to leave anyone out.
Hoshimi Miyabi stood by the ledge, one hand resting on the hilt of her katana. Her expression was calm, but the faint glimmer of anticipation in her eyes betrayed her thoughts.
She was waiting for her own "scene."
If Soukaku had one, then she couldn't be left out, right?
But just before the next burst of fireworks, Hoshimi Miyabi suddenly sensed something. Her gaze dropped to the river below.
Her eyes widened, her expression hardening as she caught sight of a rapidly spreading darkness beneath the surface. Realization struck instantly.
Tension surged through her body.
"Hollow disaster!"
Almost the moment her words rang out, the void broke through the river's surface. The terrifying black mass devoured everything in its path, expanding at a frightening pace.
The Hollow Disaster had struck—without warning, without sign.
If it wasn't stopped immediately, the consequences would be catastrophic.
The fireworks festival that had been filled with laughter and color instantly descended into chaos. Fortunately, thanks to the swift action of the law officers maintaining order, the situation didn't devolve into complete panic.
As the crowd began to evacuate, Hoshimi Miyabi drew her long sword and gave a cold, sharp command.
"Move out!"