The hallway outside Himari's office wasn't as tense as Tenshi expected. The air wasn't heavy. The silence wasn't sharp. It was just…normal. A hallway like any other.
Asahi leaned against the wall with his arms loosely crossed, suit jacket unbuttoned for once. His tie was slightly loosened, which for Asahi was the equivalent of being in pajamas. He lifted his head when Tenshi and Kaito stepped out.
"You two good?" he asked, voice quieter and softer than usual.
Kaito nodded instantly. "Yeah. Starving though."
Asahi let out a slow sigh, not annoyed—just tired. "I figured. Let's go get food. Somewhere cheap. I'm not in the mood for the cafeteria."
Kaito pumped his fist. "W!"
Tenshi gave a small nod. "Sounds good."
The three walked down the corridor together. No one stared. No whispers. No tension. The ambush was sealed behind classified doors—exactly as Himari wanted.
Outside, the world felt warmer than the HQ halls. The afternoon sun stretched across the pavement, and small shops hummed with life. Asahi walked ahead at an easy pace, hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed.
Kaito walked beside Tenshi, sniffing the air dramatically. "I can smell cheap fried chicken somewhere."
Tenshi nudged him. "You smell everything."
"Yeah. Skill issue."
Asahi finally spoke again. "The place around the corner has good set meals. And the owner won't care about the smell of Kaito's appetite."
"That's so rude," Kaito mumbled.
Asahi cracked the faintest smile—the kind you'd miss if you blinked.
They turned into a tiny restaurant tucked between a laundromat and a stationery shop. Inside were only six tables, cheap plastic chairs, a TV showing weather forecasts, and a warm, oily smell that somehow felt comforting.
They took a table in the corner.
A waitress set down cups of cold water.
Kaito ordered before she could ask. "The biggest thing you have. No, bigger."
Asahi added, "Set Meal E and tea."
Tenshi pointed at a picture on the menu. "Fried pork and rice."
When the waitress left, a comfortable quiet settled over the table. Kaito tapped the table rhythmically with his chopsticks. Tenshi rested his cheek on his hand, enjoying the hum of the old refrigerator behind the counter. Asahi sat like someone who appreciated silence more than conversation.
After a minute, Asahi glanced at them.
"You two healed fast."
Tenshi nodded lightly. "Yeah."
"No lingering pain?" Asahi asked. The question wasn't cold. Just basic concern.
"No," Tenshi said.
Kaito shrugged. "Stomach's fine. Hunger's worse."
"Good," Asahi replied.
He didn't press further.
When their food arrived, Kaito's tray looked like a festival—steam rising from mountains of rice and fried chicken. Tenshi's plate was neat and warm. Asahi had a bowl of curry that smelled better than it looked.
Kaito attacked his food immediately.
Tenshi took a small bite of pork, the warmth spreading through his chest.
Asahi stirred his curry slowly, taking calm bites between sips of tea.
Kaito spoke first.
"Training wasn't that bad, right?"
Tenshi raised a brow. "We almost died."
Kaito grinned. "Yeah, but we didn't."
Tenshi flicked a grain of rice at him. "That's not the point."
Asahi wiped his mouth with a napkin. "You three improved a lot. It shows."
Tenshi blinked. "Really?"
"Mm," Asahi hummed. "Daigo said you scratched him. That doesn't happen normally."
Kaito slammed the table. "SEE?! Tenshi's goated."
Tenshi flushed slightly. "…Luck."
Asahi shook his head gently. "Not luck. Progress."
The compliment was simple—but for Asahi, it was practically a speech.
Tenshi felt something warm in his chest.
After they finished eating, Asahi went to pay. Kaito attempted to grab a mint from the counter.
This time, Asahi didn't smack his hand away. He simply glanced at him and said, "One."
Kaito lit up. "W!"
Tenshi rolled his eyes but smiled.
Outside, the sun was dipping lower, turning the street gold.
Asahi put his hands back in his pockets. "You two can take the rest of the day off. Himari said no work until tomorrow."
Kaito stretched with a loud groan. "Finally."
"Just rest," Asahi added. "Eat again if you want. Just… don't break anything in the apartment."
Kaito looked offended. "I broke one thing."
"Three," Tenshi corrected.
"Okay but still—"
Asahi walked ahead, ignoring them, his pace slow and relaxed.
Tenshi fell into step beside Kaito.
The cheap food sat warm in his stomach.
The street air felt soft.
The world looked calmer than yesterday.
And for the first time since the train, Tenshi felt like he could breathe normally again.
They walked toward the apartment together, the three of them in a loose line, a strange but comforting little group moving quietly through the evening.
Morning sunlight leaked weakly through the blinds of Meeting Room 3B, thin white lines striping across the long table. Tenshi sat there half-awake, shoulders slouched, eyes still foggy from not sleeping enough. His white shirt was slightly wrinkled, tie crooked as usual. Across from him sat Ren Kaidou, arms crossed, face unreadable, already bored. Beside Ren, Yua Kanzaki rested her chin on her hands, legs swinging under the chair, soft black hair brushing her cheeks.
Kaito sat next to Tenshi yawning loudly.
Asahi stood near the front of the room, leaning against the wall with his arms folded, expression cold but strangely relaxed for this early.
The door opened.
Himari stepped in, holding a thin stack of folders.
Short white hair.
Red eyes sharp but soft around the edges.
Her coat flowed behind her as she walked to the table.
"Morning," she said, placing the folders down. Her voice was calm, almost gentle. "Everyone take one."
She handed them out—one to Tenshi, one to Kaito, one to Ren, one to Yua, and one to Asahi last.
Just paper, ink, and the heavy quiet of early hours.
"Read page one," Himari instructed.
Tenshi opened the file. A simple hand-drawn floor plan sat inside—sixteen floors, each marked lightly in pencil. Himari had written notes along the margins: basement storage, enemy office, suspected hybrid presence.
"This building," Himari said, tapping the drawing with her fingertip, "is located in the commercial block of Asakusa. No landmarks. Only offices, small warehouses, and back alley access."
Yua raised her head. "So we're raiding all floors?"
"No," Himari replied. "Just three levels matter."
She slid her finger across the blueprint.
Basement → 15th floor → 16th floor.
"For clarity," she continued, "I'll assign your teams now."
Kaito leaned slightly forward. Ren didn't move. Tenshi squinted at the diagram like it personally offended him.
"Basement Team," Himari said.
She pointed to Asahi.
"You lead it."
Then to the others:
"Kaito. Ren. Support members one and two."
Kaito pumped his fist. Ren sighed quietly.
"Mid-level team," Himari went on, pointing at the 15th floor, "is Yua and two supports."
Yua nodded firmly, hiding a small spark of nervousness in her eyes.
"And lastly…" Himari tapped the top floor.
"Sixteenth floor. Tenshi, you go alone."
Kaito blinked.
Yua stared.
Ren looked mildly confused.
Even Asahi raised an eyebrow.
Tenshi flipped a page like he misheard.
"…Huh?"
Himari gave him a calm look—too calm.
"You," she said gently, "are the only one who can handle the hybrid on the top floor if things go wrong."
Tenshi scratched his cheek. "So I'm… bait?"
"More like insurance." Himari smiled faintly. "A very durable, very cute insurance."
Kaito whispered loudly, "She's doing the pet thing again."
Tenshi elbowed him under the table.
Ren cleared his throat. "He doesn't look durable."
Yua smiled softly. "He looks… alive. That's enough, right?"
Tenshi stared down at the paper, ears turning slightly red.
Asahi pushed off the wall. "If everyone understands their role, we gear up and leave in twenty minutes."
Chairs slid back as people stood. Papers shuffled. The smell of fresh coffee from the hall mixed with the morning cold.
As they headed toward the door, Himari lightly tugged Tenshi's sleeve.
He stopped, looking at her.
Her red eyes softened—not manipulative, not commanding—almost human.
"You don't need to win beautifully today," she said quietly. "Just make sure you come back."
Tenshi blinked. "…I'll try."
She patted his arm gently, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Good boy. Now off you go."
Tenshi sighed.
Kaito snickered.
Ren pretended he didn't hear anything.
Yua watched Tenshi with a little too much warmth.
The group entered the elevator.
A soft, cramped, awkward silence.
Ren clicked his tongue.
Kaito stretched.
Asahi checked his watch.
Then Yua shifted closer to Tenshi and whispered up at him:
"Um… Tenshi? When this is over, do you wanna get taiyaki with me?"
She smiled a little.
"Strawberry flavor?"
Tenshi froze like someone unplugged his brain.
"…sure."
Yua's face lit up quietly.
Ren smirked.
Kaito stared dramatically.
Asahi sighed like a man too old for this job.
The elevator dinged and opened to the underground garage.
Two black vans waited under dull yellow lighting. The air was cold, echoing every footstep.
Inside the van, Asahi sat in the passenger seat, adjusting his tie.
"Remember," he said without looking back, "don't try anything stupid. Don't act cool. Don't die. And Tenshi—"
He pointed backward without turning.
"—if you get yourself killed, I'm not doing the paperwork."
Tenshi leaned back in his seat. "Yeah, yeah."
Yua giggled softly.
Ren shut his eyes.
Kaito cracked his knuckles.
The van rolled out into the bright morning.
Asakusa's generic buildings passed by—delivery shops, small offices, narrow side streets still damp from cleaning hoses. Everything looked calm. Normal. Ordinary.
A perfect place for a fight no one would understand.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived.
The target building stood ahead—sixteen floors, nothing special. Concrete, blank windows, no signs.
Asahi stepped out first.
Tenshi followed.
Kaito, Ren, and Yua climbed out last.
Cold morning air brushed Tenshi's face.
Yua walked past him and whispered, "Don't forget the taiyaki."
Tenshi nodded.
Asahi pointed forward.
"Move."
They entered the building together.
The automatic doors slid open—
light from outside vanishing behind them
and cold, dusty air settling in.
The raid had begun.